Welcome to the world of fantasy albums where music fans are put to the test to decipher their ultimate album. Last time Telegram’s Jordan Cook revealed his fantasy album tracklisting. This week’s fantasy album comes from Welsh new-wavers The Hearts with their album entitled Van Glam.
The rules are simple(ish): they can’t repeat an artist, and to just make it that little bit more interesting – they have to use the same track number from another album i.e track 1 could be the opening track of the wonderful Stone Roses’ debut ‘I Wanna Be Adored‘. Track 2 could be Blur’s ‘Song 2‘. You get the idea.
1. Oasis – Acquiesce
A huge, booming and important track from an album that’s a compilation of B-sides, believe it or not, and we love that. It gets played in our dressing room before we go on stage to get us pumped.
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2. Kanye West – Black Skinhead
It’s the track we’ve been walking on stage to, inspired by the film Wolf Of Wall Street. A stomp pumped glittery rock track that’ll make your head explode.
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3. The Strokes – Two Kinds Of Happiness
It’s the perfect driving song on a summer’s day accompanied by brilliant lyrics. Nick Valensi’s guitar sounds are a joy.
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4. Elvis Costello and the Attractions – Pump It Up
Couldn’t leave this song out. A toe tapping wonder. An exciting and physically powerful number from the Stiff Records era. Costello’s moves in the music video just add to the whole package of this track.
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5. Manics Street Preachers – You Love Us
The Welsh wonders. Couldn’t leave ‘em out. You Love Us is a ballsy, charismatic track that seems to always pop up in our tour playlist.
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6. Temper Trap – Fader
By far Temper Trap’s best tune that never got the love is fully deserved, so we’re giving it some now.
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7. DOGS – Little Pretenders
A couple of us toured with this band when were 18 years old. Their shows would always go off. They’re not only top blokes but wrote some incredible material. The conviction in singer, Johnny’s (Cooke) vocal is really admirable.
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8. White Lies – Farewell To The Fairground
A track that pretty much launched these guy’s careers and rightly so. Remember seeing them in Bristol a couple years back and the floor went wild for this number.
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9. The Who – Won’t Get Fooled Again
One of the best British bands of all time. Everything about them is brilliant, including this smash.
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10. The Killers – The River Is Wild
Never a single, but melodically incredible like most of Brandon’s (Flowers) work. No major explanation needed. We love The Killers.
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Bonus Track – Bruce Springsteen – Dancing In The Dark
If you’re gonna be cheeky and blag a bonus track onto your album you’ve gotta pick Bruce to send you home. Timeless classic.
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A slightly naughty 11 track fantasy album for Van Glam. The Hearts certainly wear their influences on their sleeves as The Killers, Temper Trap and White Lies can be heard on their recent single ‘Run Free‘. The band have already been playlisted on XFM and BBC Radio One and have just finished a UK tour that included BBC Radio One’s Big Weekend, but for those of you who have missed out so far you can still catch them live at The X Music Festival in Cardiff in June. Tickets are available here. And have just been added to the T In The Park Festival line up in Scotland.
For all things The Hearts visit the website here after checking out their latest single ‘Run Free‘ below.
