Category Archives: Music

My iPod #203: The Beatles – Come Together

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When I come to a Beatles song, I always approach it quite apprehensively. What could I possibly say about their songs that hasn’t been said on Wikipedia, on the countless fan sites dedicated to the band, or even YouTube comments where the person copy and paste everything and try to post it as their own original facts?

I can’t. That is my answer. All I can tell you is that this track is one of the most grooviest, laid-back and badass tracks to ever exist through time. Also a contender for one of the best tracks to start an album.

“Come Together” is the opener for The Beatles’ “last” album “Abbey Road“. Every time I see that famous album cover, that track always pops into my head. I think the track just sums up everything when your eyes witness it. The four guys all in time… in unison. Never missing a beat right up to the end.

I was walking to my friend’s house in my suit earlier this year when it was prom day, and I felt so cool listening to this song on my iPod. I have never experienced such a feeling since.

One theory about the song, written by John Lennon, is that each of the four verses describe the members of the group in their own abstract and surreal way. Another theory is that all the verses are about John himself. Lennon, apparently, stated that it was inspired by American politics.

I’ll carry on believing that it’s the first option, because to write those verses and then back it up with such tight instrumentation – with each member being at their best too – it’s almost as if they are saying “Yep, we’re good baby we know it”. Even though they weren’t getting along so well at the time. But still. Listen to it.

My iPod #202: The Offspring – Come Out and Play

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I was born a year after “Smash”, The Offspring’s breakthrough album came out. I first heard “Come Out and Play” when its video played on MTV2.

One main thing went through my head whilst watching it. That was why Dexter Holland thought that having dreadlocks was a good look. All the time I saw an Offspring video, he had spiked up hair and to see the previous hairstyle he had before was a bit strange.

Apart from that the song was much different to any Offspring song I had heard before. I was a big fan of songs like “Pretty Fly”, “Hit That” and “Original Prankster” to name a few, and they were all songs with quite comedic and sarcastic subject matter.

“Come Out and Play” is more menacing in tone, but is made cooler by the Arabian-sounding guitar that plays during the instrumental break. The song is simply about gang culture, I can’t say anymore on that. It is a song of a very serious matter, no matter how engaging the song’s title is.

My iPod #201: Feeder – Come Back Around

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Today has been such a bore; I haven’t done anything of any use at all. I am thinking that this has been the case for many other people out there.

We all get so excited at Winter awaiting Christmas Day. Children get excited and start making the lists for Father Christmas, decorations are put up, food is prepared. The day comes, the food is eaten and the presents are received and we all sit around watching our favourite soaps and films on the TV. Then it is all over, and then follows…. Boxing Day erghh. Boxing Day is the absolute worst. Just because the intense build-up of enjoyment disappears. Christmas is gone. Bargains are going on in plenty of shops. Now we wait another 364 days to do it all over again. It is going to take a while to come back around. (I think that should be a suitable indication to start talking about the song).

“Come Back Around” was the first single from the Welsh band Feeder’s fourth album “Comfort in Sound”, released in 2002. Their drummer Jon Lee had sadly died earlier that year, and the album is an expression of lead singer and main songwriter Grant Nicholas’ feelings on the loss of his friend.

The track is one of determination and self-perseverance. About losing oneself in a moment of desperation, but still remembering to snap back into reality. At least that’s what I get from the verses anyway. The chorus is Grant’s call out to Jon, a constant reminder that he misses him and will never forget the times they shared. It is very sad and yet musically, it is very uplifting.

It reached #14 in the UK.

In the video, Nicholas jumps while holding his guitar before the finial choruses. Freeze it when that happens and you have the album cover for “The Singles”. You can also pause it when he sings “burning away” at Taka, the bassist, is bowing down with his instrument. Then you have the image on the back of the liner notes.

That’s a magnificent album cover.

My iPod #200: Nine Black Alps – Coldhearted

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Merry Christmas! I hope you are all having a wonderful day.

It did not feel like Christmas was coming for the past few days. There has been terrible weather over in the UK, along with no snow (but we are used to that anyway). Christmas television hasn’t been so great, surprisingly. Except for a few Pixar films.

But now I’m with my family and I have opened my presents and stuffed myself with food. I can definitely say Christmas is here.

After that sentimental start I can now talk about today’s special song to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. “Coldhearted” by Nine Black Alps!

Yeah, that was dumb. It has nothing to do with Christmas or Jesus.

No official studio version of this track exists. It has only been released on the EP the band released after their debut “Everything Is“, and it was recorded live at a performance the band did in France. That explains the “Merci beaucoup” that is said when the band finish and the audience claps with appreciation.

There is a demo of “Coldhearted” that is available on Nine Black Alps’ website, which may mean that it was in contention to be a track on their first album. I can only assume this did not happen because they could not get a good take that was good enough. But don’t believe me on this, it is just a theory.

This is a great performance of a track which is one of the lighter songs that the band has ever done. No mentioning of weapons, or bodily harm. Just a simple rock song about nothing important in particular.

My iPod #199: Eminem – Cold Wind Blows

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“Cause some things just don’t change
It’s better when they stay the same
Although the whole world knows your name
So on a bigger stage they came to see you spit your game
It shouldn’t be difficult to explain
Just why you came back again, you hate the fame
Love the game, cold as ice you remain
Fuck em’ all, tell ’em all eat shit, here we go again”

…………………………

*beat drops* Me: Shiiiiiiiiiiiiiit.

“Cold Wind Blows”. The first song from Eminem’s 2010 album “Recovery”.

“Relapse” was Eminem’s first album after five years away from music, and although everyone was glad to have him back it didn’t hide the fact that the tracks on there were not up to the standard that people were expecting from the rap god. Except for “Beautiful”, I could listen to that track all the time.

After the album’s release, Em revealed that he had so many beats left over that didn’t make it onto the album. There was going to be a sequel, appropriately named “Relapse 2”.

Fast forward about a year later when Eminem said ‘fuck that’, got rid of the concept and instead decided to name it “Recovery”. Hype was built. June came. The album leaked. I downloaded it. This was the first track I heard, and the introduction above was pretty much the reaction in my head when the beat came in with the descending piano melody and the “Guess who’s back’s” ringing in my ears.

“Cold Wind Blows” is a bold start to “Recovery”. It is another song to mark a ‘comeback’ which doesn’t really make sense seeing that he had already done that a year earlier; it never really gave us much of a chance to miss him. Seeing as critics weren’t too impressed with “Relapse”, this was probably meant to be his ‘real’ comeback.

Nevertheless, “Cold Wind Blows” makes a few things clear. Eminem was back. People should be worried. People shouldn’t try and mess with him because he will humiliate them in one of his songs. He doesn’t know why he’s so cold, it’s probably us who made him this way.

Oh yeah, and happy Christmas Eve.  😀