The Horrors- Skying.

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Before I go into detail about Skying, I would just like to say- ALBUM OF THE YEAR..by an English band (The Kills are American and English, and Blood Pressures is THE album of the year…joint first place? GO ON THEN.)

Right, constructive input about this masterpiece begins……NOW!

Skying is self-produced by The Horrors. Is it better than Strange House? Yes. Is it better than Primary Colours? YES. I honestly didn’t know if they could pull it off, but they have. They bloody well have. You know how Primary Colours was just this euphoric build up from start to finish, well Skying is just the same. It will lift your spirits, it will blow your mind- it will make your jaw drop and your body will just freeze in awe of what you are hearing.

As a band, they have become one well worth appreciating as pioneers. Sounds extreme? Good, because it’s true. I honestly believe in the depths of my heart that The Horrors will create a legacy that will inspire so many bands. They have justified this since 2006. I’ve been a fan of them since I first heard Sheena Is A Parasite in 2006, just before I went to University. Their EP got me through my first term and was the first album I bought with my grant. Their sound is everything I want from a band. This raw, passionate, unexplainable sound. It’s just one big build up, and when it’s over all you can do is hit repeat. With Skying, you find so many layers to love. From Josh’s out of this world guitar playing to the way Faris’ voice has changed in a way that has fast become a distinctive voice in the music industry.

The album opens with Changing The Rain. It instantly sets the tone for this album. Skying makes you feel you are in the 1960s, the pyschedellic vibe blows your mind and blows you away. If anyone finds fault in this album then they are missing the point. They don’t get music if they cannot hear the genius in this album. Rhys, Josh, Tom, Joe and Faris are close to my age and to hear something like this being created by people so young is utterly inspiring. I must inform you, the album ends with a track that is so gorgeous- please do nothing when you listen to it. Just wack your headphones in, lie down and listen to Oceans Burning with your eyes closed. It is a personal favourite. It just catapults you elsewhere- because elsewhere is always better than where you are. Always.

What I adore, admire and respect The Horrors for is that they never ever justify what they do for others. They do not give reason, they do not ever explain. They just do it. With their third album being self-produced you can hear everything they are in this. What I mean is, all their influences and their love of music has come together- with this, they have made this stunning album. I love them because every song on every album of theirs sounds so different but fits perfectly on the album. Ther are no words that are good enough to tell you just how perfect this album is. My words are utterly useless in describing how wonderful Skying is. So, next Monday I urge you to go to a record shop and buy this album. It will improve your life. It will open your ears to a whole new world. I was going to make a lame joke about Whole New Way, but that’s just The Horrors obsessive in me coming out.

For me, The Horrors are the male version of Warpaint. Or Warpaint are the female version of The Horrors. Both bands play with such passion and honesty which makes them so easy to fall in love with and fall into. Every guitar note, every lyric, every tone in the voice, every bass line, every drum hit, every synth- it’s just unbelievable. It makes you think, “How can people like this exist?” It’s so inspiring, it is just brilliant. The Horrors have re-ignited my faith in the UK music scene. See, Radio 1 and all those shit commercial stations- keep your awful pop music with no depth and meaning. I’ll stick to listening to bands like The Horrors who are giving us music lovers something worth believing in again.

Stand out tracks : The whole effin’ album. From start to finish. Please listen to it from start to finish. None of this shuffle nonsense. Also, the recorded version of Endless Blue is wonderful.

*I must say, I streamed the album fro mthe band’s website. I wasn’t one of the arses who listened to it illegally or downloaded it, and I will be purchasing it next week from a record shop =)

 

2:54.

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Easily one of the best bands around right now. Creeping is one of my favourite songs I’ve heard in a long time, even though it’s well over a year old- it still sounds as good now as it did back then.

If you love bands such as Warpaint, Summer Camp and Cults- you will adore 2:54.

 

Morrissey. York Barbican. Saturday 25th June 20111.

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It is close to impossible to describe the feeling of seeing Morrissey live, unless you have seen him. You will only get it if you have witnessed it.

There is something so comforting and beautiful about watching a sea of people just lose themselves in front of someone on stage. Every single word is sung back as if their lives depend on it. Every word is sung as if it was written just for you. Every single word that falls out of Morrissey’s mouth is clung onto, like a safety net.

The set-list tonight was quite frankly, the best set-list Morrissey has put together. Opening with I Want The One I Cannot Have, the crowd just go mental. A woman in front of me is standing in the aisle singing and dancing as if she is the only person in the venue- that’s exactly how it should be.

For so long all I’ve ever wanted was to hear Alma Matters, There Is A Light That Never Goes Out and Everyday Is Like Sunday live. Tonight, I heard all 3. I cried and I sang- as expected. Seeing him perform these songs live was euphoric. It felt like a religious experience. To be honest, seeing Morrissey is like a religious experience. His words are the only thing worth believing- because it is the truth.

 

The most fascinating thing about a Morrissey concert is how diverse the crowd is. Men with their best friends, wives with their husbands, children with their parents (like myself!) it is just the most wonderful experience ever. His concerts are life saving. They are something worth holding on for.

As the projection screen falls, and he takes to the stage- tears begin and cheers are echoed throughout the venue.

Although he played pretty much all my favourite songs, there is one part of the concert that meant the most. About 10 years ago I heard Meat Is Murder. The lyrics hit me and I immediately became a vegetarian. To finally see this live was beyond amazing. A video showing animal cruelty was played as Morrissey sang was a chilling experience, I can only hope some left here tonight wanting to be a vegetarian. To not be affected by the video or song, well- they must be a cold person.

Hearing the songs that changed my life in one evening was out of this world.

Speedway and You Have Killed Me were enough to keep the tears flowing. His words mean more to me than anyone will ever know. Sometimes, I don’t understand. All I know is that without Morrissey..well, I don’t know. I really don’t. he has saved so many lives, mine included.

When he is stood in front of you singing the songs that changed and saved your life, this feeling takes over. A feeling that you just cannot describe. For that hour and a half, all feelings of uselessness and feeling worthless just fade away. You don’t feel alone because he is right there in front of you, saying how you feel. He is saying how you feel better than you could.

There are so many times where I wish I could just say to someone, “Listen to this by Morrissey” to sum up how I feel. His words hold more worth and meaning than my own do.

He played his 3 new songs that sadly people decided to bugger off and get a drink during. Action Is My Middle Name is wonderful live, the words are just glorious.

Morrissey’s cover of Lou Reed’s, Satellite Of Love is gorgeous. I could listen to him sing that over and over.

The set ends with This Charming Man; however ending with this just makes you want more. Good job I’m seeing him two more times on this tour.

Ridiculous fan-girl moment, we waited an hour to see him leave the venue. As he stepped into his silver Mercedes, he flashes the small crowd a grin and nods to us all.

Perfect set-list, perfect gig. I could’ve quite happily watched him sing for another hour and a half. I just doubt I could ever love anyone as much as I love him, and I’m alright with that.

Because I need to post this as often as possible…..

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I am OBSESSED with this song. I could post this song billions of times, but nobody would ever read what I write again (I don’t think anyone does anyway to be honest….apart from my mum!)

It’s just perfect. I adore it. I love the drop in it. It’s like an enjoyable smack in the face. The kind that makes you go…”DO IT AGAIN.” It’s amazing. It makes me want to dance. I don’t dance, but I’d dance to this.

Jeremy and Elizabeth- THANK YOU. Just thank you for this song. Not much makes me happy, but this song makes me so bloody happy. The past few weeks…months, whatever- have been shite. So when it gets awful- I play this. I play this song and nothing matters for those few minutes.

It’s my song of the summer and song of the year. Hand on heart, I do believe this song is utter perfection.