NMA Mix for a Noob

[kinboshi]

I'm sure this has been done before, but might as well get some new opinions on this anyway.

A friend of mine hasn't listened to any NMA stuff before, but was introduced to the Levellers and loves them, especially the mosh-pit during the gig.  I said he should have a listen to NMA and see if he likes them, and then come to the gig in Nottingham in December.

So, if we limit it to 10 tracks, which songs would you put on the mix as an introduction to NMA?

Green & Grey will be one of the ten, that's a given.  But what about the other nine?

[Barty]

Hi kinboshi

It's hard to know without knowing some of the other stuff your mate likes (other than the Levellers) but a fair introduction covering a fair span of NMA sounds would be, based on one from each album chronologically, excluding G&G from T&C which you've mentioned:

Vengeance
Ambition
Lovesongs
Lust for Power
Fate
Over the Wire
Orange Tree Roads
Red Earth
One of the Chosen
Autumn

Either way, the gig would be a great idea 

[Brian-DC]

I've made a few of these things for friends and none of them have had the same songs. 

I think the most important part of creating one is to get the order right.  It needs to be like their live shows, with peaks and valleys.  Dynamics is key.  There are songs you want to jump up to and others you want to stand back and just listen.  It needs to be a journey.  Every NMA song is different so capturing a few of the different moods in the right order will make all the difference in the world.  I start out fast, ease back a little bit, eventually getting really mellow and then ramping it all back up towards the end.  The best way to experience the band is seeing them live, so I'd make sure the introduction to the band makes a similar statement.

[kinboshi]

Thanks for the replies.  It's a tough one, as everyone has the NMA tracks they prefer and think others should like as well!

I start out fast, ease back a little bit, eventually getting really mellow and then ramping it all back up towards the end.

You're talking about the mix-tape here yeah? 

[kinboshi]

Gone with a lot of the suggestions, and some of my own.  Had to extend it to 18 tracks though, and that was me being ruthless! Just sorting them into an appropriate order now.

I'm excited for him, hearing these for the first time - and a little jealous.


01. Dawn
02. Turn Away
03. Drummy B
04. Fate
05. Red Earch
06. Disappeared
07. States Radio
08. Vengeance
09. Purity
10. One of the Chosen
11. Courage
12. Lovesongs
13. No Rest
14. White Coats
15. Vagabonds
16. Rumour & Rapture 1650
17. Orange Tree Roads
18. Green & Grey

Some of those are live version, as I think a lot of them sound better live.

[MARKXE]

Thats a pretty good selection.

[paul74]

charlie brooker the tv critic once said of the wire that he was envious of people who had never seen the programme 'the wire' as he knew what a treat they were in for.....I think that's how I feel when I hear about people who are just sampling NMA for the first time:)

[Master Ray]

Oh, I'm gonna like this, an NMA mix right off the top of my head, because if I try and think about it, we'll be here all night...

OK!

BIGO / Wonderful Way To Go (live from ...Nobody Else)
Fate
Modern Times
Purity
Green And Grey
Too Close To The Sun
High
Better Than Them
Here Comes The War
Fireworks Night

I'm gonna post this now, but I know damn well that in ten minutes, I'll think 'WHAT?  How did you leave out (whatever track...)

That's the beauty of NMA... too many great tracks to choose from...