My take on U2’s new free album

“Songs of Innocence,” is by no means their best album, and in the 20 plus years since the amazingness that is Achtung Baby, they have had their shortcomings album-wise, but have always had a few gems here and there. I had hoped their previous album would be even more a return to form, for these four Irish lads, now middle aged men than many of the tracks on “How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb,” were. It wasn’t as good as it could have been, but it did have a few really good songs, like Magnificent. But this album, the songs stay with me, I like most of them a lot, and it feels way less gimmicky than songs like Vertigo, or Elevation. Back is some of the simplicity found in their first album, the maturity of The “Joshua Tree” and the fuzzed out instrumentals of Achtung Baby. The band is as tight as ever on their 30 plus year run. Don’t complain to get an actual decent album for free. Best tracks: The Miracle(of Joey Ramone), Iris(Hold Me Close), the raga tinged songs of Volcano, Raised By Wolves, Cedarwood Road, Sleep Like A Baby Tonight.

The Smiths are great!!

I found myself listening to The Smiths quite a bit lately, and every time I hear them I get this epic feeling of joy.  Joy may not be the right emotion you say.  “How many happy songs do they even have?”  And that, my friends, is the point.  The reasons I love and adore bands like this so much is because of how downright depressing so many of their songs are.  The alienation, the depression, the paranoia, the sick of life motifs?  It feels genuine and real.  There are way too many happy songs out there that completely miss the point, and just feel sugar coated and weak.  A happy song doesn’t necessarily mean a good song.  “Everything is completely fine, and nothing will ever change that,” is a depressing song lyric.  It’s just so phony.  How could I sing that with soul?  It’s why I like say Nirvana, or Radiohead.  The subject matter of the songs is what gives them their power, as disturbed and painful some of the subjects might be, because they reflect on the artists in the truest way.  Could you imagine Morissey singing a truly happy song?  No. If you did, The Smiths would not be remembered today, and everybody would be asking, “who is that again?”

My bizarre car music for the week.

Bizarre seeming mixture anyway, but all awesome music I promise.  Or maybe not. You decide.

David Bowie- The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars     Not only is this album amazing, but this year it turns 40, and it has aged just as well as the man himself.  Who else can write such amazing songs about nothing in particular, and have equally emotional serious tracks as well? No one I say.

Britney Spears- Femme Fatale  If nothing else this is truly one of the best guilty pleasure albums in recent time.  And I like it well enough to own it so I don’t know how guilty that makes me.  I also love the looks I get when Colin and I drive through Bratt blasting it nearly as loud as we can.

The Black Keys- Brothers  It’s no wonder this album won a grammy last year, but just can’t believe how long it took these guys to become popular in the mainstream.  And I can’t stop listening to this album.  El Camino may be an amazing album, but this one which precedes it is absolutely Amazing!

The Hunger Games Soundtrack      I can’t express how great this is.  Thank you to this album for allowing me to finally appreciate Taylor Swift, and discover how wonderful The Civil Wars are, and need it be said how awesome this is? New songs by Decemberists, Arcade Fire, Low Anthem, Glen Hansard and Birdy, among others, and Adam Levine’s first folky song.

The All-American Rejects- Kids in the Street    Brand new album from the pop punkers, still going strong after over ten years, while most of the bands in this genre have a turnover of a few years.  Going to see them at the end of the month, so of course it’s in heavy rotation.

The Arcade Fire- The Suburbs   I will always remember the time this won Album of the Year at last year’s Grammys much to the awe of everyone watching, fans and naysayers alike.  Hail the Indie future!