Hurt

I hurt myself today
To see if I still feel
I focus on the pain
The only thing that's real
The needle tears a hole
The old familiar sting
Try to kill it all away
But I remember everything

What have I become
My sweetest friend
Everyone I know goes away
In the end
And you could have it all
My empire of dirt
I will let you down
I will make you hurt

I wear this crown of thorns
Upon my liar's chair
Full of broken thoughts
I cannot repair
Beneath the stains of time
The feelings disappear
You are someone else
I am still right here

What have I become
My sweetest friend
Everyone I know goes away
In the end
And you could have it all
My empire of dirt
I will let you down
I will make you hurt

If I could start again
A million miles away
I would keep myself
I would find a way - Trent Reznor

Written by Trent Reznor and first performed by Nine Inch Nails on their 1994 Album, 'The Downward Spiral' (which features the rather excellent track, 'A Warm Place').

The Nine INch Nails version doesn't really do much for me, but Johnny Cash's version from his 2002 album 'American IV: The Man Comes Around', which is mostly comprised of covers of other people's songs, is mind-bogglingly good, in a low key, sort of depressing kind of way.

You can listen to it on YouTube by visiting http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmVAWKfJ4Go

Brandi Carlile @ Arts Theatre London

I've just arrived at home after seeing Brandi Carlile at the Arts Theatre London. It was awesome! AWESOME!

Before I say any more I have to thank Ellie for saving my sanity and arranging tickets for me when I thought all hope was lost. I also have to thank Kate for restoring my faith in human kindness by offering me a pair of tickets today. Bless you both.

This was my first visit to the Arts Theatre and I have to say that it is a really nice venue for a gig. It looked like there were about 300 seats in a nice compact, yet comfortable space. Every seat was filled, and there were enough people to create a great atmosphere, but the venue is small enough for everyone to be close to the artists. I understand that tonight's performance will be the last concert at the Arts Theatre. This is a shame.

Phil Campbell opened up, and I have to say he was very, very good. I haven't heard of him or any of his songs before, but I was very impressed.

His voice is much larger than he is (he bumped into me on the way out), and his songwriting is quite accomplished. The only thing I could fault him on (and only a little) was his stage craft.

He didn't really connect with the audience. Still there's nothing wrong with his singing or his songwriting, and I'm thinking of going to see him perform again, soon.

Now, Brandi Carlile.

Did I say awesome? Oh, I did. Hmmm; thesaurus time... how about, great, incredible, fabulous, amazing, astounding, fantastic, superb or outstanding? Take your pick, they all apply in bucket loads.

From the very first song, all the way through to the end of the performance, she (and to be fair, the rest of the band also) had a great stage presence. The kind of interaction with the audience that make the audience feel part of the performance and makes a gig worth going to.

That alone would have made it a good gig, but what elevated it to awesome status was the the face that each song was wonderfully and in many cases, energetically performed.

Add the fact that she has a great voice and talent for songwriting and you get an awesome gig. It's a simple recipe really.

There was old stuff, new stuff from the next album, covers of 'Creep' by Radiohead & Jeff Buckley's version of 'Hallelulah' (which happens to be one of my favorite songs) to close the set.

Every song was played just about perfectly and the only real disappointment was the lighting engineer's foray into random psuedo-psychadellic lighting on one song, relatively early in the set, which thankfully wasn't repeated.

After a bit of reflection I'd have to say that the gig was at least as good as the Willie Nelson concert I went to at the Apollo in May (but not as long, he may be old, but he can go on for hours). It was almost as good as seeing the Boss at the Emirates Stadium. I can't give her any higher praise than that.

So there you have it, I'm a fan. I even bought a T-shirt!

I'm torn about posting this. The more people that are aware of Brandi's great voice, lyrics and performances, the harder it will be to get tickets. With a bit of luck she'll be performing in London again before too long.

Whenever it is, I'll definitely be trying to buy a few tickets.

Mrs. McGrath

"Oh, Mrs. McGrath," the sergeant said
"Would you like a soldier of your son Ted
With a scarlett coat and a big cocked hat
Oh, Mrs. McGrath, wouldn't you like that?"

Chorus:
With your too-ri-a, fol-di-diddle-da, too-ri, oor-ri, oor-ri-a
With your too-ri-a, fol-di-diddle-da, too-ri, oor-ri, oor-ri-a

Now, Mrs. McGrath lived on the shore
And after seven years or more
She spied a ship coming into the bay
With her son from far away"

"Oh captain dear, where have you been
You´ve been sailing the Mediterranean
Have you news of my son Ted
Is he living or is he dead?"

Chorus

Up came Ted without any legs
And in their place, two wooden pegs.
She kissed him a dozen times or two
And said "My god, Ted is it you"

"Now were you drunk or were you blind
When you left your two fine legs behind
Or was it walking upon the sea
That wore your two fine legs away?"

Chorus

"No, I wasn't drunk and I wasn't blind
When I left my two fine legs behind
A cannon ball on the fifth of May
Tore my two fine legs away"

"My Teddyboy," the widow cried
"Your two fine legs were your mothers pride
Stumps of a tree won't do at all
Why didn't you run from the cannon ball?"

Chorus

"All foreign wars I do proclaim
live on the blood and the mothers pain
I'd rather have my son as he used to be
Than the King of America and his whole navy"

Chorus - Irish folk song as sung by Bruce Springsteen

The lyrics don't really do it justice, the performance on the Bruce Springsteen with the Sessions Band: Live In Dublin DVD is fantastic!

I first saw (and recorded it) on BBC Four but do yourself a favour and buy yourself the DVD or CD (or both as the audio quality is better).

The entire set is fantastic! Yes some tracks are better than other but that is a matter of personal preference, the entire concert is of such a high standard that you have to (see and) hear it to believe it. I'll defy yuo to not find two of three songs that really like and not to be humming one or two for a few days after you first hear it. It really is that good!

Mmmm ... Flamenco Metal Anyone?

Saw a highlight clip from Glastonbury featuring Rodrigo y Gabriela a pair of guitarists with serious class.

You can view a pretty poor quality video (audio is okay) of their Glasto set here.

Enjoy :)

New Speakers

I was lucky enough to receive a new set of speakers for my PC this Christmas which I have only just got around to connecting to my PC. The new speakers are Logitech® X-230 Speakers, which replace my ageing Altec Lansing ACS 33 Speakers.

The Logitech speakers are fantastic, they have a clarity that the old Altec Lansing speakers couldn't come close to. They are also a little more powerful which is useful. The signal to noise ratio of the new speakers are quoted at 96dB vs. the 65dB of the old ones and I believe that the SN ratio is accurate, the difference in sound quality is like chalk and cheese. The THD isn't quoted but I think that it is quite low, much lower than the ACS 33s.

I don't know why I didn't think of upgrading ages ago. I'm still finding it hard to believe that speakers of this quality are available for so little money. They sound almost as good as my much, much, much more expensive Sony seperates.

I've been listening to all sorts of music this morning and every single track sounds more detailed and crisp. The only downside is that the mp3s that I created in the early days at 128kbps when hard disk space was limited all sound hideous now. I'm going to have to rip them all again at 320kbps or I wont be able to listen to them.

XFM LONDON: Rocks!

XFM LONDON (104.9FM) Rocks.
Let me say that again... XFM LONDON: Rocks!

I've done a lot of driving today and the only thing that kept me awake at the wheel was the absolute stunning selection of tracks that kept pouring out of XFM.

I only found the station by accident, the continuous drone of Christmas music on the other preset stations forced me to scan the frequencies to avoid lapsing into a catatonic state, and I luckily landed on XFM. Every track was a downright inspired selection and every track seemed better than the last.

It is now a preset in the car for my future aural enjoyment.

Thank you XFM and in particular Iain Baker you have got me safely through the day (and kept me alert enought to survive the ignorant, blind and downright rude drivers I've had the bad fortune to come across today), and now I'll be able to enjoy Christmas tomorrow.

Now I can get on with the business of getting rip roaring drunk in the comfort of my own home with a few dozen friends and family.

Cheers & Merry Christams to everyone.

Hope There's Someone

Hope there's someone
Who'll take care of me
When I die, will I go

Hope there's someone
Who'll set my heart free
Nice to hold when I'm tired

There's a ghost on the horizon
When I go to bed
How can I fall asleep at night
How will I rest my head

Oh I'm scared of the middle place
Between light and nowhere
I don't want to be the one
Left in there, left in there

There's a man on the horizon
Wish that I'd go to bed
If I fall to his feet tonight
Will allow rest my head

So here's hoping I will not drown
Or paralyze in light
And godsend I don't want to go
To the seal's watershed

Hope there's someone
Who'll take care of me
When I die, Will I go

Hope there's someone
Who'll set my heart free
Nice to hold when I'm tired
- Antony & The Johnsons

Haunting track.

Used a lot on television but they usually cut it to the first 2:25 as there is a funky bit of piano and moaning at the end. I can't say that I disagree with the decision, it does have the effect of dragging a serrated blade over your teeth, ouch!

When You Were Young

Is it there in your heartache?
Waiting on some beautiful boy to
To save you from your old ways
You play forgiveness
Watch it now - here he comes

He doesn't look a thing like Jesus
But he talks like a gentlemen
Like you imagined when you were young

Can we climb this mountain
I don't know
Higher now than ever before
I know we can make it if we take it slow
Let's take it easy
Easy now, watch it go

We're burning down the highway skyline
On the back of a hurricane that started turning
When you were young
When you were young

And sometimes you close your eyes
and see the place where you used to live
When you were young

They say the devil's water, it ain't so sweet
You don't have to drink right now
But you can dip your feet
Every once in a little while

Is it there in your heartache?
Waiting on some beautiful boy to
To save you from your old ways
You play forgiveness
Watch it now here he comes

He doesn't look a thing like Jesus
But he talks like a gentlemen
Like you imagined when you were young
(He talks like a gentlemen, like you imagined when)
When you were young

I said he doesn't look a thing like Jesus
He doesn't look a thing like Jesus
But more than you'll ever know- The Killers

The Killers - Sam's Town

I recently aquired The Killers new album Sam's Town and after listening to it in its entirety I think that it is very good. I really enjoyed the album, especially the single "When You Were Young", which I must confess I have played a few times in succession (more than once).

"Bling (Confessions Of A King)" has a melody which sucks you in and pulls you along like a rip tide (without the unpleasant drowning side effects), "For reasons Unknown2 is also a catchy little number. "Read my Mind" is very pleasant, you get the idea, it is a great album to listen to.

I think it would be particulalry good for a long drive through the country where you don't have to pay particular attention to the speed limit.

Bedouin Soundclash

I discovered Bedouin Soundclash last night. They perform a nice mix of reggae & rock that is surprisingly relaxing yet stimulating, just the thing for a Sunday morning. In fact I'm listening to their album Root Fire as I write this message.

I'm not sure how best to describe the quality of their tracks. 'Johnny Go To New York' reminds me on many levels of early Police tracks, probably because the devilvery of the song is similar to 'Roxeanne'. 'Back To The Matter' has a very famliar feel to it, but I can't put my finger on exactly why, but it does remind me a little of Madness. 'Santa Monica' has a bit of a Californian rock vibe going. 'Mandrake Root' seems to have been influenced by a lot of familiar stuff, but mostly Bob Marley. 'Natural Right' definately has 'Men at Work' 'Land Down Under' influences. I could go on but that would spoil the fun of listening to it for yourself.

If you are a little bored with what you have on your iPod or iRiver at the moment and are looking for something a little different yet a little familiar I heartily recommend giving Bedouin Soundclash's Root Fire a try.

Paul Simon @ Wembley

I went to see Paul Simon in concert at Wembley Arena last night. Had a good time. It wasn't quite what I had expected. For starters there wasn't the large backing vocal section that I was hoping for and Wembley Arena isn't the best venue from an acoustic perspective.

It wasn't until the third song that the sound engineers got the levels correct and even then it was a little dodgy. Paul played a lot of his more popular songs and the performace was great. Despite being one of the shortest people you'll ever see on stage he has a great stage presence. The band was quite good and the delivery of the songs was great, but te atmosphere was lacking. Wembley Area is probably too large for this kind of music.

Not Ready Yet

For some bizarre reason Not Ready Yet by the Eels has been on continuous loop in my head since Monday. I don't recall hearing the track recently so something must have triggered it from memory. Songs sometimes get attached to emotions, so something that happened this week may have triggered it (though I'd be at a complete loss to tell you what it was or why it triggered it).

For those of you who don't know the lyrics, they are below.

There's a world outside
And I know, 'cause I've heard talk
In my sweetest dream
I would go out for a walk

But I don't think I'm ready yet
Not feelin' up to it now
Just not that steady yet
And I don't need you telling me how

There's some happiness
If my stone face cracks again
Maybe some time sooner or later

But I don't think I'm ready yet
I'm not feelin' up to it now
Just not that steady yet
And I don't need You telling me how

So if I leave my room
Don't you tell me to lighten up
Maybe some time sooner or later

But I don't think I'm ready yet
Not feelin' up to it now
Just not that steady yet
I don't need you telling me how

I don't need you telling me how
I don't need you telling me how
I don't need you telling me how
I don't need you telling me how
I don't need you telling me how
I don't need you telling me how
I don't, don't need you telling me how - The Eels

The song is from the album Beautiful Freak which I have on CD somewhere. I'll have to dig it out this weekend and have a listen as despite not having listened to it for at least a few years I remember it being a really good album.

Lawyers, Guns and Money

As I write this I am listening to the music of Warren Zevon which I recently came across through the title music at the beginning of the TV series Justice. The song they use is 'Lawyers, Guns and Money', which is quite brilliant in its simplicity.

He also wrote a few other songs which you might have heard before, 'Werewolves of London' and the much covered 'Carmelita' being two notable examples. I acquired a copy of his album 'Genius: the Best of Warren Zevon' and I must say that I am enjoying it very much.

His style is very folk and country music inspired, but with lashings of early pop music thrown in, in essence 70's West Coast (peyote inspired?) experimental fusion. It is very 70's but that isn't a bad thing in this case. It is a very relaxing, comfortable listen with lyrics that will put a grin or a small smile on your face every now and again if you are paying attention.

I went home with the waitress
The way I always do
How was I to know
She was with the Russians, too

I was gambling in Havana
I took a little risk
Send lawyers, guns and money
Dad, get me out of this, ha

I'm the innocent bystander
But somehow I got stuck
Between a rock and a hard place
And I'm down on my luck
Yes, I'm down on my luck
Well, I'm down on my luck

Now I'm hiding in Honduras
I'm a desperate man
Send lawyers, guns and money
The shit has hit the fan

Send lawyers, guns and money
Send lawyers, guns and money
Send lawyers, guns and money
Send lawyers, guns and money
- Warren Zevon

The Bad Plus

I have to thank Mark for introducing me to The Bad Plus in a roundabout kind of way. He was playing 'Exit Music: Songs With Radio Heads', which is a good album, when one of the songs really caught my attention.

The song in question was a rendition of 'Karma Police' by The Bad Plus. It blew my mind and in the past few days I have been listening to more of their stuff wherever I can find it.

Thb Bad Plus website led me to their MySpace page where I listed to what was there.

I am particularly fond of "And Here We Test Our Powers Of Observation", which has 'Rush' overtones and 'Crowded House' undertones. I would suggest this a starting point for a foray into the music of the Bad Plus. To follow it I'd suggest grabbing their rendition of 'Karma Police' by both ears as firmly as you can, hanging on to the bassline and trying not to fall off.

If you don't like those two tracks listen again! Your barbarian ears are probably clogged with the detritus of modern pop music and simply need a good clean. To that end I'd recommend a good dose of 'Songs for the Deaf' at max volume, ears suitably cleaned you can then return to the Bad Plus.

And for a finale to the foray, 'Anthem for the Earnest' to return you to what passes for normality.

Set Fire to the Third Bar

I find the map and draw a straight line
Over rivers, farms, and state lines
The distance from here to where you'd be
It's only finger-lengths that I see
I touch the place where I'd find your face
My finger in creases of distant dark places

I hang my coat up in the first bar
There is no peace that I've found so far
The laughter penetrates my silence
As drunken men find flaws in science

Their words mostly noises
Ghosts with just voices
Your words in my memory
Are like music to me

I'm miles from where you are,
I lay down on the cold ground
I, I pray that something picks me up
And sets me down in your warm arms

After I have travelled so far
We'd set the fire to the third bar
We'd share each other like an island
Until exhausted, close our eyelids
And dreaming, pick up from
The last place we left off
Your soft skin is weeping
A joy you can't keep in

I'm miles from where you are,
I lay down on the cold ground
And I, I pray that something picks me up
and sets me down in your warm arms

And miles from where you are,
I lay down on the cold ground
and I, I pray that something picks me up
and sets me down in your warm arms - Snow Patrol

I've been listening to the Snow Patrol album Eyes Open a LOT recently. There are a few songs on it that are extraordinarily good, but none of the songs could be considered to be bad. The album is addictive in the way that Rob Dougan's 'Furious Angels' is. The more you listen to it, the more you want to listen to it. I know that eventually I'll get tired of it, but for now I could put it on repeat 24 hours a day!

The lyrics above for Set Fire to the Third Bar gives you a taste of the content but not the craft. The vocals match the emotive content of the lyrics perfactly and the music sets a vivid backdrop upon which playful prose frolics. Each song is very well crafted and the album has a comforting feeling, sort of like being set adrift on the high seas, it gently lifts and lowers you like the swell of the ocean. It really is excellent.

Set Fire to the Third Bar features vocals by Martha Wainwright sister of the rather Rufus Wainwright. Martha is a talent in her own right and I've also been listening to a few of her tracks, Bloody Mother Fucking Asshole is, well, different.

Anyway I digress, if you can get your hands on Eyes Open do yourself a favour and listen to it end to end without interruptions. If you are too tight to buy the album on my recommendadtion you can find some low quality samples at Amazon here.

Obadiah Parker - "Hey Ya"

"Hey Ya" was in all probability the best single of 2004. Okay, I'll admit that I didn't hear every single released in 2004, but of those I did hear, I think that this was definately the best.

This interpretation could actually be better than the original. I hope that this guy's current recording contract is rock solid, if not he'll be poached by Sony Music before long.

Hallelujah

I've heard there was a secret chord
That David played, and it pleased the Lord
But you don't really care for music, do you?
It goes like this
The fourth, the fifth
The minor fall, the major lift
The baffled king composing Hallelujah

Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah

Your faith was strong but you needed proof
You saw her bathing on the roof
Her beauty and the moonlight overthrew you
She tied you to a kitchen chair
She broke your throne, she cut your hair
And from your lips she drew the Hallelujah

Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah

Maybe I have been here before
I know this room, I've walked this floor
I used to live alone before I knew you
I've seen your flag on the marble arch
Love is not a victory march
It's a cold and it's a broken Hallelujah

Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah

There was a time you let me know
What's real and going on below
But now you never show it to me, do you?
And remember when I moved in you
The holy dark was moving too
And every breath we drew was Hallelujah

Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah

Maybe there's a God above
And all I ever learned from love
Was how to shoot at someone who outdrew you
And it's not a cry you can hear at night
It's not somebody who's seen the light
It's a cold and it's a broken Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah - Leonard Cohen

I've been listening to this quite a lot over the past few days, so much so that I've been humming it continuously. The references for the first two verses are pretty obvious, but what are the next three about? I've been trying to figure it out. Maybe there arn't any. Perhaps its just the writers personal experiences, but if anyone knows if they do reference some text or event I appreciate a commecnt with the explaination.

If you are wondering why I have been listening to it so often (apart from it being a great song) its because it is used on the Soundtrack of two movies I've seen recently, 'Shrek' and 'Lord of War'. The 'Lord of War' version seems to have a full orchestral backing, but a quick check on amazon suggests that it isn't on the soundtrack.

The soundtrack to 'Lord of War' was composed by Antonio Pinto and if you are a fan of acoustic guitar music inspired by a range of European cultures then by all means grab yourself a copy. I personally quite like the subtle variation between the first and last tracks.

If anyone knows the actual recording used in 'Lord of War' please feel free to point me in the right direction. I know that there is a Leonard Cohen version and a Jeff Buckley version but it isn't either of those.

Pressure Drop

Hmm hmm hmm, yeah...
Hmm hmm hmm, yeah...
Hmm hmm hmm, yeah...

It is you (oh yeah)
It is you, you (oh yeah)
It is you (oh yeah)

Cause a pressure drop, oh pressure
Oh yeah pressure drop a drop on you
I say a pressure drop, oh pressure
Oh yeah pressure drop a drop on you

I say when it drops, oh you gonna feel it
Know that you were doing wrong.

Hmm hmm hmm, yeah...
Hmm hmm hmm, yeah...
Hmm hmm hmm, yeah...

I say a pressure drop, oh pressure
Oh yeah, pressure drop a drop on you
Oh yeah, pressure drop a drop on you
- Toots And The Maytals

I suggest you get your hands on the GTA: San Andreas version, grab yourself a glass of port, turn the volume right up to eleven and then sit back and listen.

Mark keeps playing this at the office and I can't say I disagree with him doing so!

Toots' aggressive vocals are uniquely soulful, recorded somewhere between 1965 and 1974, it represents everything that was good about Ska music (Ska is a fusion. It combines a distinct Jamaican mento folk rhythm with R&B. Then the drums come in on the second and fourth beats. This is what carries the blues and swing beats of American music. The guitar then emphasizes the up of the second, third and fourth beats.), which was to later give birth to reggae.

Proud Mary

Left a good job in the city,
Workin’ for the man ev’ry night and day,
And I never lost one minute of sleepin’,
Worryin’ ’bout the way things might have been.

Chorus:
Big wheel keep on turnin’,
Proud mary keep on burnin’,
Rollin’, rollin’, rollin’ on the river.

Cleaned a lot of plates in memphis,
Pumped a lot of pain down in new orleans,
But I never saw the good side of the city,
’til I hitched a ride on a river boat queen.

Chorus

Rollin’, rollin’, rollin’ on the river.

If you come down to the river,
Bet you gonna find some people who live.
You don’t have to worry ’cause you have no money,
People on the river are happy to give.

Chorus

Rollin’, rollin’, rollin’ on the river.
Rollin’, rollin’, rollin’ on the river.
Rollin’, rollin’, rollin’ on the river. - J.C. Fogerty

Creedence Clearwater Revival
Music & Lyrics : J.C. Fogerty

---

Great song! In 1969 "Proud Mary" reached #2 in the US Pop Singles chart.

Fools in Love

Sung by Inara George on her album 'All Rise'. Excellent phrasing and vocals. Its definately worth a listen if you can get your hands on a copy.

Fools in love, well are there any other kind of lovers?
Fools in love, is there any other kind of pain?

Everything you do, everywhere you go now
Everything you touch, everything you feel
Everything you see, everything you know now
Everything you do, you do it for your lady
Love your lady, love your lady
Love your lady, love...

Fools in love, are there any creatures more pathetic?
Fools in love, never knowing when they’ve lost the game

Everything you do, everywhere you go now
Everything you touch, everything you feel
Everything you see, everything you know now
Everything you do, you do it for your lady
Love your lady, love your lady
Love your lady, love...

Fools in love they think they’re heroes
’cause they get to feel no pain
I say fools in love are zeros
I should know, I should know
Because this fool’s in love again

Fools in love, gently hold each others hands forever
Fools in love, gently tear each other limb from limb

Everything you do, everywhere you go now
Everything you touch, everything you feel
Everything you do, even your rock ’n’ roll now
Nothing mean a thing except you and your lady
Love your lady, love your lady
Love your lady, love...

Fools in love they think they’re heroes
’cause they get to feel no pain
I say fools in love are zeros
I should know, I should know
Because this fool’s in love again- lyrics by Joe Jackson