"There's a time in life for Hoagy Carmichael. There's a time in life for Claude Debussy. There's a time in life for Jerry Lee Lewis. There's a time in life for Destiny's Child. All these things have their moment." ~Elvis Costello
07 Feb 2022 Leave a comment
in Songs You May Have Missed Tags: badflower, promise me
Badflower: “Promise Me” (2019)
“Promise Me” finds Badflower in a more reflective frame of mind than on the harrowing “Daddy”, which we previously shared.
Both are excellent efforts from a, uh, promising young band.
See also: https://edcyphers.com/2020/02/13/songs-you-may-have-missed-652/
15 Jan 2022 Leave a comment
in Songs You May Have Missed Tags: swords of a thousand men, tenpole tudor
Tenpole Tudor: “Swords of a Thousand Men” (1981)
“Messy and infectious” is how Allmusic describes the drunken singalong clatter of British punk band Tenpole Tudor, the less angry and much more fun contemporaries of the Sex Pistols.
Maybe they couldn’t sing. They certainly couldn’t fight with swords.
But they did create a raucous good time. Hoorah, hoorah, hooray yeah!
Deep in the castle and back from the wars
Back with my baby and the fire burned tall
“Hoorah”, went the men down below
All outside was the rain and snow
Hear their shouts, hear their roar
They’ve probably all had a barrel or much, much more
Hoorah, hoorah, hoorah, yeah
Over the hill with the swords of a thousand men
We had to meet the enemy a mile away
Thunder in the air and the skies turned gray
Assemblin’ the knights and their swords were sharp
There was hope in our English hearts
Hear our roar, hear our sound
We’re gonna fight until we have won this town
Hoorah, hoorah, hoorah, yeah
Over the hill with the swords of a thousand men
The knights come along at the end of the day
Some were half-alive and some had run away
Hear our triumph, in our roar
We’re gonna drink a barrel or much, much more
Hoorah, hoorah, hoorah, yeah
Over the hill with the swords of a thousand men
Hoorah, hoorah, hoorah, yeah
Hoorah, hoorah, hoorah, yeah, yeah…
See also: Songs You May Have Missed #826 | Every Moment Has A Song
23 Dec 2021 Leave a comment
in Songs You May Have Missed Tags: courtney barnett, here's the thing
Courtney Barnett: “Here’s the Thing” (2021)
Oh, this confounding Courtney!
Her debut was a blast, a gust of fresh air that appeared to augur the arrival of a new rock artist that actually mattered–the way Elvis Costello’s My Aim is True or Alanis Morissette’s Jagged Little Pill seemed to do.
And of course, there being a dearth of rock artists that mattered in the 2010’s, it was likely inevitable Barnett’s first album was hailed as an instant classic.
And it probably is.
In fact, that album’s unfettered, shoot-from-the-hip lyrical feel and punkish energy sounds perhaps better with each passing year of what passes for mainstream pop.
But on Barnett’s two most recent releases the energy is muted, the focus doesn’t seem as sharp, and mid-tempo songs dominate–as if Courtney settled a bit prematurely into “long-term artist” status.
Whatever.
The thing is, despite the last couple albums falling short of the standard set by her debut, each of them has produced one extraordinary, idiosyncratic song. A song that doesn’t just feel like it came from some other album, but from some other artist.
In 2018 it was the excellent “Need a Little Time”. And this time it’s the beautiful, reflective, semi-psychedelic-sounding “Here’s the Thing”. It truly takes things to another plane.
Whether she has another album in her that’s as great as her first isn’t at issue. When she can produce songs like this one, you can’t ignore Courtney Barnett.
That’s the thing.
See also: https://edcyphers.com/2015/05/16/songs-you-may-have-missed-531/
See also: https://edcyphers.com/2018/06/02/songs-you-may-have-missed-627/
18 Dec 2021 Leave a comment
in Songs You May Have Missed Tags: silver seas, the best things in life
The Silver Seas: “The Best Things in Life” (2010)
As the additional links below attest, we think pretty highly of songwriter Daniel Tashian and Silver Seas.
The guy has a knack for what Guardian writer Michael Hann describes as “melody-heavy songs, suffused with delicious melancholy”.
Yep, nailed it.
I’d only add that the arrangements and styles cover a broad spectrum, from the country-tinged to the early rock ‘n roll-influenced to the jazz-inflected and, on “The Best Things in Life”, something approximating power pop.
If any of that sounds appealing, do yourself a service and explore the band further via the links that follow.
See also: https://edcyphers.com/2016/12/01/songs-you-may-have-missed-603/
See also: https://edcyphers.com/2020/07/08/songs-you-may-have-missed-666/
See also: https://edcyphers.com/2021/07/04/recommended-albums-83/
28 Nov 2021 Leave a comment
in Songs You May Have Missed Tags: gutter geese, ian anderson, jethro tull, maddy prior, steeleye span
Maddy Prior: “Gutter Geese” (1978)
From Maddy Prior’s 1978 Ian Anderson-produced solo album Woman in the Wings comes this cheery Britfolk-flavoured ditty.
And yes, that’s Ian Anderson taking the flute solo here, making the instrumental bit sound very much like a Songs From the Wood-era Jethro Tull outtake–and that’s a good thing indeed.
If Maddy’s distinctive voice and Olde English folk sound appeal to you but you’ve never heard Steeleye Span, the links below will turn the key to a whole new world for you.
See also: https://edcyphers.com/2013/05/08/recommended-albums-47/
See also: https://edcyphers.com/2012/10/18/songs-you-may-have-missed-200/
See also: https://edcyphers.com/2025/07/04/songs-you-may-have-missed-785/
See also: Songs You May Have Missed #835 | Every Moment Has A Song
12 Nov 2021 Leave a comment
in Songs You May Have Missed Tags: abba, just a notion
ABBA: “Just a Notion” (2021)
ABBA are back with their first studio album in 40 years.
“Just a Notion” features vocals originally recorded in 1978 with a new backing track, drums and guitars.
Co-writer Björn Ulvaeus, who couldn’t recall why the tune was originally left off the band’s Voulez-Vous LP, says ‘Just a Notion’ is a ridiculously happy song and hopefully, it will cheer you up in these dark times!”
See also: https://edcyphers.com/2012/05/01/songs-you-may-have-missed-94/
See also: https://edcyphers.com/2020/10/28/songs-you-may-have-missed-670/
Every Moment Has A Song 