CMU Playlists

Playlist: Dananananaykroyd

By | Published on Friday 3 June 2011

Dananananaykroyd

Formed in Glasgow in 2006, ‘fight pop’ sextet Dananananaykroyd passed through the ranks of the excellent Holy Roar and Moshi Moshi labels before joining Best Before Records for the release of their debut album, ‘Hey Everyone!’, in 2009. Just over two years later, the band are back with their second effort, ‘There Is A Way’, due for release via their own label, Pizza College, on 13 Jun, with the first single from it, ‘Muscle Memory’, out on Monday.

The album was recorded in LA late last year with producer Ross Robinson, who has previously worked with bands including The Cure, Deftones, Korn, Slipknot, At The Drive-In and Klaxons. He’s a man known for getting the most intense performances out of bands – whether that be by forcing Robert Smith to explain the lyrics of his songs to the rest of The Cure or by throwing things at Slipknot as they played – and it’s no different with Danananana. But still, they manage to keep that pop edge (is there such a thing as pop edge?) that has always caused their songs to hook into ears aplenty.

Ahead of the album release, we asked co-vocalist John Baillie Jr to put together a Powers Of Ten playlist for us. Oh and he did. He did. Here’s what he had to say about it: “Here’s a collection of songs by artists that I keep going back to. Nothing too new, just stone cold classics that get me through touring via my headphones – YEAH!”

DAANANANAYKROYD’S TEN
Click here to listen to John’s playlist in Spotify, and then read on to find out more about his selections.

01 Gene Pitney – Town Without Pity
It’s in John Waters’ ‘Hairspray’ and the opening credits of ‘SubUrbia’, need I say more?

02 Siriusmo – Femuscle
My Berlin-based production hero since I heard ‘Meine Welt’ in 2002, this track is from ’08’ and typical of his sound – walking, squirty, fun and nicely textured.

03 The Waitresses – I Know What Boys Like
My friend Gerard introduced me to this song and it takes me back to his smoke filled bedroom whenever I hear it.

04 Prince – How Come U Don’t Call Me Anymore
This is my favourite Prince song at this moment in time, it will have changed in the next hour probably. If I could sing and play piano like this I’d never leave the house.

05 The Dillinger Escape Plan – When Good Dogs Do Bad Things
I bought the ‘Irony Is A Dead Scene’ EP when I was seventeen and worked in Virgin Megastore because I thought Mike Patton was cool. What came out of the speakers when I got home blew my brains open.

06 Bob Marley & The Wailers – Thank You Lord
This was back when Bob Marley had short hair and wore suits. It reminds me of Johnny Whitney from The Blood Brothers, the only person I’ve met who, like me, has not only heard of it but knows all the words.

07 Big Boi – Back Up Plan
I’ve been completely obsessed with this record since it came out, it just keeps on giving. “I done had enough of the nasty stuff”.

08 Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan – Allah Hoo Allah Hoo
The ‘Pakistani Elvis’, with one of the best voices I’ve ever heard. Some say he’s channelling God, sounds like it to me.

09 Beyoncé- Video Phone (Extended Remix featuring Lady Gaga)
As far as MTV ‘divas’ go, Beyoncé is in a league of her own, slick production care of Mr Bangladesh!

10 Buddy Rich – West Side Story Medley: Overture/Cool/Something’s Coming/Somewhere
I consider this to be the best music ever written, ‘West Side Story’, but played by the greatest drummer of all time.



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