December 31, 2011

"Nick and Socorro broke up
And Candice wouldn’t shut up
Fin he recorded the whole thing
Ray he said damn you
And someone broke my camera
And it was New Year's
And we all started to sing."

When most people think that ABBA - Happy New Year is the ultimate song for this day I think otherwise. It has got to be this song.

Happy New Year everyone, 2012 will be the best year so far.

Tom Waits - New Years Eve is found on the record "Bad as me" released in 2011.

December 30, 2011

"D'you know the best way to kill a man? 

To make it hurt the most?

To twist the knife in his heart and soul, and laugh when he screams and dies?

You put the blade in his best friend's hand

And you kill the poor bugger with love."

Somehow I think that this text and this song works together to make a perfect match.
Sometimes, however, a perfect match does not work together...

Mono - The kidnapper bell is found on the record "Under the pipal tree" released in 2001. The text above is found in the Hellblazer comic book "End of the line" released in 1993.

December 29, 2011

"And I go:
Wait, what are you talking about, we decided!?
My best interest?! How can you know what's my best interest is?
How can you say what my best interest is? What are you trying to say, I'm crazy?
When I went to your schools, I went to your churches,
I went to your institutional learning facilities?! So how can you say I'm crazy?"

A song about doing everything that everyone else expect you to do. I recognise the situation; I have been there so many times myself, ending up doing what other expect you to do because they say so.

But I am learning, more often then not I prioritise my best interest these days.

Suicidal Tendencies - Institutionalized is found on the record "Suicidal Tendencies" released in 1983.

December 28, 2011

"I miss you so much boy
but I was buried in the mines
I found it hard to stop
you found me very hard to find."

I have friends that I do not speak to that often, friends that I do not meet that often. But whenever we meet it takes about two minutes before everything is "as usual".

This song always bring tears to my eyes. It is a song that I would like to dedicate to these friends. They have been there forever in the past. I do hope and believe that they will be there forever in the future.

Kashmir - Rocket brothers is found on the record "Zitilites" released in 2003.

December 27, 2011

"Stay
Gonna stay
With you
On an ice-covered hill
And I'll never come down

These people
They don't know
How it feels
How it feels
With you

I look away
I see sadness
I see pain
But with you
I see hope."

Yesterday I run into a person that once upon a time meant a lot to me. I have not seen her in years still it felt good to speak to her for a while. But of course nostalgia hit me afterwards, after all she could have been the one.

But then again the only way is forward. As good as it was to see her and to catch up I am eager to discover the future instead of being nostalgic about the past.

The Rapture - Sail away is found on the record "In the grace of your love" released in 2011.

December 26, 2011

"Silent night, Holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon Virgin Mother and Child
Holy Infant so tender and mild
Sleep in Heavenly peace
Sleep in Heavenly peace."

Ok one more Christmas song. Likely the worst one eve. At least in this version ;-)

Jingle Cats - Silent night is found on the record "Meowy Christmas" released in 1993.

December 25, 2011

 

"The boys of the NYPD choir
Were singing "Galway Bay"
And the bells were ringing out
For Christmas day."

Christmas Day. Another Christmas song. This time a song about a spending a Christmas far away from spending time with friends and family, stuffing yourself full with food and receiving gifts. My thoughts to you.

The Pogues - Fairytale of New York is found on the record "If I should fall from grace with God" released in 1991.

December 24, 2011

"Wish I was at home for Christmas."

Well it is Christmas Eve after all, this is my favourite Christmas song of all times. And it was never even intended to be a Christmas song. But that is another story.

Jona Lewie - Stop the cavalry is found on the record "Best of" released in 2008.

December 23, 2011

"Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.

The stockings were hung be the chimney with care,

In hopes that St. nicholas soon would be there."

To all, a good night.

"Twas the night before Christmas" poem was published by Clement Clarke Moore December 23, 1823.

December 22, 2011

 

"So, I'm going home
I must hurry home
So will my life go on

Yes, I'm going home
Going home alone
And your life goes on"

Yes I do know that Sophie Zelmani just recently released a new album. But since I am travelling to my hometown today in order to celebrate Christmas together with my family I do believe that this is appropriate.

Sophie Zelmani - Going home is found on the record "Sing and dance" released in 2002.

December 21, 2011

"Is it awkward?"

There are many reasons why you have to love Masquer. Masquer is the best new Swedish band this year. Most likely my favourite Swedish album of year too. And you of course you got to love a band who named their record using a line in a The Cure song (the song is The Hanging Garden by the way.).


Masquer - Flings is found on the record "Cover my face as the animals cry" released in 2011.

December 20, 2011

"We hold each other closer, as we shift to overdrive
And eveyrthing goes rushing by, with every nerve alive
We move so fast it seems as though we've taken to the sky
Love machines in harmony, we hear the engines cry."

There are certain songs that I cannot resist. They may be happy, they may be sad. Or in this case a silly song but a silly song that I cannot resist.

Judas Priest - Turbo lover is found on the record "Turbo" released in 1986.

December 19, 2011

"You gotta love the lie
You gotta love the lie
Love(love) life (life)
Love(love) God, girls and lies."

You shouldn't lie. But on the other hand you do not necessary have to tell the truth. Keep that in mind.

Sage Francis - Love the lie is found on the record "Li(f)e" released in 2010.

December 18, 2011

"Heavy night, it was a heavy night
Feels like we've just, come back from the dead
Heavy night, it was a heavy night
I cannot remember what I said 

To anyone."

Christmas party yesterday. Hangover today.

Bloc Party - Sunday is found on the record "A weekend in the city" released in 2007.

December 17, 2011

"There is a train we take downtown
That buckles and bends from the weight of the ground.
You'll slowly lose faith in gravity
And give up the urge to sweat, and charm,and love, and breathe."

I have mentioned this before but I will have to mention it at least one more time, 2011 has in my opinion been a great music year. A year where I have discovered new artists, new groups, new albums and new songs. One of the bands that I have discovered this year is The War On Drugs; I do hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

The War On Drugs - Black water falls is found on the record "Slave ambient" released in 2011.

December 16, 2011

"Post break-up sex
that helps you forget your ex,
What did you expect from post break up sex?"

Tonight The Vaccines plays live in Stockholm. I wish I could go because my gut feeling tells me this will be a great show. Unfortunately I need to priorize a few other things like the Christmas party of year...

The Vaccines - Post break-up sex is found on the record "What did you expect from The Vaccines?" released in 2011.

December 15, 2011

"It was a beautiful day, the sun beat down
I had the radio on, I was drivin?
Trees went by, me and Del were singin?
Little runaway, I was flyin?"

Earlier today I got the wonderful news that Tom Petty will visit Sweden for the first time since 1992. I will do whatever I can to get a ticket to his show because Tom Petty is one of fairly few artists that I have not seen in a live appearance that I really want to see live.

Tom Petty is one of kind by the way. He is an artist that everyone seems to like. People that I know may not love him but I have never ever heard anyone say that I they do not like the music of Tom Petty.

Tom Petty - Running down a dream is found on the record "Full moon fever" released in 1989.

December 14, 2011

 

"There are scenes
There are blues
"There are boots
There are shoes
There are Turks
There are fools
They're in lockers
They're in schools
They're in you
Then there was you."

Well, well, well it is time to take a trip in the time machine back to the days when gothic rock was something new and innovative. Time has taken its toll in my opinion but some songs of that era is still damn good. Like this one.

Bauhaus - Third uncle is found on the record "The sky's gone out" released in 1982.

December 13, 2011

"Sold my plasma in Amsterdam.
Spent it all in a night,
buying drinks at the Melk Weg
for a soldier in drag.
And I'll search the world over
for my angel in black.
Yeah, I'll search the world over
for a Eurotrash Girl."

Lately the Euro has been questioned and the future is uncertain. Personally I have never been a fan of the Euro. Euro-trash girls though, mmmm that is a completly different thing...

Cracker - Euro-trash girl is found on the record "Kerosene hat" released in 1993.

December 12, 2011

“It can wait. 

Everything else can wait. 

We sleep in. 

We sleep in late.”

I am old enough to remember the good old times when MTV actually viewed music videos. These days it is harder to watch music videos on TV but still I find a music video that is beyond the ordinary every now and then.

What is beyond the ordinary in this video is that the music and the video do not make sense so to speak. Hazy and soft music together with a video filled with motorcycle scenes (from the movie "The girl on a motorcycle made in 1968). But it works, it works really well too. And what is even better, tonight Widowspeak plays live in Stockholm, it will be good. I just know it.

Widowspeak - Burnout is found on the record "Widowspeak" released in 2011.

December 11, 2011

"I have torn through the pages of the years I have wasted
Then I have stolen all my stories just 

Is about me now still above me now."

Band names. A neverending discussion that I have together with a friend. It is not very often that we agree but in this case we do. This is one of the strangest, yet cool, band names that we can think of? What is your opinion, let me know.

We Were Promised Jetpacks - Medicine is found on the record "In the pit of the stomach" released in 2011.

December 10, 2011

"Don't be concerned it's time I learned
That those who play with fire get burned
But I'll be alright in a little while
But you'll be permanently lonely."

Sometimes a certain song gets stuck in my mind for a day or two or a week or so. For some reason this song has been stuck on my mind today. Maybe there is a reason but I have not figured it out yet. Or... Maybe I do know exactly why after all...

Willie Nelson - Permanently lonely is found on the record "Good times" released in 1969.

December 9, 2011

"But I can't stop thinking ´bout Audrey,

I just can't shake off Audrey."

I believe that there are a few songs that come too close. The type of songs that tear up a wound inside every time I hear that song. This is one of them, a song about missing someone. Missing someone a lot. 

But I guess there is an Audrey in everyone’s life. Or as Edna St Vincent Millay once put it:

"Where you used to be, there is a hole in the world, which I find myself constantly walking around in the daytime, and falling in at night. I miss you like hell."

Songdog - The time of summer lightning is found on the record "The time of summer lightning" released 2005.

December 8, 2011

"I hate to turn up out of the blue uninvited
But I couldn't stay away, I couldn't fight it.
I had hoped you'd see my face and that you'd be reminded
That for me it isn't over.

Never mind, I'll find someone like you
I wish nothing but the best for you too
Don't forget me, I beg
I remember you said,
"Sometimes it lasts in love but sometimes it hurts instead,
Sometimes it lasts in love but sometimes it hurts instead,"
Yeah."

A dear friend once said "a good song is a fucking good song". Adele is one of them commercial artists that I am not "supposed" to like but then again a good song is a fucking good song.

Adele - Someone like you is found on the record "21" released in 2011.

December 7, 2011

"And now, a word from the president!
Damn it feels good to be a gangsta
Gettin voted into the white house
Everything lookin good to the people of the world."

I am about to scrap a car today. Kind of "gangsta" isn't it...

Geto Boys - Damn it feels good to be a gangsta is found on the record "Uncut dope" released in 1992.

December 6, 2011

"So I spent the night in someone’s house that you ..
Oh simple me that ..but we haven’t
A common burn
A common burn."

Finally, after 15 long years without a sound, the wonderful band Mazzy Star is back with new material. Even though 15 years have passed it feels familiar, how I have missed the whispering, and angel-like voice of Hope Sandoval.

Mazzy Star - Common burn will (hopefully) be found on a forthcoming record to be released in 2012.

December 5, 2011

"I don't know why I dream this way
The sky is purple and things are right every day
I don't know, it's just this world's so far away
But I won't fight, and I won't hate
Well not today."

Back in London, the end of the trip this time. It has been an awesome trip in the countryside, in towns. Walking around, visiting rock clubs and the fullfillment of the Real Ale Trail (and "no" I will not say anything more about that). All I can say right now is... Shine on.

The House Of Love - Shine on is found on the record "The house of love" released in 1990.

December 4, 2011

"And one and one is two
But three is company
When you're thinking about the things you do
And you're thinking about the things you do
 

I want to tell you my tale
How I failed in love and jumped out on my bail
Do you understand there's more in a smile than in a hand
In every sky, in every kiss
There's one thing that you might have missed."

Another day in Manchester. Surprisingly beautiful town; I was expecting a somewhat dirtier and more industrialized town. Well what do you know?

Of course I need to highlight another band from Manchester and like the town this song is damn beautiful. And so sad.

The Verve - History is found on the record "A northern soul" released in 1995.

November 3, 2011

"Sing me to sleep
Sing me to sleep
I don't want to wake up
On my own anymore." 

Manchester. The home town of so many great bands. I can easily publish 20 videos today but in the end I made up my mind for this one. Because in my opinion this is the best song from the Manchester band.

The Smiths - Asleep is found on the record "Louder than bombs" released in 1987.

December 2, 2011

"If I make it through today,
I'll know tomorrow not to leave my feelings out on display.
I'll put the cobwebs back in place.
I've never been too good with names,
but I remember faces."

Leeds! What the hell am I doing in Leeds? Well there are reasons; the main one is that I am going to a Lemonhead concert tonight. But you never know I may be able to meet Andrew Eldritch the mythical frontman of The Sisters Of Mercy too.

The Lemonheads - It's a shame about Ray is found on the record "It's a shame about Ray" released in 1992.

December 1, 2011

"Take one day at a time
Anything else you can leave behind
Only one thing at a time
Anything more really hurts your mind."

The Panda Bear is, as everybody knows, a huge black and white bear that lives in China (or in zoos), a conservation reliant endangered species.

I hardly believe that the Panda Bear I will catch live in London tonight is endangered; nevertheless I am looking forward to the show.

Panda Bear -Take pills is found on the record "Person pitch" released in 2007.