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B-sides - Damien Rice
by Decanus
I have a pretty wide taste in music, but I have to say that one of my favourite genres is acoustic and folk. I really enjoy hearing songs that are stripped down, where over-production can't hide a bad song. It also allows you to fully appreciate the lyrics, which too often play second banana, when written by talented artists, producing ... lyrics every bit as good as poetry.
Like most, I was an instant fan of Damien Rice after buying his album, O, an absolutely stunning debut album back in 2002. 'B-Sides' is not an album per se, but an EP of 8 tracks that serves as a companion piece to the 'O' album itself. All the tracks were, as you would expect, the b-sides of the singles that were released from 'O'. In a way it is difficult to review it as a separate beast, though I will. Any future special edition release of 'O' should package the EP with the album, it would be amazing.
The EP has 8 tracks and will only take up 26 minutes of your time,though Rice didn't just throw any old rubbish on, as some artists do with B-sides. He gives a nice mix of live, acoustic , instrumental and even a demo track.
TRACKS:
1. "The Professor & La Fille Danse" opens the EP, a live track performed with a very sparse acoustic background. Lyrically strong, Rice mourns a failed relationship and why it went wrong, and the song builds from quiet acoustic through some french lyrics through to a strong up-tempo finish. Excellent track.
2. "Lonelily" is an original demo track, previously unreleased. I certainly hadn't heard it before, but a gentle, meandering song. Not bad, but I can see why other tracks were chosen over this for 'O'. Fair track
3. "Woman Like a Man" is another live track, which is almost a duet with the female singer singing with him. The song is about a woman trying too hard to 'out men' the men with her lifestyle (casual sex, drugs, drink etc), and is actually pretty dark. Not as stripped down as others, this would work equally as well as a fully orchestrated track. Good track.
4. "Moody Mooday" was my least favourite track on here, just didn't quite work for me lyrically or musically. Felt, for want of a better word, messy. Not sure it was even worthy of a b-side! Weak track.
5. "Delicate" was another live track, nothing particularly different from the album track on 'O', if a tad more subdued sung live. Performed well, it is a great track that is always great to hear. Nice lyrics, as always.
6. "Volcano" Instrumental. What, an instrumental on an EP from a renowned singer-songwriter? heresy. Actually, this was a pleasant surprise. Far from being just an instrumental rehash of the song from the album (which is a great song) this is an excellent reinterpretation of it. The song is much more up tempo, electric guitar etc, before fading back down to just strings, and then picking back up. Excellent track
7. "Volcano" '97 Demo. I suppose it is acceptable to have the same track twice on here, as they are so different. This is a bit of a gem, the original 1997 demo of 'Volcano' which was recorded on to cassette tape (kids, look it up. Kind of a less-round early CD). Nice to hear such a raw track, and the one that was the genesis of the great 'O' album. Great track
8. "Cannonball" Radio Remix. Hmmm, not sure about this. Cannonball is such a great track, it doesn't need to be messed with, and this was an attempt to mainstream it a bit, add a bit of this and a bit of that. The extra production actually detracts from the song for me. Great track, average version
If you are a fan of Damien Rice and his ilk, you'll enjoy this. Less produced than the album tracks, more raw, bit of swearing, and a chance to hear familiar songs in unfamiliar ways, it is an excellent addition to a fans collection. Probably not one for the newbie, I would steer you in the direction of 'O' first. It is a cliche, but for me Rice writes and sings from the soul, and that creates audio beauty. That kind of music doesn't need all the window dressing that most chart artists do, and that is why I enjoy it...
..and the man can sing better live than most. So there.
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Poor Man's Heaven - Seth Lakeman
by CarolineR-D
As I've got older I've found myself more appreciative of folk music. I am drawn to the stories told by the music and I enjoy being transported into other worlds and past times. However, folk often seems to get a bad press and is associated with beardy, real ale stereotypes. Devon-born singer/songwriter, Seth Lakeman, isn't remotely ... beardy and breathes exciting new life into the folk genre. He has been criticised by die-hard folk fans for selling out and becoming too mainstream, but in my opinion his style works. Poor Man's Heaven, his fourth album, released in 2008, combines traditional folk with rock and the result is a vibrant, earthy, atmospheric collection of songs.
This album is inspired by the Cornish coastline and the myths and legends of the region. The songs tell stories of shipwrecks, romance, passion, heroism and betrayal. Many will have you tapping your feet and clapping your hands, some will send shivers down your spine and others will break your heart. I love Cornwall and if I am lucky enough to take a trip there in the summer, this will be an excellent CD to play in the car.
Let me explain what the highlights were for me and why. The Hurlers is a striking opening track, beginning with a burst of pounding drums before the vocals, guitar and characteristically fast & furious fiddle kicks in. The piece pulsates with energy and drama, the lyrics recounting an old Cornish legend about young men who were turned to stone for playing the game of hurling on Sunday instead of attending church. I love how the music reflects the tension of the story as it builds to its chilling conclusion.
However, I suspect some might find this track a bit too loud and stompy. It certainly isn't one I would want to listen to if I was a little under par or hung over, as I would probably end up feeling as if a troop of ourang-outangs had been having a barn dance inside my head. You need to be feeling pretty upbeat to appreciate this rather frantic number. It just isn't the same if you turn down the volume. But when you're in the right mood it is invigorating and very exciting, great when I'm doing some housework and need to put a bit more oomph into it.
I have always had a bit of a fascination for stories of pirates and shipwrecks so I was drawn to those songs on the album which reflect that theme. Feather in a Storm tells the tale of ships being lured onto rocks and plundered for their cargo. Although the lyrics are typical of a folk song, the music is more rock than folk, with a catchy slide guitar riff giving it a rather hypnotic quality and creating a dark, edgy mood. This makes me think of the wildness of the sea and the dangerous but intriguing world of pirates.
Despite my newfound enthusiasm for folk music, I am still a rock lover at heart, so for me an album blending the two genres was a definite treat. Cherry Red Girl combines Celtic and rock influences particularly well. I love the contrast between Seth's lusty lead vocals and the ethereal sound of the female backing vocalist. This song tells the story of an innocent young girl's seduction and it has a brooding but sexy quality.
I'll Haunt You is one of the most catchy tracks on the album, in my view. It is about a sailor who is away at sea and casts a spell on the lover who spurned him. Intricate acoustic guitar and Lakeman's almost aggressive vocals give this a 'haunting' quality indeed, conveying pain, passion and despair, which is apt for the subject-matter.
It isn't all about fast, frantic, foot-tapping numbers or throbbing rock, however. With Crimson Dawn, the mood changes and we have a lovely, romantic song about a woman rescued from a shipwreck in 1898. The harmonies are tender and warm. It's nice to hear Lakeman's mellow tones after listening to him belt it out on the more exuberant tracks. The female backing vocals add a wistful quality. When I hear this track I can understand why Seth Lakeman's music has been described as indie folk, as it combines the traditions of folk with the characteristic indie acoustic guitar strumming. There is an effortlessness about it that appeals to me. I can see how serious folk fans might think this was a pop song and not true folk at all, but whatever genre you try to fit it into, for me this is a song full of poignancy and raw passion. It works for me.
Greed and Gold is a wonderfully atmospheric track. It tells the story of a woman who is robbed of her jewels while staying at a wayside inn. I love its slow, seductive build-up to the story -
"A silent room in the dead of the night
Two lovers lay there entwined.
From a deep sleep to her bed I creep
Great treasures there I find."
Okay, these aren't the greatest lyrics in the world, but they tell the story in a way that captures my imagination. Although it has a Celtic folky flavour, there is also a bluesy quality to this number. It is an effective combination, recreating a dark, sinister mood and developing the tension of the story beautifully.
Perhaps the most moving song on the album is Solomon Browne, which commemorates the story of the Penlee lifeboat disaster in which 16 lives were lost. It's a moving piece about unselfish heroism, sung with a voice full of emotion. What is particularly effective is how when you listen to it, it could easily be a folk song from long ago, because the lyrics reflect the way such disasters were reported in days gone by. Yet this is actually relating a tragedy as recent as 1981. Despite its solemn subject matter this is not a depressing dirge but an impassioned song, celebrating life and courage.
Race to be King is another upbeat piece which has a bluegrass sound to it with banjos along with fiddle, double bass, drums and Jew's harp, reminding me more of the Wild West than Cornwall. (For some reason it put me in mind of a scene from Back to the Future 3 where Doc Brown is dancing a jig with his love interest, Clara!) It tells the story of a whale hunt in frozen seas, not really the sort of subject that I want to be hearing about, but it is another high-energy, almost feverish rendition with bellowing vocals. It may make you want to dance, but some may find the beat a bit repetitious.
I really like this album. I think for anyone who thinks they don't like folk, this is a good album to try, as it isn't 'pure' folk but an intriguing mix of genres. Seth Lakeman deserves great credit for combining folk, rock and pop in such a colourful way and especially for giving it such a sexy edge. Far from selling out, I feel that he has found a way to keep folk music fresh and interesting and to appeal to a wider audience. Why should people restrict their creativity by staying loyal to one genre? Why do they have to fit in with any genre, in fact? Much better to create a unique sound of your own, which is what Seth Lakeman has done, in my opinion.
I like the way this album combines old Cornish folklore with more recent stories, such as the 1981 lifeboat disaster, showing how folk music doesn't just have to be about the distant past. Stories are becoming part of our local history all the time and can always be commemorated in musical form.
It's full of atmosphere and it evokes lots of different emotions in me when I hear it. I do appreciate that one or two tracks are a bit similar and perhaps the tempo is crying out for a bit of variation, but as a kind of concept album about the Cornish coast I think this works very well, certainly creating colourful pictures in my mind as I listen to the tracks and making me long for a holiday in this beautiful part of the world!
I do feel that music like that is really best appreciated in a live performance when you can watch the instruments being played, fully appreciating Seth Lakeman's musicianship (being able to sing while playing the fiddle is no mean feat!) but until I'm able to get to a gig, playing this album will more than suffice.
New copies of the audio CD can be purchased from sellers at Amazon from £4.91, with used copies from £0.91.
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Darkness On The Edge Of Town - Bruce Springsteen
by GentleGenius
Back in June 1978, Bruce Springsteen's Darkness On The Edge Of Town album made it to no.16 in the UK charts. It was the first full album I'd heard of his, and I made a point of buying it. I had heard a little of his stuff from his previous Born To Run album and a smidgeon of his Asbury Park material, all of which I'd liked, but ... venturing further into his work was still a bit of an unknown quantity for me. Since then, Darkness On The Edge Of Town has been and remains one of my all-time favourite albums, with Bruce Springsteen as an artist being right up there in my estimation with Van Morrison, The Stones, Bob Dylan, The Kinks, Pink Floyd, Lou Reed, U2 and The Beatles.
This album comes from what I personally interpret as Bruce Springsteen's 'early middle period' work, sort of like a stepping stone between his Asbury Park days and when he earned the title of The Boss after his highly successful 1984 no.1 album, Born In The USA, which plunged him headlong into the limelight.
The music on Darkness On The Edge Of Town is very Bruce, being a mixture of energetic, tuneful rock tracks, peppered with a couple of slower ones. The whole atmosphere throughout is intense, with Bruce's extremely poetic words and observations on life shining through what could almost be described as a wall of sound.
Instrumentally, this album is all but perfect with some excellent guitar work, but my own personal favourites are the sax and piano. I love the way the guitar lends a heavy feel to each of the tracks, with the sax and piano contrasting as they offer something milder, softer and gentler....yet steeped with deep feeling which is laced with a unique brand of wistfulness.
The subject matter of this collection of songs is very typical of where Bruce Springsteen was with his material during the late 1970s and perhaps into the early part of the1980s, where he homes in on working-class lifestyles, youth, romance and a yearning to escape, explore and cut loose. Springsteen for me conveys great hope, vision and positivity through most of his songs, and he has an amazing ability to hit home quite hard with his simple, but deep and meaningful lyrics. Nobody can rip my insides out with the power of song, then shove them back in a better, brighter order than Bruce Springsteen, and Darkness On The Edge Of Town, which is a combination of being moody, yet simultaneously shining forth with a brilliant light, always hits my spot.
The one track I'm not so keen on from this album is Adam Raised A Cain, which I interpret as one of Bruce's many songs that home in on the apparently difficult relationship he had with his father. It isn't the lyrics which bother me....it's more the arrangement and the overall sound of the song, as it's too noisy for me and I feel it would have much more impact if it were just Bruce singing to an acoustic guitar, more in the style of his Nebraska album. The words are excellent, but because the track is so raucous, much of their meaning and ability to penetrate into my consciousness is killed off.
My personal favourites from the Darkness On The Edge Of Town album are the opening track, Badlands, and the 8th track, Streets Of Fire. Both songs are steeped in passion....a passion which belts out of the speakers at high tempo in Badlands, a good-time rock song that has a message of hope for two young people wanting to escape their tawdry life in small-town America, and in Streets Of Fire, being a slow yet loud, intense piece of mastery which drives flaming daggers of intensity deep inside my brain, in the best possible way.
All in all, Darkness On The Edge Of Town is a mostly easy to listen to album with some very meaningful and high-powered observations/messages lurking behind a largely up-front set of instrumental arrangements that will blow the mind of anyone who manages to 'get' Springsteen and his work. The album comes very highly recommended by me, and is a good place to start for those who are unfamiliar with the work of 'The Boss', but would like to get to know him better. Bruce Springsteen is a refreshingly honest singer/songwriter/performer who tells it how it is, yet in a deeply poetic and thoughtful way, creating his songs in a style that makes them simultaneously fun to listen to.
The sleeve of Darkness On The Edge Of Town shows an image of a very young Bruce Springsteen on the front, with a tracklist on the rear. Inside are the words to all the songs, plus brief details of who played what instruments.....nothing special, but surely at least adequate for anybody's needs.
On a final and very personal note, each time I play Darkness On The Edge Of Town, I am reminded of an old friend who is now sadly no longer with us. She adored Bruce Springsteen, deeply understanding his art, poetry and message....and, was one of the most beautiful people, personality-wise, I've ever had the pleasure to meet and be friends with. Even though you are long gone, RIP Jackie, and on the day I learned your life had ended, I dedicated Darkness On The Edge Of Town to your memory, as you loved it and Bruce himself so much. Keep on rockin' !!!
TRACKLIST:-
Badlands
Adam Raised A Cain
Something In The Night
Candy's Room
Racing In The Street
The Promised Land
Factory
Streets Of Fire
Prove It All Night
Darkness On The Edge Of Town
At the time of writing, Darkness On The Edge Of Town can be purchased from Amazon as follows:-
New (on CD): from £3.97 to £10.81
Used (on CD: from £3.64 to £20.00
Some items on Amazon are available for free delivery within the UK, but where this doesn't apply, a £1.26 charge should be added to the above figures.
You can also purchase this album as an .mp3 download from Amazon for £6.49.
Thanks for reading!
~~ Also published on Ciao under my CelticSoulSister user name ~~
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