Absolutes by Barcelona

Actually, I wanted to blog about a new album but after I re-watched the video ‘Kuroshio Sea’ I decided to blog about this album instead. You guys really have to watch the video because it was really amazing and surely would left you in awe. I in fact did posted the video in my personal blog before, well good things should be share again right.

Anyway, the video will be posted below. So, focus on the album now. This is the first album released by Barcelona back in 2007. Though, they did launched another ‘remastered’ version when they were signed by Universal Motown in 2009. But, I think I prefer the original version.

Absolutes without doubt is one great album. There is no single weak songs in it. Is kinda surprising considering this is their debut album. And they have already shows us how outstanding they were. It was a pure bliss listening to this album. My personal favourite for sure is Please Don’t Go, Get Up, Get Up, Get Up, Response, Numb, You Will Pull Through, Stars, First Floor People….well basically I almost listed out the whole track list. Hehe…

 

Well, quite a number of tracks like Please, Get up, Pull through, and First Floor People is a bit dark but is not depressing like Damien Rice-style. It was serene enough to listen, occasionally with some indescribable feeling when listening to it. It is not boring also. It somehow have ‘magic’ to capture your attention and just listen.

The lyrics are somehow like a mirage. Like is there, yet is not there. Somehow, it does not make quite sense but after a few times listening to it. You will went ‘Aha’ as is like the meanings had been always there waiting for you to be discover. It just like wine tasting. You have to sip a few more and let the wine ‘run’ around your mouth then with a gentle push of your tongue the wine slip down your throat. Then embrace yourself in the aftertaste.

The music, oh how should I begin. “Please Don’t Go” has the most amazing tune I think. It gave me this strange worldliness feeling like I’m in some vast snowy white land. “Get up, Get up, Get up” has a intense tune at the end. If you listen to it carefully, the tune get much more intense and the pitch get higher and higher and with that the song ends with a single tune. It really sounds like the choir is cheering for the persona to stand up and with the ending note the persona finally was on his two feet with his fists toward the sky. Perfect.

If you are an Indie Pop digger, this is an album you should not miss. As a matter of fact, if you like Coldplay, The Fray, Keane most probably this album would appeal to you too. In fact, the song ‘It’s about time’ remind me of the album Under the Iron Sea by Keane.

I really can’t wait for their second album. Is been 3 years since 2007. Is about time  they come out with a second album.

Please Don’t Go (not official video) but think this is awesome.

Kuroshio Sea - 2nd largest aquarium tank in the world - (song is Please don't go by Barcelona) from Jon Rawlinson on Vimeo.

Oh looks like they are working on their 2nd album :) Can’t Wait!

Absolutes by Barcelona

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Slow Show by The National

Slow Show is from the album Boxer by The National which was released in  2007. Off topic a bit, I have been always a fans of Coldplay. It was my favourite band. But somehow the X&Y album seems to lost it touch. Luckily, the Viva La Vida brings Coldplay back for good because I’m so going to fall for The National if Coldplay fails to produce another decent album after the mediocre X&Y.

The National is an American indie band and is a good amazing band. Boxer is another worth-every-penny album. Every song in the album are perfectly done. Slow Show is one of my favourite from this album. Beautiful and subtle yet with amazing vague intense lyric. The music oh my the music in the song is a masterpiece. I was hooked when I heard the first note. The piano part is an attention grabber.

 

This is a version from AOL (live no piano) and my interpretation of the lyric are as below.

Studio version with piano at 3.00 mins my favourite part of this song.

Standing at the punch table swallowing punch
can’t pay attention to the sound of anyone
a little more stupid, a little more scared
every minute more unprepared

(The persona was getting drunk and no longer pay any attention to the surrounding anymore. Feeling more and more hopeless)

I made a mistake in my life today
everything I love gets lost in drawers
I want to start over, I want to be winning
way out of sync from the beginning

(Something went wrong today, he had made a mistake perhaps a fight with his lover. Everything he love (friendship/relationship…) is a mess now. He is seeking for a fresh start. He want to start over. He want to be good. He is not by himself lately [way out of sync] maybe that’s why he had a fight with his love ones.)

I wanna hurry home to you
put on a slow, dumb show for you
and crack you up
so you can put a blue ribbon on my brain
god I’m very, very frightening
I’ll overdo it

(He is missing his love ones badly, wishing to be right beside his love ones. Regretting what he did earlier on. He is willing to do anything just to wish that the one he love is happy. Yet somehow, he scares it will backfire, afraid that he would annoyed his love ones)

Looking for somewhere to stand and stay
I leaned on the wall and the wall leaned away
Can I get a minute of not being nervous
and not thinking of my dick
My leg is sparkles, my leg is pins
I better get my shit together, better gather my shit in
You could drive a car through my head in five minutes
from one side of it to the other

(He is finding himself. Trying to define who he is [looking somewhere to stand; perhaps explaining the part ‘way out of sync’ in verse two.] Trying very hard to get himself back on track but failed/or finding someone to rely on. [wall as metaphor] He need to be focus. Get a hold of himself only then he can reconcile with his love ones)

I wanna hurry home to you
put on a slow, dumb show for you
and crack you up
so you can put a blue ribbon on my brain
god I’m very, very frightening
I’ll overdo it

 
You know I dreamed about you
for twenty-nine years before I saw you
You know I dreamed about you
I missed you for
for twenty-nine years

You know I dreamed about you
for twenty-nine years before I saw you
You know I dreamed about you
I missed you for
for twenty-nine years

(She is the one for him)

Slow Show by The National

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Snow Patrol: Up to Now

I first heard of Snow Patrol was when I was watching Grey’s Anatomy and there was this scene where “Chasing Car” was played as the background music. Then after I heard their breakthrough single “Run” which later covered by Leona Lewis. I knew this is one of the band that I’m going to list under my top 5 favourite rock band.

Up to Now is the newest album from Snow Patrol which was released in 6th November 2009. It is a collection of songs that spanning over fifteen years of Snow Patrol music career. With two disc album featuring 30 tracks. However, this is a collection of the band’s most favourite songs over the course of their entire music career, not the greatest hits. Which the lead vocal of Snow Patrol’s Gary Lightbody quoted "Calling it a greatest hits album would be a bit grandiose."

There were actually three new singles released in this album including the forthcoming single “Just say Yes”.

Personally, I really like the live version of “Run” and “Chasing Car'” in the album. Especially “Run” as it sound more darker, gothic style.

And little did I know that Snow Patrol actually did a cover of Beyonce’s Crazy In Love. I hate to say this but it sound really really weird when Snow Patrol sang this song espeically the part "Uh-o Uh-o”. It remind me of slaughtering chicken. Perhaps, maybe I’m used to the Beyonce version.

Anyway, those who are fans or like of Snow Patrol should really go and get this album as it worth every penny spent.

Snow Patrol: Up to Now

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