Art is the music we make from the bewildered cry of being alive. ~Maria Popova
20 Sep 2012 Leave a comment
in Songs You May Have Missed Tags: rusted wheel, the belle brigade
The Belle Brigade: “Rusted Wheel” (2011)
Led by harmonizing siblings Barbara and Ethan Gruska, The Belle Brigade debuted in 2011 with an album of self-penned pop songs that may make you think of 1970’s Fleetwood Mac. Or if you’re old enough, the Everly Brothers. Or if you’re young enough, the Avett Brothers–if one of them was a sister.
16 Sep 2012 2 Comments
in Songs You May Have Missed Tags: broken dream, justin hayward, moody blues
Justin Hayward: “Broken Dream” (1996)
Angelic-voiced Moody Blues lead vocalist Hayward sets aside his trademark red Gibson electric for some nylon strings on this gorgeous ballad from a 1996 solo album.
The only thing that mars the performance is the apparent absence of a live drummer. Programmed tracks, assuming that’s what he used here, are inexcusable for such an established artist.
Having said that it’s a marvelous song, sung from a wizened perspective, about a midlife crossroads.
See also: https://edcyphers.com/2013/11/06/songs-you-may-have-missed-500/
See also: https://edcyphers.com/2012/11/21/songs-you-may-have-missed-253/
See also: https://edcyphers.com/2015/02/17/songs-you-may-have-missed-523/
See also: https://edcyphers.com/2025/10/22/songs-you-may-have-missed-800/
15 Sep 2012 Leave a comment
in Songs You May Have Missed Tags: greatest hits, mystery jets
Mystery Jets: “Greatest Hits” (2012)
Breakups are always messy when there are records involved…
You can take ‘The Lexicon of Love’ away but I’m keeping Remain in Light’
You can take away ‘It’s a Shame About Ray’ but I’m holding on to ‘Country
Life’
You can keep ‘No Need to Argue’ and I’ll keep ‘The Aeroplane Over the Sea’
But hold on to ‘The Boy with the Arab Strap’ ’cause I’m holding on to ‘Village
Green’I don’t know if the knot just needs untangling ’cause the tapes get stuck all the time
Either way I’m keeping ‘Double Nickels on the Dime’These were our greatest hits (Shalalalalalalala Shalalalala)
The best of me and you(Shalalalalalalala Shalalalala)
These were our greatest hits (Shalalalalalalala Shalalalala)
The best of me and youI still remember buying you ‘Band on the Run’ on the first day that we kissed
But you always did prefer ‘McCartney I’ because it reminded you of being a kidNo way your having ‘This Nation’s Saving Grace’ you only listen to it when your pissed
But when you sober up it’s always “why the fuck are you still listening to Mark E. Smith?”I don’t know if the knot just needs untangling or if we forgot which way’s up and which way is down
But still the tape keeps going round and roundThese were our greatest hits (Shalalalalalala lalalalala)
The best of me and you (Shalalalalalala Shalalalala)
The best of me and you
Of me and youStill the tape keeps going round and round
The tape keeps going round
14 Sep 2012 Leave a comment
in Songs You May Have Missed Tags: james, waltzing along
James: “Waltzing Along” (1997)
Couldn’t decide between studio or live versions of this song–they’re both winners.
The video is from the same performance as their live album Getting Away With It, of which Amazon says:
Getting Away with It is a valedictory wave of the flower-petal handkerchief from James founder and singer Tim Booth, who announced his decision to leave the band late in 2001. Recorded at a celebratory hometown show (in
Manchester) on the band’s farewell tour, the crowd–clapping louder than hailstones hitting a corrugated roof–egg the group on all the way to the checkered flag.
Waltzing Along:
Help comes when you need it most
I’m cured by laughter
Mood swings not sure I can cope
My life’s in plaster
May your mind set you free
(chorus: opened by the wonderful)
May your heart lead you on
May your mind let you see through all disasters
(chorus: opened by the wonderful)
May your heart lead you on
These wounds are all self-imposed
Life’s no disaster, disaster
All roads lead unto death-row
Who knows what comes after
May your mind be wide open
May your heart beat strong
May your mind’s will be broken
By this heart-felt song
May your mind set you free
(Chorus: Be opened by the wonderful)
May your heart lead you on
May your eyes let you see through all disasters
May your heart lead you on, lead you on
(Chorus: May your eyes be opened by the wonderful)
Set you free
(Chorus: May your heart lead you on)
Lead you on
11 Sep 2012 Leave a comment
in Songs You May Have Missed Tags: gigolo aunts, where i find my heaven
Gigolo Aunts: “Where I Find My Heaven” (1994)
Good power pop can make the hair on your arms stand up. Hope this song gives you a follicular boner too.
***Extraneous info alert***
For some reason the mix of this song included on the Dumb and Dumber soundtrack (and featured here) is superior to the original one found on Gigolo Aunts’ Flippin’ Out album. The harmonies, especially in the choruses, are just better balanced. This causes me the mild embarrassment of actually owning the Dumb and Dumber soundtrack. Sometimes you gotta be willing to pay the price.
11 Sep 2012 2 Comments
in Songs You May Have Missed Tags: flaming lips, yoshimi battles the pink robots part 1
Flaming Lips: “Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, Part 1” (2002)
Like the Magnetic Fields’ “Andrew in Drag” (Songs You May Have Missed #162) Flaming Lips’ “Yoshimi” follows a cardinal rule of pseudo-novelty songwriting: if it’s catchy enough, even the people who ought to think it’s too weird will find themselves liking it. “Yoshimi” actually made it into the video game Rock Band 3 and has been reworked for the TV show Friends (“Phoebe Battles the Pink Robots”)–pretty mainstream for a song so bizarre.
If you removed the lyric about a city employee charged with the task of defending citizens from…well, pink robots–and substituted more typical love song sentiments, the melody could have carried it to pop hit territory. But I like it better as a cult classic.
Every Moment Has A Song 