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Sigur Rós Frontman Releases Really, Really, Really, Really Downbeat Song. February 17, 2010

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Only kidding.

Instead, Jón Þór Birgisson, or Jónsi as he’s more commonly known, has instead released an absolutely pounding, heart-stopping, wrenching, overwhelming song of absolute and utter joyousness.

Jónsi

Is it any wonder that a collaborator on his upcoming solo album “Go” has described his songs as “ecstatic”?

I’ve posted about Sigur Rós before – a longtime fan, I’ve watched them produce more and more uplifting music (but always, always affecting), and I can honestly say I don’t think there’s another band like them that I’ve come across. And from Jónsi’s releases to date, he’s proving himself to be (in my eyes) one of the most original musicians working today.

Jónsi’s album will be his first major venture into English-language lyrics, and going by the first couple of single releases, it will be original, if a little unorthodox for everyone. So I give you “Go Do”. Loud. Happy. Foot-tapping. Hand-clapping. Charge-out-of-your-house-hug-strangers-and-achieve-your-dreams-inspirational.

More simply, ecstatic.

Go sing, too loud
Make your voice break – Sing it out
Go scream, do shout
Make an earthquake…

You wish fire, would die and turn colder
You wish, your love, could see you grow older
We should always know that we can do anything

Go drum, do go out
Make your hands ache – Play it out
Go march through crowds
Make your day break…

You wish silence, released noise in tremors
You wish, I know it, surrender to summers
We should always know that we can do everything

Go do, you’ll know how to
Just let yourself, fall into landslide

Go do, you’ll know how to
Just let yourself, give into low tide

Go do!

Tie strings to clouds
Make your own lake – Let it flow
Throw seeds to sprout
Make your own break – Let them grow

Let them grow (Endless summers)
Let them grow (Endless summers)

(Go do endless summers)

You will survive, we’ll never stop wonders
You and sunrise will never fall under

You will survive, we’ll never stop wonders
You and sunrise will never fall under
We should always know that we can do anything

Go do!

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Jónsi – Go Do

www: Jónsi’s official site and MySpace

Out Of Left Field. February 16, 2010

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There I was, watching one of the most awful bloody horror films I’ve seen in some time, for a second time (hey, what can I say, I’m a glutton for punishment…)

The final credits rolled, and just as I was about to switch over (something I should have done about 90 minutes beforehand, to be honest), something hit me out of left field.

The strange discordant note playing changed, morphed into a vocal turn reminiscent of Lisa Gerrard of Dead Can Dance fame (or, if you’re that way inclined, the beautiful haunting vocals in Gladiator as Our Hero is wandering through the fields/dying). And from there, a Matthew Ryan-esque digital backdrop, and a near-whispered delivery…

And so, I give you Lisbeth Scott.

Lisbeth Scott

Well, Nathan Barr featuring Lisbeth Scott.

I came across Nathan Barr lately, as he’s the provider of the music for True Blood (which I’m happy to admit my addiction to), and apparently

a film and television composer known for playing the majority of the instruments heard in his compositions.

Don’t you hate such talented people?

Lisbeth herself is

a vocalist who was featured on the soundtracks for the films The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, [and] The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian [.]

But we won’t hold that against her, as she’s sung on more films that you can shake a stick at, and we all have our mistakes, eh?

So, a product of them both, enjoy “Good to Me” – lyrically, a love song, but one with a slightly discordant feel, as if sung by someone obsessed.

Gorgeous tune, though.

Just not one I’d play for the one I love.

Unless I was obsessed. And unhinged.

All these things I say
The way you make me feel
I can’t believe you’re real
You are good to me
You are good to me
You are good to me

I never thought I’d find
A heart that fit with mine
Sometimes the world is kind
You are good to me
You are good to me
You are good to me

When I wander in the open world
Makes me smile to know that you’re my home

In the darkness when I toss and turn Gives me piece of mind when you hold me

All these things I say
The way you make me feel
I can’t believe you’re real
You are good to me
You are good to me
You are good to me
You are good to me
You are good to me

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Lisbeth Scott – Good to Me

www: Lisbeth Scott official site and MySpace

Double The Melancholy. February 13, 2010

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I know. I know. The delay between posts…

As ever, apologies. Work and football have taken up an awful lot of time in the last few weeks, but now it’s time for a change.

However, one other thing has slowed down my posting – I really haven’t come across anything lately that blew me away enough to warrant posting, and so I was awaiting the release of new albums by Tom McRae and Frightened Rabbit, to change that. That was, until, Robert left me a comment. And after visiting Robert’s wonderful website, I’ve realised that (1) I now have a competitor for melancholic music search terms on Google and (2) I now have a great new website to steal from keep up to date with.

Robert – thank you for introducing me to A Fine Frenzy, and I hope you don’t mind me introducing her to everyone else…

A Fine Frenzy

A Fine Frenzy is Alison Sudol, a 25-year-old native of Seattle. Seems like a nice girl, though Wikipedia is a little light on the details, while the bio on her website is the usual singer-songwriter one….”Singer Songwriter 153095 was born to an art teacher and a preacher in Backwardstown, USA. After spending 15 years listening to Etta James, Metallica and throat-singers from Finland, Singer Songwriter 153095 released their first album of piano-based songs, before their second release, consisting of the howling of wild bears…”

Anyway, I digress. A Fine Frenzy is good. Very good. Reminiscent of (and this is a big statement) a female Tom McRae, some of A Fine Frenzy’s songs soar wonderfully, while some, though nice, are quite forgettable. I bring you two of the former.

“Almost Lover” is a slow piano ballad, a counterpoint to James Blunt’s “Goodbye My Lover”, that tells a wistful, bittersweet tale, while “Near to You” – again, piano-led – is a yearning, slightly desperate, and perfect description of what happens when you fall in love too fast after a previous lover…

Your fingertips across my skin
The palm trees swaying in the wind
Images
You sang me Spanish lullabies
The sweetest sadness in your eyes
Clever trick

Well, I never want to see you unhappy
I thought you’d want the same for me

Goodbye, my almost lover
Goodbye, my hopeless dream
I’m trying not to think about you
Can’t you just let me be?
So long, my luckless romance
My back is turned on you
Should’ve known you’d bring me heartache
Almost lovers always do

We walked along a crowded street
You took my hand and danced with me
Images
And when you left, you kissed my lips
You told me you would never, never forget
These images

No

Well, I’d never want to see you unhappy
I thought you’d want the same for me

Goodbye, my almost lover
Goodbye, my hopeless dream
I’m trying not to think about you
Can’t you just let me be?
So long, my luckless romance
My back is turned on you
Should’ve known you’d bring me heartache
Almost lovers always do

I cannot go to the ocean
I cannot drive the streets at night
I cannot wake up in the morning
Without you on my mind
So you’re gone and I’m haunted
And I bet you are just fine

Did I make it that
Easy to walk right in and out
Of my life?

Goodbye, my almost lover
Goodbye, my hopeless dream
I’m trying not to think about you
Can’t you just let me be?
So long, my luckless romance
My back is turned on you
Should have known you’d bring me heartache
Almost lovers always do

He and I had something beautiful
But so dysfunctional, it couldn’t last
I loved him so but I let him go
‘Cause I knew he’d never love me back

Such pain as this
Shouldn’t have to be experienced
I’m still reeling from the loss,
Still a little bit delirious

Near to you, I am healing
But it’s taking so long
‘Cause though he’s gone
And you are wonderful
It’s hard to move on
Yet, I’m better near to you.

You and I have something different
And I’m enjoying it cautiously
I’m battle scarred, I am working oh so hard
To get back to who I used to be

He’s disappearing
Fading suddelly
I’m so close to being yours
Won’t you stay with me
Please

Near to you, I am healing
But it’s taking so long
‘Cause though he’s gone
And you are wonderful
It’s hard to move on
Yet, I’m better near to you.

I only know that I am
Better where you are
I only know that I am
Better where you are
I only know that I belong
Where you are

Near to you, I am healing
But it’s taking so long
Though he’s gone
And you are wonderful
It’s hard to move on

Near to you, I am healing
But it’s taking so long
‘Cause though he’s gone
And you are wonderful
It’s hard to move on
Yet, I’m better near to you.

Yet, I’m better near to you.

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A Fine Frenzy – Almost Lover

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A Fine Frenzy – Near to You

www: A Fine Frenzy official site and MySpace

First Class Post. December 6, 2009

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I’m not a big electronic music fan – never have been, never will be. There’s nothing I’d like less than to spend an evening out listening to methodical, repetitive beats. I got Four Tet’s “Rounds” several years ago, after hearing it was one of the most ground-breaking albums of the year. It turned out to be clapping. And beeping. And more clapping. And more beeping. And, personally speaking, a pile of shite (as we say in Ireland).

But a few years ago, I happened across a minute of a strange video on a music programme, and heard a vaguely familiar voice with a synthesized underlay. As I tend to do, I memorised a few lines of the tune, and went a-searching on the Inter-Webz.

And that’s where I came across, and fell in love with, “The District Sleeps Alone Tonight”, by the Postal Service.

The Postal Service

The familiar voice was that of Ben Gibbard, he of Death Cab for Cutie (whom I am partial to). With producer Jimmy Tamborello, Gibbard created the album which made me realise that not all electronic music is Bad.

And who couldn’t not love a band who’s

name was chosen due to the way in which it produced its songs. Tamborello wrote and performed instrumental tracks and then sent the DATs to Gibbard, who edited the song as he saw fit (adding his vocals along the way), sending them back to Tamborello via the United States Postal Service.

And of course, I should also mention my girlfriend here. Our music tastes are…not overally compatible. There are a couple of songs where we agree (music from the 60’s, some 80’s, and about 1% of the music featured on this website). But apart from that, we often tend to leave the room when the other puts on music.

However, like every couple in history, as far back as Anthony and Cleopatra (I’m pretty certain…), when we started going out, we swapped mix CD’s of music – and while there was some general grudging agreement that some of the songs featured on each weren’t THAT bad, we were both surprised to find a single song featuring on both mixes. A single song that affected us both deeply. Guess what that song was?

Smeared black ink… your palms are sweaty
And I’m barely listening to last demands
I’m staring at the asphalt wondering what’s buried underneath
Where I am
Where I am

I’ll wear my badge… a vinyl sticker with big block letters adherent to my chest
That tells your new friends I am a visitor here…
I am not permanent
And the only thing keeping me dry is
Where I am
Where I am
Where I am

You seem so out of context in this gaudy apartment complex
A stranger with your door key explaining that I am just visiting
And I am finally seeing
Why I was the one worth leaving
Why I was the one worth leaving

D.C. sleeps alone tonight

Where I am
Where I am
Where I am

You seem so so out of context in this gaudy apartment complex
A stranger with your door key explaining that I am just visiting
And I am finally seeing
Why I was the one worth leaving
Why I was the one worth leaving

Where I am
Where I am
Where I am

The district sleeps alone tonight after the bars turn out their lights
And send the autos swerving into the loneliest evening
And I am finally seeing
Why I was the one worth leaving
Why I was the one worth leaving
Why I was the one worth leaving
Why I was the one worth leaving

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The Postal Service – The District Sleeps Alone Tonight

www: The Postal Service official site (last updated over 2 years ago…) and MySpace

Biffy Go Mainstream. And I Love It. November 6, 2009

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I’ve posted about Biffy Clyro before, where I brought you their quiet-loud-quiet-loud-quiet-loud shouty rock masterpiece, “Mountains”.

Finally, Biffy have decided to release the album containing said quiet-loud-quiet-loud-quiet-loud shouty rock masterpiece (from hereon know as QLQLQLSRM) (despite that QLQLQLSRM being released well over a year ago). And….well….Biffy, back in the day, released some very experimental stuff. However, as time (and each album release) passes, Biffy have gone more and more mainstream. More accessible. Less experimental. And do you know what? I love it.

Biffy Clyro

“The Captain”, the first single release from Biffy’s new album “Only Revolutions”, is a little bit epic. Starting with 20 seconds of clapping, followed by what sounds like a big brass band introduction with heavy guitar accompaniment, obscure lyrics coming in at 40 seconds, followed by one of the most singalong moments I’ve heard in years, with the entire band chiming in for

Somebody help me sing
Woah-oh-oh-oh
Somebody help me sing
Woah-oh-oh-oh

Help me be captain of
Our crippled disguises
I won’t show what’s underneath
It’s time for surprises
I can’t climb up your ladder
I can’t ride your horse
I’ve swallowed half an hourglass
So now the landscape is swollen up

You’ll find your head nodding. You’ll find your foot tapping. You’ll find yourself singing

Woah-oh-oh-oh

And you’ll find yourself grinning like a maniac at the entire brass band at 2:44.

The whole new album is quite like this. What “Mountains” pointed to, “Only Revolutions” fulfills. There are a couple of moments that hark back to experimental times, but in the main, Biffy have glossed it up, embraced the big choruses, and done a “Final Straw” on it.

Whether it gains them new fans, or loses them old ones, remains to be seen. But I, for one, am hanging around. Mon the Biffy, indeed.

Angels fall to the floor
Like they would if I was captain
“Silver children,” She roared
“I’m not the son of God”
Somebody help me sing
Can anybody hear me?
Liars and lovers combine tonight
We’re gonna make a scene

Somebody help me sing
Woah-oh-oh-oh
Somebody help me sing
Woah-oh-oh-oh

Help me be captain of
Our crippled disguises
I won’t show what’s underneath
It’s time for surprises
I can’t climb up your ladder
I can’t ride your horse
I’ve swallowed half an hourglass
So now the landscape is swollen up

I gave birth to a fire
It’s like it’s features where burning
I’m in control
I am the son of God
Somebody help me sing
Can anybody hear me?
Line up your soldiers one final time
We’re gonna have a ball

Somebody help me sing
Woah-oh
Somebody help me sing
Woah-oh

Help me be captain of
Our crippled disguises
I won’t show what’s underneath
It’s time for surprises
I can’t climb up your ladder
I can’t ride your horse
I’ve swallowed half an hourglass
So now the landscape is swollen up

Let’s lock death away
Let’s lock death away
Let’s lock death away
Let’s lock death away
Let’s lock death away
Let’s lock death away
Let’s lock death away
Let’s lock death away

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Biffy Clyro – The Captain

www: Biffy Clyro official site and MySpace

A Friendship On The Edge. October 10, 2009

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Finbarr is a friend of mine, and has been for a number of years. However, lately, that friendship has teetered close to the edge, thanks to a single act by Finbarr. A near-unforgivable act.

Finbarr know about, and knew this, band, and hadn’t told me about them.

I am not lefthanded

I am not lefthanded are named after a quote from “The Princess Bride”, and are, in fact, not left-handed. I actually am, but that’s a story for another day.

And they’re good. In fact, they’re fantastic. In fact, upon hearing two of their songs, I signed back into my iTunes account (I detest iTunes, and Apple, but that’s a story for another day as well), updated my credit card details, and bought their EP. All within 10 minutes of hearing the first chords of a single song. Yes, they have that type of effect. These guys are just stunning.

In their own words:

We don’t play pop music, we don’t write music for art’s sake, we don’t represent any movements, we’re not hip, we’re not cutting edge, we don’t dress to be cool. We do manage ourselves, we write our own songs, we do our own recordings, we shoot our own videos, we design our own covers, we made our own website. We’re not generally negative people – oh yes, and we’re not lefthanded.

We like our name because it doesn’t say anything about who we are or what we do, we like to give our music a chance to do that. That said, we would liken ourselves (if we have to) to a darker Rilo Kiley, a rockier Death Cab for Cutie, a girlier We Are Scientists, a wordier Jimmy Eat World. Other people have likened us to Mazzy Starr, The Cardigans, The Postal Service, 10,000 Maniacs, jj72 – so if you shake all that up you might get some kind of idea.

We like to sing (except Benji who will only sing on his own, in a car). We like to get loud when we can (Tubescreamers are good!). We only play music that makes us feel something, in our gut. We like music that’s honest. We’re mostly Irish, partly Cornish (not corny!). We live in London. We really like playing music, everywhere we can.

I am not lefthanded

In my own words: wow. Just, wow. For your listening pleasure, I give you “Long Goodbyes” – 4 of the most affecting minutes I’ve experienced. Starting with a repetitive, haunting guitar melody, followed by the entry of the wonderful voice of Kathryn Williams at 31 seconds, which expands over the next minute, building to a crescendo of drums and voices from then onwards – and if you don’t get a shiver down your spine at 2.02, you obviously have no appreciation for music. And as for the lyrics…well, if

Where long grass grows
Is where I’ll let go

Doesn’t break your heart, you’ve never loved.

Go buy their EP, the exquisitely named “Yes Means No: 6 & 1/6th songs that don’t always give a straight answer” right now. Go. Now. The links are at the bottom of the post.

My feet trip on your dances,
Of all the great romances, I wish
You’d passed me by

I check your eyes for any sign they’ve misted,
My stomach’s cold and twisted as the stony skies
I hate long goodbyes

Long grass will hide
My last reply
Where long grass grows
Is where I’ll let go

Cause I might forget
The meanings and the mistakes
And I might regret
Cause the devil’s in your details
But I can’t accept
That you might want it this way
So I’ll go, confess,
Tell it to the north-east wind

Long grass will hide
My last reply
I’ll bury deep
The thoughts I keep

This city’s found
On solid ground
Where long grass grows
Is where I’ll let go

And the wonderfully monikered “boatsbutnottheocean” – a little less epic, a little more intimate. An insistent guitar melody, with some beautiful duetting from 1:02 onwards. If ever a song could define yearning, this would be it. Yearning, tempered with the acceptance of another person’s needs that comes with love.

Have you bought the EP yet?

Make a wish on distant stars
For a faster, redder car
And wait, see if it comes true

For a house on distant streets
Dream of nights in softer sheets
This beach, will wait

So I know you’re tired,
So leave it to the tide
I’m on your side,
When weather’s right,
Come sailing home

Let the dark subside,
Just leave it to one side,
I’m on your side,
When weather’s right,
Come sailing home again

Walk the land and see the shore,
Think of less, and want for more,
And wait, to keep the gray from blue

In a house on distant streets,
Someone dreams a distant beach,
And waits, they wait

So I know you’re tired
So leave it to the tide
I’m on your side,
When weather’s right,
Come sailing home

Let the dark subside,
Just leave it to one side,
I’m on your side,
When weather’s right,
You’ll see it swept away,
You’ll see it swept away

Finbarr, because this band is so utterly amazing, I forgive you. Just don’t it again.

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I am not lefthanded – Long Goodbyes

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I am not lefthanded – boatsbutnottheocean

www: I am not lefthanded official site, MySpace, and BUY THE ALBUM ON iTUNES OR FROM LETTERBOXRECORDS.COM NOW!

Wanderlust Personified. October 5, 2009

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A little something about me – I love to travel. Not just the end destination, but the actual act of journeying. 8 hours on an overnight train in Russia; a 27 hour (and 7 train) trek from the Czech Republic to Spain – give me a train, a plane and/or an automobile, and I’m content. While the wanderlust has reduced in the couple of years, I am lucky enough to have a girlfriend willing to put with me wandering off to places like Russia and South America every so often.

And so, to all my fellow travelers, let our anthem’s author be Frank Turner.

Frank Turner

Our Frank is

an English folk singer-songwriter, and former vocalist of post-hardcore band Million Dead.

Folk and post-hardcore. As you do. I wonder what post-folk would sound like?

Anyhow, I came across “The Road” (from the album “Poetry of the Deed”) on some obscure music channel while flicking around one evening (okay, fine, it was probably in the wee hours…), and was suitably enraptured at the insistent time signature, the foot-tapping guitar line, and the imagination-capturing lyrics. Sounding like an acoustic version of the Levellers, listen out for Frank’s slipping into a distinctly hardcore approach between 2:21 and 2:59…and the next time you decide to go traveling, why not play “The Road” as loud as possible, despite the stares?

To the east to the east
The road beneath my feet
To the west to the west
I haven’t got there yet
And to the north to the north
Never to be caught
To the south to the south
My time is running out

Ever since my childhood I’ve been scared I’ve been afraid
Of being trapped by circumstance and staying in one place
So I always keep a small bag full of clothes carefully stored
Somewhere secret somewhere safe
And somewhere close to the door

Well I’ve traveled many countries I’ve washed my feet in many seas
I’ve drunk with drifters in Vienna and with punks in old DC
And I’ve driven across deserts driven by the irony
That only being shackled to the the road could ever I be free

To the east to the east
The road beneath my feet
To the west to the west
I haven’t got there yet
And to the north to the north
Never to be caught
To the south to the south
My time is running out

I’ve felt old before my time but now I keep the age away
By burning up the miles and yeah by filling up my days
And the nights a thousand nights I’ve played
And a thousand more to go
Before I take a breath and steal myself
For the next one thousand shows

To the east to the east
The road beneath my feet
To the west to the west
I haven’t got there yet
And to the north to the north
Never to be caught
To the south to the south
My time is running out

Yes so saddle up your horses now and keep your powder dry
Cause the truth is you won’t be here long
Yeah soon your going to die
To the heart, to the heart there’s no time for you to waste
You wont find your precious answers now by staying in one place
Yeah by giving up the chase

To the east to the east
The road beneath my feet
To the west to the west
I haven’t got there yet
And to the north to the north
Never to be caught
To the south to the south
My time is running out
To the south to the south
My time is running out
To the south to the south
My time is running out

I face the horizon everywhere I go
I face the horizon the horizon is my home
I face the horizon everywhere I go
I face the horizon the horizon is my home

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Frank Turner – The Road

www: Frank’s official site and MySpace

Back From The Hack, With A Damnwell Great Deal. September 27, 2009

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So, the short version – I was hacked. But thanks to some great work from my hosting company HostGator, I’m back.

And back with a vengance. I have to thank my bestest music buddy in the whole wide world, Andrea, and her provision of a few of her recommended tunes. As I browsed through these, one of them suddenly jumped out at me – “Dandelion”, by the Damnwells.

The Damnwells

My initial reaction was, “Hmmmm, this is very Ryan Adams….Well, no, this is very Ryan Adams pre-Ryan Adams, when he was with a fantastic alt-country group called Whiskeytown”. Yes, yes I do actually think in sentences like that. Sad, isn’t it?

Anyway, I digress. Doing some research on the Damnwells (well, reading their Wikipedia entry), I gave myself a congratulatory pat on the back when I read:

and Steven Terry (ex-Whiskeytown) on drums.

Although said entry does insist they’re an “indie rock band”, they’re not really. They are, however, one of the few bands who “get” the way music is going in this day and age. From their website:

As of February 10, 2009, we will be offering the new Damnwells record, One Last Century, for free download from the website. Click Here (opens in new window) to download the record for free.

A few words regarding this free record.

I suppose the hardest thing to explain to people is why I’m giving this record away. “You’re just going to give it away?” seems antithetical to the human brain. “Is this just a bunch of b-sides or something? Some ‘give away’ material you don’t mind releasing into the ether?” No. Quite the contrary. I have never worked so hard or put so much of myself into a collection of recorded songs. It is for just this reason that I want to give it away. To me it makes perfect sense. I just want people to hear this music, and I don’t want them to have to enter into some kind of contractual agreement with a third party to do so. Download the record, copy it and give it to your friends, lovers, and enemies. Whatever. It’s so hard these days just to get the actual music into people’s houses and cars, let alone their ears. Besides, I know everyone’s broke, maybe I can supply the soundtrack. So, I just want to give this music away because I want people to hear it. I should have done this years ago. I’m starting over.

So, I give you a wonderful little ditty called Dandelion, all alt-country happiness and bouncy plucked guitars…I dare you not to tap your feet to this one…

Hey little stick around girl
I wanna know why
Why do you turn me outside?
Can’t you just turn around?
My money is on the heartbreak
My hands are on the wheel
Hey little kiss a while girl
Didn’t I see you cry?

Hey honey Saturday high
Even though it’s Monday night
I see you runnin’ ‘way girl
Runnin’ since your 16
My eyes are on the last page
Money’s come and gone
Hey honey what I want is
Whatever you gonna give
Whatever you gonna give
To me

I don’t wanna be a maybe
Baby let me drive you crazy
Wanna be your dandelion
Don’t you go and leave me stranded
I’m empty on my second hand and
So if you give me little time
I wanna be your dandelion

Hey little lonely smile girl
Singin’ behind your eyes
Destination’s never known but I’m always there on time
Money’s on the heartbreak
My hands are on the wheel
Hey honey what I want is
Whatever you gonna give
Whatever you gonna give
To me

I don’t wanna be a maybe
Baby let me drive you crazy
Wanna be your dandelion
Don’t you go and leave me stranded
I’m empty on my second hand and
So if you give me little time
I wanna be your dandelion

I don’t wanna be a maybe
Baby let me drive you crazy
Wanna be your dandelion
Don’t you go and leave me stranded
I’m empty on my second hand and
So if you give me little time
I wanna be your dandelion

So, get yourself to the Damnwells website, get yourself a copy of their new album “One Last Century” for free, and enjoy every second of it.

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The Damnwells – Dandelion

www: The Damnwells official site

Hello? Is There Anybody Out There? August 9, 2009

Posted by admin in : Songs , 5comments

Hello? Hello? Helllllllllllllllllllllllloooooooooooooo?

Is there anybody out there?

If not, I wouldn’t blame you…After over a month, I’m finally back – but you might not be.

Apologies – life, as ever, got in the way. All good, but time-consuming.

As ever, with my apologies, comes my peace offering. And it’s a doozy.

Rosi Golan

Rosi Golan is an Israeli-born, well-traveled young lady. And to be honest, that’s about all I could find out from her biography on her website. But with a voice like this, we can forgive her. Essentially the female William Fitzsimmons – without the beard.

I give you two peace offerings, from her album “The Drifter and the Gypsy”. Firstly, the inviting “Come Around” – lush piano, a haunting voice reminiscent of Regina Spector, the introduction of drums et al at 1:15, and the most perfect line, “You feel like breathing”.

So high tonight and I don’t feel like coming down
I could lie to you all my days but you’re the one
You’re the one

And I’m a fool for waiting so long to let you know

Come around
Come around
Come around
Come around to me
There’s something in between you and I
Come around
Come around to me
If you feel like breathing come around
Come around
Come around
Come around to me

Like sunlight won’t you come and lay a ray down
You’re the one
I could run
I could run for the life of me but where would that get me
Where would that lead

And I’m a fool for waiting so long

Please come around
Come around
Come around
Come around to me
There’s something in between you and I
Come around
Come around to me
Oh
You feel like breathing
Come around
Come around
Come around
Come around to me

Can’t you see you’re my life line
Ah
Ah
Ah
Ah
Ah

Come around
Come around
Come around
Come around to me

Come around
Come around
Come around
Come around to me

Come around
Come around
Come around
Come around to me
There’s something in between you and I
Come around
Come around to me
Oh
You feel like breathing
Come around
Come around
Come around
Come around to me

Come around
Come around
Come around
Come around to me

Come around
Come around
Come around
Come around to me

Come around
Come around
Come around
Come around to me

Come around to me

And following that, the aforementioned William joins Rosi for the absolutely gorgeous “Hazy” – two lovers sing the same lines to each other in turn, joining together for a repetition of the chorus, joined with a simple guitar strum and single piano notes. Proof positive that simple is powerful.

I watched you sleeping quietly in my bed
You don’t know this now but there’s some things that need to be said
And it’s all that I can hear
It’s more than I can bare

What if I fall and hurt myself?
Would you know how to fix me
What if I went and lost myself?
Would you know where to find me
If I forgot who I am,
would you please remind me oh?
Cause without you things go hazy

I watched you sleeping quietly in my bed
You don’t know this now but there’s some things that need to be said
And it’s all that I can hear
It’s more than I can bare

What if I fall and hurt myself?
Would you know how to fix me?
What if I went and lost myself?
Would you know where to find me?
If I forgot who I am, would you please remind me oh?
Cause without you things go hazy

What if I fall and hurt myself?
Would you know how to fix me?
What if I went and lost myself?
Would you know where to find me?
If I forgot who I am, would you please remind me oh?
Cause without you things go hazy

So – am I forgiven?

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Rosi Golan – Come Around

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Rosi Golan with William Fitzsimmons – Hazy

www: Rosi Golan official site and MySpace

Finally. Finally. FINALLY! June 19, 2009

Posted by admin in : Songs , 5comments

Finally.

I give you one of the most haunting, spine-chilling, affecting songs of 2009. Even of the 2000’s. Florence and the Machine’s “Cosmic Love”, currently finding an audience through being featured on an O2 ad. As soon as I heard this for the first time many weeks ago, I spent hours trying to track down the song, to no avail. But now – finally.

Florence and the Machine

With the voice of Kate Bush. Of Bjork. With the ability to paint soundscapes of Tom Waits. Of Nick Cave. With music that features harps, choirs, drums, string quartets, sighing, electronic wailing.

Soaring. Epic. Heart-breaking.

Even simply reading the lyrics will give you chills.

It’s time to lose yourself. This will affect you deeply.

A falling star fell from your heart and landed in my eyes
I screamed aloud, as it tore through them, and now it’s left me blind

The stars, the moon, they have all been blown out
You left me in the dark
No dawn, no day, I’m always in this twilight
In the shadow of your heart

And in the dark, I can hear your heartbeat
I tried to find the sound
But then it stopped, and I was in the darkness,
So darkness I became

The stars, the moon, they have all been blown out
You left me in the dark
No dawn, no day, I’m always in this twilight
In the shadow of your heart

I took the stars from our eyes, and then I made a map
And knew that somehow I could find my way back
Then I heard your heart beating, you were in the darkness too
So I stayed in the darkness with you

The stars, the moon, they have all been blown out
You left me in the dark
No dawn, no day, I’m always in this twilight
In the shadow of your heart

The stars, the moon, they have all been blown out
You left me in the dark
No dawn, no day, I’m always in this twilight
In the shadow of your heart

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Florence and the Machine – Cosmic Love

www: Florence and the Machine official site and MySpace

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