The Vaccines- Post Break-Up Sex

La publicación en 2011 del magnífico What did you expect from The Vaccines? provocó que los londinenses The Vaccines se convirtiesen en la nueva esperanza del pop-rock british, los nuevos Oasis para entendernos. Ellos mismos se aplicaron en desmentirlo gracias a sus dos anodinos y decepcionantes trabajos posteriores. Por aquí cerca terminaron provocando hartazgo porque una canción suya era banda sonora del anuncio del verano de una conocida marca de cerveza. Entre la reiteración de escucharlos a todas horas en la tele y el asco inmenso que provocan este tipo de anuncios, con su pretenciosa carga de insulsa y estúpida modernidad, el nombre de The Vaccines terminó convirtiéndose en un sarpullido en su particular verano del (no) amor.

Mientras confiamos en que vuelvan a publicar algo decente, seguiremos escuchando esta atemporal joya llamada Post Break-Up Sex de su inmenso primer disco.

I can barely look at you
Don't tell me who you lost it to
Didn't we say we had a deal?
Didn't I say how bad I feel?
Everyone needs a helping hand
Who said I would not understand?
Someone up the social scale
For when you're going off the rail
Post break up sex that helps you forget your ex
What did you expect from post break-up sex?
Leave it till the guilt consumes
Fucking in the nearest room
All our friends were unaware
Most had just passed out downstairs
To think I hoped you'd be okay
Now I can't think of what to say
Maybe I misunderstood
But I can't believe you're feeling good
From post break-up sex, helps you forget your ex
What did you expect from post break-up sex?
Post break-up sex that helps you forget your ex
What did you expect from post break up sex?
Oh when you love somebody but you find someone
And it all unravels and comes undone
Post break-up sex that helps you forget your ex
What did you expect from post break-up sex?
Post break-up sex that helps you forget your ex
What did you expect from post break-up sex?

Savages- Adore Life. Una crítica

Savages irrumpieron en 2013 con mucha fuerza gracias a su fantástico primer disco, el abrupto Silence Yourself. Gracias a su enorme repercusión, Savages se ha convertido en grupo que no deja indiferente, o gusta apasionadamente o son masacradas sin piedad. Sus méritos son evidentes pero sus críticos les acusan de ser el enésimo grupo dentro del revival post-punk plagiando descaradamente a algunos de sus referentes y destacando el parecido de la voz de Jehnny Beth con Siouxsie Sioux o, simplemente, las ven como un prefabricado grupo de chicas provista de una potente imagen.

El pasado mes de enero publicaron Adore Life, su esperado segundo disco. Reto este siempre difícil y del que las londinenses han salido airosas y han logrado consolidar su posición aventajada, gracias a la gran calidad de su trabajo y a la cantidad de canciones destacables que contiene.

Adore Life se inicia con la epatante The Answer –primer single- y que nos muestra claramente el camino a seguir, canciones con un sólido y opresivo andamiaje ofrecido por una agresiva y, por momentos, atronadora sección rítmica con el bajo distorsionado de Ayse Hassan marcando la senda a una veloz guitarra llena de reverbs y efectos mientras Jehnny Beth reina cantando con su intensidad, desgarro y rabia habituales. Trazos comunes que se repiten en las siguientes Evil y Sad Person, pero es especialmente en la segunda mitad del disco cuando éste se convierte en un desquiciado viaje a toda velocidad gracias a las fantásticas I Need Something New, When in Love, Surrender -la más vulgar del paquete- y la brutal T.I.W.Y.G. (emparentada con She Will de Silence Yourself).

Como hemos comentado, los temas rápidos y viscerales protagonizan la mayor parte de Adore Life aunque también hay espacio para temas más atmosféricos y tranquilos, como la postrera Mechanics –con su aire a The Sounds-, Slowing Down the World y la muy reposada Adore, un mediotiempo de cinco minutos que significa una apertura a nuevos caminos estilísticos aunque realmente poco aporta al disco salvo su título. 

El puño en alto de su portada es una clara muestra de reafirmación, metáfora de la posición que quiren ocupar y que con Adore Life afirman y solidifican. Continúan confluyendo su sonido entre el post-punk y el punk rock de grupos como Siouxie and The Banshees, Bauhaus, Joy Division e incluso The Swans, sin perder un ápice en la abruptez y visceralidad de su sonido sino todo lo contrario, ahondando en él y apostando por una mayor distorsión tanto en un ponzoñoso bajo como en una tan dúctil como abrasiva guitarra. A pesar de estas claras referencias, el gran mérito de Savages es haber conseguido un sonido y una actitud propia y fácilmente reconocibles con tan solo dos discos. 

Adore Life es un gran disco, compacto y disfrutable desde la primera escucha consiguiendo que se hagan muy cortos e intensos sus cuarenta minutos de duración. En Urano somos claros acólitos de Savages y ya estamos esperando expectantes a poder volver a disfrutarlas en directo. 

THE ANSWER 

T.I.W.Y.G.

ADORE

ADORE LIFE EN SPOTI

Belako- Haunted House

I've been trying to hold you, I told you
tell me where've you been
I can't help missing you, I miss you
so tell me where've you been

tell me where've you been...

I've been trying to hold you
I hate you
tell me where've you been
I can't help missing you
I hate you
tell me where've you been
I still love you
I hate you
so tell me where've you been
won't you tell me where've you been?

and after all we've been through
between us
you know what I mean
I'm still here I'm like a ghost
I'm haunting you
in your haunted house
and I can't help missing you
I still need you yes I do
so please, please
tell me where've you been

I can't help it I like you
I hate you
tell me where've you been
I can't help missing you
I hate you
tell me where've you been
oh, get the fuck out of my mind
you get the fuck out of my mind

get the fuck out of my mind
get the fuck out of my mind
cause I've been trying to hold you
I told you
tell me where've you been
I can't help missing you
I hate you
tell me where've you been
oh, and get the fuck out of my mind

you get the fuck out of my mind

I feel I'm losing you...

David Bowie - The Stars (Are Out Tonight)

Y The Thin White Duke ha vuelto, cuando ya no lo esperábamos, cuando no había noticias de él y si las había eran sobre su debilitada salud. Pues el amigo David ha publicado nuevo disco, The Next Day, y esta canción pertenece a él y la buena noticia es que siendo un gran tema hay otras al mismo nivel, como poco, en el disco.

Stars are never sleeping
Dead ones and the living

We live closer to the earth
Never to the heavens
The stars are never far away
Stars are out tonight

They watch us from behind their shades
Bridgite, Jack and Kate and Brad
From hehind their tinted window stretch
Gleaming like blackened sunshine

Stars are never sleeping
Dead ones and the living

Waiting for the first move
Satyrs and their child wives
Waiting for the last move
Soaking up our primitive world

Stars are never sleeping
Dead ones and the living

Their jealousy's spilling down
The stars must stick together
We will never be rid of these stars
But I hope they live forever 

And they know just what we do
That we toss and turn at night
They're waiting to make their moves
But the stars are out tongiht

Here they are upon the stairs
Sexless and not aware
They are the stars, they're dying for you
But I hope they live forever

They burn you with their radiant smiles
Trap you with their beautiful eyes
They're broke and shamed or drunk or scared
But I hope they live forever

Their jealousy's spilling down
The stars must stick together
We will never be rid of these stars
But I hope they live forever

And they know just what we do
That we toss and turn at night
They're waiting to make their moves on us
But the stars are out tonight

The stars are out tonight
The stars are out tonight

LA BIEN QUERIDA - HECHICERA

Todas las mañanas vas a la montaña

En busca de plantas venenosas

Y cuando anochece, preparas tus brebajes

Destilas los jugos de las flores salvajes

Qué inocentes son los marineros

Les cautivan tus encantos

Y te llevas su dinero

Les cautivan tus encantos

Y te llevas su dinero

Qué lejos has llegado

Si todas tus manzanas, están envenenadas

Si todas tus manzanas, están envenenadas

Pero llegó él, con su ajo dorado

Ese que Mercurio le había dado

Entró en tu palacio, la espada en la mano

Buscando una cura para sus hermanos

Fue esa audacia o toda su nobleza

Cuando caíste rendida

Regalándole tu vida

Le colmaste de atenciones y caricias

Le colmaste de atenciones y caricias

Qué lejos has llegado

Si todas tus manzanas están envenenadas

Si todas tus manzanas están envenenadas

    College & Electric Youth - A Real Hero 

A real human being
And a real hero

Back against the wall and ours
With the strength of a willing to cause
A pursuit some called outstanding
Or emotionally complex

Against a grain
Left to stop at claims
Of all the thoughts your actions entertaining

And you, have proved, to be
A real human being
And a real hero
A real human being
And a real hero
A real human being
And a real hero
A real human being
And a real hero
A real human being

A planet on a cold, cold morn' (morning)
155 people or more
All safe and all rescued
From the slowly sinking ship
What are warmer than
His head so cool
And type "I knew what to do"

And you, have proved, to be
A real human being
And a real hero
A real human being
And a real hero
A real human being
And a real hero
A real human being
And a real hero
A real human being

A real human being

A real human being 

The XX - Missing You

Trobar-te a faltar és tenir la certesa de que les coses són millors amb tu al costat.

My heart is beating in a different way

Been gone such a long time, I don't feel the same

My heart is beating in a different way

Been gone such a long time

Will you miss me (How did I? How did ? How did I? oh)

When there's nothing to see? (How did I? How did ? How did I? oh)

Tell me, how did this come to be? (How did I? How did ? How did I? oh)

And now there's no hope for you and me

My heart is beating in a different way

Been gone such a long time, I don't feel the same

My heart is beating in a different way

Been gone such a long time

Do you still believe (Ahh, ahh, ahh, oh)

In you and me? (Ahh, ahh, ahh, oh)

Are we all we could be? (Ahh, ahh, ahh, oh)

Is it meant to be?

My heart is beating in a different way

Been gone such a long time, I don't feel the same

My heart is beating in a different way

Been gone such a long time

My heart is beating in a different way

Been gone such a long time

California Wives – Twenty Three

Have a drink, here 

Say your good-byes

Keep the top down

I insist 

For the last time 

You let your kids 

Take it all back 

Before it misses 

lifting up your heart 

with the string tied tight 

and you're wearing your fancy shoes

tonight, tonight

dance in a circle 

with your dress and your eye 

and you're wearing your fancy shoes 

tonight, tonight

lifting up your heart 

with the string tied tight 

and you're wearing your fancy shoes

tonight, tonight

dance in a circle 

with your dress and your eye 

and you're wearing your fancy shoes 

tonight, tonight

tonight, tonight, tonight, tonight

tonight, tonight, tonight, tonight

lifting up your heart 

with the string tied tight 

and you're wearing your fancy shoes

tonight, tonight

dance in a circle 

with your dress and your eye 

and you're wearing your fancy shoes 

tonight, tonight

lifting up your heart 

with the string tied tight 

and you're wearing your fancy shoes

tonight, tonight

dance in a circle 

with your dress and your eye 

and you're wearing your fancy shoes 

tonight, tonight

Death Cab For Cutie - Transatlanticism

The Atlantic was born today and I'll tell you how...

The clouds above opened up and let it out.

I was standing on the surface of a perforated sphere

When the water filled every hole.

And thousands upon thousands made an ocean,

Making islands where no island should go.

Oh no.

Those people were overjoyed; they took to their boats.

I thought it less like a lake and more like a moat.

The rhythm of my footsteps crossing flatlands to your door have been silenced forever more.

The distance is quite simply much too far for me to row

It seems farther than ever before

Oh no.

I need you so much closer [x8]

I need you so much closer [x4]

So come on, come on [x4]

LA BUENA VIDA- GUILLERMINE

Ayer, por fin, estuve escuchando el CD homenaje a Pedro San Martín, el bajista de La Buena Vida fallecido el año pasado en un accidente de tráfico. 

El disco en sí no es ninguna maravilla, salvo por su carácter, aunque permite vislumbrar la enorme calidad de las canciones de La Buena Vida así como la gran cantidad de amigos que el homenajeado se granjeó y que  le hacen un tributo desinteresado en forma de interpretación de los temas de su grupo.

No seré tan tópico de subir la maravillosa Qué nos va a pasar, su canción más conocida, sino que me dedicaré a recordar a PSM con esta pieza de orfebrería sonora llamada Guillermine. 

LBV es un grupo que me acompaña desde hace muchos años y que me ha emocionado en incontables ocasiones. Aún recuerdo mi primer contacto con ellos, en un casette grabado que me hizo Glòria (moltes moltes gràcies) decorado con fotos de un prado sacado de una revista.

Solo tuve ocasión de verlos una vez en directo. En el River Café en Lleida, una noche muy muy fría, tanto que Irantzu no paraba de decir "siempre hace este frío en Lleida" (ellos que vienen de Donosti), aún así fue un concierto memorable.

Aunque el grupo ya esté disuelto desde hace tiempo su discografía cuenta con incontables tesoros que solo tienen que encontrarse.

Amor, ya no existe una razón
de perder la juventud y la vida.
Y marchas hoy, cuando todo se hizo hiel,
es difícil perdonar, yo lo entiendo.

He aprendido que los dos
fuimos como libros viejos
y seremos como un sol
que ilumina un firmamento,
que ilumina un firmamento.

Amor, yo podría darte luz,
infinito manantial es el tiempo.
Pero al final, sé que es tarde y que te vas,
sólo queda por decir yo te quiero.

He aprendido que los dos
somos parte de un misterio,
pero nada entre tú y yo
podrá quitarme tus besos,
podrá quitarme tus besos.

Nada Surf - The Agony of Laffite

És collonut. Sóc molt fan dels Spoon però he hagut de descobrir aquesta meravella de cançó en el fantàstic If a I had a Hi-Fi dels Nada Surf, que és un disc de versions.

El primer cop que vaig sentir la cançó vaig tancar els ulls i vaig notar com m'agafaven la ma i em feien volar. Moltes escoltes després em segueix provocant la mateixa sensació.


Ah, la versió és infinitament millor que l'original.

All I ever asked of you
Was a copy of Garage Days
And to tell me the truth
Ain't no one watching you
Exit Ventura Highway

It's like I knew two of you, man
The one before and after we shook hands
Taking the calls
But in all forgetting what's been said

And after dark in a cab in L.A.

Forget about the meter, man

These are salad days

Comes on the radio

Comes on and what's being said

Is you're no better than

(Sylvia)

No better than

(Sylvia)

No better than

(Sylvia)

Where you are

(Where you've been)

No better than

(Sylvia, Sylvia)

No better than

(Sylvia)

Where you are

No better than

(Where you've been)

Where you are

And where you've been

And where you've gone, oh no

Here's a mark, he's a mark on the page

Dishing out the wisdom of this reflexive age

Dotting the eyes with an eye

For defining what you were

So when you do that line tonight

Remember that it came at a steep price

And keep telling yourself

There's more to you than her

'Cause you're no better than

(Sylvia)

No better than

(Sylvia)

No better than

(Sylvia)

Where you are

(Where you've been)

No better than

(Sylvia, Sylvia)

No better than

Where you are

(Where you've been)

No better than

Where you are, where you been

And where you gone, oh no

Where you gone, oh no

No, no, no, no, no, no

No, no, no, no

THE ORGAN- BROTHER

Here we go
They're back again
Look alive, warn your friends
We are warm and we are safe
Enjoy it while you can
Before things change

We have got to take cover,
Brother
We have got to take cover,
Brother

Lie down in a field if you can
Look at the night sky
Oh, where does it end?
Sometimes it hurts when you
Care about me
But it's going to hurt more when
They take you away from me
We have go to take cover, brother
We have got to take cover, brother

Here we go again
Oh midnight knocks!
Oh explosions!
Maybe it's all made up in our heads
This happens to me when i'm bored
Or depressed

Here is the best part of the song
Where I admit that i might be wrong
Because if they are good and if
They are right
Then they'll have their rapture one
Of these nights
But if they are wrong