Like a Friend

The song that hurts the most, at some time in our lives. Who hasn’t had a terrible relationship, in which you are way too involved, that being friends isn’t enough, even when it seems that no power in the world will transform a friendship into love?

Why do we have to bump into people that does not know (or simply doesn’t want to) how to love us? Are there people in this world that just can’t love, or is it that they don’t want to?

We all know this kind of relationships are the ones that leave a mark in us, even more than relationships that lead us to love and happiness…but why are we still exposed to those? Is it worth it?

Why are we still willing to have a “cheap magazine” relationship, when we can be learning something… isn’t it just better to look for real love, the one that makes us grow, not to cry every time we listen to this song?

I believe the only way to really enjoy “Like a Friend”, and Pulp please forgive me, is when you have found a person that is truly willing to love you, a person in which you can trust, a person that at some point, will not act like a friend…

Death to Los Campesinos

Hold on now, youngster, I have a new review!
If you have ever been an indie true lover, even for 15 minutes, you must know that once indie bands are known and played on the radio, they automatically lose their indie tag, and most of the time, their originality. However, and I feel deeply sorry for Los Campesinos!’ fame and money, this haven’t happened to them, and it has been a gorgeous gift for us indie lovers.

Death to Los Campesinos is the perfect opening theme of a very nice and joyful album, also one of my favourite power songs.

The song doesn’t relate any understandable yet interesting ideas…being their main and most powerful phrase “I invented you, and I will destroy you” ; as if love could be destroyed, as if memory could be erased, as if music could be forgotten…

But beware, songs like these, even when can be easily slight and suitable to be forgotten within the arks of music in a short term, could CTRL-ALT-DEL former music taste, for better or worse.

The Blower's Daughter

"And so it is"...you'd be lying if you'd tell me that you hated Closer's opening song, a sad song from some Irish guy named Damien Rice (unknown at the time, and for many of us, still unknown).
Its chords could evoke the purest love feelings a person can have, but can also recall the melancholic spirit that arises when meeting the love of your life...
Its music consists basically in only a guitar and some other sounds that could easily come from an electronic music device, but yet helps to build an excellent song, another one that can drive you to sadness when listened...
Personally, my favorite part of the song is the only verse sang by a girl "oh, did I say that I loathe you, did I say that I want to leave it all behind"...followed by a loving..."I can't take my mind off you"...would that mean that loathe is driven by love? Or that love simply ends from one moment to another?
Anyway, a great song, to be avoided when a heartbreak just happened...because when you feel sad and blue, you just want to be alone...but believe me, after some time, you end up thinking that regret and sadness will last, as this song cries at its very last verse...'til I find somebody...

Space Oddity

My first review of a song that’s older than me!
I have to admit, shamefully, that I heard this song for the first time on October 12th, 2009, the day I went to U2 360 concert…and it was their opening song, the most unheard one of the concert, because it’s the one that is playing when lights are turned off, and everyone is just shouting and eager to see Bono and Co. step onstage…
But the verse “THIS IS GROUND CONTROL TO MAJOR TOM, YOU’VE REALLY MADE THE GRADE” was so loud, that I started thinking that it was one of the greatest pieces I had ever listened.
Once out of the concert, I asked one of my friends about it, and he told me it was some tune from David Bowie. I turned on my ipod, seek David Bowie, and guess what? The song was already there!!!!
It is a weird story about spaceships and astronauts, and as long as I have read, there is a part two of this song…was Major Tom able to re-communicate with ground control? Perhaps we’ll never know!
But these amazing 5 minutes of heaven, always make me wonder how the Earth would look from outer space, how would your life be while living in that kind of “tin cans”, how different would the stars look, what I’d do if I, out of the sudden, would lose touch with ground control…
Anyway, aside from being of the greatest songs from yore, this song is another proof that no bad thing or feeling can come from being a U2 fan…

Take me Out

Wow, you have no idea what this song meant, means, and will mean to me.
It makes me remember being young, and going to cheap bars with my friends, to have a few drinks and listen what we called at the time “indie” music, which included songs from Radiohead, Oasis, Franz Ferdinand (some new band with hip funny amazing lyrics and powerful guitar), The Cure, among others.
None of them are or were indie, it’s just that we were sooo young and rookie, that any rock music was indie for us. Fortunately, good taste increases with age, and now I love rock music, but I definitely know that indie is way more than this, and a very different genre I’m not sure if I love yet…
This was the first song I heard from Franz Ferdinand, the first “indie” band I had ever heard about, and it opened to me a door that will never close; so please, if you ever go to my wedding and suddenly listen The White Stripes or Muse instead of cumbias or salsa, blame Take Me Out.
I have listened to this song a million times, sometimes when I run, sometimes when I feel blue, sometimes when I’m driving, and every listen is different than the other.
However, this song is not one of my favourites, and I am pretty aware Franz has better masterpieces, such as The Dark of the Matinee, Auf Achse (no one knows it, but it’s their best in my opinion), Lucid Dreams (what a great way to close a concert!!!!!!!) and Do You Want To; but Take me Out just has to be in every ipod, in every person, in every heart.
We all know Archduke Franz Ferdinand was shot, and then World War was originated; but some years later Franz Ferdinand was heard, and then a passion was originated…my most important passion…

Sometimes in the Fall

Ah Phoenix…suddenly becoming one of my favourite bands…I have to admit this band is one of the best I’ve ever seen live…with no significant changes from what you listen in the CD and what you listen live...

This can only mean that the band doesn’t need great technology in their music to make it sound great, it’s just “plain music”.

I still cannot decide which CD is better, I loved Wolfang Amadeus the first time I listened to it, and I swore no ever record had been better than that one…until I listened to It’s Never Been Like That. Seriously, someone please give me a word of advice on this…

Sometimes in the Fall makes me get up and dance, it makes me think of death and love, it makes me smile, it makes me shout, it makes me sing…even in spring, winter or summer…

It actually is a long long long long song (a little shorter than 6 minutes), but every second is enjoyable and makes the impression that it actually lasts 2 minutes, because when listened can easily be repeated with no objection from anyone.

I wouldn’t say this is the best song from Phoenix, but perhaps is the one I’ve enjoyed the most, and as far as I remember, it wasn’t even played when I went to their concert, but God, I love it.

I just wish I could ever have a band as cool as them…I just wish more French were like Phoenix…

Caroline

It often happens that music reproduces itself in your ipod, and every now and then, surprisingly without knowing its source, new music has been added to your music magic device.

I have to admit this has been the case of “Caroline” a great song from southern band The Belleville Outfit, which suddenly was added to my ipod, I guess it was included on an itunes card I received in one of my visits to ACL.

And as a surprise, it is a folksy, joyful song, performed by a new, yet unknown band, which as the song itself shouts “can’t wait to get it off my mind”.

I don’t know if that is because the song involves a guitar solo, a violin solo and a piano solo…all as an ensemble…full with strong lyrics consisting in little verses, to let the audience enjoy the music, and its vibe.

Don’t be fooled, the record where this song is included is not as good as Caroline (I call this the Achtung Baby effect, which means that some song or album is soooo great that no musical work from the band can ever shine as the masterpiece, no matter what!); if you are tempted to know more of The Belleville Outfit, I’d recommend listening to prior CD Time To Stand.

Anyway, this song specifically has become my favorite power song ever…and while running I can just enjoy and appreciate its musical force, with or without paying attention to its lyrics, it’s just beautiful.

I just hope that when I discover new music in my ipod, someone please just warn me that it’d steal my heart next time!!!

Bad

This is perhaps the hardest review I'll ever write, given that I truly, madly, deeply LOVE U2...and I do not want to disagree with other fellow U2 lovers...
We U2 hardcore people, and I have discussed this issue millions of times, consider that Bad is maybe the greatest song ever, and it's impossible to know why.
It lacks U2's force other tunes have, and it is the least sentimental song ever written...lyrics are just...perhaps plain...and Bono's voice is not the best...but it has something...maybe some part of its lyrics, maybe just the final screams of Bono, maybe just the fact that is rarely ever played live...
I have to admit you are in the presence of a song is not easily received by your senses every time is played...I believe you'd have to be in a certain mood to really appreciate its energy, and it's a song, I have to admit, I almost always "next" it when shuffled in my ipod...
But once you learn (or are in the mood to listen) its inner message, this could be the best musical experience ever. Well not ever, because I'd left aside The Beatles and Led Zep, but one of the best, at least.
For me, its message is not about war, love, peace, fairness, or other incredible issues embodied in U2's song...the message I hear whenever I listen Bad, is just a proof of greatness...the greatness the best alive band in the planet has exposed to the world...and for me, and this is the corniest thing I'll ever say, the existence of this song is one more reason to keep living...
I guess the only bad thing about this song, is that it's practically addictive...like a drug...like a miracle drug U2 has wrote about...

Fell in love with a girl

My God, the 1:50 minutes best spent ever...this song, as short as it is, is one of the greatest alternative rock proposals, and a great masterpiece from The White Stripes, at least musically, and I believe many rock lovers would agree with me!
Being the first song I ever heard from Jack White, and at some moment in my life when I was not a rock fan yet, it is an easily "coverable" song, and as an example Joss Stone has created an interesting and corny cover of this excellent short story.
I would have done the same if I'd be a soul singer!
But as romantic as the song's name could try to anticipate, the song is not about a girl to love, like or any other word worth feeling; the thing is that the girl in the song has a guy...an official one, who doesn't consider that kissing somebody else means cheating...weird huh?
Anyway, I won't be judgmental about the song's contents, it is a GREAT song, an excellent one to listen while running, and to play whenever you're feeling that love, the way you'd want to describe it, is falling apart...
I can say, when I heard this song, that I feel in love once and almost completely...until I heard Seven Nation Army...

Amor

What is love? Epic question I've been asking myself for sooooo long...and my incredible venezuelan fellas "Los Amigos Invisibles" have been wondering the same as me in this awesome song.
Oddly, and I swear that this is a coincidence, is one of the very few songs of that band that's almost entirely written in english...
The song involves one of the corniest lyrics of Los Amigos (people who might know them, should be familiar with their vulgar explicit songs, full of sex, lust and unkwnown desires), is not the best or the most popular one, but maybe the one I love the most...because it's simple, understandable, enjoyable, and it simply makes my foot start moving without me even noticing.
Not as sticky as other of their tunes, but also pefectly materializing the modern electro-salsa vibe every Amigos' leaves in your senses, it could be the easiest treshold for any non-latin person who'd be interested in getting to know our way of living and communication.
It is a song you can always enjoy while it's being played in your ipod, or when you're running, and the perfect excuse to just get up and start dancing...and also one of the greatest songs I've ever heard live!!!!!
It is never a shame to discover the existence of Los Amigos, and if you ever get lucky, you might end up loving them, just as they preach in their lyrics...
Just remember that music (as well as love) in any language...always means the same!!!
And the answer of the question?...perhaps it's never said...but "es la emoción que despiertas en mi" could be a hint, don't you think?

Are you gonna be my girl?

This is perhaps the only popular song of JET, great Australian band, and also, in my opinion, the best song to play in Rock Band, even when it’s your turn to play drums, or sing!!!!

Given its excellent bass work, and spicy lyrics about a girl the guy likes and admires but cannot have because she’s with another man, it’s a song that will not be easily forgotten in the listener’s mind, and also becomes pretty playable in any rock pub, pop club and even local gigs.

Its dark start, yet with a hopeful vibe while the song starts increasing, screams the desire of every guy looking, not for love, but maybe only for a girl to spend the night with.

The big issue here is what was the girl’s answer? If a guy comes to me and sings, well not only sings, plays with his band, this tune, what’d be my answer? Probably yes, it depends on who’s the guy I am with. After all, Australian English accent is sooooo sexy.

All these things that I've done

Ah, the unforgettable feeling of finishing my first 10K race while this song is playing in my ipod!!!!

This Killers’ masterpiece, even when will never become their most representative song, is in my opinion their best recording, which will inevitably be always overshadowed by other more popular, yet amazing songs, such as Human and Mr. Brightside.

The sad beginning of subtle piano notes, and its slow start, first with gorgeous Flower’s voice in a wonderful sentence (“when there’s nowhere else to run, is there room for one more song?”) and then the drums (slightly resembling U2’s where the streets have no name), guitar, bass, and finally turning itself into a true and original alternative rock song, very indie at the moment, but sadly becoming a pop song nowadays.

This could be a power song, a love song, a war song, a hope song, whatever you’d want from the song, it’s out there…the challenge remains on that to choose of it.

The powerful, hopeful, screaming and sticky bridge “I’ve got soul but I’m not a soldier” is perhaps the strongest part of the song; however nothing is compared with the pride feeling its last verse throws to the audience…”while everyone’s lost, the battle is won, with all these things that I’ve done”. Anyway, conquering personal achievements is a long time battle, and I am sure no success comes easily.

California Waiting

I’ve never been a loyal fan of Kings of Leon, I accept it. “Young and Youth Manhood” even constituting an excellent work, still lacks of a little something (I wonder what!), “Aha Shake Heartbreak” is weird enough to be listened only when depressed, and playing songs from “Only by the Night” in pop clubs makes the record waaay less interesting (even when Use Somebody surprisingly won a Grammy Award for Record of the Year in 2010).

However, California Waiting seems to be a song written and performed by a different band, with a less depressive touch and with intelligent lyrics and arrangements.

The most interesting part of the lyrics to me is when cute Caleb Followill laughs at himself while singing “I‘d sing you a song but they blew it away, all wrapped up in this stupid ass game”. As if rejection would be an easy tale to tell!

Another random interesting thing, is that there are 2 versions of this song, one included in the EP with the cherries in the cover (Holly Roller Novocaine), which in my opinion is superior from the original one (from the record Young and Youth Manhood), even when drums are less important, and the beat is slightly slower.

Anyway, a great record, performed by a great band –never overcame in my opinion–, which also shares with me the following statement, the one that over and over comes to my mind whenever things are getting rough…”can I get back my lonely life?????”.

Evil

Even though Interpol might have better recordings (Slow Hands, Obstacle 1 and No I in Threesome are vivid examples), I believe Evil is one of the best songs ever recorded, given an excellent musical work. As the song itself professes, heaven restores such bass chords in life!!!!

Lyrically strong and full of interesting proposals, sometimes non-understandable, Interpol’s masterpiece talks about 2 different girls: Rosemary and Sandy. And when slowly listened, lots of doubts emerge, who’d be the one with the leading role? Was Rosemary restored in life? Did Sandy yield Paul Banks’ (a.k.a. Julian Plenti) request to look the other way?

A song I’ve never had the privilege to listen live yet (it’d be greeeaaat I bet), it’s evil only because every time is listened, it inevitably has to end …

Ready for the floor

DO it DO it DO it DO it DO it DO it now!!!!!
This is a must-listen-right-now song!
Being this the second single I ever heard from Hot Chip (the 1st one was "Ho-ho-hold on"), and the first one to really fall in love with, the song means to me more than that, since it has opened the alternative/techno genre to me, one that was inexistent to me.
Even though Hot Chip can have strongest singles, and this one seems more alternative than electronic, full of rhymes and armoniously recorded, it evokes a party-feeling when listened anywhere...
With a controversial use of the line "number one guy", this song can always be received in a smooth way, and thinkable as the best launch platform into the genre.

Resistance

This song from Muse's 5th album is perhaps the strongest single of the record...and even though harsh feelings derived from songs like "Knights of Cydonia" have been left far behind, this song will help Muse consolidate as one of the most important Alternative/Rock bands of the new century.
With seemingly optimistic lyrics regarding love, embraces, sealed lips and other interesting stuff, the slight piano chords in the beginning and the bridge of the song are outstanding, giving a sweet twist to the entrance of the drums...both music and lyrics enjoyable...
And epic as other masterworks from this "uprising" band, I am sure it will become one of those songs, which are always nice to run into while shifting the radio...