Lee's Hits In Your Ears

September 2021

“it’s late September and I really should be back at school”, “wake me up when September ends”, “do you remember, the [23rd] night of September?”… So of course this is the perfect time to end the traditional summer break (yeah, that’s a thing) from #leeshitsinyourears – ask yourself, would anyone want to be beavering away through the hot sticky days of summer listening to music?

Anyway, the last few months have been a blast, probably. A few of the good things in no particular order; playing cricket again after 6 years, watching endless amounts of cricket – the hundred was great!, listening to cricket podcasts #tailendersoftheworlduniteandtakeover, and a summer romance without some Australian chick at the beach.

Anyway, on with the hits and I truly think we have 10 stonkers to kick off the new season and with a whole batch in the pool pile there should be some good ones in future months too, so enjoy the listen and Go Well! (Cheers)

#thehitchershits

The Hitchers, Irelands finest straight outta Limerick. They’re best known for the anthem ‘Strachan’ that although I adore (best football song of all time, ever) although that doesn’t even make it on to this playlist of hits!

I first heard of them when Strachan was on a friend’s dad’s cassette tape way back in the 90s along with the likes of Sultans Of Ping FC. It was probably their only song that I listened to in the intervening 20+ years, until this year when I trealised that finally Spotify had got their hands on both their LPs. Ever since I’ve pretty much only listened to them and they might be one of my favourite bands now.

April 2021

Urgh, the longest winter of all time, ever, is just about coming to an end. Lockdown is easing – not that I care for people getting all up in my grill again – shorts are being worn at work and the sun/grey ratio is beginning to favour the big round thing in the sky.

April’s hits are late, very late. I can only apologise as I’ve had somewhat of a crisis in my other life as a football fan as added to Arsenal being dogshit the bad men tried to obliterate the thing I love most in this world (family aside). And although the planned “Super League” has thankfully died a death I’m still coming to terms with the fact my relationship with football has been strained and whether or not I’ll ever feel the same way about it and my club again. The history, tradition, class has been sold out, the trust has gone.

Anyway, some fucking music!…

March 2021

It’s still 2021, it’s still lockdown, everything is still rubbish – weather has been alright last week, mind. Almost like you can feel summer is on its way and it is another month… So that means a new playlist.

It’s a few days late, but who said there are any fucking rules anyway?!

#ABBAshits

ABBA, Swedish pop gods.

Frank Turner – Love Ire & Song (2008)

Frank Turner, English folky/rocky singer songwriter from down south somewhere. Used to be the frontman for Million Dead, but I can’t pretend I knew him from then or ever listened to them. Have seen him live a number of times in Oxford and Leamington (as a side for a grander venue, I think the Assembly Rooms might be my favourite)

#supergrasshits

Supergrass, local(ish) boys from Oxford. Quintessential 90s Britpop band. First saw them live at an acoustic show in one of the theatres in Oxford (not the big one) but the best performance I’ve seen of theirs was the final “homecoming” show of a tour at the Zodiac.

February 2021

2021, the year that isn’t 2020, is in actual fact just more 2020. Covid still about? Yep. Here have some snow to deal with. Christmas out of the way? Yep. Don’t worry, work will carry on just as busy. Everything is still a bag of shit and there’s no sight of that light at the end of the tunnel.

On the plus side I’ve found a whole heap of new music (and revisited some old new music) – more than enough for 10 fresh hits this month and probably already enough to get by for a few months to come.

#blink182shits

Blink 182, an American pop/punk trio that will (in my eyes) always be Mark, Tom & Travis. Apparently there was some other drummer when they formed for a bit and at this moment Tom DeLonge has been replaced by Matt Skiba (of Alkaline Trio fame), you learn something new everyday. I’ve not actually seen them live, but a fun fact for you – I had tickets for a gig but they canceled the gig just after 9/11 and never got rescheduled.

#idlewildshits

Idlewild, Scottish band at their best alt/indie rock, in their latter years a little middle of the road. One of the bands that late night viewings on MTV2 in the day helped me find. Also remember the one and only time I utilised Shazam properly on a night out in Oxford. Saw them live in Gloucester, a memorable night.