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Death In Music.

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Death. A subject most fear and refuse to ever talk about. A subject that no matter how hard you try to avoid, it’s still going to happen. Anything that starts will always end. Friendships, relationships, life. With most things in life we go through with others. We share certain moments with others such as love, laughter, tears, joy, pain- everything. Aside from death.

What fascinates me about death is that nobody can tell you what happens when your body leaves this earth. We all make our own assumptions. Some choose a religious stance, others may take a spiritual approach and some just have no opinion on the matter. Personally, I’m on the spiritual side of things- but this is not the time or place for me to put across my personal views.

With death, it is a one person thing. Just YOU feel it. YOU’RE the one that is aware of what is happening to you. Nobody else can feel that emotion. A person that has died cannot come back and tell you what it is like. Nor can they tell you what happens afterwards. This may be daunting for some, but I just find it entirely fascinating.

I’m not someone who sits and thinks about how I will die or how I wish to die. I’m not that morbid or curious. Nature can deal with it. One thing I find interesting are songs about death. Regardless of genre- death is a subject that is frequently touched on. Some may hide it better than others. Certain genres go more in depth with it. So, I’m going to choose a selection of songs that touch on the subject of death. I’m not going to make it insanely depressing; just focus on the creative side of it and how an artist expresses their views on the subject.

The first song I’m choosing to write about is one that I feel is one of the most heartbreaking songs of all time by one of the greatest bands of all time. Treasure by The Cure is quite simply, breathtaking. The fragility in Robert Smith’s voice here always hurts to listen to. It’s such a sad sad song. It is taken from the album Wild Mood Swings which was the first album I heard by The Cure. I remember finding it amongst my stepdad’s music collection, I was only 10 years old- I took the CD and was just fascinated by what I was hearing. Treasure stood out for me more than the other songs because it just sounded so dark and vulnerable. I was always an odd one, so I guess its no surprise I was fascinated with such a dark song. I suppose you could take it as a breakup song, but I honestly wouldn’t understand why. It’s got such an aura of death and dying surrounding it. The way he sings, “She whispers, “Please remember me. When I am gone from here.” She whispers, “Please remember me. But not with tears.”” It just instantly crushes you. Robert Smith sings it so delicately, like an Angel or something. His voice just sounds so pure and innocent. I love The Cure because they just hit this part of you that no other band could get to. I love The Smiths/Morrissey with all I have, but The Cure hit a part that no one else could reach. They’re a lifeline, a crutch at best. When I listen to Treasure, I can’t help but feel for the person who is telling the loved one not to cry. Knowing you’re about to leave someone forever is just as crushing as being the person left behind. You suddenly find more things you want to say to them, the time you had with them seemed to have been too short- more needs to be said. But what can you say? What can you prove? “Remember I was always true. Remember that I always tried. Remember I loved only you.” Not only is this enough to make you breakdown, it’s just so apt. You want the person to know that you were always theirs; you always tried your best for them. More importantly, they were your everything. You loved them, always. You always will. In life and in death.

If one song sums up the solitude found in death it has to be Waiting Around To Die by Townes Van Zandt. If I had to list my favourite songs of all time, this would be in my Top 5. I love the pain, frustration and anguish in his voice. A lot of his songs were just riddled with loneliness. Anyone who claims to have never felt lonely is a liar. Being alone and feeling lonely are two very different things, and to deny ever feeling that way just makes you a liar. If it hasn’t happened to you yet, well, there’s still time. Waiting Around To Die for me, just cries out someone waiting for death because means nothing; that ending it would just give it more meaning. It oozes boredom and addiction. Some may say there’s a link between the two; I say it’s all down to strength of character. The last verse ALWAYS cuts deep into my heart. With all his songs, you can hear and feel he means every single word he is singing, but this song just grips you so hard. It’s a painful grip because you can sense his pain, but for some reason you just cannot let go. Do you want to? I doubt you could.  “Now I’m out of prison, I got me a friend at last. He don’t steal or cheat or drink or lie. His name’s Codeine, he’s the nicest thing I’ve seen. Together we’re gonna wait around and die.” Everyone has done him wrong, so he turns to a substance, in this case Codeine- it’s all he has, they’ll wait it out and die together. To feel that low and desperate must be such an exhausting feeling. I think it’s something that we all work hard to never ever feel. You cannot control what happens; you cannot control your emotions. Some things you just cannot fight off.

I cannot write an article on death in music and ignore The Smiths can I? It has to be Asleep. Morrissey’s gorgeous voice over the haunting piano is so comforting. It’s comforting in a way you never thought a song like this could be. It’s evidently about suicide, but the way Morrissey has written it is so clever. He regards death in this song as basically just being asleep which makes it a less painful concept. “Don’t feel bad for me. I want you to know, deep in the cell of my heart. I will feel so glad to go.” I think anyone who has felt so alone and has felt that awful feeling of just wanting to leave will truly feel that part of the song more than most. You don’t want any loved ones to feel sorry for you because it is what you want. You just cannot carry on anymore. Some people that have felt this low manage to pull through. Some sadly however, succumb to this horrible feeling and just call it quits. It isn’t right, it isn’t wrong; it is just a shame. As a massive (understatement) fan of The Smiths and Morrissey, this song just shows Morrissey at his most painful, darkest and articulate. The loneliness that pours out of Moz’s music is astounding. He makes you feel lonely even if you don’t feel it. That’s the beauty of music; it can make you feel things you never thought you could feel. Sometimes they are horrible feelings, sometimes they are wonderful feelings. What I take from music is the ability to no longer be scared of having feelings. It’s okay to feel like utter shit, its okay to be happy. There is no right or wrong, ever. Asleep is like a lullaby, an extremely dramatic and aching lullaby. You feel as if you’re floating away from all you hate as you listen to it. When you wake up, well that’s an entirely different feeling altogether.

One of the first Hip Hop records I remember buying was Ready To Die by Notorious B.I.G. His debut record is not for the faint hearted or those who have never possessed a deep thought in their life. It isn’t for those who cannot take pain and honesty. One song in particular, Suicidal Thoughts is one of the most intense and darkest songs I’ve ever heard. Not just from the Hip Hop genre, but in general. Biggie was a poet, you cannot deny that. The greatest Hip Hop artists SHOULD be regarded as poets; it’s just a shame most of them aren’t. A lot of people are always like “BIGGIE OR TUPAC?!” No. It is so easy to see that both artists were as astounding as each other, both fantastic poets who could make you really feel what they were saying. They made you feel part of the stories they were telling. They were so much more than Hip Hop artists, but the media, as ever just labelled them as thugs. The opening line, “When I die, fuck it I wanna go to hell. ‘Cause I’m a piece of shit, it ain’t hard to fuckin’ tell” The harsh feel of self loathing in this line is painful, the brutal honesty just takes you back. You can’t help but think, “How can someone feel so low?” Quite easily, sadly. This line is nothing compared to the rest of the song. Suicidal Thoughts is just brilliantly dark. It keeps you on edge; if you aren’t left feeling tense after listening to this you probably don’t have a soul. Certain lines make you squirm because the honesty hits you so hard. The whole song is one big dramatic build up. It doesn’t read like a suicide note. If you read the lyrics, you just get a sense of what goes in someone’s mind when they feel so low. He states that the mother of children would be glad he was dead, no one would miss him. It’s horrific that a person could feel like that, but it happens. The song is a phone call between Biggie and a friend. The end of the track ends with the line, “Matter of fact, I’m sick of talkin’” followed by a gunshot. Then his friend calls out for him. I swear, if this doesn’t make you feel uncomfortable then something is up with you. It’s a difficult song to listen to- you could be the happiest person in the Universe, but this song will destroy your happiness for a while after hearing it. It’s so deep, so harsh.

The song I want to finish this on is on a different level of beauty and perfection. The artist is easily one of the greatest artists ever. I remember when I first heard this song, I just cried. I cried because it was so frail, haunting and accurate. I know I said at the start that death should not be feared, but a level of uncertainty should be kept and questioned. We need to question what happens to keep us going, and to ease the fear. The song is of course, Hope There’s Someone by Antony And The Johnsons. This isn’t a song you just casually play in the background whilst cooking your dinner, oh no. This isn’t a song you play whilst getting ready to go out. This is a song you play by yourself when you just feel something that is beyond words. I don’t listen to it often because it just crushes me more than any other song. The whole song is just fear and uncertainty, but there’s one part of the song that just sums up what every single person must feel as they approach death. Whether they know it is going to happen or not, this line must be something similar to what they feel: “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.” I think that is exactly how someone must feel as the end approaches. The piano build up in this song feels like the person leaving the world in body, becoming free. Flying away from this life and into the next. It is so euphoric. This is the kind of song you listen to with your eyes shut, and as you open them- the tears just fall. Antony’s voice is so beautiful on this song, his voice trembles and you can feel his fear. “Hope there’s someone who’ll take care of me. When I die.” We all want someone to meet us on the other side. I’d love it if John Peel and Lester Bangs greeted me on the other side with records and a cup of tea. The way Antony sings that line just makes you want to cradle him, and tell him that someone will be there; that he has nothing to fear. But can we be so sure? Personally, I believe there is someone.

So there you have it, probably the most morbid thing I will ever write. Thing is, I enjoyed writing this more than previous articles. I know there are so many songs that touch on the subject of death and dying. I just picked the ones that I feel portray the subject in such grand ways; whether it be intense or just heartbreaking. Like I said at the start, it’s something we go through alone. However, music again just proves that we are never alone with how we feel. Remember, it is okay to be scared and unsure; but do not focus on it. Make the most of what you have, for when it is over; it is only over in this lifetime. You can start over again in the next one.

Ty Segall.

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Dear Ty Segall, I am musically in love with you. Where the hell have you been all my life?

His song Skin reminds me of the same feeling I got when I first heard The Horrors in 2005/2006. That fucking brutal, hard-hitting, smack in the face kind of feeling. Garage rock at its finest.

Ty Segall posses that sound that is in The Stooges; pure Punk rock with a whole lot of heart. Songs like Goin’ Down do not make you think you’re in 2011 at all. His sound makes you think you’re right in the forefront of the Punk rock movement. This is truly fascinating stuff.

Ty isn’t just a solo artist. He’s in a number of bands such as The Perverts, Sic Alps and Party Fowl- all of which deserve your attention. You’ve got nothing better to do, so go ahead- LISTEN!

Thee Oh Sees.

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To distract myself from focusing on the fact I have a BITCH of a migraine and feel like I’m going to throw up until my stomach decides to leave my body, I’m listening to a band that quite frankly, make everything that is wrong, totally right.

Let me introduce you to a chap who is an astounding musician. His name is John Dwyer. He has been in numerous bands such as DJ Shitbird (personal favourite and yes based on the name), The Drums (not the lads from New York), The Hospitals and currently Thee Oh Sees- the band that I am going to ramble on about for a bit.

Music doesn’t always have to be peaceful and calming. Sometimes, you just need a riot in your ears. This is why I love Thee Oh Sees. They are a wonderful garage rock band. Think, Count Five and Thee Vicars. Check these bands out if you’re not familiar. Thee Oh Sees started off as another outlet for John. If you thought Jack White was like some musical god, then you’ve got to get onboard with John Dwyer’s work. Thee Oh Sees is now a fully fledged group that produce this amazing psyhedelic/garage rock sound.

Their trippy feel to their music is just brilliant. John’s voice is wonderfully echoed by thr stunning vocals of fellow bandmate Brigid Dawson. She harmonises so beautifully under John’s deep, powerful and quite seductive voice. What I’m trying to say is, Thee Oh Sees are nothing like anything you have heard before. I don’t know if you’re looking to have your spirit shaken on this dull Sunday evening, but I suggest you give yourself o ver to The Oh Sees. After you’ve done that, delve into John Dwyer’s back catalogue; you won’t be disappointed.

Uh Huh Her.

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I’ve been meaning to write about these two wonderful and beautiful women for AGES. I guess now is a more apt time than ever to jot down some words about seeing as their new album comes out next week.

If you’ve named yourself after a PJ Harvey album, you better be good. Uh Huh Her are better than good, let’s be honest. They’re a perfect synth/electro pop kind of band. Now, when some hear this they probably think “OH GOD LEAVE THE 80S ALONE. PLEASE.” I know, I feel the same way too. However, there’s nothing 80s about this duo. Not that I know of anyway.

I’ll start with the album that pretty much was my life for AGES. Common Reaction. There’s one song on the album that I refuse to listen to, Dreamer. It’s one of the saddest songs I’ve ever heard. I just cannot bring myself to listen to. There’s so much hurt in that song. Thing is, it’s beautiful too. I feel bad when I skip this track when I listen to the album.

I adore the album, despite it having one of the saddest songs I have ever heard.

Leisha Hailey was of course in The Murmurs and Gush. Camila has played with everyone from Busta Rhymes to Adam Lambert. Both are amazing musicians in their own right.

I have a thing for duos. I find the chemistry in a duo to be the most exciting thing in music. The way two voices just go so well together (Beach House, The Kills etc). Leisha and Camila’s voices sound so perfect together. Camila’s dominant voice sounds so stunning with Leisha’s angelic yet haunting vocals. I’ve never seen them live, but I’d imagine they have such a beautiful chemistry with each other. With The Kills it’s a more brutal, passionate thing. I guess with Uh Huh Her it’d be more delicate- but still powerful.

I know that when a band uses synths, the music snobs come out to play and refuse to listen to them. If this is your stance, then you’re pretty much a twit. You cannot shun a band based on the equipment they use. Seriously. Come on now.

Aside from the music, there is one thing about Uh Huh Her that I love. They do not use their sexuality as a gimmick or to sell records. That’s how it should be. They don’t flail around on stage or interviews saying, “Love us! We are lesbians!” They are serious musicians who are creating wonderful music and knocking down the awful stereotype that lesbians in music are constantly lumbered with.

Recently, the band was kicked off a flight just for kissing. Reading what had happened just made me so fucking angry. It made me angry that people want to stop another person showing their love and affection for another person. I read the band’s statement, and it just made me proud to be a lesbian. Why should you hide who you are? Who gives you the fucking right to tell you that you cannot kiss the person you are with JUST because they are of your same gender? Fuck off you small minded piece of shit.

With that rant out of the way, I’ll resume with the music.

Their music makes you feel alive. Living in a world that is full of bad vibes and people being arseholes to each other; it’s just bloody good to have a band that make you feel something good, you know?

I remember when I first heard Not A Love Song. The video made me feel like I had taken too much cough medicine. The unicorn baffled me. I love the line, “I see I disappoint you. Why don’t you find another threat?” As someone who frequently disappoints and fucks up, I found a lot of solace within their album. I still do, in all their music. I love that their music is gender free and anyone can relate to it. That’s how it should be.

One thing I want to briefly to touch on is who do lesbians have to look up to? There are so many strong (or what are deemed to be strong) women that gay men look up to such as Cher, Gaga etc. Lesbians seem to worship Pink and that one from Paramore. I really really do not understand why. Nor do I understand why the sexuality matters, but I guess part of me does. If Uh Huh Her were around when I was growing up, I hand on heart would have had an easier time with dealing with my sexuality. I’m nearly 25, and I like to think I’m fully comfortable and secure enough with who I am. Obviously I don’t care if someone has an issue with my sexuality- I’m not the one with a small minded mind. What I’m getting at is, with a band like Uh Huh Her or Gossip or The Organ who are open about their sexuality, it paves the way for the young’uns to feel okay with who they are. When you hear their stories about how they dealt with growing up, it makes one feel less alone. That is why I love Uh Huh Her, they just make me feel less alone. Their music is fragile, vulnerable and it oozes frustrations with dealing with the one that you like. Everyone feels like that, regardless of gender and sexuality. We all feel that way.

Their lyrics have so much love and emotion within them. Listen to Say So, “You say that you’re broken, I just want to fix you.” It’s just beautiful. Then you have songs such as Wait Another Day. Personally, that song fixed a lot of things during a certain point. The whole album did; especially the title track. The title track seems to be more apt than others.

Their new album, as mentioned, comes out this week. Stupidly excited about this. Songs such as Human Nature and Another Case are just brilliant. Make sure you buy Nocturnes when it comes out!

Boris.

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Japan. Home to many wonderful things. Home to a mind-blowing band called Boris.

This year they put out their SEVENTEENTH album, Attention Please. It’s a ten track album that fucking assaults you. It is sheer noise with hints of shoegaze. Personally, it’s the IDEAL album.

I’m going to put money on Attention Please being the album that you forget to acknowledge in the greatest releases of this year. It’s so bloody good. Although all band members sing, the vocals on this album are all sung by Wata. Her vocals are so brutally charged on this record, it’s just stunning from beginning to end.

There is a wonderful influence of Nick Cave and the Melvins (the band are named after a Melvins track) within their music. I love that they don’t sing in English, just because I have no idea what is being said doesn’t make the music mean anything less to me. I still think that Boris are a band that a worth a lot more recognition than they get.

Their sound makes you feel, well, I’m not sure if I can actually put it into words. You know when you hear something and every part of you just goes with it? That’s exactly what one gets when they listen to Boris. Besides, any band called Boris is bound to be brilliant. Like any solid band, Boris changes their sound with every release. Every single album sounds different from the other. The fact that they do this makes it hard for people to lump them with a label- this is exactly why they are amazing. Labels aren’t needed; they are a band- not a food product.

They have elements of psychedelic rock, metal, extremely experimental and touches of shoegaze. This is exactly why Boris should be your favourite band. They have everything in their sound. Oh, and another reason to love them; they released THREE albums this year. Attention Please being my personal favourite. How many artists have done that this year? ZERO.

I adore the feedback in their sound. It just catapults you into a totally different Universe. It’s just utter perfection.

Of all the bands I have come to love, adore, respect and cherish in my time; I think I can safely say that Boris are easily the hardest working band I’ve ever been a fan of. I cannot tell you where to start with this band- start from wherever you want, and enjoy the journey.

Reality Killed The Artist….

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Part of me is reluctant to write this, but then the intelligent part of me realised I shouldn’t care if anyone agrees or not. I’m fully aware no one will- good job I write for me and not to please other people. If it offends, I’m not sorry.

It’s that vile time of year again where the TV is polluted with talentless folks clinging onto their sob stories in hope of becoming a signed recording artist. Little do they know that their shelf life will be at least 2 years, then its someone else’s turn. How can people watch this show and think, “THIS IS GOING TO CHANGE MY LIFE! MY DOG HAS DIED! I MUST ACT LIKE I CAN SING!” Oh just fuck off. For the love of something, just take yourself away. Far far far AWAY.

These reality shows make me angry at the best of times, but after reading an article written by someone who I regard as a highly influential musician and person; my level of angst reserved for these talentless shows proceeded to rise.

A lot of music I listen to comes from artists that are either on a small label or unsigned. I don’t listen to them because I want to be different. I listen to them because they have heart, passion and meaning. These artists have worked themselves to the bone to put a single out. They will play bus shelters just to make a few pounds so they can eat. They work 2 jobs just to pay for studio time- but do you know who they are? No you don’t. But you could probably list the last 5 winners of X-Factor couldn’t you? How can a 13 year old declare “I’VE WANTED THIS MY WHOLE LIFE.” Child please, you’ve not gone through puberty yet and your mum still dresses you. Your only struggle in life was choosing what cereal to have.

I read JD Samson’s article last night, and I couldn’t believe what I was reading. How can someone, who was part of a band that was a huge part of my life for so long, be so utterly broke? I completely sympathise with JD about being broke. I currently can’t afford to buy a loaf of bread. Although, I guess cutting it out of my diet will cause me to stop being chubby. But seriously, how can an artist so talented and inspirational- have nothing at all? This isn’t right. It’s beyond disgusting that someone with so much talent has nothing to show for it. Yet these fools that prance around every weekend on stage and get praised or shot down by people who claim to have some kind of talent/knowledge of something musically related will end up making millions.

Why does someone get excited every weekend to watch this shit? Go on, go read a book- I dare you. I dare you to listen to something with heart such as Clara Engel or Doll And The Kicks. Go on, fuck what you are told to listen to and consume. For once, think for yourself.

The thing is, with me feeling this way I’m probably going to be labelled as wrong, a pretentious piece of shit who has no idea what they are on about. Truth be told, I’m just someone who is beyond passionate about music and it kills me to think that people regard what they see on X-Factor as “good.” When it really isn’t. Good music will outlive you. When you die, your grandkids and their grandkids will not be talking about who won X-Factor in 2010. They will still be talking about how influential the Rolling Stones are. They’ve been going for fucking decades. Their energy is inspiring; they have more energy and charisma than those who twat about on stage for their 15 minutes of fame.

When you see something you adore just fall to pieces, you feel compiled to pour your heart out expressing your worries and frustrations.

It’s basically a cattle market. They are lined up, told to sing. They then break down on stage. Told they aren’t good enough. Told they are good enough. Told to go away. Start crying. Tell a story about a dead gerbil. It’s the same old dire sequence every single time. You know what’s worse? When people who more than likely have a mental health problem go on stage and are just mocked by those who watch it.

How would YOU feel if you stood on a stage and everyone just laughed at you? How would YOU feel if a relative of yours was being exploited like this?

A lot of the people that appear on this awful show look like they’ve just stepped out of Topshop, stand as if they have shit themselves and warble for two minutes. There is NO personality. There is NO depth to them. Come on people, wise up to this shit. You do not have to buy into it. Save yourselves, save music. Believe in GOOD music from the heart.

A band that I’ve adored for years, Doll And The Kicks have toured with Morrissey and put out an (self funded I must add) album. They’re not signed, but they are so fucking talented. They could easily be this country’s biggest and best band. As they are not signed, nobody pays them any attention. It’s heartbreaking and it is so wrong. Their music is different from anything else around. They have something so bloody good to offer- but does anyone care? No. Because if they did, they would be signed by now. However, I guess they’ve done something an X-Factor contestant will never do. Support the greatest male singer of all time, Morrissey.

I’ve frequently had emails from artists that are unsigned email me and ask if I would write about them here, I always do. Last night after hearing Clara Engel’s voice whilst reading JD Samson’s article, I knew that I was listening to something so precious. I was listening to someone who may never be as “famous” as the idiots on these reality shows, but its okay. It’s okay because I felt something in her music that just left me in awe. It made me believe again. When you can find an artist that makes you feel that way, you can shut off all the shit around you that you are apparently supposed to enjoy.

When these contestants put their music out, they are depriving real musicians of being recognised. I urge you to find an artist that is not signed or not well known and just promote the shit out of them. Start a blog about them, bombarded radio stations with their songs, make a Facebook page about them, write to magazines about them- help them out. We need them; we do not need manufactured drivel that has no worth.

Clara Engel.

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There is honestly nothing better than an artist finding my blog and emailing me, asking if I would write about them on here.

You know that feeling you get when you listen to someone and your eyes pop out of their sockets. Your jaw drops and you just say, “OH FUCK” as you listen to their music? That pretty much happened as I listened to her music. My reaction wasn’t just caused because of her amazing talent, but because she reminds me of someone whom I adore SO much Patti Smith. I honestly never ever thought I’d hear a voice that matches up to Patti Smith’s at all. But, looks like I have. Hello new musical crush.

I love anything that has massive sounding drums in it. Anything that sounds menacing and dark, such as Anna Calvi, Zola Jesus and Chelsea Wolfe. This is exactly why I’ve just fallen insanely in love with Clara Engel’s music. Her song, Lick My Fins (I love this title a lot) has perfect drums on it. It makes you feel like you are being stalked by her. You feel like she is stalking you through a dark alleway as she sings this haunting song at you. You can pick up the pace and try to escape- but let’s be honest, you’ve got no chance. Why would you want to turn yourself away from music as stunning as this?

Her song, Heaven And Hell is so beautiful. The lyrics are just so enthralling, she really causes your heart to skip a beat as you listen to it she does it with every song. Even more so with Heaven And Hell. It’s such a delicate and heartbreaking song to listen to. If you’re not moved by it, then I guess you don’t have a heart. The song makes it okay to be afraid, what you’re afraid of though, well, that’s your own personal fear.

She’s got a hint of Patti and PJ Harvey in her music, and as someone who is hugely obsessed with the two- I am honoured to be writing about Clara Engel. I’m not a fan of covers. I’ll only like them if they sound NOTHING like the original, it’s important if you’re going to cover a song, to make it your own. Clara does this with her take on Underworld’s Born Slippy. She turns a dance anthem into a creepy piece of art. Personally, I’ve never cared for the song at all but Clara’s take on it is simply perfect.

Her music will frighten you, and I firmly believe the best music scares the shit out of you. If it’s dark and eerie- I will adore it. Her music constructs such grand imagery in your mind. It’s just incredible, I honestly cannot praise her music highly enough. I don’t feel anything I’ve written here does her talent any justice. It makes me sad that someone with talent like this is unknown yet you get these fools selling millions and millions, and they have no talent and no clothes on.

Clara Engel is beautiful and so is her music, I cannot urge you enough to check out her music.

Her music will fuck with your head like a David Lynch film and it will charm your soul just like Patti Smith.

It’s nearly 2am. Most are either asleep or drunk. I’m going to stay awake and listen to her music.

The Big Pink.

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Most of the time, I look for a band that make me feel like The Jesus And Mary Chain did when I first heard Psychocandy. That album in my mind is the greatest debut album of all time. The Jesus And Mary Chain is in my Top 3 bands of all time. They make you embrace the loving but brutal side of you.

I’ve never thought a band could give me that same feeling. What I get from The Kills or Metric is completely different. Completely different, it’s on a whole other level. I cannot describe. I probably could, but I’d just ramble. Pretty much like I am now.

Anyway, this year the band that have given me the same feeling The Jesus And Mary Chain release their second album. The Big Pink blew me away when I first heard them in 2009. Their debut album, A Brief History Of Love gave me the same feeling Psychocandy did. It was like an outer body experience listening to it. How someone must have felt when The Jesus And Mary Chain came out is exactly how I felt when I first heard The Big Pink.

The Big Pink has that fucking incredible reverb, distorted and dark feeling to their music. It’s the best sound you can get from a piece of music. So dark, so twisted, so honest. Your heart aches with every single listen. You heart shatters a bit every listen because you cannot get your heard around these deep lyrics.

I hold such a personal connection to the song Velvet. It’s just as if they got inside my head and wrote about all the doubt that’s floating around. The doubt is always there, and is put at ease with every single listen.

When I heard Dominoes, I wasn’t completely aware of what I was getting myself into; all I knew was that this song was quite frankly one of the best things to have occurred in 2009. “Hearts collide and smash any dreams of love.” If I had the money, I’d probably have that tattooed on me. It’s just a brutal line. It’s brutal because it is so true. When your heart hits with another, nothing happens after that. Something bad takes over, and the other person leaves you. You’ll never know why, but it happens. Don’t blame yourself kid, they weren’t worth it. “The hottest love has the coldest end.” Again, another line that is so accurate. You don’t even have to go through a break-up to get this song. Just watch people in the street or see the person you like (but you never told them) fall into the arms of another- this song will rule your heart.

Love In Vain is so stunning. Robbie’s always amazes me, but on this song it sounds so vulnerable. “If you really love him, tell me that you love him again. And go.” You haven’t really lived until you’ve had someone you like and thought liked you, then turn and say they love someone else. I say lived, what I mean is feel so small that you cast yourself away to the universe and you just don’t care. There are various kinds of freedom, this is one of them.

The entire album has mention of love and the harsh side of it. The harsh side is the side most of us can actually relate to. The wanting of a person who just doesn’t want to know, the wanting of a person who is just no good- but you’re no better because you’re a mess. We’ve all been there; we’ve all felt that way. Except you thought you were alone. You’re not, just listen to this record and you won’t be.

The title track off the album could easily be mistaken for The Jesus And Mary Chain. I guess the band is probably sick of people mentioning that, but if I was them- I’d love it. Imagine being compared to one of the greatest bands ever? I’d be so happy with that; I’d probably retire because there’s no greater compliment. It’s just such a gloriously heartbreaking album. You don’t mind that it hurts so much to listen to it because it is so beautiful. I’d compare it to allowing a beautiful person hurting you, but no person has the right to ever harm another; regardless of their beauty. You see, when a beautiful person does something to hurt you; they immediately become ugly don’t they.

The Big Pink is highly underrated. Some may say that guitar music is dead or whatever, who knows. I don’t think it is- there are many forms of “guitar” music. You have your woeful twerp with an acoustic guitar with the personality of a dead flea to the amazing sounds of The Kills, The Horrors, Warpaint etc. It’s very much alive; it just depends on where you are looking.

The Big Pink will probably blow you away with their second album. Have you heard Stay Gold? It’s bloody good. Apparently they’re taking a more Hip Hop approach to the new record. I don’t care for what direction they go in, I just love their music. Songs like Frisk on their debut album has a sort of Hip Hop feel to it, the way in which Robbie sings the verses resembles that kind of feel to it.

The Big Pink’s music is a saviour to some- it’s amazing how after one album such impact a band can have on someone’s life. Just look at what Florence And The Machine’s debut album did to The Smiths first record. An artist’s first album can do so much to a person. A Brief History Of Love is the only album to give me the same feeling Psychocandy did. I am fully aware that no other band will probably make me feel this way again, I’m okay with this. Then you have the second album which can be amazing or utter shit. I have no doubt in my mind that The Big Pink’s second album will be just as stunning and soul stealing as A Brief History Of Love.

Lester Bangs.

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Everyone has the one person who made them realise what they want to do with their life. Everyone has that one person that gives them this energy and motivation to go for what they want. As someone who has a shite level of self confidence and worth, I sought refuge in frustrated writers and musicians from a young age. I still do, kindred spirits I suppose. If there ever came a time where I developed a lot of self belief/worth, I wouldn’t be motivated to write. I wouldn’t be motivated to listen to music and write about it. I wouldn’t do anything. I guess a level of arrogance would ensue and I wouldn’t bother anymore. I’d rather write from a personal angle than write like some jumped up Journalist who writes with no feeling or passion. Keep the self-doubt alive and write with feeling.

I learnt to write this way from a man who died 4 years before I was born. Before I left home to go to Uni, I was given a book by Lester Bangs. It was a book full of his reviews and rantings. I’ve read this book so many times, whenever I feel Writer’s Block is about to smack me in the face I read segments of his book and I feel I can write about anything. Now, whether I’m any good or not is a completely different story.

For me, Lester Bangs is the ULTIMATE Music Journalist. If he was around now, I doubt he’d (and rightfully so) be impressed with the current state of music. The way he wrote was from the heart and this came through with every single article he wrote. Whether he was slagging off Bryan Ferry or praising Iggy Pop; there was so much passion and rawness in his music. He wrote like a Punk rock artist. He didn’t show any mercy in what he wrote- that is what makes a fantastic writer. He wasn’t just a writer; he also fronted a few bands in his time too. His song, Let It Blurt is a fine composition. He had a way with words that no one else has ever mastered. He had a way of making you feel part of what he was writing. Say if you read a review on album he wrote about and you had never heard; after reading the review you felt as if you had heard the album. His descriptions were that deep and accurate. There is no doubt in my mind that Lester Bangs was and always will be the greatest writer of all time.

The way he was portrayed in the film, Almost Famous cemented my drive to be a Music Writer. He showed the real side of being a writer. The frustrations, the passion, lack of money, lack of anyone wanting to publish you- I go through this on a daily basis. I’d be lying if I said I never thought about giving up, I want to give up at least 3 times a week. I just read a part of his book or watch part of Almost Famous and carry on writing. The way his character talks to William in the film makes you believe that is exactly how Lester Bangs would have been if one was to have met him and spoke to him.

There are so many quotes in the film that mean a lot to me such as, “Be honest and unmerciful.” And “I’m always home, I’m uncool.” If you’re not going to be honest about anything then don’t bother. Simple as.  Everything requires honesty, lying is worthless.

His humour was dry but not cruel- he never wrote to shock anyone. He wrote for himself, he conformed to nothing and no one. Authority didn’t phase him. A lot of Music Writers slag off artists because they want the attention. They fail to realise that the attention and focus should be on what they are writing about. A review shouldn’t be full of negatives. For me personally, I don’t want to write a review on something I hate. I won’t review anything by Lady Gaga because I don’t like her at all- so why would you want to read something negative when you can search the internet for many positive reviews about her? I’m not a Musician, therefore I don’t have a write to say “Oh so and so cannot play, this is awful.” It’s the equivalent of me going to a school and saying to a teacher, “You can’t teach!” Writing about something I love and feel something positive about is what I do. Life is already full of negative and dull vibes; I don’t need to add to it. I don’t want to draw attention to my writing; I want the attention to be on WHO I am writing about. That’s how music journalism should be.

Lester Bangs didn’t write to shock, he wrote for his deep love for music. His love just poured out with EVERY SINGLE article he wrote. When you read his articles you cry with laughter, nod with agreement and applaud his wisdom. For me, he was more than a Music Journalist. He was like a mentor/teacher I never met. We all have that teacher in school that motivates us and makes us see what we are capable of- for me; mine was and always will be Lester Bangs.

His tragic death at only 33 was a huge loss to the music industry and just the world in general. If he was still alive, would he be writing? I have no idea, but he would still have that drive and love for music. I would’ve loved to have met him and just talk about music. From the genius of Captain Beefheart to the dullness of Bryan Ferry.

He was a true inspiration and without him and John Peel- I’d probably be some no mark who cared about nothing, no passion and barely existed.

So thank you Lester, thank you for giving this hopeless kid something to aim for.

Warpaint-Billie Holiday.

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Two years ago I heard a song by accident whilst researching something for my dissertation for Uni. This song just did something to me immediately. I wasn’t exactly at my best when I heard it, but it did something that improved life greatly. It also distracted me from doing any work. At this point, I really didn’t care.

Part of my dissertation was about Billie Holiday, I think you know where this is going.

My love (or obsession) for Warpaint started in 2009. I was listening to a load of Billie Holiday songs, and whilst I was searching for something about her, I saw the words Warpaint-Billie Holiday. I had NO idea what it was, and being the curious bugger I am, I clicked on the link. I wept. I’ve never heard an angel sing before but I’m pretty sure I heard it in this song. All I got from this song was utter love and devotion. If you want to call it a love song, so be it. Since then, I’ve always said if I was ever silly enough to get married (LEGALISE IT PLEASE) I would have this as THE song. Even better, I’d have Warpaint sing it. Actually, I’d just marry Warpaint. Problem solved really, right? I’d love them all equally and all I’d want was for them to sing to me all the time. I have far too much time on my hands and I also stupidly have far too much love to give.

I could quite happily listen to this song over and over. I’ll level with you, I do it anyway. I listen to it all the time. Whether I’m going for a walk or just laying in the dark due to lack of sleep- I play it. Recently the song was remastered. I refuse to talk about it because it hurts. The new version has stripped away EVERYTHING that this song is. The new version lacks the build up. I’m not happy about this. I know that change is good but LEAVE WARPAINT ALONE. I don’t care if you were a member of Pulp- BACK OFF. Now, with my rage out of the way; I will now pour out the love.

Lyrically, it is simple. However the way it is sung is so precious and delicate. If you could physically hold the song you would cuddle the fuck out of it. You’d cling onto it for dear life. “As I walk this line, I am bound by the other side. And it’s for my heart that I live, ‘cause you never die.” The way Emily sings this just makes my heart explode with every positive emotion known to the human race. The song is so pure and fragile; it oozes every single positive feeling imaginable. It is just sheer devotion to another- it is unconditional love. If you listen to this song, and you cannot appreciate how gorgeous the vocals are, then you’re silly. I could use a stronger word but I’m not in an arsey mood today. However, there’s 2 hours left in the day and someone will no doubt irk me won’t they.

The way B.I.L.L.I.E H.O.L.I.D.A.Y is sung over the verses is beautiful. The way they harmonise with each other is so stunning. It makes you wish you could sing something so beautiful. This is the only song by Warpaint that doesn’t create any imagery in my mind. Instead, it just hits me in the soul. That’s more powerful.

When they sing, “As a matter of a opinion I think he’s tops….etc.” then the drums kick in, and they sing B.I.L.L.I.E H.O.L.I.D.A.Y again, it’s so powerful. This song is so angelic and loving. Songs like Baby are so fragile and open. This one is just admiration and unconditional love.

I remember exactly how I felt when I first heard this song, and when I listen to it now; I feel exactly the same way. It’s like looking at the person you’re in love with or whatever for the first time, even though you’ve been with them ages- you get that feeling in your gut that takes you back to the first time you saw them. Even the cruellest of people know this feeling. It’s a killer, but its okay I suppose.

I adore the line, “Well if you want to know me, I’m a war- come paint.” I don’t know what it is about that line, it just stays with you.

Once you’ve listened to this song, it’ll stay with you. You’ll sing along even if it is in a murderous fashion. You cannot help but join in with the harmonising. Except you don’t sound like Warpaint, you probably sound like a cat being stood on. I’ve never stood on a cat, but you know what I mean.

It is a basic song compared to their others, but because it is so simple- it holds so much more. Warpaint do not need to go over the top with guitar solos or mental drumming to prove they are the best band around. Exquisite Corpse and The Fool are stunning works of art, what makes them phenomenal albums is you being able to tell that they really feel the music. When a singer or band can make you sense their passion for what they are creating; you feel it even more.

The song lasts 6 minutes and 45 seconds; again more proof that longer songs are easily the best. The song builds up so many times throughout, and it keeps you on edge- but in a gentle way. The way they sing this song is just like a lullaby. Honestly, if you’re having trouble sleeping listen to this song. Followed by Stars, Lissie’s Heart Murmur and Baby. Actually, just listen to all their music. Don’t go to sleep, you don’t need it; just keep listening to Warpaint. Nothing else really matters apart from their music.

It’s amazing how a song so simple can erupt such grand feelings. Good feelings. There aren’t many songs that make you feel one solid feeling when you listen to it. With Warpaint there’s one feeling I get with every single song- euphoria. Every single song of theirs has a build up within it and this tidal wave of euphoria just captures you. Billie Holiday is such an ethereal song. The vocals, tame drumming and the simple guitar sounds are so enthralling. It’s all well and good just playing this once but when you play it on a loop, over and over again; you notice different layers to it. This isn’t just obvious in this song; it is within all Warpaint songs. Maybe it’s because when you listen to Warpaint you put everything you have into listening to it. You discover different parts, and with discovering these different parts you just get taken to a different place. This place just consists of you and the music. There is honestly no better place than where a song takes you.

Escapism is a beautiful thing to experience from music. I get that every single time I listen to Warpaint.