September 30, 2012

"Quiet little voices creep into my head,
I'm young again.

Quiet little voices creep inside my bedroom wall,
I'm old for you.

Little words of wisdom creep into my ears,
I'll die for you.

In any which direction, call me
I will run for you.
I'll come for you.
I'll die for you.
I'll come for you.

Quiet little voices creep into my head,
I'm young again.

Quiet little voices creep into my head,
I'm old for you.

Quiet little voices.

I'd better stop now.

Quiet little voices."

A couple of days ago I had the opportunity to catch We Were Promised Jetpacks live for the first time. First, it was one hell of a concert! 

Second, even though I have seen 1000+ concerts I am sure glad to still get such a wonderful and surprising live experience every now and then.

Third, it is almost scary how well the lyrics of this song fit in my life right now…

We Were Promised Jetpacks – Quite little voices is found on the record “These four walls” released in 2009.

September 29, 2012

"I walk away

You follow too close
The shove takes hold
And there's nowhere to go."

If I hadn't left town yesterday I would have had to make a pretty hard decision, The Wedding Present or Calexico? Obviously you know the answer already…

Why then? Well in my opinion I have a greater chance getting another opportunity to catch Calexico live in the future than I would have catching The Wedding Present live again.

Simple as that.

Calexico – Para is found on the record “Algiers” released in 2012.

September 28, 2012

"You've told him lies now for so long
Yet still he's ready to forgive
He's got you back and that's all he wants
It's a lot more than I'm left with

You don't care now that you're gone
But you know how much I miss you?
It's not fair after all you've done
That I'm so...
I still want to kiss you."

Live in Stockholm tonight, The Wedding Present.

Believe it or not.

And believe it or not; I will not be there. So annoying…

The Wedding Present – Dalliance is found on the record “Seamonsters” released in 1991.

September 27, 2012

"Every man has his secret sorrows which the world knows not;
and often times we call man cold when he is only sad."

Besides being a member of Dead Can Dance Lisa Gerrard has released solo material as well as collaborating with other artists. Together with Patrick Cassidy she released an album a few years ago that was loosely based on ancient religious verses and phrases.

The result of this collaboration is phenomenal, the music is so beautiful. And starting at 1.34 in this song you will find an example of the stunning voice of Lisa Gerrard.

Lisa Gerrard – Amergin’s invocation is found on the record “Immortal memory” released in 2004. The quote above is taken from the American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

September 26, 2012

"We live in the dreamtime
Nothing seems to last
Can you really plan a future
When you no longer have a past?"

And speak about years of silence, as Beth Orton; Dead Can Dance is finally back with new material.

Though this song lacks of the wonderful voice of Lisa Gerrard I am still finding it very, very good. It is really too bad that Dead Can Dance is not including Sweden in their ongoing tour.

Dead Can Dance – Amnesia is found on the record “Anastasis” released in 2012.

September 25, 2012

"When you feel too much to ever let it show
you turn it up, turn it down,
turn it on, turn it round and leave
When you just don’t conceive
in what you believe."

Look who is back! Six years have passed since Beth Orton’s latest record but now she is back as strong as ever. I cannot wait to hear the rest of the album.

Beth Orton – Something more beautiful is found on the forthcoming album “Sugaring season” scheduled to be released in 2012.

September 24, 2012

"He said we're going so I followed him,

He said we're leaving to fulfill this addiction lady,

He claims his crazy, should I believe him?"

I am aware that The View released a new album (“Cheeky for a reason”) earlier this year but when I am heading to their concert tonight I do hope that they will include a song that is slighter older.

A perfect way to embellish a Monday.

The View – Give back the sun is found on the record “Which bitch?” released in 2009.

September 23, 2012

“And memories may last for years
but names are just for souvenirs.”

There have been a number of cover versions of “Comfortably numb” recorded, the most known one in recent years is likely the disco version made by Scissor Sisters.

My favourite cover version is however when The Sisters Of Mercy include “Comfortably numb” in their live set lists, normally mixed together with this song.

The Sisters Of Mercy – Some kind of stranger is found on the record “First and last and always” released in 1985.

September 22, 2012

“There is no pain you are receding
A distant ship smoke on the horizon.
You are only coming through in waves.
Your lips move but I can't hear what you're saying.”

I met a friend yesterday; when we meet one of our recurring subjects is guitar solos, last night was no exception to that rule.

And as always I claimed that David Gilmore’s guitar solo closing this song is one of the best guitar solos ever. One of these days I will even convince my friend this is indeed the case.

Pink Floyd – Comfortably numb is found on the record “The wall” released in 1979.

September 21, 2012

"And we were lovers, now we can't be friends."

There is this old saying “Too many cooks spoil the broth”, in this case it could very well have been the case.

Record a cover version of a 1984 song and put it on your album. Then remix the song, add some extra spices in form of Robert Smith of The Cure doing the vocals and then release the song as a single.

The end result…? Well it is one of the better broths I have ever experienced.

Crystal Castles – Not in love is found on the record “Crystal Castles II” released in 2010. This version, featuring Robert Smith of The Cure on vocals, is found on the Not in love single. The original version was recorded by Platinum Blonde in 1984.

September 20, 2012

"Look it's the eager butterflies and the fashionably late
The tug between those who to drink and those who create
By the end of the night it's all been granted the old news shrug
And we all fall gently in a comfortable hug."

This song and this group is something I like a lot; the beard of the singer is something I like even better…

Admiral Fallow – Guest of the government is found on the record “Tree bursts in snow” released in 2012.

September 19, 2012

"We will not die!
Our days are multiplied
And I'm happy again."

This day seven years ago this record by Mew was released. While waiting for their next album I select to listen to the monumental “Apocalypso” again. And again.

Mew – Apocalypso is found on the record “And the glass handed kites” released in 2005.

September 18, 2012

"It's funny how the sadness seems to bend and take me half the world away to find my friends."

About ten years ago I followed and liked the BBC TV series “Canterbury Tales” based on the stories written by Geoffrey Chaucer in the 14th century.

Nowadays I have discovered some new “Canterbury” tales, maybe not as well as the TV series but still worth checking out.

Canterbury – Something better is found on the record “Heavy in the day” released in 2012.

September 17, 2012

"But it seems like I've got everyone fooled.

Every time I say something they find hard to hear,

They chalk it up to my anger,

And never to their own fear."

I heard this song on the radio a couple of days ago, a new experience to me but what an experience.

This is another example of “love at first heard”; a song that is far too close to reality for far too many people…

Ani DiFranco – Not a pretty girl is found on the record “Not a pretty girl” released in 1995.

September 16, 2012

"Memories of sweat
Memories of sweat
Memories… of sweat."

Even in my wildest dreams I did not expect to hear a song including the line “memories of sweat” several times.

But to my surprise… when I one day did… I kind of like the song.

Holograms – Memories of sweat is found on the record “Holograms” released in 2012.

September 15, 2012

"Because lately I've wronged you
And not been on your side, love
Maybe I have been dumb
Please don't ask me why
Please don't ask me why
Please don't ask me why
Please don't ask me…"

Ever since I heard the brand new Yeasayer single (publish a few days ago) I cannot help going back two years in time listening to this song instead of playing the new single.

This is in my opinion the best Yeasayer song so far.

Yeasayer – Madder red is found on the record “Odd blood” released in 2010.

September 14, 2012

"An' I wanna liquefy everybody gone dry
Or plug into the aerials that poke up in the sky
Or burn down the suburbs with the half-closed eyes
You won't succeed unless you try."

Time to get ready for the weekend again.

Time to listen to some upbeat rocking tunes again.

The Clash – Clash city rockers is found on the record “The Clash (US Version)” released in 1979.

September 13, 2012

"The way I feel about you darling
In the middle of the day
There's just one thing that we can do
To push the pain away."

Though a month has passed since this year’s Way Out West festival, so many concerts are still stuck in my mind.

One of the better concerts I attended during the festival was the Hot Chip gig, rather surprising actually since I have never been a huge fan of their recorded material. Seeing Hot Chip play live was something completely different, perfect party music ending a perfect festival day.

Hot Chip – Night & day is found on the record “In our heads” released in 2012.

September 12, 2012

"In a voice, in a sound
When you're happy, when you're down
It will pass, things will change
But you don't want to hear that."

K’s Choice is band that most people associate with their huge hit “Not an addict” that was played on the radio all the time about 15 years ago. K’s Choice is however so much more than just that one hit; it is a band that I wish would get a lot more attention.

Have a listen to this wonderful song as an introduction to another side of K’s Choice. Give it a try I bet you will like it.

K’s Choice – Song for Catherine is found on the record “Paradise in me” released in 1996.

September 11, 2012

"I can't get these memories out of my mind
And some kind of madness has started to evolve
I tried so hard to let you go
But some kind of madness is swallowing me whole, yeah."

I met a friend earlier today that happens to be a huge fan of Muse. He informed that a new Muse single has just been released and that a new album is to expect in the near future.

This is information that I had no idea of so as soon as I came home I turned on my computer and found this. And it is quite good too.

Muse – Madness is found on the forthcoming album “The 2nd law” scheduled to be released in 2012.

September 10, 2012

"Lately you've come to enjoy the generosity of strangers."

Several times I have discovered bands when playing live only to discover that their records are a bit boring, not as intense and “rocking” as when they play alive. I cannot really explain why, maybe it is as simple as most bands prefer playing live in front of an audience compared to recording songs in the studio.

A rare example of the opposite is Ladytron. My live performance experiences of Ladytron have been quite disappointing but I really like their studio material.

Ladytron – I’m not scared is found on the record “Velocifero” released in 2008.

September 9, 2011

"This is the last place I want to be."

Stagnant Pools, what can I say about Stagnant Pools?

One thing that crosses my mind me when listening to them is the amount of noise the Enas brothers, Bryan and Doug, are able to create. Another thing that crosses my mind is that I cannot help the big smile in my face when I listen to Stagnant Pools.

Stagnant Pools – Consistency is found on the record “Temporary room” released in 2012.

September 8, 2012

"We are young, we run green
Keep our teeth nice and clean
See our friends, see the sights
Feels alright."

Tonight I am heading to the first crayfish party of the season. Crayfish parties is a Swedish autumnal tradition, a bunch of friends get together, eat crayfish, drinks beer and drinks schnapps.

As you soon realize this is not the healthiest combination hence I will likely suffer from a hangover tomorrow… Yet another thing that is part of the tradition.

But it the end everything will be alright…

Supergrass – Alright is found on the record “I should coco” released in 1995.

September 7, 2012

"Listen closely, closely to the floor
Emitting all its graces through the pores
You’d make a fine shrine in me
You’ll build a fine shrine in me
But I must see with my chest and sink
To the edges round you
Into the lakes and quarries that brink
On all the edges round you, round you."

A purity ring is something that some people wear a sign of chastity following a wow to practise (sexual) abstinence until marriage.

Purity Ring is also a really good electronic band from Montreal, Canada.

Of the two I for sure know which one I prefer...

Purity Ring – Fineshrine is found on the record “Shrines” released in 2012.

September 6, 2012

“I thought: 18 karat gold, would save a lonely soul
But she don't sleep at night, afraid to turn out the light.”

Normally I am a “lyricaholic” and despite the fact that this song has been a huge favourite of mine the last few years I have not really listened to the lyrics. Until today.

It does not surprise me at all to find out the lyrics are dark and sad; it is just the way it is. I have this strange musical radar somewhere in my body that detects the saddest of songs.

Johnossi – 18 karat gold is found on the record “All they ever wanted” released in 2008.

September 5, 2012

"Eat natural foods, bathe twice daily,
Fill your nostrils up with gravy.
Don't drink tea and don't drink coffee.
Cover your chin in Yorkshire toffee."

The first time I heard this song I thought it was hilarious. Time has since then been rough to this song but it is still something I enjoy listening to every once in a while.

The Sultans Of Ping FC – Where’s me jumper is found on the record “Casual sex in the Cineplex” released in 1993.

September 4, 2012

“A pair in the night, and the troubles come on,

But you would survive, just like nobody does.”

Well… with many Brooklyn-based music fresh in the memory it is good to hear the new single of another Brooklyn-based band. I would not have mind if Yeasayer too would have been one of the live acts performing at last weekend’s festival.

Yeasayer – Henrietta is found on the record “Fragrant world” released in 2012.

September 3, 2012

"Things go wrong when I trust them
In my naive way I love them
Like you told me to love them
I abide by man-made rules
And am a picture of all fools
I have a border of white clues."

I sometimes wish I had this magic formula that would help me in life, a formula that would have the answer to different challenges and opportunities that show up in life.

Thinking of it again I guess it would be rather boring knowing exactly would to do in each and every moment. Isn’t it great to not knowing what will happen around the corner or knowing exactly how to handle every situation in life?

JJ72 – Formulae is found on the record “I to sky” released in 2002.

September 2, 2012

"Cap off kneeling at the back of the church,
 Feeling water on your brow,
 if it’s healing it hurts
At first a sharpish pain that returns as a thought."

The music year of 2012 keep giving me pleasant surprises. Lately I have been listening a lot to this band and in particular this song.

Half Moon Run – Full circle is found on the record “Dark eyes” released in 2012.

September 1, 2012

"In the world, I sit and watch this life,
In this room, in the world, in the world
I sit and watch this life
In the world, I sit and watch this life."

Day two of Brooklyn Sweden, of many great bands playing live today the highlight for me is Telepathe. Ever since I first heard their debut album a few years ago I have been a fan and now a couple of years later I will finally get an opportunity to see them live.

Telepathe – Drugged is found on the record “Dance mother” released in 2009.