tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31663917042517306542024-02-19T13:56:18.326-08:00Sam Thurlow ReviewsReviews, news and general rambling on!
Want me to review your album? You can get in touch with me by email - samthurlow101@gmail.comSamThurlowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02863333045473333139noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166391704251730654.post-52716653363403485132016-11-13T11:37:00.000-08:002016-12-05T07:39:15.574-08:00Jacob Fox – ‘The Life of a Loser Kid’<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I first met
Jacob at the Cambridge Folk Festival. We were both part of The Hub Project for
folk musicians aged 18 and under (although they didn’t know I was 22 at the
time….and that I didn’t really play folk music – and listening to his new album
‘Life of a Loser Kid’ I have to say, I don’t think he does either!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br />
<i>‘The Life of a Loser Kid’</i> is the
latest album from Yorkshire musician; Jacob Fox.<br />
And, well, it’s awesome!<br />
It’s punky, rocky, and aggressively acoustic – and that’s just the first track.<br />
<br />
If you need something to put on in the car while you’re tearing through the
middle of town, shouting at people to get out of the way and to turn down their
stupid music so you can hear your music better (and then continue to turn your
music up so much that people who are walking down the street give you a look
that definitely means “what a t***” – but you’re there having the time of your
life head banging, wheel drumming and singing along to the repeating chorus).
Well…then this is what you need!<br />
But if that’s not enough to convince you, now’s your time to go grab a drink
and sit back. Believe me. You’ll need a drink and a comfy chair.<br />
<br /><br />
Did I not mention this album is 18 tracks?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">EIGHTEEN<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">That’s a
lot. And it’s a lot of writing, especially if you’re like me and love writing
about each and every song.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br />
Right. Have you got your tea? Comfortable?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Good!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br />
Let’s get to it.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The first
time I listened to this album, I didn’t know what to expect. I haven’t heard
any of Jacob’s music before, so didn’t know if it was going to be folk, rock,
pop, classical, J-pop – I had no idea. But the title – ‘The <i>Life of a Loser Kid’</i> made me think it’s
be a bit edgy, probably acoustic. And then I had the thought it would be
recorded in his bedroom – poorly put together and a bit naff.<br />
But I thought, what the hell. I’m about due to expand my musical interest. So I
clicked play on the first track – ‘<i>Never
Take Me Alive’</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">It starts
with nicely compressed keys. Which instantly took me back 10 years and reminded
me of ‘Glory Box’ by Portishead – and a felt a smile some on my face. Suddenly
thought – it stopped. And then an orchestra of trumpets blew my head off.<br />
I can’t express the massive smile/shock I had on my face in that moment. It was
like a James Bond movie. Or the Oscars. Then the drums came in – and it all cut
out to be met with vocals.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">He’s almost
rapping. <i>“Sticks and stones may break my
bones, but you will never take me alive”. </i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">My brain’s a
bit confused right now. Glory Box, Oscars and rapping all within 12 seconds,
and then he almost sings a nursery rhyme.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I have no
idea what’s going on, but I love it!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">After
listening to it once round, I compose myself. Wipe the grin off my face, and go
to listen to it a second time. I have to say, for a first track, this one is
bloody awesome! It’s edgy, precise, catchy, and epic.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">All the
instruments are perfectly balanced and all work really well together. It’s the
standard rock mix of guitar, bass, drums and keys topped with powerful vocals
singing lyrics that get stuck in your head instantly, with some great Oooo’s
and harmonies throughout.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Then, to
complete the cycle, it finished just as it started – with beautiful sounding
keys.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Okay. So
that was track 1. I probably wrote waaaaaay too much for that song, but that’s
what happens when I start to rant. So I’ll try to keep all the other song
reviews a bit shorter, otherwise you’ll be reading this for weeks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Track 2 is
called <i>‘This Home’</i>, which is a
considerably less aggressive title than the previous one. But that doesn’t mean
anything. ‘<i>Somebody's Gonna Get Their
Head Kicked In Tonight’</i> by Fleetwood Mac is a much more aggressive song
title than ‘<i>Left Behind’</i> by Slipknot.
But there’s no prize for guessing which song’s actually more aggressive.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Saying that,
this one’s more relaxed than the previous one. It’s got some great grungy
guitar sounds, simple drums and some brilliant 80’s style bass synth which
really add to the song, helping push the guitar along.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">All of that
mixed with vocals makes for something very special! It’s chilled out, but still
feels like a song that wouldn’t sound out of place in a stadium.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br />
Track 3, ‘<i>Dreaming’</i> is back to the
loud and brash punky feel. Very punky actually – it’s sound’s a lot like
Wheatus but without the feminine high voice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I know I
haven’t mentioned the lyrics in any of the songs yet – but I really enjoy the
lyrics of this song! It’s about dreaming that he’s with a girl…of your dreams.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“<i>When I close my eyes, I fall asleep and
dream of you. Tonight you never walked away. In the night you were so into me,
if only it wasn’t a dream.”<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">One bit that
sticks in my head with this song is the part just before that line. He sings <i>“I’d be so lucky if I wasn’t
dreamiiiiiiiiiiing!” </i>and I love the way he holds the word – screaming as if
he’s haunted by his dreams, keeping her away from his reality………<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Too much?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">But there’s
not much more I can say about this song. It’s only 2 ½ minutes long. But it’s
not actually the shortest song on the album – there’s a couple of others that
are even shorter. But for now, let’s move on to track 4.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">‘<i>Nothing’.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I love that
this song starts with just one acoustic guitar strum, and then explodes into a
full on country riff on electric accompanied by bass and drums.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The chorus
of this song reminds me a lot of that Taylor Swift song. Unfortunately I’m not
a fan of ‘Taytay’ (that’s right isn’t it?), so I can’t remember the song title.
To be honest, I’m kind of annoyed at myself for knowing it was one of Swifty’s
songs, so I’m glad I can’t remember the name of the song!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Personally,
I think this is a much better song! It’s got a really fun and upbeat feel to it
– mostly from the electric guitar and the vocal harmonies throughout – they
really pick it up. And considering it’s a song about feeling like you’re
worthless and, as the title says, ‘<i>Nothing’</i>
– it’s got a feel good vibe about it!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Of course
that’s how I see it – it might be one of those songs that has a different
meaning for different people, and by me thinking it’s about being worthless but
has an upbeat feel – does that mean I feel like I’m nothing, but I don’t care
about it, and would rather just dance around like a nutter and be happy with
life as it is? I don’t <i>think</i> I feel
like nothing. Although all I feel now is confusion in my own sentencing and
words make sense to no-one. Wow, I must be tired.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Ok, time to
wake up!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Next song! –
‘<i>I’ll Be By Your Side’</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">This is my
kind of song – relaxed, slow, great instrumentation, catchy lyrics, and vocals
like Third Eye Blind! I think in a few more years, Jacob would have a voice
just like Stephan Jenkins. If you imagine a voice like a bottle of wine. Jacob
is currently 4-5 years in. Great taste, fruity, and a bit of a kick. But leave
it a few more years, and it’s like Stephan Jenkins – mellow, full of flavour
and goes down really easily. The same ingredients are there, but they’re more
mature.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I mean, I
don’t like wine, or know anything about it. But what I’m trying to say is – I
really like Jacob’s voice!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“So lay down next to me, because you
make everything alright, and now I can see that I’ll be by your side.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">*insert
awesome guitar solo here*<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Perfect. :)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Next track!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“<i>My girlfriend’s freaking me out. She always
follows me around. I can’t even leave the house without her trying to track me
down.”<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">That’s the
first line of ‘<i>Freaky Little You’</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">But the
thing is, it’s almost a modern day love song about his girlfriend going through
changes in her life – mostly about fashion choices.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">It really
reminds me of Jonathan Coulton’s writing style – quirky, pop-culture and a bit
weird. But it’s the kind of song you can really enjoy listening to and sing
along!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The
instrumentation and vocals are very punky, upbeat and energetic, filled with
attitude and little details that really add to the whole song. There’s a line
with a ‘phone filter’ on, so it’s a bit more electronic sounding, and it’s used
perfectly! For just long enough and not over used.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">There’s also
a couple of key changes which take it to the next level of amazing cheesiness.
Including a vocal key change to finish, along with a laugh to finish. I don’t
know if the laugh and vocal run down was intentional, but I don’t care. It was
great!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">‘<i>Movie Cliché’ </i>is the next track –
starting with simple drums, and then joined by guitar. It’s quite a repetitive
strumming pattern, but as soon as the vocals come in it cuts out leaving drums
and bass, alongside vocals and cool laser sounds. It kinda sounds like a tube
being swung through the air, but then put through a whammy pedal. I’m sure they
must have done something similar in the original Star Wars’.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">And
suddenly, it’s finished. This was one of the other shorter songs, but still,
it’s not the shortest!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">What I’ve
got from this album so far is that Jacob Fox has a real talent for composing –
the music is brilliant, and the lyrics are a great accompaniment – really
unique song ideas and beautifully written.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">But I now
think it’s time for another tea break.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">No really,
go grab a drink. That was track number 7, so there’s 11 more to go.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I told you
it was a long album, and I said that I go on a bit, so you only have yourself
to blame.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Done?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Okay, let’s
move on to ‘<i>Can’t Let You Go’.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">This is
going back to a more relaxed, acoustic sound – which is both good and bad for
me. Good because I love acoustic music, bad because I’m tired – so I’m hoping
this doesn’t tip me over the edge and I wake up 6hrs later having used my
forehead to type
‘ffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff….’ over
487 pages throughout the night.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Although,
the chorus of this song starts with “<i>I
can’t get out of bed”</i>, which is just plain inconsiderate to those of us who
can’t wait to get into bed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Of course,
this is more because he’s drunk, and is thinking of someone special who left
him, who he can’t let go of.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">This is
actually the first song of the album which is just guitar. To me it sound's like there’s a little synth in there somewhere holding the bass notes, but
I'm fairly sure it's just guitar!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">‘<i>You Chose Me’</i> sounds like it’s the
sequel to the previous song, about how she chose him, so why would she leave. Of
course I’m typing this before even listening to the song. So was just going
from the title – but it makes sense!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I will say,
a lot of his songs are about relationships, and I know that 90% of songs are
about relationships, 8% about money and hoes, and then 2% about death, life,
emotions, and Christmas – so it’s statistically likely that he’s write about
relationships – hypothetical or not. Although I’d be surprised if he’s had 18
songs worth of bad relationships. Because I don’t even think Miss Swift has
written as many songs as that for her apparent massive amount of failed
relationships. However, he could be writing about 1 relationship which happened
to have a lot of ups and downs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I guess
we’ll never know.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Next up,
song number….10, is ‘<i>Mixtape Memories’</i>,
which starts brilliantly – bass, guitar, and vocal countdown and then in with
drums and the all-important r-ockenspiel! (That’s what I call a glockenspiel
that I imagine is played with that unbeatable rock n’ roll passion – full on
head banging and jumping around).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Just the
instrumentation alone would make an awesome chart song. It’s really catchy, but
the lyrics really add to that, and makes it one of my favourite songs so far!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Now, when I
say it’d make an awesome chart song, I mean it’s be something that people would
really enjoy listening to. Not that it’s LIKE a chart song. Because they’re
pretty dreadful – this is music, something to listen to. Not something to twerk
to.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I think the
lyrics are about him wanting to be compacted down to the size of a cassette
tape, so he can be played in a car on a mixtape….but then it’s a modern song,
and he’s young. So it’s probably more like “here’s my song, put it on your iPod
in your memories playlist”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Right, we’re
getting through them now!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">‘<i>The End of the Road’</i> is next up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Starting
with finger picked guitar, it’s got a really chilled out feel to it. Although
I’m still alert just in case the full band come crashing through.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">This feels
like an encore song – something he’d play at the end of a long set, just to finish
it off. Candles in the air swaying back and forth and all that jazz.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Half way
through a synth organ joins in – but it doesn’t distract from the vocals or
beautiful guitar, and we’re now nearing the end – so I’m guessing the band has
taken a break for this song, which I appreciate. It’s breaks up the album, and
allows for a breather.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">If I had to
tag one of the songs on the album as ‘beautiful’ then I’d chose this one….for
now. Of course, it could all change in the next 7 songs – which is almost the
length of a standard album left.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I admire
Jacob for putting 18 songs on 1 album, because he could’ve really easily made
two 9 song albums. It’d be more hassle, but probably more money and more
recognition for having more albums released. But he didn’t. That means you can
buy 1 album and get 2 albums worth of tracks, which is a bargain no matter
who’s album it is – but with this it’s one hell of a good deal!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Right, back
to the punk rock!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The
beginning of this song. My God – yes!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“Hey kids, you’re listening to Loser
Kid Radio, let’s get right into the next song. It’s Jacob Fox with ‘Just Can’t
Get it Right’ Let’s go! Wooooooaaaaaaahhhhh!”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I can
already tell I’m gonna like this song! ‘<i>Just
Can’t Get It Right’</i> – well, I can say, he definitely got it right!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">It’s got so
much attitude, and I love it! There’s lead guitar doing awesome solos, drums
are on point, lead and backing vocals are brilliant, all beautifully stitched
together into amazing instrumentation and lyrics to make a fun and bouncy song!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I think it’d
go alongside songs from the late 90’s/early 00’s – <i>‘Goodbye Mr. A’, ‘Year 3000’, ‘All Star’, ‘Stacy’s Mom’.</i> You know,
all those cheesy songs that everyone loved and will be classics for years to
come!<br />
<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">‘<i>Never See Her Again’ </i>is up next.<br />
This is the rockiest song so far – it’s quite heavy, but nice and simple. I’m
gonna risk it by saying the music sounds a <i>bit</i>
like Nickelback – I know, that’s not much of a compliment. But I quite like
them! It’s my guilty pleasure.<br />
Jacob’s voice is nothing like…’<i>that dude
from Nickelback</i>’s voice, and the music isn’t <i>as</i> heavy as Nickelback – there’s no double bass pedals and the
guitars actually in a key that’s audible, and not so deep that you can’t hear
it…..so, it’s not actually that much like Nickelback.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“<i>She took one look at my heart and then tore
it apart, I hope I never see her again.”<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Love the instrumentation
in this one, it’s quite few and far between and stripped back – but it’s a
really nice change from some of the previous songs, which are quite full.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The next
song is ‘<i>Lonely</i>’.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“<i>I don’t wanna be lonely…don’t wanna be
lonely tonight.”<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">This song
reminds me a lot of ‘<i>Can’t Let You Go’</i>
about 6 songs ago – it’s acoustic, stripped back, and about being in bed.
Although, funnily enough, this is about not wanting to be lonely!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">But unlike ‘<i>Can’t Let You Go’</i>, this song just stays
with vocals and acoustic guitar. Which is perfect for this song. It’s all it
needs – anything more would take away from the feel and the lyrics.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">It has stops
and jabs that would fit in with a full band setup, but it’d lose its innocence.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The little
riffs at the beginning and end are great – and then he strums in the main body
of the song, just to give it a little pick up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Next up, is
something very different. Actually very different to anything else on the
album. This is still the album isn’t it??<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Yeah – this is
‘<i>Warriors Shout’</i>. It’s all
electronic. Even the vocals have a robotic effect – and I love it!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">It’s definitely
the ‘club-number’ of the album (imagine if all albums had to have a club/dance
track – that’s be hilarious! I’m just imagining all the recent releases –
Sting, Cliff Richard, Bon Jovi, Madness, Michael Buble. That would be amazing!)<br />
Anyway, back to the song at hand. It sounds like a remix of a song, but it’s
completely original…..I think. I don’t know – I don’t tend to venture into
clubs. But I really enjoy dub-step and electronic music. So this sits really
nicely with me – plus it’s not too invasive. It’s not blowing me head off, and
remember what I said right at the beginning about this being an album to play loud
in the car? Yep – this track would work beautifully for that! It’s almost an
anthem, even though it’s only 2 minutes long.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“<i>See no evil, but I saw dreams in tatters on
the floor. Hear no evil but say it all. Speak no evil but hear my roar.”</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We’re
nearing the end!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">….and this
is a cover.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">And what an
interesting choice for a cover.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“Her name is Noelle, I had a dream
about her. She rings my bell.”</span></i><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Yep – ‘<i>Teenage Dirtbag’</i> by Wheatus. You know,
that band I said he sounded a bit like about 3000 words ago?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I must be
honest though – out of all the songs so far, this is by far my least favourite.
It’s a good cover – although being a drummer I immediately notice the drums are
in a bit of a weird timing (and out of time), which throws the whole song –
they sound like they’re being played by someone who no.1 doesn’t know how the
song goes, and no.2 isn’t a drummer. Which is a shame – because on all the
other songs, everything is beautifully tight, original, and make for brilliant
listening material.<br />
This would be the song on the album that I’d always skip. It could’ve been
really good – his voice is great, the guitar and bass are on point, there’s
even a female vocalist towards the end.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">But the
drums – argh! I really wanted to like this cover, so it’s a shame.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Anyway –
time to turn my frown upside down, and listen to the next track.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Okay, so
before listening to this, I wanted to make sure it wasn’t a cover, so used
trusty old Google to see if there was a song named the same thing……..<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Oh, there
is.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Ah, it’s the
same song.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Okay – so this
is another cover – ‘<i>What Happened To Your
Band’</i> by McBusted. You know, that band that’s made up of McFly and that
band I mentioned Jacob sounded like about 2000 words ago? (For those aged over
40, that other band is Busted. Like, that’s their name. They haven’t been
arrested. Well – they might have been. I don’t know, I don’t tend to check up
on them.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">But it’s got
me thinking – how many of his other songs (if any) are covers? It doesn’t say
in brackets ‘<i>What Happened To Your Band
(Cover)’</i> so the only way I knew that was to Google the song title.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I must be
honest though – it’s not as bad as ‘<i>Teenage
Dirtbag’</i>!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Which is a
relief – it’s actually not too bad – I haven’t listened to the original, and I’m
not going to, I’ll stick with this version and pretend it’s his own song.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The
instrumentation is noticeably simpler than the previous songs, the vocals are
just as good as the other songs – the lyrics aren’t great – but it’s not his
song, so I’m allowed to say that!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">It’s got
some great backing vocals shouting in the background, which are probably the
same as the original – but even if they are, they sound great!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Anyway – enough
covers – there’s 1 more song left!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">ONE MORE!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">And it’s not
a proper song, it’s an instrumental piano piece. Which really doesn’t fit in
with the last 2 songs, or the whole album really - but it’s actually quite
refreshing. Back to something original, even if it’s only 44 seconds long.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">It’s called ‘<i>To Be Continued…’</i> – don’t know if that’s
a nod to a possible follow on album, which is more covers, or more instrumental
– or just more!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">(I hope it’s
not an album of covers….)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Anyway, I
don’t know what else to say about this track. It’s lovely. Short and sweet, and
the piano sounds very nice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">That okay?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Well – it better
be, because that’s it!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">FIN.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Right, now
time for a bit of a summary!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Right, where
do I start?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Well – I haven’t
mentioned this yet because I wanted to save it until the end. When Jacob asked
me to write this review, he said <i>“be kind
– I had to do absolutely everything myself to make this thing”</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br />
EVERYTHING.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">He wrote
(apart from the 2 covers), recorded, and mixed everything on this album all by
himself. That’s unbelievable!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I didn’t
mention it before because knowing that makes everything a lot more impressive,
and also a lot more personal. If I said I didn’t think something was mixed
properly, or if the guitar sounded off – then it would be directed at Jacob.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Fortunately
for him, without the need to be kind – I can say it’s a brilliant album – all of
his originals are great – they have brilliant instrumentation, vocals, lyrics,
and are all nicely mixed!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">It all
sounds extremely professional, like it’s been recorded and mixed in a studio by
a producer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">If you get a
chance to listen to this album, do it. It’ll take a while, because it’s 18
tracks (which makes it more amazing that he recorded it all and managed to mix
it all to the same level, and make it all work together as a whole!) and it’s
so worth giving it a listen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">If you get a
chance to buy this album – buy it, and then listen to it in your car at full
blast. You won’t regret it!<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">You can check out Jacob Fox's Facebook page <b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pg/Jacob-Fox-445628198932945/about/?ref=page_internal" target="_blank">HERE</a></b> - make sure to give it a Like to keep up with any news!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Thanks for
reading, keep tuned for the next review! If you have any recommendations of
albums I should listen to and review, let me know.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Don’t forget
to check out my website, Facebook, Twitter and Youtube below.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Catch you
next time!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Sam<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">www.bongoboy.co.uk<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">www.facebook.com/samthurlowpercussion
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">www.twitter.com/bongoboyuk</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">www.youtube.com/bongoboyuk<o:p></o:p></span></div>
SamThurlowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02863333045473333139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166391704251730654.post-37295683748337140272016-04-04T18:00:00.000-07:002016-06-21T06:32:44.330-07:0014. SINGLE - DNCE – ‘Cake by the Ocean’<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 14.7pt;">HELLO NUMBER FOURTEEN!</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I’m moving house, so don’t have time to listen to
a full album and write a blog – so thought, what the hell. Let’s do another
single!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This….day, I’ve been listening to ‘<i>Cake by the Ocean’</i> by DNCE….which I guess is pronounced ‘dance’?
Unless they just decided to make it a mouthful (of cake) and have it pronounced
‘dee en see eey’.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Either way – they have great taste in artwork. This one
really cuts the cake. The photoshoot must have been a piece of cake though.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEietNwvf0r6FB3p2cRCS-2rhgvWCQF4K_aF24-DfWoRhdEX_bPupEVff1k-kbbvmJdheJrrt34nIM6IiQG1eORpp3MMzoPs8JnxB1O_FnXRy-ZpJ-_TWfaeN_J4gETRsLJK7VWnx7SgeMJK/s1600/DNCE+-+cake+by+the+ocean+artwork.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEietNwvf0r6FB3p2cRCS-2rhgvWCQF4K_aF24-DfWoRhdEX_bPupEVff1k-kbbvmJdheJrrt34nIM6IiQG1eORpp3MMzoPs8JnxB1O_FnXRy-ZpJ-_TWfaeN_J4gETRsLJK7VWnx7SgeMJK/s400/DNCE+-+cake+by+the+ocean+artwork.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">GET IT?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Because….it’s cake!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Not a lot of ocean though.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Also – eating cake by the ocean wouldn’t be that
pleasant. Nothing’s worse than getting your icing sandy. However – I like this
artwork simply because of how quirky it is! It’s literally just a piece of cake
with a knife next to it. And it’s no M&S Finest cake advert – it’s really
roughly cut, and looks a bit rough around the edges – and yet it looks delicious!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<i><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“Talk to me,
baby. I’m going blind from this sweet, sweet craving. Let’s lose our minds and
go fucking crazy. Ah ya ya ya ya I keep on hoping we’ll eat cake by the ocean.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I keep thinking that’s some kind of euphemism – “<i>eat cake by the ocean” </i>– but any kind of
contact he may or may not be referring to wouldn’t be nice on a beach. Have you
ever walking along a beach in shoes and noticed that somehow, they’re filled to
the brim with sand? Imagine if you roll along the beach. Yeah – you’re gonna
get sand in a number of places. And in your shoes will be the least of your
worries!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You’ve been warned.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Anyway! Back to the reason you’re reading this. The TV
adverts!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Head over to Youtube and search for ‘cake advert’.
Enjoy!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Ok – now back to the reason I’m doing this. The money...I
mean music.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It starts off with a really nice guitar riff, and then
joined by drums and vocals. Also – something I didn’t know, the lead vocalist
is one of the Jonas brothers. You know, that duo who were going to be the next
McFly? The band who catered for 12 year old girls? Yeah, them! Well, he’s now
in this band and….sorry kids, but he swears! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">:O<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">SHOCK HORROR!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Although I feel obliged to let him off. He is singing
about cake after all – but at one point he does say “fuckin’ delicious!” in
between lines. What kind of example is he setting to kids?! That it’s ok to
swear when a cake tastes nice? Actually…yeah, I do that too.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The song is definitely a future club classic, it just
oozes sweaty drunk teenagers dancing in a dark room along to music that’s way
too loud while drinking alco-pops. But outside of a club – this is a great
feel-good song!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I’m loving it!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Do you agree/disagree with
anything I said? Like / dislike the review? Any constructive criticisms?
Please leave a comment below! Would love to hear from you. Also, if you
have any recommendations of albums I should listen to and review (as long as
the artwork is awesome), let me know.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Thanks for reading, keep tuned
for the next blog.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I will be reviewing<span class="apple-converted-space"> another single as I’ve been busy moving house!</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Don’t forget to check out my
website, Facebook, Twitter and Youtube below.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I’m doing these blogs alongside
my better half; Fern Teather – she is listening to a new albums (doesn’t matter about the artwork, she’s trying to expand her musical knowledge
and listen to new artists!). She’s also keeping a blog, and it’s nowhere near
as long as this one, so go give it a read!!<br />
Check it out here:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://52-albums.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="background: #FEFEFE; color: windowtext;">52-albums.blogspot.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Catch you next time!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Sam<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.bongoboy.co.uk/"><span style="color: windowtext;">www.bongoboy.co.uk</span></a><br />
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/samthurlowpercussion"><span style="color: windowtext;">www.facebook.com/samthurlowpercussion</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
<a href="http://www.twitter.com/bongoboyuk"><span style="color: windowtext;">www.twitter.com/bongoboyuk</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/bongoboyuk" target="_blank"><span style="color: windowtext;">www.youtube.com/bongoboyuk</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></div>
SamThurlowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02863333045473333139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166391704251730654.post-14079753398930181592016-03-30T08:32:00.000-07:002016-06-21T06:32:16.271-07:0013. Air – ‘Moon Safari’<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 14.7pt;">Number 13! Unlucky for some – which includes me, because I’ve
come down with a stinking cold!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">That means, this is a perfect time to try out something
new! As you may know (if you’ve read any of my previous blogs) I usually review
each song separately, and it makes the post very long. Well – this time, I’m
going to listen to the album, and then write a review about the whole thing all
together, then mentioning separate songs in places.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It means it won’t be as long, which means it won’t take me
as long to write it, and won’t take you as long to read it!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So….let’s get this party started!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizKjMcYDFZZdskIrtBn4ftaH0_M91iPwgtoGzRxMf7raWmV7UbgWUjBGjop1DqY4jrCllQ1iqLMKHjvLyIjcdPGbA98Kg_jEEwjdDNrRDO9kf9mx1hNdNZdkmW4grTA0TfJELHkzbTZbLq/s1600/Air+-+Moon+Safari+artwork.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizKjMcYDFZZdskIrtBn4ftaH0_M91iPwgtoGzRxMf7raWmV7UbgWUjBGjop1DqY4jrCllQ1iqLMKHjvLyIjcdPGbA98Kg_jEEwjdDNrRDO9kf9mx1hNdNZdkmW4grTA0TfJELHkzbTZbLq/s400/Air+-+Moon+Safari+artwork.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I’ve been listening to ‘<i>Moon
Safari’</i> by <i>Air</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><v:shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f">
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The artwork for this album really stood out for me – with
it’s bold colours and quirky drawing style. Also the fact there seems to be a
zombie convict in the background, and that they’ve put “<i>FRENCH BAND” </i>next to the name – just to make sure that you
don’t mistake them for being English, because god forbid if anyone did!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The blue in the background
reminds me of the art movement; <i>De Stijl</i>,
where artists painted large blocks of solid colour. But then this is a lot more
abstract and untidy, and uses blues and greens whereas in <i>De Stijl,</i> they used mostly reds, yellows and whites (which I guess
is just blank canvas). They also used straight black lines to create the blocks
of colour – which now-a-days seems really simple, but in the early 1900’s was
out of this world and very controversial. Today, anyone could go on Paint and
recreate the exact same pieces of art. But back then, they only had <i>real</i> paint – not a computer program. So
they had to carefully draw a perfectly straight 2m long line in black paint.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">However, after educating you in
what <i>De Stijl</i> is. I can now tell you
this isn’t anything like it. If <i>De Stijl</i>
was meant to stand for peace and order. This stands for anarchy and disorder.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Which then leads back to the
zombie convict.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Anyway – enough about the cover –
I want to listen to music!!<br />
This whole album is very chilled out and laid back – the first song ‘<i><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">La Femme D'Argent’ </span></i><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">proves that instantly! With it’s very ethereal sounds
from synths and bass guitars – it’s the definition of ‘chill’.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I’m getting cold listening to it…that’s how chill it
is!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It’s also one of those songs that a lot of people will
listen to and go <i>“Oh….I’ve heard that
somewhere before!”</i>. Because I certainly have! No idea where though. I think
it’s one of those many laid back songs that they over use in TV adverts as
background music. Probably for a bank or something.<br />
In fact I think a lot of these songs are on adverts. The next song; ‘<i>Sexy Boy’</i> definitely is. I think this
one is more of a perfume advert….or a car.<br />
Like when Renault went through it’s awesome advert phase – I’m sure 80% of
people reading this know what I’m talking about.<br />
If not, go to Youtube and type in…………dammit – it’s Citroen. Ok. Go to Youtube
and type in ‘Citroen robot dance’ – watch it, and then come back and keep
reading.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">See! Advert used to be great!<br />
Ok, now type in ‘Renault shaking’<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Ah I could do this all day!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But I won’t – but, if you took part in that exercise,
you’ll see what I mean.<br />
I also think a couple of these songs were used in films as background music,
but I can’t be sure – and right now can’t be bothered to research it for a few
hours. Also, it’s nice to have a bit of mystery in life every once and a while!<br />
If I knew every film this music was in, it wouldn’t be a surprise when I watch
the film and hear the music. So where’s the fun in that?!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This whole album is very 90’s sounding….which is a
stupid thing to say considering it’s from the 90’s, but that’s how obvious it
is!<br />
It’s very Moby / Fatboy Slim / Groove Armada. With an almost entirely synthetic
sound, with only a handful of ‘proper’ instruments – but I like it!<br />
Music isn’t just about how well you can play an instrument or how well you can
sing. It’s making beautiful sounds with what you have!<br />
And in this case – it’s a computer and synthesizer, with the odd bass, guitar,
piano, drums and other little bits.<br />
I actually think the most acoustic sounding song is ‘<i>Ce Matin La’, </i>and that’s only because the whole song is pretty much
just an orchestra. It starts off with a few weird submarine sounds, but is soon
taken over by a flock of violins and a horn. Just 1.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The lone hornsman.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Tooting through the night.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">‘New Star in
the Sky’</span></i><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">
is also mostly acoustic – and has a guitar part at the beginning which sounds strangely
uncannily like ‘<i>Space Oddity’</i>. It
even has the same ‘pings’ and windy noise! I swear it could actually go
straight into the song at any point!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Ok – I think it’s actually the second part to <i>Space Oddity. </i>That’s the only
explanation. Even so, David Bowie should’ve sued the crap out of them for it!<br />
If Led Zepplin can be sued for 4 chords in one of the most iconic songs ever
written, then Mr Bowie could’ve said “they took my song and removed the vocals,
and now claim it as theirs” – none of this “THOSE ARE OUR CHORDS!” bollocks. I
mean, how many nice sounding chords can you play on a guitar?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I swear it’s only like 10…<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Overall, I really enjoyed listening to this song. It
was nostalgic in places because I remember hearing a couple of songs somewhere
before.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It’s a nice mixture of instrumental and electronic, and
a really great choice of instruments at that! Saxophone, violin, bass, guitar
and of course…BONGOS!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">5 STARS! *****<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">10/10!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">WOULD LISTEN TO AGAIN!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Do you agree/disagree with
anything I said? Like / dislike the review? Any constructive criticisms?
Please leave a comment below! Would love to hear from you. Also, if you
have any recommendations of albums I should listen to and review (as long as
the artwork is awesome), let me know.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Thanks for reading, keep tuned
for the next blog.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I will be reviewing<span class="apple-converted-space"> another single as I’ve been busy moving house - I might also go back to my old way of reviewing...don't know, let me know what you think!</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Don’t forget to check out my
website, Facebook, Twitter and Youtube below.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I’m doing these blogs alongside
my better half; Fern Teather – she is listening to a new album (doesn’t matter about the artwork, she’s trying to expand her musical knowledge
and listen to new artists!). She’s also keeping a blog, and it’s nowhere near
as long as this one, so go give it a read!!<br />
Check it out here:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://52-albums.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="background: #FEFEFE; color: windowtext;">52-albums.blogspot.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Hopefully blog you all soon!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Sam<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.bongoboy.co.uk/"><span style="color: windowtext;">www.bongoboy.co.uk</span></a><br />
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/samthurlowpercussion"><span style="color: windowtext;">www.facebook.com/samthurlowpercussion</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
<a href="http://www.twitter.com/bongoboyuk"><span style="color: windowtext;">www.twitter.com/bongoboyuk</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/bongoboyuk" target="_blank"><span style="color: windowtext;">www.youtube.com/bongoboyuk</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></div>
SamThurlowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02863333045473333139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166391704251730654.post-67267370219464383282016-03-29T07:45:00.001-07:002016-06-21T06:39:00.777-07:0012. Beach Fossils – ‘What a Pleasure’<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 14.7pt;">Bonjour number 12!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 14.7pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Hope everyone’s had a pleasant time since the last blog.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I have – because I’ve been listening to a new album!<br />
That album is….well, it’s actually a long EP, but I’m gonna call it an album! -
‘<i>What A Pleasure’</i> by <i>Beach Fossils</i></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I chose this one to go in this blog because, just like all
the others, I really like the artwork!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But unlike the others, which I think look really cool, this
one is pretty boring. But I love the technical side of it! The photographer managing
to capture a baseball just before it hits a window. Of course, this could be
done in a number of ways instead of just throwing it at the window.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Something like this would require a couple of takes to get
the timing perfect, so to risk taking just 1 shot would be…well…a risk!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I can just imagine them going around the house to different
windows and trying to get the photo, but smashing every window in the process. <i>“Damn, ok, I missed that one – next window” “No!
I wasn’t ready! Ugh….ok, next.”<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">OR, they could be clever with it! Maybe find a house with 2
floors, with windows 1 above the other, then drop the ball from the top window.
That way, if it’s captured in the right place, it will look like it’s floating
in front of the window, so the viewer would assume it was hurtling towards it –
but instead, if the shot didn’t come out, the ball would harmlessly fall to the
ground, ready to be dropped again.<br />
Of course, they could do it the other way round, by having someone laying on
the floor and throwing the ball up, but that’s more dangerous and could end
with a broken nose.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Either way, it’s a great image!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Now, on to the sweet sounds of Beach Fossils – although
fossils don’t really sound very good. I wouldn’t really go and listen to some
ammonites playing music. <i>Not in a million
years</i>!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Ba dum tss!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Because, you know….they’re fossils. Which are millions of
years old. Get it? :D<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Sorry.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
To kick off the album, they’ve recorded a nice little 1 minute long
instrumental opening track called ‘<i>Moments’.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It consists of guitar – which sounds like a steel guitar,
and drums – which sound like normal drums, but with a bit more reverb than
normal just playing round the toms.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">No bass on this track – but it doesn’t need it – the drums
playing a constant fill bulk it out enough.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">However, there are vocals. But just ‘<i>Aaaaa’ing</i>, which sound like musical angels yawning. I actually
yawned so much while listening to this track! It’s one of those things – you hear
or see yawning and instantly yawn. Even the word yawn. Yawn.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It’s a really simple track, but it’s a nice little first
track!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Next up is the album track – ‘<i>What A Pleasure’</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This is another short one – only 2 ½ minutes long – but it’s
still a great feel good song!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">More guitar – which still sounds like a steel guitar. But a
little bit cleaner, which makes me think it’s probably an electric guitar with
a nice little pedal. Either way it sounds great!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It’s joined by drums and bass, but is quickly replaced by
vocals which seem familiar and yet different to anything else I’ve heard
before. He actually sounds a lot like Moby….which is strange, but there’s nothing
wrong with that in my eyes…or ears!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The guitar then comes back in and continues for the rest of
the song playing a neat little riff. Some of the guitar does sound a bit like
the samples on GarageBand – but honestly, even if they were, I’m fine with that!<br />
Making music is about the music – not how you made it – unless you just rip
someone else off of course, because that’s not right and is the least creative
thing someone could do. I’m all for mashups and remixes, but only if you’re
doing it in your bedroom and putting it on YouTube as a way to express yourself
and your love for that persons music. Not recording it in a studio and
releasing it as your own – seriously, if you can’t write original material don’t
use other peoples.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But apart from that, I don’t care how your recorded it, as
long as it sounds nice – just like this song!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“<i>Woken up and here I
am. All to fast to understand. All the way across the sea, thinking thoughts of
you and me, in my life I’ve never felt so free. You’re so far away from me.”</i><span style="background: rgb(204, 204, 221); font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">‘<i>Fall Right In’</i> is
next up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This one sounds a little bit like the previous song, but
just different enough to make it listenable.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The vocal are very similar – staying quite quiet and linear –
I just want him to start shouting a little bit, and bringing his voice up to
the next level instead of staying in the safe zone. It has some great backing
vocals, which come up with some really nice harmonies to bring it up a bit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The guitar is very upbeat and sounds like it’s happy to be
played – it’s very much a summers day song to listen to while lying in a
hammock sipping on an ice cold diet coke and eating an icecream.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“<i>I can’t see a thing,
well it’s on your face. I’m running down my stairs and I’m heading to your
place. Do you know what you have done to me?”</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And all of a sudden, it’s finished. It’s 2 ½ minutes long,
but it feels like it ends a lot quicker than it should.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For those of you who keep up to date with my blogs, and look
daily for new ones – you do know there’s more to find on the internet, right?<br />
Anyway – you might have realised that these blogs don’t go out at a particular
time, that’s because some weeks I don’t have anything on, but other weeks I’m
busy every day. So I picked a relatively short
album, coming in at a total of 23 minutes. Now, that’s short. Most songs are
4-5 minutes long, so that would only be about 5 songs………..but this album has 8!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I mean, yes, the first track is only 1 minute long, but it’s
still quite a number of songs for such a short album. And that’s why I picked
it. That way, the review would look like a full, fleshed out review – but it
takes ½ the time to listen to the album all the way through!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Ingenious, I know.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Next – ‘<i>Out in the Way’<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Ok, now this one sounds a lot like the previous songs. The
same drums, similar bass and same sounding guitar and vocals – but I won’t
judge just yet! They might turn it round again – and we’re already half way
through the album, so there’s still hope!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“<i>In the darkness
passing through. Tell me, is it really you? You don’t look the same as when I
was dreaming.”</i><span style="background: rgb(204, 204, 221); font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The song has got a few nice little parts where the drum does
double snare hits, and there’s a couple of bits where it sounds like a
different singer comes in and takes over the main vocals – but I might be
mistaken – it’s not a massive change!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">One thing that goes throughout the album, apart from the
sounds of all the instruments sounding the same on each song, the vocals are
consistent.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">By that I mean they’re good throughout, but also sound very repetitive.
They’ve put an effect on them which makes it sound like he’s singing with a
fishbowl on his head. Reverb and a bit of a ‘watery’ feeling.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But it definitely gives them a unique sound. I can’t think
of anyone that sounds like they do – which is a great thing!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">‘<i>Face It’</i> is up
next.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This one, just like the previous one, is quite like the
previous one to that. The guitar’s very much the same – but the drums have
changed a bit, although they definitely sound like a drum machine. Which should
be taken as a compliment to the drummer!<br />
I recorded with someone recently, and they had drums on their tracks and I said
what a really nice sounding drum track they’d found online, and asked what
program they used.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“My brother…” they replied. It was unbelievable! Their
brother had managed to keep perfect timing, and played every beat with full
confidence and perfect force – it was uncanny!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">That then makes me think, maybe this was just recorded on an
electronic drum kit. It’s definitely not acoustic – and that’s what makes it
hard to tell, because with an e-kit, it’s possible to move the individual notes
in a recording software – so even if it was played out of time, or there was a
couple of muck ups. They’re all editable!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Ah, technology – saving time since the 1970's!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Back to the song!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Even though it sounds a lot like the other tracks on the album,
it’s still a good song! There’s 2 guitars – 1 rhythm playing the basic stuff
chugging along with the rest of the song, and then 1 lead guitar playing little
bits and pieces every now and then to add layers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“<i>I’d give up the
country life, I’d give up city life, I’d fall for you anytime. Anytime.”</i><span style="background: rgb(204, 204, 221); font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Next – ‘<i>Distance’<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“<i>I tell you all the
time that when I think of you it tears my heart, and pushes me back to the
start.”<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This one is slightly different! It’s got a nice guitar riff
throughout, and the drums pick up a little bit. I mean, it’s no ‘<i>Impossible Winner’</i> from The Dead
Weathers album I reviewed a couple of months ago, but it’s still a nice change!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This is yet another song that I feel like I’ve heard
something like it before – but no idea when or who I’m thinking of! It’s like
smelling something and not being able to put your finger on what it actually is
that you’re smelling. Or if you have crap eye sight and you see a blur in the
distance – is it a car? A bush? A giant turtle? A party of Hobbits?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">That’s what I’m like with this album. Is it Third Eye Blind?
Sam Isaac? Radiohead? The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain? I DON’T KNOW!<br />
It’s actually driving me a bit mad, because I love comparing bands!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This song though, no matter who it sounds like, is a nice
chilled out track. It’s slightly repetitive, but that might be because…well,
because it’s pretty flat throughout. I mean, it’s upbeat and jolly. But it’s
just the same thing throughout the whole song.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Next up – ‘<i>Calyer’</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This one changes it up a little bit – it’s mostly minor
chords, so it doesn’t have the same ‘happy running down the beach’ kinda feel
all the other tracks have had so far.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“<i>Don’t wanna hear
about your time. Just wanna show you what’s mine.”<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It’s still very similar to the rest of the songs – but it’s
different enough that I’m gonna let them get away with it for once – but only
this once! There’s still one more song, so there’s still time for me to take it
all back!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">However, for now, this song is different enough to actually
talk about. It has the same sounding instruments as it has throughout the whole
album. But I’m starting to think they might not have had a choice, or it’s
exactly what they wanted. As I mentioned right at the start, this isn’t
actually an album – it’s a long EP – that means it probably doesn’t have the
same production as an album would have, and is probably just what they sound
like live, but burned onto a CD.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">They might have even recorded it themselves in 1 of their
living rooms. That would explain why the instruments all sound the same on each
song, and why there’s minimum variation in the different sounds used. They
might have recorded it all in 1 afternoon, using the same instruments, and it
just so happens that all their songs have a very similar feel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Personally, I prefer variation – that way people from
different tastes in music have a greater chance of liking at least 1 of the
various songs on the album. It also keeps the music fresh if someone listens to
the album all the way through.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Last, but no means least – ‘<i>Adversity’</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Ok, so this one is a bit different. It’s still the same
sounding instruments, but they’re played differently. Not overly different –
but different enough for me to carry on!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The vocals seem to get stronger as the CD goes on – starting
off quite shy and weak sounding, and he’s now finding his feet! It’s still quite
linear, but nowhere near as much as it was!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“<i>We put up a fight for
the other side. We raise up our arms to show we’re strong. Then we break our
bones, but we’ll carry on.”</i><span style="background: rgb(204, 204, 221); font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There’s a few nice dynamics in the music – with a few
atmospheric guitar parts. I would say the whole song was atmospheric, but it’s
missing something – it’s like it’s missing the air. Now, I know that sounds
weird, but hear me out!<br />
When you’re talking about Earth’s atmosphere, air is pretty much what it is. I
know it also holds out radiation and keeps in heat, but the main thing is it
holds in the air we breathe. Well, if you imagine that in music terms – air is
the most important part – so if an atmospheric song lacks air, it’s lacking a
lot!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When I think of atmospheric music, I think of beautiful
sounds which are hardly ever heard in songs. Something you can listen to and
forget about the world around you. Ludovico Einaudi – now, he’s like an oxygen
tank – full of beautiful air.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I feel like this album is a tank running out of air. It has
the potential to be full, but needs something to help fill it. But it then
needs to be the right air. If it’s pure carbon dioxide, that’s no good. It’s
the wrong mix of air – it’s like taking Einaudi and adding a metal drummer. But
if we take that C02 out and fill it ¾ with nitrogen, that metal drummer can be
tamed and turned into one who can play a range of noisy things, but play them
with subtlety and really add to the sound (as long as he can hold his breathe).
You can then add the oxygen to nearly fill the tank. That’ll be the orchestra.
They allow the song to breathe and to come alive (and means the drummer can
stop holding his breathe). Then there’s just a few little bits to add – the argon,
H20 and a dash of C02 back in there to give the song a kick when it needs it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I bet you now either understand me, or are even more
confused. I would give the same example with a cake recipe to make it easier to
understand, but I’ll just make myself hungry.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Do you agree/disagree with
anything I said? Like / dislike the review? Any constructive criticisms?
Please leave a comment below! Would love to hear from you. Also, if you
have any recommendations of albums I should listen to and review (as long as
the artwork is awesome), let me know.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Thanks for reading, keep tuned
for the next blog.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I will be reviewing<span class="apple-converted-space"> <b><i>‘Moon Safari’ </i></b>by <b><i>Air</i></b></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Don’t forget to check out my website,
Facebook, Twitter and Youtube below.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I’m doing these blogs alongside
my better half; Fern Teather – she is listening to a new albums
(doesn’t matter about the artwork, she’s trying to expand her musical knowledge
and listen to new artists!). She’s also keeping a blog, and it’s nowhere near
as long as this one, so go give it a read!!<br />
Check it out here:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://52-albums.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="background: #FEFEFE; color: windowtext;">52-albums.blogspot.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<div style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Au Revoir!</span></div>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Sam<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.bongoboy.co.uk/"><span style="color: windowtext;">www.bongoboy.co.uk</span></a><br />
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/samthurlowpercussion"><span style="color: windowtext;">www.facebook.com/samthurlowpercussion</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
<a href="http://www.twitter.com/bongoboyuk"><span style="color: windowtext;">www.twitter.com/bongoboyuk</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/bongoboyuk" target="_blank"><span style="color: windowtext;">www.youtube.com/bongoboyuk</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></div>
SamThurlowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02863333045473333139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166391704251730654.post-38663383530670518402016-03-28T11:09:00.003-07:002016-06-21T06:40:04.898-07:0011. Band of Skulls – ‘Baby Darling Doll Face Honey’<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 14.7pt;">Number 11!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 14.7pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
Why hello!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I’m gonna get straight into it – I’ve been
listening to the <i>Band of Skulls</i>
album; ‘<i>Baby Darling Doll Face Honey’</i>,
which I can say is the hardest album title to remember ever. The only way I can
remember it is because it’s in alphabetical order…which might be intentional….I
can imagine them all sitting down and reading down a list of names to call
women in the 20<sup>th</sup> century, and they read those in succession and thought
it sounded great.<br />
Although I’m sure there’s more in between those.<br />
Cutie, girl, gorgeous, female…see! Loads!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As for the artwork, I can see a rose, a goat and a
butterfly. Or a butterfly with a goats head with a rose for a brain. Or a fox.
I can see a fox too.<br />
Or it could all be a scam, and everyone see’s different things no matter their
mood or tendencies – just like the real Rorschach tests! It’s like horoscopes,
and fortune cookies. They’re all things that suck people in to make them think
that ink blots, stars and Chinese children that are forced to work in sweat
houses can predict the future or something….<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">ANYWAY!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
Moving on to the music.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
The first song is ‘<i>Light of the Morning’</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I love how this one starts!<br />
It begins with a very subtle guitar chord, but then cuts to just vocals with
guitar following it, and then 2 bursts of sound from the band along to the last
word of the sentence….and I understand that’s quite hard to imagine, so I’ll
write it.<br />
“<i>I wanna see you in the <b><u>MOR</u></b>-<b><u>NING</u></b>, I wanna see you when the breaking day is <b><u>DAW</u></b>-<b><u>NING</u></b>.”<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Then when that section of the song finishes, the rest of the
band comes in – mostly the drums (well, mostly the cymbals – which kind of take
over the song).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">They have a very classic rock feel in between the verses. I
can just imagine them now – the guitarist and bassist sway side to side quickly
– a lot like The Beatles did, but a bit more aggressive. Meanwhile the drummer
is making good use of his 2 crash cymbals – one to the right, and one to the
left, and just playing them back and forth like he can’t make his mind which
one he prefers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The song is about sex. Well…it’s about wanting sex by having
the desire to see someone in the morning. Unless they just want to go out for
coffee.<br />
But this is a rock song…..so yeah. Sex.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It also has a slow finish, where the song stops and changes
to something completely different – and the absolute end sounds like it’s gonna
go into “<i>Radar Love”.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Next up is “<i>Death by
Diamonds and Pearls”.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Now, I’ve heard this song before – can’t remember where or
when. But I used to love it.<br />
Probably because it’s very Raconteurs sounding – I think they could cover it
and no-one would be able to tell the difference to be honest!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It’s an awesome song – but then, I might be biased.<br />
It starts with a really nice grungy-sounding guitar and then the drums and
vocals come in. It has a similar thing to the last song, where they seem to
have 2 bursts of sound from the whole band along to the last word of the
sentence. But nowhere near as prominent.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“<i>She grew up in a nice
neighbourhood, but it didn’t do her no good. Cause she’s just a sum of her
influence, and I can’t tell you the difference, by the cracked windscreen on
her car, something is telling me you don’t know how lucky you are. You’re just
like the rest of those girls. They’re all death by diamonds and pearls.”<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This song, as well as the last one, both have a lot of empty
space in them. There’s a lot of the song that’s just in between sounds and where
it goes completely quiet. Even if it’s only for a split second – there’s just
no underlying drone throughout. Which I love – because having drops are what
makes songs really fun to play and listen to!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Quite like the last song, this one also has an ending which
is different to the core of the song. But this is more of just a guitar solo
instead of changing the song completely, it just makes it feel a lot faster –
also, another reason why this sounds like The Raconteurs – that could easily be
a Jack White solo!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Next is “<i>I Know What I
Am”.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This one took me by surprise, because it’s a complete change
from the last songs.<br />
This time it’s a marching tune – with bass and drums thumping along while the
guitar makes nice little train sounds (chukka chukka). But the thing that
really stands out is the vocals – firstly comes the main male vocals that has
been in all the other songs. But then a female vocals comes in – and the 2
voices work really well together!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The chorus where they sing in unison is brilliant – especially
when it ends. The drummer appears to have gotten a bit carried away, starting
off a little drum roll and getting faster and faster until I can imagine the
singers giving him an evil look and forcing him to stop. It was of course
written in, but I prefer to think that it went like that!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“Gasoline,
saccharin, I got no reason for the state I’m in. But I know what I am, they
know what they are. So let me be.” “Hotel, Taco Bell, I got the hit that you
know damn well. But I know what I am, they know what they are. So let me be.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">They of course throw in a guitar solo for good measure, and
then the vocals come back in but overlap each other a bit – and the guitar
sounds like something you’d play on <i>Guitar
Hero</i>, where if you miss the beat it makes the song sound dreadful. I also really
like the ending, where it just slows right down and fades out in a drone of a
pulsing guitar.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt; tab-stops: 126.85pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt; tab-stops: 126.85pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Next – “<i>Fires</i>”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This is the song that they got their album title from.
Literally the first line is <i>“Baby darling
doll face honey. No I don’t mean to cause you worry. It’s only hands in my
pocket and the Queen on my money.”</i><i><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><br />
</span></i>After a quick
Google – I learn they’re an English band – which is awesome! It’s just a great
feeling to know awesome music is still coming out of England. Although the only
reason why I wanted to know was because of the ‘Queen on my money’ line – after
all, I think there’s a couple of Queens still ruling in the world….although I
use the term ‘ruling’ lightly. The Queen of England doesn’t really have a say
in anything – I’d actually be very interested what would happen if she said she
wanted to wage war on France. Would it actually happen? Probably not. I imagine
there’s a team of people who make sure she doesn’t say stupid things like that
– and then a team of people who tell her what to say. They call themselves
‘advisors’, and I’m sure in the past if they ever advised <i>against </i>the Queen, that’d be the last anyone saw of them. But
now-a-days, the Queen just does as she’s told.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Mind you, if this is the last review I ever post, you’ll
know why. God save the Queen and all that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">OH YEAH – the song, that’s why I’m writing this. Ok.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It starts off like they’re gonna suddenly stop and shout “<i>FLASH! AHHHHHH!”</i>, but they don’t. It instead
goes into the line I wrote before I started to insult the Queen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“<i>We are fires in the
night.”</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This one also has quite a bit of empty space, but not as
much as previous songs – because the bass is being played quickly in the
background so that fills any spaces between the drums and guitar. And those are
the only instruments. There’s only 3 of them – guitarist/singer, bassist/singer
and a drummer/no vocals.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For just 3 people, they have a brilliant loud sound, but
also intricate at the same time. Plus, unlike previous albums, these songs
don’t sound exactly some other song I’ve listened to. I mean, yes, they’re
either influenced by The Raconteurs or this album just happens to sound very
similar. It’s not as chaotic as The Raconteurs, but it’s just the sound they
have.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Next song – ‘<i>Honest’</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This one caught me a bit off guard. But in a good way.<br />
It’s very quiet to start, and has beautiful female vocals with male harmonies –
with really nice picked guitar and simple bass and drums. It’s a really nice
change from the more upbeat start to the album, and they’ve accomplished it
really well, gradually getting slower in each song.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“<i>You gotta be honest,
you gotta be guarded. Sure I’m gonna say. Right on the inside that is the
hardest, the hardest game to play. You sorted it all out and managed to slip
through the night into the day. Life and the soul do you ever get lonely? I’m
gonna take you on.”</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">With the previous songs, they’ve all had hints of Raconteurs
– as you probably realised. This one however, is completely stand-alone. I
can’t think of 1 band that this sounds like – which is rare, and makes this
song very special.<br />
I mean, obviously, I don’t have a very wide musical spectrum…so this probably
sounds like a couple of bands, but it’s nearly impossible to write anything
completely original now-a-days unless it sounds utterly crap. It just seems
like all the good songs and styles have been taken, so all you can do now is
try and not completely rip them off while at the same time stealing some of
their ideas.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Or, if you want to write a pop song, take a really good song
and go full on karaoke on it, but throw in some wubs and unnecessary raps.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">‘<i>Patterns’ </i>is
next.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It almost bleeds into the previous song, with a low drone
coming from the end of that song into the start of this one, and then the dirty
bass and drums come in! Sounding very <i>Bloody
Royal</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">After a couple of bars of that it dies down a bit and the
vocals come in. And speaking of stealing other song - They’re singing a well
known nursery rhyme…apparently. My girlfriend informed me it’s ‘<i>One for Sorrow’</i> – a song about magpies.
Learn a new thing every day!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">They sing it with the same words as the original, up until
number 8.<br />
For those of you who don’t know how it goes, it’s ok. I can help.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“<i>There’s one for the sorrow,
and two for the joy. Three for the girls and four for the boys. There’s five
for the silver and six for the gold, seven for the secrets that are never to be
told.”<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> It’s then supposed to
go “<i>Eight for a wish, nine for a kiss,
ten for a bird you must not miss.”</i> But instead, this version goes like so: <i>“There’s eight in the river and nine in my
head, and ten of the</i> <i>worst kind
sleeping in my bed.”<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Later in the song they sing it over again, but change the
words for some a bit more…grown up. Although the whole song sounds a bit
menacing – they’ve made it quite dark and gothic sounding – not exactly metal,
but also not exactly rainbows and unicorns…or magpies in this case.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I believe, because it’s a nursery rhyme, the copyright laws
are different. It depends when it was written, but most are in public domain
because they were written so long ago and the writers are long gone, or no-one
can prove where they originated.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It was actually only recently that a judge declared that ‘<i>Happy Birthday To You’</i> should be in
public domain. Before then it was technically copyright to sing it in public
without paying to use it – so TV programmes couldn’t use it without paying.
(Little behind the scenes bit here – I was just thinking of putting <i>“How crazy is that?!”</i> after that
sentence, but I decided not to because this is a serious blog…and comedy that
bad will not be a part of it. No matter how <i>‘cray-cray’</i>
something is.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Oh, and for those of you who don’t get my humour. That was
meant to be a joke. Cray-cray right?!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">NEXT!<br />
<i>‘Hollywood Bowl’<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Starting off sounding a lot like <i>The Zutons </i>(Finally – a band without Jack White in!)<i> </i>with strumming and ‘<i>hey!</i>’s.<br />
This is another song with both male and female lead vocals, changing between
verses. I love this kind of music with any voice, but especially female lead
vocals. Very <i>Dead Weather</i> (I need to
stop referring to bands with Jack White in….unfortunately, I don’t know any
more. AND WHY WOULD I NEED TO?! Mr White is brilliant!)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The music is back to being quite upbeat, although it’s quite
simple through the verses, only building up afterwards – there’s no choruses in
the song, just 2 verses (1 male and 1 female) and a few <i>heys</i> and <i>ohs</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There’s a few really nice guitar
string noises, held notes and controlled feedback throughout the song – they’re
really subtle, so normal people wouldn’t pick up on them, but they add to the
sound on an unconscious level.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“<i>Because you sold your soul at the Hollywood Bowl.”</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">That’s the last line of the song,
and they sing it like they’re a broken record – slowing down in a weird timing
before going off into another bar of music and then finishing again!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">‘<i>Bomb</i>’ is up next.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Starting with the ticking of
a…well, probably a bomb. But it just sounds like an egg timer – especially when
they crank it round. But they then stuck to the same timing as its ticking,
which I really like! It’s a clever way of finding a time signature somewhere
and writing a song around it. Unfortunately, I fear they may have sped it up a
bit, unless their egg timer ticks out of time, which is always a possibility!<br />
If their eggs are never cooked properly, that’d explain why!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“<i>All that you do, all that you say. Ticking time bomb is ticking away.
You can’t stay home or go away. Ticking time bomb is ticking away.”</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">They also build up with the whole
band (plus a couple of extra sounds that aren’t from them – I can hear a really
subtle glockenspiel in there somewhere. But after building up it cuts back to
just the ticking and a filthy sounding guitar which is playing a simple riff.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I get this funny feeling that
they wrote this while they were high and one of them had a craving for noodles
– and set a timer so they wouldn’t forget. But then one of others heard this
ticking coming from somewhere and they all freaked out thinking there was a
bomb in their kitchen.<br />
They then found it was coming from a small egg timer, so threw it out the
window and then the noodles caught on fire because they forgot they were
cooking them in the chaos and burnt the house down killing everyone in side.
That’s why they’re called <i>Band of <b>SKULLS</b></i><b>!</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">DUN DUN DUUUUN!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Next up, just like my previous
theory, is ‘<i>Impossible’</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I mean, how can a skeleton play drums? Or anything for that
matter. Even if they could move around, they have no muscles – so actually <i>couldn’t</i> move around, let alone play an
instrument. Now THAT is impossible.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This song sounds quite U2-ish. Marching drums, high pitched
guitar and droning bass. It’s a very stadium sounding song. The vocals even
sound a bit like Bono!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">That is until it gets to the chorus – it then changes to
more of a ‘stadium sing-a-long’ song. But not by U2….<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It then has a brilliant line, which I feel I want the second
half tattooed somewhere:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“<i>So cut my out of every
photo. Who would’ve thought of sinking so low? It’s impossible to be
invincible, but maybe it’s possible to be impossible!”<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Of course, I won’t get it tattooed….I’m more of a “That
looks awesome!!” than a “I live by these lyrics” kinda man – unless those
lyrics are written by <i>Jack White</i> of
course….<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“<i>Blood</i>” is next.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Starting off very bluesy. VERY bluesy!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Muted guitar and hi-hat cymbals – everything else then comes
in, with female vocals – staying very bluesy, but a bit heavier than it started
– most noticeably, with the bass following the vocals and not the rest of the
music – which adds an almost controlled sloppy feel to the song – which is a
great contrast, because all the other songs are very tight.<br />
There’s then a moment where everything stops and it sounds like the guitarist
falls down a well, with his guitar, amp and power supply with him, playing a
wobbling chord until the drums come back in and pull him back out of the well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Lucky for him really, because he has a great little solo
towards the end of the song – it’s very simple, but that’s exactly what the
song needed! Echoing guitar strings followed by a hint of over-drive and then A
LOT of over-drive in a second solo.<br />
Gorgeous!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“<i>I know you’re
bleeding baby, but you’re not bleeding blood.”</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Lies.<br />
I bet they’re bleeding lies. What else could it be?<br />
Unless they’re bleeding their radiators….or they have a space around them for
the ink to bleed in to.<br />
But that would be <i>“I know you don’t have
a bleed baby.” </i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Or you know, they could actually be bleeding blood, and the
singer’s wrong.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Second to last is ‘<i>Dull
Gold Heart’</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This has such a simple start – just slow guitar (which
sounds like something from <i>Third Eye
Blind</i> and 2 vocals. It could’ve stayed like that throughout and it would’ve
been brilliant, but then it got better!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It did a transition from slow into fast, but it tricked me
into thinking it was going to go full out, but it died down again – just not as
far as when it started, but the drums and bass join in.<br />
I’ve heard something like it on the song <i>‘Search
and Destroy’ </i>by <i>Skunk Anansie</i> but
this one is nowhere near as violent, and doesn’t turn into a full on rock-metal
track!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It does this a couple of times throughout the song, teasing
that it will become something heavier. Until it does!<br />
The guitar takes over and (over)drives it along, but everything else stays as
it was. Kinda feels like the guitarist wanted it to go loud, but no-one else
got the memo.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Still works though!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“<i>Shot in the dark, I’ll
wait for you. Dull gold heart. I’ll wait.”<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The song stays very much the same throughout, right until
the end where everything gets a bit more livelier and louder until the end
where it completely dies out and goes back to the same sound as the very start
of the song.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And finally – the last song.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">‘<i>Cold Fame’</i> (I
read it as ‘Cold Frame’ and thought it was going to be a song about looking
after plants on cold nights.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This is a brilliant song – possibly one of my favourites on
the album. It’s long – just over 8 minutes in total. But it sounds great!<br />
Starting with just droning guitar and drums, then there’s a little kick and the
guitar comes swinging in – really mellow and sounding great.<br />
Then the bass and vocals come in and it finishes the whole sound off.<br />
Going back to my previously successful <i>‘describing
a genre by telling you to close your eyes and imagine a scenario’</i> technique,
I’d say this reminds me of riding a bike through a flat field of wild flowers
on a beautiful summers evening, with pollen and seeds all flying into the air
behind me. I say I’m on a bike because it’s smoother and easier on my legs –
also I imagine moving along extremely smoothly, like I’m floating an inch above
the ground.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You know that Galaxy chocolate advert? Set in France, with
the bus and the pretty lady who then gets into that blokes car after stealing
the bus drivers hat? Well – as I found out from Fern, that’s entirely CGI! It’s
amazing!<br />
But when you look back at it, right at the end she’s relaxing in the back of
the car, and the video stays completely still – that’s because there wasn’t a
camera needed, so they just drew it all straight.<br />
Well – that’s what I want my bike ride through the field to be like.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The feel and music in this song actually reminds me a lot of
the <i>Field Music</i> album I listened to a
couple of blogs ago – it’s very similar, but there’s only 1 on this album!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Well, baby. That’s the end, darling. Don’t worry, doll face.
I like honey.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This is a superb album – and I will admit that I’ve been
listening to it on YouTube, but will go and buy it asap so I can listen to it
in the car constantly!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The different styles used without make it a joy to listen
to, and keep it fresh and kept me on my toes.<br />
I know I compared them to Jack White quite a few times, and although there
appears to be a couple of likenesses – they’re very different, and in a
brilliant way!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Do you agree/disagree with
anything I said? Like / dislike the review? Any constructive criticisms?
Please leave a comment below! Would love to hear from you. Also, if you
have any recommendations of albums I should listen to and review (as long as
the artwork is awesome), let me know.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Thanks for reading, keep tuned
for the next blog.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I will be reviewing<span class="apple-converted-space"> <b><i>‘What a Pleasure’ </i></b>by <b><i>Beach
Fossils</i></b></span><b><i><o:p></o:p></i></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Don’t forget to check out my website,
Facebook, Twitter and Youtube below.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I’m doing these blogs alongside
my better half; Fern Teather – she is listening to a new albums
(doesn’t matter about the artwork, she’s trying to expand her musical knowledge
and listen to new artists!). She’s also keeping a blog, and it’s nowhere near
as long as this one, so go give it a read!!<br />
Check it out here:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://52-albums.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="background: #FEFEFE; color: windowtext;">52-albums.blogspot.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">See ya!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Sam<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.bongoboy.co.uk/"><span style="color: windowtext;">www.bongoboy.co.uk</span></a><br />
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/samthurlowpercussion"><span style="color: windowtext;">www.facebook.com/samthurlowpercussion</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
<a href="http://www.twitter.com/bongoboyuk"><span style="color: windowtext;">www.twitter.com/bongoboyuk</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/bongoboyuk" target="_blank"><span style="color: windowtext;">www.youtube.com/bongoboyuk</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></div>
SamThurlowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02863333045473333139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166391704251730654.post-86079343738284052312016-03-14T07:40:00.003-07:002016-06-21T06:41:09.484-07:0010. SINGLE – Clean Bandit – ‘Rather Be’ ft. Jess Glynne<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 14.7pt;">Hello number 10!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
I’m writing this straight after finishing number 9, while listening to the song I’m
going to review.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This time I’m just doing a single due to my lack of time to write a full review. This one needs to be out today….so yeah, it’s
cutting it a bit close!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><v:shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This is that single!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkzQpW0UXLuQoqAAugg9PXXnBLZ4XZLn8Sdccuat0-sQfikgPxHVPi6Yig2XMrpgk8zj_AOfEZ3HvrkfLmFpotiRHBHTWySAfIvxeTgU7l_8Q0rM-wuP1zfrZusw3JEX8svEsDQNw3cG-j/s1600/Clean+Bandit+-+Rather+Be+SINGLE+artwork.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkzQpW0UXLuQoqAAugg9PXXnBLZ4XZLn8Sdccuat0-sQfikgPxHVPi6Yig2XMrpgk8zj_AOfEZ3HvrkfLmFpotiRHBHTWySAfIvxeTgU7l_8Q0rM-wuP1zfrZusw3JEX8svEsDQNw3cG-j/s400/Clean+Bandit+-+Rather+Be+SINGLE+artwork.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
I love this artwork – it’s really strange, but very eye catching.<br />
I love the shapes, each holding their own story and colour. Then with the main
picture in the background. I also appreciate how the mountain continues through
the central diamond shape, and the fact they didn’t put the fish in the water.
It’s the small things that make it great!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Also, not having their name or the album name on the front
cover – it’s rare to see that now-a-days – people are normally jumping at the
chance to put their names all over a CD. But they didn’t.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Now, the reason we’re all here.<br />
The music.<br />
<br />
If you’re not here for the music, please move on. I suggest going on Amazon and
doing a bit of window shopping, or going on Facebook and shouting at people, or
you could even go out to your local town, do a bit of window shopping and then
shout at people! Best of both worlds.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">BUT, if you are indeed here for the music….or at least my
opinion on music that I can’t link due to copyright reasons and I have to make
sure to say that these are my personal opinions and in no way hating on the
artist or music. People have different tastes.<br />
But if it’s crap, I’ll say it is.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This however, isn’t! (Good segue, eh? ;) )<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Now, those of you who are young and hip and listen to chart
music will be telling me this song has been around for a couple of years. But I’m
not aiming to review brand new albums (or singles in this case) – I literally
just searched for singles in 2014 (because 2015 was crap), and had a look at a
few of the artworks and this one stood out at me!<br />
I then listened to it and immediately remembered it. But I’ve never sat down
and listened to it…so I’ve never appreciated the music and vocals.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">(I’m just thinking, should I do the normal <i>“Next up is _____”?</i> That would be weird
right? Because it’s a single….there’s only 1 song, and it’s in the title of
this post….)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It starts off beautifully – with violin and cello. I am a
sucker for good orchestral instruments – piano, violin, cello, double bass, triangles
(seriously – I don’t think I’ve ever seen a triangle played outside of an
orchestra…).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Once the strings have started playing, the vocals come in.<br />
Wow! She has such a beautiful voice! One of the best voices I’ve ever heard! Is
this starting to sound like sarcasm?! BECAUSE IT’S NOT!<br />
Synth then takes over from the strings, then a few little bongos and drums come
in just to add to the sound.<br />
Then piano comes in for the chorus and it’s great! I can imagine the whole band
jumping around and being really energetic!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“If you gave me a
chance I would take it. It’s a shot in the dark but I’ll make it. Know with all
of your heart, you can’t shake me. When I am with you, there’s no place I’d
rather be. No place I’d rather be.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This track has been produced brilliantly with the mixture of
orchestral instruments along with drum machines and synths. It wouldn’t work
with any song less happy than this one – but for something upbeat it works
brilliantly!<br />
I can imagine this live and it would be amazing! Especially her voice!<br />
Oh my god, when she gets to the final chorus and her voice raises for the
crescendo, it’s absolutely stunning!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My wonderful girlfriend recently insisted I watched <i>‘Dreamgirls’</i> – a musical depicting the
lives and careers of the all-female group; The Supremes. And I can safely say I
thoroughly enjoyed it!<br />
It stars Beyonce and Jennifer Hudson who are both absolutely amazing singers.
And I think Jess Glynne can match them when it comes to soulful voices, which
is a big claim to make, but I think it’s true!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This song is also proof that not <i>all </i>chart music sucks and is all the same. I mean, 90% of it is.
But the other 10% is usually original, brilliantly made and sounds absolutely
awesome!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As I said, sorry for the short post this time (I mean, it’s
not THAT short, but it’s considerably shorter than previous ones), normal
service will resume next blog!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Do you agree/disagree with
anything I said? Like / dislike the review? Any constructive criticisms?
Please leave a comment below! Would love to hear from you. Also, if you
have any recommendations of albums I should listen to and review (as long as
the artwork is awesome), let me know.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Thanks for reading, keep tuned
for the next blog.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I will be reviewing<span class="apple-converted-space"> <b><i>‘Baby Darling Doll Face Honey’ </i></b>by<b> <i>Band
of Skulls</i></b></span><i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Don’t forget to check out my
website, Facebook, Twitter and Youtube below.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I’m doing these blogs alongside
my better half; Fern Teather – she is listening to a new albums
(doesn’t matter about the artwork, she’s trying to expand her musical knowledge
and listen to new artists!). She’s also keeping a blog, and it’s nowhere near
as long as this one, so go give it a read!!<br />
Check it out here:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://52-albums.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="background: #FEFEFE; color: windowtext;">52-albums.blogspot.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Fairwell!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Sam<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.bongoboy.co.uk/"><span style="color: windowtext;">www.bongoboy.co.uk</span></a><br />
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/samthurlowpercussion"><span style="color: windowtext;">www.facebook.com/samthurlowpercussion</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
<a href="http://www.twitter.com/bongoboyuk"><span style="color: windowtext;">www.twitter.com/bongoboyuk</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/bongoboyuk" target="_blank"><span style="color: windowtext;">www.youtube.com/bongoboyuk</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></div>
SamThurlowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02863333045473333139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166391704251730654.post-18231494067625580852016-03-14T06:39:00.003-07:002016-06-21T06:42:45.956-07:009. Field Music – ‘Commontime’<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 14.7pt;">Numero 9!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This week has been great!<br />
Started reading a new book (<i>‘Off To Be
The Wizard’</i> by Scott Meyer) and it’s awesome!<br />
And while I’ve been reading, I’ve been listening to an equally awesome album!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This one:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This is ‘Commontime’ by <i>Field
Music.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I must admit, I’ve never heard of this band. I only got this
album because dad read about them in MOJO magazine as this was their album of
the month!<br />
Not too shabby – bet that boosted sales! (of the CD, not the magazine….but you
never know!)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Dad listened to it and immediately bought it. Which is the
exact reaction I would’ve had! It’s great!<br />
So it’s brilliant that the artwork was so cool – very retro, and I love it!
(and nothing to do with a field, which I appreciate because that could’ve been
too easy).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It’s a mixture of familiar sounds and genres, but really
refreshing and original at the same time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">To start with is a track called <i>‘The Noisy Days Are Over’<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It starts with someone shouting something inaudible. <i>“EARNING YOUR AIR!!!” “BURING YOUR HAIR!!”
“EEERRRIIINNNGGG UUUU EEEERRRR!”</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">No idea…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Anyway, the music then starts – bass driven with just simple
drums and little twiddles on guitar. It’s quite a funky vibe right up until the
vocals come in. Which aren’t very funky…<br />
But it makes up for it because the vocals are great! He reminds me a bit of the
singer from <i>The Shins</i> but a bit less
raspy. He actually reminds me a lot of a friend of mine; David Brown – singer
in <i>A Light Left On</i>. Very clean and
pronounced, and it sounds like warm caramel is being poured straight into my
ears without the nasty stickiness or possible long-term damage.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The whole song is extremely catchy, and very feel good!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>“The noisy days
are over, and here we are instead. Why don’t you get to bed like everybody else?”</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Also – interestingly, this band isn’t well known. So none of
their lyrics are on the internet. So instead of doing my usual listening to the
song, hearing a great line and then copying it off the net and pasting it in
here – I have to type very quickly along to the music. So I’m hoping I don’t
get any wrong!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Next up is <i>‘Disappointed’</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It starts very slow jazzy. Very bow-chicka-wow-wow!<br />
But it only lasts for 15 seconds until it dies out and is replaced by bass and
a nice little <i>“aaa-one, two, three, four”</i>
before drums and vocals come in.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>“This has been
going on so long I can’t believe it. I made mistakes at the start and it seems
you can’t forgive them.”</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Piano then comes in, just playing simple chords.<br />
This is another example of brilliant vocals and quite simple music playing
along to it, gradually building up, getting to the crescendo….and then they do
something I LOVE. They almost stop. And it goes back down to drums and bass
with vocals and backing vocals and it’s delicious!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“If you want this
to be more, then you’ve got to let me know. But if you want me to be right
every time you’re gonna be disappointed.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Also also! The backing vocals on the word ‘<i>disappointed’,</i> the<i> ‘..appointed’</i> has such a smooth low harmony and it’s great!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I love having bits in songs that I can actually sing –
having a low voice as I do, it’s rare to find something that I can match pitch
with easily! And believe me, I’ve had this CD in my car all week and I kill it
when it gets to ‘<i>appointed’</i>!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Then suddenly, it stops. This is a sad moment. Because it’s
an amazing song.<br />
Luckily, I don’t need to carry a pencil around with me to wind it back! So I
can listen to it again!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Fortunately (or unfortunately, depending if you like it as
much as I do), you don’t need to listen to me listening to the song 10 times in
a row.<br />
So we’ll move on!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Next is ‘<i>But Not For
You’</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This has a creepy start, with synth and keyboard with weird notes
until the drums come in as well as a piano. So we have a synth, keyboard AND
piano all going at once. Rick Wakeman eat your heart out!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I don’t know if I like this song. It’s quite repetitive,
especially with the ‘<i>there’s-a-possessed-axe-murderering-doll-dressed-as-a-shark-coming-up-behind-you’
</i>keyboard notes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It’s very different to the previous 2 songs - and isn’t as
upbeat, funky or happy. And it’s just a bit of a bland song. Even with bongos
and fairground ‘<i>whiiiizzzzz</i>’ noises –
it just doesn’t compete with the first 2 songs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But if this is the worst they can do – bring on the rest of
the album!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Next is ‘<i>I’m Glad’</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This one is back upbeat again – and starts off quite
ska-pop. With its great constant slow drum rolls to replace a boring straight
beat, along with jabbing guitar notes and bass accenting the beats….and this
goes on for longer than I think it should.<br />
Until finally the vocals come in – but the music sounds exactly the same – just
playing the same riff over and over. It’s very repetitive, even though they
throw in a couple of bars which are different, it’s still the same structure
throughout.<br />
Which is a shame, because all the other songs changed around a lot! There is a
couple of bits where it dies down completely, but they only last a couple of
seconds.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>“Baby, don’t you
feel good? Baby feels good, doesn’t everyone? Darling what did we do?”</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Then, to finish off the song, at the end they’ve put a weird
and out of time drum roll…it sounds like the drummer played it with string
attached to their arms which were controlled by their 2 young kids. (I have no
idea if they have kids or not, but that’s the only explanation I can think of!)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I actually think that’s all I can say about this song…..<br />
It’s just not got a lot going for it. I feel it’s a song they ran out of time
on, and needed another track on the album so just put it in to fill a space.<br />
Let’s hope they only had 1 space to fill!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>‘Don’t You Want to
Know What’s Wrong?’</i> is next.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This is better!<br />
Plus, it follows on from the last song in a nicer way – this one starts with a
much better drum part. So listening to the album in order sounds like the
drummer had a heart attack and then recovered within 3 seconds to start
drumming again.<br />
The song’s quite <i>Earth, Wind & Fire</i>
– but not quite as full.<br />
EW&F fit in a lot of instruments – and especially love their horn section
and funky bass – and this song at least has the funky bass!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>“Time for you to
work your brain. Time to choose to take it seriously.”</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Unfortunately, this song is also quite repetitive in places,
but it does die down and introduces a bit of keyboard, and a guitar solo. So
basically…it’s the same old stuff. Not really that exciting, and quite
predictable.<br />
That is, until it gets to a German trance music piece for 10 seconds. It sounds
like the band are at the other end of the channel tunnel, and all you can hear
is a very muffled, bassy mess. But it adds something different!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But beyond that – this album has started to get very
repetitive. Which is a sad realisation.<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Next up is <i>‘How Should
I know If You’ve Changed?’.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This one starts very <i>Primal
Scream-y</i>, but then turns typically <i>Field
Music</i>. That’s right, I used their own name to describe their music. It’s
going to be my new go-to comparison if an album has a bunch of songs which are
repetitive and all sound very similar.<br />
It’s just the same jabbing electric guitar, funky bass and drums. I know they’re
a band, and a band can only be so big. But they could’ve made the songs more
varied!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Looking back at the previous songs now, they’re all very
same-y but the vocals are the main part that breaks up that repetitiveness. I guess
in the past 3 songs the vocals haven’t been that strong, or have all been very
similar.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Let me just quickly see what the rest of the album sounds
like…be right back!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Ok back!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
Right, it seems like I’m in the awkward middle section where they just throw in
additional songs that they recorded quickly and didn’t put much thought into –
but the rest of the album changes!<br />
Finally! No more jabbing guitar, funky bass and straight drums!...well, there’s
a bit. But it actually changes!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This is very good news, because I was about to throw in the
towel if the rest of the album was just the same stuff.<br />
After all, we’re not even half way yet!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Next up – and fingers crossed it’s good!<br />
‘<i>Trouble at the Lights</i>’.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This one starts off very slow and quiet, and pretty much
stays that way, but with a few guitar parts, drums and bass coming in at
points.<br />
I like the build-up they do for the chorus. It’s a typical gradual build, just <span style="font-size: 4pt;">BOOM</span> <span style="font-size: 6pt;">BOOM</span> <span style="font-size: 8pt;">BOOM</span> <span style="font-size: 10pt;">BOOM</span> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">BOOM</span> <span style="font-size: 14pt;">BOOM</span> <span style="font-size: 16pt;">BOOM! </span>But
then it stops and lets the vocals lead it with a brilliant belting voice<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“Trouble at the
lights. Trouble at the lights. Trouble at the liiiiiigggghhhhhtssss!”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I’m so glad this song saved the album – because this one is
brilliant. Whether that’s because the last 3 songs took quite a bit of effort
to write about – not that I wrote a lot, but that’s the reason why!<br />
I love having songs where they’re so good, I can actually go off on a rant and
talk about something completely different!<br />
And this song is long, so I can do it for longer than normal! To be exact, it’s
5 1/2mins long.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But half of that is a brilliant instrumental solo! With very
simple drums and bass going along below it and then guitar doing a nice little
riff – but then howling vocals coming in at points – right up until the guitar
takes over and does its own little solo, which is right up my street!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Then to end, they play the same chord 25 times (I counted).
It’s a bit like <i>“ok, so when’re you gonna
end?”</i> and then it does.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Next – <i>‘They Want You
to Remember’<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This is a complete change. It sounds happy, but I have a
feeling the lyrics aren’t meant to be. And that’s the trouble of not having
lyrics available. Because it’s sometimes very difficult to understand what they’re
singing – and not just the meaning. The word. I can pick out most of them, but
there’ll be a word half way through a sentence that I can’t make out – which then
means I can’t really write that on here…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>“They want you to
remember, how you….cried?...and though it has to…something something…want you
to remember her.”</i>
See….it then looks like those are the actually lyrics!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The music itself is a bit boring again. Up until it does a
weird transition into synth-rock, with laser sounds and pounding drums with violins
playing over the top….which is all very weird. But that’s how it ends.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It just goes full on <i>Far
Cry 3: Blood Dragon</i>. Ok, I can sense most of you are confused. But bear
with me. Far Cry 3 is a video game set on a tropical island somewhere. That’s
not important, but what is important is the game is realistic. You buy/steal
guns and go around shooting bad guys to try and take the island back. It’s all
very <i>normal</i> and believable (apart
from the whole taking on a tiger and winning….).<br />
But then, as a bit of fun, the developer released an expansion called Far Cry
3: Blood Dragon. This took a normal looking game, with realistic guns and
animals, and basically added Tron to it.<br />
They made everything neon – guns shot lasers – bad guys had neon blood– huge neon
dragons ran around (they were the under-appreciated land dragons without
wings). But these also shot lasers out of their mouths.<br />
Your character was also pretty much Terminator. With a metal arm and half a
metal face and some very stylish sunglasses.<br />
They took a normal game, and went all out on it and made it extremely 80’s!<br />
And all I can say is it’s an awesome expansion – and I feel like this little 40
second ending is a bit like they just wanted to have a bit of fun with it!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Next up – <i>‘It’s a Good
Thing’</i>……..we’ll see.<br />
Ok – they have bongos.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">10/10<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">5*<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Quite good.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This one is yet again very funky. But still quite
repetitive. Like, it starts in the same way as it continues. The first 2 songs
started in 1 way, and then quickly changed to something completely different –
and it was great!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I’d even go and listen back to them now but my iPod’s
running low on battery and I worry trying something like that will just kill it
– when will we have wind powered things? I want a little fan on the top of my
iPod and phone and other battery powered things, and then if it’s running low I
can give it a quick blow and charge it. I might pass out before it gets enough
power, but it’d be worth it!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Or, take the technology out of self-winding watches. Mines
self-winding. It winds the watch whenever I move my wrist/hand around – so why
couldn’t the same thing work to wind a dynamo?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Come on people. Invent something like that!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I don’t care if it’s the size of a brick, just as long as it
charges itself!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Anyway, back to the song – it’s again, quite repetitive.
They sing <i>“It’s a good thing”</i> god
knows how many times – but I feel it’s about 20 times too many.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>‘The Morning is
Waiting’</i> is
next.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This one’s certainly different.<br />
It’s just piano, string section (violins & cello) and vocals.<br />
It’s nice!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">No funky bass. No jabbing guitar. No drums (to begin with at
least…they do come in a bit later, but it’s just to build up the song for the crescendo...which
happens drastically).<br />
The end pretty much just stops.<br />
Ok, shut up…I worded that badly. What I mean is it’s a drastic stop. It feels
like it should keep going but it just flies straight off the edge – full on
Thelma & Louise style. No hesitation, no slowing down.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This song has a bit of a national anthem feel to it. No idea
why. But I feel like the words could be replaced by a national anthem and it
would fit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Probably not ANY national anthem….I guess it’s just because
the music follows the vocals….I don’t know. I think I’m losing it again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But I’m almost finished! Only 3 more songs to go!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So let’s get a move on!<br />
<i>‘Indeed It Is’</i> is, indeed, next.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I don’t like this one.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I can tell that straight away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It has very <i>George of
the Jungle</i> drums and weird electronic screeches. It just seems a bit messy,
and not finished. The beginning would be happy as the song on the opening
credits of a 70’s cop show.<br />
It’s not exactly <i>Starsky & Hutch</i>,
but it just has that feel!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The rest of the song wouldn’t fit to any program intro……..don’t
know if that means anything, but TV show opening credit songs are usually
brilliant!<br />
To name a few, the opening songs for <i>Chuck,
Orphan Black, Misfits, Friends…</i>Hell, even<i> The Big Bang Theory!</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">They’re all great songs! And in fact, the opening song in <i>Chuck</i> made me buy 4 of that bands
albums. Said band is called <i>Cake</i> and
the song is <i>‘Short Skirt, Long Jacket’</i>
and they’re awesome! They did a cover of ‘<i>I
Will Survive’</i>, and I’d highly recommend going and giving it a listen!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Ok, my iPod just skipped to the next song, and all I want to
do now is write about it!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Next is <i>‘That’s Close
Enough For Now’.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It starts off normal enough – just guitar playing a nice
little riff. But then finger clicking and cheek hitting starts.<br />
Then a full on percussive troupe start up. Stamping feet, clapping, cheek hitting,
finger clicking, that thing where you put a finger in your mouth and then make
a popping sound. You know…<i>”Pop
*finger-mouth pop* goes the weasel”</i>. That. All along with the guitar and
vocals.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But then, it slows down into a nice little groove where real
instruments take over….but not for long. It soon speeds up and goes back into
the body percussion, this time joined by the string section.<br />
But then…and I love this part!<br />
It dies down once again, same as last time. But this time, there’s a solo.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A FREAKING KAZOO SOLO! (or at least it sounds like a kazoo…and
it makes me 50x happier thinking it’s a kazoo).<br />
It’s so good! It’s like an overdriven electric kazoo which sees out the song as
the music all fades out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">That part was worth the wait of the past songs! It’s sooo
awesome!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Right, nearly there! Come on iPod battery!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>‘Same Name’ </i>is next.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This is another samey one. They definitely have their own
sound – but there’s 4 or 5 songs on this album which don’t live up to the rest
of them!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It’s a shame really, because it makes the whole album a bit
worse in my eyes. But then not every album is perfect. There’s always a song or
2 that is used to fill a space. But to have 4 or 5 of them? It’s a bit too much
for me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Bugger – iPod died.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Hmm….<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Ok, let’s hope they’re on Youtube!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">THEY ARE!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Ok, continue with the review!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I just feel like this song could’ve been better. It’s very
simple, and doesn’t have much soul and isn’t that <i>fun</i> to listen to – you can’t really dance around to it, and it hasn’t
got a hook to sing along to.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">One thing I do like is it stops half way through. Like, a
proper <i>“this is the end of the song”</i>
kinda stop. But then it’s all like <i>“actually
nah – let’s keep going”</i>. It’s completely unnecessary, but at least it adds
a bit of texture.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You may have noticed I’ve stopped writing lyrics. That’s
because it got to the point where I couldn’t make out the lyrics to write them.
He has a nice voice, but it’s quite high pitched at times, and isn’t perfectly
pronounced.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Finally! Last song!<br />
‘<i>Stay Awake’<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">At least they’re ending strong! It has a great build up
right off the bat, and then changes to something completely different and very
cut back.<br />
It’s very much like the first 2 songs, but only because of the structure. The
songs themselves are different. Different chords, couple of different
instruments. Different…words. And they’re named differently…… So yeah.
Different.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You know I said they’re ending strong? Yeah, I spoke too
early. This one’s also rather repetitive. But it also reminds me a lot of <i>Ok Go</i> – I think it’s his voice more than
anything. It’s also his voice that makes the repetitive songs different.
Without the vocals, they’d probably all sound very similar. But it’s the small
differences that add up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Altogether, I think the album is great. But only because of
a few songs.<br />
When I was working with Fern on her album, I learned that it’s best to put 2
strong songs as tracks 1 & 2, because gig bookers, radio stations, etc will
listen to those and immediately decide if they like it or not. I think Field
Music did this, and it worked on me.<br />
I went in with the belief that it was going to be an awesome album and that I’d
love it. But after listening to it for 2 weeks – the review actually took me 2
weeks to do because I couldn’t think of what to write. For the first 2 songs
the words flowed out no problem. But then I started to struggle.<br />
However, the first 2 songs – are awesome!<br />
<br />
I will definitely continue to listen to those, as well as a couple of others.
However, the others I’ll probably skip over. It’s a shame – but they just don’t
click with me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There – it’s over – sorry for the lack of jokes and details.
I was running out of time, and the album didn’t unlock any passion for me.
Either that or I’ve had writers block for a week and a half…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Do you agree/disagree with
anything I said? Like / dislike the review? Any constructive criticisms?
Please leave a comment below! Would love to hear from you. Also, if you
have any recommendations of albums I should listen to and review (as long as
the artwork is awesome), let me know.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Thanks for reading, keep tuned
for the next blog.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I will be reviewing<span class="apple-converted-space"> a random single! I’ll have 1 day to write the
review, so won’t be able to do a full album. However, regular service will continue
next time!</span><i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Don’t forget to check out my
website, Facebook, Twitter and Youtube below.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I’m doing these blogs alongside
my better half; Fern Teather – she is listening to a new albums
(doesn’t matter about the artwork, she’s trying to expand her musical knowledge
and listen to new artists!). She’s also keeping a blog, and it’s nowhere near
as long as this one, so go give it a read!!<br />
Check it out here:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://52-albums.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="background: #FEFEFE; color: windowtext;">52-albums.blogspot.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Byyyye!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Sam<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.bongoboy.co.uk/"><span style="color: windowtext;">www.bongoboy.co.uk</span></a><br />
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/samthurlowpercussion"><span style="color: windowtext;">www.facebook.com/samthurlowpercussion</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
<a href="http://www.twitter.com/bongoboyuk"><span style="color: windowtext;">www.twitter.com/bongoboyuk</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/bongoboyuk" target="_blank"><span style="color: windowtext;">www.youtube.com/bongoboyuk</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></div>
SamThurlowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02863333045473333139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166391704251730654.post-79784557630073847742016-03-02T05:04:00.000-08:002016-06-21T06:44:02.471-07:008. Imagine Dragons – ‘Smoke & Mirrors’<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Hi
Everyone!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
And hello March!<br />
This is blog number 8, and I’ve been listening to vvvvv THIS vvvvv
album!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlQxDCv74xm19vebojgVQ1pzsYXMR9QkaVu2xtlxbdRWNKPM73hlOr5fjPGM2D0Yu4pC0L2PN9pWM1IUk7kmHudH12FNv-v81oj0omRuKjo4yiYP64z1FH6PTomxJ5R3Y8lU0nvdn_d7mL/s1600/Imagine+Dragons+-+Smoke+%2526+Mirrors+artwork.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlQxDCv74xm19vebojgVQ1pzsYXMR9QkaVu2xtlxbdRWNKPM73hlOr5fjPGM2D0Yu4pC0L2PN9pWM1IUk7kmHudH12FNv-v81oj0omRuKjo4yiYP64z1FH6PTomxJ5R3Y8lU0nvdn_d7mL/s400/Imagine+Dragons+-+Smoke+%2526+Mirrors+artwork.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For
those of you who are blind and being read this by someone else, said album is ‘<i>Smoke & Mirrors’ </i>by <i>Imagine Dragons</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I saw
this album in my local CD trading store and it immediately caught my eye. It
looks like a terrified baby black bird being chased by a monk who’s been caught
up in his own robes. Kinda like the film <i>MouseTrap</i>,
but with a bird...and a monk.<br />
But alas, the hands are actually freeing the bird. Gives it a completely
different feeling, eh?<br />
I only know that because I looked up what sort of bird it was, but it doesn’t
say anywhere. But it does mention other strange things. Like for instance, the
‘webs’ under the hands – that’s actually a treasure map. And the alien writing
in the top left corner is actually the date the album was released, but
mirrored and flipped upside-down.<br />
<br />
I also really like the font for <i>Imagine
Dragons</i> – the ‘IMA’ all leaning into each other, and the E cutting the
middle bar off, and the D missing it’s back, then the A leaning the opposite
way to the previous, and the S. That’s a nice S!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It’s
all very mix-match, and not at all standard – I wonder if that links to the
music?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">LET’S
FIND OUT!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">*play
Catchphrase theme tune*<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Hello!<br />
And welcome to ‘Don’t Judge An Album By
Its Cover’!<br />
I’m your annoying host, Sam Thurlow!<br />
I think someone put something in my drink!<br />
Today, we’re looking at an album by Imagine
Dragons called ‘Smoke & Mirrors’!<br />
Let’s do it!</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
(ok, stop reading over enthusiastically now – I’m back to being…well, normal I guess.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The first song of the album is ‘<i>Shots’</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">At first impression, I thought it would be a clubbing song,
about taking shots. But it’s actually about shooting everything he loves.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“<i>I’m sorry for
everything, oh, everything I’ve done. From the second that I was born it seems
I had a loaded gun, and then I shot, shot, shot a hole through everything I
loved”.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">OR IS IT?!<br />
If you too asked yourself that question (or simply wondered how I could be so
wrong), then you’ve read my blogs before!<br />
You see, I think it’s all a metaphor. I think he’s in a relationship which turns
south, and he then drinks himself lonely. The problem I have with this idea is
that the song sounds so happy!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
It starts with some fast guitar chords and then the whole band sings <i>“I’m sorry for everything, oh, everything
I’ve done”</i> and then drums and bass come in. Though the bass I think is
actually a synth. It’s nowhere near as bassy as a bass should be, and shortly
afterwards, it cuts out and a synth takes over…..spooky. (Or it was just a
synth all along).<br />
It’s got a nice jumpy vibe to the song – upbeat – happy chords – a very nice
voice singing. It’s great!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But after a bit of research, I find that this song is really
mainstream for them. I didn’t really get what that meant. Like, yeah it sounds
quite mainstream…but it’s not the same as everything else.<br />
<i>“What do they normally sound like?”</i> I
asked myself. Well….track 2 gave me a bit of a shock!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">That track is ‘<i>Gold’</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I think my brain just farted a bit. The beginning starts
with drums and is then joined with weird screams/hiccups, and then African
drums come in, but then they die out quickly and are replaced with whistling,
bass and cowbells. Then the vocals come in.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I can’t exaggerate this enough. His voice is like <i>Gold</i>. (Get it?! :D hahaha – ok, I
definitely think someone put something in my drink…) But no, really, it gives
me chills. He manages to have a really smooth, yet rough voice. Don’t ask me
how – it’s the magic of the music industry.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“<i>Statues and empires
are all at your hands, water to win and the finest of sands. When all that you
have’s turning stale and its cold. Oh you’ll no longer fear when your heart’s
turned to gold.</i>”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The lyrics sound like they’re talking about someone famous
who makes <i>anything they touch turn to
gold</i>. Like, not literally, but when everything they do sells – like Johnny
Depp. He’s pretty much King Midas.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The song has a really nice hook, singing “<i>Well, everything, everything, everything you
touch turns to gold, gold, gold.”</i> It also has some killer drum beats and
overdriven bass – and of course the whistling. It’s quite a creepy whistle, but
it fits beautifully.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Next up is the title track – ‘<i>Smoke & Mirrors’</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This is back to the standard ‘mainstream’ stuff.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The song’s about faith and belief, and questioning if all
you believe in is actually real, or if it’s just a trick on your mind or a
dream. <i>Smoke & mirrors </i>refers to
magicians, who famously use a lot of smoke and mirrors to conceal their magic
and baffle the audience.<br />
It’s accompanied by nice sounding guitar and a thumping drum, accompanied by vocals.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It’s great – it’s just trundling along, minding it’s own
busi…..wait wtf is that? Ok – so the gorilla from the Cadbury’s advert just
came bursting in with a drum solo, with drums were found on the street, and
just played then and there. They even had a homel</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">ess man underneath – you can
hear his scream throughout the drum solo.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“<i>All I believe, is it
a dream that comes crashing down on me? All that I hope. Is it just smoke and
mirrors? I want to believe! But all that I hope, is it just smoke and mirrors?”</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And as quickly as it ran in, the monkeys ran out again.
(It’s ok, he comes back a bit later) – it just came as a bit of a shock. Listening
to a nice calming song and then suddenly the worlds exploding.<br />
It’s like sitting at home watching TV and then suddenly a wrecking ball comes
through the wall and goes straight through Johnny Depps face.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The song breaks down towards the middle, just ambient noise
and a bit of singing. It’s a nice little break which gives time to breathe and
remember how good Johnny Depp was is <i>Edward
Scissorhands</i>.<br />
Then it slowly comes back in again with the chorus and repeats it until the
end. But breaking for a guitar solo (too right! It’s a great solo, and all
songs should have one!).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I see what people mean when they called <i>‘Shot’s’ </i>very mainstream for the band. They’re anything but. It’s
brill!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Next up – <i>‘I’m So
Sorry’</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">OOooooo grungy blues!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">After listening for 45 seconds, this is automatically my
favourite song on this album. And if this album has more songs like this, it’ll
quickly become one of my regularly listened to albums. I might even burn a copy
and put it in my car! I guess we’ll find out later!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“So you gotta fire
up, you gotta let go, you’ll never be loved till you’ve made your own. You
gotta face up, you gotta get yours, you never know the top till you get too
low!”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It starts with a couple of guitars. 1 of them which is VERY
dirty sounding. The drums then burst in, and it all quickly dies out and leaves
the dirty guitar and bass drum playing, and then brilliant vocals join in! It’s
all very country blues, and makes him sound like such a badass! It then picks
up a bit and he starts shouting the lyrics! Shouting! It’s awesome!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It reminds me a lot of ‘<i>Beast</i>’
by Nico Vega. Thumping drums, shouting vocals and strummed guitar.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But then suddenly, <i>Coldplay</i>
take over…like, the old Coldplay, when they weren’t that great.<br />
They literally take all the instruments out and put piano in. Of course, I’m
joking, it’s not actually Coldplay. I <i>Imagine</i>
it’s the <i>Dragons</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">They then just carry on with the previous music…..they
literally just stopped in the middle of an awesome song, put in a celestial
piano solo with calm vocals, and then went back to grungy guitar and screaming
vocals. I know get what people mean – there’s mainstream music, and then about
17 miles down the road, this.<br />
Well…I guess I’ll get on my bike!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Up next is ‘<i>I Bet My
Life’<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Starting like <i>Mumford
& Sons</i> – like, a lot like them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But you fool me once, you won’t fool me twice. This song’s
gonna do something weird at some point!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But for now, it’s great – very folky with urchins shouting
in the background, bass drums, strummed guitar, the whole band shouting the
chorus.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I actually think this is more <i>normal</i> than ‘<i>Shots’</i> with
the chart music we’ve had over the past years – this is just a year or 2 too
late. But then I guess they would’ve been compared to Mumford & Sons…you
just can’t win!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“Now remember when
I told you that’s the last you’ll see of me. Remember when I broke you down to
tears. I know I took the path that you would never want for me. I gave you hell
through all the years. So, I, I bet my life, I bet my life, I bet my life on
you.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The song is about leaving the person who loves them to
fulfil their dreams, even if it’s a path they didn’t want them to follow –
although I’m not sur</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">e what that dream could be for someone to not want you to
follow it?!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
“<i>Sorry my dear, I’m leaving to become an
assassin. It’s always been a dream of mine!”</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><br />
</i>Like…yeah, ok. But that won’t happen!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But it’s not just about that, it’s also about how once
they’re fulfilling their dreams, they were so busy they didn’t realise how much
they hurt the one who loves them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The morale of the story? Don’t become an assassin.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Track no.6 is <i>‘Polaroid’</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This one has a weird beginning. Plucked string section,
glockenspiel, nice vocals (that don’t really fit), heavy drums and what sounds
like a submarine. It’s just a very strange mixture of sounds!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“<i>All my life I’ve been
living in the fast lane. Can’t slow down I’m a rollin’ freight train. One more
time gotta start all over. Can’t slow down I’m a lone red rover.”<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">That line bothers me. You can’t be a ‘lone red rover’. For
those of you who aren’t 12 – although I’d be very surprised if 12 year olds
still play it, they’ve all got their iPhones and Facebook and Playstations and
Justin Bieber. Bloody youths.<br />
I swear, my offspring will know who The Who is, and will play with sticks and
balls – they’ll also inherit all of my Lego…..well, some of it. Ok, none of it.
But they can play with it sometimes….with my supervision………..ok, they can watch
me play with it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Anyway – getting back on track. Red Rover is a playground
game which consists of 2 teams where all the kids are linking arms. One of the
teams then calls out a name of one of the kids in the other team by singing <i>“Red rover. Red rover. Send [name] over!”</i>
– that kid then has to run to the opposing team and try and break through the
chain. If they succeed they can then chose which half of the chain goes and
joins the other team. If they fail to break through, they have to join the
team. It keeps going like that until 1 of the teams just has 1 person left.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I think the game was banned in loads of schools because it
basically turned into full contact rugby and limbs got broken….but hey, it’s a
playground. That’s where bones are supposed to get broken! I dislocated my arm
and fractured my wrist on the playground. I’m also sure I broke my nose
once…but I can’t remember.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">ANYWAY – it’s not possible to play Red Rover with less than
5 people (which can be won in 1 go…so it’d be extremely boring) – But what I
think they mean in the song, is if you’re playing Red Rover on your own, you’re
just running towards the other team…but there is no other team. So you’re just
running. I guess if you reach a couple who are holding hands, you could run
between them to break the chain and that’d end the game….<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So if you’re gonna play Red Rover on your own, do it in a
public place so you can break a chain (and a couple of fingers) between 2
people holding hands. You’re welcome.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Next up is<i> ‘Friction’.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Loving the start of this one! It’s very electronic-Indian
music with a sitar and tabla sound.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Mixed with the vocals it becomes quite a powerful song –
especially when the tabla comes in. (interesting fact – ‘tabla’ keeps getting
autocorrected to ‘table’….so if I mention a table coming into the song…that’s
why). It’s also then joined by an udu and a couple of other large noisy
instruments.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>“You can’t fight
the friction, so ease it off. Can’t take the pressure, so ease it off. Don’t
tell me to be strong, ease it off. You can’t fight the friction, so ease it
off.”</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I just realised, from that one line, this song could be
taken in a very ‘<i>ooo la la’</i> kinda way….<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I think it’s actually about rising to the top. “<i>Get out of the middle and rise to the top
now”</i> – but it’s also about fighting to get to the top, and dealing with any
<i>friction</i> you may encounter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Or it’s just about sex…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
A load of Red Hot Chili Pepper songs sound like they’re about sex, but they’re
not. Well, not all of them at least! ‘<i>Give
it Away’</i> has a typically RHCP line which goes “<i>What I got gotta give it to your mama, what I got gotta give it to your
papa. What I got gotta give it to your daughter.”</i> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">That line SOUNDS like it’s about sex, but it’s actually completely
different!<br />
<i>“</i><i><span style="background: white;">The lyrical meaning behind "Give It
Away" is centered on the philosophy of selflessness and altruistic
behavior.” – ‘Give It Away’ (Red Hot Chili Peppers song): Wikipedia<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><span style="background: white;"><br /></span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">See…I
bet you don’t feel so bad singing it out loud now!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But
then other songs like ‘<i>Suck My Kiss</i>’….that’s
about snogging. ‘<i>Save the Population’</i>…sex.
‘<i>Pea’</i>….funnily enough, it’s NOT about
garden veg! (It’s actually about how Flea, the bassist in RHCP got beat up one
day and was made to feel small.)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white;"><o:p><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Next
up – ’<i>It Comes Back To You’.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It
has a nice, almost ethereal sounding guitar to begin with, which is then joined
by VERY ethereal organ and bass.<br />
It then cuts back and goes to a clean guitar and the vocals come in.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><span style="background: white;">“4am beside myself and what I think of
mental health. All the things that worry me. All the things you don’t believe”</span></i><span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This
song sounds really feel good and relaxing – the chords and playing is just
right. Especially mixed with the great vocals. I can’t even think of another
song this sounds like – maybe a bit like <i>Owl
City</i>…but that’s only if I really search.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The
song is a good length – 4 ½ minutes long. But it feels a lot shorter! I
actually had to start it again, and when I did, I thought to myself “I bet this
song’s less than 3 minutes long” (Yes, I like to make bets with myself. I
always win. It’s great!)<br />
But it then turned out to be considerably longer (doesn’t matter – I still
won).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“<i>It comes back to you, it comes back to you.
All the things that you had lost will find their way to you.”<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The
song can get quite repetitive, but because it feels shorter than it is, it doesn’t
really bother me. Unless that’s why it seems short – but in past experience,
the more repetitive a song is, the longer it seems to go on for. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It’s a bit like this review.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It keeps going on and on.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And on.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And on.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white;"><o:p><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Aaaannd next song – ‘<i>Dream’</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It’s Ludovico Einaudi again!
– Not really. Just piano on its own, and that’s what I immediately think of
when I hear a solo piano. Well…I say it isn’t…how would anyone know if it was
or wasn’t Einaudi? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But then when he sings the
chorus, he sounds a bit like Paolo Nutini in ‘<i>Iron Sky’</i> – screaming, but it gives me chills.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background: white;">“<i>We all are living in a dream, but life ain’t what it seems. Oh,
everything’s a mess, and all these sorrows I have seen. They lead me to believe
that everything’s a mess. But I wanna dream, I wanna dream. Leave me to dream.”
</i></span><span style="background: rgb(204, 204, 221); font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This is yet another stand out song – it doesn’t go with the
rest of the album at all. It’s piano, violins, cellos – just a full orchestra
and choir. In fact, it sounds a lot like <i>Iron
Sky</i> by Paolo Nutini. The whole vibe of the 2 songs matches up really well!
Although <i>Iron Sky</i> is a lot rockier,
and it starts with the shouting a bit sooner.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I really enjoy the vibe of ‘<i>Dream’ </i>– even though it’s a lot like <i>Iron Sky</i>, it’s got a different feel. Can’t quite explain it. I
guess it feels less like it’s sending a message and more just a nice sounding
song – because <i>Iron Sky</i> definitely
sounds like a ‘power to the people’ song. Even if it isn’t.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I think this song is about being ignorant – wanting to see
everything as you want to, and dreaming that you can do anything – but then
being shown that you can’t. But all you want to do is dream. I can relate –
although all I want to do is sleep. If I happen to dream, that’s just a happy
occurrence!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">‘<i>Trouble’</i> is in at
number 10!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I’ve heard this song before. No idea when – unless this song
sounds just like a different song that I’ve heard before…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“<i>So pray for me
brother, I need redemption, I’m just a man, a man on a mission. I want no
trouble.”<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This is another one which is a bit <i>Mumford & Sons</i> – not anywhere as much as ‘<i>I Bet My Life’</i>, and I’m not even sure if it’s <i>M&S</i> I’m thinking of!<i> </i>(That’s
me trying to be cool and abbreviate <i>Mumford
& Sons</i>…but all I can think of when I see that is Marks &
Spencer…they do such a nice superfood salad! Nutty, fruity, and extremely
healthy! Just add some sweet chilli sauce and it’s unbelievably nice!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">M&S, if you see this, I need a sponsor – so if you can
supply me with a life-time supply of wholefood salads, cookies and your amazing
popcorn (preferably the popcorn covered in white chocolate and strawberry bits)
then I will give you a shout out in every review!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And M&S, if you see this, I am available to tour with
you. Get in touch! ;)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">After thinking about it – I don’t think it’s <i>Mumford & Sons</i> that I’m thinking of.
No idea. I’ve lost my mojo. I know this song…but I don’t know if I know the
SONG, or if it sounds like another song I know.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“<i>I took a photograph
of me when I was only nineteen. I looked a little lost at sea, I keep trying to
find me”</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As for the song (which I should probably talk about), it’s
got marching drums and strumming guitars and folky vocals – which I don’t know
if it’s 1 voice throughout or 2 voices. Because if it’s just 1 he has a hell of
a vocal range! Going from high to low instantly. I know it’s easier to record
that in the studio because you can cut in and place sections. But if he sung it
live, that would put a huge strain on his voice! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But he’s famous – and famous people don’t seem to ever lose
their voices. Actors in plays and singers can be performing every day for a
month, and their voice shows no wear.<br />
I can just imagine the dressing rooms have a corner stacked up with Lemsips and
Soothers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">‘<i>Summer’ </i>is next.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“<i>Paint me all your
pictures. Hang them on my wall. Show me all your colours, show me all.”</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I love how this one starts – no messing around, just BAM –
in!<br />
It’s got a lovely bass line and guitar riff which work together brilliantly and
are brought together with the drums coming through.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There’s a flute or whistle of some kind happening in the
background behind the vocals, as well as some ghouls flying around going “<i>oooOOOoooooOooo”</i>, and that’s then
replaced by a whistling Theremin in places.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I’m also really impressed with how high he sings in this
song – unless it’s autotuned higher…in which case I take that back.<br />
It’s a big thing that people think all big artists can’t actually sing so
autotune everything. Which isn’t true. Well…part of it is.<br />
They can sing, but use autotune to make it flawless because no-ones perfect.
Everyone I’ve made albums with have been autotuned a little bit just because
they go flat on 1 or 2 words. It’s also used as an instrument – like <i>Cher</i>. She could sing, but used autotune
to make her voice sound more robotic. Although, truth be known, she probably
sung sharp or flat a couple of times and the producer over autotuned it, but
she then liked it and asked them to make the whole track like that. That’s my
theory at least!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Almost done!<br />
Next up is ‘<i>Hopeless Opus’</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">To start with, I was listening to this album on Youtube
because I wanted to make sure I liked it before buying it – I did, so I just
bought it. And interestingly, I found out it has 21 tracks! That’s 8 more than
I thought it had!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Therefore, I’m only going up to track 13 (which is next)
because that’s when Wikipedia says it ends, and as we all know, Wikipedia is
100%, no matter of doubt, hand on heart, swear on the life of my imaginary
hamster – completely factual – and is definitely not a public record that
anyone can adjust if they feel like it. For those who didn’t know that, and
believed that Robbie Williams actually ate pet hamsters – he doesn’t. Someone
made it up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Back to the song – it’s got a great start, the flute’s come
out again and this time has been joined by a child shouting “LASER”….or at
least that’s what it sounds like!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It sounds a bit like a nursery rhyme mixed with a playground
song – just the way the lyrics are sung and the tune the flute plays is very
predictable and simple…and happy!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“<i>I’ve got this place
that I’ve filled with empty space. Oh I’m trying not to face what I’ve done. My
hopeless opus.”</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Now, me saying it sounds ‘like a nursery rhyme mixed with a
playground song’ doesn’t mean I don’t think it’s good! It’s great!<br />
It’s really catchy and I keep whistling it when I have a break from listening
to the songs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For those of you who are reading this and wonder how long it
takes to write all of this – I usually do it in 1 or 2 days. I listen to the
album all week, and then sit down one day, listen to the album (normally putting
the song I’m writing about on repeat) and write some – with this one I wrote up
to the beginning of this song, and then left it for a few hours and came back
to it the same day!<br />
This is a particularly long one though. So I’m gonna get it finished asap!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Which means moving on!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Lastly – ‘<i>The Fall</i>’!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It starts really weirdly – lots of wind instruments (and
possibly steel drums!) which create a very ‘Enchanted Forest’ feel. But it
eventually cuts and leaves drums, vocals and what sounds like….possibly…Oh I
think so!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Bongos! :D<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Ok, 5*, A+, top marks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">That’ll do for this blog! They have bongos on a song, that’s
all I wanted. I’m happy now.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As well as bongos, they have this song down to a tee – it’s
really good! AND LONG – 6:03mins to be precise.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It seems like a lot of that is really ambient noise and
beautiful tones. It’s really nice when a heavy song with a lot of
instrumentation and drums just dies down into whispers. It gives it a real
dynamic and makes it sound like 3 separate songs which have a common similarity
in chord progression and timing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“<i>Maybe I’m broken,
maybe I’m wrong. I could’ve spoken sooner that I should have. Only the good die
old, that’s what they told me. But I don’t know.”</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As for a ‘final’ track (aka 13 out of 21), it really ties up
the album – It’s not the most upbeat song, or the most technically intricate –
but it has really great feeling and leaves me wanting more!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So I’m gonna go listen to tracks 14 through 21. But I’m not
going to review them – just think of them as hidden tracks!<br />
You’ll have to buy the album to hear them!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Over all, this is a great album!<br />
There’s a couple of songs which I just didn’t click with, but the majority I
loved listening to!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I’ll definitely be adding this to my iPod – and will be on
the lookout for their other albums!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Do you agree/disagree with
anything I said? Like / dislike the review? Any constructive criticisms?
Please leave a comment below! Would love to hear from you. Also, if you
have any recommendations of albums I should listen to and review (as long as
the artwork is awesome), let me know.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Thanks for reading, keep tuned
for the next blog.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I will be reviewing<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><b><i>‘Commontime’
by Field Music</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Don’t forget to check out my
website, Facebook, Twitter and Youtube below.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I’m doing these blogs alongside
my better half; Fern Teather – she is listening to a new albums (doesn’t matter about the artwork, she’s trying to expand her musical knowledge
and listen to new artists!). She’s also keeping a blog, and it’s nowhere near
as long as this one, so go give it a read!!<br />
Check it out here:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span style="background: #FEFEFE; color: windowtext;"><a href="http://52-albums.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">52-albums.blogspot.com</a></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Chow for now!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Sam<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.bongoboy.co.uk/"><span style="color: windowtext;">www.bongoboy.co.uk</span></a><br />
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/samthurlowpercussion"><span style="color: windowtext;">www.facebook.com/samthurlowpercussion</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
<a href="http://www.twitter.com/bongoboyuk"><span style="color: windowtext;">www.twitter.com/bongoboyuk</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/bongoboyuk" target="_blank"><span style="color: windowtext;">www.youtube.com/bongoboyuk</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></div>
SamThurlowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02863333045473333139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166391704251730654.post-29385493232469379742016-02-22T08:43:00.003-08:002016-06-21T06:45:53.236-07:007. Courtney Barnett – ‘Sometimes I sit and think, and sometimes I just sit’<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Number 7!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Here’s the album I’m listening to:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbbdye7MRZ41-hd8B4iwR2mFB3_EG9S9xO9tHihH9NSoO0lbNXux44Lm-nV0E9rd8pLTh4E7rnhRwfe8Ri6OMbXcmH7wqWfVIssCNxfy5KU1bERP7XVuYU4D-UM94wyIYHcBp9P-0IdrpU/s1600/Courtney+Barnett+-+Sometimes+I+sit+and+think+and+sometimes+I+just+sit+artwork.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbbdye7MRZ41-hd8B4iwR2mFB3_EG9S9xO9tHihH9NSoO0lbNXux44Lm-nV0E9rd8pLTh4E7rnhRwfe8Ri6OMbXcmH7wqWfVIssCNxfy5KU1bERP7XVuYU4D-UM94wyIYHcBp9P-0IdrpU/s400/Courtney+Barnett+-+Sometimes+I+sit+and+think+and+sometimes+I+just+sit+artwork.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This is
Courtney Barnett’s new album called “<i>Sometimes
I sit and think, and sometimes I just sit.”</i> Which is such an awesome title!<br />
I’m listening to it because Fern did a review of it. Her first review in fact.
She loved it so much and said I should listen to it and saw an opportunity to
write a review!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I also
really like the artwork – it’s a lot like something I’ve done in the past, draw
out an idea for the artwork, and find the drawing looks pretty cool and just
using that instead!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I think
it speaks for itself to be honest….it’s simple, straight to the point, and
relaxed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The
music however…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Starting
off the album is ‘<i>Elevator Operator’</i>.
Straight away I can tell how this album will sound. The music is brilliantly
produced, and the vocals are very punky. She’s pretty much just talking with a
bit of melody and the right timing to stay with the music. It’s very chilled
out. It’s like she’s a rebellious teenage. She doesn’t care what you think –
she’s just here to rock out! But I can imagine seeing her live would be quite
awkward. I can just see her standing in the middle of the stage, barely moving,
and just talking into the mic. If someone shouts out at her she very calmly
tells them to F-off.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">He
voice reminds me of a much punkier Laura Marling. The lyrics are brilliant, and
she’s very different to anyone else out at the moment, but she isn’t really
singing. Not that I have a problem with that! It sounds great!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“Oliver Paul, twenty years old.
Thick head of hair, worries he’s going bald. Wakes up at quarter past nine,
fair evades his way down the 96 tame line. Breakfast on the run again, he’s
well aware he’s dropping soy linseed Vegemite crumbs everywhere.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I could
literally copy all of her lyrics, they’re so good! She rhymes words which
shouldn’t, and thinks of lines no-one else would have done in a million years. <i>“Her heels are high and her bag is
snakeskin. Hair pulled so tight you can see her skeleton.” </i>I mean, seriously
– who else could’ve thought of that line??<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I can
admit now, I reckon I’ll use that line a lot throughout this review.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The
music is very simple. Mostly just thumping drums with a bit of organ and bass.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Next
song – ‘<i>Pedestrian at Best’</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This is
an awesome song! It’s so punk.<br />
It’s very <i>Cage the Elephant</i>, who I
absolutely love, so this scores high in my list of songs and artists that I like
a lot. Like, it’s not at the very top, but it’s definitely up there!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>“Put me on a pedestal and I’ll
only disappoint you. Tell me I’m exceptional and I promise to exploit you. Give
me all your money and I’ll make some origami, honey. I think you’re a joke but
I don’t find you very funny.”</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">No
matter who you are, you have to agree that this song is punk. It’s got the fast
spoken lyrics, wailing guitar, great drums, bass and the line: <i>“I’m a fake, I’m a phony, I’m awake, I’m
alone, I’m homely, I’m a Scorpio!”</i><br />
If that’s not punk then I don’t know what is.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">To me this
song seems a bit like a political protest. It’s very aggressive towards people
who put themselves in front of people. The song puts the listener into their
head, and goes through what they’re thinking. Although, as we all know,
politicians are full of themselves so wouldn’t even think about not being the
best.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Don’t
know how many of them know origami though….and they definitely wouldn’t make it
using money, considering they sniff it out like blood hounds.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>‘An Illustration of Loneliness
(Sleepless in New York)’</i> is next.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I don’t
think she could decide on a title…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I know
this song for a very important reason. My girlfriend covered it on her Youtube
channel!<br />
Go listen to her version here: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmYB60IPwm4">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmYB60IPwm4</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It’s a
great laid back song! Mostly just bass and drums doing a nice little riff with
the odd little <i>shplang</i> (technical
term) from the guitar. This is then joined by what sounds like a Theremin in
the middle eight. It’s like the Klangers joined the party.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Meanwhile,
throughout the song is Courtney Barnetts voice, melodically speaking the
lyrics.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>“Wondering what you’re doing,
what you’re listening to. Which quarter of the moon you’re viewing from your
bedroom. Watching all the movies, drinking all the smoothies. Swimming at the
pool, I’m thinking of you too!”</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">She’s a
lyrical genius – coming up with lines I’ve never heard before – <i>“I lay awake at three, staring at the
ceiling. It’s a kind of off-white, maybe it’s a cream. There’s oily residue seeping
from the kitchen. It’s art-deco necromantic chic, all the dinner plates are
kitsch with Irish wolf hounds, French baguettes wrapped loose around their
necks, I think I’m hungry, I’m thinking of you too.”<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Like….how
does someone think of that?! It must be just an unconscious thing. Where she’s lying
in bed thinking of situations and then adds extra detail that other people
wouldn’t have done.<br />
She also sings/speaks fairly quickly, so can fit a lot in to a line.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I also
have a feeling that I’ll be quoting a lot of her lyrics throughout this review.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The
next song is – ‘<i>Small Poppies’</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Oooo
yeaaaaaah. Blues!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This is
such a lazy song. (I’ve used that to describe a couple of songs in previous
reviews, and I don’t mean the song’s written lazily, I mean it’s the kind of
song you listen to, play or write while lying in a hammock on a summer evening
(hurry up summer! – I miss laying in my hammock!). It’s just the chords and
speed of the song that make it feel that way).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>“I stare at the lawn, it’s
Wednesday morning, it needs a cut but I leave it growing all different sizes
and all shades of green. Slashing it down just seems kind of mean.”</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The
song starts off with drum and bass and even more <i>shplangs</i> from the guitar, but it’s about half the speed of the last
song. It sounds like at some point it’ll just explode into noise with Barnett
screaming her head off, and eventually it does! I mean, the song’s 7 minutes
long, so it takes it’s time to get to that point, and then has a lot of
instrumentals and guitar solos before it ends.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But it
still manages to sound <i>lazy</i> – the guitar
solos aren’t perfect. They’re in fact quite Jack White in their delivery, but not
quite as aggressive, yet still a bit of a challenge to listen to the whole
thing. But then what would I know? I’m no guitarist. Not yet at least! ;)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Song
no.5 is ‘<i>Depreston’</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This is
a nice little change going from the punky and bluesy previous songs into this.
It’s very singer-songwriter-y – acoustic guitar and vocals, later joined by
drums and bass….and a guitar that sounds like it’s being played in a submarine.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My
guess is this song is about moving to Preston, but it’s pretty de-<i>pres(ton)-</i>ing! Ba dum tss! (Yes I stole
that from the song title. Just making a point.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“It’s got a lovely garden, a
garage for two cars to park in, or a lot of room for storage if you’ve just got
one. And it’s going pretty cheap you say? Well It’s a decreased estate. Aren’t
the pressed metal ceilings great?”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Barnett
has such a quirky writing style, and she still manages to make it all rhyme! It’s
certainly a skill that many people would want – I just thought, what if she
wrote a book? That would be an amazing book! It wouldn’t just be <i>“the sky was blue and the grass was green” </i>it’d
be something like “<i>the sky is like my
dads old truck, with it’s endless mileage and bright blue seats. Sitting
alongside the lively green grass that he used to get me to cut, I could oil the
mower with my own elbow grease running down my sleeves.”<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Now, I’m
not saying I’m a lyrical genius or anything – that’s for you to judge.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Half
way! – ‘<i>Aqua Profonda!’<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">That
means ‘<i>Deep water!’</i> in English. That’s
because the song is about her meeting a man at a swimming pool.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“<i>I saw you in the lane next to me, you were
doing freestyle, then you switched it around to a little bit of backstroke.”<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It’s
such a strange song story concept. But it works so well! It would only work for
her, which is lucky. Because she’s her, and she wrote the song.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It’s
going back to the punky sound. But it mixes with a bit of a swing vibe. It’s
the same as all the other songs, just drums, guitar and bass throughout. It’s a
nice simple sound. The kind of thing a band could cover quite easily and pull
off really well. Although if you listen to the song on repeat, it does get
quite repetitive quite quickly, with the same guitar part over and over.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Apart
from that, it’s a great little song with a very cute story!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Coming in
at number 7 is – <i>‘Dead Fox’<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Lovely.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The
chorus of this song sounds like it’s aimed at cyclists – “<i>If you can’t see me, I can’t see you.”<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But
funnily enough, I actually do believe it’s about lorry drivers – or at least
about a journey she had through Australia which involved a lorry. I can image
her seeing a sign on the back of an articulated lorry which wrote <i>“If you can’t see my mirrors then I can’t
see you!”</i> and wanting to write a song including those lines.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There’s
more brilliant lines throughout the song, including <i>“More people die on the road than they do in the ocean. Maybe we should
mull over culling cars instead of sharks. Or just lock them up in parks where
we can go and view them.”<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I just
love the idea of putting cars in zoo’s and everyone riding sharks to work. That
would be a beautiful world!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The
music that goes along to these great lyrics is just as good! It’s very feel
good, and features even more Klangers alongside the standard set up. I don’t
know what genre it would class as, so time to use my patent pending genre
explainer.<br />
Close your eyes and imagine being in an open top car with a bunch of friends
and you’re having a laugh while driving round the Australian outback while the
suns going down. Bliss!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">‘<i>Nobody really cares if you don’t go to the
party’</i>…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Well
Courtney, I don’t care either!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Although, I think this is more ‘<i>Nobody really cares if <b>I</b> don’t
go to the party’</i> because she says <i>“I
wanna go out but I wanna stay home”.</i> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I completely relate to this song – I always want to go out
and do stuff – I’ll even stretch to being social. But then I realise I don’t
really want to go out – that’s what Facebook’s for after all. But fortunately,
my job choice means I’m out nearly every night of the week gigging or
practicing so I have no choice in the matter!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I used to just sit at home playing video games all day. But
now I can only sometimes play them all day – it sucks! (Not really – I’m a much
better person now, if a bit more tired).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“You’re saying
definitely maybe, I’m saying probably no. You say “you sleep when you’re dead”,
I’m scared I’ll die in my sleep, I guess that’s not a bad way to go.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The
music to this is still very punky, and still the same 3 instruments. It doesn’t
change much per song – just the genre adjusts a little bit and the tempo goes
up or down.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">‘<i>Debbie Downer’</i> is the next.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For a
song about someone who’s sad, this is a very happy sounding song!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“”Envy is thin because it bites
but never eats”, that’s what a nice old Spanish lady once told me. “Hey
Debbie-Downer turn that frown upside down and just be happy!””<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It’s
really upbeat, and even has an organ playing scales really quickly as well as
guitar, drums and bass.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The
same lines repeat over and over at the end of the song – <i>“Don’t stop listening, I’m not finished yet. I’m not fishing for your
compliments.”</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I don’t
know what this song is actually about. It seems like it’s as if she’s someone
trying to explain their life and everything that’s gone wrong, and the person she’s
talking to is losing interest or feeling sorry for her and just focusing on one
problem.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It
feels a lot shorter than it is – coming in at just over 3 minutes – it just
comes and goes while listening to it!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Next up
– ‘<i>Kim’s Caravan’</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This is
a really creepy and harrowing song, but also has powerful messages.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“I see a dead seal on the beach.
The old man says he’s already saved it three times this week. Guess is just
wants to die. I would wanna die too, with people putting oil in my air.” <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“There’s a paper on the ground,
it makes my headache quite profound as I read it out aloud. It said “The Great
Barrier Reef, it ain’t so great anymore. It’s been raped beyond belief, the dredgers
treat it like a whore.””<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The
lyrics all together sound like she’s writing about herself and her songs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As you
can see from this, and all my other blogs, I like to try and work out what
songs are about (as I’m doing right now), and sometimes people (myself included
probably!) can get song meanings wildly wrong.<br />
I know people who write about love lost when they’re in a happy relationship or
about depression when they’re among the happiest people in the world. But the
audience doesn’t know any of that, and will try to comfort them for no reason.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I can
imagine it gets annoying, because you then can’t write about the things you
want/can write about without someone getting the wrong end of the stick.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>“Don’t ask me what I really
mean, I am just a reflection of what you really wanna see. So take what you
want from me.“</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">That
line is repeated again and again at the end of the song, with guitar building
behind it. I just wish she got louder and louder until she was screaming it.
That would’ve made this song for me!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“<i>So take what you want from me. So take what
you want from me. SO TAKE WHAT YOU WANT FROM ME. SO TAKE WHAT YOU WANT FROM
MEEEEE!!! TAKE WHAT YOU WANT FROM MEEEEEEEE!!!”<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Last
but no means least, ‘<i>Boxing Day Blues’.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Starting
with guitar and a nice angelic whale, then joined by vocals. It’s definitely
blues. But not sure what Boxing Day has to do with it, the only thing I can
think is she wrote it on Boxing Day.<br />
Which would make this the closest to a Christmas song that she has! I’d vote
for it as Christmas Number One no problem. It’s so chill!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It just
sticks with guitar and very subtle synth / slide guitar in the background (and
possibly a bit of bass) throughout the whole song, which is a great end to a
brilliant album.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“I love all of your ideas. You
love the idea of me”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">That’s
one of less than a dozen lines – it’s still a standard length song, and vocals
go throughout, but they’re sung really slowly! This is the only song on the
album without drums or a books worth of lyrics spoken really quickly. She’s
singing in this!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It’s
like the Dead Weather album I reviewed. The last song didn’t match the album at
all, and it was a really pleasant surprise! So is this.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Done!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Now I
think I will sit AND think about listening to the album again before moving on
to the next one.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Actually…I
don’t even need to think about it! It’s a great album with unique and clever
lyrics and a standout voice all backed by a great band which can play blues,
punk, rock and ‘driving through the outback at sunset’ music!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Ok, now
go away and let me listen to the album again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">*Presses
play*<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Do you agree/disagree with
anything I said? Like / dislike the review? Any constructive criticisms?
Please leave a comment below! Would love to hear from you. Also, if you
have any recommendations of albums I should listen to and review (as long as
the artwork is awesome), let me know.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Thanks for reading, keep tuned
for the next blog.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I will be reviewing<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><b><i>‘Smoke
& Mirrors’ by Imagine Dragons</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Don’t forget to check out my
website, Facebook, Twitter and Youtube below.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I’m doing these blogs alongside
my better half; Fern Teather – she is listening to a new albums
(doesn’t matter about the artwork, she’s trying to expand her musical knowledge
and listen to new artists!). She’s also keeping a blog, and it’s nowhere near
as long as this one, so go give it a read!!<br />
Check it out here:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://52-albums.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="background: #FEFEFE; color: windowtext;">52-albums.blogspot.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">See you on the flip side!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Sam<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.bongoboy.co.uk/"><span style="color: windowtext;">www.bongoboy.co.uk</span></a><br />
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/samthurlowpercussion"><span style="color: windowtext;">www.facebook.com/samthurlowpercussion</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
<a href="http://www.twitter.com/bongoboyuk"><span style="color: windowtext;">www.twitter.com/bongoboyuk</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/bongoboyuk" target="_blank"><span style="color: windowtext;">www.youtube.com/bongoboyuk</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></div>
SamThurlowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02863333045473333139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166391704251730654.post-56250646771037319432016-02-19T07:53:00.002-08:002016-06-21T06:47:06.844-07:006. The Zutons – ‘Who Killed The Zutons’<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.6px;">SIX!</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So I decided to go back down
memory lane, and listened to an album that I knew existed, and I’m sure my dad
tried to get me to listen to, but never have! I found it in a charity shop a
few months ago, took it home, and completely forgot about it! So I’ve still not
listened to it! (Sorry dad).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Well, better late than never – ‘<i>Who Killed The Zutons’</i>…I dunno, Mark
Ronson? (oohh shots fired!)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For anyone who doesn’t understand
that, The Zutons wrote <i>‘Valerie’ –</i>
the song made famous by Amy Winehouse because Mark Ronson wanted to cover it in
one of his cover compilation albums – <i>Versions</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">However – <i>Valerie</i> isn’t on this album!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This is a great album cover! It’s
a very 50’s art style, and very of that generation too. Alien invasions and
zombies were quite famous around that time (I think…I don’t actually know
completely considering my DAD was born mid-50’s so it’s a bit out of HIS time let alone mine).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I really like the screenprint
styling of the artwork – all block colours, limited amount of colours, bright
colours. Colours. Speaking of colours (any Americans reading this are probably
annoyed at the spelling by now), I really like the colour choice! Sort of a
pastel salmon pink.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As for the music, it’s a really
familiar sound, I know The Zutons came first, but it’s quite Kaiser Chiefs-y.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
The first song – <i>‘Zuton Fever’</i>
definitely is.<br />
Starting with quite a vintage / 60’s electric guitar sound, and including a
trumpet and bass along with the drums (love that cowbell!), it makes for a
really great sound.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Oh yeah! And vocals! After
listening to Ludovico Einaudi while writing the last blog, I forgot lyrics were a thing.<br />
His voice is very of its time. A bit rough and ready but obviously he can sing.
Kinda like Lily Allen. Also like the aforementioned Kaiser Chiefs.<br />
<i>“Ya know I get a funny feeling, like an
epidemic running through my head. Ya know I got that feeling it’s the best. Got
the Zuton Fever in my head!” </i><br />
It’s nice to finally have an album where the lyrics are understandable, and not
full of metaphors!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I actually think this song is
literally them singing about how their songs are infectious and get stuck in
your head. I might be wrong though!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Ah hoo hoo hoo<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>‘Pressure Point’</i> is next!<br />
Now, I’ve heard this song before, and absolutely love it!<br />
It’s so simple to begin with – starting with the band singing <i>‘Ah hoo hoo hoo’ </i>over and over along to
a shaker, then the drums roll in bringing the bass with it.<br />
Then the main vocals come in, cutting off the <i>ah hoo’s.</i><br />
“<i>I can’t get this pressure point out of my
head”</i><br />
I will admit, it’s a bit of a weird song, but it’s different! His vocals are
quite high pitched, but sound delicate. A bit like someone who changes how they
talk when you tell them you have a splitting headache.<br />
After a while though, the drums and bass are joined by guitar and the vocals
start screaming.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“<i>Doctor oh doctor, I’m willing to learn. Well all of my bones, well they
toss and they turn. Mother oh mother, I’m begging you please, to rid me of
madness and cure this disease”<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">He also manages to sing the word
’<i>pressure’</i> over and over in quick
succession – which isn’t an easy accomplishment!<br />
I think this is the first ever song I’ve heard which is about a headache…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Next up – ‘<i>You Will You Won’t’</i><br />
Starting with a manically strummed guitar which is then joined by bass and
drums playing the same chords and timing as the drum solo from ‘<i>In The Air Tonight’. </i>It then cuts out
and is taken over with vocals.<br />
Shortly after, the music kicks in again and it sounds like <i>Wild Cherry </i>and <i>The Beatles </i>had
a baby. A beautiful, very weird, baby.<br />
You need to understand, I haven’t listened to THAT many bands. So I’m just
going from what I’ve heard. This song sounds a bit like <i>‘Play That Funky Music’</i> mixed with <i>‘Come Together’</i> – to other people it might not sound anything like
that – but to me it does!<br />
“<i>You will you won’t. You do you don’t.
You’re saying you will, but you know you won’t. You may you might, your chest
gets tight. You say you love day, but you come out at night.”</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There’s one point where it sounds
exactly like ‘Love Me Do’ by <i>The Beatles</i>
– I can sing “<i>so pleeeeaaase” </i>and it
fits brilliantly!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I swear these songs are turning
me a little bit paranoid…I keep thinking of the lyrics and trying to decipher
them, but I don’t think they actually need to. I legitimately think this song
is just an argument with their partner...but that seems too simple!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">‘<i>Confusion’ </i>is up next – to start with it sounds just like ‘<i>Phantom Limb’ </i>by The Shins. Just the
bass line at the beginning. I could go straight into singing it (and believe
me, I did). But then the guitar and vocals start, and it sounds just like
another song I’ve heard before, but alas – I can’t remember who or what song!<br />
You get away with it this time Zutons!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This is a really laid back song,
mostly consisting of bass, guitar and vocals. It feels like quite a lazy song,
like its dragging a bit, but it’s not – it just sounds like it’s been a long
day for them. Like this is the 13<sup>th</sup> time they’ve recorded the
vocals. It started off full of enthusiasm and has withered over time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“It’s funny how it tears me apart. Well first it breaks your head then
your heart. I should’ve loved you better, from the start.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">After it gets going, a trumpet
joins in (mostly just playing a stabbing note through half the song, which can
get annoying!). Drums also join in on the chorus, but stay very simple.<br />
To break the routine that continued through the song, the second half of the
song is pretty much just solo’s – starting with a short trumpet solo, and
followed by a lovely guitar solo.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Sticking with the more simple
thinking about the songs meaning – this one is either about a man wanting to be
friends with a girl but unintentionally led her on and now doesn’t know whether
to stay friends or try being in a relationship together.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">‘<i>Havana Gang Brawl’ </i>– great song title!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Also a great little drum solo to
start off with, quickly chased by the guitar part from <i>All My Life</i> by Foo Fighters, but with a bit of trumpet.<br />
The only reason why I keep comparing The Zutons to other bands is because parts
of their songs sound like other songs – simple as that!. It also helps for the
review, so people know what the music sounds like! And even though I compare
them, they definitely have their own sound – it’s not a brand new, completely
out there sound. But it’s obvious it’s them (as long as you know what they
sound like!)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>“</i><i><span style="background: white;">Line the locals one by one, Fillin' bullets
with their guns. Are you red or if you're blue, 'Cause tonight they’re gonna
find the truth.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This is yet another simple one!
It’s about, surprisingly, 2 Havana gangs having a brawl. Nailed it!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Half way there! - ‘<i>Railroad’</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This sounds a lot like an
acoustic version of ‘<i>Big Jet Plane’ </i>by
Primal Scream. Well, the first 5 seconds do. After that it doesn’t remind me of
anything else – which is good! It’s just a nice little twiddly guitar and drum
piece with nursery rhyme style vocals.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>“Although I’ve left you darling I’ll soon be back again. That’s what I
said in China where all the work was dead. I hope you get my letters, I’ll
write them every day. I’ll soon be heading eastwards. I’m hammering the nails.”</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">At the half way point it goes
into a really nice little groove, and then dies down back to the same riff of
just guitar, bass and drums. But after a little while the music begins to speed
up slowly (speeding up slowly doesn’t make sense, and yet it actually does…)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>“I’m working on the railroad. I dig away the time. I’m singing to the
work song with memories in mind, of you!”</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You guessed it – this song is
about the financial depression that hit South Korea with the rise of Hitler.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Or it’s about a guy who works on
the railroads but thinks about his partner all the time and send her letters….<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">‘<i>Long Time Coming’</i> is next.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The Zutons are now starting to
not sound like anyone! (Or the people who copied them didn’t get this far into
the album!)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This is a great sounding song,
with trashing drums, overdriven guitar and thumping bass – and what sounds like
trumpets/saxophone. It’s topped off with powerful vocals. All squished into a 2
½ min song!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“Long time coming, but no one seen it coming. Long gone then and your
heart is still running.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This is a really energetic song –
and I still can’t for the life of me think of another song that this sounds
like. It’s quite a stand out song, and doesn’t really match up with the other
songs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It is quite repetitive though,
even though it’s so short. The music doesn’t change much, only really once
towards the end of the song.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Oh! I just thought of a song that
sounds a bit like it. It’s just the initial drums, nothing else, but it sounds
like a song from my good friend and band mate, Al Lindsay. It’s ‘<i>Life is a Motorbike’</i> – but only the
first split second of drums – although I’m sure that’s been used in a number of
songs, that’s the only one I can think of!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I think it’s singing about a
friend whose partner left him. And it was a <i>long
time coming</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">‘<i>Nightmare Part II</i>’ is next….even though I haven’t heard part 1. Is
that what’s meant to be nightmarish about it?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There is no part 1……………………… O.O<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Or it’s on a different album, I
don’t know.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This is a nice groovy number –
with quite swing/samba style drums and creepy sounding chords played on the
guitar. The vocals are very recognisable as The Zutons. Which sounds like a
strange thing to say, but his voice is different in each song – though it’s
similar to ‘<i>Railroad’</i>, with the same
kind of nursery rhyme vibe with the vocals. It’s quite <i>Itsy Bitsy Spider.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>“Last night I had a bad dream, and it blew my head away, and there was
no solution, and I’ve been awake all day”</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It’s a very graphic song –
mentioning vomiting priests, stabbings, dismembered limbs and strangling
grandmas. (Like, grandmas being strangled – not grandmas who go around
strangling people – just to clear up any confusion).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“They stabbed them in their bellies, and they ripped off arms and legs.
But the demons started joking and had a drink instead. But the firemen they
were on strike so they could not resolve, and the army cut the phone lines so
they were not involved. And while all this was happening I was fast asleep,
with a very foolish nightmare and memories I won’t keep.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I think this is yet another
predictable one regarding the subject matter. He had a bad dream.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Or did he? OOoooOOOooOooooo spoooookyyyy<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Not many to go now – ‘<i>Not A Lot To Do</i>’.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Gonna take a stab in the dark
with this one, and say it’s him singing about not having much to do.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This song sounds like a mix of
swing and blues, and I love it! It’s really relaxed with simple drums and bass
accompanied by a bluesy guitar riff and the odd violin.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“Sunday afternoon, not a lot to do. Think of all the places I could be.
People I could meet. Life’s so small.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I don’t know what else to say
about this song – I just want to sit here listening to it!<br />
It’s so chill and lazy. Very Paolo Nutini – but doesn’t sound anything like him….
Bah, details.<br />
It’s definitely the kind of song I could just lay in a hammock listening to,
drifting in and out of sleep.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>“And I can live on my own and stay in all day, and watch the rain
falling down. I lay on my bed. I feel all left out and switch off my head.”</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Like I predicted, the song IS
about him not having much to do! But in a nice and artistic way!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Next up – ‘<i>Remember Me’.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I really like the sound that The
Zutons have. Guitar, bass, drums and saxophone. You don’t often hear sax –
actually, that’s a lie. New music now usually always has a synthesized sax on
it somewhere, but that’s not REAL. It’s usually just jabbing notes, unlike
this, which is really nice and harmonising with the guitar.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The whole song is quite
feel-good. But the story is quite sad. It’s about 2 men being best friends but
one of them gets a girlfriend, and they stop hanging out as much. I think this
is something that happens a lot – I mean, it’s happened to me. I stopped
hanging out with my best friend as much because my girlfriend became my best
friend and I love being with her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“Well we used to be the best of friends and we used to hang around. Now
I always see you and your new girlfriend on the sunny side of town. Oh your
body is the same and your face hasn’t changed. But your mind ain’t where that’s
at. You’re too busy hugging and kissing now, and for you that can’t be bad”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It starts off with the friend being
annoyed that his friend doesn’t hang out with him anymore, and that they’re
done as friends. But it then changes to him being there for his friend, and
understands that he wants a girl in his life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“Oh remember me when she leaves you and you come and knock on my door,
well I can nurse your broken heart. Cause that’s what friends are for.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>‘Dirty Dancehall’ </i>is in at number 11.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This starts off with an awesome
guitar and drum riff. It’s very rock-y and I absolutely love it! The song then
drops down to just drums and vocals – which reminds me of <i>Radar Love</i> by Golden Earring, especially when the bass joins in.
Saxophone then makes another appearance in this song with quirky little licks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“Well the sun grew dim and the night grew tall. Everyone’s dancing in
the dirty dancehall. The chins they did wobble, the eyes did stare. There was a
sense of threat in the air.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I haven’t seen it, but I can
imagine this in <i>The Rocky Horror Picture
Show</i>. It’s a bit creepy and talks about zombies and murder.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“<i>Down in the alley a tramp falls asleep, murdering the hookers and chops
off their feet.”<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It also has a very satisfying and
deep ‘<i>Oooo’</i> which I could imagine Frankenstein’s
monster singing. Which is a really random thought. But it would fit
brilliantly!<br />
It also has a load of screams towards the end. Think the <i>Addams Family Musical</i> – this would be the random song in the middle
where the family is dancing at a ball.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>“This is just a night in the City of Culture, but everyone’s whacked
and looks like vultures.”</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And finally, ‘<i>Moons and Horror Shows’.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This goes back to acoustic, quite
country in fact. It even sounds like they’re using spoons! They might just be
cowbells, but still – those are pretty country too! I actually find it amazing
how the cowbell has become such a huge thing! It’s on so many songs – and yet, it’s
a bell that goes around a cows neck. (But, ironically, without the bell part.
So it’s doesn’t actually ring…so it’s more like a Chinese bell. Which are
struck using a beater (or a tree, depending on the size of bell!). But then I
guess it would clash with the ‘China’ cymbal – which are only called that
because they look like a gong. They don’t sound anything like each other, but
as long as they look the same!<br />
All the other cymbal names kinda make sense. The crash sounds like a crash.
Same with the splash. You continuously play a ride (you <i>ride</i> it), and hi-hats go up and down (or one of them does at
least).<br />
Personally I think I have a cymbal with the best name ever. It’s a little 8”
splash called the ROCKTAGON! (it’s an octagon shape), and it sounds just as
good as the name! It’s the little cymbal that could.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Anyway, moving back to the song. It’s
quite short, only 2 ½ minutes. And only has a few lines of words.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>“Today in a day when many fine things will come. Today is just a memory
tomorrow. I know that there’s some bad things to come, but I’ll forget them all
until tomorrow” </i>– that’s 4 lines out of 10. Although there’s a little bit
of humming.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Half way through the song it
slows down a little bit, and goes into a nice little group sing-a-long.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I think this is definitely the
final song. Not just because it actually IS the last song, but it just has that
feel. It would’ve worked perfectly if the album was called ‘<i>Moons and Horror Shows’ </i>because the last
line is: <i>“Then I dream of moons and
horror shows. And then I’ll take up fresh and new tomorrow.”</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It would’ve been the cherry on top!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Well, that’s another album done and dusted. And I can
officially say I’m now a fan of The Zutons.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Their sound is unique and works really well! It’s a mixture
of sounds I’ve heard before (both from before and after they formed), but it’s
all the best bits!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I’ll be leaving this album on my iPod, and possibly finding
another one of their albums (most likely one with <i>Valerie</i> on)!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Do you agree/disagree with
anything I said? Like / dislike the review? Any constructive criticisms?
Please leave a comment below! Would love to hear from you. Also, if you
have any recommendations of albums I should listen to and review (as long as
the artwork is awesome), let me know.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Thanks for reading, keep tuned
for the next blog.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I will be reviewing<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><b><i>‘Sometimes
I sit and think, and sometimes I just sit’ by Courtney Barnett</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Don’t forget to check out my
website, Facebook, Twitter and Youtube below.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I’m doing these blogs alongside
my better half; Fern Teather – she is listening to a new albums
(doesn’t matter about the artwork, she’s trying to expand her musical knowledge
and listen to new artists!). She’s also keeping a blog, and it’s nowhere near
as long as this one, so go give it a read!!<br />
Check it out here:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://52-albums.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="background: #FEFEFE; color: windowtext;">52-albums.blogspot.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Remember me! ;)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Sam<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.bongoboy.co.uk/"><span style="color: windowtext;">www.bongoboy.co.uk</span></a><br />
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/samthurlowpercussion"><span style="color: windowtext;">www.facebook.com/samthurlowpercussion</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
<a href="http://www.twitter.com/bongoboyuk"><span style="color: windowtext;">www.twitter.com/bongoboyuk</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/bongoboyuk" target="_blank"><span style="color: windowtext;">www.youtube.com/bongoboyuk</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></div>
SamThurlowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02863333045473333139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166391704251730654.post-77882525714960828282016-02-08T06:45:00.000-08:002016-06-21T06:48:21.813-07:005. Ludovico Einaudi – ‘Elements’<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Hello
February!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">(I was
listening to an interesting discussion on the radio the other day about how
people say ‘February’ – well, I say <i>Feb-yury</i>…)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I hope
everyone has had a pleasant 2016 so far, and aren’t too bored of these blogs
yet – only 47 more to go!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I’ve
had a good 2016, apart from this week, because I’ve had a stinking cold, and
it’s had me bed ridden. But every cloud has its silver lining – because that
has allowed me to listen to this album for an entire week!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A
couple of weeks ago I saw this album in HMV (other music shops avail….actually,
are there?!), anyway, I saw it and immediately got it. I’ve heard Ludovico
Einaudi in the past, and have his other 2 albums – and honest to God, they’re 2
of my top 10 albums.<br />
They’re my ‘tired of hearing drums’ albums. It’s just piano. Just one man and a
grand piano. Sometimes a little cello or violin might creep in, but it’s just
very simple piano.<br />
Strangely, the stuff he plays doesn’t sound very complicated – but that’s the
beauty of it. It’s simple, but still manages to pack a huge amount of emotion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And his
new albums just as good!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5LOgClxoUOY61NZrcn1-TPgi5CCI98pD1gXSnpkRQryOI7SRh2PASpDsqNMFwM1Ypebx8gvhb2xzcc65YUmtdit_7X8M5TjU6FXJiYCJgoJpkHT_fUzTewkcsBTj4t6Ql6RhfKWqpfQ7_/s1600/Ludovico+Einaudi+-+Elements+artwork.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5LOgClxoUOY61NZrcn1-TPgi5CCI98pD1gXSnpkRQryOI7SRh2PASpDsqNMFwM1Ypebx8gvhb2xzcc65YUmtdit_7X8M5TjU6FXJiYCJgoJpkHT_fUzTewkcsBTj4t6Ql6RhfKWqpfQ7_/s400/Ludovico+Einaudi+-+Elements+artwork.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The
artwork is great! I spent a good 15 minutes staring at it, following the lines,
making out the shapes and letters and trees and stuff!<br />
He drew it all himself, so it must have a meaning personally. But to an
outsider it looks like the scribblings of a mad-man. Though, very enchanting
scribbles. It looks like a world map from some indie game that the developer
drew himself to add that little quirky touch, or something you’d see on <i>Lord of the Rings</i> or <i>Game of Thrones</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But the
important thing is it works really well with the music! I could imagine
listening to this album, and all the illustrations start moving around the page
– the trees swaying in the wind, following the music, then little animals start
to appear and run around, chasing each other. Kinda reminds me of <i>‘Don’t Starve’</i> – a game set in a wooded
area, and the trees and grass move together. The worlds full of cute little
animals as well as scary as F big animals that will kill and eat your little
man as you try to run around collecting berries.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The
music probably wouldn’t work with the game too well though…It’s a lot more
civilised!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Kicking
off the album is <i>‘Petricor’.<br />
</i>This starts off as classic Einaudi – just piano playing simple notes. But
then a violin joins in followed closely by a cello – and it gave me chills.<br />
Sitting in silence with this turned up in both ears really adds to the whole
experience. While the piano is playing the same 8 notes over and over, the
violin and cello are dancing around in the foreground – this isn’t just music
like the other albums I’ve listened to so far. This is art. It’s emotion. It’s
causing me to think a lot deeper than I have in past reviews. It’s making me
think I won’t be able to make this blog as funny as past ones!<br />
Once the song gets moving the piano does too, getting more complex, and
building until the song is in full swing and 10x louder than it started.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As for
the title – I don’t know what it means, but Einaudi, being Italian, titles most
of his songs in his native language. Although, even with the help of Google
Translate (other translating tools are available) I still don’t know what it
stands for!<br />
This is a brilliant way to start the album – not with a fizz, but with an
explosion of emotions!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Next up
– <i>‘Night’</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This
one isn’t classic Einaudi. It starts off with what sounds like an electronic
piano – kinda like a fancy doorbell. Muted, rhythmic, subtle. It’s then
accompanied by <i>proper</i> piano.<br />
You know how you can listen to a song, and without knowing who sung it, you can
just tell because of their style and voice. It’s like that with Einaudi. It
could be anyone playing piano, but it’s played in his style, with his feel.
Even with other instruments layered on top, the chord changes, speed and feel
of the songs are just shouting Einaudi. It’s nice that he hasn’t changed, he’s
evolved and expanded – but the music is still very much his.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For
instance, in this song, the electronic doorbell keeps going throughout, with a
string orchestra playing over the top of that and the piano. There’s a few
violins, cellos, double basses, god knows what else! But it sounds epic!<br />
If I was to go back to my previous review and close my eyes and explain the
genre that way, I’d say <i>“Imagine you’re
looking up at the night sky, but it’s not the sky we see – this one is
completely black, and always has been. Then suddenly stars start to form. Not
just appear – <b>form</b>. They come
exploding into life in an array of celestial fireworks that fill the once black
sky with light and colour. Right up until our Sun is formed. Filling the world
with light.”</i> – see what I mean. I would never have been able to come up
with something as poetic as that if I wasn’t listening to Ludovico Einaudi!<br />
It’s just something that comes with listening to his music!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Song
#3: <i>‘Drop’.<br />
</i>This has a very chilling start – very slow single notes. Followed by
plucked violin. It’s all very creepy sounds. But still manages to be beautiful
I can imagine this being the music to a scene in a film where someone is
getting drunk at home on their own, being very violent, trashing the place. But
the scene has no sound, and it’s just this music.<br />
It just has that ‘quiet destructiveness’ about it. Like how there’s some songs
that could easily play over the top of a nuclear bomb going off, and turn it
into something beautiful and almost graceful. It’s adding a new dimension to
the scene. Instead of the song being ‘<i>Here
Comes the Boom’ – </i>which would be funny, but this album is very serious. After
all, Einaudi is one of, if not THE biggest classical artist alive today. He’s
sold millions of CDs, done world tours. And I bet, some of you reading this
right now have never heard of him.<br />
Search for <i>‘Nuvole Bianche’</i> – it’s
off one of his most well known albums, and is the first song I heard of his. I
remember listening to it over and over again until realising that he probably
has other stuff just as good, so went and bought the album. Quickly followed by
buying another one. (A different one – not the same one….I like him, but not so
much that I’d buy the same album twice. Unless I lost it, then I’d buy it
again. But I bought it through iTunes, so you can’t lose it….even if I deleted
it I could contact Apple and ask them to kindly let me redownload it. And I’d
definitely go through all that to listen to him again!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">That
song was the most beautiful song I’d ever heard – and I wasn’t young, that was
about 4 or 5 years ago. I’d been listening to music all my life, and after 18
years of songs, I still hadn’t heard anything as beautiful as that. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Next up
– <i>‘Four Dimensions’.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Now,
I’ve been playing Lego Dimensions a lot recently after my wonderful girlfriend
bought it for me for Christmas (and the fact I love Lego and it makes me very
happy to run around the Land of Oz as Gandalf while shooting flying monkeys
with the Batmobile), and this song instantly made me want to play it now – but
I will try to resolve the temptation and continue with the review!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It
appears that most of these tracks start with just piano – which takes me back
to the 2 previous albums I have of his. Which are mostly just piano. This album
however has introduced more instruments – it’s now gone from being a ‘live
lounge’ set-up to an ‘opera-house’ set-up. Bigger stage. Big orchestra behind him.<br />
But it’s still just 1 man sitting behind his shiny black piano playing songs he
wrote while he has his eyes closed, and just feeling the music instead of
reading it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This
song has that feeling. It’s not a duet between a piano and violin – it’s a
piano accompanied by a string quartet. It’s more of an opera than a gig.<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Coming
in 5<sup>th</sup> is the album title track – ‘<i>Elements</i>’.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This
starts off like an ancient arcade game – sort of like an organ mixed with a
piano. If it was slightly 8-bit, it’d fit perfectly! After a while though, the
violins join in.<br />
Like the other songs on this album, this one is 6 minutes long. It’s a VERY
long album – a total of just over 100 minutes. Which for 15 tracks, which are
usually about 60 minutes, is rather impressive! And because the songs are all
very similar (you might see a pattern emerging in this review – ‘starts with
just piano, and oh – there’s the violin’) – but each song has it’s very own
personality and they all feel different.<br />
This song I think might be an exception – it’s quite repetitive. The same
couple of arcade-esk notes played over and over in succession.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Something
that also makes the songs seem somewhat the same and repetitive is the lack of
lyrics or any kind of vocals. It’s all purely instrumental, and only 3 or 4
instruments at any one time – mostly only 1 – piano. But then if I was a world
class pianist, I’d absolutely have most of my album just piano.<br />
(This is a secret, so if you’re one of the few people who read my reviews and
actually know me, this is for you!) I’ve actually been thinking of releasing my
own album, and because percussion is what I play, and what I enjoy playing, the
album would be very drum and rhythm heavy. Because I’m not a good guitarist or
singer, so wouldn’t want much, if any of that on the album. I’d just pay others…if
I had the money! Of course it’s all just a concept at the moment as I still
need to actually WRITE the music and work out how to create songs. But in due
course, maybe one day I will have my very own album! :o<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Next
song – ‘<i>Whirling Winds’</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Starting
off with quite a creepy piece of piano playing. Makes me feel cold and a bit
like I should be in a haunted house with cheesy eerie squeaks and rattles. This
goes on for over half the song (and bearing in mind the song is 6 minutes long,
it basically goes on for the length of a normal song) until it picks up a bit
and goes into triplets on the piano – this I feel is when the music changes
from walking around the spooky house to having a <i>Fantasia</i> feel to it, when the room is filling with water – I can
imagine Mr Mouse running around trying to scoop it all up in buckets, but being
betrayed by the angry mops. It even has a similar ending to the actual song
over that scene in the film, where the pianist collapses on the piano in a
melodic thud – hitting a bunch of keys at the same time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">‘<i>Twice’</i> is next up – the title of this
immediately made me think of the aforementioned <i>‘Nuvelo Bianche’ </i>because the whole song is pretty much played twice
through in the one recording. Only with a couple of changes.<br />
But that’s something that makes it special – you think it’s ended and just
playing from the start again, but it’s actually just got to the half way point.<br />
This song however, doesn’t play round <i>Twice</i>.
Just the once.<br />
It start like the other songs – just piano, but with what sounds a bit like an
udu in the background – it’s traditionally a clay pot that you can fill with
water, and play by tapping the sides and playing surfaces as well as hitting a
hole in the body to create a <i>whooob</i>-ing
sound. It’s a beautiful instrument – I actually have a modern one made from
fibreglass (which is why I think it’s an udu, or something similar in the
recording).<br />
There sounds like a lot of subtle noises are happening in the background – including
dripping. Which is a noise not used very often in music! But it works really
well with this kind of music. It might be on an actual instrument, in which
case I want one. But even so – it’s just a nice little addition.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">‘<i>ABC’ </i>is next – and I feel like I’ve
heard this song before on one of his other albums. But it could be possible
that it’s just the same chords as another one of his songs. Because after
writing 100 songs, it’s difficult to not use the same chord sequence. I know
songwriters who use the same chords all the time – it’s just preference!
Personally, I like A-minor. It’s the old work boot of the chord world. It might
be a bit over used, but it’s simple and reliable!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>ABC is</i> the shortest song on the album,
at a measly 3 minutes! Which caught me out a bit, and I actually got half way
through the next song before I realised it had finished – I just thought
Einaudi really changed it up half way through.<br />
But alas, this song, quite like A-minor, is simple and reliable – it’s just
piano. Nothing else – short and sweet.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The
next song – ‘<i>Numbers’</i>, sounds like it
came right out of<i> Ocarina of Time</i>. It’s
very beautiful and picturesque, which is quite a strange way to describe a
song. But it’s very happy and ‘sunny’ – going back to my patented genre describing
technique – close your eyes and imagine running through a grass meadow full of
flowers on a beautiful sunny day. Dandelion seeds floating all around you. And
the whole time you’re smiling from ear to ear because you’re so damn happy!.....and
then you run into a bell.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It eventually builds to quite an epic song – it really
builds towards the end, with the string section taking over and a timpani
thumping along.<br />
So far, this is my favourite song off this album – it’s just full of joy and
celebration! And, strangely, not a lot of piano. It starts off with really nice
piano – I could actually listen to that little tune for the length of a full
song, but then from the half way mark it sounds like a glockenspiel replaces
it.<br />
There’s also a few little bells in there too, which make it even happier! (and
one big one which ends the song….which also ends your joyful run through the
meadows. Unharmed, of course!).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>‘Mountain’</i> is the
next hill we have to climb (ba dum tss! Getting good at these!).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I think this song teams up with <i>Numbers</i> really nicely. It’s a lot darker and colder – but they
reflect each other beautifully.<br />
This is another song which is just piano the whole way through – apart from a
tiny bit of ambient noise (just held keyboard notes as an underlay), and that
really adds to it. It thickens the sound and makes it more interesting. It’s
the cornstarch to the runny gravy. The whisk to the cream. The head-height coffee
table to the infant’s head.<br />
This is one of the longest songs on the album, at 6:33 – but the time passes by
so quickly – or it does for me at least! It is also full of emotions. Mostly of
sadness and depression, through the notes played. Also with the title being <i>‘Mountain</i>’ – it might be about the
mountain you have to climb to conquer those emotions. But that’s a massive
guess from me, because the lack of lyrics makes it hard to decipher what the
writer was thinking about when they wrote that particular track. It also means
I can’t quote any lyrics like I have been doing in my reviews.<br />
I could try and find the piano chords, and write those.<br />
Unfortunately, there’s no chords online for any of these songs. But I did find
them for my favourite song – <i>Nuvelo Bianche</i>.
The chords are Em, C/E, G, D/F#. Though I think that’s on guitar. But you get
the idea – it doesn’t work as well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In at number 11, ‘<i>Logos’</i>.<br />
This is again, very similar to a couple of past tracks. But this time, it’s
similar to tracks on this album.<br />
Starting with quiet piano, which is then joined by a weird deep ‘wubbing’
sound. Not quite dubstep – I don’t think that’s Einaudi’s style, but it’s too
deep for cello or even double bass.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">After a while the wubbing stops, and the string section
comes in again, perfectly harmonising with the piano. Then suddenly, what’s that
I hear? Drums? In a Ludovico Einaudi song?! Yes, ok, it’s not a full kit, but
there’s definitely orchestral drums in there – helping the sound build more and
more until it’s about 10x louder than it was at the beginning, but keeping the
same chord progression.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This is definitely the most dynamic song. Going from just
piano on its own, then joined by subtle dubstep, followed by a string quartet,
then back down to just piano, strings, then right up to an orchestra. Including
drums. The end actually reminds me a bit of the band <i>Stateless</i> – it’s atmospheric and almost tribal. You’ll find out
more about <i>Stateless</i> at some point when
I review one of their albums.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Next is ‘<i>Song for
Gavin’</i> – which is a song written for a bloke called Gavin...I presume.<br />
It’s yet again a short one, in at just over 3 minutes.<br />
This one however, unlike any of the other songs, I could hear being written as
an actual song, with lyrics and everything! Although, as I mentioned
previously, none of these songs have lyrics on. So it’s up to me to imagine
what they’d be. I won’t make any up. It would be funny to, and might have got
some cheap laughs. But if this song is written about someone who passed away or
for someone dear to Einaudi, I don’t want to take from that. Because this song
is beautiful, and it doesn’t need any stupid made up lyrics.<br />
I think piano is the only instrument that can actually sound like a voice. It
can be made to sound like an angelic vocalist singing with all their emotion,
and can sometimes actually be more impacting that if there was any lyrics being
sung.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The next song – almost there – is ‘<i>Drop Variation</i>’.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">For those of you with a sharp eye and good memory, you might
remember a song from earlier in the review called ‘<i>Drop’</i> – well, this is a variation on it! Hence the title! It seems
like it’s just a stripped back version of it. Starting with piano on its own,
though this one continues as it started – staying with piano, and only piano
throughout the entire song – which is now shorter than the un-variated one.
Coming in at a generally normal time of 3 ½ minutes.<br />
I honestly don’t see how music like this isn’t more popular that charts music,
which is just 3 ½ minutes of electronic sounds pinched from another song, and
then with the same 13 words repeated over and over again. It probably took a
team of people 2 hours to write that song from start to finish. Whereas Einaudi
probably takes months working on 1 piece just to get it perfect. On 1
instrument, no prerecorded jargon. 1 man, 1 piano. 1 dream. (Too much?)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It just annoys me when people like Kanye West are getting
number ones because they have enough money to pay other people to write their
songs, and then there’s songwriters all around the world who can’t even get
their songs heard because the big names are stealing all the limelight that
they don’t need or deserve. I will admit, I don’t mean everyone in the charts –
to be honest, most of them are great! But there’s a select few who really need
to be replaced by someone with actual talent.<br />
I just watched the Superbowl half time show with Beyonce and Bruno Mars (not with
them. They were performing – I was sitting in my dark office on my own). After
watching them 2 perform, it’s obvious that they have talent and a love for what
they do. But thinking back to Kanye West at Glastonbury ‘singing’ <i>Bohemian Rhapsody</i>, it makes me hate the
music industry. Did you know Kanye West has his own clothing line? Yeah, he ‘designed’
(aka found) a jumper. Just a standard jumper, and then torn some holes in it,
and then is selling it for £1,500! Even a homeless person would throw it away.
I’m tempted to start up my own knock off company, buy jumpers from charity
shops for 50p, tear even more holes in them, and sell them for £500.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Unfortunately, as they say, any publicity is good publicity.
So I think that means now I’ve moaned about Kanye West and his ‘fashion’ – you all
have to go and buy one of his jumpers. I think that’s how it works, I might be
wrong though.<br />
(I’m also looking forward to someone buying one of Kanyes jumpers and patching
the holes up, then sending him a photo of it on Twitter saying they fixed his
design problem.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Moving on….<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Second to last – ‘<i>Elements
Variation’<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Yet
another variation on a song previously on this album. Just like the last song,
this is also just piano. It’s kind of like an acoustic version of it – you know
how on some special edition albums you get the original track and then an
acoustic version of it too – this is like that.<br />
And it sounds just as good! This is more like the Einaudi I’m used to hearing –
and it’s great!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Finally,
yet another variation – ‘<i>Twice Variation’.</i><br />
It’s the same story again – a stripped back version of a song previously on the
album. But in this version, they’ve fixed the plumbing in the background.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And on
that note – I think it’s done!<br />
The last 3 were very short because I’d summed up what I felt about the song
previously, and those 3 were just cut back versions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I’ve
really enjoyed listening to this album – Ludovico Einaudi is one of my
favourite musicians, and definitely my favourite classical musician (and not
just because he’s the only classical musician I listen to!)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I will
definitely continue to listen to this album in the future, alongside the other
2 I have of his.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As for
the review, I know I kept using the word ‘<i>beautiful’</i>
throughout – but that word sums it up perfectly. It’s not <i>amazing</i> because it’s quite simple in theory. Nor is it <i>wonderful</i>, for the same reason.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It’s
like a flower or a rainy summers day. It’s simple, underrated, over-seen. But
all in all - just absolutely beautiful!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Do you
agree/disagree with anything I said? Like / dislike the review? Any
constructive criticisms? Please leave a comment below! Would love to hear
from you. Also, if you have any recommendations of albums I should listen
to and review (as long as the artwork is awesome), let me know.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Thanks for
reading, keep tuned for the next blog.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I will be
reviewing<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><b><i>‘Who Killed The Zutons’ – The Zutons</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Don’t forget
to check out my website, Facebook, Twitter and Youtube below.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I’m doing
these blogs alongside my better half; Fern Teather – she is listening to a new
albums (doesn’t matter about the artwork, she’s trying to expand her
musical knowledge and listen to new artists!). She’s also keeping a blog, and
it’s nowhere near as long as this one, so go give it a read!!<br />
Check it out here:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://52-albums.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="background: #FEFEFE; color: windowtext;">52-albums.blogspot.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Arrivederci!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Sam<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.bongoboy.co.uk/"><span style="color: windowtext;">www.bongoboy.co.uk</span></a><br />
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/samthurlowpercussion"><span style="color: windowtext;">www.facebook.com/samthurlowpercussion</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
<a href="http://www.twitter.com/bongoboyuk"><span style="color: windowtext;">www.twitter.com/bongoboyuk</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/bongoboyuk" target="_blank"><span style="color: windowtext;">www.youtube.com/bongoboyuk</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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SamThurlowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02863333045473333139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166391704251730654.post-36502534365430432102016-02-01T07:32:00.005-08:002016-06-21T06:52:27.967-07:004. Bon Iver - 'Bon Iver'<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Number 4!<br />
I’m listening to the album because Fern recommended it, and then I saw the
artwork and thought it would be perfect for this blog!<br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjUq6W61k6sAC-nuWD6o_apwAzfpQhDPQotPKuLJONY0K5giJTFUpr_coAy-PUFV92NQVi7rRphluhltjXAlSPRdcfBtGUOINnMfY7xXTgUm2S5eg45M3H028YKSjcMe83n96Och2GoMx-/s1600/Bon+Iver+-+Bon+Iver+artwork.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjUq6W61k6sAC-nuWD6o_apwAzfpQhDPQotPKuLJONY0K5giJTFUpr_coAy-PUFV92NQVi7rRphluhltjXAlSPRdcfBtGUOINnMfY7xXTgUm2S5eg45M3H028YKSjcMe83n96Och2GoMx-/s400/Bon+Iver+-+Bon+Iver+artwork.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The image on the cover is interesting. Lots of layers going
on! Like, literal layers.<br />
After doing about 40 seconds of research I found the artist who made the cover,
and it looks like he’s used a couple of different canvases, torn them up a bit,
merged bits together, and then stuck
things on it. There’s little model trees in the bottom right, with a
small piece of ‘dirt’ underneath them, Then cut outs of trees in the bottom
left, along with what looks like polystyrene bits.<br />
<br />
Needless to say, it’s certainly interesting!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
<br />
Likewise for the music.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Starting the album, <i>‘Perth’.</i><br />
It’s opening of beautiful guitar really sets the tone. It’s really lightly
picked, and is just beautiful. They could’ve just made it 3 minutes of that and
it would automatically be one of my favourite songs ever. It’s very <i>Zander Zon</i>, a YouTuber I watch. He plays
bass, but in a way you shouldn’t play bass. He’s put thinner strings on it, and
picks and hammers the strings to create absolutely beautiful music. If you
haven’t heard of him, go check him out.<br />
That’s then followed by a very angelic cry, and then drums march in, and vocals
come in quickly after. The crying angels certainly add to the song, and
perfectly contrast the thumping drums, which are played as if they could belong
in a thrash metal song, but it works in this! I don’t even know what genre to
class it as…..ambient folk metal? The album’s got a lot of held guitar notes,
and wailing (ambient) along with a really relaxed vocal, violin and guitar
(folk), which is then joined by quite heavy handed fast drumming (<i>System of a Down</i>).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“I’m tearing up,
across your face. Move dust through the light to fide your name. It’s something
fane, this is not a place, not yet awake, I’m raised of make. Still alive who
you love.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">‘<i>Minnesota, WI’ </i>is
next up. I think this is meant to be ‘Minnesota, Wisconsin’. I don’t know what
it looks like there, but if I close my eyes and listen to this…it doesn’t
really help. Like, I can imagine it in a wood somewhere. But that’s because I
prefer ‘woodland’ songs more than any other type of song. I think it’d be good
to, instead of giving your song a genre, to say “close your eyes and think of a
trickling stream. Then think of the music playing in the background to that
stream as if you’re in a film. Yeah, that’s what I sound like, minus the
stream.” Because nowadays, there’s so many different types of genres, and a
number of them describe songs which are completely different!<br />
‘Pop’ is one of the culprits. Adele is pop. Ed Sheeran is pop. Carrie
Underwood, Nelly, Red Hot Chili Peppers, James Blunt, Eminem, Daft Punk. All
‘pop’. But ‘pop’ by itself isn’t a genre. It stands for ‘Popular Music’. So
ANYTHING could be pop. But in those that I just mentioned, there’s country,
rock, r&b, electronica, hip-hop, soul, folk. But then they’re not just
those, it’s soft-rock, rock-folk, blue-eyed-soul, etc.<br />
But if Carrie Underwood just said “close your eyes and imagine you’re a man
sitting in a busy bar in Texas, and then a woman dressed a lot like Daisy Duke
came up to you, punched you in the face, stole your truck, went for a joy-ride
and then came back to apologise and have her way with you<i>…</i> Then yeah, that’s what my music sounds like.” Or if RHCP said “Imagine
you’re surfing a shark, grinding along the Golden Gate Bridge, and riding a
giant dragonfly” (+4 points for those who got that reference), then the world
would be a lot more artistic. Because musicians would want to paint a vivid
picture in the listeners head.<br />
With Bon Iver, it’s all very natural – trees, rivers, meadows. All with an amount
of sun rays that would leave Michael Bay in the beautiful sun-caught dust.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I just realised I’ve been going on and haven’t actually said
anything about this song.<br />
Well, close your eyes and imagine running though the glowing forest in Avatar.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“You know it won’t
beseech you, we’re laying in an open field. I will let you grow, no need to
notice.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Next song – <i>‘Holocene’</i>.<br />
I think I’ve heard this one before. A TV programme I used to watch; ‘Chuck’ had
a couple of Bon Iver songs in the soundtrack. It actually had the best
soundtrack I’ve ever heard. Mostly unknown artists, who had their big break by
having their songs played on the show. (Damn, I think I’m gonna have to watch
it again…. All 5 seasons – 91 episodes – 3,800 minutes (ish). Ok, so, I’ve
watched it from start to finish 3 times….but once more can’t hurt!).<br />
I don’t think Bon Iver was actually very well known when one of their songs
first featured on Chuck. Their song <i>‘Skinny
Love’ </i>(not on this album) was played in the 2<sup>nd</sup> season which
aired in 2008 (I’m using Google for most of this, I’m not THAT much of a nerd.)
– Bon Iver released their first album in 2007, which included ‘Skinny Love’.<br />
This song though, is just a beautiful. <i>“</i><i><span style="background: white;">Not the needle, nor the thread, the lost decree</span>.
Saying nothing, that's enough for me<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It starts with just guitar, and then the vocals come in. His
voice is so nice to listen to. I could never sing like that, and I’ve never
heard anyone sing like that – and that’s so nice! It’s original. Beautiful.
Melodic, and it works!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It’s then followed by marching drums. I think they like that
drumming style – this is the second song to have them in so far, and we’re only
on the third song! It’s a snare march drumming pattern – almost a drum roll,
but not as straight – they put in a few little off beats and skip a beat.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><span style="background: white;">‘Towers’ </span></i><span style="background: white;">comes in
fourth. This is yet another one that I feel I’ve heard before, but can’t be
sure!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><span style="background: white;">“For the love,
comes the burning young</span></i><i>, f<span style="background: white;">rom
the liver, sweating through your tongue</span>. <span style="background: white;">Well, you're standing on my sternum don't you climb down, darling</span>.
<span style="background: white;">Oh, the sermons are the first to rest</span>.
<span style="background: white;">Smoke on Sundays when you're drunk and dressed</span>.
<span style="background: white;">Out the hollows where the swallow nests</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">”</span></span></i><span class="apple-converted-space"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I feel like Bon Iver are a lot like The Dead Weather…..(not
a sentence used very often, and I don’t think they’ll be putting it as a quote
on their next album cover.) I just remember listening to The Dead Weather, and
not knowing what they’re singing about, then learning that they usually make
the songs up as they go. I just feel that Bon Iver either do a similar thing,
or they’re very into their metaphors.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Half the lyrics seem to not make a lot of sense, and the
other half I don’t know if they’re telling a story or implying something else.
It’s all very confusing – and yet, I love it!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It adds some kind of mystery, and encryption. I can sense
you reading this and being like “what the hell is he on about?” Well – I don’t
even know anymore.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The instrumentation on this track is similar to the previous
ones, with more marching drums, but this time there’s what sounds like a slide
guitar and a violin or 2. Starting off very laid back and quiet, then
eventually having everyone play at once to really build the song at the end.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Half way! Next is <i>‘Michicant’.</i><br />
Similar to another place name – <i>Michigan.<br />
</i>It starts with a strange phone-like diddle. That’s the only way I can
explain it. Like when your phones running low on battery and it gives you that little
tune. It’s like that – and that’s what I thought it was until I played the song
again and heard it once more.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The song then goes quiet for a couple of seconds and then
the vocals come in. Not in the same key or timing as the diddle – so no idea
why that’s there!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Throughout the song they have keyboard playing, and a slow
drum beat, which is then echoed so it carries on a bit longer.<br />
Then half way through, it sounds like it’s ending, but they bring out the organ
for the middle eight. It then suddenly goes back to the same instrumentation
and speed it was previously at.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><i>“</i></span><i><span style="background: white;">Searching for an inner clout</span>, may not take
another bout. Honey in the hale could fill the pales, of loving
less with vain</i><i><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">”.<br />
</span></i><br />
It’s yet another absolutely beautiful song, which I could easily fall asleep
listening to! It’s in no way aggressive – which is a drastic change from the
metal/blues/rock album I was listening to last time!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Next up
– <i>‘Hinnom, TX’</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>“<span style="background: white;">In
the first of light</span>, past the Noachide, bodies wrapped in white<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">.” </span></i><br />
To me, that immediately tells me this song is a prayer song. That’s all I know,
because I'm not religious – now, that doesn’t mean I’m an atheist. I don’t
think there’s a one God who made the universe and controls everything. But I
don’t think there isn’t a larger deity, I just don’t think they control
anything. They don’t cause earthquakes or make people happy or sad. They’re
just there. It’s like the game ‘Black & White’ – you play as a God, and can
either make your humans happy by giving them rain for crops to grow, or stop
volcanoes from erupting. Or you can screw them over with plagues and other
nasty things, like making volcanoes erupt. But, you could also just sit there
with the game running, and let them get on with their lives. Go make a
sandwich. Watch an episode or 7 of Chuck. Play another game – whatever.<br />
But if something bad happens – it wasn’t my fault. It was just natural, and I
didn’t cause or prevent it. It’s the same if something good happens. But the
tiny electronic humans could blame me for the bad things because I didn’t stop
them, even though I wasn’t actually playing. Or they could praise me for the
good things….even though I wasn’t playing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But I’m
not going to talk about religion anymore because it’s a VERY touchy subject. It’s
similar to talking to a vegan about being pescatarian. But to my knowledge, no
wars have started because someone eats salmon. Just sayin’.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Back to
the song!<br />
This is a really happy sounding song! It has a keyboard which sounds a bit like
the Clangers would if they could sing. Along with the vocals, which sings the
main lines, and is then followed by back vocals singing other lines in between.
But for once, the main vocals is actually quite low – like, I could sing this!
Then the backing vocals are ludicrously high. But it works really well! Kinda
reminds me of ‘Video Killed the Radio Star’. They’re nothing alike, it just
clicked in my head. If you haven’t realised by now, I have a weird brain.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“<span style="background: white;">Sand,
it starts to steal</span>, dirt and ice imbed in cheeks, in the potter's
field”<span class="apple-converted-space">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Next – <i>‘Wash.’<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">That’s right, this song title has a full stop at the end. <i>Wash.</i>.<br />
I feel like I need to put another full stop after it – Microsoft Word doesn’t
like it, but that’s what it is! Can’t destroy creativity by ignoring the full
stop. It’s just not right.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“I’m growing like
the quickening hues, I’m telling darkness from lines on you.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This song starts off with just piano playing followed by
vocals. I feel like that’s a similar beginning to most songs on this album. I
keep imagining the band getting together to write a new song and being like; <i>“ok guys, 1. Have 1 of the instruments play
for a bit to begin with, then B. Vocals come in. Three. Bring in another instrument
to flesh it out a bit, IV. Gradually build towards the end of the song. Done!
Right – lyrics…”<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“We’re sewing up
through the latchet greens. Un-peel keenness, honey, bean for bean.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In past songs, I could mostly make out what they were
singing, and if I missed a word, it was normally easy to work it out. But with
this, I had to look the lyrics up. No idea if they’re correct – would be
interesting if they weren’t! I can make out about 1/10<sup>th</sup> of the
words, and all the others I hear as other words that shouldn’t work in that
sentence, but then I look it up and BAM – I was right. But it makes no sense!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><i>“Same white pillar
tone as with the bone street sand is thrown where she stashed us at.”</i></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Any
songwriters care to translate?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Don’t
get me wrong, the strange lyrics just add to the charm! They make you think about
what the words mean, and I really like that. It’s a really artistic way to
write.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Numero
8: <i>‘Calgary’.</i><br />
This is a really nice. It’s probably the most ‘rocky’ song of the album towards
the end. With its overdrived guitar, but it’s still not <i>rock</i> – it’s like when a school band plays at assembly and the
guitarist is in full rockstar mode and hits the overdrive button – it doesn’t
really do anything, just make the guitar sound grungy and some people might
cheer – it doesn’t really need it, but what the heck, hit that button!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But
before that happens, this song is just keyboard and vocals, then drums come in
(no marching this time! Just a straight beat with a few tom hits thrown in for
good measure).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“Hair, old, long along your neck
onto your shoulder blades. Always keep that message taped cross your breasts
you won’t erase.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This is
yet another example of strange lyrics that I can’t decipher. Not only because
of his vocals, but because the lyrics are very peculiar and tell a story that I
can’t follow. <i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Second
to last – ‘<i>Lisbon, OH’<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Am I
the only person who read that as ‘<i>Lisbon,
OH! :D’</i>? Like shouting OH! As if you’d remembered something? Anyone? No?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Of
course, it means Lisbon, Ohio – which is like when you see a friend you didn’t
expect to see, and then remembered something. “<i>Oh hi! Oh!” </i>My apologies to anyone from Ohio – but honestly, you
must have fun saying it!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This is
a really short song (don’t know what that’s saying about people from Lisbon…but
that’s between them and Bon Iver.) It’s only 1 ½ minutes, and doesn’t have any
lyrics. It’s just keyboard and beeps. Reminds me a lot of an album that I’ve
been listening to – it’s by my good friend Al Lindsay, and it’s the soundtrack
to a game called RimWorld. It’s all very ‘space-y’ music, with similar sounds
to this track. I don’t know if they just needed to fill a slot to make it to 10
songs, but it’s a nice little instrumental.<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And last
but no means least:<i> ‘Beth/Rest’</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When
this song started I heard ‘<i>Horizons’</i>
by The Staves, then immediately sung “It’s a right off!” before realising it’s
Bon Iver.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“<span style="background: white;">I
ain't living in the dark no more</span>. It's not a promise, I'm just gonna
call it<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">”<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This is
a good finishing song if I couldn’t say anymore – it includes all previously
used instruments, even with a bit of overdrived guitar (button only pushed down
half way this time).<br />
<i>“<span style="background: white;">It is
steep it is stone</span>, such recovery</i><i>. From the daily press, the
deepest nest in keeper's keep<span style="box-sizing: border-box;">”</span></i><span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The vocals have been put through a filter, which makes him
sound like he’s singing through a fan. Unless he’s actually singing through a
fan! That’d be <i>cool</i> ;) ba dum tss!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The song actually sounds out of its time. It has an 80s vibe
to it. Can’t explain why, or think of any songs like it. But it does. (yeah…I
don’t expect the award for best blogger “<i>He’s
funny, but lacks knowledge of anything he’s talking about”</i>)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><span style="background: white;">“All the news
at the door</span>. Such a revelry. Well, it's hocked inside of
everything you said to me</i><i><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">”</span></i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white;"><o:p><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white;"><o:p><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Done!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background: white;">Overall, I really enjoyed this album – it’s laid back. The
kind of stuff I could easily fall asleep listening to – not that it’s boring!
Not at all. It’s relaxing, beautiful and enchanting – I’ll definitely be
keeping it on my iPod, and might even get a couple of their other albums. (I
also just realised that I might have referred to Bon Iver as ‘he’ – it just
seems like a cool name, but no – it’s the name of the band – so, sorry if I
did!)<br />
I really like the instrumentation – guitar, keyboard, drums – all behind the
amazing vocals.<br />
Definitely one to listen to if you haven’t already. I’d recommend <i>‘Holocene’</i>, and if you want to move
beyond this album; <i>‘Skinny Love’.</i></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Do you
agree/disagree with anything I said? Like / dislike the review? Any constructive criticisms?
Please leave a comment below! Would love to hear from you. Also, if you
have any recommendations of albums I should listen to and review (as long as
the artwork is awesome), let me know.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Thanks for
reading, keep tuned for the next blog.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I’ll be
reviewing<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><b><i>‘Elements’ </i>by Ludovico Einaudi</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Don’t forget
to check out my website, Facebook, Twitter and Youtube below.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I’m doing
these blogs alongside my better half; Fern Teather – she is listening to a new
albums (doesn’t matter about the artwork, she’s trying to expand her
musical knowledge and listen to new artists!). She’s also keeping a blog, and
it’s nowhere near as long as this one, so go give it a read!!<br />
Check it out here:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://52-albums.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="background: #FEFEFE; color: windowtext;">52-albums.blogspot.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Bonne nuit!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Sam<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.bongoboy.co.uk/"><span style="color: windowtext;">www.bongoboy.co.uk</span></a><br />
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/samthurlowpercussion"><span style="color: windowtext;">www.facebook.com/samthurlowpercussion</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
<a href="http://www.twitter.com/bongoboyuk"><span style="color: windowtext;">www.twitter.com/bongoboyuk</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/bongoboyuk" target="_blank"><span style="color: windowtext;">www.youtube.com/bongoboyuk</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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SamThurlowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02863333045473333139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166391704251730654.post-56671400828393855462016-01-26T04:36:00.000-08:002016-06-21T06:53:34.821-07:003. The Dead Weather – ‘Dodge and Burn’<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">THREEEE! Dun dun duuuun!</span></div>
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I don’t know what that was….just trying to make it more dramatic.<br />
<br />
Hello once again!<br />I’m looking at the new album from The Dead Weather.<br />
I bought this album for my dad for Christmas, and then quickly stole it and
popped it on my iPod!<br />
Just like last time, this isn’t a new band for me – I have their past albums,
and am a huge fan of Jack White – got his solo albums, White Stripes,
Raconteurs, and finally, Dead Weather.<br />
But – just like last time! I’ve yet to listen to it. So now I will!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I will look at this album as if I haven’t heard any of that
band before – although I might compare it briefly, which is hard to avoid
because it’s quite a bit different to their past stuff!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Plus, sticking to the idea behind this blog – the artwork is
awesome!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglLFUIV-zGtLvzBTISLhi_bZIZblWHcdX8HO7hddrJnQqGiNr8HeW_0qcpuq8B6lrdpJuoDUpIaeHJAwonquigUYSPeY04zqRfVNoxCxwNH-EFoFlcALxHJXAFgcx_32yFnF4bosRmBI70/s1600/The+Dead+Weather+-+Dodge+and+Burn+artwork.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglLFUIV-zGtLvzBTISLhi_bZIZblWHcdX8HO7hddrJnQqGiNr8HeW_0qcpuq8B6lrdpJuoDUpIaeHJAwonquigUYSPeY04zqRfVNoxCxwNH-EFoFlcALxHJXAFgcx_32yFnF4bosRmBI70/s400/The+Dead+Weather+-+Dodge+and+Burn+artwork.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It’s a very menacing photo anyway, with everyone (apart from
Jack) looking straight at the camera – with their dead eyes. The good news is
they’ve perfected their zombie look in time for next Halloween. (The guy on the far
left certainly looks like he wants to kill me…)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Then Jack’s in the middle trying to look cool. Who am I
kidding? He IS cool! Look at that hair! He’s gone from Edward Scissorhands to
Elvis.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The next noticeable thing is the background, which I THINK,
is possibly slightly, yes definitely photoshopped. And resembles the Springfield
Tire Fire.<br />
Something else I only just noticed – check out the guy on the right – anything
seem off?<br />
*Quick google search* Ok, so he doesn’t REALLY have 6 fingers (or 5 fingers and
a thumb for all of you who are pedantic…) on 1 hand. There’s a couple of
special edition covers, which show and x-ray of a hand with 6 fingers. Don’t
really know why though…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Moving swiftly onto the music. Straight off the bat I heard
myself saying “Yep – that’s Jack White alright!” because the guitar and feel of
the song is just like his last solo album <i>‘Lazaretto’.
</i>But with Dead Weather, Alison Mosshart sings lead vocals – and her attitude
immediately comes through in her melodic screams.<br />
The first song, <i>‘I Feel Love (Every
Million Miles)’ </i>is a very energetic start to the album – quite grungy rock
with hints of metal and a sprinkle of blues in the overdrived guitar, thumping
drums and harmonious bass.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This song really sets the tone for the album – energetic,
loud, something my grandmother would HATE. It’s great!<br />
It has a really interesting middle break, where it really breaks down to nearly
half speed (it actually feels like it’s going to end, but it’s where they
repeat the lines <i>“Why does my heartbeat
feel like a speaker? Feeding back. Repeater. Repeater”</i>.<br />
It sounds like it would be repetitive but with the 2 vocals of Mosshart and
White blending perfectly, and the little musical quips make it really enjoyable
to listen to! It then builds back up to the original speed to finish with the
feedback of the guitar as if they’d recorded and put the guitar down and walked
away from it, which I wouldn’t put past Jack White. I saw a live gig of his
online, and at the end he put his guitar on a stand in the middle of the stage,
walked off, and just let the guitar whale away for a good 5-10 minutes until a
roadie came on stage and turned the amp off.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As for lyrics, I don’t really know what this song’s about.
Although that’s not new for Dead Weather, or Jack White and any of his groups. <i>“Nothing’s a colour, I cross the desert,
nothing’s alive. What does the black top know that I have not cracked with my
mind?”<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Next up – <i>‘Buzzkill(er)’
</i>carries on the same form – overdrived guitar and bass accompanied by drums
with fast rolls blaring in every now and then. It’s a very simple band setup –
guitar/keyboard (I think!), bass, drums, vocals. It’s a probability the record
has a couple of additions that they don’t do live. But it only adds to it! SO I
don’t think it would change much when they play live, if at all – in fact, they
could be 10x better! Guess I’ll have to do some research….<br />
*Youtubes ‘dead weather live’* - Oh. My. God. Ok – well, yeah, they’re alright
I guess...(Probably not 10x better, but a good 2 or 3 times maybe….!)<br />
As for this track, it sounds like it has keyboard, but it could easily be
guitar through about 900 pedals to distort it – but I THINK it’s keyboard. A
few notes held a bit longer than they would on guitar, and quite fast changes
between notes. There’s definitely a guitar in the mix somewhere too though!<br />
<i>“I’ve got my boots and my jacket on, my
cash and key. Got my highs and lows and I come and go as I please. Good Lord,
I’ve got no time for you. I’ve gotta run.”<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I think the song is summed up in the title. ‘Buzzkill: <span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">a person or thing that has
a depressing or dispiriting effect’. So, I assume, it’s shouting at someone
who’s not letting them have fun. And that person, I believe, is God. <i>“Good Lord, forget about me. I’m doing
fine.” Oh Lord, I got no minds for you. I will not please. No mercy shall be
given me, down in Tennessee. Stop! Buzzkillin’ me!”</i></span><span style="background: rgb(204, 204, 221); line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Track 3 is <i>‘Let Me
Through’ </i>which is more bluesy than the previous ones. <i>“I’m a bad man, let me through.”</i> <i> </i>Same guitar again, with the
same amount of pedals – but this time the bassist has got a few hundred of his
own! I’ve never heard a bass which sounds like it’s going through a battery
powered amp at full volume. If I listened to it for the first time without
hearing anything else, I’d think my speakers just broke. But knowing it’s meant
to be like that, it sounds awesome! It’s like (and I’m getting all drummer here
so bear with me) like when you get a nice 20” ride and put a cracked 16” crash
stacked on top. Hit it out of context and it sounds worse than hitting a metal
bin lid. But put it in the mix a bit and grunge it up, and it sounds great! I
mean, it still sounds like you’re still using the DIY-kitchen-kit with added
accessories of bin lid cymbals, chip pan cowbell, and pepper grinder shaker.
But if you’re playing that behind a band like The Dead Weather, and you’re a
good enough drummer, it’ll still sound great! (Also – if any band members,
managers, promoters, family, friends of the band see this – PLEASE do a cover
of one of your songs on DIY instruments!<i>
I DARE YOU</i>).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>“I got a bloodhound
tooth hanging like a dagger in a bar out west. If you try and pull it down you
know I’ll save all my best shots for you. Boom boom boom.” </i>Don’t mess with
this girls dog tooth!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The next song is easily my favourite on the album – <i>‘Three Dollar Hat’.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Before I start reviewing the song – I want to write out some
of the lyrics:<br />
<i>I'm
that bad man named Jackie Lee<br />
Shooting everybody down with a .33<br />
Jackie said Johnny can't you see?<br />
That you love everybody but Jackie Lee?<br />
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Johnny said to Jackie don't take my life<br />
I got three young kids and a bad-ass wife<br />
Jackie told Johnny you're acting crazy<br />
What you know about having a baby?<br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I won’t copy all the lyrics, but will say it escalates! It’s
a very dark, but interesting story told through the song. Surrounded by
psychedelic sounds. It sounds like they’ve taken a keyboard, played a song on
it, and then sped it up to fit in 30 seconds. Or they got someone like me to go
in and play a guitar solo. Out of key, weird timing, not hitting the right
notes. But, once again, it works! That’s blues for ya!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The song is written in the first person, and I think it’s
about a man called Jackie Lee, who’s accusing Johnny for stealing his hat, and
he’s basically going to kill everyone until he gets his hat back. But in the
end, it’s the thirst for the hat that kills him.<br />
I thought I’d search online to see if anyone had tried to explain the lyrics,
but found something more interesting. A quote from Alison Mosshart: <i><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“And as per usual with the Dead Weather, it was written and
recorded at the same time. There’s not a lot of thought put into the writing of
the music, it’s really just a human, organic explosion. Everyone starts playing
at the same time and we start writing lyrics at the same time — just making
stuff up and singing.”<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Aha!
That would explain why I’ve had trouble figuring out what the lyrics meant, and
the story or message behind the songs. But The Dead Weather write music which
is just fun to listen to, and isn’t meant to be picked at.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So
yeah….I guess I’ll leave this review at that.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But then I’ll have to stop listening to it as much…..which I
don’t want to do because it’s so awesome!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Ok, review’s re-commenced!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>‘Lose the Right’</i>
is next. This time it’s definitely a keyboard, with some kind of cathedral
organ setting. (Unless they actually used an organ – which would be awesome!)<br />
This is accompanied with drums and bass. With a guitar solo taking over the
song for 13 seconds. I could’ve listened to that solo for another minute or
more – it really fits with the song as well as Mosshart’s voice – will have to
keep an eye out for a live version of the song. There’s bound to be great solos
when White’s on guitar.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>“Oh, you lose the
right. When your mind goes straight to hell, you lose the right to tell anybody
what to do.” </i> Now that I’ve learned
that the band write the lyrics while they’re recording, and putting as little
thought into as they can, so the songs are pure and unaltered, I now listen to
the songs differently. I’ve always paid more attention to the music than the
lyrics and vocals because I’m a drummer, not a singer. So this is a new
exercise for me in terms of reviewing the songs and lyrics and the meanings
behind the song and how well the artist has portrayed those meanings.<br />
But when those songs don’t really have a meaning, that when it gets tricky!<br />
But this seems to be about someone who has been unfaithful, a hypocrite, or untrustworthy.<br />
<i>“I always knew you put poison in your
potion”<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Following ‘<i>Lose the
Right’</i> is <i>‘Rough Detective’</i>.<br />
In this song, White and Mosshart are singing in call and respond. With White
starting. <i>“You’re an unusual suspect now
and may be right. The kind all men cannot recollect or forget at night. You’re
the rough detective with the smokey eye, where the person you are after is the
other guy.” </i><br />
It’s great how well the 2 voices go together. With White’s quite rough, and
pitchy. And Mosshart’s quite mellow yet brutal. They’re the best words I could
use to describe their voices without looking in a dictionary. No-one sings like
them – especially not like White with his high pitched squeals. He sounds a lot
like my cat when she’s hungry. It actually seems like she’s taken the vocal
lead towards the end of the song, where it’s full of squeaks like someone
hasn’t oiled a door hinge in a few years (the lyrics that I found online put
that part as <i>“ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah”
</i>– but try and sing that breathing in as high pitched as you can go. That’s
kinda what it sounds like). The section is then made perfect by the quick-fired
line <i>“what’s happening?!”.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It seems like the songs about a detective who’s chasing a
suspect, but isn’t a very good detective! <i>“Don’t
make me run, baby. Don’t make me run.”. </i>But like the previous songs, it could
be about anything! It’s what you make of it really.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Track 7 is <i>‘Open Up’ </i>which
has a nice energetic start and then dies down to lightly strummed guitar and
keyboard. Then suddenly. *Thump* and the guitar kicks in louder building the
song. But as soon as it picks up, it dies down again. I’ve heard music similar
before, while watching <i>‘Death Race’ </i>–
the film where Jason Statham is imprisoned in the most messed up prison in the
world (unless you watch <i>Death Race 2</i>….that
ones worse.) where he has to drive around and kill the other drivers in a new
type of reality TV. This music reminds me of the intro and credits music. It’s
not got the same guitar, but it has a similar vibe when it dies down to guitar
and keyboard.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The lyrics are….strange. To say the least. The chorus is
just<i> “Open up, open up. That’s enough!
That’s enough!”</i> repeated over and over with Mosshart singing the first
part, and then the rest of the band singing the last part – which could be
taken in many ways. I’ll leave you to think it through to yourself….<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">“Mind is faster than
pen but the end is so stupid. Like bubblegum in your hair isn’t fair but it
smells good. Breathe in but you choke, but you choke on a mouthful of
everything that you hoped, that you hoped was not there. But it’s here. It’s
here!”<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Next up –<i> ‘Be Still’</i>.<br />
Starting with a full 7.5 second silence, it then comes in with a guitar that
sounds so dirty it probably featured on an episode of Time Team. The vocals
then come in, and is quickly followed by drums and organ joining in on the fun!
<i>“Ice pop. Blue green. Sweet tooth. Yellow
thing. You dream in cartoon. Love pink.”<br />
</i>This one, like many of the other songs features quite a lot of screaming,
and, like the previous song, has White and Mosshart singing one after another.
But this time, they’re singing <i>“Be still”
</i>one after another.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The next thing I notice, this song is rather short! It’s
only 2:48 – yet feels longer – especially with the dramatic beginning.<br />
As for the lyrics – still not a lot of clues as to what it’s about. They say
‘be still’ a lot. <i>“Little sister, the
earth quakes no matter what.”</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>‘Mile Markers’</i> is
up next with drums and bass followed by a great little drum solo to begin with.
<i>“The cold white flamingo wins at black
market bingo that we used to play, but we don’t play no more.”</i><br />
The vocals are very Scatman John and Courtney Barnett. Talking the lyrics in a
melodic way, and it works brilliantly! It gives me hope that even if I can’t
sing, I can still <i>sing </i>– it also
makes the song quite punky, and bluesy – which is a really nice addition to the
album. I know most of it is bluesy, but this is a different kind of blues. Old
blues like Robert Johnson is a very rich blue, not very bright, but very full
in colour. Then this song is a pearlescent finish. Electric blue with a small
hint of the colour of Leeloo’s hair in The Fifth Element. It shouldn’t work,
but if you look at it just right, it all makes sense and you realise how it’s
such an awesome thing! <br />
This song has the most amount of lyrics
on the album by far, with Mosshart talking nearly the whole time, with a few
gaps for backing vocals and solos. <i>“Big
boys, bad girls, grind their teeth in stereo”.<br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Next – <i>‘Cop and Go’</i>.<br />
This song screams 80’s cop show. I don’t know if it’s just the title that made
me think that – but it really does!<br />
It starts with a strange guitar noise and a hi-hat hit. Then changes to a synth
sound like someone’s having a VERY bad heart attack. The guitar riffs and
vocals throughout the song go together beautifully. (Although I wouldn’t call
any of these songs typically ‘beautiful’ they’re beautifully written and are
nice to listen to, even though the songs themselves aren’t typically a ‘nice’
thing to listen to. It’s not like laying in a room filled with thousands of
pillows. It’s more like sitting in the back of a Rolls Royce Phantom, but at
the same time it’s being driven around a race track by The Stig. It’s really
good fun, and a nice experience, but it’s not ‘nice’ – you’re still being
thrown around – but you will have a smile on your face!) So yeah, the vocals
and guitar go together really well! <br />
<i>“Look at me on the level, uh-huh. Like we
got shit to settle, uh-huh. But all you do is cop like a cop and go.”</i><br />
I really enjoyed listening to this song – it’s not as weird as all the other
songs, but I do have to admit, the constant beeping at the beginning and end of
the song did start to drive me up the wall a tad.<br />
<i>‘beep beep beep beep beep beep beep beep beep
beep beep beep beep beep beep beep beep beep beep beep beep beep beep beep beep
beep beep beep beep beep beep beep’<br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Nearly done! The very funky <i>‘Too Bad’</i> is next up.<br />
The first thing that strikes me as strange is the vocals in the intro. It’s
simply Mosshart shouting <i>“Hey!” </i>but
she’s then put on a carousel which is then quickly spun faster and faster while
still shouting every time she goes the whole way round to create <i>‘hey
hey hey hey hey
heyheyheyhehehhhhh’.</i> There is a word for it, but I can’t think of it right
now!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>“I’m going back, yeah
I’m going back. I’m going back to bed baby, it’s just too too too too too bad!”<br />
</i>This song has some really great bass and guitar parts, making it really
funky with a perfect mix of rock and blues. I wish I could describe how the
song goes using words. But <i>‘dun dun diddliddliddliddliddle’</i>
doesn’t really work, and I can’t say it sounds like another song, because I can’t
think of 1 that it sounds like!<br />
Unlike the next song, which is the last song on the album. (Nice Segue!)<br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">‘Impossible Winner’ confused me for a bit. I thought my iPod
had shuffled onto a different album. It sounds a lot like a Bond theme track.<br />
It’s actually written by Mosshart (unlike the other songs which are written
together as a band, or by Jack White) – I decided to do a bit of research on
this song, because it’s so out of place on this album, and I found something
interesting!<br />
<span style="background: white;">Alison Mosshart – <i>“I didn't think of that song as a Dead Weather song” "I just got
to the studio before everyone, which is rare, because I'm usually the last one
to get there. I was sitting there playing to myself, and Dean just walked in
and caught me. He had me play it to him, then he started playing piano. It was
like a stupid movie: LJ walks in the door and starts playing bass. Twenty
minutes later, Jack gets in and starts playing with us."</i></span><br />
Apparently the song was meant to be for The Kills (Mossharts other band), but
she wanted to try it out with Dead Weather to see what they did with it.
Personally, I think it really showcases their ability! Not only can they play
rocky/metal/blues – but they can do big band stuff too!<br />
It could’ve easily been sung by Tina Turner, Shirley Bassey or any of the top
female swing singers in front of the London Symphony Orchestra. That’s what it
sounds like! Which really says how great Alison Mosshart is! Yeah, she can
scream, but damn she can’t half sing!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="verse" style="line-height: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>“I'm
no beginner, I'll be here every night, My name up in lights. The impossible
winner.”</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="verse" style="line-height: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="verse" style="line-height: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="verse" style="line-height: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And on that note, that’s the end of the
album – and what a way to end it!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="verse" style="line-height: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In summary, I love this album! Which
isn’t a surprise, because I love the other Dead Weather albums, and this is
simply an extension of those, but definitely shows how they’ve progressed and
evolved. It’s definitely a Jack White band because it’s got a lot of the same
bits as he does with his most recent solo album but with the great vocals from
Alison Mosshart.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
I will definitely continue to listen to this album, and will immediately put it
on my ‘Jack White Playlist’ which consists of 3 JW solo albums (1 which is
live), 2 Dead Weather albums (now 3), 2 Raconteurs albums and 5 White Stripes
albums. That way I can have about 12 hours of Jack White.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
For those who don’t know, I’m quite a big Jack White fan. And if he brings out
another album this year (which I doubt he will), I will definitely be reviewing
it – just so I can listen to it for a week straight. The review will just be “BEST
ALBUM EVER THE END GOODBYE GONNA LISTEN TO IT 10 MORE TIMES. NEXT BLOG – THIS ALBUM
AGAIN!!”.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="verse" style="line-height: 12.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Or, I dunno, I could actually review it….we’ll
see!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="verse" style="line-height: 12.0pt;">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Do you agree/disagree with anything I said? Like / dislike
the review? Any constructive criticisms? Please leave a comment below!
Would love to hear from you. Also, if you have any recommendations of
albums I should listen to and review (as long as the artwork is awesome), let
me know.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Thanks for reading, keep tuned
for the next blog.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I’ll be reviewing<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><b>Bon Iver – <i>‘Bon Iver’</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Don’t forget to check out my
website, Facebook, Twitter and Youtube below.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I’m doing these blogs alongside
my better half; Fern Teather – she is listening to a new albums (doesn’t matter about the artwork, she’s trying to expand her musical knowledge
and listen to new artists!). She’s also keeping a blog, and it’s nowhere near
as long as this one, so go give it a read!!<br />
Check it out here:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://52-albums.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="background: #FEFEFE; color: windowtext;">52-albums.blogspot.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
Catch ya laters!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Sam<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.bongoboy.co.uk/"><span style="color: windowtext;">www.bongoboy.co.uk</span></a><br />
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/samthurlowpercussion"><span style="color: windowtext;">www.facebook.com/samthurlowpercussion</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
<a href="http://www.twitter.com/bongoboyuk"><span style="color: windowtext;">www.twitter.com/bongoboyuk</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/bongoboyuk" target="_blank"><span style="color: windowtext;">www.youtube.com/bongoboyuk</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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SamThurlowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02863333045473333139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166391704251730654.post-22037434500279750612016-01-19T04:51:00.001-08:002016-06-21T06:54:20.214-07:002. National Flower – ‘Farewell Michael Meanwhile’<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Welcome to blog number 2!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This past week, since finishing listening to The Weeknd’s
album, I’ve now moved onto another new album that I bought a couple of weeks
ago – <i>‘Farewell Michael Meanwhile’</i> by
National Flower.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I didn’t primarily buy this one because of the artwork – I bought it because
one of my favourite ever albums is by the lead singer of this band!</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Michael Sheridan is said singer. Although I only recently found out that was
his surname. I know him as his stage name – ‘<i>Michael Meanwhile’</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And so it all comes together! As the title perceives, he is
no longer going under the name Michael Meanwhile! Which for me is a very sad
moment.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But nonetheless, his new musical direction is just as good as his solo
ventures!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The reason that I’ve included <i>‘Farewell Michael</i> <i>Meanwhile</i>’ in these blogs, even though I’ve heard
him before, is because I’ve hardly listened to the album since I got it 2 weeks
ago, and because the artwork is brilliant!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyBNmn6yQ1PIEXKEd27Czh2-R-m_fYeF-eiNgneyZWXvtb13CxiQ28t9GwBt5jdBsptg2Z-V21NaQvUAA68u4Xtx0z9L1WsyHh3UzQ0m1I8UOSknEmD-kddG3q0qJY9mY4OM9IOO0dRq-p/s1600/National+Flower+-+Farewell+Michael+Meanwhile+artwork.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="395" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyBNmn6yQ1PIEXKEd27Czh2-R-m_fYeF-eiNgneyZWXvtb13CxiQ28t9GwBt5jdBsptg2Z-V21NaQvUAA68u4Xtx0z9L1WsyHh3UzQ0m1I8UOSknEmD-kddG3q0qJY9mY4OM9IOO0dRq-p/s400/National+Flower+-+Farewell+Michael+Meanwhile+artwork.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<o:p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">That – I believe, is Michael Meanwhile (or at least a 1910
rendition of him) taking on a bear with his bare fists in what looks like a
boxing ring – with the ropes going across behind them, and the beam of light
coming from…somewhere.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I mean, what more can I say? What a way to go!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Unless he wins…. Would that mean if he wins, he’s going to
release more solo stuff?!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As for the music, it’s all very recognisable, and obvious
that it’s the same writer, and definitely the same singer as he has a very
distinct voice – it’s the kind of voice I could imagine presenting a radio
station that plays obscure unknown music, which is always absolutely amazing,
but no-one ever listens because it’s one of those stations between 103.6 and
103.8, that you can only get if you slowly twiddle the antenna in a clockwise
direction.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">His voice is soothing, but equally powerful, and gives my
chills down my spine every time I hear it!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The album starts off with <i>‘Rise & Fall’ </i>with a beautiful saxophone intro which makes it
feel as if <i>‘Baker Street’</i> is about to
start, followed by lead vocals and acoustic guitar. It’s a very laid back,
trundling song, with great vocal harmonies, and instrumentation throughout
(including even more sax, and some violins thrown in there too).</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">From the lyrics, it seems as though the song’s about a break up - <i>“How long can the story of our rise and fall
drag on? Oh please, you gave me up now give me peace.”</i></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But it’s not too soppy, and even though it doesn’t have many lyrics, that
doesn’t stop those lyrics being beautifully written. <i>“You’ve sorried me to death. So let me catch my breath.”</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Bursting in next is <i>‘Gravity’
</i>– which is definitely showing the other side of the band. Going from the
mellow sway of <i>‘Rise & Fall’ </i>to
an upbeat foot-tapping song!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It’s like being drenched with a bucket of water on a hot summers day, and the
feelings of joy that come with chasing the sibling who did it around the
garden.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I can imagine the band all standing on a stage. With massive smiles and tapping
their feet like the Beach Boys used to do – and it’s got a similar feel too!
Classic sounding electric guitar. Driving drums.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Unfortunately, because National Flower aren’t very well known (don’t know
anyone else who has heard of them), their lyrics aren’t available online
anywhere.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">With the last review, I was able to go online, find the lyrics, read through
them to decipher bits I couldn’t hear in the song, and to try and work out what
the songs about (which wasn’t too difficult with pop music, because it’s
normally really obvious so that people can relate to without having to think
about what the song means). With less mainstream music, songwriters are able to
write about anything, and make it sound like anything. Singing about finding
love, but changing love into the sun. There’ll be obvious lines, but most of it
will be a bit obscure, and you have to really listen and understand all the
lyrics.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I don’t think ‘<i>Happy</i>’ by Pharrell
Williams needs much explanation as to what the song’s about.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As for National Flower, their lyrics are obscure most of the
time, and use a lot of metaphors. <i>“Take a
deep breath, take that battle. Finish what is left. Gravity’s all around, but
the skies not falling. If you don’t know that yet, get down off the shelf, because
nothing happens by itself.” </i></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>‘Here Comes the Water’
</i>is next on the list – and it gives me the strange feeling that this album
is </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">going to be up – down – up – down in terms of song vigorousity. Because from
first impressions it’s very laid back and returned me to mellow swaying.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">(That’s what I do while I’m listening to the music. Mostly
at work, so my colleagues get confused – I then go home, refresh my memory of
the songs, sway/foot-tap depending on the SVF (Song Vigorousity Factor – I just
made it up, but I think it should definitely be a term proper music critics use
for how their body moves while listening to the music!). I then write this
review. Not in 1 sitting. The last one I did over 4 days. This one has been 1
day so far! But will take another 2 or 3 to finish it, recorrect any spelling
mistakes, look over all the grammatical mistakes and chose to ignore them,
update any parts that I’ve changed my mind about, and remove any parts where I
rant on for ½ a page. Then publish it!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I also try not to veer off topic too much…….So yeah, <i>‘Here Comes the Water’</i> – It begins just
acoustic guitar and vocals, and then the drums come marching in, along with slide
guitar, which completes the Americana feel for the album, and it then picks up
quite a bit! <i>“Here comes the waaaaater”</i>.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Listening to the song, it seems as though it’s about trying not to drown in a
flood…but of course, it’s all a metaphor! From what I can make out, I think
it’s about being in a relationship, and not letting life get the best of you,
and just being with each other through thick and thin and never losing each
other. <i>“Grab hold around my neck. ‘Cause
I won’t lose you now, and I won’t lose you when it’s above our heads.”</i></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Aaaand up again with <i>‘Days
of Greatness’</i>, commencing with a great little organ rift which sounds happy
enough for me to already know this is gonna be a great song! It then gets
interrupted by the bash of drums and manic trumpet, and then swoosh, straight
into the song.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The SVF of this song certainly had my head bopping as well as my feet tapping –
it just screams happiness! It even has a barber shop quartet feel with <i>“bum bum bum”</i> harmonies.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Oi. Stop laughing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">They’re literally singing <i>“bum bum bum badaaa”</i> – and it sounds great! It sounds like it’s
just one person singing into a harmony pedal, but I can still imagine 4 blokes
in stripy suits standing there singing! With the bloke with the lowest voice
standing at the end holding his cherry red braces in his hands. <i>“Come on everyone, turn your face to the
sun, before the whole thing explodes”</i>.</span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In the next song, it’s not as far down as previous songs,
but it’s not up…and not on the same level – so it’s TECHNICALLY another down
song (if you’ve forgotten by this point, I had a feeling by the third song that
the album will switch between upbeat songs and downbeat songs. So far, we’re on
song No.5 and it’s gone: down, up, down, up, and now down (slightly) – so the
next one should be up if it’s true).</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But for now, <i>‘Don’t Forget Me’ </i>(ironic
song title considering I nearly just went veering off topic….again).</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It’s got a great feel to it – almost Wild West kinda feel. Strumming acoustic
guitar with electric guitar picking on top. Just replace that for a banjo and
you’d think you were standing in the glaring sun outside the saloon in Armadillo
chewing tobacco and spinning your six-shooter round your finger. Just waiting
for the outlaws to ride past. Ye-haw!</span><br />
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<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 16.8pt; margin: 6pt 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">When it went to the next song, I thought I’d suddenly started
listening to Wheatus or Third Eye Blind (up again!) – it just has that feel to
it! Drums introducing the song, and then the <i>‘chickachickachicka’</i> of an electric guitar (I don’t know the
technical name for muting the strings while playing a chord) and then BAM
straight into the song – <i>‘Hey Geronimo’</i>.
It quickly then dips down when the vocals come in, so it’s just vocals, drums
and bass, and it continues to dip and dive between the quieter verses, and then
louder choruses.<br />
I’m gonna be honest, before I googled ‘Geronimo’ I had no idea what the song
was about.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 16.8pt; margin: 6pt 0cm;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><br />
</span><i><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">“According to paratrooper Gerard
Devlin, ‘Geronimo!’ dates from August 1940, and is attributed to Private Aubrey
Eberhardt, member of parachute test platoon at Fort Benning. The parachute had
only recently been adopted for troop drops and this platoon was the first to
test it. On the eve of their first jump, the platoon decided to calm their
nerves by spending the day before taking in a film at the Main Post Theatre and
a night at the local<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beer_garden" title="Beer garden"><i><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; text-decoration: none;">beer garden</span></i></a><i><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">. The film they saw was a<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_(genre)" title="Western (genre)"><i><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; text-decoration: none;">Western</span></i></a><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></i></span><i><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">featuring the<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Native_Americans_in_the_United_States" title="Native Americans in the United States"><i><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; text-decoration: none;">Native
American</span></i></a><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></i></span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tribal_chief" title="Tribal chief"><i><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; text-decoration: none;">chief</span></i></a><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></i></span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geronimo" title="Geronimo"><i><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; text-decoration: none;">Geronimo</span></i></a><i><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">. Its
title is uncertain, but it was probably the 1939 film<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Geronimo_(1939_film)&action=edit&redlink=1" title="Geronimo (1939 film) (page does not exist)"><i><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; text-decoration: none;">Geronimo</span></i></a><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></i></span><i><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">with<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andy_Devine" title="Andy Devine"><i><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; text-decoration: none;">Andy Devine</span></i></a><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></i></span><i><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">and<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lone_Ranger" title="Lone Ranger"><i><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; text-decoration: none;">Lone Ranger</span></i></a><i><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">star<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chief_Thundercloud" title="Chief Thundercloud"><i><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; text-decoration: none;">Chief Thundercloud</span></i></a><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></i></span><i><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">in the title role.<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 16.8pt; margin: 6pt 0cm;">
<i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">On the
way back to barracks, Eberhardt's comrades taunted him saying that he would be
too scared to remember his name. Eberhardt retorted, "All right, dammit! I
tell you jokers what I'm gonna do! To prove to you that I'm not scared out of
my wits when I jump, I'm gonna yell<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Geronimo<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>loud as hell when I go out that door
tomorrow!" Eberhardt kept his promise and the cry was gradually adopted by
the other members of his platoon.” - Wikipedia<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Once
I’d got that into my head, it all made sense. <i><br />
“Hey Geronimo, Where’d you go when you jumped off [of that] edge? Did you want
to be alone? With your thick skin.”<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Next
up, <i>‘Just One of Those Things’.</i><br />
It starts with vocals, on their own. Which is great! There’s then a short bass
& guitar rift, and it picks up a bit, right up until there’s a looooovely
hi-hat snap followed by a completely silent…silence, and then big cymbal crash,
and then straight into the chorus! (I am a sucker for sudden breaks in songs.)<br />
And this song is full of them!! MMmmmmmm!!<br />
It’s such a feel good song, but I know how his lyrics can be sad when it sounds
happy, and vice versa.<br />
I keep trying to work it out, but I can’t. And every time I listen to it I keep
hearing the line <i>“Polish my bell and
you’re gonna want to ring it!” </i>and just burst out laughing!<br />
But I can’t really make out any other full sentences to give me an idea of what
it’s about. I can make out random words like <i>bull, rifle, paper bag, playground</i>, and a few short out of context
sentences.<br />
But nonetheless – the music sounds great!! And it’s upbeat! – finally, right
near the end, they break the sequence!<br />
<br />
Nearly done – ‘<i>Weight of the World’ </i>brings
it down once again. And yet again has me thinking what the song could be about.
Personally, I think it’s a lot about looking out for someone, whether it’s
someone with a mental disorder or a troubled partner. <i>“Take a load off your bleeding shoulders and put it on mine, and the
weight of the world will fall”.<br />
</i>It’s got a very country-gospel feel to the music, with slide guitar throughout
and organ coming in at the end to build the song for a big finish…which dies
out just before the end, in order to not be too rocky.<br />
Funnily enough, I can’t think of anyone else that it sounds like. It’s just
very <i>them. </i>All the other songs have a
little catch that I can hear in other songs – it might sound exactly the same
as some songs, but I have a limited musical spectrum. I don’t know all the Led
Zepplin songs, or all the Lady Gaga songs. I know MOST of the Red Hot Chili
Peppers songs….that’s thanks to my dad for playing them constantly throughout
my childhood. I can still remember shouting <i>“I
DON’T EVER WANNA FEEEEEEEL LIKE I DID THAT DAY!”</i> while sitting next to him
in the car, both of us tapping along to the drums. And there, begun my love for
drums.<br />
But the point is – I don’t know all the songs ever. But hopefully this project
blog will help narrow that gap a bit, and should add about 500 songs to the
list of songs I always respond with ‘no idea’ when asked if I like it or not. I
don’t go along with the whole <i>looking
cool by knowing every song ever </i>response – not since I saw the video of
people being interviewed at Glastonbury and being asked if they liked “The
Keychain Syndrome” and responding with “Yes! They’re one of my favourite bands!”,
only to find out that I just made up that band name….. Honestly, the looks on
their faces when they were told up front that they’re a liar, was priceless!<br />
And I’d say it’s more embarrassing to say you love a band that you’ve never
heard of, then get asked to play it or sing along and have to then say “Actually….I
don’t know it” than it is to just be honest and say you don’t know a song. You’re
human. You’re not expected to know every song ever. Plus, it’d make life a lot
more boring if you did know every song ever. There’s nothing quite like finding
a new song and being obsessed with it, and playing it over and over and over and
over and over and over until you then hate it and never listen to it again!<br />
It’s what makes life worth living!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Speaking
of which – next new song!<br />
<i>‘Red & White & Blue’ </i>keeps
the SVF at a mellow sway, with just finger picked acoustic guitar coupled with
vocals with a clarinet or other smaller wood wind instrument playing a couple
of bars here and there – but that’s it. So it’s a very laid back and acoustic
song. The kind of song a good guitarist who could sing would be able to play on
their own – which then makes me wish I could 1. Play guitar that well, 2. Sing that
well & 3. Find chords and lyrics online….which I can’t, I’ve tried.<br />
It sounds like it’s about a man called ‘Murphy’, and possibly their death. Like
a tribute to the person they were. <i>“Murphy
you’re a Prince, perfect in a pinch. Everybody knows it.”<br />
</i>The title refers to the colours of the American flag <i>“As the Roman candles do what Roman candles do. The 4<sup>th</sup> of
July has been redefined” </i>– whether that means it’s about someone who passed
on the 4<sup>th</sup> July. <i>“The Roman
candle. They got nothing on you as you’re draped in red and white and blue”.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I
might be missing an important detail about who Murphy is, but I don’t know much
about American history, but it would make sense if the song was about an
important figures death, it has that feel about it.<br />
<i>“Murphy don’t look now. We’ve thrown you
to the hounds, they’d gladly eat you up, but tonight they’re eating out. So
Murphy be a pal, and forgive what we do. Because we never deserved you.”<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But
whatever who or what it’s about, it’s the most beautiful song of the album.
Simple and powerful.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The
last song is a riot. Literally. <i>‘Riot’.<br />
</i>It’s instantly obvious that this album is ending on a high!<br />
With pounding drums and electric guitar rocking out non-stop from start to
finish….which, after listening to it for the 4<sup>th</sup> time on repeat,
does get rather repetitive.<br />
<i>“I wish that we could start a riot, there
ain’t no way we’re going quietly. When the wolf is at the door don’t look
surprised.”<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Don’t
get me wrong, it’s a good song – and listening to a lot of songs on repeat
makes them seem more repetitive than they actually are. When I listen to the
album through, without skipping tracks or repeating them, it’s a great finish!<br />
As for the lyrics – same as on some others, it’s difficult to decipher the
words and meanings without seeing it all written down because some words aren’t
recognisable unless you already know what he’s singing – especially when
metaphors are used.<br />
And this is yet again, another song that I can’t work out the meanings behind
the words. <i>“Recklessness stands to
reason. Sit and knock them back one, two, three. Cause right now is less is
more than ever.”<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So…..a
song about being drunk and wanting to riot about something?<br />
Don’t know…..maybe you’ll have to go listen to the album and let me know what
you think! ;)<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And
on that note – IT’S DONE!<br />
To sum up the album, I’d definitely recommend it if you like Third Eye Blind,
Smash Mouth, and clever lyrics along with great instrumentation and warming
vocals.<br />
<br />
I’d say my favourite song out of all of them is either <i>‘Days of Greatness’ </i>or <i>‘Hey
Geronimo’ </i>– they’re both really feel good songs, and have really clever
lyrics that I can’t get out of my head!<br />
The whole album does get a bit tedious when it’s alternating between energetic
songs and slower songs, but if you put it on shuffle it’s absolutely great!<br />
The artwork is really clever, and I think it is as playful as the music is, so
works really well. If you saw it in a shop, you might giggle in your head, and
imagine that it would sound upbeat and a bit quirky – which it manages in
bucket loads. Just like it did when he was just Michael Meanwhile.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><o:p style="background-color: white;"><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><o:p style="background-color: white;"><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Do you
agree/disagree with anything I said? Like / dislike the review? Any
constructive criticisms? Please leave a comment below! Would love to hear
from you. Also, if you have any recommendations of albums I should listen
to and review (as long as the artwork is awesome), let me know.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Thanks for
reading, keep tuned for the next blog.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I’ll be
reviewing<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><b>The Dead Weather – <i>‘Dodge & Burn’</i></b><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><i style="background-color: white;"><br /></i></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Don’t forget
to check out my website, Facebook, Twitter and Youtube below.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I’m doing
these blogs alongside my better half; Fern Teather – she is listening to a new
albums (doesn’t matter about the artwork, she’s trying to expand her
musical knowledge and listen to new artists!). She’s also keeping a blog, and
it’s nowhere near as long as this one, so go give it a read!!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Check it out here:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://52-albums.blogspot.com/" style="outline: none; transition: color 0.3s;" target="_blank"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">52-albums.blogspot.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">See you in a while...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Sam<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 14.7pt; text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://www.bongoboy.co.uk/" style="outline: none; transition: color 0.3s;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">www.bongoboy.co.uk</span></a><br />
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SamThurlowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02863333045473333139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166391704251730654.post-29713762626775823292016-01-11T06:03:00.001-08:002016-06-21T06:55:21.120-07:001. The Weeknd - 'Beauty Behind the Madness'<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Hello!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
Welcome to the first of many album reviews!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If you didn’t see my last blog, click <a href="http://www.bongoboy.co.uk/blog/happy-52-new-album-year" target="_blank">HERE</a> to go to it, and
give it a read.<br />
That will get you up to date with what I’m doing, and why!<br />
<br />
Done?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Good! Not much more to go – I just wanted to say that I will
lay the review out starting with the artwork, then moving through each song and
a summery at the end – these are of course all my personal opinion, and
shouldn’t be taken too seriously!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Anyway! Let’s get to it!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ-kUg3Eu0Rxneip3K9o0hq89ljtK4KpZWrIMqEWhq7AT1z900QmUhW6qWu2msrZ7Kc1NhVNEtgL5xkTZwfPvRyrCjmWEYKLoQ41-4hBoxHI5m1KwDVC6zusghxh6brYBEZo2aENIiFR4o/s1600/The+Weeknd+-+Beauty+Behind+the+Madness+artwork.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="395" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ-kUg3Eu0Rxneip3K9o0hq89ljtK4KpZWrIMqEWhq7AT1z900QmUhW6qWu2msrZ7Kc1NhVNEtgL5xkTZwfPvRyrCjmWEYKLoQ41-4hBoxHI5m1KwDVC6zusghxh6brYBEZo2aENIiFR4o/s400/The+Weeknd+-+Beauty+Behind+the+Madness+artwork.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So – the first album I listened to this year (simply because
I bought it on 31<sup>st</sup> December and I think the artwork is
cool!) is ‘<i>Beauty Behind the Madness</i>’ by The Weeknd.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I’ve seen the album advertised on telly and all over the
internet. Now, I haven’t ever listened to The Weeknd, so didn’t really know
what to expect. I’d only heard 1 song from The Weeknd before then. That song,
of course, was ‘<i>Can’t Feel My Face</i>’. The song which has been played on radios
and in the charts for a few weeks, and weirdly, I thought it was really good! (I
tend to like more musically complex stuff, but I liked the funkiness of it!)<br />
I obviously won’t
start with that one, I need to talk about the key part of a CD – the part that
catches your eye when you look at the hundreds of CDs in HMV….<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Let’s
discuss the artwork.<br />
I really like it!<br />
There, done – next?<br />
<br />
Only joking!<br />
I really think it’s important, especially for solo artists, to have their face
on the front cover. It seems really self obsessed, but it means people can scan
across a rack full of albums and see a familiar face!<br />
Of course, if every band and artist did this it would be a sea of faces – moody
black and white, cheesy smiles and pouts going from the top shelf to the
bottom.<br />
But for newer artists, who haven’t been popular for very long, but are in their
own music videos and are the ‘<i>face</i>’ of their music, it’s a key part of
advertising!<br />
The cover they’ve done for this album is a great example of taking a simple
black and white photo of the main singer, and giving it a grungy feel – it’s
like those mix and match ‘perfect boyfriend’ collages that stereotypical
teenage girls do in 90s American films. Cutting Justin Timberlakes hair out of
NME, Tom Cruises smile out of TIME and Zac Efrons eyes out of Entertainment
Weekly, and then glueing them together on a piece of card, and looking into the
mutants beautiful eyes and imagining being with them forever. It’s LIKE that,
but a bit more like a blindfolded 5 year old tried to cut his eyes out, but
then gave up and just stuck the whole face on a piece of card with cuts and
rips all over the place.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But
with that in mind, and the title of the album – ‘<i>Beauty Behind the Madness</i>’, I
actually think that’s the kind of thing they’re going for. Mix matched cuttings
out of magazines glued together to make a mutated perfection. But this time,
the teenage girls only have 1 photo to use.<br />
<br />
But do I think the cover matches the music? On some songs, yes. But it’s a very
diverse album, with lot’s of genres floating around. A lot of it is electronic
rock, so they’ve kicked out the classic acoustic drums and overdrive guitar
sound for electronic drums and dubstep whooping and buzzing sounds, but there’s
a lot of piano and string sections, and the majority of the album is very old
school R&B with a modern twist.<br />
For instance, ‘<i>Often</i>’ sounds a lot like Mario – ‘<i>Let Me Love You</i>’ at half
speed, and instead of the boy band style of backing vocals, replace those with
wubs and buzzes...and then get Moby to remix it – oh, and just making it sound a lot
better.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I
actually own a R&B compilation CD from the early 00’s (which is how I know
all the words to ‘<i>Let Me Love You</i>’….), and this CD really takes me back to
those days, listening to that kind of music, but with a very modern twist.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Amongst
the R&B songs, there’s a couple of real treasures! ‘<i>The Hills</i>’ being one of
them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
It’s a really simple song musically. With only a couple of instruments going at
one time, then with vocals laid on top. I can imagine if you hear this in a
club, with the bass boosted through the roof – it would be a pulsing shake
going through your chest. Of course, it’s not fast enough to go down well in a
club, so I guess I’ll just have to turn all the lights off, lay on my floor and
put my subwoofer on my chest to get a similar effect – it’s a lot like having a
midi keyboard, and just holding one note. (or just try and sing “<i>bvbvbvbvbvbvbvbvbvbv</i>” in the lowest
voice you can). The lyrics are really catchy, yet hard to understand exactly
what he’s singing. I keep singing <i>“I only
call you when it’s half past five”</i> in my head and then do a small body roll
when the music (also in my head) drops.<br />
<br />
Another stand out song is one I’ve already mentioned – ‘<i>Can’t Feel My Face</i>’.<br />
This one starts like all the others sound – ambient wubs and vocals on top. But
then it drops and just goes to drums and bass with catchy vocals on top (which
almost forces you to dance like he does in the music video!) I am really
tempted to actually play along to this song, because it’s such a straight beat,
and really cut back, so it’d be possible to fill it out with some rolling
bongos.<br />
One critisism with the song, because I’ve listened to it a few times, it does
get boring very quickly. It’s very VERY repetative, and that makes it feel a
lot shorter than it is (coming in at a reasonable 3:34!), although for the
whole time I’m trying to work out what he’s singing about – love? Lust?
Cocaine? Meth? A skin disorder that causes his face to hurt when he’s <i>not</i> with
‘them’? Who knows.<br />
<br />
One more song which really stands out (and that I keep going back to listen to)
is ‘<i>Dark Times</i>’.<br />
For this one, Mr Weeknd has brought in the world famous (who grew up only 2
villages away from me!), Ed Sheeran.<br />
I don’t know who wrote the song, I’m guessing it was a collaboration, but
mostly written by Ed (the lyrics sound like he wrote them – “<i>Waking up, half past five, Blood on pillow,
one bruised eye, Drunk too much, you know what I'm like, But you should've seen
the other guy</i>”)<br />
I love the groove it
has going on with quickly muted guitar. Slow blues. Mmmm delish!<br />
The 2 male vocals mix really well – not too sure about the ‘<i>AAAaaaaaAAAAaaaa</i>’s
going on in the background – sounds like someone tripped over in the studio.<br />
I also think it could’ve gone even bigger towards the end, and turned into
something really epic. But that’s a very small critisism!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Going
back to the beginning – ‘<i>Real Life</i>’ which is the opening track, has a really
impacting first 20 seconds of what I can only describe as the sound the Jaegers
make on <i>Pacific Rim</i>, and then brings
it down to vocals and what sounds like a over-drived cello. The lyrics are the
key part of the whole song, but I think the over use of “<i>oh yeah</i>” takes away from it.<br />
I think it really sets the scene for the whole album. With the albums I’ve
worked on, it’s always been a stuggle to decide which song should go first.
Because that’s the song that people will listen to to decide whether they like
the CD or not.<br />
If you put your worst song first, you’ll lose a lot of possible buyers. But
then if you put your best song first, the listeners will get bored quickly.<br />
What you put second and third are also key, and I think they chose good songs
to start off the CD.<br />
They didn’t go straight for their most well known material, because they saved
that for later, so you have to listen to 10 of their other songs before you get
to the one you bought the CD for.<br />
‘<i>Losers</i>’ which is the second track is still keeping to the same quality as ‘<i>Real
Life</i>’, and starts up the R&B piano and drums – I don’t know what it’s
trying to express, but the first line is “<i>Only
losers go to school</i>” – I can see why a parental advisory is given!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br />
This is followed by ‘<i>Tell Your Friends</i>’ which is typical 00’s R&B, but with
much more complex rhythms and instrumentation. The lyrics are typical R&B
with about the same amount of cursing. One line I particularly enjoyed was “<i>I'mma spend it all on b*****s, And everybody
f*****', everybody f*****'. P***y on the house, everybody f*****’.”</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Bet he thinks he's so cool!<br />
<br />
Moving on.<br />
‘<i>Aquainted</i>’ is one of the songs on the album which just kind of passes me by. I
can listen to the whole album on loop (which I do for these reviews), but I
seem to phase out when it gets to that song. Maybe it’s the point of the album,
or the fact it’s placed between the 2 biggest songs – ‘<i>The Hills</i>’ & ‘<i>Can’t
Feel My Face</i>’. It’s just nothing special – I do like that they put a Phil
Collins style drum roll 17 seconds in to go from the same ambient start into
the same cut back verses they have in other songs, and then put it in randomly
throughout the song.. Maybe that’s why I seem to just phase out when it comes
on – it’s like I’ve heard it before, 3 songs ago.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Another
of their well known songs; ‘<i>Shameless</i>’ is one I’ve previously heard – but only
a bit of it.<br />
It’s got a nice feel to the music, it’s something about the chords and rhythm
that makes me want to burst into improvised dance! Swaying back and forth.
Feeling as if I’m swimming, moving through the water. And then the wah wah
guitar / theremin sound comes in for the middle eight – it’s nice to hear an
instrumental solo in modern music. No matter what instrument it is! It just
doesn’t happen very often anymore! In the good old days (I was born in the
90’s, so this is just from what I’ve been told) songs used to be about 4
minutes of solos, and 1 minute of lyrics.<br />
<br />
Next up – ‘<i>Earned It</i>’. A song which was apparently in ‘<i>Fifty Shades of Grey</i>’ (I
only know that because it’s in brackets behind the title of the song). It does
have a BDSM kinda vibe to it I guess….<br />
But looking past that, it’s a really good track. It’s verging on being a big
band number, but doesn’t quite get there. Even though it has mostly a string
orchestra doing the music, using the same jabs as there is in ‘<i>Dark Times</i>’ –
but this is R&B with classical instrumentation. Which is a refreshing and
interesting mix. Even though it feels like a DJ mixing with every Bond theme
tune ever.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">‘<i>In
the Night</i>’ flips the album around with it’s electronic ‘bop’s and synth
clapping and manages to make me bop a bit too!<br />
It does sound very 00’s pop – I found myself almost being able to hear Girls
Aloud while listening to it. Which was a very strange experience. They’re
probably nothing a like, but it was just that feel – it feels like it’s from
the same decade. This is another song where I don’t know what it’s about. A
girlfriend leaving in the night? Prostitution? The possibilities are endless!<br />
All I know is, I’ve never heard anyone put ‘riveting’ in a song, let alone sing
it as greatly as he does – “<i>it’s riiiii-vet-ting</i>”.<br />
<br />
Following ‘<i>In The Night</i>’ is ‘<i>As You Are</i>’ – personally, this one kinda passes me
by.<br />
The lyrics are quite hard to pick out, and it feels like I’ve heard it
somewhere else in the album, even when I go back and realise it isn’t like any
of the other songs.<br />
I think it’s the mix of drums, synth and reverbed vocals (which have all
featured throughout the album), and the fact that when I read the title, all I
can think of is Nivarna – ‘<i>Come As You Are</i>’.<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Almost
there!!<br />
‘<i>Dark Times</i>’ (still love it!!) comes in after ‘<i>In the Night</i>’, but I won’t drool
over it again.<br /><br />
Afterwards, ‘<i>Prisoner</i>’ came in, entering with it’s strange bird calling /
‘<i>oooowwwaaaa</i>’-ing at the beginning – which I find really charming, and I nice
little catch which makes the song instantly recognisable.<br />
The title says it features Lana Del Rey – which immediately made me nearly skip
the song – I was in a happy mood and didn’t really want to be depressed right
now.<br />
Yep – it has quite a depressing feel to it, but the really interesting timing
and music distracts for it, and it’s nice to have a female lead vocal in the
mix, which it’s lacked throughout the album.<br />
There’s been others feature (Labrinth & Ed Sheeran), and I think the
collaborations have paid off – because this is a much catchier song than the
previous one. And when I say catchier, I won’t be driving around singing this
at the top of my lungs, but at least I can remember bits of it!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Last
but no means least:<br />
‘<i>Angel</i>’ – Honestly, when I first heard this, I thought I’d accidently started
listening to a rock ballad from the early 90’s. “<i>I don’t remember Bryan Adams
writing this!</i>”<br />
Opening with what can only be described as an angelic choir boy, and then BOOM!
Kick drum and sliding bass into an organ riff. But then Mr Weeknd’s voice came
in – but it’s still going along to the chord progressions found in those
classic songs, which a few modern tweaks.<br />
All together, this is a unique
song to end the album – but one thing that I don’t like, and that could’ve been
avoided if the writers weren’t so….lazy? They repeat almost every line twice in
the same line. “<i>Cause all I see are wings, I can see your wings. But I
know what I am and the life I live, yeah, the life I live.</i>” And don’t even get
me started on the chorus! It’s just the same 5 words repeated again and again,
and even got the choir boy and his mates to join in! To give you an idea of the
chorus, just imagine the sentence ‘<i>I hope you find somebody</i>’ repeated 1, 2, 3……24
times!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><br />
</i>Anyway!
Moving on.<br />
I think all together, it’s a really good attempt at a ballad! And a good close
to the album.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Aaaaaand<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Fin!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">After 1 week of religiously listening to ‘Beauty
Behind the Madness’, I’ve realised why so many people like The Weeknd. I still
have no idea if it’s just one artist, or a band. But I don’t care!<br />
Train has done pretty well for himself!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This album is a refreshing break away from the current
norm. Over the past few years, when an artist who writes electronic music (and
let’s be honest, that’s pretty much everyone in the charts), and they then
release an album – it’s normally the same boring stuff throughout. But this
isn’t! It’s a really nice mix of genres and instruments to go along with the
brilliant vocals. Yes, some of it’s a bit sketchy – but I don’t think I’ve ever
come across an album without something wrong with it (apart from my girlfriends
– hers is amazing and you should all go buy it right now! <a href="http://www.fernteather.com/shop">www.fernteather.com/shop</a>
;) ).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I will definitely be leaving this album on my iPod,
‘Can’t Feel My Face’ and ‘Dark Times’ are now amongst my most played, just
because I leave it on repeat and keep listening to them both!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And because I bought this album because I liked the
artwork, I really do think it reflects the music behind the picture!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Do you agree/disagree with anything I said? Like / dislike the review? Any constructive criticisms? Please
leave a comment below! Would love to hear from you. Also, if you have any
recommendations of albums I should listen to and review (as long as the artwork
is awesome), let me know.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Thanks for reading, keep tuned for the next blog.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">
I’ll be reviewing <b>National Flower –
‘<i>Farewell Michael Meanwhile</i>’<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Don’t forget to check out my website, Facebook,
Twitter and Youtube below.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I’m doing these blogs alongside my better half; Fern
Teather – she is listening to a new albums (doesn’t matter about the
artwork, she’s trying to expand her musical knowledge and listen to new
artists!). She’s also keeping a blog, and it’s nowhere near as long as this
one, so go give it a read!!<br />
Check
it out here: <a href="http://52-albums.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="background: #fefefe; color: #3b5998; text-decoration: none;">52-albums.blogspot.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">See you next time!<br />
Sam<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.bongoboy.co.uk/">www.bongoboy.co.uk</a><br />
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/samthurlowpercussion">www.facebook.com/samthurlowpercussion</a>
<br />
<a href="http://www.twitter.com/bongoboyuk">www.twitter.com/bongoboyuk</a>
<br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/bongoboyuk" target="_blank">www.youtube.com/bongoboyuk</a></span><o:p></o:p></div>
SamThurlowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02863333045473333139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3166391704251730654.post-72150967413987592902016-01-01T16:21:00.000-08:002016-10-10T12:09:11.887-07:00About me and this blog<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Hi! My name's Sam Thurlow, I'm a percussionist and designer - which pretty much covers my hobbies as well as work!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This is a blog I started in January 2016, and I'm adding to it whenever I get a chance to!<br /><br />"So what's this blog about" i hear you ask! Well, I listen to an album, write a review of it - giving my honest opinion about the CD, whether I'm going to keep listening to it, whether I think the artwork was better than the music - and it will be in depth, and probably a long (but hopefully very interesting) read!<br /><br />The reason I'm doing this? Well, I started out just choosing albums because of their artwork. Because when you put an album in shops, the first thing people will see is the picture on the front.<br />It's the same with books, and the whole "don't judge a book by its cover" - I ask, why not?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">But I then got interest to review particular albums, and then personal albums. And thus, we have a review blog! A lot of it is ramblings - but what's wrong with that? ;)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Thanks - hope you enjoy the blogs!<br />Sam</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">www.bongoboy.co.uk</span>SamThurlowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02863333045473333139noreply@blogger.com0