Single: I’D RATHER GO BLIND
A cover of a blues classic written by Ellington Jordan, Billy Foster
and Etta James. Covered by SC in 1968, sung by Christine McVie.
Great songwriter, great voice, great pianist, great performer, great presence..
CHRISTINE McVIE, born Christine Perfect in Bouth, Lancashire, England on
12 July 1943 has passed away today, 30 November, after a short illness,
aged 79.
The first great group she played with was the British blues band Chicken Shack.
She also made a couple of solo LPs back then. She married John McVie (co-founder
and bassist of Fleetwood Mac) in 1968, joined FM, and divorced him in 1976.
She’s, of course, best known as one of the singer-songwriters of Fleetwood Mac II
along with Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham she made one of the best-selling LP’s
in rock history with Rumours (1977).
Three great moments
– I’D RATHER GO BLIND –
With Chicken Shack.
A blues classic written by Ellington
Jordan, Billy Foster and Etta James.
– SONGBIRD –
A song she wrote/sang on Rumours .
– EVERYWHERE –
A song she wrote/sang on FM’s
1987 LP Tango In The Night.
Casey about her cover choice: “My producer, Joe Thompson, and I have always wanted
to cover Etta James’ tune, “I’d Rather Go Blind.” The way James speaks so directly about the struggle of losing someone is such a genuine act. At the time of recording this song and
video, I was going through a challenging time in my life. It feels so vulnerable to see the results of my raw emotion and struggle that this is almost difficult to watch. As soon as we started filming, the lyrics (and most likely, the fact that I was crying between takes) took everyone to this dark yet loving place where tears were being shed, but there were hugs and kisses floating around all night.”
Here’s her heart-and-soul touching version, sending shivers down your spine.
Shaman progresses like a vicious viper working its way to a grandiose climax. Determined, but always wary of sudden danger. Shaman dumbfounds and flummoxes while the song’s tension intensifies and has a spine-chilling effect. From the duo’s upcoming album Trust No Leaders, out 1st of July.
A roaring riff slashes and thrashes throughout this psych-o-tic hellraiser. Add Lunadon‘s freakish vocals and you know that this brainbreaker will test the resilience of your stereo. Fucktastic! From new album Beyond Everything
7. ‘Striking Like Thunder’ by LOWERY MILLS (Canada)
This thunder and lighting corker strikes big time from the first chord on, to the final one. Classic riffage rock with an anthemic plangency, a flaming drive, and a mammoth chorus. Add aroused vocals and the overall result is an ear-popping champion you’ll have on repeat for a while.
These DIY misfits have a new 5-track EP out, titled DIGGING.
You can buy it on Bandcamp.
My numero uno cracker is the title track.
The band’s frontman sounds like his own meanest demon.
Threatening and ready to kick badasses. This uppercut goes
mental on schizophrenic guitars and merciless drums.
To hell with all ruthless power abusers. That’s the central sharp-cutting message
of this new Janis jackhammer that causes a racing rush of blood through your veins.
This cocksure swipe is stoked up by jagged guitars,
by a steadfast drums/bass force, and by biting vocals.
What do you think of this? Topliners Arctic Monkeys turning up their amps or Liverpool legends The La’s if they would have been a rapid-fire punk turbo. Sounds insane, right?
You bet.
Spiky guitars zigzagging madly all over the place, John Bonham-like
drum brutality hits hard, and Alex Turner‘s younger brother is singing.
Be ready to move like a nutter on
a pogo stick. Contagious pyrotechnics.
Dream pop splendor in motion, with shiny synths, bouncy basslines,
laid-back drums, sensual vocals, and majestic orchestration. This winsome
humdinger will find its way to your yearning heart and your restless soul.
This timeless Etta James gem is 55 years old. It was written
by Ellington Jordan and co-credited to Billy Foster and James.
Songstress Sam Casey‘s heart-and-soul touching rendition
sends shivers down your spine, with her goosebumps voice.
Casey about the video: It feels so vulnerable to see the results of my raw emotion and struggle that this is almost difficult to watch. As soon as we started filming, the lyrics (and most likely, the fact that I was crying between takes) took everyone to this dark yet loving place where tears were being shed, but there were hugs and kisses floating around all night.”
Desert Storm is a psychedelic thrill with the hypnotizing and repetitive dynamism
of Krautrock. Its vibrant vigor and steadfast swagger roll all the way.
Pounding drums push the track continuously, guitars glimmer,
and febrile vocals add a shadowy timbre. Bingo.
This synth dream-pop duo has their
debut album Soft Chaines out now.
A gripping work inspired by physical pain leading to psychological pain feeding doubt, despair, and anguish. Often musicians use their work to process adversity. That’s what happens on this album. The layered synth orchestrations add melancholic warmth and here and their guitars gently weep while Miller‘s voice is the wandering star in the middle. An enticing debut with a harrowing, human touch.
My favorite piece of the record is the opener The Order.
Last year the Scottish veterans excited critics and
fans with their 10th LP As The Love Continues.
One song, from the same sessions, didn’t make the album as it wasn’t finished yet at the time. But it’s now ready to meet the world. It’s classic Mogwai euphony with swelling layers of synths, sheeny guitars, and slow-paced drums. The finale is just Homeric.
Twinkling guitars draw you into this touchy-feely daydream from the get-go. The color is blue, the melody is melancholic, the voice is wondering. This is a shoegazy gem for heavyhearted hearts and vulnerable souls, a soothing score for all romantics among us. The vibe is idyllic, the tone is hazy, the end result is just wondrous.
I’m sure you know that feeling of awakening in the morning and your first thought is ‘I don’t want to get upand face the cruel world, out there, today‘. But some smart cells in your brains tell you that you have no choice as you can’t escape reality. Not today, not tomorrow, never.
That very moment smooth and soft shanties like this one help you to ease your
moody state of mind. By mingling shimmery guitar sparks, shooting synths, spirited melodiousness, and comforting vocals in a happy-go-lucky way you can imagine you’re
on a special satellite where life colors pink again.
Casey about her cover choice: “My producer, Joe Thompson, and I have always wanted
to cover Etta James’ tune, “I’d Rather Go Blind.” The way James speaks so directly about the struggle of losing someone is such a genuine act. At the time of recording this song and
video, I was going through a challenging time in my life.
It feels so vulnerable to see the results of my raw emotion and struggle that this is almost difficult to watch. As soon as we started filming, the lyrics (and most likely, the fact that I was crying between takes) took everyone to this dark yet loving place where tears were being shed, but there were hugs and kisses floating around all night.”
Here’s the heart-and-soul touching interpretation sending shivers down your spine…
Original Etta James performance…
(Grandiose live version)