May 31, 2012

"There is a reason I said I'd be happy alone. 

It wasnt because I thought I would be happy alone. 

It was because I thought if I loved someone and then it fell apart, I might not make it. 

It's easier to be alone. 

Because what if you learn that you need love? 

And then you don't have it. 

What if you like it? And lean on it? 

What if you shape your life around it? And then it falls apart? 

Can you even survive that kind of pain? 

Losing love is like organ damage. It's like dying. 

The only difference is, death ends. 

This? It could go on forever . . ."

“I still think about you, lots sometimes” is the opening line of this song. 

“It makes me sad when I think about you lots sometimes” is the second line of this song.

These two lines pretty much summarizes how I feel today. Nostalgia is a tender trap… Lots sometimes.

Glasvegas – Lot's sometimes is found on the record "Euphoric heartbreak" released in 2011. The text above is a quote from the tv-series "Grey's anatomy". This is the end quote of Season 7, Episode 22 "Unaccompanied minor" spoken by the character Meridith Grey (Ellen Pompeo)

May 30, 2012

“I know places we can go babe. 

I know places we can go babe. 

Where the highs won’t bring you down babe. 

No, the highs won’t hurt you there babe.”

From yesterday’s anger to something beautiful. Lykke Li released one of my favourite records of 2011 with this song as the peak of the album. Although the song has a fairly sad mood it is a song that fills me with happiness, relief and relaxation.

Lykke Li – I know places is found on the record “Wounded rhymes” released in 2011.

May 29, 2012

"Anger is an energy."

I am a person that very seldom gets angry. But I did today, what started as a rather silly thing ended up in me exploding.

In some ways I regret it afterwards, in some ways I felt electric.

Public Image Ltd – Rise is found on the record “Album” released in 1986.

May 28, 2012

"Well, every morning I deliver the news
Black hat, white shoes, and I'm red all over
She's got a pink mailbox that she puts out front
Garbage in,
Garbage out,
She's getting what she wants."

I have already mentioned that Mark Lanegan is one of the most productive people in the music business. Someone else that must be mentioned in the same category is Jack White. Following a career that included White Stripes, The Raconteurs and The Dead Weather he has now released a solo album.

And as always when Jack White is involved it is high quality stuff.

Jack White – Sixteen saltines is found on the record “Blunderbuss” released in 2012.

May 27, 2012

“Mother

Tell your children not to walk my way

Tell your children not to hear my words

What they mean

What they say

Mother.”

This one is for all you mothers out there. It is Mother’s day after all.

Danzig – Mother is found on the record “Danzig” released in 1988.

May 26, 2012

"Some photographs of a summer's day
A little boy's lifetime away
Is all I've left of everything we've done
Like a pale moon in a sunny sky
Death gazes down as i pass by
To remind me that I'm but my father's son."

Today three years ago my father passed.

Life eventually gets better. Life will never be the same again.

I miss you dad. Each and every day.

Billy Bragg – Tank park salute is found on the record "Don’t try this at home" released in 1991.

May 25, 2012

"Anytime,
baby let`s go
Everyday should be a holiday."

It would be natural to publish the brand new Dandy Warhols single today but since the title is “Sad vacation” it does not seem appropriate Friday music.

Instead a song that is spot on to kick of the weekend.

The Dandy Warhols – Every day should be a holiday is found on the record “…The Dandy Warhols come down” released in 1997

May 24, 2012

"Believe you are the one, but I was riding away
I kinda followed the sun
And it feels so good inside, when you survive
Faster than an engine, feeling right
You are the one."

It is time to bring you some noise rock again. I sometimes find it hard to believe that I like this kind of music since my favourite tunes normally are mellow, low-voiced music.

But maybe this is the balance, the yin and yang of music so to speak.

A Place To Bury Strangers – You are the one is found on the record “Worship” released in 2012.

May 23, 2012

"And for one second, I lost my head
And for one second, I wished you were dead
And for one second, you wish that you were here all alone
Hold back the tears that could fall for me."

To my surprise I learned today that Paradise Lost visited Stockholm a week ago something that slipped under my radar. Well, as a compensation... this song.

Paradise Lost - One second is found on the record "One second" released in 1997

May 22, 2012

"Here comes the rain again
Falling on my head like a memory
Falling on my head like a new emotion."

A rainy day today, at least in my heart and mind...

Eurythmics – Here comes that rain again is found on the record “Touch” released in 1983.

May 21, 2012

"We'll take you for a ride."

A taste of great things to come. How I dearly wish that I was in possession of the entire Toy debut album. The one who waits for something good, never waits for too long…

Toy – Motoring will be (?) found on a forthcoming record scheduled to be released in September 2012.

May 20, 2012

"Smoother than the L.A. weather
That's how he holds himself together
He is colder than the winter
I wrap my coat around
To better counteract
his charm attack."

Wikipedia defines "One-hit-wonder" as "a person or act known mainly for only a single success".

In my opinion this is a description that fits right in when it comes to Leona Naess. On the other hand you may also see a "one-hit-wonder" as a person or act that scores one major hit more than most musicians...

Leona Naess – Charm attack is found on the record ”Comatised” released in 2000.

May 19, 2012

“Gonna keep on dancing to the rock and roll
On Saturday night, Saturday night
Dancing to the rhythm in our heart and soul
On Saturday night, Saturday night.”

Saturday night, life is good. Simple as that.

Bay City Rollers – Saturday night is found on the record “Rollin’” released in 1974.

May 18, 2012

"Why would you live anywhere else?
Why would you live anywhere else?
We've got the ocean, got the babes
Got the sun, we've got the waves
This is the only place
This is the only place
This is the only place
This is the only place for me."

This is a simple but honest long song about California, a song that pretty much summarizes Best Coasts, but also my, feelings for the “Golden State”.

Best Coast – The only place is found on the record “The only place” released in 2012.

May 17, 2012

"Je te le jure tu as ma parole
je te dis la vérité
je t'explique ce qui s'est passé
dis moi je ne suis pas si conne
tu es comme moi comme moi
je te dis la vérité
j'en suis bien fachée."

Vive La Fete live in Stockholm tonight, a strong candidate to win the “concert of the year” award in 2012.

Vive La Fete – La verite is found on the record "Grand Prix" released in 2005.

May 16, 2012

”Jump on the tiger
You can feel his heart but you know he's mean
Some light can never be seen.”

Many years ago I heard the expression "old rockers never die; they stay forever on the guest list". Today two years ago Ronnie James Dio sadly became a member of the eternal guest list. His music is immortal though.

Dio – Holy diver is found on the record “Holy diver” released in 1983.

May 15, 2012

"There is no hope of love for me
From here on I'm a stag
The only girl I'll ever love is
Andrew in drag.”

“Love may be blind, but it can sure find its way around in the dark!” is a quote I heard the other day. This is a quote that I believe summarizes this song in a nutshell.

Love may not always be what it seems to be. But if it is right, it sure is right.

Magnetic Fields - Andrew in drag is found on the record “Love at the bottom of the sea” released in 2012.

May 14, 2012

"Ashes to ashes, funk to funky
We know Major Tom's a junkie
Strung out in heaven's high
Hitting an all-time low."

At a party on Saturday night I was asked “which is your favourite David Bowie song?”

“Suffragette city” I replied.

Thinking about it now I realize that I must have been slightly under the influence because how could I possibly forget about this one?

David Bowie – Ashes to ashes is found on the record “Scary monsters (and super creeps)” released in 1980.

May 13, 2012

“But I'd love to see you 

Before I leave

I leave next weekend

I'm not ready to go.”

And speaking about Blonde Redhead… If I would make a top 10 list of the songs I have played most times the last two years I am convinced that the list would include this song.

Again it is one of those beautiful heart-breaking songs about missing someone a lot. At the same time the song breaths a sense of relief and a hopeful future. Eminent!

Blonde Redhead – My plants are dead is found on the record “Penny Sparkle” released in 2010.

May 12, 2012

“Would you do something for me,

Do something for me?

Would you put me to sleep,

Put me to sleep?”

The first time I heard the Italian artist Mauro Remiddi, also known as “Porcelain Raft”, was when he was opening up a Blonde Redhead show. I will have to admit I did not pay that close attention to his show back then.

A couple of months later I went to a show with the band Yuck in Los Angeles, the opening act sounded strangely familiar. Yes you guessed right, it was Porcelain Raft.

Since then I have been a fan and besides that… Once again it has been proven that one should give people a second chance…

Porcelain Raft – Put me to sleep is found on the record "Strange weekend" released in 2012.

May 11, 2012

"Never gave myself a chance to care

About the things I went through in losing you."

I can never decide upon “Loosegoats” being a really good band name or a terrible one. In the end I guess it does not matter, what matters is that they play live in Stockholm tonight and I suspect it is going to be a really good concert.

Loosegoats – Disdialogic is found on the record "For sale by owner" released in 1997.

May 10, 2012

"And then she'd say, it's Ok, I got lost on the way 

but I'm a supergirl, and supergirls don't cry. 

And then she'd say, it's alright, I got home, late last night 

but I'm a supergirl, and supergirls just fly."

Late last night I came to think about a person who once upon a time was a dear friend of mine. Today we are not nearly as close as I would like us to be but that is a completely different story.

She is beautiful, charming, intelligent, astonishing and confident. She is at the same time the loneliest person I have ever met in my life. She never had someone to actually rely on, so she got used to being independent and to managing things on her own.

Just like the supergirl in this song… a girl who cannot be together with someone for a long time. She meets different guys, leaving her exes heart broken. Like a bee flying from flower to flower hoping to find something even better.

This supergirl has no emotions whatsoever (and supergirls don't cry) and likes to play with other peoples emotions.

Nowadays I just feel sorry for her...

Raemonn - Supergirl is found on the record "Tuesday" released in 2000.

May 9, 2012

“But down here in the dirt, they’ll say it doesn’t hurt.”

Harborview Hospital is a hospital located in Seattle. It is also the name of one of the songs found on the brand new album released by Mark Lanegan Band.

Further on it is one of the best songs of year 2012 so far. If someone would ask me to describe this song I would say it is like drinking a glass of perfectly chilled expensive champagne.

Mark Lanegan Band - Harborview hospital is found on the record “Blues funeral” released in 2012.

May 8, 2012

“I got a girl in the war man I wonder what it is we done.”

Some songs just fit right in. I am not sure that I get the message in this song but I do get that the song is great and that is enough for me.

Josh Ritter – Girl in the war is found on the record “The animal years” released in 2006.

May 7, 2012

“There's no mistake, I smell that smell

It's that time of year again, I can taste the air.”

Today I got the news that Stereophonics are working on new material that likely will be released later this year. While waiting for that record, let us head back to the very first Stereophonics single, still to this day my favourite Stereophonics song.

Stereophonics – Local boy in photograph is found on the record “Word gets around” released in 1997.

May 6, 2012

"Who's going to finish my coffee now that you're gone?"

I am obsessed with lyrics and I admire the people who are able to write songs. In some cases it may be a song about the smallest thing in your everyday life, in this case a song about a cup of unfinished coffee.

Even more impressive is the fact that this is also one of the saddest songs I have ever heard.

Rosie Thomas – Leftover coffee is found on the EP “In between" released in 2001.

May 5, 2012

“You broke my heart then you ran away

Some say you got a rotten soul

But I say Janey loves rock and roll

So you ain't got time to...

Ain't got time to mess my head, and you

Show them what you can do.”

After four long years Spiritualized is finally back with new material. It only took one listening however to realize that it has been “worth waiting for”.

Easily the best Spiritualized song since they released the phenomenal 1997 album “Ladies and gentlemen we are floating in space”.

Spiritualized - Hey Jane is found on the record “Sweet heart, sweet light” released in 2012

May 4, 2012

“Simple solution never confusion sport a gun kill a cop

crazy world of weary thought so receive me had enough

lock me up lock me up.”

Sometimes I just need to back to my musical roots, back to the time when I only listened to electronic music, back to the time when I listened to Skinny Puppy nearly every day.

Skinny Puppy – Assimilate is found on the record “Bites” released in 1985.

May 3, 2012

"Well I have handed all my efforts in
I searched here for my second wind
Is there somewhere here to let me in I asked
So I slammed the doors they slammed at me
I found the place I'm meant to be
I figured out my destiny at last."

A few years ago a friend of mine was obsessed with this song; he played it over and over and over again. The end result was that he "destroyed" the song for me; I couldn't take another listening without feeling uncomfortable.

From out of the blue this song popped up again yesterday and believe it or not it felt like running into an old friend you haven't seen in years.

Kasey Chambers – The captain is found on the record "The captain" released in 1999.

May 2, 2012

"Stands a friend of broken man with hand on heart on chest
Sees the damaged butterfly and prays for her to rest
And rise above the ocean waves and fly with mended wing
Land in garden of happiness and never fall in."

Ian McCutcheon used to be the drummer of two bands that I have listened to a lot, Slowdive and Mojave 3. But then he decided that he wanted to sing and play guitar instead, The Loose Salute was born.

Anyway, based on what I have heard so far I am convinced that I will listen a lot to The Loose Salute too.

The Loose Salute – Perhaps she'll fly is found on the record "Gettiing over being under" released in 2011.

May 1, 2012

"Oh every day is just the same
oh every day is just the same."

Broder Daniel is a band that I never really understood. A lot of noise combined with a singer that cannot sing. At all.

There is one exception though, the one pearl in the shell, a song that makes perfect sense to play today (Labor Day in Sweden).

Broder Daniel – Work is found on the record "Broder Daniel" released in 1996.