Music has always been a part of my life -- now welcome to the journey. Just a little blog to reminisce, review, rant and rave about the music in my life. "Music is my mother and my father. It is my work and my rest,my blood, my compass, my love" ~Jeff Buckley
Many who know me, know my love of the band U2. Yes, their tunes are catchy - but did you ever really listen to them? Their songs are cries for the helpless, modern psalms for the spiritual, and praise for those who stood against oppression. Yes, Vertigo is a cool song, but I am more of a Pride or Running to Stand Still Girl.
I wrote papers on their songs in Dr. Wrabley's classes at Pitt. I was going to use Love Come Tumbling in my movie (when I eventually finish that screenplay). I saw them in concerts and knew every word to every song. U2 became a part of me, their albums the soundtrack to my 20's.
It was 2004 and I was working at the Office of Emergency Management under the Brooklyn Bridge. It was about 6am when the first call from the PD assigned out front, Yeah, there are some trucks that need to block the entrance for the U2 concert tonight. The what? Some more phone calls later and it was confirmed: U2 was playing under the Brooklyn Bridge. I was off for the afternoon, so the cards were in my favor.
Trucks of equipment, a stage, fans began to congregate. I was getting so excited. We would be able to get right up front. But would I meet them? After all these years? Would it happen?
Limos rolled up, was it them? Anticipation...it was Christy Turlington and Ed Burns. I could have called it a day right there. Ed Burns, the man behind the reason why I write, was there to see the show. People that I work with who were not even fans were excited as well. Who wouldn't be, it was a small show to preview U2's new album. We watched as U2 made it over the Manhattan Bridge on a flatbed truck ...and...waited...
Finally, the limo came, it was them. Adam, Larry, the Edge and Bono. In front of me. After all those years. I would be that close.
I had seen U2 perform, and Bono was at the top of his performance. He hadn't sounded that good in years! They opened with Vertigo and went into All Because of You. I remembered at that moment the significance of the date. Michael Hutchence had died on that date seven years prior. Bono and Hutchence were apparently dear friends.
After about 5 new songs, the Irish Flag came out, I was at the front of the stage, and they took it back to the beginning. Back to The Bottom Line, where it all began for them in NYC. They played Out of Control as if they were four fresh-faced Irishmen from Dublin. It was something I will never forget. The perfect U2 moment...for the time being.
The show ended and I was waiting around. I was still determined to meet them. What felt like an hour went by and there they were, taking pictures. I was able to get in the back of one, but still not too close. Patience finally paid off. Almost everyone had gone, I was ready to go back for a night tour so I could spare the time. I can't remember who was standing in front of me, but it happened. I met him.
Bono shook my hand. Then I said, you were so on tonight. This show was for Hutch! And then he hugged me. He thanked me. Then he walked away. I am still looking for a picture of that moment. The moment I had been dreaming of for what seemed like an eternity. It was over like that.
Bono wasn't the first celebrity I had even met, but it had the most impact on me. I had yelled at Ethan Hawke, chit chatted with Cyndi Lauper, held flowers for Steve Buscemi and played the umbrella dance with Kevin Bacon on Spring Street. Nothing compared.
It will be a memory that I will cherish. When I hear those songs I will go back to that chilly November night, the Manhattan skyline in the background.
To this writer and music lover’s dismay, many still have not
heard of, nor listened to, the man – Gavin Friday. His punk roots began
not with the Virgin Prunes (my opinion), but when he showed up, uninvited, to a
party attended by Bono and Guggi and then was caught trying to lift things from
the house. [1] Now
that is punk.
After Virgin Prunes, Gavin went solo in 1989 and has
ventured into many artistic venues – painting and acting among his wonderful
music. His four prior albums and countless soundtrack credits are songs you
know, you just don’t realize that you know them. Do yourselves a favor – please
check out Gavin’s work. It’s thought provoking, question asking, fun having,
sexy, angry, sweet, synth pulsing poetry. It's also inspiring music and
art. It was 1995’s Shag Tobacco that inspired a story I wrote in one
sitting just before 1999/2000 – filled with love, doubt, desire, and
angels.
On Ecce Homo: There are love songs and fight
songs, reflections on loss and reveries of nostalgia, anthems for solidarity
and excoriations of the powerful` and if I’m honest that pretty well sums up
this release. ~Gavin Friday
Ecce Homo … clever Gavin Friday, borrowing from
Pilate and from Nietzsche. This album is too an inspection of what it is to be
human and being and an offering of Friday’s own self-reflection. The follow up
to 2011’s Catholic, as is any Gavin Friday album, is not afraid to
tackle subjects directly with poetic and emotive lyrics. This is why those who
know Gavin are ready for more already.
The album is classic Friday. The songs are a mix of driving
synth and mellow acoustic guitar, to driving beats, poetry rap, and even an
aria. You can hear the inspiration of Bowie and Bolan, feel the reflection of
loss, and stand proud at the questioning of power and zealots.
Friday has done it again.
Ecce Homo will be a welcome and satisfying return for
fans of Gavin Friday and indeed all those who love their music firmly left of
the mainstream and who are unafraid to be challenged by complex subjects. It is
your writer’s sincere wish that we do not need to wait so long before it’s
followed up. Colin Rice When the Horn Blows, Album Review
Track listing and summary of Ecce Homo:
Lovesubzero - The deceivingly slow burn
start that shifts into a driving pulse is classic Friday. This song feels like
it was left off Shag Tabacco and has matured well for almost 30
years. Think Dolls part 2.
Ecce Homo – Brilliant lyrics with
non-subtle undercurrents of the give and take of religion, love, war, and
politics. The video is simply stunning and raw with emotional imagery.
The Church of Love – We pray in our own
way, no Pope, no Rome. Our love is its own.
Stations of the Cross – A chance to take
a breath. The first slow song on the album. A conversation in angst as we walk
through the stations. Making my life so complicated. It’s you you
you.
Lady Esquire – Catchy repetition. Rings
the doorbell of perception – I’d love to see Cillian Murphy reprise the role of
Kitten for this video.
When the World Was Young – a song of
reflection of youth.
The Best Boys of Dublin – a song about
Gavin’s dogs. It’s so heartfelt and simple.
Lamento – Please being back Westworld and
use this song. It’s Gavin’s beautiful heartbroken and empowered poetry mixed
with and Ennio Morricone-inspired ending.
When the World Was Young (reprise)
Cabarotica – Young sexual awakening. He
had me at stardust crush...
Amaranthus (When Love Lies Bleeding) –
Besides being a gorgeous plant, this is a gorgeous song of love and loss.
Daze – A comment on our connected,
24/7/365 constant state of being on. We’re in a daze all “days” for sure. Had a
Run Lola Run vibe
Behold the Man – Preach Gavin ...preach.
Populism is all it seems.
[1] Edge,
Adam Clayton, Larry Mullen Jr. (9 October 2007). U2 by U2.
HarperCollins. ISBN 978-0-06-077674-9.
Released on October 10, 1988, it's no secret that the critics panned this entire effort from U2. The video documentary of their tour following their blast to stardom after The Joshua Tree release amalgamated the distinct artistic eyes of Phil Joanou and Phil Corbijn. Jimy Iovine envisioned the journey that captured U2's exploration of America through the eyes of the young Irish musicians. It was not an easy sell, not even for music critics who hailed the album as "excitement", another described it as "misguided and bombastic". Either way, this piece of rock history was captured and has had staying power, at least with the fans. I guess it could be said that Rattle and Hum has matured well. Whether or not they were trying to create the next Scorcese-esque video documentary, we may never know, however the album and movie capture U2 at some of their best live performances.
A few great performances were left off the album, such as Sunday Bloody Sunday and Exit, two performances filled with passion and captured the essence of live U2.
Below are some stories and thoughts behind the songs.
Helter Skelter The opening is raw and angry and perfect for a band who is about to go off amidst critics rambling about their delusions of grandeur ... ironic what comes next for the band isn't it?
Van Dieman's Land One of Edge's few vocal leads, this haunting song about the prison land that many Irish were sent to remains haunting. ...I wrote a song called 'Van Diemen's Land' which touches on that on
the new album. I was interested in the history of this character, John
Boyle O'Reilly. I was out one day with my wife Aislinn and we came upon
this monument in County Meath. At the entrance to it was this faded
brown newspaper clipping which gave the history of his life. How he was a
member of the British Army in Ireland. He left the British army and
became a Fenian and wrote Fenian poetry. He was arrested by the British
Government and was charged with writing material that was liable to
undermine the government and was deported to Australia for 20 years'
hard labour. He was, to me, a prisoner of conscience in a way. He was
not a man of violence, and he was sent away for 20 years so I wrote a
song about that." - The Edge, NME 1988
Desire This is the song that most will remember from the album. It's rock and roll with the Edge's sound and Bono's political take of the infamous 80's Tammy Fayes and Jims.
Desire' is a little classic, a little 45. Edge took the beat from The
Stooges' '69, which was their take on the Bo Diddley beat. The rhythm is
the sex of the music. I wanted to own up to the religiosity of
rock'n'roll and the fact that you get paid for them. On one level, I'm
criticizing the lunatic fringe preachers 'stealing hearts at a
travelling show' but I'm also starting to realize there's a real
parallel between what I am doing and what they do. - Bono, U2 By U2
2006 Hawkmoon 269 Bono says the song was inspired by the writings of gifted Sam Shephard and that it achieved its title because 269 was how many takes it took to get this song complete. There is a burning desire for someone in this song.
All Along the Watchtower Bono's politics on full display as he covers the Hendrix / Dylan tune (and defaces public property).
I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For Performed with a Harlem church choir - this version is stripped down to basics. Freedom For My People
A song spontaneously filmed by a local Harlem music act. They called it "folk-soul" and were inspired by Richie Havens.
Silver And Gold I was listening to a John Lee Hooker track, and I asked, 'Who's playing
the drums?' 'That's his foot,' Keith [Richards] said. 'He was just
kicking at the floorboards.' I was blown out of it. I left with my head
in a spin and I went back to my hotel room on my own and wrote 'Silver
And Gold' and tried to apply what I'd just heard to the project at hand,
which was an anti-apartheid record. I called Keith the next day and
said, 'Can I come round, I've got a song I'd like to play for you? Maybe
you'd like to play on it?' Keith said, 'Sure.' So, I recorded an
acoustic version of this, my first blues song, with Keith Richards and
Ronnie Wood. - Bono, U2 By U2 2006 Pride (In the Name of Love) A great live version from McNichols Arena is a song that always inspires at any U2 show. This song, like so many, is best live as Bono can put his passion on display.
Angel of Harlem We landed in JFK, and we were picked up in a limousine. We had never
been in a limousine before, and with the din of punk rock not yet faded
from our ears, there was sort of guilty pleasure as we stepped into the
limousine. Followed by a sly grin, as you admit to yourself this is fun.
We crossed Triborough Bridge and saw the Manhattan skyline. The limo
driver was black and he had the radio turned to WBLS, a black music
station. Billie Holiday was singing. And there it was, city of blinding
lights, neon hearts. They were advertising in the skies for people like
us, as London had been the year before. And it was snowing. - Bono, U2
By U2 2006
Love Rescue Me We played two nights in LA. I woke up one morning with a song in my
head, 'Love Rescue Me.' Lots of songs arrive in a dream state. At first
you think it must be somebody else's song, because it's there, verse,
chorus, melody. I had been dreaming about Bob Dylan and I thought it w
might be a Bob Dylan song. It's about a man people keep turning to as a
saviour but his own life is getting messed up and he could use a bit of
salvation himself. - Bono, U2 By U2 2006 When Love Comes To Town I asked Bono if he would write a song for me and he said yes. About a
year later, the group was touring in the US and asked if I would open
the show, and I said gladly. Bono said, ' I have this song for you.' He
brought it out and I thought it was a very deep song for him, being such
a young man. But I liked it very much. The lyrics were very heavy...
Blues is not prejudiced. You can be any colour to play the blues. Most
people say it's a simple music, I won't argue that. I say
everybody can
play it, but that doesn't mean everybody's gonna like it. I think U2 did
a very good job. I thought it was great and I still do. - BB King,
Uncut
Heartland New Orleans had the sweetness of a rotting vine, when the grapes are
just on the turn. I loved it, the noble rot as wine loves call it.
There's some dark colours, violet and purple. It was raining when we
arrived. Danny had this baroque château in New Orleans, a beautiful
house with an amazing stairwell. It was a magical place... Danny Lanois
had found a world of people as lost to the music as he was; there was
this dizziness in the air. That was such a great journey and a great
time spent with adam. I'll treasure it for the rest of my life. - Bono,
U2 By U2 2006
God Part II He can't reply, so I'm going to.' And that became 'God Part II,' in
homage to Lennon's beautiful song 'God'. - Bono, U2 By U2 2006
Bullet The Blue Sky Part of the beauty of this rockumentary is that is captured the feel of a stadium rock show. The soaring guitar in Bullet is a great rock song for a large stadium.
The subtle knock of the Hendrix Woodstock Star Spangled Banner being played before Bullet is lost on some. The song itself is the band's outspoken view of America's $$ reach into other countries through violence and regime change.
All I Want Is You One of Bono's sweet love songs ... it captures the stages of love and is a perfect song for the closing credits.
Grace is basically a death prayer. Not something of sorrow but just casting away any fear of death. No relief will come, you'll really just have to stew in your life until it's time to go. But sometimes, somebody else's faith in you can do wonders. ~Jeff Buckley
There are not many musicians that I can say "I remember the first time I heard them." In a gym on a June Thursday morning in Sydney Australia, I heard a voice that would forever change my life. As I ran on the treadmill, Hallelujah played on the TV. A voice has never affected my soul as much as Jeff Buckley's.
Within two hours, I was listening to Grace. While it was released on August 23, 1994, it was only mainstream in Australia at the time. Grace wouldn't achieve its crowning glory until, sadly, Jeff died in 1997. However, Grace was not his first album. The four song EP Live from Sin-e was the catalyst that put him into the minds of the music executives.
But why is Grace being placed into one of the most influential and best albums of our time? Was it the music? Was it the mysterious Jeff with his storied father? Or was it simply a combination of both? His voice and intricacies of each song have been lauded by many including Bono and Jimmy Page: Technically, he was the best singer that had appeared probably in - I'm not being too liberal about this - if I say, in two decades.
So let's break down this album
Mojo Pin
It's a story about addiction - to a woman or drugs - not sure. Jeff's voice, almost at a whisper welcomes us to this song, tangled with background anonymous sounds and a silent cymbal, before we are hit with heavy guitar riffs. Possibly, this could symbolize the ups and downs of said addiction.
Jeff once said of the song: Sometimes if somebody you feel you need... the whole universe tells you that you have to have her, you start watching her favorite TV shows all night, you start buying her the things she needs, you start drinking her drinks, you start smoking her bad cigarettes, you start picking up her nuances in her voice, you sleep in safe sometimes the most dangerous thing... this is called Mojo Pin." (Astoria, London, UK, 18/01/95).
The welts of your scorn, my love, give me more
Send whips of opinion down my back, give me more
Well it's you I've waited my life to see
It's you I've searched so hard for...
Grace
And the rain is falling and i believe
My time has come
It reminds me of the pain
I might leave
Leave behind
Someone once asked me if I had to chose one more song to hear before I leave this plain, what would it be? I answered Grace. They were assuming I would say Stairway, Brokedown Palace, or something else profound, but Grace is my song. It shows readiness and, ironically enough, Grace to face the destiny that we all have and the journey we take to reach it.
I will let Jeff explain:
It's about not fearing death, or fearing any of those countless slings and arrows that you suffer sometimes on this earth, because somebody loves you. You're not afraid to go, you're not afraid to withstand what you need to withstand because there's a tremendous fuel that you feel regenerating inside because of someone else's love for you. That's what Grace is about. And it's just about life sometimes being so long. At the time I was anticipating leaving Los Angeles for New York. So I was waiting to go. I'm not afraid to go, I'm not afraid to die, I'm not afraid to go away from this place or from any place but it just goes so slow. And I had somebody who loved me in New York. A lot. And it was amazing. It still is.
This song has so many layers, clocks, rhythms, acoustic guitars. It is also very eerie how Jeff seemingly accepts his mortality in this song.
Last Goodbye
A sadly sweet breakup song. It's the negotiation and pleadingjust before the final goodbye kiss.
Sad, desperate breakup song
This is our last embrace Must I dream and always see your face? Why can't we overcome this wall? Baby, maybe its just because you didn't know you at all
Lilac Wine
Jeff loved Nina Simone. His cover of this song demonstrates his ability to transcend the rock genre. He would also cover her songs I Loves You Porgy, and Be Your Husband.
So Real
This song has that eerie foreshadowing of water. It also gave us a goofy Jeff video that includes gorilla suits, a pre-hipster bike ride through Brooklyn, and a diner scene.
And I couldn't awake from the nightmare that sucked me in and pulled me under Pulled me under Oh... that was so real I love you, but I'm afraid to love you
Hallelujah
No doubt, Jeff's biggest hit. I have explained my sentiment on the song previously here (see link)
Incredible accordion, harpiscordish beginning, a guilty afterthought to a love lost, possibly due to his own doing.
Lonely is the room, the bed is made, the open window lets the rain in Burning in the corner is the only one who dreams he had you with him My body turns and yearns for a sleep that will never come
Corpus Christi Carol
Jeff's beautiful take on a medieval song about Christ and his Knight.
Eternal Life
This song is definitely one of the few "political" songs that shows Jeff's passion for peace and love and his rebuttal of traditional religion.
There's no time for hatred, only questions What is love, where is happiness, what is life, where is peace? When will I find the strength to bring me release? Tell me where is the love in what your prophet has said? Man, it sounds to me just like a prison for the walking dead I've got a message for you and your twisted hell You better turn around and blow your kiss goodbye to life eternal
Dream Brother
Very haunting and you can feel the influence of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Jeff's spiritual sufi singer influence. It is a song to Jeff's friend, his dream brother, about leaving his pregnant girlfriend. It is one of the first songs where Jeff seemingly references his absent father, singer Tim Buckley.
Don't be like the one who made me so old Don't be like the one who left behind his name 'Cause they're waiting for you like I waited for mine And nobody ever came
Songs added in re-release
Forget Her
Such a heartbreaking song, even more so the story behind it. Jeff never wanted this song released. It is about his relationship with another singer. Sadly, she heard it. It is one of my favorites (although it could use some more organ and Hammond B3).
Well my tears falling down as I try to forget, Her love was a joke from the day that we met. All of the words, all of her men, All of my pain when I think back to when.
Lost Highway
Cover of Leon Payne song done simply with Jeff and guitar ... and a twang.
I was just a lad, nearly twenty two Neither good nor bad, just a kid like you But now I'm lost, too late to pray Lord, I paid the cost, on the lost highway
Parchman Farm
A Bukka White American blues song about doing time in the Mississippi State Penitentiary
In a way, Jeff's short life and music career is exactly what he wanted. I believe the music industry would have destroyed his fragile shell. At one point, after Grace became popular, Jeff would play under other names at small venues.
There was a time in my life not too long ago when I could show up in a cafe and simply do what I do, make music, learn from performing my music, explore what it means to me, i.e., have fun while I irritate and/or entertain an audience who don't know me or what I am about. In this situation I have that precious and irreplaceable luxury of failure, of risk, of surrender. I worked very hard to get this kind of thing together, this work forum. I loved it and then I missed it when it disappeared. All I am doing is reclaiming it
Jeff was once asked how he wanted to be remembered. Besides being a good friend, his only wish was that his music was remembered. Jeff, your wish is our command.
He was Plant and Page in one, on a technical level. ~Brad
It is that time of year again - music festival season. It is when the lineups are announced and festivals compete for our attendance. So, if you've never been before, here is my music festival guide for all you Bonnarookies, Jam virgins, and first time Coachellans.
Chose wisely There are a lot of music festivals out there, so how do you choose? First, look at how far you have to travel. Also think about whether or not you like to camp and are okay with battling the elements. Remember, it rains at Mountain Jam and it's hot in Tennessee.
Go with friends This will guarantee you a great time. If you hit the festival solo, you're in a lottery with your fellow campers. Camping with friends allows you to not only enjoy an awesome time together, but avoid what could potentially be awkwardness if you don't have great vibes with your fellow campers. Also, if you're not into the full on festival camping experience, you can always look at options "off campus". Look at local camp grounds, hotels (they can get pricey) or rentals. Also, RV's can be the way to go.
Plan ahead This is key. Remember, most stores close to the festival will be sold out or will jack up prices. If you're going with friends, divide and conquer. Maybe one of you has an awesome stove and someone else has a nice outdoor camping shower. Divide up your shopping list, making sure you know what you can and can't have in the campsite. Bring food, beverages, and water. This will cost you a lot once you're in the festival. Save the money for souvenirs or a nice hotel post festival. Don't forget to plan for the weather.
PCarlson 2010
Don't anticipate much sleep Seriously - don't. Most music festivals go 24 hours a day. Again, this involves planning. All music festivals will have a lineup via app so you can choose wisely who you need to see. Some of the best moments happen in the wee hours of the morning when you aren't expecting it. But, for safety, you should try and get some sleep, especially if you have a long drive home, or you get incredibly annoying if you're sleep deprived.
Fucking Hydrate Yes, I said that and I cannot stress it enough!! It is a long weekend usually in the hot sun. You don't want to be the one wimping out on Saturday or ending up at the medical clinic. Drink water at your campsite and during the festival. Most festivals allow you to bring in unopened bottles of water. Do yourself and your friends a favor - hydrate.
Don't YouTube and Instagram the entire event...let the professionals do that I've stopped going to as many shows because I don't want to deal with watching you tape a show. It's cool to snap a picture or take a five second clip, but after that you annoy me. There are people paid to film the show. Most of the time you can see your favorite moments captured on the live stream, Instagram, or from awesome concert photographers like Danny Clinch. I get it, you want to share that moment, but realize you're limiting other's enjoyment.
Choosing bands- possibly the toughest decision of your young life Flaming Lips or Daryl Hall, Alabama Shakes or Mumford and Sons. It just ain't fair. Those responsible for the lineups are playing God and they know it. Sometimes you have to chose. It's important to have these decisions worked out with your friends as well. You don't want that argument to happen and you miss a super jam between Jimmy Page, Flea, Eugene Hutz, and Nicole Atkins (wouldn't that be amazeballs). Also, make sure to check out bands you've never heard of. It could be your next favorite band of all time.
PCarlson2013
Prepare for the most insane music moments You never see it coming. That music moment that is forever seared in your soul. It's a mix of things that make it "that moment." It could be the song that never stops in the middle of a monsoon, the amalgam of the atmosphere, the moment, and the crowd, or it's the song itself that just drives home to ever single cell in your body.
I've had several of these moments and it definitely alters something inside of you. Thousands of people connecting with the international language of music to one moment in time is something you have to experience.
Here is one of my favorite moments. It was from Bonnaroo 2oo8. It was Pearl Jam's first festival since a tragedy in Europe that had killed several festival goers. It was hot that night and they were well over an hour into the set. I was walking with a drummer friend at the back of the crowd and when this song began, everyone had their lighters and cell phones lit and I commented it looked like a constellation. Everyone was singing along and it was if the world only existed on the farm in Tennessee at that moment. It was a moment I will forever cherish.
So go forth and conquer your first festival and make some new memories with new and old friends.
On the wings of their quirky, psycho-rap hit single Epic,
Faith No More’s third album, The Real Thing, flew past the platinum mark. So what do they do
for an encore? They create what is probably the most uncommercial follow-up to
a hit record ever. [i]
Before June 8,
1992, if someone said Faith No More, you automatically would have thought, did
the fish die? It was the MTV generation and the California band with new lead singer
Mike Patton had found fame with their two biggest hits to date, Epic and
Falling to Pieces. Beyond that, not many knew the sound or songs. While
their third studio album, The Real Thing, put them on the map, it would be
their fourth album with Mike Patton sharing creativity and writing credits for
the first time that would give them their most respected album to date. Think
Funkadelic’s Maggot Brain when you want to try to categorize each song
on the album. If the album cover yin yang of a blue egret and a butcher shop
doesn’t forewarn you about what’s to come, shame on you.
For those who
tuned into Headbangers Ball to see and hear the most anticipated follow up,
they would not be disappointed. Some were confused. And the band took the
biggest gamble getting away from safe songs that would make the airwaves and MTV’s
top 10. Midlife Crisis was as if someone took the video for Epic
and handed it the design over to Danzig. It was darker, creatively palatable
with blurred shots, closeups, and varied palettes of texture. And the song? It was
a kick to the more simple sound of Epic. Patton’s vocals were both
harmonious and demonic, layers of sound, samples, with that driving Faith No More
sound (think Real Thing and Epic).
The album was
creatively applauded and to this day still received high honors. In reality,
the album was holding up a mirror to society. “I drove around a lot in my
Honda,” Patton says, “Drove to a real bad area of town, parked and just watched
people. Coffee shops and white-trash diner-type places were great for
inspiration.” [ii] It
would be the last album with Jim Martin and possibly the best Faith No More gave
us.
The early 90’s
were a weird time for bands. You made it on one or two videos and then the
world expected you to keep churning out the same hits. Faith No More chose
artistry, pushing back against what labels wanted, and took a risk. What we got was an album that reflected more of who the individual band members were and a lasting album that was more than the sum of its parts.
Land of Sunshine
If this was the
first song to be released (via or airwaves) it would have disappointed many who
would have immediately recognized the throwback to From Out of Nowhere. It’s a
great song, and maybe the slow peeling of the band aid, transitioning from the
last album to this. Okay, down to the bass, it sounds very similar. But it’s
catchy damn it, so pat yourself on the back and give yourself a handshake …
cause everything is not yet lost. This song was written while sleep deprived
and inspired by personality test questions and fortune cookie fortunes. [iii]
Caffeine
Sleep deprivation
in a song. This is so how it feels when you’re just trying to stay awake, maybe
with animal sounds.
Midlife Crisis
Otherwise known as
“the Madonna song.” Hey it was the 90’s and Blonde Ambition was the rage, Madonna
was wearing pointy cone bras, chasing JFK jr., and shooting her book, Sex. They
called a spade a spade.
RV
Time to slow it
down. This sad song makes me thing of a washed-up Elvis impersonator who lives
in a trailer park, drinks too much, and speaks in stream of consciousness.
Smaller and
Smaller
This is a
beautifully written tragic poem – with a great bass line.
Drought makes the
workers dream
Muscles and fields of green
Shovel the last few crumbs
Of generosity
Open heart, open mind, open mouth, open vein
Drain
Someday the rains will come
My blistered hands tell me
Tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow
Everything’s
Ruined
Everything about
the video is ruined, don’t watch it. It’s a wonderful song about the evils of
money. Again, with the classic, driving Faith No More sound.
Malpractice
Not sure if this
the song where they sample from The Wizard of Oz, but it sure feels like we’re
not in Kansas anymore. It is, however, a song about a woman who loves getting
plastic surgery.
Kindergarten
A brilliant song
written by an angry 5-year-old. Seriously, the lyrics are brilliant and sad,
the angry questioning possibly born within.
Drinking fountains are shorter than they used to be
The swings on the playground don't even fit me anymore
Folklore: Nobody's supposed to believe in the next grade
Write it a hundred times
Kingdom
Kindergarten
Waiting
Bell's not ringing
Held back again
Be Aggressive
If my mother
hated that underwear poster, she really would have hated this song. Nothing
like cheerleaders and aggressive fellatio, right?
A Small Victory
Yet another sad
song about learning that there is a lot of pressure on youth to win. The video
is a psychological look at that pressure of winning. They also should have
saved some of the video budget on this song for Everything’s Ruined.
Jizzlober
Heavy, angry, ""It's written about some porno star, but I don't remember his name," he said. "I'm not the porno expert in the group!" Billy Gould.
Midnight Cowboy
I watched the movie
because of this instrumental. Thank you, Faith No More, for introducing me to a
beautiful movie.
[i]Garza, Janiss
(July 10, 1992). "Angel Dust". Entertainment Weekly.
Retrieved July 9, 2008.
[ii] Circus Magazine 1992; Patton Enjoys the Diner
Things in Life
[iii] Reflex Magazine Issue 25, June 1992; Faith No
More: Angel Dust in the wind by Jem Aswad
