Hailing from Kansas City, Missouri is a delightful band with an equally delightful name, Eggs on Mars. I recently learned about them when their front man Brad Smith reached out to me after having seen my review of Kevin Robertson’s album Magic Spells Abound, asking if I’d be interested in reviewing their latest album Warm Breakfast. Well, I gave it a listen and like it so much, I’m happy to share it with my readers. Featuring 10 tracks, the album serves up 26 minutes of wonderfully pleasing jangle pop.
From what I can tell, Eggs on Mars began as a three-piece and has been around for at least 10 years. Like many a band, they’ve undergone a few changes in lineup, and now consist of the aforementioned Brad Smith on guitar, lead vocals & keyboards, Mason Potter on drums, percussion & backing vocals, Doug Bybee on bass, keyboards & backing vocals, and Joel Stratton on keyboards & backing vocals. They describe their sound as “informed by our love of 1960’s pop groups like the Lovin’ Spoonful and Buffalo Springfield, as well as guitar-based 1990’s groups like Built to Spill. We’re kind of like Guided by Voices, and the voices guiding us might be the Beach Boys.” After hearing their music, I’d say that’s an apt description, as I immediately recognized strong Lovin’ Spoonful and Beach Boys influences.
They’ve released a fair amount of music over the past nine years, including seven albums and an EP, their latest of which, Warm Breakfast, was released March 21st. Listening to some of their back catalog, I can hear how the quality of their songwriting and musicianship have steadily improved over time. Their early albums have a lo-fi garage rock feel, whereas their more recent works feature stronger arrangements and sound more polished and well-crafted. Eggs on Mars have this to say about WarmBreakfast: “On this new album we wanted a warm, textured sound and so you’ll find doubled guitars, electric piano, measured guitar lines, and vocal harmonies. These all accompany lyrical themes of finding joy in life’s simple pleasures as a means to deal with its inherent chaos and disappointments. It’s a happy record with sad songs, or maybe a sad record with happy songs. It’s genuine Midwestern somber pop.”
The album was recorded, engineered and mixed by Rodd Fenton at Solstice Audio, and mastered by Josh Johnson. For the album’s recording, additional guitars were played by Austin Smith, with additional backing vocals sung by Sam Smith and Rodd Fenton (I’m guessing Austin and Sam are related to Brad). The colorful painting used for the album’s cover was done by Shannon Brouk, with photography and album layout by band bassist Doug Bybee.
Warm Breakfast opens with “Especially Now“, a 52-second-long introductory piece that establishes the album’s overall theme, with simple lyrics advising us to be better to one another: “Be kind, especially now. There’s signs, you can tell.” Next up is “No Problem“, a short, catchy song that perfectly encapsulates my experience as a music blogger: “Giving, giving more. Much less than there was before. Falling, feeling drained. Little left and deeply strained.It’s no problem, I can handle this all fine. It’s no problem, I will make all of this right. It’s no problem, I’ll take it on.” The jangly guitars and lovely harmonies are wonderful, and the sweet accompanying video, created by Blane Worley, features both animation and claymation.
Gorgeous, reverb-drenched shimmery guitars are a highlight on “Wrong Way“, which seems to be about self doubt and inner conflict, feeling unsure of who we are or how we should act: “Just like a child I can’t decide what it is I should be.” It’s a beautiful track, and one of my favorites on the album.
“Every Day I Cross the River” speaks to the daily drudgery of going to work every morning “Every day I cross the river, debating just what is earned. Weigh its worth against what’s lived for. Navigate through twists and turns.“, but thankful for having a loved one to come home to in the evening: “You don’t have to ask about my day because I’ve already lived it. You don’t have to ask about my day because you’re the best part of it.” The song starts off which just acoustic guitar, then the music gradually builds into a lovely soundscape of jangly guitars, sparkling synths and gentle percussion. Brad’s smooth vocals are sublime, rising to a falsetto in the choruses.
Keeping with a similar theme, “Never Change” is about how, despite the day-to-day worries and demands of life, your love and devotion remains steadfast: “Overworked, you help ease it, so I will not quit. I’ll never change, won’t change my mind.” The song has a mellow, catchy vibe, highlighted by a terrific organ riff. “All’s Well Elsewhere” features a languid, guitar-driven melody, exuberant percussion and beautiful Beach Boys-esque harmonies. I’m not sure, but the lyrics seem to speak to not dwelling too much on things over which we have little control: “All’s well it’s a fairytale. All’s well it’s not bad at all.” The video, created by Jesse Banion from vintage 70s footage of a beauty pageant, represents a kind of fairytale.
Eggs on Mars turns more serious on “Nameless Headline“, using the story of a man killed in a car crash to signify the randomness of life, and how those of us who didn’t know him might have a brief passing thought over his misfortune, whereas those who were close to him are much more deeply impacted: “That could have been me. Another nameless headline to most. That could have been more than it would seem. Certainly to those who were close.” The bouncy “My Words” seems to touch on the old adage “The road to hell is paved with good intentions”, also pondering whether some do good out of their own sense of altruism, or simply because they want praise: “My words, my words, can’t hold their weight. Demonstrations of compassion give me hope that there’s still something to believe in. My good intentions don’t redeem me. Are you fine with helping if there’s no acclaim?“
Another favorite of mine is “Earthwormin‘”, both because of its marvelous jangly guitars, warm keyboards and lush Beach Boys-like harmonies, but also for its lyrics that once again speak to my own challenges as a music blogger: “Balancing is challenging to do now. Everyone expects something from you now. Day in, day out struggling get through, how?” Album closer “Whose Plans?” is a pleasing, mostly acoustic song, accompanied by what sounds like children playing in the background, and trailing off with ambient sounds of crickets at night. The spare lyrics ponder the concept of how our lives seldom go as planned: “All the things we rearranged, yet so few left unchanged. When we look at ourselves, has all this been done well?“
Warm Breakfast is the perfect title for this album, as its pleasing songs are like comfort food for the ears, delicious with every listen.
“New Gold”, the wonderful collaboration between virtual band Gorillaz, Australian alternative psychedelic music project Tame Impala, and American rapper Bootie Brown, maintains it’s grip on the #1 spot for a third week, while “Ghosts Again” by Depeche Mode moves into the #2 spot. Jumping five spots each are “Kid” by The Revivalists, to #3, and “Eat Your Young” by Hozier, to #5. The raucous “Paid Off”, by British alt-rock band Oli Barton & the Movement, enters the top 10 at #10. They just released their biting new single “Left Alive in America?” on May 5th, and will be releasing their album Pipe Dreams on the 19th.
Making their debut this week are “Rescued” by the Foo Fighters, their first new release since the untimely death of drummer Taylor Hawkins, at #29, and “Hello”, by the always delightful L.A. band GROUPLOVE, at #30.
NEW GOLD – Gorillaz, Tame Impala & Bootie Brown (1)
Pylon Poets are an alternative indie rock band from the southwestern England town of Torquay, Devon. Consisting of Dan Hughes (lead vocals, guitars & synths) Nathan Hughes (bass, backing vocals) and Sam McIver (drums), Pylon Poets have been putting out high-energy melodic rock for several years, with relatable lyrics touching on such issues as pop culture, love and politics. They’ve toured extensively and have played several music festivals throughout the UK, sharing the stage with such artists as Reef, Fun Lovin’ Criminals, Scouting For Girls, Republica and ASH.
Photo of Sam, Dan & Nathan by Amy Stanford
Beginning with their debut album Spirit, Love & Higher Meanings in 2016, they followed two years later with a five-track self-titled EP, and since then have dropped many more singles, including a second EP Lucid Hallucinations in late 2020. Today, they release their latest single “In The End“, about which they say “focuseson the battles of mental health, and the feelings and thoughts that accompany it whilst keeping an optimistic outlook on the future.” The track was engineered, recorded and produced by Sugar House at Catalyst Studios, and mastered by Fluid Mastering.
Pylon Poets get right down to business, opening “In The End” with a blast of reverb-drenched guitars and shimmery synths. The music then settles into a strong thumping groove, accompanied by some nice guitar noodling in the verses as Dan calmly sings “In the end, there is a new beginning. There is a time for living. In the end, there’s something beautiful. A godsend or something cynical. In the end, it’s all collateral. In the end.” As the song continues, the gentler verses alternate with exuberant choruses, in which Dan’s vocals turn more impassioned as he sings of struggling with his conflicting emotions: “Losing control, taking the reigns, fighting the tide inside my mind. Burning alive, breaking the chains, one by one nothing remains.” It all serves to create a contrasting sense of excitement and tension, making this a terrific rock song.
Pylon Poets have lots of tour dates planned, so click here for details.
This is quite possibly one of the most challenging reviews I’ve ever attempted, as how do I even begin to write about an entire cover album – with contributions by ten different artists – of David Bowie’s iconic 1973 album Aladdin Sane? Each of the album’s 10 tracks could warrant its own detailed write-up, so reviewing the new 50-year anniversary cover album Forget That I’m 50, by singer-songwriter, producer and remixer Julian Shah-Tayler (aka The Singularity) along with a host of artists, within the context of the original album is no small task. This will essentially entail a simultaneous track-by-track review of two albums!
It’s safe to say that David Bowie was one of the most influential and groundbreaking music artists of the second half of the 20th Century. His work was universally acclaimed by both critics and musicians alike, and loved by millions of fans. Over a career spanning nearly 50 years until his death in January 2016, his musical output was astonishing, consisting of 26 studio albums, 21 live albums, 46 compilation albums, 10 extended plays, 128 singles, 3 soundtracks and 12 box sets. Throughout his lifetime, Bowie sold more than 140 million records worldwide.
Among his more fascinating works was Aladdin Sane, his sixth studio album released 50 years ago, in April 1973. The album followed his breakthrough work The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, and was written and recorded in London and New York in December 1972 and January 1973 during breaks in his Ziggy Stardust Tour. Co-produced by Bowie and Ken Scott, Aladdin Sane was his final album recorded with his backing band the Spiders from Mars, which consisted of Mick Ronson on guitar, Trevor Bolder on bass and Mick Woodmansey on drums, with additional contributions by pianist Mike Garson, two saxophonists and three backing vocalists.
Bowie wrote most of Aladdin Sane while on tour in the U.S., consequently, the songs are strongly influenced by his experiences and perceptions of the country. The lyrics reflect both the pros of his newfound stardom and the cons of touring and that stardom, with its attendant demands by record executives, agents and fans, and being surrounded by an assortment of sycophants, groupies, drug dealers and other unsavory characters, all clamoring for his attention. In his 1996 book Bowie: Loving the Alien, biographer Christopher Sandford wrote that the album revealed that Bowie “was simultaneously appalled and fixated by America“, evidenced by the fact that many of the songs’ lyrics make references to urban decay, drugs, sex, violence and death. In fact, Bowie described the album’s title character, a pun on “A lad insane”, as “Ziggy Stardust goes to America“. He further elaborated: “Aladdin Sane was my idea of rock and roll America. Here I was on this great tour circuit, not enjoying it very much. So inevitably my writing reflected that, this kind of schizophrenia that I was going through. Wanting to be up on stage performing my songs, but on the other hand not really wanting to be on those buses with all those strange people. Being basically a quiet person, it was hard to come to terms.” (The Complete David Bowie by Nicholas Pegg, 2016)
Additionally, some of the songs are influenced by the Rolling Stones, including a cover of their song “Let’s Spend the Night Together”. The striking album cover artwork, shot by Brian Duffy and featuring a lightning bolt across Bowie’s face, was the most expensive cover ever made at the time and is regarded as one of his most iconic images.
Julian Shah-Tayler is a singer-songwriter, producer and remixer who’s originally from Leeds, England, and now based in South Pasadena, a suburb of Los Angeles. Influenced by 80s and 90s New Wave, Britpop and Electronic Rock, the prolific artist creates music that some of his fans have described as “if David Bowie and Depeche Mode had a baby”. In fact, he’s in a Depeche Mode tribute band called Strangelove, and also a Bowie tribute act The Band That Fell To Earth. He’s had an illustrious and successful music career for over 20 years, both as a solo artist under the music moniker The Singularity, and as a collaborator with numerous musicians and producers. He won a “Golden Trailer” award for his work with Lana Del Ray on the trailer for the Disney film Maleficent, and had one of his songs performed by “Tellavision” during the “Unite for Humanity” charity event at the Oscars. Three of his songs were used for the music movie Plush directed by Catherine Hardwicke (who also directed Twilight). Shah-Tayler also cofounded a charity called “Art Angeles”, which provides music instruction for underprivileged kids in Watts.
Last year, Shah-Tayler released his critically-acclaimed album Elysium. I first learned about him in March, when I reviewed British band WINACHI’s EP FOR YOU I’D KILL, which featured a wonderful remix by him. He liked what I wrote, and sent me the music and press release for Forget That I’m 50, which was subsequently released on April 15th. Faced with the daunting prospect of reviewing it, I allowed my penchant for overthinking and analysis paralysis to cause me considerable stress and delay, but at long last, I’ve finally written my review. (Shah-Tayler has since put out yet another new release, his collaborative single and video for “Kiss Me (Goodbye)”, with L.A.-based alternative rock collective Beauty in Chaos, which just dropped May 3rd.)
Released via the new Harmony Records label, Forget That I’m 50 is a collaboration with his friend and mentor David Chatfield, in which they reimagine the ten songs of Aladdin Sane. Shah-Tayler produced or executive produced six of the album’s ten tracks, and performs on two: “Cracked Actor” and “Lady Grinning Soul”. So let’s get to the album, shall we?
Opening track “Watch That Man” was written after Bowie saw two concerts by New York Dolls, whose first two albums many critics believed represented the American response to the British glam rock movement. Impressed with their sound, Bowie wanted to emulate it on a song. According to Genius, the song describes the goings on at one of the New York Dolls’ after-parties, with Bowie taking note of all the guests, but paying special attention to “That Man”, the Doll’s lead singer David Johansen. The remake, by L.A.-based singer-songwriter, composer and producer Gene Micofsky, who also happens to be the guitarist in Shah-Tayler’s Bowie tribute act The Band That Fell To Earth, is a rousing, sped-up take on the original, honoring its adrenaline-fueled glam rock’n’roll feel with exuberant guitar work.
The title track “Aladdin Sane“, unquestionably my favorite on the Bowie original, was inspired by Evelyn Waugh’s 1930 novel Vile Bodies, which Bowie read during his trip on the RHMS Ellinis back to the UK. (Wikipedia) It’s more experimental than his then-typical glam rock sound, with a jazzy, almost progressive feel, highlighted by Mike Garson’s spectacular piano work. The lyrics describe how young men are enticed into enlisting into the armed forces, and “Aladdin Sane” is a homophone for “A lad insane”, reflecting Bowie’s belief that one would have to be insane to volunteer himself to go off to war. The new cover version, by the beautiful L.A.-based singer-songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist Beck Black, still retains some of the original’s progressive elements and sophisticated jazzy vibes, but instead of the dominant piano, we have terrific psychedelic guitars, along with some plucked sitar and heavier percussion. Black’s seductive vocals are wonderful, and do justice to Bowie’s original. I love how at the end of the song, both Bowie and Black sing the almost imperceptible line “The neon lights are oh so bright on Broadway“.
“Drive-In Saturday” was written following an overnight train ride between Seattle and Phoenix in early November 1972. Seeing a row of silver domes in the distance at one point on the journey, Bowie assumed they were secret government facilities intended for use after a nuclear attack. The lyrics describe how radiation has affected people’s minds and bodies to the point that they need to watch old video films in order to learn to have sex again. Bowie further elaborated “some people are living on the streets and some people are living in domes, and they borrow from one another and try to learn how to pick up the pieces“, also noting that the song was set in the year 2033 (Genius) : “I’ll ring and see if your friends are home. Perhaps the strange ones in the dome can lend us a book, we can read up alone. And try to get it on like once before, when people stared in Jagger’s eyes and scored like the video films we saw.” Musically, the song has a relaxed doo wop vibe, highlighted by exuberant saxophone blasts, and I love how Bowie emphasizes the chorus line “His name was always Buddy!” The remake, sung by Northern California alternative electronic artist Darwin, retains the doo-wop feel, but is even mellower and more contemplative, with lovely instrumentals and gentle backing vocals by Ash Reyes that nicely complement Darwin’s pleasing low-key croons.
Next up is “Panic in Detroit“, which was inspired by Iggy Pop’s stories of the Detroit riots in 1967 and the rise of the White Panther Party, specifically their leader John Sinclair, whose ideas Bowie compared to the rebel martyr Che Guevara in the dark lyrics. The song has a punk rock groove, highlighted by the interesting use of congas and world percussion that were later added after the drummer Mick Woodmansey refused to do the Bo Diddley beat that guitarist Mick Ronson and Bowie desired. Linda Lewis of “Rock-A-Doodle-Do” fame sang the wailing free-form vocals in the background. (Genius) The reimagined version, vibrantly sung by Natalie Wilde (who also sang backing vocals on the previously mentioned WINACHI song “FOR YOU I’D KILL“), and accompanied by some terrific percussive instruments and guitar work, does justice to the rousing punk rock feel of the original.
Track five, “Cracked Actor“, was written following Bowie’s time spent on the famed Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood, where he witnessed prostitution, drug use and sex. The lyrics, which describe an aging movie star’s sexual encounter with a prostitute for whom he feels contempt, contain the album’s title – “I’m stiff on my legend. The films that I made. Forget that I’m fifty ’cause you just got paid.” The song’s a banger, with a hard-driving groove, punctuated by Mick Ronson’s bluesy guitars. The remake, by L.A.-based electro-pop duo Sumthing Strange (consisting of Alex Prusmack and Johnny Santoro), with additional vocals by Julian Shah-Tayler, honors the original quite nicely with it’s bombastic, high-energy treatment. Their grimy guitars and stomping rhythms are fantastic.
“Time“, originally written as “We Should Be On By Now” for Bowie’s friend George Underwood, was completely rewritten after the sudden death of New York Dolls drummer Billy Murcia, in November 1972. The lyrics address concepts of mortality, with the original title used as a refrain in the chorus. The inclusion of the word “wanking” caused “Time” to be banned from radio by the BBC. (Wikipedia) The song’s distinctive “burlesque vamp” sound was created by the wonderful cabaret-style piano work by Mike Garson and accompanying guitar lines by Mick Ronson. The cover version is performed by two members of L.A.-based rock band Human Drama, Johnny Indovina on acoustic guitar and vocals, and Steve Fuxan on fretless bass, along with Shah-Tayler on keyboards. This stripped-down remake has a completely different feel, more melancholy and introspective, and I think more reflective of the bittersweet lyrics “But love has left you dreamless. The door to dreams was closed. Your park was real and dreamless. Perhaps you’re smiling now, smiling through this darkness. But all I have to give is guilt for dreaming.”
“The Prettiest Star“, written by Bowie as a love song for his first wife Angela Barnett, was originally released in 1970 as the follow-up single to “Space Oddity”. That original featured a distinctive guitar riff played by Mark Bolan of glam rock band T. Rex. Bowie decided to include the song on Aladdin Sane, so it was re-recorded with Mick Ronson recreating Bolan’s original guitar parts almost note-for-note. The rather trippy cover version, by male artist Former Teen (who I was unable to find any information about), is also a sizeable departure from the original, with a fascinating mix of vintage electronic percussion, pulsating synth bass, and quirky synth sounds, accompanied by Former Teen’s offbeat drones.
The inclusion of a cover of the Rolling Stones classic song of lustful desire, “Let’s Spend the Night Together“, acknowledges their influence on the entire record. But whereas the original was psychedelic, Bowie’s rendition is faster, raunchier and more glam-influenced. Several critics have derided it as “camp and unsatisfying”, also calling it a gay appropriation of a heterosexual song, which I find both ridiculous and insulting. At any rate, the cover-of-a-cover, performed by L.A.-based singer-songwriter Jawnee Danger, is the most radical departure of all the tracks on Forget That I’m 50, and I love it!
First off, listening to his version was a bit of revelation for me, as the opening lyrics “Don’t you worry about what’s on your mind, oh my. I’m in no hurry, I can take my time, oh my. I’m going red and my tongue’s getting tied. I’m off my head and my mouth’s getting dry” were scarcely recognizable (I guess that despite hearing the Stones’ original more than 100 times in my life, I’ve never really contemplated the lyrics!) The tempo on Jawnee Danger’s version is slowed down considerably, with a darker, more sensuous vibe that calls to mind some of the songs by Nine Inch Nails. I love the mysterious synths and guitar notes, and his sultry ethereal vocals even sound a bit like Trent Reznor’s.
Probably my second-favorite track on Aladdin Sane is “The Jean Genie“, with its chugging R&B guitar riff reminiscent of the Yardbirds songs “I’m a Man” and “Smokestack Lightning”, the former being a sped-up cover of the Bo Diddley original. The song actually began as an impromptu jam titled “Bussin'” that Bowie and his band played on the charter bus while travelling from Cleveland to Memphis. Calling it “a smorgasbord of imagined Americana” and his “first New York song“, with a protagonist inspired by Iggy Pop – a “white-trash, kind of trailer-park kid thing, the closet intellectual who wouldn’t want the world to knowthat he reads“, and a title that was an allusion to author Jean Genet. (Wikipedia)
Bowie wrote the song to “entertain” Cyrinda Foxe, an associate of Andy Warhol with whom he had a brief affair, and who appeared in the song’s video (she was also later married to both David Johansen of the New York Dolls and Steven Tyler of Aerosmith). “The Jean Genie” was released as the lead single of Aladdin Sane, and peaked at #2 on the UK Singles Chart, making it Bowie’s biggest hit to date, however, in the U.S. it only got as high as #71 on the Billboard Hot 100. The superb reimagined version, by the Michael Aston-fronted version of alt-rock band Gene Loves Jezebel, stays true to Bowie’s original, with some marvelous psychedelic guitar work, as well as great harmonica played by Shah-Tayler. I like how the song ends with Aston ad libbing “Love, love me do. There’s nothing to be scared of.”
The beautiful romantic ballad “Lady Grinning Soul” was one of the final songs written for the album and also a last-minute addition, replacing a sax version of “John, I’m Only Dancing” as the originally intended closing track. (Wikipedia) The song was inspired by American soul singer Claudia Lennear, whom Bowie met during the U.S. tour and was also the inspiration for the Rolling Stones’ song “Brown Sugar” (she was an Ikette in the Ike & Tina Turner Revue, as well as a background vocalist for several acts, including Joe Cocker, Leon Russell, and Freddie King, and was featured in the wonderful 2013 Oscar-winning documentary 20 Feet from Stardom).
In a 2016 interview with The Daily Bulletin shortly after Bowie’s death, Lennear revealed that Bowie called her in 2014, telling her the song had been written about her. With a sound and style that some have likened to a James Bond movie theme, “Lady Grinning Soul” has a serene classical feel, thanks to Garson’s luxurious piano work (which he described as “about as romantic as it gets…French with a little Franz Liszt thrown in there“), accompanied by Ronson’s flamenco-style guitar and Bowie’s dreamy vocals. Shah-Tayler’s reimagined version replaces the piano with his signature lush synths, including a synth guitar that results in some enchanting harp-like sounds. His beautiful emotive singing voice, which sometimes rises to a gentle falsetto, is on full display here, perfectly capturing the romantic sensuality of the original, but even more so I think.
Writing this review required that I listen to Aladdin Sane multiple times, causing me to fall in love with it and fully realize what a truly brilliant album it is, with songs that sound as fresh and innovative today as they did fifty years ago. Also, each song sounds uniquely different, making for a tremendously fascinating listen. Attempting to cover such iconic songs would seem to be an incredibly daunting endeavor, but Julian Shah-Tayler and company succeed and then some. Forget That I’m 50 not only does great justice to Bowie’s original, its overall excellence makes it a great album in its own right.
The other day my singer-songwriter friend Jake, aka The Frontier, shared a clip of himself playing an acoustic version of the Duncan Sheik song “Barely Breathing” on social media, which reminded me of how much I love it. Not only is it a great song both musically and lyrically, but wow, what a heartthrob Sheik was at the time! The pleasing but melancholy song was written and sung by Sheik, who also played acoustic and electric guitars, E-Bow and piano, with Pino Palladino on bass, Jean-Michel Biger on drums, and Fran Banish on slide guitar. The track was produced by Rupert Hine, who also played percussion and sang backing vocals.
Released in May 1996, a few weeks in advance of his self-titled debut album, the song was a sleeper hit. After languishing in the lower reaches of the Billboard Hot 100 for several months, “Barely Breathing” finally peaked at #16 in early 1997, and went on to spend an astonishing 55 consecutive weeks on the chart, ultimately ranking #18 on the Hot 100 year-end chart for 1997. It fared better on some other charts, reaching #1 on the Adult Alternative chart, #2 on the Adult Top 40, and #12 on the Canadian RPM Top Singles chart. It was also ranked number 88 on VH1‘s list of 100 Greatest Songs of the ’90s. The song ranks among my personal top 10 favorite songs of 1997, as well as one of my top 100 songs of the 1990s.
The lyrics describe the feelings of a guy who has finally come to realize that his girlfriend’s manipulative and disingenuous displays of emotion do not equal love. He beats himself up for being so naive (“Must have been that yesterday was the day that I was born”), and knows he has to leave the relationship before he suffocates.
I know what you're doing
I see it all too clear
I only taste the saline
When I kiss away your tears
You really had me going
Wishing on a star
The black holes that surround you
Are heavier by far
I believed in your confusion
So completely torn
Must have been that yesterday
Was the day that I was born
There's not much to examine
There's nothing left to hide
You really can't be serious
If you have to ask me why
I say goodbye
'Cause I am barely breathing
And I can't find the air
Don't know who I'm kidding
Imagining you careAnd I could stand here waiting
A fool for another day
I don't suppose it's worth the price
It's worth the price, the price
That I would pay, yeah yeah, yeah
Everyone keeps asking
What's it all about?
I used to be so certain
Now I can't figure out
What is this attraction?
I only feel the pain
There's nothing left to reason
And only you to blame
Will it ever change?
'Cause I am barely breathing
And I can't find the air
Don't know who I'm kidding
Imagining you careAnd I could stand here waiting
A fool for another day
I don't suppose it's worth the price
It's worth the price, the price
That I would pay, yeah yeah, yeah
But I'm thinking it over anyway
I'm thinking it over anyway
I've come to find
I may never know
Your changing mind
Is it friend or foe?
I rise above or sink below
With every time
You come and go
Please don't come and go
'Cause I am barely breathing
And I can't find the air
Don't know who I'm kidding
Imagining you careAnd I could stand here waiting
A fool for another day
But I don't suppose it's worth the price
It's worth the price, the price
That I would pay, yeah yeah, yeah
But I'm thinking it over anyway
I'm thinking it over anyway
Well, I know what you're doing
I see it all too clear
Sheik received a Grammy nomination for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for “Barely Breathing”, but lost to Elton John for his song “Candle In The Wind 1997.” It was his only song to chart, however, he’s had a long and successful career as a composer of music for plays, musicals and movie soundtracks. Some of his major works include original music for the 2002 New York Shakespeare Festival production of Twelfth Night, the music score for the film A Home at the End of the World in 2004, the score for the film Through the Fire in 2005, and the music for the Broadway musical Spring Awakening, for which he won the 2006 Tony Awards for Best Original Score and Best Orchestration. More recently, he wrote the music for the 2019 Lynn Nottage musical The Secret Life of Bees, an adaptation of the 2002 novel by Sue Monk Kidd, with lyrics by Susan Birkenhead.
“New Gold”, the marvelous collaboration between virtual band Gorillaz, Australian alternative psychedelic music project Tame Impala, and American rapper Bootie Brown, remains at #1 for a second week. Holding at #2 for a second week is the beautiful “Tropic Morning News” by The National, which previously spent two weeks at #1. Depeche Mode‘s “Ghosts Again” holds at #3 for a second week, and “Flowers” by Miley Cyrus moves up a notch to #4. Moving up three spots each are “Soften” by Canadian singer-songwriter Alex Southey, to #5, and “Bluebell Wood” by British singer-songwriter Frank Joshua to #6. Entering the top 10 are “Kid” by The Revivalists, climbing three spots to #8, and “Eat Your Young” by Hozier, which jumps six spots to #10.
Two songs make their debut this week: the gorgeous “Those Eyes” by Toronto band New West, entering at #29. The song, which reminds me a bit of Coldplay’s beloved earlier songs like “Yellow” and “Fix You”, was actually released in May 2019 as their very first single, and later included on their debut EP Call Me When You Hear This Song. Like Beach Weather’s “Sex, Drugs, Etc.”, the song apparently went viral on Tik Tok, and has recently been climbing the Alternative charts. Entering at #30 is “Why”, a stunning song by British psychedelic indie rock band Future Theory, an immensely-talented act I’ve written about many times on this blog. This is their third song to appear on my Top 30, with their 2021 single “One and the Same” reaching #3.
NEW GOLD – Gorillaz, Tame Impala & Bootie Brown (1)
TROPIC MORNING NEWS – The National (2)
GHOSTS AGAIN – Depeche Mode (3)
FLOWERS – Miley Cyrus (5)
SOFTEN – Alex Southey (8)
BLUEBELL WOOD – Frank Joshua (9)
TRANSMITTER – Sea Power (4)
KID – The Revivalists (11)
THE WALK HOME – Young the Giant (10)
EAT YOUR YOUNG – Hozier (16)
PEPPER – Death Cab for Cutie (6)
LOVE FROM THE OTHER SIDE – Fall Out Boy (7)
PAID OFF – Oli Barton & the Movement (14)
WOLF – Yeah Yeah Yeahs (15)
I WANT YOU DEAD – Two Feet & Allie Cabal (12)
THE PERFECT PAIR – beabadoobee (17)
NOT STRONG ENOUGH – boygenius (18)
GO DOWN RIVER – The Heavy Heavy (20)
DUMMY – Portugal. The Man (21)
ESSENCE – Refeci & Shimmer Johnson (22)
BACKPATTERS AND SHOOTERS – The Zangwills (13) 20th week on chart
ANGELICA – Wet Leg (24)
1982 – Morgendust (25)
RESCUE ME – Dirty Heads (26)
LEAVING – Au Gres (27)
TROUBLE WITH THIS BED – Beach Weather (19) 22nd week on chart
Kewen is the solo music project of British singer-songwriter Callum Kewen, who plays a pleasing style of folk rock inspired by such acts as Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, the Beatles and Bruce Springsteen. Based in Northeast England, the busy young musician is also frontman and lead vocalist of soft rock band Kewen & The Crosswalks, and does oral music reviews of local artists on his Facebook page.
He’s been releasing music as a solo artist for six years, beginning with his debut singles “This Feelin’” and “This April Day” in April 2017, followed that September by his first EP Chimes. He followed that EP with more singles, culminating in the release of his second EP A Little Bit of Magic in 2019. He dropped a lockdown single “Freedom” in 2020, then a single “The Line” in 2021. Since then, he’s been working on his debut album Chapters, due for release in September. He just dropped the album’s title single “Chapters“, an upbeat song of optimism and hope for a better future.
Kewen elaborates on his inspiration for writing the song and album: “This album has been 2.5 years in the making and I’ve put my heart and soul into it. I wrote ‘Chapters’ not long after I went through a breakup in my personal life. I took myself off to the Lake District in the UK for a night of wild camping on the mountain side, and wanted to get into a different frame of mind which is something I had never done before. This was one of two songs I wrote up there that day, and I think they may be some of the best stuff I’ve ever written. I very much felt at that time in my life that I was moving onto the next chapter in my life and I knew I wanted to title my next project in relation to that. The song started writing itself once I got pen to paper and it was probably done within the hour.“
For the recording of the song, Kewen played acoustic rhythm guitar and sang lead and backing vocals, with additional contributions by several of his fellow musicians: Oliver Cobb, who produced the track, played electric rhythm and lead guitars, Kewen & the Crosswalks bassist Hannah Ward played bass and sang backing vocals, Jack Herron played drums, and WayneOnSax played the wonderful saxophone. Primary backing vocals were sung by Teah McCafferty, along with Hope Laverty, James Brown and Eddie Hogg.
I really like the song’s bouncy melody and infectious toe-tapping groove, highlighted by lots of cheerful guitar noodling, exuberant percussion and that marvelous wailing sax. Though he strains a bit on the higher notes, Kewen’s plaintive vocals are pleasing as he fervently sings “I can feel the chapters closing in, I can feel the chapters of life. I can feel the chapters, and everything’s alright. I can feel the pages of this worn-out book, I can feel the new pages rise.” The delightful backing vocals, especially those of Teah McCafferty, nicely complement his. “Chapters” is a fine single, and a promising glimpse of what we can expect on the forthcoming album.
British singer/songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer Philip Morgan Lewis is a creative and engaging artist who’s long been a favorite of mine. Drawing from an eclectic range of music genres and influences, including alternative rock, blues, R&B, soul, jazz, garage rock and folk, the London East Ender crafts his own unique sound. That unique style, combined with his distinctive unusual and raspy singing voice that sounds like no one else, makes his music instantly recognizable as only his. And, as I’ve noted on previous reviews, I like how each of his songs is uniquely different, with every release surprising us with a totally new vibe. Moreover, he isn’t afraid to address the darker side of humanity and the emotional wreckage of failed relationships, love gone bad and our sometimes self-destructive ways, while also offering glimmers of hope and redemption.
Over the past decade, Philip has released quite a lot of music, including his 2016 EP Karma Comedown, two albums, the brilliant Grief Harbour in 2017 (which I reviewed), and the ambitious 18-track opus work Now + Then in 2021, as well as over a dozen singles, a number of which I’ve also reviewed. Two of my favorites are “Come Find Me Back”, which ranks #88 on my 100 Best Songs of 2021 list, and “Redchurch Street Blues”, ranking #63 on my 100 Best Songs of 2022 list.
Now he’s back with “When You’re Shattered“, the first single from his upcoming EP, due for release on June 20th. Philip says the song was quite cathartic for him. “I have written a lot over the past year as I was going through a very rough time. I realised that even though I was struggling, I kept on answering “I’m alright mate” when asked how I felt. This track is about that- don’t even try to hide [your feelings], just let it out and help might come.”
Philip wrote, produced, recorded and mixed the track, played guitar, bass, percussion and keyboards, and sang vocals. His 12 year old daughter Annick, who’s sung on all of this records since she was four, sang backing vocals. The track was mastered by Fred Miller in his Copenhagen studio. Released via Philip’s own label TX2 Records, a cool-looking special limited edition 7-inch 45 rpm red vinyl pressing of the single is also available.
To drive home his point, Philip starts with a strong driving beat, fueled by a bold, thumping bassline. He then layers a marvelous array of blues-soaked grungy guitars, snappy drums and mysterious swirling synths, creating a dark, cinematic backdrop for his emotion-packed vocals that range from sultry croons to fervent entreaties. Annick’s lilting backing vocals, which sound far more mature than a 12 year old, are wonderful, and the perfect complement to her father’s raspy croons. “When You’re Shattered” is another gem in an unbroken string of superb releases by this uniquely talented artist.
Your body’s torn to pieces
Your mind is drifting free
You seek blue ladders
That’ll take you to the sky
Well I tell you baby
Your heart is sick and tired
Keep on pretending sugar
This love will never die
When you’re shattered
When you’re shattered
Shattered deep inside
When you’re shattered
Oh baby when you’re shattered
Don’t even try to hideNow keep on moving baby
Push on through the crowd
When you think of what you’ve been through
This shuffle brings you down
People tell you what to do
They sell you dirty lies
Say everything's all right
And you know that everything’s all wrong
Cause’ when you’re
Six feet buried deep babe
You sure just waste your timeWhen you’re shattered
Baby when you’re shattered
Shattered deep inside
When you’re shattered
Baby when you’re shattered
Don’t even try to hide
Don’t even try to hide
When you’re shattered
When you’re shattered
Shattered deep inside
Don’t even try to hide
When you’re shattered
Baby when you’re shattered
Shattered deep inside
Don’t even try to hide
You’re shattered baby
Oh you’re just shattered babe
Oh you’re just shattered babe
Oh you’re just shattered babe
I love when artists from different genres and backgrounds come together to create music, especially when the pooling of their collective talents and imagination results in glorious sonic alchemy. One of the finest examples of this in recent memory is “New Gold”, a brilliant collaboration between virtual band Gorillaz (fronted by British singer-songwriter and producer Damon Albarn), Australian alternative psychedelic music project Tame Impala, and American rapper Bootie Brown (aka Romye Robinson). The deep, pulsating beat and lush, intricate synths by Albarn, producer extraordinaire Greg Kurstin, and Tame Impala’s Kevin Parker create a magical backdrop for Albarn’s and Parker’s dreamy vocals and Brown’s flawlessly rapped verses, all of which not only complement each other beautifully, but also create a palpable sense of excitement and energy. The song is a gorgeous feast for the senses, and ascends to the #1 spot on my latest Weekly Top 30.
Co-written by them all, the song’s lyrics speak to the ephemeral and often unfulfilling things too many people indulge in, expressed in the chorus “New gold, foolish gold, everything will disappear.” They rely on self-delusions or any number of palliatives, rather than face their problems in a realistic way, whether it be the ultimately self destructive overuse of cosmetic surgery that often ages poorly, abuse of party drugs that destroy the user’s mind, or endless social media drama, wasting time on online content lacking any real value or engaging in online arguments that only serve to make us feel more isolated than ever.
In other chart developments, Young the Giant‘s poignant and lovely “The Walk Home” enters the top 10, and two songs make their debut: “The Way” by American alt-rock band Manchester Orchestra, at #29, and “In My Head” by Mike Shinoda (of Linkin Park) and Arizona-based singer-songwriter Kailee Morgue, at #30.
NEW GOLD – Gorillaz, Tame Impala & Bootie Brown (3)
TROPIC MORNING NEWS – The National (1)
GHOSTS AGAIN – Depeche Mode (4)
TRANSMITTER – Sea Power (2)
FLOWERS – Miley Cyrus (6)
PEPPER – Death Cab for Cutie (5)
LOVE FROM THE OTHER SIDE – Fall Out Boy (7)
SOFTEN – Alex Southey (9)
BLUEBELL WOOD – Frank Joshua (10)
THE WALK HOME – Young the Giant (12)
KID – The Revivalists (14)
I WANT YOU DEAD – Two Feet & Allie Cabal (13)
BACKPATTERS AND SHOOTERS – The Zangwills (8)
PAID OFF – Oli Barton & the Movement (15)
WOLF – Yeah Yeah Yeahs (16)
EAT YOUR YOUNG – Hozier (23)
THE PERFECT PAIR – beabadoobee (19)
NOT STRONG ENOUGH – boygenius (20)
TROUBLE WITH THIS BED – Beach Weather (11) 21st week on chart
Kevin Robertson is a singer-songwriter and guitarist from Aberdeen, Scotland who makes a very agreeable style of jangle pop. His music is strongly influenced by a range of influences, including 60’s pop, classic and psychedelic rock, 80’s jangle music and 90’s Brit pop. He’s been actively recording and releasing music both as a solo artist and as a member of Aberdonian (I love that word) jangle pop five-piece The Vapour Trails since 2019.
In a short period of time, Kevin has released a sizable amount of music under his own name, beginning in 2021 with his debut album Sundown’s End, followed by Teaspoon of Time in 2022, as well as a number of singles, demos and session recordings. On March 31st, he dropped his latest album Magic Spells Abound, an aptly-titled collection of nine exquisite songs. Recorded by Kevin with the help of musical friends who have appeared on his releases over the years, the album was produced by Nick Bertling, and released by the Subjangle label in conjunction with Futureman Records.
Listening to Magic Spells Abound calls to mind the music of so many great acts of the 60s, 70s and 80s, yet Kevin’s beautifully-crafted songs are thoroughly original. The album opens with “As the Crow Flies“, a charming and hopeful song that immediately makes me think of the beautiful melodies and harmonies of the Traveling Wilburys. In fact, Kevin’s pleasing vocals even remind me of the late George Harrison on this track as he sings “Don’t be afraid of the sunshine. Don’t cause alarm. Don’t be afraid of this darkness. It means you no harm.” So, too, with the mysterious and lovely “Candlestick Morning“, where his vocals and intricate guitar work seemingly pay homage to Harrison, at least to my ears.
On “Make Believe” and “Autumn Brings“, with their captivating melodies and infectious, foot-stomping grooves, both his stunning jangly guitars and vocals seem to channel the Byrds. Kevin’s skill for writing beguiling melodies is beautifully showcased on the winsome “The Crest of a Dream“, highlighted by an enchanting hook and some fine harmonica work. And on the breezy, uptempo “Cloak and Dagger“, Kevin and company nicely capture the glorious harmonies of Crosby, Stills & Nash.
One of my favorite tracks is “WanderOn“, with it’s catchy toe-tapping beat, colorful array of jangly and fuzzy psychedelic guitars, and buoyant Beatles-like harmonies. The lovely, folk-tinged “Sunset” is yet another terrific song, with it’s bewitching twangy guitars and sublime harmonies. And on the final track “Equilibrium Blues“, Kevin blends pleasing folk rock with spacey psychedelia to create a fascinating and compelling song that’s part Crosby, Stills & Nash and part Electric Light Orchestra. The lyrics seem to speak of evil forces at work to create uncertainty and chaos around us: “They’re coming from the gutter, to destroy your equilibrium./There’s not enough love in the sky to bring such a tear to one’s eye.”
I like everything about this album – the masterful arrangements, gorgeous guitar work and myriad instrumental touches – but it’s the marvelous harmonies throughout that really make Magic Spells Abound such a great record for me. Kevin is a very talented singer-songwriter and musician, and has much to be proud of with his latest work.
ECLECTIC MUSIC LOVER 