Hope you all enjoy this song over the weekend. It’s my favorite Elvis Costello song. It’s an oldie, and i try to keep music on my blog about somewhat current music, but ill go off the tracks here a bit for this one.
Its a political song, but you dont need to know that to enjoy it. The roots of alot of modern rock music can be traced back to Elvis Costello, if you enjoy this song, go buy a greatest hits album, you’ll hear alot of your favorite bands being influenced by his music.
enjoy.
The Cardigans are another band from the 1990’s that had a big hit, came back down to earth (after they released the album called “First Band on the Moon”, get the joke?) took some time, put out “Grand Turismo” which was actually a better album in my opinion than the one before. It had better songwriting, better lyrics and a slight departure into some electronic music territory.
After “GT” came out, it took approximately 5 years before they put out “Long Gone Before Daylight” in 2003. This album really defines what exactly i love about The Cardigans. Absolute heartbreak shrouds the entire album, and vocalist Nina Persson somehow perfectly and poetically describes each of her emotions in every song. Please listen to this album!
The song I am featuring here is called “I Need Some Fine Wine and You, You Need to Be Nicer”, from the album “Super Extra Gravity” released in 2006. The song has great descriptive, witty lyrics and super catchy vocal and instrument hooks throughout. Every repeating intro, verse or chorus seems to be presented in a somewhat different fashion everytime around, its something you might not notice untill you deconstruct the song part by part and realize how it hits so hard. This is another excellent album by The Cardigans, after you listen to “LGBD” please listen to this album!
Myspace.com/TheCardigans
New York band Nada Surf have been around a while, if you’re old enough you might even remember them having a “Buzz Clip” on MTV during the alternative boom of the early/mid 1990’s. How they survived being pigeonholed as one of “those” bands is really just a testament to how great this band has become.
I’ll admit im not a huge fan of their first 2 albums, but there is something great about 2002’s “Let Go”. Its possible they just needed to distance themselves from the MTV Buzz clip era and needed to experience life and New York and becoming adults in order to put together continuous solid indie rock from this album on.
In 2005 they released “The Weight is a Gift” with the song “Do It Again” on it which is featured in this blog. There are many great songs on this album, this one just stands out so much to me. Lyrically it is just absolutely perfect for any neo-childish/adult slacker, with too much on their mind, but not enough gumption to do anything, due to some self made mental weight/fear.
Musically it is very dynamic, every part transitions perfectly in and out of each other. They somehow perfectly framed the lyrics with a nice moody song, not your typical pop song structure-wise, but you’ll definitely be singing this one after a few listens.
So, if you’re having a hard time mustering up the strength to get out of the house and seize the day, here is your new anthem. Other people feel the same way, they just write beautiful songs about it.
Their latest album “Lucky” came out early last year, its also worth a listen. If you dig the song here, pick up the album its on, then get “Let Go”, then get “Lucky”
Myspace.com/NadaSurf
Im watching a band called Single File. Check them out, pretty great.
So we just opened up Nofx’s set playing their gear playing Linoleum. Holy crap?
first thing you learn you gotta make it in this world alone
Frank Turner hails from the U.K. and has quickly become one of my favorite artists ever, and yes i do mean EVER. Since i first heard him a mere 4 months ago i was hooked instantly by his songwriting, witty lyrics and world view. Its hard to imagine anyone who has such a grasp understanding their surroundings in general, but for someone to be keen to that and put it to words, well thats just special.
The album Love, Ire, and Song was the first material i heard with many stand out tracks on it, i suggest you give the whole album a listen. The song “Long Live the Queen” is the song that im focusing on here. At first listen, its just an upbeat catchy song, with a real cool mellow ending/outro. After a few listens i really caught on to how serious the lyrics were, and i was floored when it all hit me. Basically, his buddy is reaching the end of her days and they make a decision to not be too sad about it and dwell in the unfortunate time, but instead have a blast untill the end. The bravery that them and their friends must have shown during these times really is what hurts my heart in this song, but hurt in a good way.
Its a good story to hear, beautifully done and very well told.
Take a listen.
Frank Turner has a new album coming out in September called “Poetry of the Deed” on Epitaph records. i’m sure ill be writing about that soon enough.
Myspace.com/FrankTurner
