8track: Shirock

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...



Shirock are a pop-rock band from Nashville. Their debut album, Everything Burns, was released in February to great acclaim, even though they have enjoyed success in the US for a few years now. Their first music video, for their single New Solution, was picked up by American Eagle Outfitters, for whom Pap from the band was modelling. They've even had their songs featured on Rockband III! Furthermore, they have their own clothing line, Irock Clothing, and founded their own non-profit organisation in 2009 called Everything Burns. They're busy guys! Let's see what they like to listen to.

New Order - Ceremony
This song embodies the heartbreak in so much of Joy Division’s music, but also has the simple, incredible instrumental melodies and pop sensibility found in many New Order songs. That combination, and the amazing driving rhythm, make it easily one of our favourite songs.

Robyn - Dancing On My Own
We admit we liked Robyn back when she first arrived on the scene in the 90’s with a couple mediocre pop songs, but the music she’s been putting out since she launched her own label is some of the best electro-dance-pop music we’ve ever heard. We’ve been able to see Robyn a few times live, one of the times being just her with acoustic piano accompaniment, and she has an incredible voice. Also love the quirky lyrics, which are usually quite a bit smarter than the average club tune. It is impossible not to dance to this song (always a good thing).

Peter Gabriel - Don't Give Up
Peter Gabriel is one of our all time favourite artists, and this song is a great example of why: beautiful melodies, incredible vocals, amazing production, and in the end it’s just a song that always inspires us to keep going.

Smashing Pumpkins - Tonight, Tonight
We have listened to, and been inspired by, The Smashing Pumpkins since middle school – they are one of the first bands we really fell in love with. The marriage of the vocal melodies, lyrics and instrumentation is unparalleled. 

Florence + The Machine - Shake It Out
Florence Welch is one of those rare artists (especially in recent years) who, to us, is a complete package.  Wonderfully unforgettable melodies paired with lyrics that have depth, songs with great rhythm, and incredible vocals.  It’s hard to pick out just one song of hers that’s a favourite!

Fleetwood Mac - Landslide
Some songs just have a way of always being relevant over the years, whenever you listen to them – a timeless quality that no matter what you’re going through, speaks directly to you, as if they were written for you… Stevie Nicks also has one of the greatest female voices – no one sounds like her.

Prince - Purple Rain
This song is an amazing example of virtuoso both in voice & guitar. And it’s incredibly emotional – not many songs can be those things at once. And to think that it was recorded at a live show! The end vocal falsetto part will always be one of our favourite moments on any record.

Radiohead - Motion Picture Soundtrack
One of our favourite bands; we have listened to and loved them since their first album came out nearly 20 years ago. They have so many amazing songs and we have many, many favourites – this song is simply beautiful.

Check out Shirock on Facebook, Twitter or check out their very comprehensive website

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