8track: Stanley Odd

Picture the scene: you've just stepped out of the Hercules Moments DeLorean and you find yourself in the 90s. MC Hammer pants and Walkmen are all the rage. Deciding to ignore the fashion of the day, you pick up a Walkman and head home to 2012...

Over the past few months, we've been getting in touch with bands, celebrities and more to ask them to create eight-song-long mixtapes for YOU. So crack out your Walkman and enjoy...

Stanley Odd are a Scottish alternative hip-hop act based in Edinburgh. The honest social commentaries in their lyrics and their individual sound has won them a huge fanbase since their formation three years ago, and their latest album, Reject, was received with critical acclaim. Here are eight songs that five of the six band members think you should listen to. 

Jam Baxter - Fine (feat. Chester P)

Solayere: Dark fairytales of an underworld that echoes real life; fantastically descriptive. Chester P is a legend in UK hip-hop, but both are amazing wordsmiths. Jam Baxter’s Gruesome Features was my favourite release of 2012.
[LISTEN]

Lauryn Hill - Doo Wop (That Thing)

Veronika Electronika: She is one of my all time greatest influences, and to this day her album The Miseducation remains relevant and is utterly timeless. Her tone, melody, lyrical content and delivery throughout the album is second to none and Doo Wop is just the perfect example. Never get bored of hearing it, and it is definitely one of my favourite tracks that combines soul and hip hop effortlessly.
[LISTEN]

Prince Fatty - Insane in the Brain

Samson: A classic cover of a classic.
[LISTEN]

We See Lights - Maps and Lines

AdMac: Edinburgh band We See Lights are good friends of mine. Maps and Lines is from their new album Bloody Twenties which I understand is due to be released in March. I have filled in for Paul (bassist) on a couple of occasions and recently played a show with the band at Electric Circus as part of the Is This Music birthday party. As Maps was in the set I got a cheeky wee preview of the record so that I could learn it and instantly became a big fan of this song, which made playing the beast even better! The song and album were recorded and mastered by my good friends Craig Ross and Gary Boyle down at The Depot Studios here in Edinburgh. Be sure to check it out when it's released.
[LISTEN]

Nine Inch Nails - Closer

T-Lo: This could be many other NIN songs. I love Trent Reznor's production - it was a huge influence when I was growing up. And when you take away all the noise, distortion and disturbing themes, there's always a catchy pop song at the heart of it.
[LISTEN]

Errors - Pump

AdMac: I get a lot of inspiration from Errors and have been a fan ever since I saw them for the first time at a night called I Fly Spitfires which used to run at Cabaret Voltaire, Edinburgh. Pump is their trademark tune and the video is ace.
[LISTEN]

Brother Ali - Uncle Sam Goddamn

Solareye: ‘Now the grown up Goliath nation holding open auditions for the part of David.’ Socially relevant and heavily critical of his own country, Brother Ali has some great observations and is a fantastic storyteller. The production from Ant on this is bananas. 
[LISTEN]

Björk - Hidden Place

Samson: This is the opening track from Vespertine, which is in my top three albums of all time. I find myself listening to this album on repeat whenever I'm on tour and don't think I will ever get bored of it.
[LISTEN]

Find out more about Stanley Odd by visiting their website, following them on Facebook or Twitter, or listen to some of their songs on SoundCloud.