tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7289492828639105112024-02-19T00:43:19.529-08:00Music ruminationsA music blog for those who like all types of music, and like to discuss it.The Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01775524714447741662noreply@blogger.comBlogger141125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-728949282863910511.post-56430846160397619242020-03-22T02:39:00.000-07:002020-03-22T02:42:19.422-07:00Thoughts on the world today<img alt="Image result for rainbow meme" src="data:image/jpeg;base64,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" /><br />
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So, things are a little messed up aren't they.<br />
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I am writing on the 22nd of March 2020, Covid-19 is decimating the world. Sort of, most of the world is isolating from each other. (an introverts wet dream) and very sadly the death toll continues to rise.<br />
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I don't know anyone who has died yet as a direct result of the virus. I hope it is the same for you and yours.<br />
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So now seems as good a time as any to start writing this little thing again. I started it in 2012 it seems, and whilst it went great guns for a while it ran out of steam. It was going to be my path into wealth and fame and greatness. Not sure how that was going to work (spoiler: it didn't) But I do enjoy bringing some music to people every now and again.<br />
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I have never been quite sure of how to bring music through the page, that is sort of the problem with it. I tried a video message and you tube blocked it because I embedded songs into it. Tips to get around that are most welcome.<br />
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Here is a song<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/OA_CndlBu0g/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OA_CndlBu0g?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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This song re-entered the charts briefly last week. Which is cool as its a good song. REM occupy a strange place as far as I can see. They are too alternative for mainstream radio to play their songs as classic rock and not alternative enough to be on alternative stations as classic rock. If you are looking for a great album, Automatic for the People was their global breakthrough (the above song isn't on that)<br />
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It isn't the end of the world, I don't think that. It is a change in the world where we are given the opportunity to take a breath and work out what we are going to do. The amount of innovation that will come from these couple of weeks will be simply mind blowing. It will be brilliant.<br />
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I think we can one of two ways in this time. We can be dark, or we can be light. I choose light, not because it is flattering to my middle aged features I hasten to add. However, even though I choose to be positive and see the opportunities we now have in front of us, I choose dark music, because dark music is the best.<br />
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I put together this playlist, it is collaborative if you want to add to it.<br />
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<a href="https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2p9Egg7bphX5vE45URAN9w?si=d5MdUESbTOas6JfvtiLXwQ">https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2p9Egg7bphX5vE45URAN9w?si=d5MdUESbTOas6JfvtiLXwQ</a><br />
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As I said, I don't know which way is the best to get you some music. So here is a song taken from the playlist<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/hZw23sWlyG0/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hZw23sWlyG0?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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To all those hoarders, just like to say a little fuck you. We have enough food. There is no reason to act the way you are acting. Stop it, you are adding to the problem by prioritising yourself over everyone else.<br />
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Despite the fact I am two songs and a number of random thoughts in, what I actually wanted to talk about was escapism. We are confined to our houses for the most part. Its cool for me as I like my place and I can sit at this desk and listen to music.<br />
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Books are better at escapism than music is. But music is second best and there are many great days lying on a couch, with a great album or collection of songs playing. This song has been played to death (sorry) at the moment<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/sgSsmJVCG2Q/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sgSsmJVCG2Q?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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Apart from the joke which is valid in self isolating times. Actually the song depicts a little story, with a cool beat. (I use the original version rather than the newer one - I have always liked it more) A little story in 4 minutes. No beginning, no end, we just get a brief window into a real or imagined life and then move on. In much the same way as a decent book, we are able to put our own experience and imagery on to it and hence make it our own. It now belongs to us as we have a unique idea of the song that speaks, or doesn't, to us.<br />
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This is proper escapism.<br />
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So that is my point. There are better and worse songs than this. But I don't feel like belabouring a point to you. You don't need more being told what to do.<br />
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No time for something a bit darker as that is all a little pleasant isnt it<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/rHcmnowjfrQ/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rHcmnowjfrQ?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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Rather than play the video, which is cool but has the swearing taken out of it, I thought I would play the proper, uncensored version. After all, now is hardly the time for us to be told what we should or shouldn't listen to is it. </div>
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So, just a bit of a diversion for you. Stay positive, stay strong and remember that , more than ever, we all need your brilliance now. Think. Come up with something great for all of us and let's take it from there. Ideas in the comments. </div>
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If you are feeling it and being overwhelmed by the state of affairs, then thinking positive will not cut it. Call someone, Call me, I am happy to have a chat (I live in London so remember that please) Reach out and remember that now more than ever, we are all in this together and it is important we re-establish our community. </div>
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The Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01775524714447741662noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-728949282863910511.post-15382905023582607582019-05-11T02:08:00.001-07:002019-05-11T02:12:31.826-07:00Random thoughts<img alt="Image result for old man thinking meme" src="https://memesbams.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/old-man-tattoo-meme.jpg" /><br />
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Some more things I think I think<br />
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1. Although there can not be a greatest band ever, in my mind any discussion around that topic has to include Tool.They may not be everyone's thing, but if you do not know them it is worth giving them a listen. I have now been a huge fan of them for 28 years. In that time they have released only 5 albums. That is criminal that there is not more music for me to devour of theirs. <br />
They are releasing a new album. I dont know how I feel about this. I really dont. I want to love it, I want to go on a music journey with my son who is now old enough to comprehend them. I mostly just want it to not suck. Because that would break my heart,<br />
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2. Why don't 'supergoups' ever work? I can not think of a supergroup that is better than the sum of it's parts, or more importantly , than the original bands the people were in. <br />
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3. I was lucky enough to come across a radio show that started in San Franscisco in the early 80s, Hearts of Space. I have been listening to it a lot recently. If you like ambient music then it is well worth the effort, indeed it is where you should start. <br />
<a href="https://www.hos.com/">https://www.hos.com/</a><br />
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4. Why do people still listen to U2? I dont get that at all<br />
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5. It turns out that the lyricists from Grunge, really meant what they were saying. I am very sad about Chris Cornell. But also for all the rest of the fallen who had such a large impression on my life at what with hindsight was a large turning point for me.<br />
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I also wish I devoted more time to this blog. Although I have run out of things to say, when it comes to some of the music, I feel I should be saying more about what it means in a completely different age or music streaming services.<br />
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I want music suggestions . . pleaseThe Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01775524714447741662noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-728949282863910511.post-519567077689670062018-04-24T13:41:00.000-07:002018-04-24T13:41:03.240-07:00I still miss David BowieThe Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01775524714447741662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-728949282863910511.post-20626761319669421252018-01-28T04:45:00.001-08:002018-01-28T04:45:53.149-08:00The Black dogIts been a pretty rough time for lovers of music recently.<br />
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As yet another person from my musical kaleidoscope passes away it is interesting and perhaps more than a bit morbid to reflect on what is going on. We very unfortunately seem to be going through a duel phase of older musicians passing away due to the ravages of time and abuse, and younger ones not being able to handle their depression any longer. <br />
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Whilst the former is in some way to be expected, it is hard to comprehend at the moment. Prince seems a complete waste. I mean really, what the fuck? How is it possible that he overdosed at his age? Not that overdosing is anything to do with age, but it seems ridiculous and more than a little unfathomable to me that someone who is as experienced as he was with drug taking etc, could get it so horribly wrong. If I am honest I do not really know what I am trying to say here, just damn I guess. I think the exact same way about Tom Petty's death. I mean come on man . . really.<br />
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As sad as it is that Fats Domino passed away, it wasn't really a surprise. He was 89 and people that age have a much higher rate of dying.<br />
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What I wanted to discuss here is the spate of suicides in the gunge/ metal/ 90s alternative scene. Specifically, Chris Cornell, Chester Bennington and Delores O'Riordon. I fully acknowledge that Delores death is still being investigated, but unfortunately a lot of what I have read points to it being self inflicted. Just a point, drug overdoses such as Prince, Tom Petty are deemed to be accidental, but we don't really know that they were.<br />
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Black Hole Sun<br />
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To try to get back to my actual point, the three singers above were responsible for some great music and specifically for the lyrics that expressed , very articulately, self loathing, darkness and depression. What set the music apart at the time was that darkness in the lyrics and the reason all three had such huge followings was because there was obviously a lot of real emotion behind the lyrics and as such the 'kids' could identify with it as being real, not faked. Very sadly, it is this that consumed them in the end.<br />
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The grunge scene, although I realize it was loosely put together as a scene, but anyway, Nirvana, Alice in Chains, Soundgarden and Stone temple pilots have all lost their singers and main lyricists to untimely deaths. What attracted me to this music in the first place was that it was so much more emotional and deep in comparison to the rock music that had preceded it. Comparing Poison to Nirvana isn't even worth exploring.<br />
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Soundgarden Rusty cage<br />
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In the same way that Ian Curtis's death immortalized Joy Division , the deaths of Chris, Chester and Dolores must do the same to their music. The two songs posted here so far, Black Hole Sun and Rusty cage. listen , or in this case read the lyrics. Happy Clappy stuff isnt it. The point being, that it is quite clearly a very real emotion that is being put into the lyrics.<br />
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The same is very true of Linkin Park and Chester's lyrics<br />
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Indeed, unlike the somewhat vague imagery in Soundgarden's lyrics, there is nothing ambiguous about those lyrics is there? He was not a happy or indeed that well when those were being written. Now, Linkin Park are often derided in music scenes. Actually, it is a fair statement to say that the whole Nu Metal scene is now looked upon with a kind of snigger. This isn't fair at all. As the above shows, whether you liked the music or not, the emotion being expressed was very real and Linkin Park and Korn should really be listened to with fresh ears to see what was really going on within the song structure. It is both more interesting and contains a lot more naked emotion than it has been given credit for.<br />
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If we look at the suicides through a wider lens then it is impossible not to think of Kurt Cobain. I wonder if his suicide impacted these two, particularly, in a positive way. Bear with me. The incredibly public profiling of Kurt in the aftermath of his death must have had an impact on those around or influenced by him. I think it is easy to draw a conclusion that Chris Cornell was given pause for thought regarding his own, very real, issues and perhaps we have 20 years more of his work because of it. That event must have stopped him doing it earlier, to be as frank as possible.<br />
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If there is a positive to take from any of this, then that is perhaps it.<br />
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I have looked through my back catalog here and I have written a lot about depression, death, suicide and the way that music expresses this. I guess I am attracted to this subject matter as it is the most universal of all. It makes me very sad that the people who have been able to express it so well have to live it. I know that there isnt another way, but its not great when someones pain is so open to the world in the form of their art production.<br />
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I havent really discussed Delores death much. This isn't really an oversight. There isn't much more to say than I have. Her death doesn't provide any more insight, it just leaves her kids without a Mother and the world without a fabulous singer and songwriter. In the same way that Chris's and Chester's do. There are pieces to be picked up by their families, a deeply disturbing incident for their kids to live with and sadness. Just waste, nothing else. <br />
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<br />The Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01775524714447741662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-728949282863910511.post-50381780733246935552017-05-20T04:19:00.000-07:002017-05-20T04:36:32.673-07:00Top Ten<br />
<img alt="Image result for music is a drug meme" src="data:image/jpeg;base64,/9j/4AAQSkZJRgABAQAAAQABAAD/2wCEAAkGBxMSEhUSExMVFhUXFxoWGRgWFxUYFxUYGBgXFxgVFhgYHSggGBolHRcXITEhJSkrLi4uFx8zODMtNygtLisBCgoKDg0OGxAQGy0lICUvLS0tLS0tLS0tKy0tLS0tLS0tLS0tLS0tLS0tLS0tLS0tLS0tLS0tLS0tLS0tLS0tLf/AABEIAOEA4QMBIgACEQEDEQH/xAAcAAABBQEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAABAAIEBQYDBwj/xABBEAABAwEGAwUGBAQEBgMAAAABAAIDEQQFEiExQQZRYRMiMnGBQpGhscHwFFJy4QcjM9EVU4KSNGJzotLxFiRD/8QAGgEAAgMBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAgMAAQQFBv/EACoRAAICAQQBBAICAgMAAAAAAAABAgMRBBIhMRMFMkFRFCJCYSMzFXGx/9oADAMBAAIRAxEAPwDfWc94ea01qA7M6abrL2fxt/UPmtDecg7NzajFStOgXjfSGo0TZ0NV70Z1qEj6Cp0SBUK9oZHRkRkB+RGmxrT6eq4UYqduJcG7qJHvK2ODS9ug2JpUdOqxPFN5OfSPc07or6ZblXcsVrmAjdEG55uNA2vkFY3bw/HAcZGOU54nbc6flC9HXZVSlGPP9IySi3yzzK9uDrfI0FsPd1pjaHHzB+SuOEf4cho7S2kgnSJr6FvV5adegXokjiRTQnf3LNX5BLHVwLnbrp16q3ZykjM4RbHWjguGM44LTNC4aUeHehxDMdFYXRebx3JpI5CPbaMDvVlSD6LDG95QTn71CmtbnGpOfTVBY3asSQcY7ej2Jto9RzC7NdULySxX5PFm2Qno7MH3rS3LxJaZiGMiDjqTo0DSrtguXb6TCTyuDRG5pG3BRooLGyal7AdTQZf3QlvaGM4XnPm2v1WKz0icemEtQmT0ioAviznJsrfIkBSGTgioNfJY56C6PwM8sTqUgg11UVkcWuxqwEFVV+3iIozTxHJv1KnyygAuOg+iwV7W0yyF22gHRbdFp98svpC5vCITnEmpQCPkgu+sGcNa/FFhTSck2R+EKEINqfX0TrjvV9ne8sNKsINHFpIJAoCM6+7RRXuGa6cNw9pOWUqXMkpQF2YbiGQ10K6FEcCLGVMozPOu+emX0W6/hPZHfiXTlv8ALbE9tTu52GgHuWdui4HWi0GNrg5gccUoBDS2viAIyrsOq9juS72RtETBRrWnIanLfqkazW+L9I+5lRrysvo5f4ZB/kt95SUvAeR94SXJ/O1Q3wwODAaimtclY2+U4wRtl6ZVHzVewrq7PJcevUyri4r5NE690snNKm6QJqct8uqRSJNt5GrobVQbRaWNqXvY3PLE4CvlXzU2d1ASszeZEWKTA15z8YDqDZoroF1/S68y3v4EXvCwPvi2OYwSMcCKbUIp0WTdxRNmDQjqFaQtbJC6XAIgWvOFpOE4KAPA2rWiztyXa61TCMVDcsbvyt/udF6HKWXLozRXwQrba8RLnEBVNpvgVwxAvcdKc+nNe1/4RZow0djHsBVoPxPqlaLDFGQ5sUeIZijGilcuSHS6uuzLSZLItHlF28PTkh9qeYwc+zBo8jmcqNHxWsgvn8O0NjAa0UyA1866lNvyGTEXZEnlRZW0y4TVx+qZKcrZEWEuTXnivECHE6KqvK8mvBz++qykE81pf2VlidI7eg0HMk5AdTRa25eFI7K4S2uQSSjMMGbGHr+cg+iZLTqKzNgqfP6o6XHwpNaQHH+XHricDU/pGp81dy3CLIA9ssrhvhbp1IrVdX8UsbkHZe7okb+YRXFXpof3Sm4YLSZ3sPEUR/8A1qerSD6q0gvOJ9MLwTyr/dYS+p4pMw3C/mN/Om6om2lzDk45LHLRV2/A1Tkjf8S2939MBwbuaHP9lnFe8P30JmBjjVwG+4+q63nczSC5mRpoNOauGl8ccRJ5MvkzQ+/ikCulKZJtELCA9RbVLQLpI5VlrlzOaZXByZUngjzy6rY/wdsQltcjnCuGJ2dSPEQ0gfH3rJ3TdklqlDGDzOzRzK904EuiKzMcxjc8iXbuOda+5bY3QhYq/lmaabTY6S4ILIwCBmFtc8ySfMnMoxWjC0gAVoc/d+6suIPC1UTl5/1aXi1LcTTp476+RvqUkaork/kyNHjQgF0cmApxKzMYAIEonJByhDjbK4a8s1mb6vCDAQ8tcDsHUctZsqe18NWZ7i8x570JA9y6/p2sjVmMhNlW7kyz7Q61N7GzMIBAYS7RjAakkjmtfc11x2aIMbSurnGlXHmU1jGRgMiAaOnRNtFm7SoqTlnmaeZXSsjbqY4XEf8A0QpRgyNfmORzRH3sIxEtOh2++qy9svOSPUuryKvoWyRB0cAiAb43SFwBec6Nprl8FV3nCZHYJxGHOyY+MgtJAPdPI+a0VadVRwipT3MorVfTna+9c+FribeEj3SEts7CMRGRkdrgB2AGZ81R3riyiYKve4MaBqSTRehNsgsFiZA05gVeR7Tzm53lXL0XRriqob/kTJuTwa262WeCPsoI2sYMqNoK9SRqepWa4ouWNwxscQTqNc1l7PfsrDkcq7rtaOKnkFrqCvVKlOVnwSMdpQyNoSOS5ukIFaqHbr6YCaGteSpLRbXyHenIFaa9O32DKaXRfyXlsDU9NvVMZa666qpikOQwfJWFju+WQju4R1omuuEFyCpNlhZ7S4OBjrXovQbj4gElGSUa+g10d5dVl4LIyBvN33zUKQ1NdD9VglYm+B6jwaq+IWh9RodlVTyYRmpQkxBoOoAVVepoRVZVHdLAxcI4y2hRbHY5LRII4wSTvyHM9EyJjpnhjBUuNANzVercL8PsssdNZD4nfQdFep1ENJXn5+CoR8jO/DlysssQY2hd7TtyVq+HvE7yH1VSrW4AMTvILi+nXys1inJjb4pV4Qy/pqvDRoBn5lVwUi8ge1fXn8NlHakep2Od8mw9PHEEHCklmkuaOGNCKDSnKEA4oIlIKEACq2323PCPX75KXa5cLa+awlotr3yENzxGgHrQfFdf07TpvfITdLjCNPZXGV+BmfM7AcyryeHs4sIGu+5pquNxWIQx4Rm45uPM/wBgre32R0kHcALxmATTF0qvV1w/Q50nyYi/XhkbgOp95zJWOu+yjspZzTJzQ0noaup6LS2/iGGMuZL2kUjcix7aH0r3SOqo4rV/iH/1Yw1sVQ+V7aBwaDpllUnJLUG5cjFLghcGWF0k5tbgwNbVsRkJDcW7gNSdQtPeFqEgfHKzDI3MitQRqHtO4OqhcSuETGwxsIbQMa0DWmQCpJp22OOUONZCA2n5SRV3urT3qTbm9qJFY5Ka87UIwSetOuayVotDnkknVW8F3zWx2IAhg3NafuVZP4PDmUil/nbxvAAf+h3PoVtq2V8N8iZ7pcoyLRU0U38HXQ089FwngfE/C9pa4ag6hSYLQTqtLf0LAyzyNI3C01yWhzRmNPv1VQxlQrawwOcQxupWXUNOOGOqXJZh7pM89/RRnvoaq9fC2CIDfP8AcrKzTYnUC59cNz4Ht4L+z2zuYjyyVHa5i9xzrn+yUs+VB90Ws4I4c7Qi0St7gPcafaPM9AqslCiLnIizPhFvwLw52Te3kH8x47oPstO/QlbAJq7WZtSf0leUvvlqbcs2JbInOqnXMf5g8ioKk2KbA7FyQ6SaquUn8FXLdDg6XqazO8gPWiiBOlkLnFx1J/ZNah1lqtulJF1R2wSCkhRFZRgxicEgUhkVCCcmgpxTFEWjP8YW7soSa690etfosbdV7tjlbJTFhOmnPNXf8SYHGDEK911TTlovMRbsPovY+maZSoTRz7p/se9XTesU3ejd5tOo9Fd2a1ltBXJeCXZeuYo6h2INKLdXPxY4NAmFcvENR5810PI4PEhLhnlHpz4obQA2WKN/62tcP+4LlJw5ZwwiGKKFx9pjGj0NBm3oqy57eyQYmOBHRaWB2Q3WuElNCXlHnd7XHb2upFZ45KeF2NuHo6ju80+9ZmX+HL8Qkt0wJJr2MeeKpqcTzt5BexXreDYIy93kBu47BYS1W7tZdcTiKkjRoCRNwq4XYa3SQ2GzRhrWtY1rGijQAAAByToLviBJa0Z7qIy1do7A3Qann0CkR3jGHFgcCQM6HJvUnY9EjKbyMPOv4sWXDaIHtyLmFpPOjsq+jlnrLYpHH2Pf+y9B42uY20RyRd7Biq2tC6pB7nM5FUdzcODUyPaRq0ihHvWl3pQ4BjDLFd/Drn0rMwHSgFVpLBc7LMCcRc4jXLqpMEMcDe6BXmdSqG9L5OYH/pYpWObwMUUiBxFbM8INaKgbknTy4nEq/wCFOHHWl2J1RE3U/m6BPco0V7pFJOUsI7cJ8NG0O7SSoiB/3nWg+q9QiYGgACgAoANkyCFrGhrQA0CgHJdcK8jrtbLUT/pG6qvYghT7qZ36bYSoYCnXT4/T3rPpOblklz/RkJw2SDk5zqknmT8yVzKTd/seA4+1DuSKaEapQQcKKFUlCCai8ZoBOkOYUKBsmJ6YoWiParMHgggGooQcwR1XnPE/AtO/AOZLP/HmvTUntBC6Oj9Rs0746FWUxmfOskLo3EEEEc8lZ2G8XUpqvWb74YhtAOJuezhk4eu/qvNL/wCEZ7McbO+zmNvMbL1On19Gpjh8MxSqlXyi0u28nNOJji002+81uuHeOiw4ZwcP5ht1IXjtnt2HPltyV1FebSK12RyhZW8xKW2XZtuLuIvxMlIyezacLetdSqW8bd+Hj7MH+Y/MkHNoUawTgNfMdGAnP4BZS03i6R7nuOf3T3Kq4SseWW5KKwaF18SMHZQkY3DvH/LHQ7Gm+y73a8MZVtCAaulflG08o2+27qVnLAC7KhoTnTxSHz2AWpuyxgt/FWihijyijGTHuA9kflB33TXFRWCs5LCO2RxM/E2iV0TKdwnvTy/9NhyY30JXaa32e02E2mLtGlr8NXu7zjUAhefX121ttA1c9zsLQNGiuQbyC0l9yMs7IbCw1EQxyEbyH2fSpPqEcq47OOwYt5OVrvAkUBVHaJq5J889clZ8NcNPtLgSC2MHNx36NSEo0x3SDeW8IPC3DjrS7EaiIHM/m6BeqWSysY0MYKNaKABNsdlbG0MYAGgUACkgLy+v10r5YXRsqq28hATmoNRquWxw4qZdTg1xJ2aT8lAC7QEUNeVKeeS06WW2zIu1Zic0iUES1Im8ybDjwhyRRokgLBVFCiKhBoKdK2hGuYr9PogBojLWuf2DmmRXDAl2hVTUqpBLDAQkCjRAhQgiuMkQORXUoUTK5NPKI+UYjiLguGYOfHSN4rmPCfMLzi22CazPIkGWx2PkV6be19PsbyJWOLHElrwKinJ3IhZ194du8iGMyxu8UbgaAncH2ar2+mukq03ysHNnHMiBbH4bvHOR4+VaLMsFF6laOF+0srYgDGQ4OAPew7EVUKD+HUeAgyOxnR2wPKiuGv08OGyOqT6Mvw7ZTPM2AEitTI78sYzICvGXvHbnOhgaQyKjWA6FubahSOHLmfYbQ/8AEDuPYWCQVLdQaE7VAQtl4WW53MbFZ3O7UYi+uwOgJ1PRP3V2pqPL+AcSi+S+4d4dEAL3AGY6H8g/uVGtPA0Ty5xkficak5Gp1qtRYZmyMbI3RzQ4V1oRXNdy1eY1HqNsLGovBshUscmTsPBVnYQSXP6O09aLTwRBoDWgADYDJPwJ7QsN2rtt9zGxgkKmSKARWUMNUkgkUJYWD5rpI3Mt6/AbfJGyUxtrpUKTeYaHd3U1ryWyuv8AwuaYicv32kMpVRSCxMcFJCmSIVEFQpI0SUCG1Ui8GUwdWhQ6qderh3P0rdRFeGZns98SCCujVzTmiixMePTCU6qaqIJEhNojVWUNkYCKEAjkVzigY3wta3yAHyXYlAJitnjGeCsIY5oSATimkKs/2WMe0HXMLhabFHIAHxteBoHAEDyroplECmRtnH2sFxTOT3NYypo1rR0AaB8gFCuu+oLTi7GRr8ORpsul93cLTBJA5xaHilRqM6hZvhfgc2Nz3C0Oq8UOFoGXrVb6KtPZTKVkv2FzlJSSS4NgEVHstlwV7z3E5Ve6vu2CkLBZFJ8PI5PKCkEEQ5LIJFApAocEHxnMU1qF1kBJJIPnRcovEPMfNaG8QGw06UXT0uk81UnnozW2bZpYM/VJAIhct9mocEEQElRQaJJJKBEcrpKTvqMk0bJ857x+9Mk+OdrFvGRlE5BqKSwhVRCBRCosBSRQChAFJFyCsoSaUXJKyAQRQKKKyyEee2xscGuexrnaNLgCfIbrH8e33aI3Q2ay1EspzIGYFQABy69AqDiXhS0zXjXtGkPcHNdizYzFRop7J2HOhXp7LMBQkAuAoHEZ565r0Hho0Wyz3NrozKUrMrodDWgqc6Z+e66hBrUarh2PdJs0LoFUSuUk7RXMJhtjRkM1caZy6RHJIkBFQX22grQAdSmG2O1AHxT1obn8AO2JaxeIfqHzU+9LaX90CgHxNae7VUFntxxNAAzcB61Csbxtha8Mdq0UOHQkmv1Wyui+uiSXyZ5Si7ExURCii2tO9F2ilB3XJnVOPaNakmSGJgRaUikFiSTUVeSHGqdL4ieefvTSnyvqa+San+rQL7AEQgEkthBSBQQChB1U3Eimkq0iCBTgUyqVVeCDqoVQJUU29mYBxEctPfomQqnPpFOSRKKh3vePYML8LnuOTGNFXPdyHTmUDbj+Wnmf7JjrWa1XQ02impqU48Cp2xxgp+HrPbHOx2pkcYxdoQCXSPeK4QTWjWNrkByCpOMeLrTFa22WzN0La1bXtC6mnICtPetZNaciXODWgZkmgCr5LwhDXS42ENaXEggmgGI0p5LuU1b7N9kVjpIzynxhMtpLechlU/OmdFFtFrLQST5dSTkFjbk4xbabU2MRPoQQ01BpuXOA0BAAWgY/tZyB4IQK9ZHCtPQfNR+nwrftB8jfyT2twtqT1JPqXFMsji6sjsq+Ecm8zyJ19y5zOxv7LZtHSH1OFnrSp6DqjMe0cYh4RnIRy2jHU79ExQS6RW4bC4yux54GmjB+c/n8th5p75O0cY2mjW5PcOf5G9eaVslNBHHTG7Q7MaMi49ANBzou9ns4jaGN0HPUncu6ko1FFZOzMiKZcveutsnLnk7nXqRkVxCQGXrVW+sFBrunB5Broei5gogpcq4yWGi02ui6unHKHUFcND51rkuzhQ0K68GkYpfJvzcncWWkAta3JwOInpmKFYNV6PB174djK9Q1LDIyKrfxruiS43/HXfRq8sSYkEqpALHgYHFTVRZ7wY3ep5DNVnFz5uww2cjtC4ZVpVoOfks4yG8AMzBllSrvnhXX0npqthvkxFlu14RrXXmdmH1IQbeLtcI/3BYS8n28e0zya7P5Kuj4ptMX9SJ5puMx8F0o+lVvrkT5ZHpv+IuO3xXCS2yE5BvqT/ZYD/59U5x0+CkM46aTkyiJekxX8SvM/s2RtE59qMehP1QbPaP81lP0fusu3jVlMwnji9h8IB6FF+DCP8SeWX2acyF4o84ttKCvkhyyoFlX8TSk91m+gatBcs0r4cUzMLiTRp1Ddk6umMVwgZSb7Jjn6/BMx5HzT3jNcqfNHjABFvaz9rBLGfbjc0eZaSPksnwxb2RWZrpAAWxPaQQK1icS0Z8xIQPJbdVl5Q9rLHFTugiV/wClh7rfIu+DCn1SW3awWihvC/2WCJjWRNkkeC97mkBocSciQOeg6Kw4Pt9bHjfG5ry51a5GV7iM25ZVJoPLoqvje/ZIZo2siDgwiQ1BLS5wIaDTSmZz38lP4dvr8SBJM3s+zJAaA84n08QAFaAfEp81/jzgFdl5I7sYi45vc7MD25XZADpoPILrZo+xi7xqc3PI1c92w9aADoFAs1qE1oBwvLYwQzuOwl5qHyVIoKCrR1LlOiGN2P2GnujmRkX9RqB681lfCDOlkiw1c7xv1poBoGjoAfXMqQEggSN8kJY/p97ps7w1uJxAAVXar7wv7OFnaSHSlCB1PRM/wd8xDrW/Fv2bcmA5a01V9kwSYr0a92GMF5HLQa6nRWDdMxQ/e6bZ4GsbhY0NGlAKLsq2kyX/AAfIA6QUOYHwJ15aqsvez4JntrUVqN8jnQ9Qp3C8+AymmkeL/bsqaafE4uO5qnyf+NIXH3BwpLjiSWfgbkuAFytUwjjc8+y1zvQCv0XZoQe0EUOYOVOfReLrlFTTl0dGXXB5hwxek1ukkkxBoB72tc60A9y1FogZQB73+eIBU83C81hMkli/mRv8UZ8baVph/NSqxlr4pkqQ8EOBoQdvRe0hCFyzRjBz22vcbae5wc45A7o8/VVFsa6I0ka5vU+E8yCMlUXTek0zsMLS88mnQczyWrZYLU5p7QMpTw4q/SnxQyplD3FqWeinjs0UxAIa4HyVvZeC7CczHU8i409FSWmwYHaGN3TT3J0V7zw699vMdOaZXOS6ZUlns1EXDNjaMrOz3KRBdcDCMMTB6BUNj4xYR3vjkpMnF8I2HXNE3N9g9GhY0DQAeQCJcsdbuNWgGhA+K6cL3i+2PMhJEbCB+px/tqh2SxnBDWlyYUJE7OvogIRLcXiN5jpjwnDi0LtgelVjuEzbzMZ53HsS043Ow95rcRGGmwzzWqv+fs4JHDXDhb+pxwN+JVDxHfIs8LbMYnta5rYsfcLezya6hB1wjpqtVGduMdgstYLSWQGctrJO4ECmpcQ2JvuoT6qTa6xxsgjd/Mk7oJ5nOSU9BmfMhUs96PmmDYmNBiYSz+YwjtHtIY80qC1rak8qhVvCdhtb5G2yW0AxjGM3Fxe0Eg0FAGsJGo5BH48LLZWeTYSNDcELdMNDzDG5F3mSae8qaygAHLZUdz24PDrQ7WRxDByiZk0+pxH1XC977PgZqaD76LJN4ePkYkW0t5jHgZsMzsKaqnvC3unf2MOZ3O1NyeipxM6vZt8R8btgPvZXd22mOzNo0Fzj4nHc6oMY9wWPov7ou1sDKNzcfE46k/2Ut7c8znVU9gvd8jqUyPL7yVyWgU5lHGSYLHACmunuTKjkg/RJpRZKLjh4j+dXTsjWqpDpz0Uyxzva2TCAQ5uE9AT/AGqocj8IqrlLhIGK5yOr1QUT8ePsJJWUMwacBJOKQC8OdHIxwWb4s4RhtrSfBKPDINfJ35mrSlKi06fVWaealBgzgprDPErrfJdbpopWYZjTCT4XMGzDoa1WruzidsgFaZ/ZryWwvy5YbXGY5WBw9k+0082nZeV39wpNYKyA44a+Iaxk6Yh8Kr1mn11WsWM4mYpVuv8A6NvO2K0ChI6EHNvULMWl0lmcWvFW7OAq0j/m5Kpu69qUDjTqPhVaKC1Y+5JRzTudvVG4ut4kUsNEMQWS0eNmEmvejOE+amWHhKxjXFJyxu+gyUW8OEnCslmf/od8gVQS3rNA7BKHMPX6EahPipv2SAbXyj0CG6bLHTBFG3/SCfipokYMhTyAAC8xg4ie84Wte4/8qsoo7bJQiN7f1OH0VTrs/kTMTZ3jICw96m481Fsl9atdn1VNY7ktTnDtHNa3fOrqdFKvKwCPffLmeizTi0Mjhkbi+88TYmg5OmZX/ScVPgoNtvhhtYMmHCyN2TqUq/u6HoPiu9puBkuEzzYKUdhjoXb0q7QFWFiuOwNoezD3c5HYifotlVkIwWXyLknlmKjv6OOGZrMnyucO6NGnIAbUou899u/DmKGOUAtw1wkAN0IB8q+9eitdAwDCyNo5Na0fROfekQFMj0yoiepr+itkjzyG/qAMEUgwtDcxsBl5KRYhPLXBEanIOOQaOnXqtDbJonPqGCmtFZ2K9oxQEYRtTZId0G8pB7WQrBw28NGNwHMDMnnnurOC44xr3vNS4rfGc8VPNdmzt2Pu3SnhvJMsUFla3JoopDW7rh2w2I+6rhPbGt1IRZiiuWTXpgb9lVE99tBoM8lWWm+nu0NOnyQOxItQbNP+La3GD+V3nkNf3Wat15lxyUWKeofiJ8JGRpmfn+6iBLlNsOMcEr8Y7n8UlGSS8hnrW6VE0lPAXkcGsbIM/T901QLU+YyjC3uD3Ec6+9WDSm2QcUik8iK42qBr2OY4AtcC0g7g7LtRNKGubhJSXwW0msM8Hv8Auh9imML64TnG7ZzNs+Y0Pkut23ph7rjyoV7Ned1xWhhjmYHtPPUdQdQvKOK+B5rLWSAmWEatIq9g9NR1C9no/UKdXHZN4kc+yqVbyujS3PeWzjkrK32CK0MwSMDgeeo8l5hc95kUFcuuoW3sN80Ary+iOcJVSBzvRMsN3w2NuTRhB8VKn1Utl6Rn2lXWm/AWkGlae8eqzE94sBoPghW+b4LwkbaK84y6hd1qqq7ZhabS5zs2gGg2DQAB7yQVnorzZzppqu/BVrZDaJu1ka0FlGuJoD3hUVOhpRMhTJp5KbXwTbdbg8ktjgdRxGHA9pAru6uai2askrIzE5mI0xMe7u9aOqFdsNiaf+Ii10xsXWW/rFD3zPGaDIMIc48wAOf1VxjPPtI2iitgMbnRuPeYaHruD6ihUG77eXuLSKqnv/iATzOlApiIAbuGgUFTud/VMuq24avHKnqny0v6tgq3k0lstIjAJ5qKL1Zz+6LP39bi+g+/vNVTLS4DmpXok48lSueTdx3k0jxBSxajs73FYBlt51XVttcPCHKS0P0yec3f4h35vimST5jP4rGtvJ1M8Q80jbR+dL/Bf2F5ka4zgVzGiizXk1vVZ9s+LQ1UmzxsyMjvQZkq/wARR7L8v0X1ntrXZA6/fopVNVnpb6iiyYyp6/VV9pvaWQZmjeQyQfhuT44RflSNZXqksTjPMpI/wP7K86+j6TKMmh8j8kkl4GPuR05DLL/SZ5BPCSSO73AREUwpJJIQlytWjvL6JJLVpP8AagZ+1nz7av8AiJv1H5rS2Xw+iSS9zq/ajnVfJCvfxeiphqkki0/QNon6H1QZt5IJLT8ijlaNfd8lGtWg9UkkyPRH0RCrCy/0D+r6BJJFLoWuyNbPF6D6KOkkouiyZYNCrIbJJKMscPA70+YUY6pJKiD4PqnSaeiSSVINdFfB/UHmr7ir+s3/AKbPkUkkb7RPgpkkkkRR/9k=" /> <br />
Music is a drug.<br />
<br />
How is that for a non confrontational opening sentence? It is a drug. Think of how music makes you feel when you hear one of your favourite songs. Not only that, but think about it, despite all of the good great and transcendental music out there, we are always looking for something new. Always hoping to find that thing that will make us a bit higher than the things we know. That's a drug my friends. I have spoken before about gateway songs and it works in the same way as gateway drugs.<br />
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In this vein I wanted to get down a record of my ten top songs. Here they are<br />
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10,000 days (Song for Marie pt2) Tool<br />
Everlong Foo Fighters<br />
Curtains Aphex Twin<br />
Like a Hurricane Neil Young<br />
Hallelujah Jeff Buckley<br />
God only knows Beach Boys<br />
Born to Run Bruce Springsteen<br />
Lost in the Supermarket The Clash<br />
Three days Jane's Addiction<br />
From the edge of the deep green sea The Cure<br />
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There is no criteria, There is no reason to the order or even a ranking within the order. This isn't to listen to on a desert island or in a lift or anything like that, just the ten best songs chosen by me, For me. Why? Why? cause fuck you that's why. Sorry, I am a little cranky as this has been a process akin to losing fingers to a beautiful sadist with a dull spoon and only a piece of wood to bite on to ease the pain. A gnawing crawling sensation inside your ear that you cant stop because of some stupid rule you made that there had to be ten songs and not 79. . . .like pushing friends into the cold black abyss of nothingness whilst sipping a slightly chilled Chardonnay and giggling knowing you might be next . . or you might not . .<br />
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It is important to point out that this isn't a 'most important to me' list. Although there is likely to be some cross over. The absence of a number of artists means that it cant be that. Maybe I will do that one when I recover.<br />
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I don't expect you to agree. Indeed if you did then we should definitely meet cause quite obviously you are me from another universe and I would love to chat. I bet you love beer too. . . Sorry, off track trying to make contact with another version of myself. . nothing to see here. Seriously, you will not agree, Because as you go through the songs you will find others by the same artists that you prefer. There will also be songs that mean more to you and there are likely to be at least 9 of those. It's OK, you are as wrong as I am. I can not make a list for you any more than you could for me.<br />
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This is not an easy process, As I am putting it out there I need to remind myself that there can be no shame. It is completely honest. Otherwise whats the point? To try and convince you I am cool? I don't care. Or I know I shouldn't. It has taken me roughly 15 hours to get this list. I am not joking.<br />
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These songs, when I recognize the first few bars, send a chill through me. A weird longing to hear the rest of the song , even though I know every note of the song perfectly. I have listened to these songs so many times that it would seriously be uncountable. They play in my head quite a lot when there is silence. Which explains a lot about me I think. Perhaps a somewhat dark reflection of my internal workings, the absence of a soul, replaced by this. A juxtaposition of how I see the world.<br />
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Or maybe they are just cool.<br />
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So lets get into them. Again there is no order to this top ten, That is a step too far.<br />
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So Tool. yes of course Tool. If you have read any of my stuff you know how much I like Tool. I am not sure this is their best song, and I am sure many would disagree with its inclusion. This song to me speaks to what so much of it is all about. You may know the song is about the singers mother and her final death after 10,000 days after a series of strokes. It is about her ascension to heaven, a belief the writer doesn't share. It is a dark catharsis of a song. With urgency on the guitar and building to a crescendo on the vocals. It to me is what Prog metal is all about. It is a song to sit in the dark and listen to the amazing musicianship, and ponder the mysteries of death. That is what the 'it' is in many respects. An artistic version of a deeper meaning we all know exists and choose to reflect upon in varying degrees.<br />
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Tool are touring and coming to London at some point apparently. I look forward to seeing them again in the same way I miss my hair..(I am pretty bald). The music is as much a part of the last 23 odd years of my life as anything else. Everywhere I have lived, everywhere I have been Tool has formed part of the soundtrack. I think that means they would make the most important list to me, although I am not sure this song would.<br />
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I actually wrote about this song just recently in my post on <a href="http://musicruminations.blogspot.co.uk/2017/05/the-drummer-from-nirvana.html" target="_blank">Dave Grohl</a>.(you can read the whole post if you click on the link, as if by magic) It is a song of regret and coupled with the rocking uptempo drum track driving it along, Which makes it a song that manages to hold that unusual place of being a melancholy upbeat song. I have to admit they are my favourite. As you no doubt are starting to realize.<br />
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Breathe out so I can breathe you in . . .what a great lyric. perhaps sums up the song.<br />
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I am starting to realize that I do not like the film clip though. It is a cool clip and entertaining, but frankly, it doesn't speak to me about the song. I wonder if they would make the same clip if they released the song today.<br />
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So this one is a little change of pace to the last two. Why does this one make the list? Well as what I hope is a usual human sentiment , although I guess by now you are realizing that usual isn't a word that should be applied to me, maybe odd is more descriptive...anyway you can not be full guitars and drums rocking out to your own internal reflective impulses the whole time. There are quieter reflective moments. Moments to think outside of yourself, wonder at the universe. This song is the perfect ambient electronic song. I have written about my search as I delved into this world and it remains true that this is the song I like the most out of this world of artistic electronic invention.<br />
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Why? Well, in an attempt not to take it apart to see how it works and so destroy it for myself, the underlying alternating deeper tonal beat provides a base for the simpler two octave higher notes to create space and movement in the track. With the middle tones coming through at various points to stop it becoming repetitive. I think of space. To me it is an abstract musical painting. (is that pretentious enough for you?)<br />
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Another song about regret or longing. Its turning into a bit of a journey for me this. Although I don't think of myself as a person full of regret or longing at all, indeed quite the opposite. Perhaps the music allows me to understand it a bit more even if I don't acknowledge it within myself.<br />
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The song itself talks about creating a image of someone inside your own head really. To me at least, it is not about an actual person, rather a stylized image of a person that we all have, a perfect person. I like the way the lyrics are placed in the song. It creates the narrative and then lets, the frankly amazing, music take you away, then bringing you back through another verse. I love the imagery of the hazy smokey bar. I guess something we see very little of now, which is obviously a good thing in reality, but the imagery and nostalgia of it play a large part in the song.<br />
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I have written about this song a lot as well. It is a cover version of a Leonard Cohen song. I prefer this version because of the difference in the way the timing of the song works. It builds and declines more in intensity. It is a dark song, a song about the writers perceived realities of love. Like a lot of the songs on this this list, it is not really a song to be shared. Not a song you put on and enjoy with other people. The nature of the lyrics mean that that is not really possible. That doesn't mean that many people can not enjoy and bond over the song, more it means that when two people listen to it they are no doubt thinking of different things. Whilst that is true of all songs, in this case given the subject matter it is no doubt more pronounced.<br />
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Jeff Buckley also has an amazing voice, one that is able to fill the song with an emotional resonance that many people who have covered the song do not have the ability to. I want to write more about this song, but it threatens to fall into the pit of self absorption, wallow in my ideas of love, and you do not want to walk down that dark path oozing with darkness and flashes of rainbows. sunshine and faires. . So I will leave it for your good as much as mine. I am a real swell guy like that.<br />
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A completely different take on love. This song is as much about the production as it is about the lyrics and arrangement. The depth of the song, even though at only 2.32 it is incredibly short, is breath taking. Perhaps that is the point, a beautiful, succinct, statement about love. Nothing else to add. Either to the song, or by me.<br />
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I think it is a travesty that people revere The Beatles and overlook The Beach Boys. Brian Wilson is such a better song writer than Lennon McCartney. Perhaps he doesn't have as many songs, but the ones he does have are of such quality that they should be held in much greater esteem.<br />
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When this song comes on I want to get up and shout along to it.<br />
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As much as anything else, this is a song about my life. or at least how I would like to imagine it in a stylized view of it with a rocking back track. Before people jump on me and quite correctly point out that I did not grow up in New Jersey, I am well aware of this. The descriptions in the song can very easily be transposed to where I grew up in Australia though. I will perhaps write more about this when I do my ' ten most important songs' post. Although, given the difficulty of writing this one I am not sure that is coming any time soon.<br />
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This song has a huge amount of theater in it. It is a grand story painted in vibrant colours with intonations of light and shade in equal parts making a masterpiece. It is at once both bombastic and intimate. I am always genuinely surprised when I see how short it actually is ( I listen to a lot of music that is over 10 minutes long). So much is packed into the song it always seem twice as long.<br />
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A song about alienation. A take on the isolation of modern life that is as valid today as it was when it was released in 1979. The song sounds of a different style, but not of a different age.<br />
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I came to this song quite late. Well I realized it was great later than I should have. It is great on many levels. The lyrics speak of a person we can all relate to at points in our lives. The drum beat provides an almost city-scape noise. If you listen closely there are actually a couple of beats going on. A snare and also a brush beat, i.e. a drum hit with a brush type stick (I am embarrassed to say I don't actually know what that is called - but I will get over it) it gives the beat and also a white background noise. Genius in the context of the song.<br />
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Every time I go into a supermarket, staring at the endless aisles of food and goods I don't want to eat, this song comes into my head. Reminding me of the isolation of the modern world. Where food is made with chemicals to make it look better and last longer. Done at levels just enough to pass certain laws, but not done out of the intention of nourishment. . .to make money out of our addictions . . provided to us by food manufactures as part of the price. . .<br />
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That got a bit dark didn't it.<br />
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Three days by Janes Addiction. An opus of dark imagery and musicianship. Is this the most obscure song on the list? perhaps, don't see any Taylor Swift appearing myself.<br />
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Why is this song so good? I would like to write about imagery, but that is getting to be a bit repetitive. All the songs are light and dark, that is why I like them. Like? Adore on a level where I will make snap judgments about people based on their take on them is closer to a truth. The truth about this song to me is that it has fabulous musicianship, is made up of multiple parts and so has progression similar to a classical track. It may be the best metal prog track I know. That may have been something I have said earlier about another track. .<br />
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What is interesting about this process of writing down and trying to explain a tiny little bit why I like these songs is that every time so far I have had to stop myself writing, 'this is my favourite song'. I find it interesting anyway, and it is about me as much as anything else. It means that all of the pain I wrote about at the beginning of this post was worth it. These are the songs I think are the best.<br />
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So the last song on the list. in no way less than the songs that proceeded it. There is definitely a theme coming through.<br />
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As a side point, and something I tried to allude to above in the preamble, I am trying to be as honest as I can about this process and as such it forms a bit of a voyage for me as well. Asking every time I hear the song; is this better than all the other songs I know but am not writing about? Then trying to get down why I think this is so is a very revealing process for and to me. Although one that would be very tedious to articulate in detail. Tedious for you as much as me. Imagine trying to keep you interested in continuing to read with endless, 'and this song is better than that song because I like the way the notes are held longer here and not there'. . . talk about taking away the magic.<br />
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The theme for many but not all of the songs, is a quite fast beat on both the drums and the bass, with a lot of stretched notes on the guitar. Coupled with lyrics full of imagery and opaque statements about life, love and loss.<br />
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The last verse of The Cure song perhaps sums up the lyrical element the best;<br />
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I wish I could just stop<br />
I know I know the moment will break my heart<br />
too many tears<br />
too may times<br />
too many years I've cried for you<br />
its always the same<br />
wake up in the rain, head in pain, hung in shame<br />
a different name, same old game,<br />
love in vain<br />
And miles and miles and miles and miles and miles and miles away from home again.<br />
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I don't have anything more to add on this song. That is my favourite verse of lyrics<br />
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So there you have it, the top ten.<br />
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Just for a little bit of fun, because this process has been so much fun all round, here are some of the songs that came close but didn't make the list<br />
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Yes, there are a lot and this is actually after the first cut. If you want to listen, and why wouldnt you, I actually made a Spotify playlist of them (except the Tool and King Crimson songs which are not on Spotify).<br />
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<a href="https://open.spotify.com/user/1129828950/playlist/1HCNVUX6gr4vp7xkJ8juDZ" target="_blank">CLICK HERE FOR PLAYLIST</a><br />
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Third eye<br />
I'm not scared<br />
Bizarre Love triangle<br />
Back in Black<br />
Windowpane<br />
Rotten Apple (alice in chains)<br />
Holiday in Cambodia<br />
Exit music (for a film)<br />
Master of Puppets<br />
Chromakey Dreamcoat<br />
84 Pontiac Dream<br />
Ripple<br />
Purple Rain<br />
Lovesong<br />
Hero's<br />
Stem/long stem<br />
Rocket Queen<br />
Fuzzy<br />
LSD<br />
OG original Gangstar<br />
I wanna be your dog<br />
Hallowed by thy name<br />
1983 ( a merman I should turn to be)<br />
I talk to the wind<br />
In my time of dying<br />
Ten years gone<br />
Black<br />
Fields of joy<br />
Love for sale (miles Davis)<br />
After the goldrush<br />
Cowgirl in the sand<br />
The Perfect drug<br />
Becoming<br />
Mouth for war<br />
weak and powerless<br />
Where is my mind?<br />
Every you Every me<br />
Wait and Bleed<br />
1979<br />
Drive Home (Steven Wilson)<br />
Aerials (SOAD)<br />
Push it (live) ((Salival))<br />
In a state<br />
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( I tried but couldn't make my mind up on Slayer or Sonic Youth, Black Sabbath so I just excluded them )<br />
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If you would like to discuss any of this (I really would - really that's why I do this) either comment below, on facebook (Music Ruminations) or on Twitter (@MusicRumination)<br />
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bye for now.</div>
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<br />The Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01775524714447741662noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-728949282863910511.post-81167410752492578282017-05-18T03:17:00.005-07:002017-05-18T13:58:44.010-07:00RIP Chris Cornell (updated)<img alt="Image result for chris cornell image" 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" 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<i>In this post the stuff in italics is written 10 hours or so after the stuff not in italics.</i><br />
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Wow, just got a message from a friend letting me know that Chris Cornell has died. He was 52.<br />
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<i>It turns out he committed suicide. </i><br />
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Man that is young. It seems weird that someone whose music I was pretty into as a later teenager very early twenties person, who seemed to be of my generation, although he is a few years older has died. I know it is the same as the other grunge singers who are no longer with us, but somehow this seems a little less expected and somehow more shocking as a result.<br />
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I have been listening to that a lot more recently, last year or so , as my son is into it.<br />
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Getting back to the above, Kurt Cobain and Layne Staley, Scott Weiland (not technically grunge at all) all seemed , from a distance, to be pretty doomed individuals. They all had well documented drug issues and whilst they were able to find an outlet for some of their pain through music and performing, ultimately they were unlikely to die from age related concerns..<br />
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Chris Cornell was obviously around a lot of those guys as well as the whole Seattle scene which seems to have its fair share of drug abuse. Andrew Wood , lead singer of Mother Love Bone , died before the scene became the worldwide phenomenon. Mother Love Bone had members of what would become Soundgarden in it. Cornell always seemed a little removed from it somehow. Just my perception, it may turn out he was as bad or worse than the others, but somehow I doubt it. He seemed to be more able to deal with the stresses of stardom and dare I say, seemed to be cooler and so less tied into the usual abuse cycles.<br />
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<i>I really am quite shocked about his suicide. I have not been plugged in on anything other than I saw that Soundgarden had got back together and were touring, so I do not know why I am shocked. I guess it is my perception of him as being cooler than some of the other people I mentioned as above. I have seen a number of interveiwsAt these times people always talk about waste and surprise, I understand that having been through it, but the decision to end your own life must be the darkest and loneliest place a person can reach. </i><br />
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I think that is still my favorite Soundgarden song. Certainly shows off Chris's range.<br />
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To me it is interesting that Soundgarden were considered, at least through my experience of the media, as sort of the third big grunge band. Obviously they were not as overnight successful as Nirvana, and certainly didnt generate the same headlines. They didnt perhaps have the same global appeal as Pearl Jam. But listening to their top five on Spotify as I write this, their music certainly seems to stand up better than those two. Although that is of course subjective.<br />
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So, in one of the anomalies in music, he also went on to have almost as a successful second and third carrier in music. Audioslave, was him and the three members of Rage against the Machine that werent the singer. You can here the deeper voice and more expressive vocals he produced in this incarnation. It is also perhaps better production. Not sure I really ever got much into Audioslave. Time of life thing as much as anything else I guess. I have all their albums of course, but they always seemed to be a song or two away from making a huge impact on me.<br />
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Then there was his solo career. He did that song above, theme to a James Bond movie obviously, which is certainly his most popular of this period. But then he also did a few shockers which given the circumstances he will be forgiven for and they will not be brought up again.<br />
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A new tour for Soundgarden was underway and a new album was apparently being worked on, or scheduled to be released soon. Hopefully, the vocals were done and we get to see what they came up with. I am sure there will be some release of stuff that hasn't been released before I look forward to that. I really do. Maybe it will speak to me in early middle age as some of the songs did in my earlier years<br />
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That was from a band called Temple of the dog. Made up of members of Soundgarden and Pearl Jam. Seems appropriate now somehow.<br />
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RIP<br />
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<br />The Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01775524714447741662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-728949282863910511.post-89368654439642648852017-05-01T12:48:00.001-07:002017-05-01T12:48:52.457-07:00The drummer from Nirvanahey, wanna feel old?<br />
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It is over 20 years since Kurt Cobain killed himself. To put that into perspective, we are as far away in time from that event as that event was from the release of Led Zeppelin IV and LA Woman. (23 years). Which makes me feel really old and if doesn't make you feel old then you perhaps don't remember the event or the impact that Nirvana had.<br />
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The thing that has always interested me is the very unexpected rise of the Foo Fighters from the ashes of that trailer fire. Ever since the first Foo Fighters album it was quite clear that within Nirvana there was another fabulous song writer. Indeed the first three songs on that album are 'This is a call', 'I'll stick around' and 'Big me'.<br />
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They have stood the test of time very well considering what has happened to music in the 20+ years they have been producing and making music. If you think about the fall of grunge, Nu Metal, Boy bands, Emo, Talent shows, whatever this current period is all about (seriously, can someone help me here - what is it called? is there some unifying theme? )<br />
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Further to my point about it not making you feel old. Nirvana last put out an album of original music, so excluding the MTV unplugged album, in 1993. So, if you are a youngster, i.e. somewhere under 35 or thereabouts, Nirvana possibly meant nothing much to you. Indeed, you have only ever really known the Foo Fighters and as such don't get the connection. or worse, you just don't care. I have written in other <a href="http://musicruminations.blogspot.co.uk/search?q=nirvana" target="_blank">posts</a> that I was more of a Pearl Jam fan at the time than I was Nirvana and how that has changed over time and as such I am not going to start going on about how wonderful Nirvana were.<br />
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I am however still amazed and very impressed by Dave Grohl. I am not sure there is another example of someone coming out of one world dominating band as a drummer and going on to have effectively a much longer and more renowned career in another band. Indeed, I can really only think of Don Henley from the Eagles and Phil Collins from Genesis who both went on to have successful solo careers. But then only to a point. I am not here to have a shot at either of these guys, if you want to discuss I would be happy to in the comments on on Facebook - Oh I didn't mention I have a Facebook page and a Twitter handle did I? Look up Music Ruminations and or @MusicRumination - happy to argue over there. My point is they went on to have great careers no doubt, but they were still drummers and were solo artists. Dave Grohl is the singer and guitar player for a different band. To me that seems quite different and somehow meaningful.<br />
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That is my Favourite Foo Fighters song. Indeed, it is one of my favourite songs. I have put it onto mini discs, burnt onto CD mixes and made many a Spotify playlist with it included. It is a great song. it is also a great song acoustically.<br />
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I think it is fair to say that the Foo Fighters have somehow managed to become one of the worlds biggest bands. I say somehow because it seems to me that they arguably haven't produced a classic album as such. The Colour and the Shape, is a very good album, As are One by One and Sonic Highways. None of these could really be considered a stone cold classic though. They do not get into many top 100 albums lists of all time for example. There are some very good songs on many of the albums, although Echoes, Silence, Patience and Grace is perhaps the weakest of the albums so far. Although it does have The Pretender on it.<br />
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So, what has made them so large? For example, They headlined the Saturday night at Fuji Rock in 2005, and would also do the same in 2015.Which as I established earlier is a good 20 years after their first album.<br />
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Longevity does give bands a certain cache. Although it is a bit of chicken and egg in this as you only have longevity by being successful and you only have success by writing great songs and great songs means people will want to see you which gives you the ability to play for a long time which is longevity. So it is down to great songs then. There is no doubt that there are great songs in all of the albums released by the Foo Fighters. But I am not sure that this is it. There is also the fact that there is a certain amount of cool attached to Dave Grohl. He was the drummer in Nirvana - did I mention that, and as such many confessed music snobs such as myself are prepared to give him a pass on some of the more ordinary songs he has released. That said, not much of a pass. Chris Cornell. He of iron lungs from Soundgarden and Audioslave, released a R&B type track and you don't get a pass for that. What were you thinking man? What?<br />
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Actually, I think it is a combination of these two things combined with the fact that they have their own style., A Foo Fighters song is quite unique. It is hard to mistake them for other people, despite the number of bands who have tried to be similar to them. In writing this I have tried to think about the style. It is quite rock I guess. But in a different way from bands that may be considered their contemporaries, like The Red Hot Chilli Peppers or Oasis or Smashing Pumpkins. It is also interesting to note those bands are not producing any good much at all anymore. Are Oasis still together in some form?<br />
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This distinctive style means that they have the ability to weather any storm or passing fad I think. In much the same way as Tom Petty, by not succumbing to the latest musical fad, their music has been able to stand the test of time and doesn't really age as it is not of an age as such.<br />
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So, well done Dave Grohl, A quite amazing story. My Hero<br />
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<br />The Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01775524714447741662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-728949282863910511.post-85169742609664075912017-02-15T10:13:00.001-08:002017-02-15T10:13:12.872-08:00Success<img alt="Image result for dollar signs" src="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRTK8eHF1nAL3c63NmHyucoWfJOlpBfoV0pHEN--sqHir2mgemO" /><br />
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I was thinking about what it means to be a successful band recently. This was brought to the fore when I watched a documentary on Tom Petty, a four hour documentary on Tom Petty - four fucking hours. I am going to write about Tom Petty specifically in another post, but here is a band/ performer who has been going for around 40 years, large amounts of selling albums success, critical acclaim, has worked with some of the greatest and yet seems to fall out of any argument of anything like greatest/ best/ most successful. I wonder if that is a reflection of the age we live in or the more niche aspect of his music?<br />
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So what is success and which are the most successful bands in that case?<br />
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I remember, and think I have mentioned before that I have heard Tommy Lee, he of Motley Crue,say that there are varying types of success. he puts Motley Crue up there as one of the most successful bands of all time as they sold out literally thousands of shows and that is a type of success that is different from album sales and critical acclaim.<br />
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It is hard to put the Crue into this conversation, I have no doubt that they were (are? ) a successful band. They are far more successful then almost all of the rest of the Hair/ Glam metal bands of their era. Indeed if you exclude Guns and Roses, who many will argue did not really ever fit into this category in any case, then it is hard to think of anyone more successful than the Crue. That said, being the most successful of what is an oft derided genre does not necessarily mean that they should be considered in an all time discussion.<br />
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Down that path lies a lot of pretenders. I mean Barry Manilow is perhaps the most successful of the 70s love song proponents . . . well maybe. I have a great story about Barry. Relatively recently, in the car parks of Brighton England they had an issue with young kids hanging out and doing 'bad' things. . In order to stop this so called anti social behaviour they started playing Barry's music through the loudspeakers in the car parks. This stopped the kids hanging out there. When told of this Barry said ' that would make them want to dance not leave' You have to feel for him a bit, I mean what was he going to say...<br />
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Anyway back to success, and the argument that it comes down to sales. This a clear line of distinction because if people are prepared to spend their money on your albums then obviously you are successful. The more albums the more successful. This was the music industry model until the late 1990's early 2000's when suddenly people started downloading music. It also means that no one from that period is comparable with anyone from earlier periods because the data is flawed. Interestingly, also, most of the biggest selling records of all time are end of the 70s early 80s records. Rumours, Thriller, Frampton comes alive. Eagles greatest hits etc. This perhaps needs a whole extra post about the diversification of music and the way that it became more specific and less general public listening to the standard type of stuff. Anyway, if we look at sales Michael Jackson the Beatles and Led Zeppelin are massively up there along with the Rolling stones.<br />
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This is where it starts to get interesting. As far as I can see two other areas of success would be , longevity and impact. No one beats the Rolling Stones for longevity. Sad as it is they are still going. Still selling out huge concerts. They actually released a new album recently. I haven't listened to it yet, but will now I have written this. They made a big impact when they started. Was it as big an impact as the Beatles? Possibly not. They were the perfect foil for a band that was so clearly mainstream and safe that their impact is intertwined for all time.<br />
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What about Zeppelin I hear you sort of murmur. . Well, large impact for sure. Hugely successful, roughly 10 years of longevity, sold out concerts to an extent rarely seen. So massively successful. A lot of people will argue better than Beatles or Stones as the music whilst not massively relevant anymore still holds up a bit better than the others.<br />
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The difficult part for me is this conversation then needs to include the absolute mainstream. The Take That's, Coldplay's, U2's , insert everything uninteresting but hugely hugely popular. I acknowledge their immense success with a sigh and almost a tear at the sadness involved in the masses choices. Time wasted people. . time wasted.<br />
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Bands like Oasis have to be considered very successful, but honestly, their output is so limited, arguably to two albums, that they fit into a category occupied by so many great bands. A short output but very good and for a time the biggest musical act in the world.<br />
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Which leads me on almost inevitably to Metallica. I heard someone say once probably around 2005 that it doesn't matter who you think the biggest band in the world are because it is Metallica, and has been since 1992 and the general release of the Black album. Since then, they could go anywhere in the world and sell out whatever stadium they wanted to. They just need electricity and people would come. I think this is probably right. They are the new Rolling Stones. In fact the parallels are interesting between the two of them. Although they possibly don't have a foil other than the general music industry. <br />
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So the conversation has turned into what is success to listing successful bands. I think it is difficult because as much as music is subjective then the measure of success is also very subjective. If a song reaches out to you on a hugely personal emotional level then that is also success isnt it. Indeed, that is the sort of success that many people dream of. One such song is My Way by Mr Sinatra. It is still the song played at most funerals. Sung at karaoke bars around the world. Still speaks to people on a level that very few other songs ever have. i could go on, but I dont need to because you have heard it, know it, and whether you like it or not it speaks to every single person on some level because it is about the individual.<br />
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ps. I listened to the Stones new album and as a blues album it is pretty good.The Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01775524714447741662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-728949282863910511.post-86415237355523660712016-12-22T11:16:00.003-08:002016-12-22T11:16:47.604-08:00Jingle all the f*** wayI was having a look through the posts on this site to see if I had written a bit about Christmas music. I haven't. How could I have missed this huge part of peoples musical fabric.<br />
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Honestly, people sing more at this time, pay more attention to the music on in a shop, restaurant or at their mates house. There is literally an entire genre here stretching back hundreds of years.<br />
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Ok, time for a bit of clarity and honesty. I am not a Christian, I am an Atheist. I dislike songs that say glory to the king, or anything to do with faith and belief as they were written to somehow exult the imaginary guy in the sky. That said , I do get them. I do understand that when it was a suitable outlet for musical creativity and the church had such a hold over the censorship that if you did something that wasn't about God, the prevailing god in the establishment you lived in, then you were fucked. . .proper fucked at that. Losing your head or other appendages . . mainly your head. Which doesn't really fit in with the Christmas spirit does it.<br />
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That said, some of the Carols and Christmas hymns are truly great songs and achieve exactly what they set out to do.<br />
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That does it. It does exactly what it was supposed to do and I am very jealous if you live in the western world and are not aware of it. I don't really like carols as you may well have gathered. That said, I like singing and I like singing in a choir. Although , to my great regret, that means generally singing religious songs. So i don't do it. I have been asked to join a few choirs as my voice is passable, only recently has one promised not to sing religious songs. So i might do it.<br />
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This is all well and good, and many people understand and appreciate that there is a traditional element to Christmas, but that in reality it is a Winter Solstice party and a time to be with family and friends. This is borne out by the fact that at this time of year there are many celebrations the world over, also in countries with no Christian tradition.<br />
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Thankfully, over the last 40 years or so, the pop and rock world have tried their hand (s) at the Christmas song. With varying amounts of success.<br />
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Well that's just a fun little happy number isn't it. . . .thanks for the uplift there John . .<br />
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I have written before about how I feel that Paul McCartney is the Salieri to John Lennon's Amadeus and frankly nothing holds it such stark relief as their respective attempts at Christmas songs. In my research (searching the internet) for this piece I attempted to get a feel for what others think of the worst Christmas songs of all time. The above song by McCartney and Wings, topped five of the lists I came across. The worst Christmas song ever...bet he is still upset about it. . .<br />
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Anyway, that does allow me to move on from the worst to some of the best. Lennon's song, below, is a protest song, but it is still far better to put on at your party than to dirge above<br />
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As good as the song is, and it is a good song, He still should have stopped Yoko singing. . . wow.<br />
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Then there is this by Slade<br />
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If you are not from the UK you might not know that one. It is a bit specific, Even though it has charted I think 9 times. its a good song actually, if you like the Glam rock scene of the 70s. Which I sort of do. But it is exuberant and you can sing along to it. Which gives it a good party feel.<br />
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Anyway,if you need a christmas playlist. Try this one on Spotify which is pretty good<br />
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<a href="https://open.spotify.com/user/simpo66/playlist/7dbIHEp8MSx6onaFnwip7I" target="_blank">Christmas playlist</a><br />
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which is all well and good, but maybe your Christmas is a bit more like this<br />
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Wishing you all happy holidays and hope you have enough food and drink to forget 2016 . . . and look forward to 2017<br />
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I would like to put together a playlist of the best Christmas songs. Please send me yours.<br />
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<br />The Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01775524714447741662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-728949282863910511.post-52275642193092303222016-12-17T08:53:00.002-08:002016-12-17T08:53:51.611-08:00everything and anythingI am the proud father of a 9 year old boy who has a strong interest in music.
Some of this is obviously because of my interest, and his mothers of
course, is interest in music something that could be genetic? His interest is what a lot of you would describe as a healthy interest in the rock greats.<br />
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He is a big fan of Bowie, Led Zeppelin, The Kinks, Radiohead, AC DC, Guns 'n Roses and The Eagles amongst others. You get the idea, it is mainly classic rock at the moment (except for Radiohead), but given his peer group it is very cool. It certainly makes road trips and generally listening to music in the house a pretty cool experience. I have tried a few times with Tool, but I think it is perhaps a little advanced just at the moment.<br />
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There is clearly something in the music that makes it great and enables us to be drawn to it regardless of where we come at it from. I do not know enough about the actual music structure to be able to say that it is the use of certain chords or timing that appeals, I do know that the 4/4 blues structure works very well for Rock and Roll. Indeed that or a 12/8 beat is effective what defines it.<br />
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When i was his age my music education consisted of the two things that it did for almost everyone of a similar age. My parents records, terrible, and the radio station. With hindsight equally terrible but at least a little more modern. Australian radio stations are very good at playing local, or at least national music. I haven't come across a country as good at this as yet. Although I guess UK and US stations are at a very unfair advantage. As a side note, isn't awesome when you are travelling and the radio station has to play local or local language songs and you want to like it. You do, you really want it to be cool, but it very very rarely is,. I bought this when on holiday in France as a teenager.<br />
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Extra extra side point. Not only did I keep the tape, yes tape, I actually still have it and it checked it for writing this. . .that is nearly 30 years on a holiday tape. . hasnt actually been played in years and as I don't have a tape player I cant check to see if it is still any good.<br />
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Back to the point of this entry. Whilst my musical education was pretty limited, my sons is not limited at all. Literally every song ever recorded is reasonably easy to get a hold of and listened to at least in part. Increasingly I am not sure this is the incredible gold mine that it appears to be on the surface. Particularly for a 9 year old.<br />
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Try an experiment for me, go to youtube or spotify or apple or whatever you listen to digital music through. Think of a song you would like to hear and play it. I bet with the certainty of someone who has no way of being shown to be wrong that your choice fits into one of two categories. it was either a song you have heard thousands of times and love. or it was a song you have heard recently and are playing a lot at the moment. it is basic human nature i think.<br />
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the point being that this is no different from putting on a record or listening to the radio waiting for the new song to come on. When faced with an almost unlimited choice we stick to what we know. The basic way to discover new music hasn't really changed at all. We rely on people whose tastes we respect, at least a little, to tell us about a band they quite like and we see if we might like it as well.<br />
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It is now a lot less expensive of course. Well, sort of, subscriptions cost money. This has caused the second part of the journey to change. If you dont like it you simply dont listen to it again. Before, if you had bought it you were almost obligated to stick by the band/ performer because you had invested your hard earned cash into it. I recall a conversation with my brother whose varied music taste extends to the very dark corners of the metal universe standing up for Transvision Vamp (look that up for fun) because he had bought the tape and really had no choice . . . he will be thrilled to pieces I put that in . .<br />
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Where does this leave my son? Well because it is all available and it is easy to get to, you find that the cream rises to the top. Because all music is new music when you first hear it, it means that classic rock tends to come to the forefront. Songs to us that are comforting and cool because we know them so well to him are interesting and different. imagine listening to Heroes by Bowie for the first time. . . i cant remember the first time i heard it but it must have been in the 70s. He didn't find this song by himself, it was played at home because we like it.<br />
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My not so clear point is that because he is more advanced in his musical education than his peers he relies on the music played in the house to guide him. And that hasnt changed from when I was a kid. the only thing that is different is that my/ our taste is infinitely superior to my parents, Which is probably exactly what they would say as well . .<br />
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the music clips in this piece aren't connected. I was listening to Elvis Costello when I started and I quite like the Wolf Alice.<br />
<br />The Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01775524714447741662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-728949282863910511.post-66864078145329771142016-09-07T04:02:00.001-07:002016-09-07T04:02:22.200-07:00Thank you<img alt="Image result for thank you meme" class="rg_ic rg_i" data-sz="f" name="F3gXefODMcTDRM:" 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How is it going?<br />
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I have been watching a documentary series called 'Soundbreaking' it is excellent and I can not recommend it highly enough. It is everything I wanted to talk about in this space, but done by people who know what they are talking about because they are the ones that did it.<br />
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The series goes through everything from the recording process, musical formats, the vocal abilities of some, the impact of video, and so on and so forth. Each show of which there are 10 starts with a premise and then runs through the evolution of it all. So there is a lot of history of music and progression in it as well. Which is great because so many documentaries start at 1959 or later and say this is when music started, obvious rubbish. <br />
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Some music for you<br />
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Towards the end of the last episode they start to conclude and there were two comments that really struck a chord with me.<br />
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The first one was DMC , from Run DMC obviously, who says that music makes us who we are. That there are 20 - 30 albums that define us and help to explain us as people. I think this is possibly true, maybe, for those of us who love music, I think non aficionados would struggle to name 30 albums and would also possibly not have the in depth knowledge of those albums to say that they explain them as a person. They also probably don't care to. <br />
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Thinking about this it occurred to me that it is very difficult to say that there are even 20 albums, full entire albums, that define me. I mean there are some albums that have hugely informed my life and there are others that I think I have identified with. For example, in the court of the Crimson King by King Crimson is an album I love. Love, I think it is an amazing piece of work and it has spawned a love of Prog, prog metal and generally complicated music. Could I give it to someone and say, this is one of the albums you need to listen to in order to know me? Not without a lot of explanation to be honest. Even to person with a similar or hopefully better musical knowledge than myself I think it would take a fair bit of explanation. The difference between 21st Century Schizoid man and Epitaph , both of the same original side of the album, is huge and explaining why or how the songs work for me is not something I am sure I fully understand myself.In fact I know that I cant fully explain it to myself.<br />
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I am not able to play any King Crimson for you because there are copyright issues with youtube. Not my personal ones but obviously one between them and the band, so. So, instead I am going to put on two songs from Wish, by The Cure. How does Friday I'm in love and Edge of the deep green sea, exist in the same personality?<br />
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Obviously they come from the same songwriting person/group and so there must be a part of that on their side. But for me, no.<br />
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Can you then distill it and then say well it can be songs and not albums? I think that this is getting closer to the point. Because as DMC also says, there is a part of a song, a note, a chord change, a riff, a vocal something that transports you to another time and memory and as such, almost by definition it means that it is a part of you. The distinction being of course that just because it does this it doesnt mean it is something that you want to acknowledge so much. It doesn't mean it doesn't define you in some way, but a song with negative or painful memories might not want to be something you add to a list. You should, but again it would take me a lot of explanation to point out the various reasons behind it.<br />
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I think the reality is that there are songs and indeed albums that fit into all kinds of categories which then you could use to paint a picture of your life. An album you listened to a lot when something was going on in your life, a song that was played in every store you went into at some stage, a song that you totally identify with, some music that paints a picture of someone you aspire to be. It is all different and it is all fantastically entirely yours and yours alone.<br />
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You will be pleased to know that I am not going to go through all of the songs and or albums I think do this for me. I don't really know what they would be, although it is something I might do for fun and as this blog now has such low readership it wouldn't really matter.<br />
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It does however lead me into the second comment that stuck with me. Annie Lennox, what a voice by the way, said that she would like to say thank you to all of the artists who have made music.<br />
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I could not agree with this more. I feel we are very lucky to live in an age where we are able to listen to anything we like, of which I will write more about in another post, and all that great music has meant so much to me. So much of it I couldn't even come close to composing myself.<br />
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In thinking how to say thank you in a way that made any sense it has occurred that it is all progression isn't it. Without Blues we would not have had any rock or metal. Without Disco no Electronica. Without Country no folk. Without Prog no punk, it is also a reaction that causes influence. No Motown, no R&B. From Funk and Rap, no Jazz then no more . . . jazz . . .just joking.<br />
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My point being that it is the culmination of what the artists have absorbed and what they want to say and express that leads them to record what we then listen to and because of that we all owe a huge thank you to them all.<br />
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So thank you, thank you so much because without you all the world would be a far poorer, less interesting and thought provoking place.<br />
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a little apology to the jazz fans.The Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01775524714447741662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-728949282863910511.post-88307280994000388102016-04-24T04:46:00.001-07:002016-04-24T04:47:54.094-07:002016 So 2016 has been pretty poor for us music fans hasn't it. Bowie Glen Frey, Prince. All gone.<br />
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I do not know about you, quite obviously, but to me it has left a strange feeling if i am honest. I am sad. There is no doubt about that. I am sad because three people who have made my life better by creating some brilliant music are no longer walking the same planet as me.<br />
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Some music<br />
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<br />
The sad reality , for me at least, is that in all cases their best music was
behind them. This is harsh and is not in any way meant to deride or denigrate
their respective portfolios. Because, well fuck, what amazing portfolios of
music, and indeed emotion they gave us. Just, I don't know, wow. I would give
up a lot to be half as talented as they were. I guess people like Beiber have
given up even more to be 1 twentieth as talented . . .<br />
<br />
So, we are left behind with what they wanted us to have.<br />
<br />
I think the other slightly unusual part of the way I feel about personally,
as a person, is that there isn't the sense of what could have been with the
musicians that died at a much earlier age. This is far from being a ground breaking
statement isn't it. What I mean is that in all three cases it is reasonable
clear , that whatever would have been done subsequently would have, in all
likelihood not supplanted my favorite songs by them in any case. So I should be
thankful, happy, with what I have, something like that.<br />
<br />
So where does that leave us? It leaves us with some great music and a reason
for me to start writing again.<br />
<br />
So, lets have some fun and come up with some lists. Because that is what
music people like to do isn't it, make lists and categorize things. So lets
start with ordering the three of them. OK lets not. Although we can rightly say
that there is a cross over in time between the three of them, I am not sure you
could come up with three more different styles of great music. Bowie, The
Eagles and Prince don't belong in a competition together because they are not
playing the same game. it would be like trying to compare football, NFL and
rugby.<br />
<br />
So, lets compare them to themselves and try to come up with a top five for
each of them .<br />
<br />
here is my Bowie top five<br />
<br />
Heroes<br />
Ashes to Ashes<br />
Sorrow<br />
Life on Mars<br />
Lets Dance<br />
<br />
What do you think?<br />
<br />
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<br />
<br />
Glenn Frey (Eagles top 5 cause I never got into his solo stuff)<br />
<br />
Take it easy<br />
Peaceful Easy feeling<br />
Lying eyes<br />
Hotel California<br />
Desperado <br />
<br />
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<br />
<br />
Prince Top 5<br />
<br />
When Doves cry<br />
Purple rain<br />
When you were mine<br />
Raspberry beret<br />
Little red Corvette<br />
<br />
But, and it is a big but.(cause I like big butts and I will not lie, you
other brothers cant deny - sorry got carried away) you have to give Prince a
special mention for<br />
Nothing compares to you, Manic Monday, Kiss and all of the other songs that
he wrote but didn't out out<br />
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<br />
I would love to get your lists. Please either comment here or on Facebook,
twitter and lets see if I get enough to put together a top 5 of everything.<br />
<br />
So, 2016, not a great year so far. lets be honest. But it does give us a
chance to reflect and to listen to some great music and appreciate how
fantastic some people's creative vision really is<br />
<br />
Thanks guys. It has been really great.<br />
<br />
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The Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01775524714447741662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-728949282863910511.post-12512067055176921182015-04-26T03:18:00.002-07:002015-04-26T13:42:42.619-07:00Furry greatnessDo you know what is a great song? Love my Way by the Psychedelic Furs.<br />
<br />
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<br />
In a new Romantic melodic way of course. I haven't heard for ages and it came on a playlist after I had been listening to Pretty in Pink, and in the great tradition of getting old, I had forgotten how cool it is.<br />
<br />
The aforementioned Pretty in Pink has been a favourite of mine for many many years. It is also a great song.<br />
<br />
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<br />
Apart from that , there isn't a lot of their material that I really warm to. Heaven is alright, is a bit repetitive. I know I have written a bit about this before but, there does appear to be some artists/bands who have a couple of great songs and that's it. Frankly I would of course be very happy to have a couple of pieces out there as good as the two above.<br />
<br />
It must however be difficult, as you continue to try to find that formula or muse or what ever it was that enabled you to write those couple of high points and struggling. Or at least struggling to get other people to see why they are as good as what you have done previously. Then touring and people only asking to hear those great moments.<br />
<br />
Anyway, that's it, a short post. The Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01775524714447741662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-728949282863910511.post-39240183077273208092015-02-08T04:36:00.003-08:002015-02-08T05:28:45.800-08:00Songs of Innocence - a review of sortsIf you have read much of my Blog over the past few years you will note that there is not a lot of love for U2 around here. In fact it would not be a stretch to say that for all the ying goodness I am so happy to discuss for bands and artists I like, the yang is mostly reserved for U2. <br />
<br />
I do not wish to imply that , by bringing in concepts of ying and yang , that there is some sort of balance to this. Balance implies a certain premeditated desire to attribute an even distribution of good and bad so that the end result is not weighted in one way or the other. it can also mean that there is some sort of rationality to the whole thing. <br />
<br />
There isn't. To be a fan of music you need no rationality nor should you be concerned in any way if you are not able to find it in your decision making. You like what you like. That is why I am always perfectly comfortable in declaring my unending admiration for the diversity of music I hope that you find on this site. <br />
<br />
It also explains away quite succinctly the rest of this post. <br />
<br />
U2 have a new album out. you may have heard about how well it went? smirk. <br />
<br />
As a long time detractor of that band it has given me a great deal of joy to see that not only have the band stripped bare their festering rancid corporate soul, but that some of the biggest outcries were from people who did no know who they were. Which is fantastic, whilst not exactly bringing hope to the world that people are so devoid of knowledge about the history of music, at least they are yet to be defiled. <br />
<br />
I had been asked by a couple of friends what I thought about the album and so I thought I would do a first listen review. Much the same as I did for Justin Beiber - for those of you who want to know how that went please read <a href="http://musicruminations.blogspot.co.uk/2011/09/religion-that-is-justin-beiber.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>. <br />
<br />
Before I get to the actual album, I want to rant about the Ad that was shown in London. <br />
<br />
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<br />
So, the band and their Corporate sponsor think it is appropriate to put images of The Clash, The Ramones and Patti Smyth in black and white inside the image of the band players. It is an interesting visual effect. offering a juxtaposition against the colorful images on the white back ground. Seriously though, some of the punk protagonists put there as an image for U2 and Apple? How punk, how very alternative and anti establishment they really are. . . it is truly a fucking disgrace and the owners of those images should be ashamed of themselves for selling themselves out. <br />
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As for the edge smashing his guitar at the end in an attempt to imitate Joe Strummer, it is laughable how contrived and how out of touch he is to think that we would fall for that. I subsequently learn that the song is called The Miracle (of Joey Ramone) and wonder therefore what the smashing of the guitar has got to do with the Ramones? or Joey? <br />
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Just as point as well. Bono keeps losing his guitar throughout the clip. he has it, he loses it completely, he gets it back. its gone again. Great editing and continuity . . . .<br />
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So what is the album actually like?<br />
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Well, the first song is apparently a tribute to Joey Ramone. It is extremely hard to tell if it is the writers view point or supposedly Joey's. The Chorus is clearly from the song writers and it is about the waking up moment of hearing a beautiful sound. The song is catchy. Not good, but catchy. As per most U2 stuff it has a wall of noise quiet loud quiet loud idea. Where the singer comes in at a quiet point, and there is a large amount of woo's and waa's and ohh's during the loud chorus bits. It is pretty forgettable stuff frankly. perhaps aimed at the singing into a hairbrush teens than the actual U2 audience. <br />
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The next song is called every breaking wave, and it is undoubtedly U2 - so derivative. Actually I think it sounds like a Coldplay song, maybe, I don't know much of their stuff, but it seems very naff. lyrics comparing people to the ocean. The music is a bit like everything and nothing at the same time. Like a sped up version of with or without you, but with some melodies added. <br />
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I have had to take a break, actually the break lasted for a few months as you can probably tell from now how much the U2 album has become part of all of our lives. . . or not as I quite happily note. In all serious though, I knew I had this still to write for a while and I am a little disappointed in myself that I only lasted for two songs. I hope that I never have to endure a torture situation as i have decreasingly feeble hopes for lasting it out without providing information.<br />
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The truly distressing part is that I have 9 songs to go. Next Song, California (There is no end to love) , not much to write, lots of whoahwooawhoahs and quite loud type of stuff again.<br />
Song for someone - a new try at the heart felt ballad.<br />
Iris (hold me Close) - this has almost the exact same guitar riff as Where the streets have no name. Really it does, I think that the more I listen to The Edge's playing ids that he is very keen on the chugging type of guitar riff. I think this is what gives U2 their signature sound. It is an interesting effect. I think I write before that it provides a song with movement. Lots of notes repeated and put together in close time signatures. i.e. not held for more than a beat, but repeated.<br />
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I cant do it guys. I am sorry , I tried, but I write this as a man defeated. Every time a new song comes on I think of songs I would rather be listening to. Mainly this actually.<br />
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Search good music people. The interesting stuff does not come from a combined Apple U2 launch and it never will. Deep down you knew this already . .<br />
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Appreciate any thoughts you may have. The Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01775524714447741662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-728949282863910511.post-27053001141158462382014-11-19T03:59:00.000-08:002014-11-19T03:59:13.428-08:0010 or so things I think I thinkI have taken this concept from another writer but I thought it would be interesting place to start<br />
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So, things that I think I think.<br />
<br />
1. All music fits into three categories in my mind<br />
a. great music by talented people<br />
b. music I don't really get but the people that do it are very talented<br />
c. the dirge and waste by a collection of people including singers, writers, producers that may be talented individually but produce rubbish<br />
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2. There is no best song or best album ever. There are not even favourites over a reasonable length of time. It changes so much and so constantly that it has to be broken into categories over time periods. <br />
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3. What is modern R&B? to me R&B was fantastic songs by people with amazing voices and was similar but slightly different to the Motown pop sound. Modern R&B is just pop music , and not very good pop music either<br />
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4. Pop music isn't always bad. but mainly it is.<br />
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5. When Taylor Swift announced she was leaving Spotify it made me quite happy for some reason. <br />
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6. U2 managed to shoot themselves in the foot so badly over the Itunes thing that when I am having a bad moment I think about it to cheer myself up<br />
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7. As we go through a northern hemisphere Autumn, there is nothing better to listen to than prog metal or rock. It fits that mood extremely well and I am always amazed by how much of it I just don't know.<br />
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8. I still don't get Jazz, which seems incongruous with # 7, but actually it is completely valid because of brass instruments used far to much<br />
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9. In power metal there is only Iron Maiden, everyone else is only there to show us how good Maiden are. <br />
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10. I feel bad for KISS. They should have stopped when the 70s ended. When they released 'I was made for loving you' it was in effect the end of them anyway. When I started school, the KISS logo was carved into almost every desk that I can remember sitting at. We went to birthday parties in KISS make up a couple of times. They are terrible, sad parodies of band now and they should just stop. They should have just stopped 34 years ago. <br />
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I am listening to this quite a lot at the moment<br />
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As well as this (still)<br />
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<br />The Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01775524714447741662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-728949282863910511.post-54847997087656946032014-07-22T14:06:00.002-07:002014-07-28T00:12:43.239-07:00Was rejected from the 21st century once, trying again.<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWFFoCHhxJA&feature=youtu.be">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWFFoCHhxJA&feature=youtu.be</a><br />
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Hopefully I have changed this so it is acceptable.<br />
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Will work on the content for the next time.The Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01775524714447741662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-728949282863910511.post-67421221268782631122014-07-19T14:52:00.002-07:002014-07-19T14:52:18.528-07:00Music Ruminations joins the 21st century<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6vKak8vWis&list=UUkdtUC2teTA85jYyfr5lMng">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6vKak8vWis&list=UUkdtUC2teTA85jYyfr5lMng</a><br />
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please click on the link and watch the clip.<br />
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ThanksThe Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01775524714447741662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-728949282863910511.post-26135054710172709492014-07-07T13:20:00.000-07:002014-07-08T00:05:34.432-07:001987 - and why U2 aren't very goodHello dear reader, I hope that you are well, have you heard any good music recently? If you have I would also love to hear it. Please let me know what it is.<br />
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I was at a party recently, you are possibly stunned to hear that news, but yes it is true, and in an even larger surprise I was talking about music. Indeed, I was being brought to heel about my post '<a href="http://musicruminations.blogspot.co.uk/2011/02/i-hate-u2.html" target="_blank">I HATE U2</a>'. I was even told that The Joshua Tree was the best album of the 80s.<br />
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Well, as you can imagine, I took a little umbrage to this , and given I have this medium to detail a response I thought I would use it. So, was The Joshua Tree the best album of the 80s? <br />
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Well I thought about it, for all of roughly 2 seconds and came up with the somewhat surprising answers of - no it wasn't. It wasn't even the best album in the year it was released. 1987. Here right now, I am going to prove it. This is something I thought may have been ridiculously easy. You know what, it is. As it turns out, 1987 was a pretty good year for music. A pretty good year indeed. A lot of actually great albums were released. None of them by U fucking 2.<br />
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Let's start in indie and alternative.<br />
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There was Substance by New Order, that album has, True Faith, Bizarre love triangle and Blue Monday.<br />
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I know it is a compilation, but for me, that was one of the first times I had heard a lot of the songs on it, and frankly, they are simply fantastic. I run out of words when I talk about New Order. There is very little else out there like them. Except for this song that also came out in 1987<br />
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Given where I am able to go in this post, this is an odd place to start. However, the purpose of it is to show that , unlike U2, there is music that can be mainstream but still has a heart, some passion, something a little more real to it.<br />
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Anyway, this came out by the mighty Pixies from the album Come on Pilgrim<br />
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Sonic Youth also put out Sister. Quite a good album, a lot of peoples favorite album. One they were able to tour with simply playing the tracks from that album 20 years later.<br />
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1987 was also a great year for Hip Hop or as we called it back then, rap. A great year. We had the seminal album Paid in full by Eric B And Rakim.<br />
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Not to mention, Rhyme Pays by Ice T, which has the song that basically started gangsta rap<br />
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I have no idea if you like this genre or not. But the two tracks above had a huge impact on my world and even though the production on the ice T track lacks a little, it is a great track. i saw a great documentary called ' Something out of nothing' which was hosted by Ice -T. In oit, basically every rap artist from this time period says, well we heard 6 in the morning and we wanted to do something like that. We wanted to show that we could do it to. hard to think of a bigger accolade for people to pay.<br />
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Also in rap in 1987, you had Yo! bum rush the show, by Public Enemy, Bigger and Deffer by LL Cool J, how ya like me now by Kool Moe D, NWA and the posse by NWA<br />
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Mainly, for me, 1987 was the year when The Cult released Electric and Guns and Roses released Appetite for Destruction. I have written here, about how Appetite changed a lot of my perception of music. It still sounds good, to my ears it always will.<br />
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I love that song and love that album. I don't think I even need to go into why it is a better album than The Joshua Tree. you know it, I know it - everyone knows it, no need to say it. <br />
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I also love Electric by The Cult. For people of my age , i.e. a little, but not too much, too old, Electric is a milestone. A maker that is used to show our generational links. My favorite song on it is the following<br />
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Really though, it was a great time for Dark pop as I like to call it. <br />
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We had, Music for the masses by Depeche Mode, Strangeways here we come by The Smiths. <br />
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Kiss me kiss me kiss me by the Cure, <br />
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(1987 not a good year for Robert Smiths dancing however)<br />
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Document by REM. <br />
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These bands, along with new order and The Pet shop boys, for me , define this unusual time in music better than anyone else. This was a time when it was still acceptable to have a synthesizer , but rather than just write a little ditty, to do something interesting with the noise it made. Put it to some real emotions and in a band like The Smiths, move to a place that can be described as almost an alternate universe of music. One where everything wasn't so great, but it was a lot more interesting. <br />
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You have enough music to listen to. But please remember that also this year, Prince released Sign o the Times, INXS released Kick, Dinosaur jr released You're living all over me and of course Diesel and Dust by Midnight oil.here is my favourite track from that album.<br />
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I feel I have given you a huge amount of examples of the good music that was around in this year. It is true that many of the above albums are not considered to be the best of the artists. Many went on to better things and many had better things behind them . I have looked at a number of the Top ten albums of the year and see that The Joshua Tree makes most of the main stream lists. None of the non mainstream ones though. Why? Well if I look at the track listing I get the following songs on the first side.<br />
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Where the streets have no name<br />
I still haven't found what I am looking for<br />
with or without you<br />
Bullet the blue sky<br />
running to stand still<br />
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people only ever listen to this side. they never listen to the next tracks<br />
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red hill mining town<br />
in Gods country<br />
trip through your wires<br />
one tree hill<br />
exit<br />
Mothers of the disappeared.<br />
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Why do people like the first 5 tracks so much? I have genuinely given this a lot of thought and have even listened to them again in order to write this piece. This was not an easy thing for me to do and will no doubt now mess up my Google history, giving me options that will probably be associated with the masses. The things I do for you. <br />
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I think what appeals to people is two fold. Firstly, the lyrics are very basic and repeated endlessly. However, not necessarily repeated in order and as such create the impression that more is being said than it actually is. Listen to Where the streets have no name, 'love turns to rust' and 'blown by the wind' come up about 10 times each. The lyrics are also what I would call pseudo epic. What I mean by this is that they elongate the vowel sounds and as such make them better for arena type singing (or more likely, drunken BBQ). The lyrics are also , as I have described before, fortune cookie philosophy. ' I still haven't found what I am looking for' relates to anyone in a sentimental mood. Very few people don't have something they feel this about. With or without is just about difficult periods of relationships. Everyone has that and he is not saying anything, but it could apply to everyone. Like a fortune teller saying, I see you have had some difficulties before. It means nothing, he isn't talking about himself, rather trying to appeal to you. <br />
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Secondly, the music itself is very straightforward. It has a simple four four beat drum with a similar base line. With the base being played a lot of the time on the partial off beat of the drum. The overlay for the guitars is done at the reasonably standard, two to three octaves higher, and while played in a four four blues beat, is done on every four bar with repetitive notes. First done about 200 or so years ago, it is very effective at creating atmosphere. (the effect, obviously not the four four blues beat). The songs generally have an increase in intensity, rather than speed, and then tail away towards the end. Meaning that the music and lyrics don't change, but they play or singer louder. Also there is a lot of doubling up of the recording of the instruments to give a fuller sound. This is not criticism as most bands do it. Just an explanation. <br />
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This album really made U2 a big name in the US . it is easy to see why given all of the US imagery involved in it. There is nothing wrong with this, they aren't exactly hiding it by calling the album Joshua Tree are they? One wonders where this comes from though, up until this point they were a very Irish band, almost a political band in many of their songs which can be , very loosely , claimed to be protest songs. I am cynical about this mainly because it is a remarkably obvious ploy for album sales. <br />
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So what does this all mean? Well, it means the songs are sentimental, easy to sing along to, and basic in their construction. Occupying a place that allows people to listen without really being challenged. <br />
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This is acknowledged as the bands high point. As you can see from the above, their high point doesn't even really compare with the secondary or maybe tertiary works of other bands. I know that my opinion of this will not make any difference to you putting it on at 11:30 after a few drinks and singing along. <br />
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That's Ok, I know I am right. The Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01775524714447741662noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-728949282863910511.post-90241846133134021182014-06-14T07:56:00.000-07:002014-06-14T07:56:00.979-07:00Advertising - againWhilst in the original Advertising post I thought a company used a fantastic song and made you want to listen to it every time you heard it.<br />
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Sometimes companies get it so wrong.<br />
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If you can bear it, take the time to listen to this monstrosity<br />
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Oh Axl, why? Why would you not only sell the song, but also appear in the ad that ruins it?<br />
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Why Axl why?The Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01775524714447741662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-728949282863910511.post-6062894535729046152014-05-26T12:08:00.002-07:002014-05-26T12:08:26.693-07:00AdvertisingCurrently in the uk the following ad is being aired on cable TV.<br />
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Now usually I am not really a fan of people appropriating great music in order to sell the latest what-ever-it-may-be.<br />
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But, this is The Pixies. Formally the most under-rated band ever. Formally? well yes because in the 90s they were very under appreciated and seemed to be destined to be a band that people often referred to , but they never really made it big. Then they reformed for a few gigs and every Pixies fan came out of the woodwork and told everyone how cool they were and they became huge.<br />
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So much so that they have recently put out a new album. Indy Cindy. it is good and well worth a listen.<br />
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It is perhaps not as good as this<br />
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You don't think the Pixies were important?<br />
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Watch this<br />
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I can't put it any better than that, so I will not try and subsequently ruin it.The Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01775524714447741662noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-728949282863910511.post-92227787957466957462014-04-01T02:32:00.000-07:002014-04-01T02:32:02.138-07:00R.I.P. Frankie KnucklesFrankie Knuckles - the Godfather of house music, was announced dead yesterday.<br />
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Rvz8FRqvDJqucQQF80lrWaLADmXO/C0d6Coh7o3dk7HZTeH15kFrdocv0CHG/Bc2GviZK5rzIwv7N7NsQCL89xqojCJy2UO96CYqIncykQOO11JzvDm3FtlFtcB43QdmS2dm/IC4+Q0+JC707Tk13Op8TqfmosnNIG721PlsPfb3KVadEHSIhoVbxarzvNthspbE6rKw9+yhKCIPfc+y3UnwQSVEz1MY0vJJsEl8oYMx7Wun+t3U/wClvJd6N4fnmft7Le5vO3eVC1U+d5Ow2A6AICkeXEk6kpJKVFGXmwFypJ0EcIvJ2n8mfqgZU9I9+w06nQe9dxG0czIeeXssHi8/RIlqXybjTkxvsjxtuusdG87t8L6D3IFsmHKw/wBjcx83vTyOvc3YW73u+g0XA4e/m9oXN9E1u8jb96Bw+uJ/zCHD8rXZR52Fz71wknhdvFbvaUkyW2c3yb+y5PkcfxXQP8Cxuaik9ZTSkfmjd7Lu5zdj47rbuCuN4a9uX/LnA7URO/ew/iC8+uRRyuY4PY4tc03a4GxB7ig9WEILOfR36RRU5aeqIbPs1+zZf0f3c0SDUCiBRFAIFBKSAUsFAoFGCkgoIKTx9US1E0GGwOymcOdO8fgiboR3En5dLpvV+jLD2Rer/lsztaIZXSDNI8hxN78tiLdVM8N0DnYrXVFs2VsMTb6W/lhxsf6iVnXpJp3zYgBIOw6QwxA+wGtuLDk3a58UHMYRUUtV/hznOkYATA7KDl5uDS7lYg22GvNH6P8Ahn189XRVDpIJ4XiaJ4NnA+w8673vEfcr3TQBsdG+WVrzTy+qDye0cxbl7R37Ly3zTfi6pEGO0MgNjM1rX97buaQT/Uw/0IMo4p4efT1D4pJJHkc3OJvvbRVSvhsQbb/MLX/SBiDamX18UWSIsAbJIWszkki4bcuPuvZUCpwGSTZkjr69mM2vbk9+UW296CuUVOZJGR3ALnBovtc6C/TWyEjHxPcx4LXNJDmncEbgqeqeEp4xnyEW19tuYHl2evmo/inHXVlQZnsaw2DbNFvZ5uP4nd57uiBvLWkssmKkMIkbms8Ag7+C64nhfqiCO1G7UOHK/IoIpLilc3YkJU0Yvpopvgfhv+PrG0xf6vMHHNa/si+3NAeH1YeAJJXAA+y0D5lWvBsYZAA2Bm/S5eT3nmrXgfoRjDo3Tzuc3t52t0NwbNs7ppqtD4b4IpKMPDIw7OfaeA54bYWbmOtt0GeUmDYlXdk2p2OF7m9yPBXzgzhWPDYZHBpdIQS93tPcG6+HgFZppBG3QXIFmtBF3EDQC530VR4n4i0fTmKWOWzXZgezlJ5PabEmxFkGfekaQVMMlUS8tlAEIeA0tZfa245nXqsYbdru8LUeLsSzsczSw25AdAsxm370Fio6q7Uzz6lNMNuLo5pMrSeZ2QPcKbcuf1Nh4D91KO05pvQ04DWjuHx1KOuflaSgg8UqMzu4JEjskQZ+J+p8EmABz7nYan6JvK8ucT7vBB3dKcobfRHSUpebDbqnFJR3GZ23LvS5agnsRedv1+qBT6gR9iLV/N3TwTVrGg3cS919R+pXWKnY0DMS4n8LefnzS3uY3R5DR+Rm/wDUUCmYg7ZrQPAJw2lncL6jzAXOKv0tFGGjqdT8EsT39uRx8HZR8NUBOwsj25GjxK6Mwxh/+UHwRxiLf1bfE3PxsuzKu2zG+4//AJQczhLOUg+CScJF9JW+f7Jya8jdjfeR8wi/jRzhB8AD8kDV2ES7tAd/tIUfPGRoQQe8WUs2ohJ9gtPVpsfckzTkCwf6xv5ZBr70ECTY3GhHl7ignVYxjrloyH8u48igg9YFAFEUQQLCUkXSggWhdECgUERR4kxlbLSklj6hjZWOGly0CN1j1Fgqb6T8AqZpWuhjfPC49kxi5Y69nAgajXXNspn0j4W59P8AxMLslRS3kjcBckAXezwIHwVfovTjAYQZYZRK0EER5TG8m2oJcC3YnbmgZYtRPiiosPla5tS6pZIX5gWgEh516tbG26guN+KHsxCE2ilfTPFtC7NbUB1yRpfkFF1nE01XU+vk/AMkIJNo26jV3Mm+qYNja12Y6vJOYnc+HQdyC44dxExrpJTTsD5XudlHstza2BIueaFRjs0h1OUcmt0t5qu0kuYnoFIxoF1MNxyVR4qog1zZG2s7Q26j62+SuzG3GyjMYoDJE9lhfceI1QZ8CpuhxHOwxvO4sD4qEIRgoOtQyxI6J7w/izqaoimYbOjcCD8we4hR8kmbfdIQejuHvSZnFjEX3ffsuGjXb795KvAx5pa1/stJs4HVwB2OnJeUsDxowkA7K+0vGDCwD1vlf6INMxHiVrpHsZlF3NtUD27DawtuNtUw4wxBgjzkh1hqd3E955rNv/6SNt7u95UXivEclWfVx6NP4uXTQIGWJ1ZlJIOmpd71ATN7W4Per0zCRDASdRY36kW3N+pt71WW4eHh7g6wboQ4d1xY+CBpRmzT5pvE0veANh9Eh8lgRfUlPsCiOa/kgnGDRQ+MVNzYKWrX5Wk9yq877koAHWYep+SFOwAZnbchzJRZczg0bfd0KiW502GgQOBUOk7OjRzPQDqlMcXAtZZkY9o/qed+i4uGVuUbu1d3DkPqlBzbEX7LSLD8173JQKL76RjK3m87u++iEcbWnQXPfr/x2HmuZmLtB2Wp7TTsZ7I16u/RA5paN7txYd/6clMRU7R3qNhqXu5u/pbb4lSVK3nZ3mR5oOpgbf2Ra3RcX0I5MHvI+SkQ8Af2+iUxwQQ8lNbnIPAhw+Oq4uhdzLX+IyuHvVkH35rm9gO4CCAYGu0cLOHJ4uPI8kiagOmXf8pO/wDtdzPcpiqp2G9x99yj3Ny6XuPiNdEFeqWffMeSClcRjD9R7VrX/N496CD0yiRlEgMFLukhHdApC6AQQERdYt6asYa2SOijiY0ACR7sovqTla3TTYk+S2qyxz0+YTY09UB1id/3M/8ANBQHVLWtsNe5NHyOceiaQSKXo2XbcIJLDGWaFJtso+nbonkbvJBKQuuEmpNiCPvRFSv0+/NOntFkGa8S0eSYkCzX9oeP4vj81FK9cYUXrIcw3Yb+XP8AXyVFQBBBBAEYSUsIO9PBchXXhyCDK1znEWzbaHQbnbT9CqO2S23zSxUkacr3QXnG6kP7Lng3ZcllyACSbXO/4T71W66rEbfVt1JaMx5HU7eRUc7EHWsOv6fombjfdAN1aMFprMB6qtNOUXG9/l/dT+E4wHWY+zXbA8j+hQDH5rWaFAlSGKyXf4KOmKBcRs0nm7Ty3KOkjzO12Gp8AkyiwA6D56n6LuxuWInm8geXP5IOEj7m/M6+XILmNURKNB2aRzPkE5p5Pyt80zYFJUQB8kErRBx3UzTt5FMaJo3N1JRjvQG6MI2s12QHil5kCbhJc4jkjum1Q+w0P3yQJqJevw5KKqZLA9F2qpdlG1DkCoqi+h6affVBMr80EHqvkgUEEAC6IIIA1KKJBAoKhemxo/wx/dJFb/q/dBBB57iU9hHsnx+iCCCZp9kqFBBA9pzqfBSjd/d8kEEEbiQ7B/qWZIIIAUEEEBIIIIDRIIIDajQQQLf7Lf6vmFyQQQSFYe0P9rfkEylQQQdKjc+P0XWsO3l/2o0EDNKCCCDrANVYsPaLbdEEEEtHsF1aggg6wrpJt99EEEHAbJvNuPvkgggiqhRspQQQc/0QQQQf/9k=" 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This song The Whistle Song was and will remain one of my favorite songs <br />
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Such a lovely feel and pace to it.<br />
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take it easy in the chill out room Frankie.<br />
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<br />The Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01775524714447741662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-728949282863910511.post-57481117609757460852014-03-20T11:18:00.003-07:002014-03-20T11:18:46.974-07:00I love \m/ \m/I love 'Metal'.<br />
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I always have. I have hesitated to write about it more often because the fandom of metal is somewhat intimidating. I do not mean that I am intimidated by guys with long hair and tattoos in black band t-shirts. Quite the contrary, I look to those guys as part of , if not the same at least a similar, tribe to me. <br />
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No metal fans are intimidating because of their depth of knowledge of their musical tribe and they do not appreciate it being talked about in broad brush strokes. Because metal is the most heavily compartmentalised section of the overall music spectrum. Amongst a multiple of sub genres I will have missed, and to only name a few, it breaks down into, Hard Rock, Blues Metal, Alternative metal, Thrash, Nu Metal, Emo Metal, Progressive metal, Progressive death metal, Death metal, Black Metal, Power metal, Progressive Power Metal, Grindcore, Straight Edge, Industrial metal, Rap Metal, Funk Metal, Melodic , Melodic Death, Doom metal, Sludge Metal, and so on.<br />
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So to the fans of music within these quite specific genres saying, I love metal, is like saying I love music. To which the answer is, oh really, what type?<br />
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Some metal (Sub genre Power)<br />
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I love that video (lots of love throughout this post) I especially like the bit between 2:30 and 2:40 or so. When the entire crowd thrust their hands in the air in time with the music and sing the chorus. Why? Well this is Iron Maiden (duh) filmed in Mumbai.(I have posted it before) this was filmed relatively recently, yet the song was first released 30 years ago, by a British band in what is viewed as a small section of the music spectrum. Yet, here is a sold out concert in India, which we can agree isn't the most obvious place for western music to take hold, filled with kids who are unlikely to have been born when it was first released. <br />
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This is the thing about Metal, it transcends borders , whether they be age, geographical, or cultural. No other music does this. Except perhaps Classical. Which is interesting isn't it. of course it is interesting, it is on this blog and everything here is interesting . . . .to me. Why? well some more music first<br />
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(metal is not just for boys)<br />
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People who tend to like classical music are generally considered to be more of an intellectual leaning than say lovers of Pop music. Right or wrong I think that this is the general perception. People who are into metal are considered to be the other end of the scale. Luddites who just like loud music and are as far from intellectual as you can get.<br />
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Except this isn't true is it? Generally they are people who like complicated music that has a meaning behind it. They are passionate about it and take the time to understand what they are listening to a little more than your average trend follower. Because metal has only a couple of times in it's life span been a trend (hair metal and grunge - write in if you disagree) If you say that you like metal you are basically saying to the masses that you don't care what the trend is, you just like the music. It isn't something that you attach on to for a short period of time. It isn't a ' oh I liked Slayer one summer, but not so much anymore '. No if you like Slayer , feel free to replace this band with another you have heard of , then it doesn't go away. Of course your tastes may morph and change, but it gets into you and leaves a little residue there.<br />
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However, back to my point about metal transcending borders. You can go anywhere in the world, anywhere and you will be able to find a local metal fan. I can say from my own experience that I have had conversations and listened to metal in places diverse as a restaurant in Alaska, and the Indonesian jungle. Let me tell you, The Black album by Metallica never really leaves you after doing 100kph on logging roads, through a jungle, in the rain trying to get a ferry back to civilisation . . . ever. <br />
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Why is it that it is so universal? Well, to me , it is because it makes you feel good. This can be because it allows you an outlet to frustration or anger. Just on this , before I go on to explain some of the other emotions, you almost never see a fight at a metal gig. In deed, whilst I have seen one or two, generally about something unconnected, the aggressive music does not make people fight per se. Instead it provides an outlet. Try singing next to a guy at the top of your lungs, thrusting arms in the air and jumping/ head banging and then try to fight them. It just doesn't happen. So music allows an outlet, this I think is fairly obvious. But is also allows introspection, Listen to Damnation by Opeth and tell me me after listening to some of the lyrics that you are not least a little reflective. Or anything by Tool. As per one of my recent posts , here is a song about the singers devout Christian mum and his thoughts on her beliefs and what should happen after she died.<br />
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For me, it is also a mood lifter. if I am just a little blah, I can put on any of the songs above or indeed, the thousands of other metal songs I like and I will instantly be in a better mood and feel like doing something more positive than just watching TV, or stare at a wall. Indeed, it would be fair to say that metal was one of the things that lead me to start this tiny piece of internet.<br />
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Thousands of metal songs? I would actually hazard a guess that I may have listened to maybe 5% of metal. There is so much of it. So much and yet some people don't even know that it exists. I am not sure how this is possible. but it is. Of course I am aware of the fact that I am not aware of some things that are globally popular and have been for 40 or so years. . . . Ok maybe not .<br />
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Metal can be said to have started with the first Black Sabbath album. Obviously there were lead ups to this and it can be disputed, and has been, at length. But for our purposes today that is the safest option to go for. So 44 years. I would also argue that it is not only going strong, but gathering strength with each passing year. It changes and new ways of getting the artistic vision are often coming up, hence the huge numbers of sub genre's, however, these are welcomed into the generally open arms of the metal fans.Ok, that may or may not be true. Actually, just like fans of all music, something new is treated either as a fantastic new event, or with deep suspicion that it is some way subverts what came before it. Don't believe me? ask a few metal fans about Nu Metal and see what they say. . . But that is OK. That is what happens when you care.<br />
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As a fan that new way is so fantastic though. Every time something new comes out I am keen to listen , as it just might be that thing I didn't realise I needed. For example , I never knew I needed this<br />
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But I did, and I will again in the future.<br />
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So long live Metal, you may be impossibly complicated, differentiated and underestimated. but without you the world would be a far poorer place<br />
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\m/ \m/<br />
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<br />The Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01775524714447741662noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-728949282863910511.post-79372874744178015952014-03-06T12:25:00.002-08:002014-03-06T13:14:48.589-08:00BabymetalEvery now and again I hear somethng that blows me away. generally because it is so good.<br />
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I just heard somethng that blew me away and I am not sure if it is good or not.<br />
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I mean , it is brilliant , but good is a different matter.<br />
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Anyway , just listen to this<br />
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Yes it is J-pop meets death metal . . . listen until at least 1 minute. <br />
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there isn't anything else to say is there really.The Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01775524714447741662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-728949282863910511.post-29590094470239136582014-02-26T06:38:00.000-08:002015-04-01T08:06:22.195-07:00personal image not damaged . .One of the great things about being very interested in music is the self gratifying snobbery that exists within it. Musical snobbery , disguised as 'taste' or justified as 'better knowledge', is perhaps the thing that puts people off musical discussion more than anything else. It is what being a musical hipster is all about.<br />
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I am as guilty of this as most of you reading this. Maybe more. In my defense, and I guess by extension, in yours, it is hard to listen to some music knowing that what influenced it was much better. Knowing there is so much better music out there. Knowing that what was originally ground breaking, has become a sanitized corporate output.<br />
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This is how it works.<br />
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Great bands, have some, or a lot, of success with an original sound or concept. The music industry says to itself, that is where the latest trend is, quick, we need bands like that, but a bit more radio friendly. Bang, 10 bands sort of the same come out and the public, like the musical sheep they are, lap it up like nice fresh juicy grass.Then something else comes along and they jump to the next thing. Here is a song about it:<br />
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There is also another kind, and this is perhaps more the domain of the hipster, snob, geek whatever you want to call me / yourself. . . I call this the ' I was there first' hipster.<br />
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Generally what happens here is that a band or artist , comes out with a first album, EP or something similar, and you love them. Something like this<br />
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or this:<br />
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In both of the above cases I claimed to love the band. Great band, what cool music.<br />
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Then, horror of horrors, everyone agreed. Great band.<br />
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It can be passed off, they don't really understand, they aren't as clued up, they just like the melody. So by the time the second album comes around, they are the main stream. Think also - Guns'n Roses. <br />
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You can't like the same thing that everyone one else does!<br />
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Are you mad???<br />
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So the second, 3rd, 4th, albums are decried as derivative, nothing like the first one. Success made the band lazy and they lack the punch they had to start with. The thing about this is that most people don't care. It is a little like protesting New Year's Eve and not going out because it is meaningless. The people out enjoying themselves don't care about your protest. For the most part people don't really care about other people's music taste . So you write a blog trying to convince them of how much you know . . .No seriously, when people engage you on it you have to then say, 'Yes, but they were so much better before . . don't you know, I have their first EP. Which I bought at their first ever gig, which was before half of them had met, indeed I introduced them and actually played on this' . . or other complete rubbish . . .<br />
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Sometimes you are right. In fact, there are very few bands whose later albums are better than their first few. There are some very notable exceptions. Like the album this comes from:<br />
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or this:<br />
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Anyway . . . the thing about all of this is despite the front that is shown to the world, you still know, deep inside, that you love the first album. Certainly in the case of Pearl Jam, Oasis and Guns'n Roses I do. So you come back to it after a certain amount of time, sometimes 5 years more likely to be 10 or in fact nearly 20, and you realize that it is still great. You realize that it is alright to love one album and not others. Sometimes you even begin to explore the rest of a catalogue and find some other stuff you like.<br />
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No, actually that rarely happens, because they did become lazy, but certainly you listen to the second album. Which is never as bad as you remember it to be, actually it is quite good, but your prejudice got in the way.<br />
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The point of all of this is that you believe that you managed to keep your credibility intact. But really, you just managed to convince yourself that you were special, and actually you aren't. <br />
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This is a little darker than I usually write, but it is an interesting part of becoming older and looking back. Love for music doesn't change, but your attitude to how it defines you does.<br />
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Isn't that interesting.<br />
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(Just a quick word on that Tool song, last listed in the you tube links. Listen to the whole thing. It is a song about the singer's devout christian mother who died after living for 10,000 days with severe complications after having a stroke. Whether you are a musical snob or not that is a powerful song.)The Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01775524714447741662noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-728949282863910511.post-8740129124203525242014-02-20T08:21:00.003-08:002014-02-20T08:21:58.491-08:00New Music (for me) BibioThe great thing about music is that you haven't listened to all of it. Not even close. <br />
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You can try, and waste a lot of your life trawling through dirge, the pop hit wanna-be's and the artistic noise makers. <br />
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Sometimes, though, you stumble across something that makes it all worth the while. last week I found something worthwhile and I thought I would share it with you if that is alright?<br />
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Bibio - The Green EP.<br />
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Here is a taste.<br />
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And here is another<br />
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Here is their website, or at least the record companies so you can get a feel for all of their stuff.<br />
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http://warp.net/records/bibio<br />
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I love the green EP because it is at once, quiet, but complex and somewhat mournful. While not being sad.<br />
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Which is quite an achievement.<br />
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Let me know what you think.<br />
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<br />The Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01775524714447741662noreply@blogger.com1