British post-punks THE HORRORS from Southend-on-Sea had their biggest
moment, so far, with their 2nd LP Primary Colors that came out in 2009.
It put them on the European indie map.
The track I always go back to is the almost 8-minute
closer SEA WITHIN A SEA (more than 12 million streams
on Spotify, half of which are mine. Just kidding).
It’s a repetitive, addictive, and hypnotizing synth-Kraut-rock trip that goes
on like forever and ever and puts you slowly but surely in a trance.
3 LPs and two EPs followed, but no sign of musical life since 2021.
I fell in love with the sweet sensation
I gave my heart to a simple chord
I gave my soul to a new religion
Whatever happened to you?
Whatever happened to our rock’n’roll?
Whatever happened to my rock’n’roll?
After about a million spins, that magical guitar line that comes on around
the 2-minute mark and sparkles until the end, still sounds so magnificently
crystal clear.
I had seven faces
Thought I knew which one to wear
I’m sick of spending these lonely nights
Training myself not to care
The subway is a porno
The pavements they are a mess
I know you’ve supported me for a long time
Somehow I’m not impressed
But New York cares (got to be some more change in my life)
New York cares (got to be some more change in my life)
Subway she is a porno
And the pavements they are a mess
I know you’ve supported me for a long time
Somehow I’m not impressed
It’s up to me now turn on the bright lights
Oh, it’s up to me now turn on the bright lights
It’s up to me now turn on the bright lights
Oh, it’s up to me now turn on the bright lights
New York cares (got to be some more change in my life)
New York cares (got to be some more change in my life)
It’s up to me now turn on the bright lights
(Got to be some more change in my life)
Oh, it’s up to me now turn on the bright lights
(Got to be some more change in my life)
Heart-warming, melancholic and magical with an endearing finale.
Up on his horse, up on his horse
Not gonna wake up here anymore
Listen one time, it’s not the truth
It’s just a story, I tell to you
Easy to say, easy to do
But it’s not easy, well, maybe for you
Hope that you find it, hope that it’s good
Hope that you read it, think that you should
Cuts you some slack as he sits back
Sizes you up, plans his attack
Ah-da-da
Drums please, Fab
And I got it all, I got it all
Waiting for me down on the street
But now you gotta do somethin’ special for me
I’m gonna say what’s on my mind
Then I’ll walk out, then I’ll feel fine
Yeah, I’m under his thumb, I’m on his back
I will not show my teeth too quick
I needed you there, I needed you there
But I didn’t know, I didn’t know
Go alone
I’ll go alone
We’ll go alone
I’ll go alone
Back from his trip, he’s at the door
When he gets back, he’s on the phone
Innocent eye, innocent heart
No, it’s not wrong, but it’s not right
Innocent time out on his own
Not got gonna do that, I’m out of control
I was just bored playin’ the guitar
Learned all your tricks, wasn’t too hard
It’s the last one now, I can promise you that
I’m gonna find out the truth when I get back
Gone now are the old times
Forgotten, time to hold on the railing
The Rubix cube isn’t solving for us
Old friends, long forgotten
The old ways at the bottom
Of the ocean now has swallowed
The only thing that’s left
Is us, so pardon the silence
That you’re hearing is turning
Into a deafening, painful, shameful roar
ODE TO THE METS is the closing beauty on the brilliant 2020 longplayer THE NEW ABNORMAL by New York City darlings THE STROKES. A truly
stupendous ballad that makes the hair in the back of my neck stand up
every single time I heard/hear this phenomenal pearl with a breathtaking
vocal exploit by JULIAN CASABLANCAS.
He started writing the lyrics after the 2016 National League Wild Card Game (baseball)
lost by his favorite team New York Mets. Over the years the title remained unchanged
but is not actually about the baseball team. It’s a reverie you can relate to the way you want yourself.
It’s melancholia at its magical best. I heard Ode To The Mets about a million times
so far and will listen to it about a million times more. It’s one of those rare genial
songs you just can’t get tired of.
The lines of the final part…
“Gone now are the old times
Forgotten, time to hold on the railing
The Rubik’s Cube isn’t solving for us
Old friends, long forgotten
They all wait at the bottom of
The ocean now has swallowed
The only thing that’s left is us
So pardon the silence that you’re hearing
Is turnin’ into a deafening
Painful, shameful roar”
NME: “The singer takes in rich influences for a deep, intimate listen to be filed next to Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds’ ‘Boatman’s Call’ and Leonard Cohen’s ‘You Want It Darker’… The result is an open and timeless collection that finds the singer kneeling at the altar of classic songwriting… Sure, it rests in a lot of the sonic territory of The National, and this isn’t the departure that his peppy indie-pop side-project EL VY represents, but what we do have is an intimate and generous offering from one of 21st Century rock’s most prominent voices.” Score: 4/5.
Berninger: “Between the pandemic and the fires and raging facism and everything, it’s grim.
It’s sometimes tough to process.”
