I can’t believe how many cover versions there are on youtube! There are just countless videos of dudes holed up in their bedrooms murdering classic songs hoping to be discovered. I’ve found a couple that are worth posting, one because it is a nice version of a great song, and the other because it is almost unbelievably atrocious.
This is the good one…..
Ol’55
This, the not so good…..
The Final Countdown
At least they got a good crowd for it!
A.
Esbjorn Svensson in full flow
What a loss! I loved this guy’s music. The trio’s albums have regularly appeared in the right hand column ==> and the album, ‘Strange Place For Snow’ is a true classic.
A Strange Place For Snow
A couple of years ago we had the pleasure of going to see the band live and it really was one of the most memorable gigs I’ve been to. They were very experimental (putting the double bass through delay and wah wah pedals etc!) but remarkably, managed to pull it off.
They’ve just released a new album, ‘Live In Hamburg’ – go buy it!
Andy
I’m going through another Dylan stage. They come and go quite frequently, like a fierce bout of wind (painful to start with but once you get into it, entirely satisfying). I think it started when I was asked recently who my favourite songwriter was.
To be honest, I’m always terrible at those ‘what’s your favourite…’ type questions. My answers keep changing, usually depending on my mood. One answer always remains the same though, it’s the answer to ‘What’s your favourite song?’ It’s always Dylan and it’s always ‘When He Returns’.
Here it is in all it’s splendour:
‘The iron hand it ain’t no match for the iron rod,
The strongest wall will crumble and fall to a mighty God.
For all those who have eyes and all those who have ears
It is only He who can reduce me to tears.
Don’t you cry and don’t you die and don’t you burn
For like a thief in the night, He’ll replace wrong with right
When He returns.
Truth is an arrow and the gate is narrow that it passes through,
He unleashed His power at an unknown hour that no one knew.
How long can I listen to the lies of prejudice?
How long can I stay drunk on fear out in the wilderness?
Can I cast it aside, all this loyalty and this pride?
Will I ever learn that there’ll be no peace, that the war won’t cease
Until He returns?
Surrender your crown on this blood-stained ground, take off your mask,
He sees your deeds, He knows your needs even before you ask.
How long can you falsify and deny what is real?
How long can you hate yourself for the weakness you conceal?
Of every earthly plan that be known to man, He is unconcerned,
He’s got plans of His own to set up His throne
When He returns.’
Bootiful,
Andy
Catherine, Mum and some pink flowers In Fishertown
We’ve reached the end of our northern road trip and have arrived safely back in Inverkeithing. Our journey south flew by as we chilled out and zoned into our latest CD, ‘Lambarena’. The album is a homage to Albert Schweitzer who founded a hospital at Lambarena (Gabon) and who is a Bach-a-holic. The tunes link traditional Bach works with some Gabonese ethnic harmonies resulting in some crazy stuff! Some of it is good, some of it nonsense, but there are some amazing moments - such as the beginning of the St John’s Passion with various African percussion cross-rhythms. Genius!
Culloden Viaduct
Last night we went through to Nairn with my mum and had a walk along the beach. The weather was fantastic, not a breath of wind and really mild. It was the first time I was aware of the nights lengthening, it not getting dark until after 9pm. Growing up I used to spend most of my weekends through in Nairn visiting friends, and hadn’t been back for years, so it was a little weird. I did enjoy it though, especially the wander through Fishertown - a maze of individually designed cottages thrown together near the shore. I went a bit mad with the camera, taking loads of photos, some you can view HERE.
Mum chuffed with her latest camera phone photo!
Andy
This is very strange. This song makes me boke at the best of times, add the white kecks to the mix and I’m seriously nauseous. But then I realised that it was sang on American Idol!?! I think the words have been changed slightly, but not much. I’m really not too sure what to make of it.
See what you think….
Andy
I seem to be incredibly busy this week, with barely enough time to breathe. This dude has got me through though. What style! What panache!
Andy
Of all the new music we’ve purchased in the last couple of weeks, the one that’s been listened to the most is Herbie Hancock’s new release, ‘The Joni Letters‘. It’s a tribute album to Joni Mitchell, his friend and one time collaborator (Mingus). The album features appearances from Leonard Cohen, Corinne Bailey Rae, Tina Turner, Norah Jones as well as Joni herself. With all these fine vocalists (Cohen, a fine vocalist?!) in good form and Herb still sparkling on the keys, it makes for a rewarding listen - and it’s has been nominated for Best Album at the Grammies!
Andy
This afternoon we decided to head into Edinburgh and do some shopping. It’s been ages since we wandered round some music shops, so after we’d munched two massive burgers at ‘Wannaburger’ we went down to Rose Street and spent ages in Fopp. They had some excellent offers on CD’s, so we made the most of that and ended up buying far more than we had meant to. The problem we’re left with now is what to listen to first?
Here’s what we bought….
Some Books
Some DVD’s
And some CD’s!
Andy
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