The 1979 ZIG ZAG Reader’s Poll

Its That time of year for readers and listeners polls. In the light of the XFM Top 1000 Best British Songs Of All Time I thought I would go back in my time machine and see what what was happening in those far off days off Punk Rock.    

So these are the best singles from:
The 1979 ZIG ZAG Readers Poll from back in the day.

Best Single

1. Staircase (Mystery) - Siouxsie And The Banshees

2. Public Image - Public Image Ltd

3. Damaged Goods - Gang of 4

4. Hong Kong Garden - Banshees

5. White Man (In Hammersmith Palais) - The Clash

6. Where Were You - The Mekons

7. In A Rut - The Ruts

8. Teenage Kicks - Undertones

9. Cost of Living EP - The Clash

10. Down In The Tube- The Jam

11. Fairytale In The Supermarket - Raincoats

12. Strange Town - The Jam

13. English Civil War - The Clash

14. Memory - Johnny Thunders

15. Stop Your Sobbing - Pretenders

16. Tommy Gun - The Clash

17. Ambition - Subway Sect

18. Love Song - The Damned

19. Killing An Arab - The Cure

20. Get Over You - Undertones

Last Years Winner - Complete Control - Clash


Sweeeeeeeeeeeetttttttttttt!

Chapel Club

Its nearly 2011 and finally Chapel Club are due to release their debut album Palace on January 31st. They were another gem of a band that appeared on Jools Hollands later this year in between the usual eclectic choices of music. A great guitar based band who so far have released this year Five Trees, All The Eastern Girls and my favourite so far; O Maybe I. It has hints of Morrissey and has very catchy lyrics "O maybe I should settle down to a quiet life/O maybe I should chance it all on a perfect night ..."

They are similar to the Editors and White Lies but don't give their influences on their Myspace page. They are touring in the New Year and will be playing Heaven in London on 16th February before touring Europe. They will be releasing a new single Surfacing on January 24th. Another reason to be Cheerful in 2011!

Mona included in BBC Sound of 2011 list

The initial list of bands for 2011 has been announced this week. The list was compiled by "recommendations from more than 160 influential UK taste makers, who were asked to name their favourite new acts." according to BBC News BBC Sound of 2011

Among the list are 'fifties throwbacks' Mona who recently were featured this year on BBC later with Jools Holland. They are supporting White Lies in February 2011 and are also on their own tour at the moment featuring in the XFM Winter Wonderland on 15th December and also in the MTV Brand New 2011 show at London Koko on 26th January with Claire MacGuire. The main singles so far are Listen to your love  and current single Trouble on the way. Check out their website or the excellent fifties influenced video for Listen To Your Love.

Other notable bands in the BBC Sound of 2011 list are Warpaint, The Vaccines and Claire MacGuire.The list will be narrowed down to 5 main bands in January.

Zola Jesus Stridulum II

Zola Jesus has released various singles and EPs. I had heard her mentioned before but I didn't really discover her music until after a mention in the Guardian Guide. Her real name is Nika Roza Danilova originally from Wisconsin but now based in LA. She is a classically trained opera singer. Her music has been described as Goth She has been compared to Siouxsie Sioux and Florence Welch as well as Lydia Lunch. There are definitely strong influences but she prefers to have her music described as progressive.

Her latest EP follows on from Stridulum that according to Zola was influenced by the Sci-fi movie of the same name by Giulio Paradisi. Her earlier music is more experimental but this is - dare I say it? - more commercial. Synth and drums make for powerful atmospheric songs the best being Night, I can’t stand and the final track, Lightsick. She makes music for herself rather than to please record companies and I look forward to hearing what she does next.