The After Party

Yesterday, at the magazine I write for, I was set the thankless task of coming up with the five best rock-based 'after party' tunes of all time. After conducting a small survey, this was the final result:

The after-party means different things to different people: all back to mine to get stoned and fall asleep on the couch; or let's dance on the table and crack on till Monday. There’s also the variety of musical tastes to consider as well as the varied states of inebriation to contend with. My selection below should help you get the right result at precisely the right times.

Kasabian – ‘Shoot The Runner’
If you’re pushing on into the next day and you’ve got a few gurning gremlins descending on your gaff, this middle ground between rock and dance should steer them safely through the blinding storm and onto your comfortable couch.

Blood Red Shoes – ‘It's Getting Boring By The Sea (Blamma! Blamma! Red Shoes Mix)’
Yeh, it’s a band with only two people in it and yeh, one of them is a girl of slight appearances. But looks can be deceiving because the first few crunching chords of this riotous banshee-summons will instantly turn your peaceful little living room into a full-on moshpit.

The Gossip – ‘Standing In The Way Of Control’
Before you’ve had time to dress your wounds and have a quick lie down, Beth Ditto’s gay rights anthem will pull you back into the maelstrom. If you’re not too far gone, try digging out the Soulwax remix to really give it some thump. Possibly the best piece of music in the history of mankind.

Dolly Parton – ‘Nine To Five’
The perky Tennessean’s classic homage to the working week is guaranteed to get a flagging crowd back up on its sore feet. Big thanks must be imparted towards 2manydjs (there they are again) for their ultimate after-party release - As Heard on Radio Soulwax Vol.2 – which mashed Dolly with Destiny’s and 10cc.

The Open – ‘Forever’
This is for when the party is, sadly, drawing to a close. The eyes are starting to hollow and the word ‘duvet’ is on everyone’s lips. Slip on this ethereal masterpiece and allow the Liverpudlian five-piece to gently glide you into a dreamworld soundtracked entirely by Talk Talk and early U2.

Here, in no particular order, are the ‘also-rans’ from the quick poll I took of various after-party regulars:

The Libertines - Can't Stand Me Now
The Verve - Bitter Sweet Symphony
Led Zeppelin - Since I've Been Loving You
Carl Douglas - Kung Fu Fighting
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - Is This Love
Interpol - Rest my Chemistry
B-52's - Rock Lobster
Rammstein - Du Hast
Stabbing Westward - Save Yourself
KrissKross - Jump
The Streets – Fot But You Know It
The Pixies - Debaser
The Killers – Mr Brightside
Foo Fighers - Razor
Bon Jovi - Living On A Prayer
Chilli Peppers - Under The Bridge
Fat Larrys Band – Zoom
The Only Ones - Another Girl, Another Planet
AC/DC - Back in Black
The White Stripes - Seven Nation Army
Chumbawumba – Tub Thumping
Terrorvision - Tequila
Rolling Stones - Sympathy for the Devil
Any Placebo song
Any Pogues song
Any Scissor Sisters song