June 30, 2013

"Here’s a hymn to welcome in the day
Heralding a summer’s early sway."

I really cannot believe that we have already reached the end of June. First of all June has been a lot of fun including trips to New York and London/Camber Sands and as we all know time flies while having fun.

Then… besides doing some traveling tons of work, an almost endless list of tasks to care of.

Still it is the end of June, believe it or not.

The Decemberists – June hymn is found on the record “The king is dead” released in 2011.

June 29, 2013

"What was the question?
Why do you need an answer?"

I just love the title of this record. Enough said.

Dillinger Escape Plan – Prancer is found on the record “One of us is the killer” released 2013.

June 28, 2013

"Got some money in my pocket
and some trouble in my mind
Don't wanna talk about it
I haven't got enough time."

I have said this before and I will most likely say this again…

Some songs are better than others when it comes to kicking off the weekend!

Sator – I rather drink than talk is found on the record “Headquake” released in 1992.

June 27, 2013

"When you’re falling
I will catch you
You don’t have to fall that far
You can make it
I will be there
You were broken for the start."

Christmas 1983. As a gift my parents gave me a cassette copy of the Depeche Mode record “A broken frame”. That was probably the first time that music changed my life, the first time that I really enjoyed music. I have been a Depeche Mode fan since then though to be honest; my interest in their music has slightly declined the last few years.

Nevertheless, when given a chance I will again be there in the audience tonight. And again I am really looking forward to the show. And again I will enjoy it.

Depeche Mode – Broken is found on the record “Delta machine” released in 2013.

June 26, 2013

"She came out of the past
Gliding through the mirror
From ashtrays, turntables and body hair
She came out on the nose
The trains had all stopped running
They had froze
But I've got special powers
That render me invisible
To everyone but you."

Looking back at the All Tomorrow’s Parties festival that I went to last weekend there were a few shows that really stood out. I am certainly glad that I finally got a chance to catch Robyn Hitchcock live, an artist that I have listened to since the early nineties.

Moreover, Robyn Hitchcock provided a really good show as well including a number of excellent songs like this one.

Robyn Hitchcock – Goodnight Oslo is found on the record “Goodnight Oslo” released in 2009.

June 25, 2013

"I was born a travelin' man, that's all I'll ever be
Moving around from town to town is what makes me so free."
 

Back home again following a few funny and exciting days abroad. Tired, but that is something that I am able to handle. I am a traveling man after all…

Ricky Nelson – Travelin’ man is found on the record “Rick is 21” released in 1961.

June 24, 2013

"I first felt a fist, and then a kick
I could now smell their breath
They smelt of pubs and wormwood scrubs
And too many right wing meetings."

Though I love walking I am also most fascinated of public transportations of all forms including using the underground trains.

London, more than most cities, is a place that gives me a splendid chance to “feed” this interest so when spending a few hours in the capitol of Great Britain it must of course include riding The Tube.

The Jam – Down in the tube station at midnight is found on the record “All mod cons” released in 1978.

June 23, 2013

"Try to recognize your son
In your eyes he's gone, gone, gone
Is there anyone?
Who wants to see the sun go
down, down, down."

When it comes to the end of this edition the All Tomorrow’s Parties one must remember that after all the festival was curated by the band Deerhunter.

Playing live all three nights, the natural ending is of course to offer the audience a back-to-back live appearance of phenomenal album Halcyon digest.

Deerhunter – Memory boy is found on the record “Halcyon digest” released in 2010.

June 22, 2013

"The sky is coming down!"

Though spending time at a wonderful festival (All tomorrow’s parties) at an as wonderful place (Camber Sands) I still tempted to head back to London tonight.

The reason? The simple fact that this wonderful band play live tonight.

Band Of Holy Joy – You’ve grown so old in my dreams is found on the record “Manic, magic, majestic” released in 1989.

June 21, 2013

"Spitting in a wishing well
Blown to hell
Crash
I'm the last splash."

Midsummer’s eve, the longest day of year! In Sweden this is a great excuse to drink all night long to experience a night that otherwise never really gets dark unless you pass out...

Besides drinking, a lot of other things follow this tradition-bound day including “unfortunate” weather conditions in form of rain and a rather cold day.

I do not know if it is the best of ideas to head to England in order to avoid rain on Midsummer’s eve. I do know that it is a great idea to celebrate Midsummer’s eve at the All Tomorrow’s Parties festival in Camber Sands in southern England. Many great bands will play live but for me this will mean that I am able to check one of the band on my “most wanted to catch live” list namely this one.

Breeders – Cannonball is found on the record “Last splash” released in 1993.

June 20, 2013

"She said it was a
Rainy day today in London
A grey day today where she was
Rainy day today in London
A grey day today where she was
Where she is, where she was."

Off to England and London today. Time to once again down a few real ales and spend time listening to great music.

Life is good.

Paris – Rainy day in London is found on the record “Yellow Eden” released in 2003.

June 19, 2013

"A heart is what a heart is
It won't forget where it came from
And when I walked down the line
I'm walking with you
I give what I can give
Enough should be enough
And at the end of the line I know
I'll still be with you."

I have never been a huge fan of Shout Out Louds, their music just do not interest me. Nevertheless, the latest single from Shout Out Louds is, I must admit, a minor step in the right direction.

There may still be hope…

Shout Out Louds – Illusions is found on the record “Optica” released in 2013.

June 18, 2013

"It's you, it's you, it's you i'm talking to
Well you, it's you, it's you
It's you i'm talking to now
Why do you look so sad and forsaken
When one door is closed
Don't you know another is open."

I am taking a trip in the music time machine today going back about thirty years digging up a song that I listened to hundreds of times back then.

Though I hardly ever listen to this one nowadays, this is still one the songs that really made me love music, one of the songs that made discover the true beauty of music.

Bob Marley – Coming in from the cold is found on the record “Uprising” released in 1980.

June 17, 2013

"When we stole that car we had nothing else
Lots of stupid thoughts, brainless moves and weak defence
It’s always the same worries that cuts through
And there is no one to blame but me and you."

I cannot say that I ever saw the collaboration between Division Of Laura Lee and Jason Lytle coming. Now when it is fact I must say that maybe I should have foreseen this because the match between the two is not bad at all.

Rather the other way around, this is surprisingly good.

Division Of Laura Lee – Old gold is found on the record “Tree” released in 2013.

June 16, 2013

"Black Betty had a child (Bam-ba-Lam)
The damn thing gone wild (Bam-ba-Lam)
She said, "I'm worryin' outta mind" (Bam-ba-Lam)
The damn thing gone blind (Bam-ba-Lam)
I said "Oh, Black Betty" (Bam-ba-Lam)
Whoa, Black Betty (Bam-ba-Lam)."

When walking the streets of New York City just recently this song was occupying my mind for some reason. Ok Ram Jam may have been a New York based band but it still makes no sense why I should be humming this tune walking north on 3rd avenue.

Well, well… What do you know?

Ram Jam – Black Betty is found on the record “Ram jam” released in 1977.

June 15, 2013

"But then there's you
Telling me I can
Then there's you
Screaming say something."

You know it, you saw it coming… The highlight of the Saturday at the Hultsfred festival is a band I have caught live a number of times but still would not mind seeing again.

Tegan And Sara – So jealous is found on the record “So jealous” released in 2004.

June 14, 2013

"Please could you stay awhile to share my grief
For its such a lovely day
To have to always feel this way
And the time that I will suffer less
Is when I never have to wake."

And the highlight of the Hultsfred festival tonight would have been this band. One of rather few bands that I have not caught live on stage that I would love to see one of these days..

Portishead – Wandering star is found on the record “Dummy” released in 1994.

June 13, 2013

"What you want and what you do to me
I’ll take the trouble that you have in mind."

There was a time when the Hultsfred music festival, without any doubts, was the most important single music event in Sweden. Back then up to 30000 – 35000 people headed to the dark woods of Småland in the southern Sweden to catch all the bands playing live.

These days things are different. Nowadays the Hultsfred festival is not even in Småland anymore despite keeping the name. Further on, this year it is like that the number of people attending the festival is less than 10000.

Nevertheless the line-up is good, one of the stronger festivals in Sweden this summer in my opinion. If I had the opportunity I would go myself but since I just am back at work following my recent vacation in New York.

If there, this band would have been the highlight of the evening for me.

Phoenix – Entertainment is found on the record “Bankrupt!” released in 2013.

June 12, 2013

"Shake my tree where’s the apple for me
Tickle my feet with the enemy
No point laughing if you don’t know why
I phone my love just to hear her smile."

Following the breakup of Oasis none of the Gallagher brothers, Noel and Liam, has impressed me; to me it has been obvious that they need each other in order to produce great songs.

I may have to audit that point of view by now. The latest single from Liam-project Beady Eye is actually something I do like a lot.

Beady Eye – Second bite of the apple is found on the record “BE” released in 2013.

June 11, 2013

"Watching I keep waiting still anticipating love
Never hesitating to become the fated ones
Turning and returning to some secret place to hide
Watching in slow motion as you turn to me and say

Take my breath away."

Making a short stop in Berlin today, as always this wonderful city takes my breath away.

Berlin – Take my breath away is found on the record “Count three & pray” released in 1986.

June 10, 2013

"The lights are much brighter there
You can forget all your troubles, forget all your cares
So go downtown; things'll be great when you're
Downtown; no finer place for sure
Downtown everything's waiting for you."

Well, one last day in New York but I will of course come back. Come back soon.

I will leave NYC with this “theme song”, there is no way I can exclude it anymore.

Petula Clark – Downtown is found on the record “Downtown” released in 1964.

June 9, 2013

"Franky was a mook from the block we used to live on
The wanna be gangster;
The wanna be dapper Don, Don John on
the wall, I'm your biggest fan
next to my little brother Paul."

Nowadays I must say that New York is a city where I feel perfectly safe no matter whether it is 2am in the morning or 2pm in the afternoon.

Unlike many others I never experienced the New York that was under heavy influence of criminal activities, a city that was not as safe as it is today, the days of the thugs and the mob.

Fun Lovin’ Criminals – King of New York is found on the record “Come find yourself” released in 1996.

June 8, 2013

"Black out in Brooklyn I'm so hard
Naked with lady, crashed my car
Maxed out all of my credit cards
Blacked out in Brooklyn, all night long
Brooklyn!"

As always when I am visiting New York City I do have several reasons to leave Manhattan in favour of Brooklyn. But one of them is more important and, at least to me, the most obvious reason, namely the “compulsory” visit at Brooklyn Brewery.

So here I go, time to head east, time to down a few cold ones.

Buckcherry – Brooklyn is found on the record “15” released in 2006.

June 7, 2013

"Ever since I been
Ridin', right on the
Subway Train
You can hear the whistle blowin'
What might think I'm goin' insane."

I love walking. I do not mind walk around for hours, going to well-known places, going to unknown places. Making a stop somewhere for a quick snack, a cup of coffee or to visit a shop or two that seems interesting.

Nevertheless, whenever I am in New York I simply have to use the subway as well. It is like this world of its own, a place where I can escape the real world above and instead be a part of the weird and wonderful world below street level.

New York Dolls – Subway train is found on the record “New York dolls” released in 1973.

June 6, 2013

"Det är svenska flaggans dag
å den enda som sjunger det är jag."

Well, well… Back to Sweden for a moment, it is the Swedish National Day after all.

Traste Lindéns Kvintett – Svenska flaggans dag is found on the record “Jolly Bob går i land” released in 1991.

June 5, 2013

"I see people on the floor
They slide into the sea
Can't stay here anymore
We're turning into fiends."

So I am waking up in New York City, one of the best cities in the world.

I am waking to the fact that I am heading to a The National concert tonight, one of the best bands in the world.

Things are pretty damn good right now.

The National – Sea of love is found in the record “Trouble will find me” released in 2013.

June 4, 2013

"Where's the peace and understanding?
Go drum, go dance, sound on sound
All this peace and understanding
Go drum, go dance, round and round
In America yeeooo ay da yeeooo ah."

Off to New York today, off to the US of A.

I never get tired of this city; I never get tired of America.

Red Box – For America is found on the record “The circle & the square” released in 1986.

June 3, 2013

"Solitude stands in the doorway
And I'm struck once again by her black silhouette
By her long cool stare and her silence
I suddenly remember each time we've met."

In my opinion there are songs that fit perfectly on a certain day of the week. Obvious examples are of course The Cure – Friday I’m in love or The Pogues – Tuesday morning.

Other examples may not be that obvious but still the perfect song for a certain day. To me this is a Monday song, it starts fairly mellow and slow like when trying to get up on a Monday morning in order to get ready for the working week.

Then things starts to happen, a rhythm is added, and boom you are back on track at work continuing where you left everything for the weekend at Friday afternoon.

Suzanne Vega – Solitude standing is found on the record “Solitude standing” released in 1987.

June 2, 2013

"The earth is spinning in reverse, as things shift from bad to worse..."

This is a new experience to me, one of the most pleasant discoveries of the year 2013 so far.

Let’s Say We Did – Goodbye! is found on the record “Hello creatures” released in 2013.

June 1, 2013

"Beer drinkers and hell raisers, yeah.
Uh-huh-huh, baby, don't you wanna come with me?"

Doubtless I am in a situation where I am going to be a beer drinker today. If my participation in a contest that involves drinking beer also means that I will end being hell raiser remains to be seen…

ZZ Top – Beer drinkers and hell raisers is found on the record “Tres hombres” released in 1973.