My love for Zola Jesus is on the same level as my love for Morrissey and Velvet Underground. It’s that grand. You know when you hear an album and you think, “There’s no way they can actually make anything as beautiful as this.” I thought that about Zola Jesus. Could she make anything as moving and ethereal as Stridulum II? Could it take over your soul in such a way? The answer is, thankfully, YES. She’s gone and bloody done it.
When I first heard The Spoils and her work with LA Vampires, I knew I had found a singer that I would just adore forever (if forever was to exist) and that I could relate to every word sung. Then I heard Stridulum II and nearly gave myself third degree burns. I bought the album and played it whilst cooking. Not a wise move. All my attention was on the music, and as a result- I nearly burnt my arm. It’s actually typical behaviour from me- music gets all my attention, not else much does.
So, let’s get into Conatus shall we?
The album opens up with an instrumental track. It has a clanking sound which makes you think of all the cogs turning in your mind just waiting for something to happen. It is going to happen; it’s going to happen as you listen to this record.
When I heard Vessel, I had to keep playing it over and over. I didn’t want it to end. I wanted her album straight away, but hey- good things come to those who wait. The wait is over, and this glorious work of art is finally here.
One song that I immediately grew attached to within first listen is Ixode. Ixodes are a genus of ticks- no idea if this is what Nika had in mind when she made this track, but hey. I love the song because it is virtually an instrumental that has this grand build up to it that just shoots through your soul, you feel so untouchable. That’s why I love her music so much. Regardless how good or bad you feel; Nika makes music that makes you feel untouchable, and sometimes as people, we need that feeling.
Seekir is about doing something wrong, and you know it is wrong- but you do it anyway. Seems like a fitting song for me. It’s just so perfect. Listen, if you feel like life is being unkind to you recently and that the Universe is not dealing you a fair hand, please listen to this album. I know we all go through some bad stuff, and we use different things to just get by- but please, listen to this record. It’ll do something to your mind, body and soul which will cause you to carry on.
In Your Nature is wondrous, I listen to it and just feel like nothing matters. In the grand scheme of things, I guess nothing does. “If it’s in your nature, you will never win.” I constantly feel like this, that I’ll never win/get what I want, and to hear this just makes me realise you know what, maybe this is how it has to be, you know? Try to change, but what for? No one is going to pat you on the back for being good.
Lick The Palm Of The Burning Handshake is probably the least tense track on the album, it is entirely stripped back and this adds an essence of vulnerability to it. I know you get that feeling a lot from her music, but this track just oozes it. I have no idea if that’s what Nika intended but that’s what I take from this track. It is powerful and beautiful.
Shivers makes me want to pack all my stuff up and leave everything here behind. I feel that a lot, so obviously I don’t need a song to make me feel like that, but this song just adds something to it. It leaves you feeling less alone. This album does have quite a desolate feel to it, but at the same time it really does comfort you. A lot label her music as Gothic, that’s fine and all- but it is so much more than that. It is so pure and tranquil. You must remember that she is only 21 years old. Skin amazes me; I love how she makes you want to escape who you are and become all you want to be- rather than what people make you out to be. People do that a lot don’t they, they make you out to be something you’re not all the time. Sometimes you just want to yell at them that, who they think you are, is not who you are. You are so much more, but you cannot show them because they don’t believe in you. I get that a lot. Skin is a comfort blanket, the way she sings “I’ve had enough.” Well it just proves that these are the most powerful three words one could ever hear. Skin is most definitely going on repeat for a while. It makes you want to close your eyes and shut off the world. We all need to do that sometimes, just let something take you some place else.
The album ends with Collapse which will more than likely leave you feeling the same way Skin did. A fragile lump of bones just waiting to go towards something better. It has such innocence and honesty to it, “It hurts to let you in.” Nika has this genius way of wording these feelings in such a simple way, but at the same time just leaves you in utter awe of how she does it. She does it without using grand words or creating unnecessary pretentious imagery. The way she makes the music sound as delicate as her words is so wonderful, and not many can do it in the way she does- and thankfully so. It makes you treasure her even more than you already did.
What I love about Nika is what she makes me feel when I listen to her music. I love the bands I love for certain reasons. My reasons for loving Nika’s music are that it takes me to a place in my mind I probably try to shut off most of the time. It exposes my mind and soul to all I should fear, but when I hear her music- I feel it, and I am immediately rid of this fear. That is how powerful it is. I write personally, and I know it isn’t what you want to hear. You want to hear if this album is any good or not, well the fact that it can move me and make me write like this proves that it is undoubtedly a masterpiece and one of the best albums to have come out this year. Her music is just stunning and perfect. Her voice is so distinctive and enthralling. Something takes over you when you listen to her music, don’t fight it. Go with it, always. Just go with it.
I’ve had some of my favourite artists contact me about my blog and hat I write about them such as Summer Camp and Big Deal. A few months ago, I wrote about a band called Sensual Harassment; Todd from the band emailed me a few weeks ago thanking me for writing about his band. Normally, I’d just reply with a thank you and leave it at that. Mainly because I don’t want to seem like a massive creeper. However, I have been hugely in awe of Sensual Harassment and I didn’t want to just leave it with a thank you.
See, ideally I would’ve done this interview with the band in some underground bar in New York at 2am surrounded by hopeless drunks and unknown musicians. I guess that’s the tragic romantic in me. Instead, this was done over email which allowed the band to take their time with answering the questions. I haven’t shortened/edited any of the answers as it would just take everything away from this article, besides- the answers are brilliant and I don’t want to deny you of that.
What I love about Sensual Harassment is that they have created this wonderful, euphoric electro sound. I know, you probably are wondering how these guys are different. I mean, there are so many electro artists around; how could you possibly be able to tell the difference? Quite simply really. Their songs last over 5 minutes and it just sends you into this amazing whirlwind of a trance. If you go for a walk whilst listening to them, I can guarantee you will feel like you are elsewhere; and for the most part that is entirely needed.
One of the things I really wanted to know about the band is what they want a new fan to take from their music, and also if they were conscious about the fact that their music does give you this lucid/trippy feeling.
“The word that comes to mind is visceral. When I listen to music, I want to be moved – both emotionally and physically. I wouldn’t say we’re a ‘drug band’, but music should take you to different/strange places the way that drugs do – I think that’s why historically music and drugs have always seemed to go hand in hand.”
He’s totally right, music SHOULD move you in every single way. Why create something or listen to something that has no depth or substance to it? Sensual Harassment’s music does take you to a different place, a place that just completely frees you; mind, body and soul.
When you have artists that have had this hard work ethic about them, it is easy to want to aspire to be like that. To just put your all into it. For example, when I write here; I always have to put my all into it. I don’t care if I have to stay up until 3am to make a sentence flow the way I want or searching for hours for a specific word- I just have to put my all into it, if you love something that’s exactly what one should do.
“I think as an artist your goal is to make people feel something. When you’re really being yourself as an artist and you’re challenging yourself and being revealing, you’re much more likely to win over an audience. I think we’ve always had a philosophy that comes from the school of Bruce Springsteen or Fugazi in that you have to really throw all of yourself into your music, even bleed for it – and their lives shows make that abundantly clear. People look to artists to be the most free and the most revealing and brave.”
Those that show this raw, revealing side are the easiest to relate to, however I can imagine if an artist does this every night on stage it must become quite draining. We all have limits.
At the moment, the guys are in the studio recording new material. As a massive Music obsessive, I always love hearing about how a band records, how they come up with ideas and what influences them; whether it be a place, book or piece of music. I just find the whole process to be entirely fascinating. There’s something truly wonderful about knowing the background to one of your favourite records and what they go through to get there. As they’re currently in the studio, I asked them how it was going and what is influencing them at present:
“Recording is going great. It’s always a slower process than you would like it to be, but you know in the end it’s worth it to take your time and nail it. I think on the last record we experimented a lot with distorted kicks, distorted vocals and over the top mixes. I think we’re putting a real focus now on very ‘clean and open’ mixes with room for instruments to breathe. I think we’re still reeling from parts of Cut Copy’s In Ghost Colours record, which was just a great dance pop record that moved a lot of people. We’ve also been really obsessed with Phil Spector’s girl groups The Ronettes and The Crystals. Everyone talks about the vocals and reverb on those records which are fantastic, but I think a lot of people miss the amazing percussion that’s happening there too. You wonder why those records are so infectious and when we began looking at it, to us it was very clear that the percussion was a huge driving factor in those songs. I think you’ll hear all those influences on the new stuff.”
Knowing that Sensual Harassment are being influenced by one of the greatest (albeit mental but a genius nonetheless) producers of all time, I am seriously excited about their next release. Big percussion sounds, infectious beats- this record should quite rightfully, be huge. I’ll have to make it my mission to get the UK on board with it.
When I interviewed Warpaint, I was really interested in what process they went through whilst recording. When you watch them live or their interviews, you can see how close they are. It’s like a sisterhood. Ever since then, I’ve just been really in awe of the processes a band goes through to create music. Do they fight? Is one in more control than the other? Do ideas just happen? I love how every band has such a different approach to music, if they all approached it the same way well, it’d be dull. Trust me, Sensual Harassment are not dull. Check who they are working with too:
“Everyone comes to the table with ideas, and when you hear someone else’s idea that is inspiring, you hop on it and try and contribute. We all do demos by ourselves and a lot of the initial process is done separately. Sometimes it’s done all together in a band room, but a lot of the time people are coming up with songs that are 70% finished before anyone else touches it. We actually enjoy doing it that way because the song ends up with a real focused sound because the primary spark came from one vision with small contributors. We do a large part of our own tracking/mixing and then when we’re all done we take it to Jesse Cannon (our very good friend and brilliant engineer who’s worked with some really cool bands like The Cure, The Misfits). Jesse gives our songs the last bit of polish that they need and is also a great unbiased voice in solving band arguments about mixes.”
Working with Jesse Cannon?! It cannot get any better than that dear reader.
Aside from how bands create their music, I am also interested in where they are from and if the place they reside in have any kind of effect on their music. Does place drive them to have a certain sound? Does a specific building leave them in awe and move them, causing them to be influenced in such a grand way?
The band is currently based in New York, but that isn’t where they were formed:
“We are all from North Carolina originally and moved up to NYC to take our music to the next level… We lived in a small enough town (Wilmington, NC) where everyone pretty much knows who all the musicians are, so in the end, if you’re looking for people to play in your band, you have a handful of the usual suspects to choose from. We also gravitated to each other because we were the most Stalinist about being organized and getting things done musically. There’s no shortage of good musicians out there, just a shortage of people who will put in the lifelong dedication to it.”
I was only ever aware of one artist from North Carolina and that’s Petey Pablo. That beat to Raise Up is insane. As the State has given us a band as stunning as Sensual Harassment, I feel inclined to check out more bands from the area; and so should you!
New York, New York- so much to answer for you rascal of a city. You’ve given us Punk, a genre that owns my heart. You’ve given us The Strokes, a band whose debut album title is tattooed upon me. Now? Now you’ve got hold of Sensual Harassment. When a band moves from one place to settle in another, can the city they settle in give them a whole new sound? Can it provide a love/hate relationship? Has the move changed Sensual Harassment in any way at all?:
“When I moved to the city, I had a painter friend already here and told me: “The city changes you man. It changes who you are and it changes your art”. I wanted to believe he was wrong, but he was 100% correct. I think our core hasn’t changed, but New York in particular forces you to grow and forces you into strange experiences. Lyrically, the city and my experiences in it are all over our music – no doubt that NYC life has played a huge influence on that. I don’t know if the city forces a sound on you. I feel like more than anything it challenges you to be MORE of yourself because you’ve got some great bands around you bringing it every single night and becoming hugely successful. It’s certainly a temptation to drift towards a ‘NY Sound’ or current trend but that never made any sense for us. We’re usually much more concerned about discovering strange and interesting music no matter its origin.”
I’ve heard people say that about London, when you move there it just changes everything about your art and who you are. Sometimes this change can be awful, sometimes (and in this case no doubt) it works extremely well; it allows the artist to grow and evolve in their sound.
However, when moving to a city such as New York, the home of the greats such as New York Dolls and the Velvet Underground; is there any pressure for the band to change or to go along with certain trends? Let’s be honest here, you do get tired of seeing an artist stand on the stage with just an acoustic guitar with a “woe is me” all over their face or meaningless pop music that holds no value. Yes electro is a popular sound, and everything seems to have a synth smothered all over, but a lot of amazing electro bands are well and truly overlooked. Music critics tell you about what they want you to listen to, they don’t give you the bands that could probably change your life and record collection. This is why I found Sensual Harassment at 3am and was utterly grateful for having an atrocious sleep pattern.
So, with all this, do they feel they have something to live up to that has been forced down their necks by ego-ridden critics? :
“I think being from NYC helps and hurts. On one hand bloggers and critics will occasionally listen to you because you’re from an area (Williamsburg Brooklyn) where there is a huge scene. On the other hand, there are haters and huge expectations for New Yorkers. We usually just ignore it all. It’s funny because our sound is not really common in New York and we initially had a tough time winning over New York audiences – or at least tougher than elsewhere. New York people are often on the cutting edge of what some people term ‘the scene’ but people here can also be quite self-conscious. Sometimes it takes them longer to stand up and say ‘hey, I don’t care what you think, this music is great’. So it’s taken a few brave people to say ‘hey, this band doesn’t sound like indie rock, or whatever is the trend right now, but they’re doing something different and that’s cool’.”
This is why I adore Sensual Harassment, they are different, but you can tell it isn’t forced. This is a natural sound they posses; they don’t do this to impress anyone or to be one some redundant “cool” list. So all you lazy hipsters out there who listen to certain bands to just be cool- you’re wrong. Open your ears, and stop thinking its vintage because there are a few holes in it. You’re missing out and depriving yourself of something mind-blowing and ethereal.
I’m going to wrap it up here. In over 2000 words I hope I have managed to make you want to check out Sensual Harassment’s music. A lot of bands call themselves “artists” but have nothing to back it up, Sensual Harassment see right through:
“If you’re going to call yourself something somewhat pretentious like ‘an artist’, you damn well better be pushing your own boundaries and not just posturing. Music is a craft most anyone can learn. There’s a general structure you can follow and sounds you can quickly dial up and create a ‘song’. But we want to find the spaces in-between. We want to put the intangibles in there and really make people feel that we’ve put our own unique DNA into these songs.”
Sensual Harassment well and truly pushes boundaries- their own and the “ideals” that are foolishly set by those who claim to be experts. Go against what is expected of you, always. It’s a sure fire way to create something honest, beautiful and your own.
One of the few albums I have been so excited about this year is the debut album by Trevor Powers aka Youth Lagoon.
If you’re a lazy being, you will be quick to label Youth Lagoon as Chillwave and not pay his music any attention. Shame on you really, you’d be missing out on something truly beautiful.
The Year Of Hibernation is released next week, and is probably the most heartbreaking yet relaxing album you will hear all year. It has a calming feel to it, but at the same time; just rips you apart.
Youth Lagoon’s debut album is the true essence of vulnerability and worry. Most tracks have that fear of losing someone about them. The uncertainty of if you are going to see the one you love again. Sometimes you do, sometimes you don’t. Most of the time you just have to let it all go and give it all over to fate. If something can be controlled, it is not worth having.
This is an album to completely lose yourself in. You know how sometimes you look at a person and you forget everything because their presence is so beautiful and powerful? This is what I get from this album. It is like falling freely and staring at something beautiful whilst doing so. It is so honest, so painful and emotional.
Afternoon is probably my favourite off the album, I love the way it just lifts you up. Although the album is fragile and gentle, songs like Afternoon just lift you up and away. Youth Lagoon’s music is a more relaxed version of Spiritualized. I can say this because Spiritualized are in my top 5 favourite bands ever. What I’m getting at is, Youth Lagoon has the same innocence, uncertainty and hurt as Jason Pierce- but it isn’t as tense. Both are equally gorgeous. I’ve probably lost my point along the way here, I’m not sorry. This album is truly wonderful.
Most of the time we are taught to not say how we feel, because no one ever cares enough. It’s true, no one ever does. This is why Youth Lagoon is so necessary; he is saying everything you are told not to say. He feels all you are told not to feel. If you’re seen to be vulnerable and a bit fragile- you are immediately cast off as weak, and no one wants to know. Thing is, when you feel like that, you have the power to create something like this. The Year Of Hibernation is everything you are afraid to feel. The Year Of Hibernation says everything you wish you could say. My advice? Buy this album and tell those you wish you could tell certain things to, to listen to this album from start to finish. If they don’t get it, leave it alone. At least they’ve listened to something decent, right?
I know I’ve looked forward to a few albums this year, but this is one that has truly done something to my soul. It’s all well and good when an album steals your heart away, but when it takes your soul; you have truly found something special. Maybe the UK won’t love this album as much as they should. I won’t fill myself up with false hope that they will. Instead, I’m going to treasure this exquisite work of art with all I have. The only way I can describe how I feel about this album is how I feel towards The Fool by Warpaint. It is THAT amazing. In fact, amazing isn’t good enough. I cannot find the words. I’m just grateful that this album exists, that Youth Lagoon exists. My words cannot praise this wonderful creation enough; I’m just musically in love with it. Youth Lagoon, you are a credit to the music industry. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, thank you. You honestly have NO idea how much this album means to me right now.
Apart from having a pretty cool name- that’s all I know about Sex Cult. No idea how many are in the band, their names, influences-NADA! But you know what? WHO CARES. All that matters is that this song, Errand Boy is proof that PUNK IS NOT DEAD. It’s got that heavy guitar, distorted and aggressive vocals; it has EVERYTHING Punk was and should be remembered. Something tells me that Sex Cult don’t wear safety pins in their ear. How was that even Punk? Well it wasn’t, was it? Good job The Clash were decent.
Sex Cult have that agressive guitar, unapologetic drums and distorted vocals that Punk had. It’s brutal, it’s a smack between the eyes. It is so perfect, it’s unreal. It’s under 2 minutes long, wihch means the only thing you can do is hit repeat at least 6 times. It’s going to fuck up your world and you are going to LOVE it.
Oh, I must say; looking up the band will give you some questionable results. Maybe next time I’ll put the safety feature on when I search for a band with a name such as Sex Cult.
I remember exactly where I was and how I was left feeling the first time I heard Florence Welch’s voice. I also remember how stupidly happy I was to get her debut album, Lungs three days before it was released. I think I played it over a hundred times in the space of three days. Good job I have five copies.
I remember this feeling of euphoria, and “YES! This is what I’ve been waiting for my whole life!” just hitting me in the skull as I listened to each song. I was just so utterly overwhelmed by what I was hearing. How could someone my age have a voice like this? How could someone my age say all these dark things when I can’t even say my own name half the time? I was just in awe. I knew Lungs was going to be the best thing I’d ever heard, but I wasn’t expecting THIS.
Two songs from Ceremonials have been put out over the past few weeks, both of which have caused me to feel exactly the same way I felt when I first heard her voice in 2007. In pure awe of this voice. It’s unbelievable. I honestly cannot understand how anyone cannot fall in love with her voice. I know I write about her a lot, but each time I just find something else to write. It’s okay though, hardly anyone reads this so it’s fine.
Her music is like some kind of shield/comfort blanket. I don’t care that I’m nearly 25 and saying this, it’s true. Sometimes, you just need someone to sum up those feelings- and she does it. She can vocalise those dark feelings that you are constantly told are wrong to fee. Yeah, fuck that. Feel what you want, no one can tell you that you’re wrong. If you feel like shit, fucking feel it- don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t. You’re happy? Don’t let anyone tell you that you do not deserve it, because you do.
The darkness, the demons, battles, questioning, fragility that is in her music means everything to me. I still stand by meeting her was the best day of my life, nothing is ever going to top that. Unless I meet her again, this more than likely will not happen. Her voice is so grand and powerful, even when she is singing so softly it is so dominant. When she hits those high notes, every part of you comes alive. That’s what she does, she makes you feel alive. She wakes up that part of you that has been dormant for so long. No one else can reach you, but Florence can. She has this way of sending you into a trance- you don’t want to snap out of it.
When I listened to Shake It Out, I cried. I am not ashamed to say that her music can make me break down, even if I feel fine. I cannot listen to Shake It Out without having a bit of a cry. There is something so raw about it that just makes you cry. If you cannot feel how forceful it is, then you’re missing the point. If her music doesn’t move you and makes you feel alive; what’s wrong with you?
When you listen to her music, you just have to give yourself over to Florence. That’s all you can do, just give in and do it. No bad can come from it. Her music gives you this freedom that no other person on Earth can give you. Everyone wants something from another, the best thing you can do it call them out on it before they do so. Don’t let the bastards rob you of your soul. Just don’t. If it should happen (and I hope it doesn’t) play a Florence song. It will cause you to let go. I attract bad things most of the time, I don’t know why, it just happens. Florence’s music just allows me to let everything go and not care anymore. When you can allow yourself to embrace freedom and not caring- it’s such a good feeling. You know nothing can touch you because you’ve hit rock bottom and no fucker is going to take you there again.
I get this when I listen to Swimming and Hurricane Drunk. Just let yourself go, you don’t need to be caught all the time. Fall freely, who cares where you land. “I brace myself, ‘cause I know it’s going to hurt. But I like to think; at least things can’t get any worse.” It’s like shrugging it all off, you can’t feel much worse than this; and you know it. Fuck it.
Blinding owns a part of me. It wakes something up inside that I cannot describe. It’s so menacing and brilliant. A lot of songs around do not expose any dark feelings. Florence does. She said in an interview recently that music should be frightening. I wholeheartedly agree. Music should take you places that you are terrified to visit. It should make you feel things that you are shit scared to feel. When a piece of music does it, it’s less daunting than when a person does it. Her music is so haunting and delightfully captivating. You feel like you are floating, watching everything pass you by. It provides such a glorious sense of freedom. I write such nonsense after 11pm, but it’s okay- no one will read this, so I don’t have to worry about making sense, or not in this case.
“No more dreaming of the dead as if death itself was undone.” Why keep thinking about things that cannot be undone? People constantly mull over the bad and cannot seem to let it go. Stop thinking about that so-called friend that fucked you over, they don’t care about you. Stop thinking about your ex, they do not want you. Stop living in the past, you slowly kill yourself when you do that. You’re not living at all when you torture yourself with past events trying to work out what you would do differently and what you didn’t do. I mean fuck….life is hard enough at times; you don’t need to damage yourself more than you already. Come on now. Florence’s music is this exquisite wave of bliss with darkness that just captures your heart and shakes your bones. It’s everything and more. Those that love her, know exactly what I mean. I hope they do, because I don’t. I’m tired.
I remember listening to Howl, and realising- this is what love is. Love starts out to be the best thing in the world (or so you are led to believe) but in the end, it destroys you. Then you get over it, and start over again. Or you don’t- you don’t allow yourself to fall for anything or anyone- because no one has done it over you. “Be careful of the curse that falls on young lovers. It starts so soft and sweet, and turns them to hunters.” It’s like a piece of advice that you should keep chained around your heart, but one day- you’ll find the right time to let it go. Don’t be quick and don’t be foolish, young lovers. Don’t ruin your poor heart so quickly.
Her bruised knees and earthly presence makes her so easy to relate to and love. She has this warm personality, you just know that if she saw an insect struggling on a path she’d stop whatever she was doing to rescue it. If kids want someone to look up to, I’d say use your parents first- if not, go with Florence. Don’t worship her; no one deserves to be worshipped. But look at her and think, “I can do anything.” Because you can. The only person, who stops you, is you. Her music is a safety net and can also make you feel things you don’t want to feel. There was once a time, long time ago where I just couldn’t listen to Cosmic Love. Everything about it just broke my heart. That phase lasted not even a week. It’s one of the most beautiful and purest songs ever written. Imagine being in the same room as her recording this. Same with Blinding and Between Two Lungs. You know how everyone says, “I hate hangovers.” Well, Florence has created masterpieces whilst hung-over. Most just stay in bed and waste the day away. She writes songs that pierce through your heart. I’ve only been hung-over once, I wanted my mum and my head hurt.
She even makes cover versions sound a billion times better than the original. Covers such as Addicted To Love, Postcards From Italy- she has this way of being so brilliant, I wonder if she knows it? You know when someone is so amazing, and they don’t know it? It’s what draws you into them? That’s what it’s like with Florence. She has the voice of an Angel and is so bloody humble about it. I rarely get drunk, but I bet she’d be amazing to drink a bottle of Rum with. You’d probably end up running round a park and smuggling a squirrel home.
I’m not someone who strives to find total happiness. Being sad doesn’t bother me, and being totally happy isn’t something that makes me feel warm inside. Florence’s music make those unspoken feelings okay to feel. Everyone knows growing up is a bloody pain. They know it’s such a chore. You’re supposed to do this, that, feel like this, dress like that, behave like this- NO! Don’t do it. Do what you want. Not knowing what you want should keep you going.
Her voice is so soothing and powerful at the same time. Her voice has so much soul in it, how can someone so young have this much power? Truly, truly gifted- you can’t deny it.
What The Water Gave Me and Shake It Out have a more soulful and gospel feel to them compared to the old demos and Lungs. Shake It Out is so bloody empowering, most of her songs are. Anything you go through in life; good or bad, you can probably associate a Florence song to it. But be careful, you don’t want anyone ruining her music for you.
There’s a song she covered that, when I heard it, it just gave the song much more pain and despair to it than the original. Her take on Marvin Gaye’s Heard It Through The Grapevine evokes much more torment than the original. Musically, it is much more basic- but the way she sings it just breaks you. Marvin’s version is obviously a work of art, but Florence takes it to a different place. You can imagine her being stood there looking at this person and singing this through gritted teeth as her heart slowly breaks into tiny pieces- your heart breaks with hers. It is that powerful, you can’t deny that.
One thing that I love about her music is how dominating the drums are in her music. From Drumming Song to Strangeness And Charm- the drums just hit you in the gut. As the drums are so powerful, it causes you to lose your mind when you listen to the songs. And live? Oh bloody hell. Live, you just lose it. Everything goes, you are free. Her live shows are truly wonderful. You sing every song as if your life depends on it. You gaze at her on the stage as she controls everything you think and feel- you don’t mind losing your self control here. Everyone goes mental to Dog Days Are Over. It is such a beautiful thing to see everyone full of joy during that sing, screaming along with her. How one person can control a crowd like that is beyond comprehension. It is most overwhelming. It is honestly like a religious experience.
October 31st cannot come quick enough. Her second album has been highly anticipated and is easily going to be THE album of 2011. Will it be better than Lungs? Well, no. It’ll be different won’t it, and if something is different you really cannot compare it. If she can create such a wonderful work of art for her debut album, it is obvious that Ceremonials will be just as stunning- and so will her albums after that. I have no idea how I’ve managed to write over 2000 in under an hour. I’ve probably made no sense but I’ve wanted to write something like this for some time, I guess with a second album about to be released- now is as good a time as any.
I love most genres of music, but there is one genre in particular that owns a larger piece of my heart. This one genre taught me to speak up and not be afraid of doing so. There comes a point in your life where holding your tongue and being quiet drains you. You just have to let it all out. Be careful with your words, but don’t look back; and don’t take any of it back. This genre was of course, Punk. To me, Punk is more than a genre of music- it’s a way of life, an attitude, a state of mind; it’s everything.
Today would’ve been the 60th birthday of the bassist and founding member of the Ramones, Dee Dee Ramone.
As most would agree, the Ramones were blueprint of Punk rock. They had this attitude that was just inspiring and a way of playing that made you want to start a band. This band made you want to roam the street kicking a can out of boredom and frustration. Ramones said all you couldn’t say. Beat On The Brat, is it about an annoying kid in a pram? Or is it about those that follow trends and it bugs you? Take your own meaning dear reader; I doubt the Ramones would be for harming kids though. I’ll go with the latter.
What I loved so much, and still do, about the Ramones is that they loved music. They didn’t make music because it was something to do. They did it because they anted to, and done properly-could take them somewhere. The frustrations of being jobless is dire, it is truly the most soul destroying feeling in the world. Some people are made to feel worthless by people, others feel it by being unemployed. Ramones provided an escape to feeling like this. They made it okay to be frustrated and pissed off at the world. If you aren’t angry, then you don’t care for what is going on.
I can’t remember how old I was when I first heard the Ramones. I know I was really young, my uncle was a Punk and I was always fascinated by his music collection. I still am, and I remember seeing an album of the Ramones and just being in total awe of how they were on the cover. I looked at it and thought, “I want to be like that.” I wanted to have this attitude/vibe. Obviously I don’t posses it; I’m just some nerdy music lover who knows ridiculous bits of information about certain songs and artists (not in a “I know their favourite colour” kind of way.) I loved how they dressed. I remember once someone said to me, “You look like a cross between all of the Ramones.” Some would take offense, I fucking loved it. I think it’s my jacket, it’s got special powers. It hasn’t really; I just like to think it does. It’s my favourite item of clothing- I must say it is fake leather though; I’m not ashamed of that. When my mum came back from Edinburgh a few yars ago, she brought me back some old records- two of them were by the Ramones, probably one of the most treasured things I own. They just sound so raw on vinyl.
The band may not have had a remarkable amount of commercial success, but they were an influence to so many; and still are. They may not have always seen eye to eye and probably argued more times than believed- but they created amazing, intense music. Their short songs ripped right through you and gave you this indescribable energy that no other band could give you. I get pissed off when I see people wearing Ramones t-shirts and evidently not knowing what the band were about, and what they did for music. Certain high street clothes shop use photos of the band on t-shirts without knowing the importance of the band, causing people to buy the shirt and not knowing who is on it. They just treat the Ramones like a brand- which they aren’t and weren’t.
I will always believe I was born in the wrong era. I should’ve been born in the 60s so I could’ve fully experienced the Psychedelic movement and the Punk scene, that’s when music was well and truly exciting. No band has every caused so much excitement and energy as much as the Ramones did. I could write you thousands and thousands of words about how and why the Ramones are important- but those who truly love them, know exactly why they are. They know why the Ramones were such a vital force in music. They said all you wanted. They made it okay to feel certain things and more importantly- they made you feel okay with being who you are.
I know I usually go on about lyrics, but with the Ramones- it’s just everything. The frustration in Joey’s voice, the shortness of the songs, the ruckus in the music and the angst in their lyrics. They had it all, nobody else has done it like they did and nobody else ever will. They made you want to get up and do something; learn from it.
Music should always take you to a different world. It should transport you to a land that is free of anything that ruins your day. It should take you to a place where you can be free. Music should overwhelm you with its power and the feeling it gives you. Your favourite song is like a sacred object to you. You will never ever associate this song with anyone because they don’t deserve it.
On the flip side of this, music should creep you out and scare you. It should frighten you and freak you out. It should say the things you wish you could say, it expresses the things you struggle every single day to express. It’s a powerful force that none of us can ever and will never contain. That’s how it should be.
In 2005 Amanda Brown and Bethany Cosentino started a band called Pocahaunted, listen to them- they’re really good. Bethany is now in Best Coast and Amanda has a new project named, LA Vampires.
LA Vampires is dark and mysterious. Exceptionally captivating and chilling (not in a relaxed sense.) The tracks Amanda Brown did with Zola Jesus are a whirlwind of bliss and euphoria- it’s dark but at the same time uplifting. Not many can make it work, but here; it well and truly did. I love LA Vampires for the unapologetic, underground electro feel. When you listen to Make Me Over it honestly feels like you are walking into a seedy club in downtown LA surrounded by society’s misfits. It sounds like the ideal night out to be honest. At least you’d hear good music!
This isn’t the kind of music you play whilst going for a gentle stroll on a Sunday morning. This is the kind of music you play whilst on your own and in the dark. Spinning yourself round and round in circles, then you collapse in a dizzy manner on the floor- falling so freely into a dream. I double dare you to do this whilst listening to LA Vampires, but make sure you have a soft landing. I don’t want you to harm yourself in any way! The music LA Vampires creates sends you off into a beautiful dream- but not like Chillwave does. Do not call LA Vampires Chillwave, completely different vibe here, trust me.
So Unreal will have you closing your eyes and nodding your head throughout the song. Just play it again when it stops, it is so perfect. Amanda Brown makes music that sets you free. When you listen to LA Vampires, you get that Los Angeles feel from it. As someone who listens to a lot of bands from LA, I can’t actually put it into words- you just know when you hear it. I love being able to hear a place in music. It’s not always a bad thing when something sounds “quite LA.”
If you’re going to ignore LA Vampires, then you are a fool. It’s different and it’s what you need in your collection, there’s no doubt about it. If you love music that makes you feel like you’ve stepped into the unknown and you don’t want to go back from it, then give yourself over to LA Vampires; it’s for the best if you do.
I think everyone is insane; it’s how you use your insanity that measures how mental you are. If you use your insanity for the good such as creating masterpieces of art, you will be deemed as a genius. The opposite of this is using your insanity for evil measures such as killing. Obviously killing is wrong- so you are deemed evil. None of us are normal, because normal doesn’t exist.
When a person says, “Oh you’re not normal you’re a girl and you fancy girls.” No dear- I am normal, your homophobia isn’t normal.
Some of the greatest musicians have been labelled as insane (Syd Barrett) and most murderers are labelled as insane (Charles Manson). There’s one artist who could be called insane, I guess most would if they watched his film, The Wrong Ferrari.
I don’t care what you say, Adam Green is a genius. An underrated genius. His lyrics at times may not make any sense- but why should they? His lyrics are genius, he’s just brilliant. Have you ever seen him live? I have, it was the weirdest thing I had ever seen and I loved every minute of it. He lost his mind on stage; he danced like a child that had too many sherbet dips and missed their afternoon nap. His live shows make you feel free and less alone if you’ve ever felt slightly mental. Or, if others make you feel mental. Shame on them.
Before I go into detail about Adam’s music, I want to talk about The Wrong Ferrari. His first film was shot entirely on an i-Phone and he claims to have been off his tits on Ket. I’m obviously against drugs, but watching this film- it made you feel like you were on drugs. I’ve never touched drugs, but the way Adam filmed it made you feel like you were on a trip with him. It’s the most bizarre thing I have ever watched, and I loved it. It makes no sense and the cast in it are brilliant (Dev Hynes is in it and I love him) If you’ve had no sleep, watch the film- it’ll make your head spin even more so! Have a cup of tea afterwards, you’ll probably need it.
Okay, so Adam’s music. He was originally in The Moldy Peaches with Kimya Dawson- there is more to The Moldy Peaches than THAT song from Juno. Go listen to all their work, educate yourself. Free your mind. Adam’s solo work will make you laugh, cry, want to hug him, want to get drunk with him, be his buddy. His lyrics are extremely witty, but although certain songs hold a lot of humour- some contain quite heartbreaking subjects. Listen to Who’s Your Boyfriend, it’ll hurt you. Ever liked someone who said they liked you but they were seeing someone else? This song will remind you of that, “Someone like me should not have a phone. Jumping the gun despite grief I’ve known. She will become someone I listen for nothing more. Into the hallway with you.” Hurts, right? Of course. We’ve all been there. You ask the person you dig something, and you know their response will hurt you- you shouldn’t have a phone so you can’t talk to them and ask such things. But you do it anyway. You’ve done it, I’ve done it, we’ve all done it. A curious mind is a terrible thing to waste and a bitch to tame.
I can’t write about Adam Green and not mention his song, Jessica. It’s utterly nonsensical but it’s bloody brilliant. He’s quite possibly mocking Jessica Simpson in this song, but he does it in such a caring and loving way. If you listen to his lyrics, you can tell that he wouldn’t make a song being vicious about anyone, he’d add humour to it because he’s a genius. Those who can write like this have more talent and power in their words compared to someone who just writes horrible things about another without adding any depth or substance to it.
“Jessica Simpson, where has your love gone? It’s not in your music, no.” She’s manufactured and her music has nothing to offer anyone, just like the vast majority of pop singers that are polluted across the airwaves. With one listen to this song, I can guarantee you will be singing it out loud in years to come. I heard it years ago, and I still sing it out loud to myself.
I think my favourite song by Adam Green is We’re Not Supposed To Be Lovers, I may end up changing my mind by the time I’ve published this, but today- it’s my favourite Adam Green track. “We’re not supposed to be lovers. Or friends, like they’d have us believe. We’re not supposed to know each other. Accept my apology.” Again, we’ve all liked someone we probably shouldn’t. I know I’ve done that a fair few times, I probably apologised for it too, and I have no idea why. The song is vulnerable and honest, you can sense the sincerity in his voice her. It causes you to ache in ways you didn’t think an Adam Green song could.
The last verse of the song is more heartbreaking than the hook, “Picture a person you’ve forgotten, kissing your brother or your friend. Picture a wounded entertainer, cutting his hair again.” The torment you feel from this is astounding, you’ll probably think of the person you don’t want to think about when you hear this song, it’s always the way isn’t it. My advice? Don’t associate songs with people, better still- don’t associate GOOD songs with people, especially if they aren’t worth it.
The melodies in his songs are simple, but his lyrics are the complete opposite. He’s the first person in his family to have not gone to college, you can’t tell when you listen to his music. One of his good friends and one of the first people to witness the talents of Adam Green is Julian Casablancas from The Strokes, he pretty much summed up Adam Green in one short sentence, “It always amazes me how he can express such deep meaning with such twisted humour.” So true. All of Adam Green’s songs are works of art. His music takes you on some weird trip that you never want to come back from.
I’m not one for enjoying songs that are about sunshine, rainbows and love. It isn’t real. I like songs that are dark, creepy, frightening, fragile and thought-provoking. I like songs where you can really feel what the singer is going through. If the song oozes desperation, I’ll probably fall in love with it. However, just because I like songs like this doesn’t make me a morbid bugger- most like to think I am, but they’re wankers.
There’s a song by The Kills on every album that always breaks my heart. Keep On Your Mean side has Gypsy Death & You, No Wow has Rodeo Town and Blood Pressures has The Last Goodbye.
Midnight Boom has Black Balloon. I know that whatever I say about this song doesn’t do it justice, but that doesn’t stop me. Well, sometimes it does. Not today.
Lyrically and musically, it is painful. In a good way, not in a “this is so bad make this shit here stop” kind of way. Alison’s voice on Black Balloon is so vulnerable, the way she sings “Let the weather have its way with you” makes you feel for her. That whatever or whoever this is about, you really connect with her. It’s a simple song but with such wonderful imagery in the lyrics.
“Elevator straight into my skull. An escalator rises as it falls.” Personally, I feel that the elevator is this feeling she cannot shake, and it constantly gets to her. The escalator is a symbol for the highs and the lows. As soon as you feel good, some fuckwit has to come along and drag you back down. Maybe that isn’t the case, but it’s what I get from that line.
“You can hold on, but I wouldn’t waste your time.” It’s so true isn’t it? You hold on for something or someone, and in the end it’s actually a waste if your time. It just turns out to be so awfully pointless. I love the honesty and disappointment in this line. We’ve all felt this way, and you get to a point where you know waiting around is just a waste, there’s no point- so why bother? My advice? Don’t bother; you’ll get further if you don’t.
“….on the edge of a dream that you had. Has anybody told you it’s not coming true?” Again, the honesty and disappointment here is just beyond. You can dream all you want to, but they will not come true. You’re taught to dream as a kid, but when you hit adulthood it just goes to shit. Maybe if you hold onto the dreams a little bit, it’ll get you through the day. I wouldn’t bother though.
Then comes the giving up, “Let the weather have its way with you.” Sometimes, whatever it is or who it is that you were holding out for, in the end, you just have to let it go- hand it over to fate, so fate can have its way with it. One of the best feelings a person can experience is the euphoria of letting something go. Go on, get a balloon- and watch it go away. Seeing something just float away on its own is such a grand feeling. When you let a person/emotion go, when you get past the feeling awful stage- you reach this part where nothing matters because you are free. You’re a person again who isn’t being held down. I know a lot of people who have trouble walking away from something or letting go, I don’t understand why. Or maybe I’m a terrible person because I can leave things behind without feeling bad? I have no idea; I don’t feel bad for it. Everyone is different. This is why Black Balloon means so much to me.
When I bought Midnight Boom, I had heard it before its proper release, so I just played Black Balloon over and over. It is a sad, dark song but if you dig deeper you can see it’s got this sense of freedom to it. What I love about The Kills is how fearless their music is. They can sing songs that are about being rock bottom or just bring frustrated, they are not afraid to indulge in what many regard as ugly emotions. They have this real, raw feel to their music which makes them so approachable and easy to relate to.
Black Balloon live is emotional, you cannot take your eyes off Alison as she stands there singing this song. I used to think that this was their most emotional song, but The Last Goodbye has taken over from that. I imagine The Last Goodbye live will just cause a wave of emotions to take over, not that I mind. Its how a gig should be.
Black Balloon has a bluesy feel to it mixed with a hint of the Velvet Underground, and also the despair of a Townes Van Zandt song. Everything I love in one.
I know I haven’t done the song justice with my words, if that was the case- I’d be paid to write like this. That won’t ever happen; instead I’ll just kill time and keep my brain busy by doing this. The Kills have taught me a lot, you don’t need to know- but its songs such as Black Balloon that keeps this tired heart going.
I know virtually nothing about the band Friends apart from I’m in love with them and that they are from Brooklyn. Brooklyn is in New York which again proves my point that most music from New York is amazing. I’m not going to write much about Friends, I’m just going to link you with some tracks that show exactly why I love them so much:
Beat In My Bones. 