So, I've recently discovered the series What's In My Bag? on YouTube. It's a very simple premise: celebrity musician visits Amoeba Music in Hollywood ("The world's largest independent record store"), bags half a dozen or so vinyl LPs then presents them and why they've picked them. It's perfect capsule viewing, running anything from 2 to 20 minutes and it's utterly compelling.
The range is pleasingly eclectic: in the past month alone, the weekly series has featured Rick Astley, Jeff Parker, Fontaines D.C., Franz Ferdinand and Damien Jurado. This week's spotlight was Matt Berry and, as you might expect, it's a real treat.
Matt's selection encompasses artists I've heard of but not really heard much by (Frank Zappa, Beach House, Damien Jurado, Emma Noble, Cluster), one I'm very familiar with (Bryan Ferry) to several I've never heard before now (Tennis, Hailu Mergia & the Walias Band) but frankly, they're all great. And Matt himself is on top form, alternately self-deprecating and couldn't-give-a-shit about his musical choices.
Here's a selection from each of the featured albums, though not necessarily the same specific tracks featured in Matt's What's In My Bag? episode. Regardless, I feel another shopping spree coming on...
Watched that Matt Berry episode in full, and yes, it was great. I will definitely check out some more when I get time. My other half watches property-porn shows like Location Location Location all the time. I have no interest. But this kind of thing... it's the muso equivalent!
ReplyDeleteI can relate, Rol. Mrs K entered the room the other evening, saw that I was watching a 'South Bank Show Originals' doc on Talking Heads on Sky Arts and found something else better to do!
DeleteI've only watched a few episodes of What's In Your Bag (15 seasons to date is a lot to catch up with) but it's a fun, brisk watch with a few surprises - who would have thought Rick Astley would select Bauhaus?! John Grant (Season 14) is a also delight, as I would only have expected.