April 30, 2014

"No matter how busy you are, you must take time to make the other person feel important."

I am very, very busy at the moment, tons of things to do at work, tons of things to do outside of work.

Still I am considering granting myself an evening off. After all I do have the chance to catch a concert with a band that I have been listening to every now and then for the last 25 years.

Twice A Man – Walls is found on the record “Icicles” released in 2010. The quote above is taken from the American businesswoman Mary Kay Ash.

April 29, 2014

"Spinout baby
Foot on the gas
I'm hell on wheels
And I'm living fast."

Is this the best band name ever? It could very well be the case.

And it is a great song too.

Cat Rapes Dog – Motorhead is found on the record “Maximum overdrive” released in 1989.

April 28, 2014

"And hey!
You want the truth
Then I'm never wrong
Not about you."

Courtney Love is back with new material. Enough said!

Courtney Love - you know my name is found on the forthcoming record "Died blonde" scheduled to be released in 2014.

April 27, 2014

"If my life was as long as the moon's,
I'd still be jealous of the sun
If my life lasted only one day,
I'd still be drunk by noon."

Besides wrestling and Nick Lowe, yet another interesting event happened last night namely a concert with The Handsome Family. Like Nick Lowe this is a band that I have listened to every now and then the last ten years or so but I have never had the opportunity to catch them live.

I did not happen last night either, but one of these days…

The Handsome Family – Drunk by noon is found on the record “Milk and scissors” released in 1996.

April 26, 2014

"Oh all around, sound of breaking glass
Nothing new, sound of breaking glass
Oh all around, sound of breaking glass
Nothin' new, sound of breakin' glass."

If I wasn’t heading to a wrestling show tonight, which I actually am, I would consider heading to the Nick Lowe concert taking place tonight.

I have listened to Nick Lowe on and off for a very long time but I have never been a huge fan. Despite that it would be interesting to catch him live once, I bet he has a great show coming up and maybe he will tell a story or two from his long career as well.

Nick Lowe – I love the sound of breaking glass is found on the record “Jesus of cool” released in 1978.

April 25, 2014

"It's finally Friday
I'm free again
I got my motor running for a wild weekend
It's finally Friday
I'm out of control
Forget the workin' blues
And let the good times roll."

It is Friday. It is payday. Life is for sure good right now.

George Jones – Finally Friday is found on the record “Walls can fall” released in 1992.

April 24, 2014

"Where the human tried
Where the cave man died
In the sea again
By the fallen stars."

It took me quite some time before I realized the greatness of Lykke Li but when I finally did her recordings are something that I have been spinning over and over again.

Tonight I will get my first chance to catch her live as well. Or… to be perfectly honest I did see her live a couple of years ago but since her voice was in a terrible shape she had to walk off the stage after 4-5 songs.

Given that I am certainly looking forward to the concert tonight. It will be a great one, I just know it.

Lykke Li – I never learn is found on the forthcoming record “I never learn” scheduled to be released in 2014.

April 23, 2014

"I don't believe in sitting down
Take it like a knife in the back
You burnt out into nothing after striking a match
I never been the type to follow the pack."

I have never been a huge fan of rap music but every now and then a grain of gold pops up. This is one of them; there is just something about this song that I cannot resist.

Powerful!

Grieves – Shreds is found on the forthcoming record “Winter & the wolves” scheduled to be released in 2014.

April 22, 2014

"That sky is a shine with sheen
Those eyes are a green machine
Spare me your whining
In my rainy gazebo tree."

For some reason this song has been stuck on my mind during the Easter weekend.

Why? I have no idea why.

But I am sure glad that this song popped up in my mind again.

Kristin Hersh – Gazebo tree is found on the record “Strange angels” released in 1998.

April 21, 2014

"Crestfallen kings and queens comforting in their faith
Unbeknownst to them is the presence of the wraith
Since fate of man is equal to the fate of lice
As new dawn rises you shalt recognize now behold the Lord Of Flies."

This group and this song must be among the most controversial releases in recent years. Personally I have a hard time to take this seriously but I must also admit that I like this song.

A little…

Ghost – Year zero is found on the record “Infestissumam” released in 2013.

April 20, 2014

"Well, she wrote me a letter
Said she couldn't live without me no more
Listen mister, can't you see I got to get back
To my baby once-a more
Anyway, yeah!"

I am spending time together with my mom this weekend and for some reason we started to discuss songs that she grew up listening to.

This did remind me of a most adoring tune from the sixties.

Enjoy!

The Box Tops – The letter is found on the record “The letter/Neon rainbow” released in 1967.

April 19, 2014

"White on white translucent black capes
Back on the rack
Bela Lugosi's dead."

Is this the cover of the year? I am tempted to say so despite the fact that we are still only in the month of April.

Chvrches – Bela Lugosi’s dead is found on the movie soundtrack “Vampire Academy: Blood Sisters” released in 2014. The original version was recorded by Bauhaus in 1979.

April 18, 2014

"I looked at you with curiosity
But when you looked at me I turned away
And I remember when you first spoke to me
You told me you didn't want to live life day to day."

It is the Good Friday and I guess that I should pay respect to this day by choosing a mellow, down-beat song.

This is not a mellow and down-beat song though it is a song containing lines about a most serious subject…

Youth Brigade – Did you wanna die is found on the record “Sound & fury” released in 1983.

April 17, 2014

"When people are used to you doing something, they want you to stay in that lane."

A friend of mine introduced to this beautiful piece a couple of days ago. I cannot stop listening to it now.

Kinetics – Empty lanes is found on the single “Empty lanes” released in 2013.The quote above is taken from the American basketball player Kevin Durant.

April 16, 2014

"Well, you'll work harder
With a gun in your back
For a bowl of rice a day
Slave for soldiers
Till you starve
Then your head is skewered on a stake."

I just realized that I have never included Dead Kennedys in this blog. Shame on me, time to do something about it!

Dead Kennedys – Holiday in Cambodia is found on the record “Fresh fruit for rotting vegetables” released in 1980

April 15, 2014

"You traced that andes with your index.
And brag of when and where and who you're going to bed next.
Oh we're sons of someone's.
Oh we're sons of someone's."

St. Vincent is a band, or at least the alter ego/stage name of Annie Clark, that I have crossed paths with every now and then the last few years. St. Vincent has never fully caught my attention but maybe it is time for me to listen, really listen, now.

I happen to like the latest single of St. Vincent a lot.

St. Vincent – Prince Johnny is found on the record “St. Vincent” released in 2014.

April14, 2014

"They fall with me in a way as I speak
They fall with me in a way
They fall with me in a way as I speak
They fall with me in a way, yeah!"

Too late I have realized that Nina Ramsby, together with Martin Hederos, is playing live tonight. This concert is sold out by now.

So what to do about it? Well one way to handle this is to at least listen to the voice of Nina Ramsby. This is a track from the early years of her career when she spent time in the band Salt.

Salt – Bluster is found on the record “Auscultate” released in 1995.

April 13, 2014

"I try to keep on keeping on
Yeah I just keep on keeping on."

And here is yet another release that I have longed for since the release of their last record. I am excited to hear new material from First Aid Kit. And even better, this single does for sure meet my high expectations.

First Aid Kit – My silver lining is found on the forthcoming record “Stay gold” scheduled to be released in 2014.

April 12, 2014

"And you'll know it's begun from the beat of the drum
And the screams from the mouths of babes
And we pray as we're watching the charade
Welcome to your wedding day."

I am heading to a wedding today and in some ways I would like to play this song to the bride and groom. But then again, in some ways I feel it would be most inappropriately.

The Airborne Toxic Event – Welcome to your wedding day is found on the record “All at once” released in 2011.

April 11, 2014

"We are genetic engineers…"

The most peculiar songs occur in my mind every now and then. For some reason I’ve been humming this tune today, a song that I probably have not heard in fifteen years or so.

The Overlords – Organic is found on the record “Organic?” released in 1991.

April 10, 2014

"The body sleeps,
but I’m not too proud to roll
On the bad streets."

A couple of years ago I had the opportunity catch The Afghan Whigs live. I went to the show with somewhat low expectations; after all it was a band that was back after several years of silence.

To my surprise I was blown away by the concert, one of the better concerts I have ever seen. So when I discovered that The Afghan Whigs have released new material, my heart started to beat faster. Will this mean that I will get yet another chance to catch them live?

The Afghan Whigs – Algiers is found on the forthcoming record “Do to the beast” scheduled to be released in 2014.

April 9, 2014

"He asked for help, he could not help himself
He asked for hope, he made his own wealth
He gripped the wall, he gripped the wire
He's so alone, so alone, so alone."

Tonight I was supposed to head to a concert with a band described to be creating music similar to The Raveonettes and Metric.

Unfortunately there has been a last minute cancellation of this show. The solution? Well yet another spin of this wonderful piece. 

Dark Horses – Alone is found on the record “Black music” released in 2012.

April 8, 2014

"Will you stay with me; will you be my love among the fields of barley?
We'll forget the sun in his jealous sky as we lay in fields of gold
See the west wind move like a lover so upon the fields of barley.
Feel her body rise when you kiss her mouth among the fields of gold."

A few days ago I heard this song in a quite unexpected place, a Chinese food restaurant. I do not even know why I mention this it has nothing to do with the story. But anyway.

Though I in one aspect do find this song a bit corny and cheesy there is also another part of me who cannot help like a lot. This may explain why I have been humming this tune every now and then since then.

Sting – Field of gold is found on the record “Ten summoner’s tales” released in 1993.

April 7, 2014

"To be in England in the summertime
with my love close to the edge."

From one noise artist to the Art Of Noise. Couldn’t resist this one could I?

Art Of Noise – Close to the edit is found on the record “Who’s afraid of the Art Of Noise” released in 1984.

April 6, 2014

"You have to take risks. 

We will only understand the miracle of life fully when we allow the unexpected to happen."

An artist that I guess is fair to describe as a noise artist is on the agenda tonight. I really do not know what to expect that I guess that this is the part of the beauty tonight.

Expect the unexpected so to speak. 

Tim Hecker – Prisms is found on the record “Virgins” released in 2013. The quote above is taken from the Brazilian author Paulo Coelho.

April 5, 2014

"My game, don't lose me
Come so far don't lose me
It matters where you are."

A couple of months ago I got the news that Slowdive was planning a comeback and a return to the live stage. I was thrilled to hear that because since I first saw them back in 1993 or 1994 I have been huge fan.

But things got better yesterday when I got the news that Slowdive will include a stop at the Way Out West festival in Gothenburg when performing this comeback tour.

Why am I thrilled? Well I do have a ticket to the festival. Rama-lama things are good.

Slowdive – When the sun hits is found on the record “Souvlaki” released in 1993.

April 4, 2014

"And I'm really dying in here
I'm really sying in here
And I'm afriad,
No I'm scared, no I'm scared
I'm just scared
Just let me down."

And while mentioning Ryan Adams… This is a story I have heard several times from different people. Still I cannot confirm that it is a true story but I will reveal it anyway.

At this press conference some years ago all of sudden a journalist throws Ryan Adams the question, “why don’t play “Summer of 69” live anymore?”

At first… Confusion. Then… An insulted and angry Ryan Adams leaves the press conference immediately.

I do hope that someone later on informed the poor journalist about the difference between Ryan and Bryan.

Ryan Adams – Afraid not scared is found on the record “Love is hell pt. 1” released in 2003.

April 3, 2014

"There’s a rhythm in rush these days
Where the lights don’t move and the colors don’t fade
Leaves you empty with nothing but dreams
In a world gone shallow
In a world gone lean."

If there is a Swedish artist that is close to the productiveness of  Mark Kozelek I would say Jose Gonzales releasing material under his own name but also under the alias Junip.

The latest released from Jose Gonzales is his contribution to the movie soundtrack “The secret life of Walter Mitty” and this is a song I have a hard time to resist.

In all fairness one must mention that the author of the lyrics in this song is Ryan Adams which of course also is a reason why I like this song a lot.

Jose Gonzales – Stay alive is found on the movie soundtrack “The secret life of Walter Mitty” released in 2013.

April 2, 2014

"We didn't have very much to say
She said that she'd come from some other place
A town called Troyskirt, maybe Troysworth
I was pretty distracted packing my stuff
But I did make a point to ask her to stay
But she said she had friends that she had to go see."

I have mentioned this before and I will most like mention this again, Mark Kozelek is one productive guy, releasing several records every year while touring like a maniac.

Tonight it is again time for Mr. Kozelek to visit in my neighborhood, only six months following his last visit here. Then under his own name, tonight under the alias of Sun Kil Moon.

Sun Kil Moon - I Know It’s Pathetic But That Was The Greatest Night Of My Life is found on the record “Among the leaves” released in 2012.

April 1, 2014

"So if you want to be with me
With these things there's no telling
We'll just have to wait and see
But I'd rather be working for a paycheck
Than waiting to win the lottery."

From Conor Oberst to the band he once was a member of. Or maybe is. The whereabouts of Bright Eyes and whether they still exist as a group is unknown to me.

Bright Eyes – First day of my life is found on the record “I’m wide awake, it’s morning” released in 2005.