Peter Bradley Adams Is Living In My House. April 5, 2010
Posted by admin in : Songs , trackbackAccording to Wikipedia, Peter Bradley Adams is
a folk-pop Americana singer-songwriter from Birmingham, Alabama.
How wonderfully nondescript and forgettable. And that’s how I approached PBA’s music. Having seen an ad on Facebook advertising his music, since I had said I liked William Fitzsimmons, I clicked through, listened, and realised I had heard it before – in two ways. Firstly, I had already gotten some music by PBA. And secondly, I had heard this type of song a hundred times before over the last few years.
And then, damn it, things got weird.
I listened to all three PBA albums back to back one day (2006′s “Gather Up”, 2008′s “Leavetaking” and 2009′s “Traces”).
And then a second time.
And a third.
I put them on my MP3 player.
I started to recommend his songs to friends.
And now I realise he’s one of my finds of the last two or three years.
So, from Leavetaking (the strongest of the three albums by a long way), I give you “Los Angeles” and “Always”, and from Traces, “Walk Away”.
Always – a piano motif, PBA’s wonderfully affecting voice, a second female vocalist on the chorus, and a song of utter, utter desperation.
You can break her down
With your highs and lows
But she’s familiar with the sound
The sound you make, every time you goAlways
Always she waits for you
Always
Always she waits for youThis holiday she’s alone
She leaves the lights on the tree
And though the New Year has come
Every night, they’ll stay on for you to seeAlways
Always she waits for you
Always
Always she waits for you
AlwaysAlways
Always she waits for you
Always
Always she waits for you
AlwaysYou’ve been away too long
But she will choose to believe
And her heart is so strong
It’s strong enough, if only it could seeAlways
Always she waits for you
Always
Always she waits for you
AlwaysAlways
Always she waits for you
Always
Always she waits for you
AlwaysEvery day she waits
And instead you walk away
Los Angeles – a repetitive guitar and piano backing, with a slow build to something overwhelmingly beautiful.
Oh Los Angeles we leave you now
At the setting of your skies
As we leave the comfort of your ground
With your angels we will flyWell you carried us in broken dreams
Like a mother does her sons
We were scattered ‘cross your dirty streets
We were dying one by oneAnd you held us in your city lights
When our eyes had lost the stars
And we made our peace with lonely nights
And you healed our broken heartsWell they say the Big One’s gonna come
And you will fall into the sea
We will know that then your work is done
And your angels will go free
And Walk Away – an upbeat plucked guitar line with another female vocalist chorus, some wonderful violin support, and one of the simplest and saddest songs I’ve come across in some time.
I don’t have much but these dreams that lead to nowhere
You don’t say much but I can see your disappointmentYou don’t know what I’m saying, don’t know how long I’ve waited
I’m standing, heart breaking
And you just walk awayI know you’ve tried to understand the life I’m living
But how can you give something you were never given?You don’t know what I’m saying, don’t know how long I’ve waited
I’m standing, heart breaking
And you just walk awayThose plans you made always came with their conditions
I cannot change that my heart was never in themYou don’t know what I’m saying, don’t know how long I’ve waited
I’m standing, heart breaking
And you just walk away
I’m standing, heart breaking
And you just walk away
Away
Away
Peter Bradley Adams. Now living in my house (and MP3 player). Can we keep him?
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Peter Bradley Adams – Los Angeles
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Peter Bradley Adams – Walk Away
www: Peter Bradley Adams’ official website and MySpace.
Comments»
Ha – that one is a winner, Ivan! At least for me. If it’s a sad man with a guitar, I just prefer the smoother American way over the somewhat naked style of the Europeans. Reminds me of Greg Laswell which I quite adore, too! Nice…
My name is Marc Ratner and I manager Peter – and that’s just about the best blog written about him I’ve even seen and he gets written about a lot. Thank you so much. I’ve forwarded this to Peter and all of the people that work with him. And if you haven’t seen yet – here is some free Peter music that you may not have. First – http://www.peterbradleyadams.com/free/ep – you can get a new acoustic version of “Los Angeles” by signing up for his mailing list, (and a free song from each of 3 albums with no signup or email required). And at this link – which is brand new as of yesterday – http://www.peterbradleyadams.com/free/betterway – a song from the “Traces” sessions that is not on the cd. No sign up or email required. And if you’re interested Peter is using Kickstarter.com to raise funds to record his next album – http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/815749248/peter-bradley-adams-is-making-a-new-record?pos=1
Thanks again, Marc
Marc, thank you very much for the kind words – I’m pretty dumbfounded
And, of course, for the links and heads-up on the new album approach!
Oh this is gorgeous – thank you so much for the recommendation! Flawless taste as always.
Why, thank you