madKat is back! Where have I been, you ask. Or more importantly, what I have been listening to? I’ve been on a musical meander of late, listening to some vintage Elton John (early, early stuff from his country-blues years), enjoying a little Kings of Leon and rediscovering Pearl Jam’s ‘avocado’ album. I usually reach for early years when I’m in a PJam mood, but I’ve given avocado another chance and am really digging it. I know most people acknowledge Eddie Vedder as the face and soul of PJ, but man you’ve got to give credit to Stone Gossard’s and Mike McCready’s guitars.
I just returned from a little trip to England where the leaves were falling and Amy Winehouse’s new single with Mark Ronson (“Valerie”) was all over the radio. What to make of Miss Winehouse? I asked a friend, and fellow rabid music lover, for her thoughts on Wino-house. My friend called Amy ‘a cliché of a cliché’: the boozy, bluesy woman – more retro but just as self-destructive as Britney or Courtney. The Brits love her sound and style, but then again they keep giving Pete Doherty second, third and fourth chances. Why? I don’t know.
I think poor Winehouse has fallen into the Joss Stone trap. It’s not enough to have a retro-fresh sound, you’ve gotta have a look too. Hence Stone, who I’ve never really liked, morphs from a ‘That ‘70s Show’ attitude to being a Lenny Kravitz sex kitten. And now Winehouse has got this weird mix of biker chick meets the Brill Building thing happening. Enough! Put on a nice dress, my sisters, step up to the mic and just sing like Aretha!
After hearing Winehouse 24-7, next I’m seeing the faces of rock survivors Eric Clapton and Slash staring out from all the bookstores. They both have new autobiographies out (just in time for Christmas, shoppers!), and as you can imagine, both books spend a lot of pages chronicling – in the immortal words of Freddie Fender – ‘wasted days and wasted nights’.
Miraculously, considering all the booze and drugs they’ve ingested, both men have emerged surprisingly coherent and humble (cue the ghost writer…). Interesting to find out that Slash now lives with a small electro-cardio device in his chest, to help regulate his damaged heart. Hard-rocking ex-G-n-R guitar god with something akin to a pacemaker? What’s next – Eddie Van Halen pushing a zimmer frame onstage?
You’ll have to excuse my meandering thoughts, formed as I listen to my iPod and walk the long Gatwick hallways to departures, but I have been pondering the lack of rock-n-roll deaths in today’s music scene. Really, can you think of a big front-page demise since Kurt Cobain? I think the rappers have taken over the ‘die young’ mantle of late. But even then, you haven’t encountered a big name tragedy since Tupac and Biggie. [btw, has anyone read an interview with P Diddy where he hasn’t mentioned his psychic connection with Biggie Smalls? Enough Puff! It’s time to move on, my friend.]
Are our rockers out there more careful and clean these days? Judging by Amy Winehouse’s exploits, rock’s just as messy as it’s always been. And embarrassing! Especially if you’re Kid Rock. Getting arrested in a Waffle House? Kid, Kid, Kid, I know you’re being true to your roots but that’s just tacky.
Well, I leave you with this topic of rock-n-roll tragedy open-ended.
Maybe you’d like to share your thoughts and comments? Write and let me know what you think. And, if you get a chance, check out “Gone” from Pearl Jam – as the Brits say, “Brilliant!”
When I learned that the New Pornographers were coming to Atlanta, I was so excited. Not only do I love all of the New Pornographers’ songs and albums, but I also love the band members as independent artists, like A.C. Newman and Neko Case. The New Pornographers are a great mix of the different sounds of the members’ independent projects all rolled into one power pop supergroup.
The New Pornographers came out with a bang and played a great show. Of course, they were crazy and energetic which aptly matched their music. They played some songs from their new album “Challengers” which was favorably reviewed by Pitchfork, but doesn’t compare to their other albums such as “Electric Version” and “Twin Cinema.” Their songs from this newest album are much more mellow and don’t have the catchy pop hooks that define their previous work; however, some noteworthy songs include “All The Old Showstoppers” and “Challengers.”
Hearing the new album live added another dimension to it, but what I enjoyed most were their old songs. The crowd went wild when they played “The Electric Version,” and they ended the show with the classic “Miss Teen Wordpower.” The energy of their offbeat power pop was infectious, and my toes were stepped on several times by overzealous fans.
But most of all, I loved hearing Neko Case live. Her voice is incredible; it defies all logic and reason. Every note was clear and perfect; I don’t understand how someone could have a voice that amazing.
In my opinion, her voice stole the show, and while the New Pornographers’ new album is somewhat disappointing, I could listen to anything as long as Neko sings it.
I got the new Radiohead album for free. It’s not that unusual. Nowadays if music consumers don’t buy their music at list price, then we’re probably downloading it from friends/websites/etc. for free.
The difference this time is Radiohead facilitated my free download.
As you probably know, the group decided to release their seventh studio album, ‘In Rainbows’, in two formats: a basic DRM-free download version that costs whatever you want, and a deluxe boxed version that includes a double vinyl disc, a book, eight bonus tracks and two CDs, out the first week of December (it also comes with a DRM-free download that arrived on October 10th).
I went on their website, and when it came time to pay simply typed in 0.00 pounds. Now I’m listening to the first track, ’15 Step’ and wondering if they’re going to make any money off this.
Apparently, they are. Some altruistic – some might call them foolish – fans out there paid an average of US$8 for the album. About a third of downloaders chose to pay nothing, but some people contributed as much as $20 to the ‘cause’. Either it’s a kind of a funny litmus test of their fan base or a major retaliation against the dictates (or is that dictators) of the music industry. Whatever it is, sports pundits would call this new consumer model a ‘game-changer’.
I’m a fan of Radiohead, no doubt. It’s music for those day-dreamy, noodle-y times when you’re quietly angry. Thom Yorke’s voice, as always, is beautifully alienated. Someone cast this man in the remake of The Man Who Fell to Earth!
But as I listen to my free music, I ask myself, ‘Should I have paid for this?’ I bought these songs out of the ether and now they exist as nothing more than zeros and ones on my hard drive. On my tinny computer speaker, I can’t even appreciate the full stereo range of Jonny Greenwood’s guitar. And as I get more into the album, I find I’d appreciate a lyric sheet or some liner notes. What does the cover art look like?
I buy quite a few songs off iTunes, but with my favorite bands, I’m still old-school in that I like liner notes - arcane trivia about who the band thanks and who the producer or sound engineer is – maybe someone who worked for another band I like. But I suppose it’s a common lament in this digital age – if it’s on my computer, can it have a soul?
In spite of my free(down)loader status, I wish Radiohead well and hope they make some dosh out of ‘In Rainbows’, which is an excellent, gently rocking album. More importantly I hope they come to Hong Kong on tour. Now I’d pay good money for that!
My picks from In Rainbows: ‘15 Steps’, ‘Nude’ & ‘Faust Arp’
INXS is neither a sad tribute band nor a viable road to rock stardom: discuss!
I’m trying to think what J.D. Fortune is thinking right about now. Here’s the guy who won the first season of ROCKSTAR in ‘05, morphing from one-time Elvis impersonator to “you are now the lead singer of INXS!” Have all his Rock Star dreams come true?
‘Cuz I just saw them not on a regular tour, but at a private (re corporate) show playing in front of oh, maybe 500 hundred pinstriped parentals and Armani-clad, chemi-straightened hair women. Everyone enjoying the free sushi and open bar, and not taking too much notice of J.D. and co. on stage unless it was to take a pic with their new Nokia. It must be difficult to get pumped to play this crowd.
J.D. tried his best, making comments about the lack of, let’s call it “rock audience appreciation 101” before getting the crowd going – finally! - with a combo of old and new songs. The band even coaxed an encore out of the jaded bunch before them. Not a bad night’s work for what’s got to be some serious cheddar.
INXS just celebrated THIRTY years together as a band, which means that J.D. was only 4 when the band played its first gig at some dive pub somewhere in Australia. Michael Hutchence was their sexy and enigmatic lead singer for 20 years until his death in ’97. For any fan of ‘80s music, Hutchence’s husky voice and snaky hips were mucho appealing: a tough act to follow. And overall the band produced sharp, punchy dance-pop tunes and some cool ballads.
So how does J.D. rate? Hard to say if he can connect with the old-timers who looooved Michael and woo new fans who may not want to see a young-ish guy singing in front of a silverback band. As a lead singer, he’s from the Jim Morrison school of rockers: thick, floppy hair – check; skinny, pale body – check; pensive mumblings between songs – super check; currently planning a solo album – yeah baby, check that! I don’t think he made me forget Michael, but you know the band’s tight, and I do like that single J.D. co-wrote, ‘Pretty Vegas’.
OK, so this isn’t a ringing endorsement, but hey, loved hearing the old stuff fellas. I don’t know if J.D. feels like he’s golden, but it’s still a heck of a ride for the Elvis Impersonator from Canada!
Her upbeat song - GIRLFRIEND - written at a high point in her life might take the TOP HONORS at this year’s FOX TEEN CHOICE MUSIC AWARDS.
“We were just being silly,” she recalls, “but I think that’s what happens with songs that become very successful. They capture certain magical moments. It wasn’t like, ‘Oh, we’ve gotta write a hit.’ We were just having fun. I’ve noticed that with all my songs that have done really well, they were written quickly.
‘Pride and Low Self Esteem are more or less 2 sides of the same token.’
A line I’ve recently heard from a friend of mine, Lorraine; An intelligent description of the fundamental dimensions of humans –
By experimenting with extremes we take a glimpse of how we are and where we stand in the wide wild world – the humanistic approach in Psychology says: all that we do is to construct a self-image we feel competent with.
This is why we see – 1) people with low self-esteem resorting to pride sometimes as to protect own self-image and to feel less inferior; 2) drug addicts head spearing anti-drug abuse protests to deny their own impulses; 3) and so many more contradictory scenes you may capture in humans…
And now, Alice Cooper, whose renowned symbols are snakes slithering around his neck, fake blood all over his body, shock-rock music and macabre black make up, is on his way raising funds to create a Christian youth centre as the President of the Solid Rock Foundation.
‘Its (the centre, namely The Rock) primary mission has been to “honor Christ by helping to meet the spiritual, economical, physical and social needs of teenagers and children.’
Alice, is it an experiment or a dream to come true?
… What do you think?
If The Rock really comes into life, youths visiting the Baptist-based Grand Canyon University in Phoenix will be able to enjoy the following facilities in the 29450-square-foot centre:
… sports facilities, a concert hall, recording studios and sound room, coffeehouse, computer lab, a rock-climbing wall, game room, dancing space, skateboard area and more.
In addition, Sheryl Cooper, 31-year-old wife of Alice, owner and choreographer of Destiny Dance International Studio in Phoenix, will lead dancing classes at The Rock with her team.
‘I’ll call it ‘West Side Story’ and bring in hip-hop, bring in break dancing, ballet, salsa, mongo, tango and partner dancing,’ she said. ‘The common denominator is music.’
It is said that Alice will also teach youths how to write lyrics. Professional musicians will also be present in instrumental classes the centre will offer. A teen advisory board will even be set up to monitor the activities.
Well, perhaps we should say, ‘Being a bloody shock-rock star as well as a passionate parent are more or less 2 sides of the same old brand new Alice Cooper.’
One more question: Will there be any make-up workshops led by Alice at Halloween? ☺
Brian May was once writing his doctoral thesis in Astronomy at Imperial College in London when a career as a world renown rock star got in the way. May formed the British rock band Queen in 1970 and it went on to become one of Britain’s most successful rock bands.
“We Will Rock You” which was written by May was ranked by Rolling Stone magazine as #330 of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time in 2004, and also by the Recording Industry Association of America as #146 on its list of Songs of the Century . “We are the Champions”, written by fellow band member Freddie Mercury, is equally famous.
Fast forward to August 2007, thirty years later. May handed in his completed doctoral thesis “Radial Velocities in the Zodiacal Dust Cloud”, to Imperial College’s head of Astrophysics, Paul Nandra. “It’s been the longest gap year ever,” May said, tongue-in-cheek.
May still faces his oral exam on August 23, when assessors who have read his 48,000 word dissertation will grill him on its contents. May stated somewhat confidently, “I have a philosophical view of things, a stoical view of life, that it will be what it will be. I’ve done the work and I’m proud of the work.”
We listen to different songs at different times of life with different states of mind.
Jocelyn-19 says: When I feel light-hearted, I listen to BBMak. When I feel nostalgic, I listen to Oasis. When I feel stressed out, I listen to Avril Lavigne. When I feel lonely, I listen to Damien Rice. When I feel sweet and dreamy, I listen to Jay Chou. When I feel all mixed up, I listen to My Chemical Romance. When I’m in a holiday mood, I listen to Mandy Moore & Maroon 5…
And when I feel loved, I listen to this song: Heaven by Bryan Adams.
‘Oh, thinkin’ about all our younger years There was only you and me We were young and wild and free Now nothin’ can take you away from me We’ve been down that road before But that’s over now You keep me comin’ back for more’
Yes… It’s an old love song; ‘Uncle’ Bryan Adams is an ‘old biscuit’; but let’s admit that there are just songs that are classic and never get old, their ability to tug at your heartstrings, is universal and span across generations, just as human emotions do.
‘Oh, once in your life you find someone Who will turn your world around Bring you up when you’re feelin’ down Yeah, nothin’ could change what you mean to me Oh, there’s lots that I could say But just hold me now ‘Cause our love will light the way…’
I love the way “Uncle” Bryan performs this song in his album, bryan adams unplugged — it is intense and soothing with the flutes and guitars. Suddenly…
…‘HEAVEN’ doesn’t seem far away.
Whether you are in love or not, listen to the live version of the song – the tranquility, the sweetness, and everything you’d hope to find in any imagined ‘Heaven’ - my guess is, you’ll feel loved, absolutely…
‘Baby you’re all that I want When you’re lyin’ here in my arms I’m findin’ it hard to believe We’re in heaven And love is all that I need And I found it there in your heart It isn’t too hard to see We’re in heaven.’
For performing a song that brings me a sensation of being in Heaven, “Uncle” Bryan is nothing less than an angel …
‘Let there be love … Let there be Love…’ repeats Liam in a dreamy tone as he sings the song, Let there be Love, written by his elder brother, Noel Gallagher.
Do you hear them?
Noel and Liam, vocal leaders and song writers of Oasis, are two figureheads of the Britpop movement in 1990’s. Their distinctive song writing and singing styles are distinctively Oasis – it sounds weird for singers to lengthen the syllables of almost every word BUT IF it happens to be NOEL & LIAM SINGING, magically, IT SOUNDS COOL.
It’s Oasis’s magic. The band is meant to lead the Britpop development. It’s always the band that the spotlight catches in the Britpop sector, just the way an oasis appears in a desert.
In their second-latest album, Don’t believe the Truth, Oasis marches on with their spirit to Turn Up the Sun, Love like a Bomb, Keep the Dream Alive, knowing that ultimately, A Bell Will Ring in their search for The Meaning of Soul.
Listen and taste the songs carefully and you will realize that there is a thread that runs through the 11 separate songs – the theme of persistence – the persistence to hold on to dreams we have.
The final song, Let There be Love, is to dedicate wishes and blessings upon people who have a dream. Featuring both Noel and Liam on lead vocals, Oasis delivers to the fans one of their most soothing and bittersweet songs ever. Who kicked a hole in the sky so the heavens would cry over me? Who stole the soul from the sun in a world come undone at the seams?
This is heartbreaking. ‘It’s a song that sighs rather than shouts,’ they say.
Just as the public labels Noel and Liam as ‘Brothers of Public Squabbling’ and pays full attention to their every movement, why can’t we just put more focus on their music, talents and sentiments?
I hope the weather is calm as you sail up your heavenly stream Suspended clear in the sky are the words that we sing in our dreams Let there be love - Let there be love Let there be love - Let there be love
It’s a beautiful wish, as well as a genuine blessing. Listen to Liam – the genuine Liam you might think would not exist. Cheers for Noel the song writer too! ‘Suspended clear in the sky are the words that we sing in our dreams’ – that’s delicate, gentle as a dove, but profound.
This is why we call them leaders of Britpop – They write and sing songs that conquer tired hearts of city dwellers who have lost faith. Their music works like soothing moonlight in the dark of night, urging dreamers to MOVE ON!
Come on baby blue Shake up your tired eyes The world is waiting for you May all your dreaming fill the empty sky
But if it makes you happy Keep on clapping Just remember I’ll be by your side And if you only go, it’s gonna pass you by
Who is to tell what is REAL and what is TRUE? Given no definite answer OASIS reminds you – Don’t Believe the Truth, J.U.S.T. D.R.E.A.M. A.L.I.V.E.
This is reckless, BUT this is why we call them OASIS.
1. The End 2. Dead! 3. This is How I Disappear 4. The Sharpest Lives 5. Welcome to the Black Parade 6. I Don’t Love You 7. House of Wolves 8. Cancer 9. Mama 10. Sleep 11. Teenagers 12) Disenchanted 13) Famous Last Words
There are some music albums you just can’t help but buy officially from record shops – because they are too good to get on the fly.
These special albums are so powerful they make you want to lock yourself in a room, listen to the songs sequentially and digest the songs over and over again.
They are like episodes of a story. Yes – episodes of a STORY. These are ‘concept albums’, from the first song to the last, a story-line runs through the album.
Many happy returns to My Chemical Romance! – Previous singles like Helena and I’m Not Okay are fabulous BUT MCR, led by front man Gerard Way with his vivacious voice, are no longer simply the kings of screamo now. Behind the music and guitars, not only are they song-writers but also story-tellers. The band’s new concept album,The Black Parade, has indeed become an all-time favorite story in many of the audiences’ hearts.
It’s all about a character identified as ‘The Patient’ – His path to death, the bits of his reflections on life and finally, the internal conflicts he has left unresolved.
Peculiar as it sounds, the first song is entitled ‘The END’, just as the story starts with the death of the patient.
‘Now come one come all to this tragic affair / Wipe off that makeup—what’s in is despair’ – Way makes calls upon the audience in his morose and solemn tone as The END begins. To the patient, he warns, ‘So throw on the black dress/ Mix in with the lot/ You might wake up and notice you’re someone you’re not/ Have you heard the news that you’re dead?/ No one ever had much to say/ I think they never liked you anyway’
From the second song, DEAD! to the rest including This is How I Disappear, The Sharpest Lives, I Don’t Love You, House of Wolves, Cancer, Ma Ma and Sleep, MCR portrays how the patient reacts to his death, blames his lover for leaving him alone to encounter fatality and reflects on his stormy life – the drug addictions, destructive human relationships and everything he has left undone. These are heartbreaking episodes but with Way’s expressive, emotional cries, as an audience, but there seems something on top of the patient’s distress – a positive attitude, a wish to apologize, a will to set things right – if only life could start anew.
‘Don’t you breathe for me / Undeserving of your sympathy/ ‘Cause there ain’t no way that I’m sorry for what I did/ and through it all how could you cry for me? / ‘Cause I don’t feel bad about it’ – Sleep
Although the band sings scornfully to the patient that ‘You’re just a sad song/ with nothing to say/ about a lifelong wait for a hospital stay’ in Disenchanted, we see that the entire story has much more to imply. It’s all about the right attitude towards life – how important it is to make the way through obstacles and resolve conflicts before you run out of strength and time. Life is just too unpredictable.
Highly recommended – Welcome to the Black Parade As the theme track of the entire album, Welcome to the Black Parade can best illustrate the flow of thoughts and mood swings the patient experiences as he staggers towards death. The song starts off with a simple and delicate lullaby about a father-and-son conversation full of nostalgia, after which the melody gradually upsurges into an complicated and vigorous anthem – a jovial anthem to urge the patient to ‘carry on’ with his memories, even though he is ‘gone and dead’. The level of complexity increases, the gush of emotions intensifies – the entire song is overwhelmingly bittersweet.
With only 5 musicians in MCR, the band has miraculously depicted a parade which seems to involve millions of them celebrating life and honoring the patient in his remembrance.
So paint it black and take it back let’s shout it loud and clear defiant to the end we hear the call to carry on
We’ll carry on
And though you’re dead and gone believe me Your memory will carry on
We’ll carry on
And though you’re broken and defeated You weary widow marches
… And from this song I guess we see why the producers, MCR and Rob Cavallo, have chosen the theme of Death & Reflections for this concept album.
From DEATH, we see how we’re meant to LIVE. I’m unshamed, I’m gonna show my scar
Give a cheer, for the broken Listen here, because it’s who we are
I’m just a man, not a hero Just a boy, who had to sing this song
Alice Cooper, whose renowned symbols are snakes slithering around his neck, fake blood all over his body, shock-rock music and macabre black make up, is on his way raising funds to create a Christian youth centre as the President of the Solid Rock Foundation.
