"Mom and dad went to a show They dropped me off at Grandpa Joe's I kicked and screamed, said please don't go."
As far as I remember this was the first Nirvana song I ever heard back in the wonderful days when MTV still broadcasted music videos and Paul King was hosting the awesome show “120 minutes”.
Not only is this the first Nirvana song I heard, it is one of my favourite Nirvana songs ever.
Nirvana – Sliver is found on the single “Sliver” released in 1990.
"If you've proved all there is to prove Got nothing left to use Walkaway, walkaway If you've done, all there is to do There ain't nothing left for you Just walkaway, walkaway, walkaway."
My favourite TV series of all times is the phenomenal “The Lakes” produced by BBC about ten years ago. If you ever find it on DVD, buy it!
Not only is the story itself, the acting and the environment and surroundings where the story takes place phenomenal. So is the soundtrack.
The first song featured in the TV series is this one which ensures a very strong start of the music chosen in “The Lakes”. The rest of the songs are also really, really good and most often featured at the exactly right spot as the story is revealed.
Cast – Walkaway is found on the record “All change” released in 1995.
"Waking from a strange dream Spinning cause you had too much last night No communication, Wondering if you’ll ever feel alright."
As most people (I assume) I discovered Ladyhawke when I heard their song “Magic” a few years ago. Since then I sort of forgot about Ladyhawke; it is therefore a pleasant surprise to discover that a follow-up to “Magic” has just been released.
Ladyhawke – Black, white & blue is found on the record “Anxiety” released in 2012.
"I get up, and nothing gets me down. You got it tough. I've seen the toughest around. And I know, baby, just how you feel. You've got to roll with the punches to get to what's real."
Yesterday I spent the afternoon with the company of Beavis & Butt-Head. Among the bunch of episodes I saw was the episode “Jump”. Of course I have to listen to this song today.
Van Halen – Jump! is found on the record “MCMLXXXIV” released in 1984.
"Careful what you say next Don't waste a single drop What you said I wrote it down It won't say, it won't speak the same."
Tonight I, in theory, have a hard choice to make, heading to a concert with Dinosaur Jr. or a concert with Local Natives.
In reality it is really easy. I was too lazy to get a ticket to any of the shows in advance and now reality bites back with two sold-out shows as the result.
A bummer of course but I cannot blame anyone but myself.
Local Natives – Heavy feet is found on the record “Hummingbird” released in 2013.
"If you're seeing things running through your head, Who you gonna call? Ghostbusters! An invisible man sleeping in your bed, Who you gonna call? Ghostbusters!"
When the darkness falls today I will be participating in a “ghost walk”. I guess the main purpose is to get a chilling experience about the ghosts of the town and the stories and legends connected to them. Or…?
Maybe I will be able to spot a few new ones?
Ray Parker Jr. – Ghostbusters is found on the movie soundtrack “Ghostbusters” released in 1984.
"I was supposed to do great things I know the road was long But I wasn't raised to shoot for fame I had the safety on."
Cold War Kids is a band that I have some mixed emotions about. Sometimes I like their rather unique sound a lot, other times I feel it becomes too much of the “cranky” sound often found in their music.
In this case I am slightly positive, it is not the best song Cold War Kids has released so far but it is a song that I do not mind listening to. Cold War Kids – Miracle mile is found on the forthcoming record “Dear miss Lonelyhearts" scheduled to be released in 2013.
"Far above the ocean, deep under the sea there's a river running dry because of you and me far above the ocean, deep under the sea there's a river running dry because of you and me."
Once again I have rediscovered a song that slipped out of my mind some time ago. I sure feel good hearing this beautiful little tune again.
Mercury Rev – Goddess on a highway is found on the record “Deserter’s songs” released in 1998.
”You know what? I'm in a good mood today I'm so happy It's not yesterday Man it was brutal But it's all in the past Good to know it don't have to last.”
There are a few bands out there that score a major hit early on in their careers and then have a hard time to reach amount of airplay and fame again. But with some success they struggle year after year, releasing records every now and then, I guess hoping for another song that is played on the radio all of the time.
Dandy Warhols, Therapy? and Eels are a few examples of bands in this category. Eels kicked off their career with the major hit “Novocaine for the soul” following that they have not been quite as successful. I do not know if “New alphabet” is the next “Novocaine” but it is for sure a song worth highlighting.
While speaking about Eels, I would like to highlight another thing. If Eels ever play live close to where you live, head down to the arena and see them. They are a damn good live act.
Eels – New alphabet is found on the record “Wonderful, glorious” released in 2013.
"Up in San Francisco where the forest meets the bridge I thought I saw you standing there And then you fell into the well But that was many years ago And I am so much older now My brother is a soldier now I can't see him anyhow on hilltops in the wind And you're swimming up tide or just tooting in radio stations."
Is this the next big thing? Something tells me it very well may be; pretty soon a lot of people will talk about and listen to Foxygen.
Foxygen – San Francisco is found on the record “We are the 21st century ambassadors of peace and magic” released in 2013.
"We can dance if we want to, we can leave your friends behind Cause your friends don't dance and if they don't dance Well they're are no friends of mine."
Read a review in the papers today, apparently Men Without Hats played live a few days ago. Well what do you know?
For some reason I have a very hard time believing this was a good show. But you never know.
Men Without Hats – The safety dance is found on the record “Rhythm of youth” released in 1982.
"Sometimes I get problems that are hard to solve What’s your story? That’s my opinion
Questions and the answers can take very long Here’s a story What’s your opinion?"
I am tempted to say that some bands, The Knife for instance, would get away with pretty much anything. Their amount of credentials among music journalists, music “besserwissers” and any people with a general interest in music would give them two thumbs up even if they would release a yodelling record in death metal style.
Hence I am not surprised that The Knife is able to release a nine minute single that everyone seem to love and no one seem to question at all. And to some extent I do agree, it is a rather good song but in my humble opinion I cannot add myself to the masses of people naming this one “the song of the year”.
Again, it is not a bad song and I am not saying that “everyone” else is wrong. I am just pointing out the fact that in this case some people may be a little bit too carried away by new The Knife single just because they are “expected” to in order to keep their own credentials…
The Knife – Full of fire is found on the forthcoming record “Shaking the habitual” scheduled to be released in 2013.
"I've felt the hate rise up in me Kneel down and clear the stone of leaves I wonder over where you can't see Inside my shell, I wait and bleed."
Sometimes things do not end up as expected; today has been one of those days when plans and ideas had to be ditched. Days like today are when you need a bombshell like Slipknot.
Slipknot – Wait and bleed is found on the record ”Slipknot” released in 1999.
”But who'll be the last lover standing come Saint Valentines Day?”
As you probably have realized by now, at least if you are a frequent reader of this blog, I am a big fan of lyrics containing lines about broken heart, missing someone and love-no-more.
So… As a counterweight to Valentine’s Day, the dating, the chocolate boxes, the roses and all of the romance in general taking place today…
This song makes perfect sense in my world, namely a massacre. Cocktail Slippers – St. Valentines massacre is found on the record ”Saint Valentine's Day massacre” released in 2009.
"Everybody needs a slogan in their pocket or two It never hurts to have a strategy you can go to."
Bad Religion is a band that amazes me. They have been around forever, well almost forever at least 34 years is a very long time in the music business after all. Still they release new material ever so often; material that most of the time is worth a spin or two.
Their latest release is no exception, straight-forward punk rock with lyrics that I guess most people agrees with...
Bad Religion – Fuck you is found on the record ”True north” released in 2013.
"To someone, somewhere I'll be coming back Cause somewhere, someone is waiting."
Quite some time has passed since Wannadies ended their career. Nevertheless this is a record that I still listen to fairly often. In my opinion one of best Swedish record releases ever.
Wannadies – Someone, somewhere is found on the record ”Bagsy me” released in 1997.
"That secret that you knew But don't know how to tell It fucks with your honor And it teases your head But you know that its good girl 'Cos its running you with red."
Something that has occupied my mind more than once is why I like certain songs and bands and dislike others. It really becomes apparent when listening to the “beautiful” music I like a lot. This music, stripped down almost “naked”, most often consist of just a voice, an acoustic guitar and sometimes a few more instruments included in the track.
Some of the bands creating this type of music immediately catches my attention and I end up being a huge fan while other bands is creates something that I listen to once then soon wave goodbye to.
Bon Iver is an example of the latter. A band that I in general find uninteresting, the music and the songs they create never manage to catch my attention. But no rule without an exception, even I have to admit that this is a damn good song.
Bon Iver – Blood bank is found on the EP ”Blood bank” released in 2009.
And now to something that happened last week… I took the opportunity to head to the release party of the new “I Are Droid” record which among other things included a concert by the band.
To make a quick summarization, it was an overall really nice evening and it made me discover an as nice record. Give it a spin or two is my recommendation.
I Are Droid – Given is given is found on the record ”The winter ward” released in 2013.
"Cold shakes and hot sweats I'd break down Love is not the color Take this down Push out the power Safe in sound He's got the symptoms Mild confusion."
Live tonight… my most beloved Tamaryn. Despite the fact that we are only in the beginning of February I am tempted to say that this will be a strong candidate in the “concert of the year” category of 2013. Tamaryn – Mild confusion is found on the record ”The waves” released in 2010.
"Claustrophobia there's too much paranoia There's too many closets I went in before."
How about some classic 70s punk rock? How about some Sex Pistols? That would not hurt.
How about a holiday in the sun? Well… That would not hurt either. Sex Pistols – Holidays in the sun is found on the record “Never mind the bollocks, here's the Sex Pistols” released in 1977.
The “legacy” of 2012 is still making me discover new acts. Like this cute little tune. Antennas - Heart of being young is found on the record "Neanderthal" released in 2012.
"We were walking, holding hands With our bare feet in the sand And the seagulls overhead When I broke the spell and said
"I could never divorce you Without a good reason And though I may never have to It's good to have options.""
As long as I have been listening to sad, dark even depressive music, and it is a long time, the band name “Pedro The Lion” has popped up every now and then as a “you may like this” recommendation. I have never taken that advice; this is unexploited territory for me…
Until tonight that is when I will get my first chance to receive an introduction to Pedro The Lion, or if one is picky the mastermind behind the band David Bazan, performs live.
I must say I am eagerly looking forward to this show! Pedro The Lion – Options is found on the record “Control” released in 2002.
"Movin' fast, doin' ninety five Hit top speed but I'm still movin' much too slow I feel so good, I'm so alive I hear my song playin' on the radio It goes."
A friend of mine took off to Detroit earlier today and of course I left her with the advice to listen to this song. I must admit that I am not sure if Detroit is the rock city it once upon a time apparently was, maybe she will able to tell me when she is back.
But at the end of the day, who cares? Regardless if Detroit is a rock city these days or not I enjoy listening to this song a lot. Kiss – Detroit rock city is found on the record ”Destroyer” released in 1976.
"It was the truth I couldn't let go of the part I never knew."
This is, in my opinion, another example of a song that sort of sneaks up on you. I was not too impressed of this song the first time I listened to it but after a few more spins it started to grow.
These days… I just cannot get enough. The Sea And Cake – Harps is found on the record “Runner” released in 2012.
I downed a few beers last night and as so many times before I made a nostalgic trip down the music memory lane digging up tracks found on my old vinyl records.
One of those tracks I dug up last night was this one. And it sure felt good to rediscover this one, a track I had totally forgotten about. Technoquake – Crack baby is found on the EP ”Crack baby” released in 1990.
Depeche Mode is one of my favourite groups ever, one of those groups that I have been listening to as long as I have been interested in music. It all started with “Construction time again” some 30 years ago, I am still a huge fan.
And to this day, whenever a new Depeche Mode single has reached me, my reaction has been oh so familiar. This sense of pure joy that fills my brain, this clown-like, almost ridiculous smile on my face and this warm and wonderful feeling that fills my body.
Until now…
The new Depeche Mode single is, well I guess the word I am looking is “boring”. It is a song that just passes me by without leaving a trace. I may not feel the same following a few spins but to be honest I will have to admit that the last few Depeche Mode records have been ok rather than something that rocks my world.
“Heaven” continues that path. Unfortunately.
Depeche Mode – Heaven is found on the forthcoming record “Delta machine” scheduled to be released in 2013.
