The Doors- The Doors.

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I cannot remember the first time I heard The Doors, but I know I was very young. I’ll pass responsibility onto my mum for my love for this band. She used to play them around the house a bit. I’m pretty sure she’d play their songs to get me to sleep too. Except, I wouldn’t sleep. I’d just listen to the music and want to hear it. So in my head I thought, “If I pretend I can’t sleep, I’ll get to listen to music.” It worked. And I guess it was why, when I got older I used to only be able to fall asleep after I’d listened to John Peel on the radio before bed. I’d sacrifice sleep just to hear something that would blow my young mind.

Music should always, I feel, take you to a place that you’d never go yourself. It should carry you off to a magical and warped place. When a piece of music can fuck with your mind, body and soul- you know you’ve found something worth gripping onto as firmly as you can. With a band like The Doors, they have the grip on YOU. They’re a band that when you first hear, you never look back. They become a sanctuary. They are the blood in your veins. They cover you in goose bumps. 40 years plus, and they are STILL one of the best bands to have ever existed. No other band has ever had what they had. They had something no other band possessed, but you can tell they try to. Try all you want though, how could you not be influenced by such a band.

For me, I hold their debut record so very dear to my heart. If I could find the right word to describe it, I would. But no word seems to be good enough. No word can actually capture a description of this record. No word can actually fully state what this record means to me, and so many more. There is something entirely magical and lucid about this record. You do not feel like you are on this planet  when you listen to it. It’s a straight up fact that Jim was a poet. He wasn’t just one of the best frontmen EVER. He wasn’t just a singer. He was just a perfect poet. His words set your soul off. His words made your heart flutter. They still do. I listen to his words, and I feel as if I’m falling in love. And I’m not even sure if I know what love truly is you know? But I really really feel it when I listen to The Doors, especially their first record. Break On Through (To The Other Side) is just from start to finish so very very hypnotising. Jim’s words can be taken as poetry, take away the music and just read the words- and you have some delicate, vulnerable and astounding poetry. One of my favourite things Jim ever wrote is found in this song :

“I found an island in your arms,
Country in your eyes.
Arms that chain.
Eyes that lie.
Break on through to the other side.”

This is just..man, if I had the words to sum up that verse I would. But I just can’t. All I know is that it still blows my mind.

Their debut record is enough to arouse a Nun. Seriously, it is THAT sexually charged. I mean, Robby is for serious, THE most underrated guitarist I’ve ever heard. He creates such magic. The whole record gives you that, “Come and get it” vibe. I just don’t know if any record since this has ever created such a feeling in me, or anyone. Was it ahead of its time? Yes. Will a record ever be this vital again? No. How can you even try to replicate something as eerie and sensual as this? The Doors were the band you wish you were in. Or, they are the band you wish you could play like. Hell..if I was musically talented I’d want to be like them. I’d want to give people this feeling. That feeling of, “I want this..but what is happening to me as I’m listening to it?! WHAT IS GOING ON INSIDE OF ME RIGHT NOW?!”

End Of The Night is a song that gives me something so powerful. So powerful that all I can do is just shut my eyes and go some place I don’t want to be bothered. It makes me want to sit on a beach in L.A. in the pitch black staring at the sky and the stars hitting the water. I’ll ignore the sounds of people and cars passing me by. I’m just sitting on the beach falling into my own sense of freedom, euphoria and a general state of bliss.

The loner, the outsider, the reckless fool, the one that people dismiss-if this is how you feel then The Doors will send you in the right direction. Jim’s lyrics provide a sense of comfort and the music just makes you glad you’re alive. That’s what you want. It is what you need. Their debut record was the soundtrack for so many when it was released, and 45 years on- I can safely say it is the soundtrack to mine. There is something about this record that just makes you feel something so soulful, deep and spiritual that you know you’ve been waiting so long to feel.

When I feel like I need something to remind me about how it may just get better, I play The Doors. Mainly the first record. Jim’s words give me reassurance and hope. That’s what one needs to get through this life, and to possibly carry it on into the next one.

Love, hope, vulnerability and desire; this is what this record fills me with. There’s much more but you can only feel it when you listen to this record. When I first heard this record I felt like I was having some weird, outer-body experience. It is almost like an epiphany. I was so young when I first heard this record, but I remember feeling this. As I listen to it now, it is just like the first time I heard it.

This record still causes my heart to skip,leap and flutter. It causes my mind to trip. It wakes up my soul. It goes beyond being just a record.

 

Willis Earl Beal-Acousmatic Sorcery.

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This is not a record for anyone who feels content and complete with life. This is a record for those that feel like they have lost everything, but are searching for something. This is a record for those who fight even though they are so tired, and sick of everything. And everything. I’m taking back my comment about Lana putting out the best debut record of the year. That’s just a distant memory. I’m not being fickle with this, I just didn’t know Willis was putting out a record this year. So, as he is it is only right that Acousmatic Sorcery is labelled as THE best debut record of the year. By an American artist. You see, 2:54 are set to put out their debut record this year and when that drops I will call it THE best debut record by a UK band. I just love music a hell of a lot, and to call out something as my favourite always gives me a headache and eternal clashing in my heart.

You want the Blues? You want a voice that is so pure and gnarly at times? You’ll find it all in Willis’ debut record. I listen to it, and no part of me can actually believe that this is a debut record. It sounds like something you would find in those town halls that have record stalls up every month. Its one of those records you’d find there, and think “I wish I was around when this came out…how did I live so long without it?!” Then you see it was released in 2012, and you cannot get your heart around it.

He has the pain of Townes Van Zandt and the storytelling and vocals that remind you of a young Tom Waits. It is one of the most vulnerable and spiritual records I’ve heard, and probably will ever hear. You listen to it, and you feel every single word Willis is singing. You feel a bit troubled, you feel a bit weary, you just FEEL. As someone who adores music that conveys raw emotion and takes you to a place that most would run from, I find Acousmatic Sorcery to be so utterly perfect. I never listen to anything to find fault in it. I’m not that kind if person. I listen to music to find certain parts to fall in love with. Whether it be a specific note or the way something is sung- I just look for that one part that makes me glad to still be breathing. I cannot find that in one song here, I find it in every single song.

Every insecurity and trouble you are carrying on your back is being projected in this record for you. You don’t need to hide and cry no more because Willis Earl Beal is singing about it in a way that you wish you could. It’s ONLY his first record, and he’s already got the ability to make you feel like you have heard this before. That you’ve felt this connection before. It is timeless and is just a beautiful work of art.

Sambo Joe From The Rainbow is so stripped back. It is basic and innocent. Some may take this as a diss, but for Willis  is a compliment. When something is so stripped back and just sends you off into another world, you know you have found the singer that has captured your heart for the rest of time.

Ghost Robot feels like a ritualistic chant that makes you want to sing along. Make your own drum out of something and beat it until your hands bleed. Sing along until your lungs ache and your mouth is bone dry. The whole record feels like some kind of spiritual experience. You feel like you are being healed from something, anything, everything as you listen to this. You listen to it and you can feel so much. You’ll feel hurt, you’ll feel happy, you’ll feel pissed off (Ghost Robot will make you want to start a protest.) You’ll just get a huge clarification with all your feelings from this record.

The outsiders of the world will fall in love with this, if they know what’s good for them. You want Gaga to preach about how its okay to be a “freak”? Alright then. You trust in the words of a woman who wears a meat dress, and I’ll go with this pure, rugged, delicate, honest young man who is coming from his heart and hitting right into mine.

Acousmatic Sorcery goes beyond being the truth. It is a record that wonderfully falls into NO genre. If you want to go label it, then that’s your call. I refuse to call it anything but wonderful. It ignites your soul and makes you feel so bloody alive. Swing On Low just moves you like someone experiencing something religious would. I know that seeing him live would probably be such a magical moment. You’d leave with your jaw on the ground and tears falling heavily from your eyes because you cannot believe what you have seen.

I’m pretty much heading that way right now listening to this. I feel I have been searching a hell of a long time to find something like this. For the most part it is just Willis and a guitar tugging at your heartstrings and making you feel okay with how you feel. He echoes your fears and frustrations. He sees the world in a way I wish more of us did. Because if we did, the world would feel much more gentle and welcoming. It is okay to be vulnerable and delicate. Id’ rather be how I am than act like a rock to keep people away. No one is always strong. Fall apart kid, but fix yourself by listening to Willis Earl Beal.

Acousmatic Sorcery proves that music is at its best when it is bare and open. The best songs created are like this. My personal favourite track off the record has to be  Monotony. I feel every single lyric more than I wish to, but I’m glad I do. Things are tough and crap right now, but this record has given me some much-needed hope.  I’ve never felt like I’ve had a home or ever belonged anywhere, I find peace and comfort in music; just like I do in this record. And for these reasons alone, I am calling it out as my favourite debut record of the year.

2:54-You’re Early (video.)

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ANOTHER mind-blowing, eerie and euphoric track from my favourite duo right now, 2:54. I fell in love with them when I first heard Creeping back in 2010. I just think they’re one of the best bands around. They have that haunting feel that you will find in The Cure’s Seventeen Seconds. Like you are being chased through an abandoned forest, with no hope of getting out. Do you even want to?

You’re Early is bloody brilliant. 2:54 are on tour next week :

4/02 – Norwich, UK – Waterfront Studio
4/04 – Manchester, UK – The Deaf Institue
4/05 – Glasgow, UK – Captain’s Rest Glasgow
4/10 – Bristol, UK – Thekla
4/11 – Brighton, UK – The Green Door Store
4/12 Tumbridge Wells, UK – Forum
4/13 Liverpool, UK The Shipping Forecast
4/14 Leeds, UK – Cockpit
6/07 London, UK – Scala

Go see them. It’ll be like an outer body experience. Much like when you listen to them really.

Dum Dum Girls-Coming Down (video.)

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Only In Dreams was one of the best things to have happened last year. An underrated album that holds more value in my heart than I can put into words.

I’ve written about the song Coming Down a few times, mainly because I just feel so much towards it. A lot of love. A hell of a lot of love for that song. The lyrics hit me right in the gut when I first heard it. I felt like part of what I was feeling/thinking was being sung by Dee Dee and I just cried. Watching the video just made me bawl a little bit. Maybe it’s because I’m stupidly tired and its caused me to cry. I have no idea. Or maybe, the song and the sheer beauty of this video, shot in black and white, just really struck a chord. I don’t need to write anymore about this song, it’s obvious how I feel about it. However, I must say that Dee Dee Penny is probably my dream girl.

Royal Chant- Hesitation Kills.

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This morning, in my emails I found a lovely email from my chums Royal Chant. They’re the kind of lads you’d spend an afternoon in a pub quoting NWA lyrics with and discussing who had the best solo career from NWA (Ice Cube, yeah?) As they are based in Australia and I’m in England these discussions occur over social networking sites and emails. When they come to England, I’ll probably stalk them and they’ll forget to play their shows as we’ll get too involved in our NWA discussions. Not sorry.

So, they’ve got a new single out. It is called Hesitation Kills and quite frankly, I love it. Even if we weren’t pals I would still love this track. It is loud and will probably cause your ears to bleed if you play it as loudly as I’ve been doing. I think I’ve gone a bit deaf. My only solution to this is to keep playing it loudly and enjoy it. I will risk my health and safety for the music I love.

You can get a free download of the track from their bandcamp page. But give it a few hours, they’re working out some technical stuff/sorting it out etc.

http://royalchant.bandcamp.com/track/hesitation-kills-single

Wait it out, and it’ll be worth it. Until then, listen to some of the other tracks on the page. Oh and if anyone of authority (I mean very rich people who want to make a few poor folks like myself happy) wants to get these guys to England I’d appreciate that!

Best Coast-The Only Place.

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Sheryl Crow once sang, “A change would do you good.” True isn’t it? Change is a good thing. Why stay stuck in your ways when you can become something better. Why settle for less when you will find something better. Its always the case, and yeah it causes us good ones to be left behind- but whatever. Right now, it isn’t about that.

Best Coast are BACK. Remember how their debut record ruled your summer when it came out? How Boyfriend is the story of your life? How the lo-fi sounds sparked up your insides? I understand, I really do. I’ve played that record to death. I play it most days. I had Crazy For You as my ringtone for a while, but then I had to change it because I wouldn’t answer my phone. I changed it to something by Warpaint, and didn’t answer my phone. So I keep it on silent….and never answer my phone. I hate having a phone, as you can tell.

Back to the subject of change. Many will probably say that Best Coast have sold out and hate the new sound. Then again, some may actually realise a band cannot keep making the same record, with the same sound over and over again. Personally, I love the song. They could make a death metal record and I’d probably still love that.

I just love Best Coast, and their new track The Only Place is everything I love about them. A song about the beach and creating a wonderful summer vibe. You can’t hate on that.

Swim Deep-King City (Video.)

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Last year, Summer Camp’s I Want You was THE song that made me feel everything intensely. I compared most things to how this song made me feel. I’ve already declared King City as the song to do this to me this year. I listen to it and no part of me is unhappy. I can relate to the lyrics, I mean who wouldn’t want Jenny Lee Lindberg to be their girlfriend?! However, when I’m alone I sing this and throw in all members of Warpaint names around because I love them. A lot. If you must know, I use Emily’s name the most. I’ve just out-creeped myself.

Swim Deep are the band that are going to amaze you this year. Yeah, I’m probably only using King City as what I’m basing this on, but I think I’m right this time. They come from Birmingham. Is that important? You know what, this time IT IS. All too often London is given all the hype and whatnot. Not this time. This year, it’s all about Birmingham and Swim Deep.

I’ll give you the reasons as to why I really love this video :

-The posters of Jenny Lee Lindberg at the start of the video.

-The JD poster.

-Comic store.

-Vinyl.

-Skateboarding in the Bullring.

Everything I love is in this video. Aside from skateboarding. I can’t skateboard. When I was about 6 years old my best friend and I used to get our skateboards and lie on them on our tummy and go down hills. Dangerous? Fuck yes. We were fearless 6 year olds. Nearly ending up under a car wasn’t enough to tame our evident rebellious streak…

This video just oozes summer. Listen to it on a rainy day and you’ll still feel like you’ve got the sun on your back. I’m content with playing this track all day EVERY day this year (and beyond.)

Also, I think “And fuck your romance I wanna pretend, that Jenny Lee Lindberg is my girlfriend” is probably going to be my favourite lyric of the year. Mainly because I can relate. I’ll switch it up every so often by using Alison Mosshart and others in there. Romance never goes my way, EVER. Never has and never will. But King City makes me feel okay with it because I know someone out there feels it too. Thank you Swim Deep! A person you like in real life may reject your affections, but you’ve always got a music crush to fall back on.

Warpaint-Composure.

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Every decision you make in life will one day come back around to make a mockery of you. You can go one of two ways. Or you can end up heading towards both. For instance, you could have this fucked up dream of wanting to leave where you currently are so you can make something of yourself, and in time move away to the place that spiritually owns every part of you. Then it hits you. You look back at your emails or whatever. You’ve applied to close to 40 jobs in 5 days. You’re heading nowhere so very very fast. It is worse than last time, and in a week or so you will be going back home where you’ll shut yourself off and refuse to try again. It’s happening, and with this wave of failure kicking in- I’m going to carry on writing about a band that are somewhat holding me together.

It is obvious how much I love Warpaint. From the articles I’ve written to my tattoo to the amount of times I listen to them a day. I don’t listen to them because I want to, I listen to them because I HAVE to. There’s a few bands/singers I have this love for. It becomes like a ritual. Speaking of rituals….

The start of Composure starts with some kind of ritualistic chant. You can make up your own mind with regard to what they are chanting, but I will always remain adamant that it is “THE CLIT CUT.” They’ve said it is that in a few live clips, so its fine to yell this when you see them live. You can yell it during everyday life if you want, sure it may make you mental but there is no sense of normality around us because it does not exist.

I love the intro to Composure (chant aside.) The build up in this song is much like all their songs. Extremely euphoric and catapults you right off into another world. A world that is surrounded by stars, the sea and tranquility. Everything we need but for the most part, cannot seem to get our hands on. Do we keep trying? For me, this song holds a lot of meaning. Both personally and just a general love for it. At times I’ve listened to it with a sense of overwhelming urgency hitting me in the face, and I have listened to it and thought about the phrase “You are beyond” which is sung by Emily in such a hypnotising way. Her voice has this effect on you that causes you to feel like you are trapped, but it is totally fine because her voice will also be the voice that sets you free. The concept of freedom is a different matter, but I could probably relate it to a Warpaint song easily.

“How can I keep my composure?
I turn my back and you got my shoulder.
Release your mind, through your hands and your feet,
A sigh digs you out when you’re getting too deep.”

You try to keep it together. The “you” could be a person or a state of mind that always has a grip on you. A possible death-grip. Your conscience will fuck with you, but that’s just how it is. You let all these words and feelings out. It becomes overwhelming, then you realise you’ve probably said too much. So what can you do? Well, all you can do is just sigh. You let everything come out, an intense release that is only greeted by a sigh. Is this what it has all become now? You cannot explain a thing, just a sigh sums it up. Sometimes though, that is all you have. I an relate. Thanks Warpaint! Although I love this verse a hell of a lot, there’s just one sentence in the song that from first listen to The Fool hit me like no other. It just meant a lot from the first listen. Its been nearly two years and I am still in awe when I hear:

“A sordid spot, a monster takeover.
Living in shame’s gonna haunt your sleep.”

You’re in a sordid place and something horrific takes over you. This could be your own personal Hell or you could be brave, fighting off those demons that seem to creep up on you. Then you realise, being ashamed of all of this is haunting you. You’re not functioning. You’re not living. You’re not sleeping. You’re no longer you. There’s no shame in being weak. But you feel so ashamed, it stirs you. What are you going to do about it? What can you do about it?

The thing is, Warpaint tap into that part of you that you thought nobody could ever really get into. You always knew it was there. This mystical, euphoric feelings. But you were never quite sure on how you’d reach that state of being. Being fully aware of your surroundings but at the same time- in a dreaming state. It is easy to function like this. But there’s a difference, as you know, between functioning and living. For the most part, we aren’t living.

I try to take something from when I listen to Warpaint. Whether it is a way of trying to make sense or just trying to let that nagging feeling/thought go. This is why Warpaint go beyond being a band. Songs like Composure just make so much sense. Trying to keep yourself together when you know that there is something/someone with their hand on you waiting for you to turn back around. When you face whatever it is, will you go towards it or will you keep walking away from it?

Don’t live in shame, and allow that sigh to be the most liberating thing you do. Then listen to Warpaint. Listen to them, and maybe..just maybe something will click. Something may just make a little bit of sense.

Th dreamy guitars, the swaying bass, the tense drumming and the calming vocals really come alive in Composure. It is there in every Warpaint song, but you knew that already.

Lost? Find yourself in Warpaint.

 

The Black Belles UK Tour 2012.

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I don’t really write about tours here, I don’t know why. I guess its because you’re more than likel to find out for yourself, right? Right. Anyway, I’m making an exception for this.

In May one of my favourite bands (and one of the best things Jack White has EVER been involved with) are touring the UK.

The Black Belles are touring, and you’ve GOT to go see them. They’re playing some pretty cool venues, including two dates in London and the Great Escape Festival in Brighton.

May 02 – Leeds – Brudnell Social Club
May 04 – Halifax – Puzzle Inn
May 05 – Liverpool – Erics
May 06 – Manchester – Islington Mill
May 08 – Bristol – Start the Bus
May 10 – London – Barfly
May 11 – Brighton – Great Escape Festival
May 12 – London – Brixton Windmill
May 13 – South End on Sea – Railway Hotel
May 17 – Wrexham – Central Station

Ketamines.

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All the bad days you have role into one, and the mere thought of facing another day with every burden under the sun makes you want to escape. Escape to the point where coming back from where you take yourself isn’t appealing. You want to pack up and go. Nothing I’ve ever had has been permanent. Nothing I’ve ever felt has been a slight intervention. The bane of my life is my future and how hopeless it all feels. The disgusting confessions of a 25 year old on just another evening. But I’ve found something I could cling onto in a band. I’m not sure how hard my grip is, but I know its gonna see me through. Or, at least I’m going to try let it anyway.

Ketamines are making it seem, for me, that feeling hopeless and useless isn’t all too bad. They always say to you, “it could be worse” don’t they? You’re unsure if they are optimists or just stupid. Maybe both. Then they say you’re not doing enough. You declare you’re doing too much. They will always fail to see your good points and constantly go at your faults. It gives you a headache. Heartache? That’s nothing. Ketamines are filling the void. Ketamines are making sense. Everything else just seems quite distant. Or maybe, I am the distant one. I’ll argue with myself instead of someone else. Where am I going with this?

Are you a hopeless case? Are you constantly made to feel like you ain’t worth shit? Forget it. Just forget it. You’ve got to listen to Ketamines instead. You want to feel something good? You want to feel at ease with how you feel? You want acceptance? Ketamines. Check them out.

Why do I love them? Because they have a distorted feel to their music that always seems to grab me in ways a person can’t. Maybe this makes me an excuse for a person you know? Because I let music have a grip over me and take control. Give up to a person, and I’d rather go read a book. It is what it is, they say. I love Ketamines because for some reason, I just connect with their music. I listen to their music and I feel like I’m on some beach taking in the sound of the crashing waves. This is enough to make me ignore the fact I’m in England. They sound like Summer, they feel like reassurance. Things take time. I like to think I have time, but sometimes I feel like I am running out.

I guess listening to Ketamines right now is making a world of sense to me because it’s allowing life to somehow make sense. Although I’m not sure how. I adore the track, Skin Trade. I’d probably claim it as my favourite although I will end up changing my mind soon enough. Spaced Out is a brilliant record that you really do need to listen to. You just need to listen to all their music to be honest. And if you click here : http://ketamines.bandcamp.com then you can add some excitement to your evening.

Kill Me Now is a pretty cool track also. I love everything about them. You can tell, right? I cannot explain this feeling in any more detail than this. If you feel like an outsider, you’ll probably connect with Ketamines on a level you didn’t think you would. Just go with it. It’s nothing to be scared or ashamed of.