My Top Albums of 2014

PCarlson FlushingAve WIlliamsburg 2014

What a year of music! Between some awesome concerts and surprise music releases, 2014 proved to be the year of comeback tours and promising new faces in music. Here are my favorite new albums of 2014.

Robert Plant and the Senstational Spaceshifters - Lullaby ... and the Ceaseless Roar. Plant's tenth, and possibly, best solo album was released on September 8th to wide praise. The album captures his successful journey away from Zeppelin and his embrace of deep American blues. Faves: Rainbow and Poor Howard.

U2 - Songs of Innocence. U2's thirteenth album and surprise release, this one was seemingly either loved or hated. As I listen to it more, it is slowly becoming one of my favorite U2 albums. It's a mixture of those sounds of innocence, the Boy days. But again Bono tackles tough issues such as controversial events in the Troubles, re-wrote song lyrics based on current events, and even addresses himself and where he has gone in life. Faves: Sleep Like a Baby Tonight and The Troubles.

Umphrey's McGee - Similar Skin. The eighth studio album form this Chicago super jam-tronic group is nothing short of the embodiment of jam-tronic music today. The constantly touring band, known for their face melting shows, hit the mark with this album. But do yourselves a favor, go see them live. These songs become an amalgam of old and new Umphrey's with their always welcomed cover built in. Faves: Puppet String, No Diablo, and Bridgeless.

First Aid Kit - Stay Gold. These Swedish folk sisters took the airwaves - and video waves by storm with the release of their hit, Silver Lining, their album (a tribute to Abba) Stay Gold began to climb in popularity. The album is rich with folk sounds and their golden, harmonious voices. Faves: Silver Lining and Stay Gold.

 

Vance Joy - Dream Your Life Away. The Aussies have again given us some great new talent. His catchy song Riptide, released before his album, helped the momentum of his popularity. The songs are simple and melodic - his videos are unique to say the least. Faves: Riptide and All I Ever Wanted

Hozier - Hozier. You remember when you first heard it. You thought it was Elton John or maybe even someone covering Sir Elton. But no, this uber talented Irish singer gave us one of the best songs of 2014. This was the best review of Hozier's debut that I found: Simon Harper of Clash magazine commented that

His voice, more poitín-sweetened than whiskey-soaked, caresses delicate melodies and rougher rhythms alike with confidence – it lingers compellingly in the creeping blues of 'To Be Alone', whispers prettily in the folky 'Like Real People Do', and preaches fervently in the ragged R&B of 'Jackie And Wilson'.

Faves: Take Me to Church and Angel of Small Death and the Codeine Scene. His video for Take Me to Church is just as important, openly tackling the issues of homophobia and the importance of love.

 

 

Nicole Atkins - Slow Phaser. Nicole created this masterpiece on her own Mercy Me record label - and it packs a large punch of sounds you might not have expected to hear from this Jersey girl.
Slow Phaser is a dark, desert disco rock album made during a year of wandering about in city alleys, broken shores and snowy Viking lands,” said Atkins. “I wanted to turn the lights up just enough to dance through the darkness. It's a welcomed new approach and I welcome more songs about her journeys.
Faves: Girl You Look Amazing and What Do You Know.

George Ezra - Wanted on Voyage. Upon first look, you don't expect to hear Ledbelly or even Johnny Cash come out of this charming British boy's lungs. But behold, George's voice is big and soulful. His freshman album is getting critical acclaim and they are already hungry for his second album. Faves: Budapest and Listen to the Man.

Paolo Nutini - Caustic Love. While Scot Paolo has been around awhile, it is his April release that has people talking. He is now my Scottish Otis Redding.  His third album is jazzy and soulful and flew up the UK and Irish charts. You can find him on constant rotation on XM's Sirius Spectrum. Faves: Let Me Down and One Day.

Ray LaMontagne - Supernova. I have often described Ray's voice as a full body massage for my soul. His fifth album is my favorite. It's a varied sound for this New Hampshire Native. Compare 2004's song Trouble to 2014's Supernova and you can see that he's trying to get out of his musical safe zone and what people expect. Songs like Lavender are brimming with 70's grooves and Airwaves reminds me of a Loggins and Messina B-Side.  Faves: Supernova and Drive in Movies.

 

 

Mary J Blige - The London Sessions. Another album leaked online, this reminds everyone of early 2000's Mary, with it's pure R&B grooves. It's simple, truthful, and a welcome back to some pure R&B sounds from Ms. Blige. Faves: Therapy and Nobody But You.

Buffo's Wake - Carniphobia. When they reached out to me and said, hey, can you take a listen to our album? I knew I started this blog for the right reasons. This Brighton Beach UK gypsy punk band is - unique. And I love them. Their debut album, Carniphobia, lives up to all expectation. This is how I described them in the blog: Imagine you are the central character in an Edgar Allan Poe story. Now, add some accordions, a carnival, a Gypsy Punk soundtrack, and have Tim Burton direct it all. Welcome to Buffo's Wake. Faves: Merrick and Sold to the Circus

I hope you've all had a great 2014 - and I cannot thank you all enough for the reads and feedback. Here is to your hopes, dreams, and a musical 2015!!!

 

 

 

Drowning Man

 Five seasons ago the world met Daryl Dixon. A character not in the comic series, The Walking Dead. While he auditioned for the role of Merle, Norman Reedus won over the writers and created Merle a brother named Daryl. In season one, we met an angry redneck who hated just about everything. We didn’t “know” Daryl. As the seasons progressed, we got to know Daryl just as Daryl was beginning to know himself.

Now, most of us figured he was just as much of a jerk as his racist brother. Why on earth would anyone be upset that an ass like Merle was missing? But when you think about it, that ass was all Daryl had. It was the only type of family he understood. Enter Rick Grimes.

 

Rick was patient with Daryl. Even when Daryl went off and pouted in a tent on the Greene Family Farm in Season two, Rick let Daryl be Daryl. As a sheriff in King County Georgia, I’m sure Rick ran across a lot of Daryl Dixons. But just like a beaten down dog, with respect comes respect.  As Daryl saw that law enforcement and people in general were not bad; that a nice gesture was not a trap; a mistake didn’t get you a beating, he began to join the group. Rick could be seen as the father figure to Daryl in the earlier seasons, but now they could be considered brothers.

When Andrea accidentally shot Daryl, around the same time millions of hearts were broken with the episode Cherokee Rose (Season 2, Episode 4), we see a once beaten down Carol try to thank Daryl for his kindness. A kiss that looked as painful as any switch Mr. Dixon used on them, Daryl looked so uncomfortably painful at any gesture of kindness,  probably because it seems that once Daryl has something nice, it’s taken away.

While Daryl’s father and brother were abusive, we only know that his mother died tragically in a fire set by her own cigarettes. We don’t know if she cared for Daryl, but we’re pretty sure she was beaten as well. We saw Daryl open up emotionally with Carol, holding her back when Sofia was lost.

 

We do know that Daryl does not like quitters. We see him comment negatively anytime they come across someone who gave up and committed suicide. This brings us to Daryl’s relationship with Beth Greene. Beth was a weakling when he met her. She was looking for that easy way out when all hell was beginning to break lost on the farm. A 180 from Daryl Beth was sheltered and the world was too harsh, sad, and hard for her.  But like Daryl, Beth had to change to survive. The prison was her training. When it was just Beth and Daryl after the prison falls (Season 5, Episode 4, Still), Beth knows she won’t get a sympathetic ear from Daryl. She even says to him I know you look at me and see another dead girl.  But Beth fought and even got Daryl to talk a little - get a little angry. He opened up to Beth and that forged a bond that he's never probably had.

But why do we love Daryl Dixon? It is our empathy and sympathy for those tragic characters. Think back about how you felt about John Bender (Judd Nelson) in The Breakfast Club.

Maybe it’s the desire to find something good in someone bad. The tragic character’s flaws are usually caused by some awful experience and deep down inside there is a gifted, caring individual that can be freed from the bonds of their past abuse.

This is why we love Daryl Dixon. We’ve seen him suffer, watched him heal, but damn, Sofia and Beth make us feel even more  sorry for this guy to seem to take two steps forward and is pushed ten steps back.

When Norman Reedus posted the instagram of the U2 song, Drowning Man, I knew someone was going to die. The lyrics, just by reading them could bring a person to tears. But the background of the song makes Norman’s choice even more beautifully poetic. When War was recorded, U2 was at a cross roads – The Edge, Larry, and Bono were all very religious, Adam Clayton, not so much. The reference to a drowning man is Adam’s faith and Bono and the boys trying to save him. Is Dayl Dixon at his crossroads, drowning in the question of why he allows himself to care so deeply for anyone.  

 

Drowning Man

Take my hand
You know I'll be there
If you can
I'll cross the sky for your love
For I have promised
Oh, to be with you tonight
And for the time that will come

Take my hand
You know I'll be there
If you can
I'll cross the sky for your love
And I understand
These winds and tides
This change of times
Won't drag you away
Hold on, and hold on tightly
Hold on, and don't let go
Of my love

The storms will pass (the storm will pass)
It won't be long now (it won't be long now)
His love will last
His love will last...forever

Take my hand
You know I'll be there
If you can
I'll cross the sky for your love
Give you what I hold dear

Hold on, hold on tightly
Hold on, hold on tightly
Rise up, rise up
With wings like eagles
You run, you run
You run and not grow weary

(take my hand, take my hand)
Hold on, and hold on tightly
Hold on, hold on tightly
To this love...last forever
To this love...last forever

Take my hand  

 

Love One Another~George Harrison

The nicest thing is to open the newspapers and not to find yourself in them ~GH

Love One Another -- Those were the final words of George Harrison, The Quiet Beatle, fifteen years ago this November 29th. George is my favorite Beatle. His ability to stay so positive enlightens me.

George didn't write much as a Beatle - but, I personally think he wrote some of their best songs: Something, While my Guitar Gently Weeps, and Old Brown Shoe. It wasn't until after Beatledom that the real George Harrison was revealed - he was funny, true to his beliefs, a talented gardener and he could write beautiful, meaningful songs.

He beat Bob Geldof to the first "super concert" for humanitarian relief. The Concert for Bangladesh was held in August of 1971 at Madison Square Garden with Starr, Clapton, Dylan, Preston, Russell, and Badfinger. He used the power of music to do something good (this good also included trying to keep Clapton alive for one more weekend).

When I get angry, frustrated, uptight, usually all three when I am on the subway, I throw on some Harrison. I wonder if he knew what impact his life and music would have on others. He gives me peace on earth -- and my fellow subway riders should thank him.

The recent documentary on George is  a revealing glimpse into this Beatle. There was  also a preview in Rolling Stone that included and interview with his son Dhani, whom at one point in his childhood was convinced his dad was just a gardener:

             He's probably laughing at me, says Dahni, saying "That's what it's supposed to look like. You don't build a garden for yourself, right now - you build a garden for future generations". My father definitely had a long view.

The love and light that George Harrison brought into this world is definitely seen in The Concert For George. His many friends gave the perfect tribute to this man, this musician and even comedian.

When I think of George Harrison - I think of love and of peace. I also see someone who would have been happy just tending to his garden. I also think of the final scenes of Goodfellas (had a deja vu moment with this in Bay Ridge -- but that is another blog post).

I am partial to this Harrison song -- this version is one of my wedding songs:  

In No Particular Order

It is no secret that I love the band U2. While as of late I have questioned their sticking with the same sound for way too long, I refuse to give up on them. So I went on what Larry Mullen Jr would call "A musical journey." I have gone back into the songs that no one particularly knows (thank for the idea, Rolling Stone).

So in no particular order...

Miss Sarajevo
While this song was released on the 1995 Passengers album (a U2 side project with Brian Eno), it found its spotlight in the concert Pavarotti and Friends. The song is a tribute to life going on during war in Bosnia. More specifically, life and beauty continuing during times of ugly war. It's chorus of Here she comes borrowed from Here She Comes, Miss America,


Love Comes Tumbling
This is perhaps one of my favorite U2 songs. Recorded in 1985 for the album Wide Away in America, it gives you a hint at their new sound that is evolving into what will eventually become their signature Joshua Tree sound. I don't know if it is the mysterious and echoing sounds or Bono's haunting voice, or Adam's bass line. (the video I used below is from an obvious Larry Mullen Jr fan).

 

Trash, Trampoline, and the Party Girl

Rarely played and most known for it's live version on Under a Blood Red Sky, Trash Trampoline, and the Party Girl is most commonly known as Party Girl. It is possibly one of the few U2 songs about silliness and fun.

 

Rewind to Fleet Week in Midtown in 2003 in a place called TJ Keanes. The hubby and a friend were trying to find all the Grateful Dead songs on the juke and I was rehashing lines from Some Mother's Son with Brian Mallon. Lots of Guinness and lots of the whiskey. The next day, while I was retreating to the couch, this song was played very loud and on repeat by my one and only.

 

 

 The Wanderer

Zooropa was not one of U2's most successful albums, but I think it is one of their most creative. Joining forces with Johnny Cash, the song is sad, contemplative look inwards at ones life. Using Cash, who had his demons, solidified the greatness of this song.

 

Stay (Faraway, So Close)
You can probably tell by now that Zooropa is one of my favorite U2 albums. Stay (Faraway, So Close) is a gem. Bono was going through his Frank Sinatra obsession phase with this song - and it was also the time they partnered with Wim Wenders (who went on to make a film of the same title).
The video is gorgeous as the band plays angels walking amongst us.

Lady with the Spinning Head

One of U2's B sides, it could be a song about a roulette table. I think again inspired by the Sinatra-Vegas lifestyle, this song is simply catchy with it's la la's, techno teases and signature Edge guitar.

Please
Pop was the home of Please, a song Bono described as "It's essentially about fundamentalism, political or religious. Religious fundamentalism is where you get to shrink God; you remake God in your own image, as opposed to the other way around.:  Similar to Achtung Baby's :Love is Blindness, this song talks about the love of nation, love enough to kill. It was released during the Northern Ireland Peace Process. 

 'Cause love is big and love is tough
But love is not what you're thinking of

It would be September of 2001, when this song would seem foretelling and make this song relevant again.  

 September
Streets capsizing
Spilling over
Down the drain
Shards of glass
Splinters like rain
But you could only feel
Your own pain

  

The end of the song, with the build up and the Apprentice Boys like drumming, my own opinion, is very reminiscent of the Parades that bring violence each year to the North.

The Ground Beneath Her Feet
This is possibly one of my favorites and probably the least well known of the U2 songs. From their sad trek into moviemaking, this song is from the Million Dollar Hotel soundtrack. Soundtrack was phenomenal, the movie was abysmal.

The song builds like the desperate love that seems lost. A nod to Rushdie's novel of the same name, the song uses lines from the novel. I myself have borrowed from this song. I love the song as well because it as close to the old U2 that we have heard in ... forever, which is since 1988's Rattle and Hum.
 

 

One Shot of Happy (Two Shots of Sad)
U2's tribute to Bono's good friend Frank Sinatra is simple and beautiful. They should really do this more often. It can be found on the b-side to If God Will Send His Angels.
 

 

Spanish Eyes

And I love the way you're mean to me
And I need you

 

Bono doesn't write many love songs to his wife Ali, but this might be the best (I am not really a fan of The Sweetest Thing).

 

 

Jeff Buckley ... Everyone's Lover

Jeff Buckley was best described the other night at the Annual New York City Tribute as everyone's lover. That statement could not be more true. Everyone at Arlene's had their "first time I heard Jeff" story, akin to comparing our first night to a sensous lover. Everyone knows where they were the first time they heard his angelic voice.


Jeff Buckley 1966-1997

What I loved about the event that Robert Urban puts together each year is that it isn't just a carbon copy of Grace...it's songs that Jeff performed and

loved. Starting off with Zeppelin's Kashmir and The Rain Song, the night continued with incredible artists such as Elijah Black, Tracy Stark, Randy Jones, Jason Morris, Tanya Holt, Marcus Simeone, and Gretchen Reinhagen. We heard Everybody Hear Wants You and Mojo Pin covered by Tara Lynne, some Dylan, some Billie Holiday, and Maya Solovey and guests performed gorgeous renditions of So Real, Lilac Wine, and Lover, You Should Have Come Over.  The biggest surprise was hearing Yard of Blonde Girls, covered beautifully by Mike Linkens. Hearing Hallelujah as a duet was simple something none of us had EVER thought of and it was nothing short of magical and Jeff would have loved it.

So another year goes by and more folks are discovering the wonder of Jeff that we have all known and loved for years. His mystery will always draw people to him, his famous father deepens the enigma, and we will always wonder what would have become of Jeff. I couldn't imagine where Jeff would have taken us if he had lived to be 48 ... guess that's why he'll remain our Mystery White Boy. Happy 48th Jeff.

I Haven't Forgotten About Yinz All

Greetings all ... I haven't forgotten about you all. I've just been very, very, very, very, busy at work. Very. Busy. But I still have gotten to shows and book signings. Eventually I will post about some amazing Robert Plant shows, the Freedom at 20 Concert with Hugh Masekela,  Vusi Mahlasela, and Dave Matthews, and meeting Joe Perry.

And there is so much music to come! Culture Club, the annual Jeff Buckley birthday tribute, and planning for New Year's with Elton John, mi familia Gogol Bordello, not to mention several night's with Railroad Earth, and planning for next year's music festivals.

It's also almost holiday time, so don't worry, we'll be looking at some of those classic, and not so classic tunes. I am also going to share my thoughts on why I am starting to cringe when I go to concerts -- or rather, when I go to watch people film the performers I'm trying to watch. We're at the tipping point folks. Love your opinions on this.

And now for something completely random

Hi, I stumbled upon your music blog ...

Hi, I stumbled upon your music blog and I liked the Gogol Bordello article. I'm in Gypsy Punk band from UK called Buffo's Wake ~ Nathan

Close your eyes.
Imagine you are the central character in an Edgar Allan Poe story. Now, add some accordions, a carnival,  a Gypsy Punk soundtrack, and have Tim Burton direct it all. Welcome to Buffo's Wake. The are a self-described Brighton based, gypsy punk band of lunatics with a penchant for the macabre and the theatrical. This statement is indeed true.

I was honored to have someone like a blog post enough to reach out to me -- and not just reach out to me, but reach out to me from Brighton UK! Preview their album Carniphobia on Soundcloud. It's definitely not an album to relax to. It's filled with fast paced lyrics, full bodied sounds of drums, horns, violins, accordions, vocals, haunting imagery, whispering voices, and a mix of genres that David Lynch would be proud of.

https://soundcloud.com/buffoswake

Die Die Die
Upbeat. Like a schizophrenic polka on Red Bull while watching the Godfather. Trust me, its good. It gets you in the right frame of mind for this carnival. Contrary to the title, this isn't a cover of an Iron Maiden song.

Merrick
This song sounds like what a good chase scene looks like. Second, Merrick is my favorite Anne Rice character so I was immediately intrigued. Towards the end of the song, it sounds like a merry-go-round gone drunkenly awry - I love it!

Trust In Me
Well the creepy voice works very well. It's like Mike Patton of Faith No More Creepy. Like, the person that's under your bed waiting for your hand to fall outside of the safe zone of the mattress, scary. It's very Balkan-Gypsy with it's violin.

Dead Mans Maggot
You have to give this band credit for their tight lyrics -  gypsy poetry.

Drunk Girls
True- drunk girls are poison. This
Drunk boys are so poisonous we're so immature / insecure.

Dance of the Clowns
What's a circus without clowns? And more merry-go-round music?

Sold to the Circus
One of my favorites on the album. It's full of sounds - from the Eastern European, sad, Devotchka-esque violin to operatic, dramatic piano banging.  

Two Legged Gaunt Freak
There is a band from the Village called Hazmat Modine. This song reminds me of them - but with a ragtime, gypsy feel. Seriously, this could be used in a Tim Burton film. Sounds all happy and peppy, but I had an odd desire to tie things up when I listened to this song.

Skellington
My skeleton gets uncomfortable in my skin too sometimes. I love the breakaway to a 90's sound in the middle of this song. It's like when the skeleton is freed, it becomes the band Travis.

Korobeiniki
Traditional Russian folk song about a peddler (a korobeiniki) and  a girl. This song is also the basis for the song from Tetris.

Oh Your Mother
Reminding us that even we can make our mother's ashamed of ourselves. My favorite line from this song:  Your body's a casket for a soul misplaced.