The editors from Amazon put together their 100 Greatest Debut Albums of All Time list. There's quite a few questionable picks, but hey that's just my opinion. Of particular interest to me is #54 - Entertainment!by Gang of Four. And that's because I was fortunate enough to hang out with Dave Allen (pictured with halo) at CES this year. We had some great conversations, which he may or may not remember. I even brought along my Shriekback CD The Dancing Years for him to sign, which he graciously did over breakfast.
Dave is now in Portland, hanging out with Nemo Design and doing some interesting work on the social media front. He's also still very active in the music scene, and runs the musical website Pampelmoose. You should defintely check it out if you are a music fan.
So congratulations Dave! Next time I'm bringing my Gang of Four CD. I'll even buy breakfast :)
OMD'sSouthern takes bits of Marin Luther King's speeches and places them against an energetic musical backdrop. Even with the horns blaring and the drums pounding, you lose interest in the music and start focusing on the words. Words of a dreamer. Words to make you stop and think. Words for the times. I remember that Monday morning When I was subpoenaed to be in court
Many things ran through my mind I started thinking about the people All day long, trying to think of something to say to the people
Are you ready for the question? All in favor, let it be known by standing on you feet
I want young men and young women, who are not alive today But who will come into this world, with new privileges And new opportunities I want them to know and see that these new privileges and opportunities Did not come without somebody suffering and sacrificing for
Freedom is never given to anybody
Like anybody I would like to live a long life Longevity has it's place But I'm not concerned about that now I just want to do god' will And he has allowed me to go up to the mountain And I've looked over And I've seen the promise land I may not get there with you But I want you to know tonight That we as a people Will get to the promise land So I'm happy tonight, I'm not worried about anything I'm not fearing any man Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the lord
Glory hallelujah, glory hallelujah Glory hallelujah, glory hallelujah His truth is marching on
Robert Kennedy said at his rally in Indianapolis on that fateful day of April 4, 1968: "My favorite poem, my — my favorite poet was Aeschylus, and he once wrote:
Even in our sleep, pain which cannot forget falls drop by drop upon the heart, until, in our own despair, against our will, comes wisdom through the awful grace of God.
"What we need in the United States is not division; what we need in the United States is not hatred; what we need in the United States is not violence and lawlessness, but is love, and wisdom, and compassion toward one another, and a feeling of justice toward those who still suffer within our country, whether they be white or whether they be black."
Living Colour - what an amazing band! Extremely talented, hard rocking, great lyrics and songs about tough issues. Their debut album Vivid is definitely in my best of all time collection, and one of those tapes that I wore out from constant play.
I also have a great memory of chatting with Muzz Skillings at the 1991 Lollapalooza (the whole Lollapalooza was a great experience in itself) at the Shoreline Amphitheatre. He came out early in the day and sat nearby to check out the bands. No one seemed to know who he was, but I sure did. So I headed over and started chatting about music. At first he was hesitant, then he relaxed when he realized that I was not some crazed fanboy. Finally he said "hey I gotta get going, we're on soon. Great talking to you." and he headed backstage.
“And during the few moments that we have left, we want to talk, right down to earth, in a language that everybody here can easily understand.” (Malcolm X)
Look in my eyes, what do you see? the Cult of Personality I know your anger, I know your dreams I've been everything you wanna be ohhh… I'm the Cult of Personality Like Mussolini and Kennedy I'm the Cult of Personality the Cult of Personality the Cult of Personality
Neon lights, Nobel Prize When a mirror speaks, the reflection lies You won't have to follow me Only you can set me free
I sell the things you need to be I'm the smiling face of your T.V. ohh… I'm the Cult of Personality I exploit you; still you love me I tell you one and one makes three ohh… I'm the Cult of Personality Like Joseph Stalin and Gandhi ohh… I'm the Cult of Personality the Cult of Personality the Cult of Personality
Neon lights, Nobel Prize When a leader speaks, that leader dies You won't have to follow me Only you can set you free
You gave me fortune, you gave me fame You gave me power in your God's name I'm every person you need to be ohh… I'm, the, Cult, of, Per, Son, Al, Ity
I am the Cult of Personality
“Ask not what your country can do for you…” (John F. Kennedy) “The only thing we have to fear, is fear itself.” (Franklin D. Roosevelt)
Ah yes, Billy Idol. I have a wonderful adolescent memory associated with this song, and I'm sure Mr. Idol would be proud. Ask me about it some time over a round of drinks ... on a warm summer night.
In the meantime, put on your best snarl, and start pumping that fist. "I'm all out of hope One more bad dream could bring a fall When I'm far from home Don't call me on the phone To tell me you're alone Its easy to deceive Its easy to tease But hard to get release
(Les yeux sans visage) Eyes without a face (Les yeux sans visage) Eyes without a face (Les yeux sans visage) Eyes without a face Got no human grace your eyes without a face.
I spend so much time Believing all the lies To keep the dream alive Now it makes me sad It makes me mad at truth For loving what was you
When you hear the music you make a dip Into someone else's pocket then make a slip. Steal a car and go to Las Vegas oh, the gigolo pool. Hanging out by the state line, Turning holy water into wine Drinkin' it down I'm on a bus on a psychedelic trip Reading murder books tryin' to stay hip. I'm thinkin' of you you're out there so Say your prayers. Say your prayers. Say your prayers.
Now I close my eyes And I wonder why I don't despise Now all I can do Is love what was once So alive and new But its gone from your eyes I'd better realize ..."
Apologies for the cheesy video - but it's the only one I can find for "Holy Lamb (Song for Harmonic Convergence)" by Yes. It is off their Big Generator album, which I have been playing all day long. Over and over again.
Even though it is a short and beautiful song, it packs a lot of power and inspiration. And it has one of the most amazing crescendos I have ever heard. As Jon Anderson puts it, it is a song about any belief that puts you at peace with yourself, others and nature. Enjoy! "Holy lamb, see the world we started Is it so low again? Like a light that's lost upon the stage So the more it shines, it goes away
Surely then, see the curtain rising to show us once again All the magic of the earth and the skies See the more we find The more we realize
That every time, see the laws of nature keep telling us like a friend Spirit of emotion dancing to the wind High above, high above So sure inspired again
I can tell a new story now Can we see through this mask of uncertainty, surely now? How can it be so hard when all there is to know Don't be afraid of letting go It takes a loving heart to see and show This love for our own ecology
Hold the light! Hold the light! Out of love we'll come a long long glorious way At the start of every day a child begins to play And all we need to know Is that the future is a friend of yours and mine"
"Not an Addict" by K's Choice is a painful, tortured song about well, yes, addiction. It's full of emotion and longing. It offers us a glimpse into why drugs are so appealing, and also their treacherous downfall. I love the contradictions in this song, and Sarah Betten's voice is perfect for making us feel the ache and conflict.
"Breathe it in and breathe it out And pass it on, it's almost out We're so creative, so much more We're high above but on the floor
It's not a habit, it's cool, I feel alive If you don't have it you're on the other side
The deeper you stick it in your vein The deeper the thoughts, there's no more pain I'm in heaven, I'm a god I'm everywhere, I feel so hot
It's not a habit, it's cool, I feel alive If you don't have it you're on the other side I'm not an addict (maybe that's a lie)
It's over now, I'm cold, alone I'm just a person on my own Nothing means a thing to me (Nothing means a thing to me)
It's not a habit, it's cool, I feel alive If you don't have it you're on the other side I'm not an addict (maybe that's a lie)
Free me, leave me Watch me as I'm going down Free me, see me Look at me, I'm falling and I'm falling."
Update: Added link to Recoil's official video channel at YouTube.
In the beginning there was Depeche Mode. The first fragment was Vince Clark, who went off to form Yazoo and Erasure. The next fragment was Alan Wilder. And he went off to create Recoil.
So after all that, today's song is "Stalker" from Recoil'sUnsound Methods. Bits of calls, spoken word, fragmented melodies, whispers, heavy breathing and creepy lyrics surprisingly come together to form this tense and interesting story.
"I can make a perfect picture from a voice Her serenity oozed into my ear It didn't take long for her to know me and I knew it felt good Pick me up and use me Pick me up and use me she was saying You are nothing You are nothing without me You are nothing You are nothing without me If I am taken, you think that you can live again But you are nothing You are nothing without me You know I'm here for you, right here for you See I am the punished one She, she took all the glory She took everything, everything I had to give Sucking it out of me But I am always gonna be here because I am the punished one She took everything, She took all the glory, everything I had to give Sucking it out of me You are nothing You are nothing without me You are nothing You are nothing without me If I am taken, you think that you can live again But you are nothing You are nothing without me Without me, you're nothing"
Not much sleep for me last night - I was tag teamed by my daughters. The youngest one was up for a couple of hours, and then right when she finally fell asleep, the older woke up crying from a nightmare.
Oh well. :/
So this Monday morning finds me bleary and a bit dazed, in desperate need of a pick me up. I picked a bad time to give up coffee. ;p But hey, that is what Metallica is for. Especially their song "Whiskey in the Jar."
And if you didn't know (like me) "Whiskey in the Jar" is a famous Irish traditional song about a highwayman, who is betrayed by his wife or lover. Those Irish know how to rock!
"Now some men like a fishin', but some men like the fowlin' Some men like to hear, to hear the cannonball a-roarin' But me, I like sleepin', `specially in my Molly's chamber But here I am in prison, here I am with a ball and chain, yeah Musha rain dum-a-doo dum-a-da, ha, ya Whack for my daddy-o Whack for my daddy-o There's whiskey in the jar-o Whiskey in the jar-o Musha rain dum-a-doo dum-a-da Musha rain dum-a-doo dum-a-da, hey Musha rain dum-a-doo dum-a-da Musha rain dum-a-doo dum-a-da, ya"
at Amazon.
