Author Archives: Olivia

Warpaint-The Fool.

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Exquisite Corpse was a beautiful EP by Warpaint. Before I tell you about how stunning The Fool is, I must say, Elephant and Billie Holiday should be on this album- it’s not a band thing that they aren’t, it just means you need to go out and buy the EP. I heard Exquisite Corpse and instantly fell in love with Warpaint.

Earlier this year, I heard Undertow and my love for them just blossomed. I simply couldn’t get my head (or ears) around how brilliant Warpaint are.The album opens with the glorious Set Your Arms Down which, like every track on The Fool is hypnotic and you just want to please repeat on it- but you have 8 more tracks to indulge your ears in.I do not need to tell you about the wonder that is Undertow. Any decent radio stations will be playing this and any good music television stations will be playing the video. If not, you have YouTube.

I want to attempt to go into detail about how bloody mind blowing this album is. I want to tell you how stunning the guitars are, how haunting the bass is, how incredible the drums are, how gorgeous the vocals are. I don’t know how I’m going to do it because my words are quite simply not going to get my point across, but you do understand I love this album right? Good.

“You could have been my king” is such a haunting lyric. Lines like this make Warpaint. Simple lines like this make you just zone out and picture something in your mind. Something which you cannot describe. They recently said that this album is made for stoners. I don’t do drugs. Never have, never will – I struggle enough with paracetamol. But listening to this album makes you sit back and think you are on some mental trip. It catapults you into a place that you wish to never return from. I don’t think any album this year is going to top The Fool. I know it’s my personal opinion but I try my hardest to not write about something I do not like, and if I don’t- well I try to find something positive in it.

The album closes with Lissie’s Heart Murmur. The piano throughout this song is heartbreaking. If the piano was an emotion, here it would be sadness. It is a sad album at parts- but not in a self loathing kind of way. It is a vulnerable piece of art. There are no fillers, there are no weak tracks and there are no standout tracks. Each song on this album is as brilliant as the last. You may find yourself playing certain songs over and over, then moving on and doing the same with others. This album was made to throw you into a place that nothing or nobody else could send you. This album could probably fill any void in your life, in your heart. I am fully aware I sound like a freak or an obsessive fan- but I have been waiting SO LONG for this album. I am just happy to have heard it a week before- the wait was destroying me.

I cannot say what my favourite song is from the album, all I can say is- each song is perfect. It is not pretentious. It’s dark, haunting and emotional. I seem to like music like that. A lot. It is hypnotising, and quite frankly the best piece of music I have heard all year.

Jenny, Emily, Theresa, and Stella- I thank you. I thank you for creating a masterpiece.

Ou Est Le Swimming Pool-The Golden Year.

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Listening to this album has made me cry from start to finish. Listening to this album is heartbreaking. Every word that Charlie sings means more than it would if he was still here. On Monday (4th) I went to Chazzstock, and the album was sung by different bands. A moving, beautiful yet sad affair. It shouldn’t have happened, he should still be here. Attempting to review this album is one of the most difficultest (is that even a word?) things I have ever written.

Every song is brilliant, I am not just saying that because of what happened. I’m saying it because it is true. As far as debuts go, OELSP have out down themselves here. There is honestly no album filler at all on this album. The lyrics are quite dark, but the music isn’t. OELSP are a band that you just instantly love. It is a remarkable debut album, that us fans from the begining will find difficult to listen to. Every so often it will hit you what happened, and you cannot help but cry.

Opener,  You Started is gorgeous. Charlie’s voice on this track, Better and Outside is just beautiful. Part of me wants to do some in depth review, but I just cannot do it. I cannot tell you how amazing this album. I can only tell you to go out and buy it on Monday 11th October. Buy it for the sake of good music. Buy it because Ou Est Le Swimming Pool are a brilliant band.

I cannot write anymore, my words will not do this album any justice.

x

Morrissey.

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Some of us are hopeful. Some of us are hopeless. Some of us hold onto the small bit of hope we have and go through life seeing people what they really are and not being afraid to be honest- whilst the rest sit there and puke out lie after lie. There comes a time in life where something clicks. You grow up and see things for how they are. For me, this was when I first heard Everyday Is Like Sunday. Everything about that song summed up my life. This song was apt for where I was growing up. A dull place full or small minded people who probably threw up in their mouths when they saw a homosexual person walk past. And they probably still do. Be yourself. Be honest. Be happy. Be gentle. That’s all. Anyway.

Morrissey. The one person who can sum up who I feel in one stunning line. The person who has advice when everyone seems to be elsewhere. The one person who makes sure you are not alone. Morrissey is the one. The only one. There will never ever be anybody as magnificent as him. They say he is an enigma which is why people are drawn to him. I say he is an exceptional human being who has a genius way with words. Whatever your opinion is on him, you cannot deny how clever he is. Some say he is miserable and never happy. Okay, do you even pay attention to his lyrics? The vast majority are highly humourous. His wit shines through all his songs- especially Bigmouth Strikes Again. Those who throw these comments about Morrissey are those who do not listen to him. They’re probably only listened to How Soon Is Now? and assume the worst about him. Listen to You’re The One For Me, Fatty- then we’ll talk.

We’ve all had dark, distressing, depressing in our lives. I don’t wish to tell you about mine. Nobody needs to ever know. But, Moz pulled me through. Dragged me up and back to what I suppose can called living my life. Now I’m happy. i listen to his words and it’s like a hug. His words are hugs. Do I sound odd? Good. I’ve never claimed to be anything but. Besides, Moz once said: “There is no such thing in life as normal.” That is true. Oh so true.

I have never met a Morrissey fan- by fan I mean someone who has adored him pre- 500 Days Of Summer/liking more than This Charming Man etc. I’m not saying this to sound like a pretenious wanker- far from it. I just wish I had a good friend who I could sit with and trade Moz stories about our favourite songs. Such as how I feel when I hear the intro to Suedehead, things like that. Small things that could lead onto a beautiful conversation. I’ve got friends who like the odd Morrissey song.

A few months ago I was wandering around Liverpool and a woman, I’d say around 35-40 grabbed my arm, “Excuse me love, that M on your arm- is that for Morrissey?” My heart skipped a beat. My mother grinned, and I declared YES! She told me she loved Morrissey. This has never ever happened before.  I felt so proud to be a Morrissey fan. I think most Moz fans will say that they feel Morrissey is a friend. He says words that provide comfort- you don’t need to get your feelings our for Morrissey has already done it for you.

I saw him live twice last year, and each show just blew my mind. The first time was during a shitty time in my life and as soon as he walked on stage I cried. The tears didn’t stop until the end of the show. This happened the second time I saw him. Normally I hate it when someone makes me cry (naturally) but with Morrissey it was everything I felt towards him over the years, decades just poured out. Overwhelming. Oh how I wish he was touring now.

In short, Morrissey is the one. The only one I could ever imagine giving my (musically) heart too. Without him I’d have gone from a lonely awkward teenager to a lonely awkward adult. I’m still awkward, that won’t ever go.

Morrissey is the light that will never go out.