Talk Of Tunes

Welcome to everything’s better with friends, a series in which i’ll be writing about songs that have been revamped and re-released featuring guest vocals.

I Like It When You Sleep, For You Are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware of It (ILIWYSFYASBYSUOI), is a fantastic album which showcases the strengths of the 1975, as well as their joys and vulnerabilities. This album is such a surreal journey. For the most part despite the melancholy undertones it is a relaxing experience. No track is weaker than the others, they all work to create a cohesive and defining experience. Observations on himself and the psyche of the wider society help Matty Healy characterise this masterpiece as an important milestone in modern music and lyricism. I Like It When You Sleep, For You Are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware of It, has a lengthy title and run time yet not one moment of the ethereal adventure allows for boredom. The band slips cleverly between upbeat tunes guaranteed to remain in your mind for days, and introspective instrumentals which soothe and relax. Please Be Naked is the opposite of the type of song you’d expect with that kind off title. Gentle and atmospheric the notes and noise glide around delicately and it is evident great care went into producing this track. Occasionally a jarring distorted noise breaks through the flurry of ambient sounds, suggest dissonance within the story this instrumental is telling. The Sound is one of the more upbeat tracks on ILIWYSFYASBYSUOI. The song incorporates Healy’s wonderful lyrics with an exciting dance vibe, and a wonderful guitar solo. The radio friendly tune boasts a catchy melody which does wonders to hide the blunt nature of the lyrics. She Lays Down presents an overtly honest moment, the live recording is beautiful. Healy sings over acoustic guitar a story about his mother and her struggle with post-natal depression, a jarringly sad tale. It seems odd that the album end with such a subdued track but in fact the decision captures the essence of the 1975.

Like the sound of this release? Stream it here! https://open.spotify.com/album/26PjSvEuyRldVwA6DRb7m3

This list could be endless, but without further ado I present my list of honourable mentions.

Favourite Album – Honourable Mentions:

Be Nothing – Boston Manor A stellar debut album which showcases talent and intensity. Be Nothing is unapologetically honest and in behaving so is heart wrenching. Notable Tracks: Laika Broken Glass Forget Me Not

Chemical Miracle – Trophy Eyes Chemical Miracle sees Trophy Eyes undertaking a reimagining of their style and in doing so have released an outstanding album. Blunt and beautiful lyricism ties together well with the instrumentation and it’s evident talent and many hard hours went into creating this work. Notable Tracks: Heaven Sent Daydreamer Breathe You In

Misadventures – Pierce the Veil Misadventures is distinctly Pierce the Veil, yet it differs refreshingly from their previous releases and sees more experimentation with style and structure. Once again, we are treated to Vic Fuentes storytelling skills against a backdrop of talented musicians. Notable Tracks: Dive In Floral and Fading The Divine Zero

Upside Down – Set it Off This is the kind of album that on first listen you don’t expect to like. Its too different to what is expected. But, it grows on you and latches on to a special place in your heart reserved for releases that surely belong nowhere near the scene. As always the catchy hooks sink in and you’re eft running the album on repeat. This shift into a more popular sound has paid off for Set It Off, though I suspect it is a release that will polarize. Notable Tracks: Hypnotized Tug of War Life Afraid

Favourite Single – Honourable Mentions:

All Messed Up/All Fucked Up – The Amity Affliction Decidedly less heavy than Amity’s usual efforts, All Fucked Up digs deep and comes out strong. The chorus is simple but begs to be sung in your darkest moments. The cathartic nature of the track explains how it resonates so intensely with a wide variety of people. Notable Lyric: “Will you save my life, or just say goodbye?”

The Sound – The 1975 The 1975 are known for their catchy tunes and romanticism of life. This is prominent in The Sound, a single which has distinct elements of a time passed, once again capitalising on the 1975’s trademark old school style. Disguised by music which begs to be danced to the lyrics tell the tale of a dysfunctional relationship. Also, it’s worth noting the guitar solo is wonderful. Notable Lyric: “It's not about reciprocation it's just all about me: A sycophantic, prophetic, Socratic junkie wannabe”

Voldemort – With Confidence Ft John Floreani Sometimes you don’t realise you want or need things until you have them, that is the case with this re-release of With Confidence’s Voldemort. Floreani’s verse fits seamlessly within the song as if it was always there. It takes the already wonderful song from a 7 to a 9 easily. Voldemort is a fun and upbeat tune which reminds us all we’re not alone in the loveliest of ways. Notable Lyric: “And if I could then I would, I’d crawl inside your brain and I’d rip and I’d stitch it and I’d ease your pain”

Tidal Wave – Taking Back Sunday This track would not look out of place in a Tarantino film. Fast, Fun and full of rock goodness Tidal Wave grabs your attention and sticks in your head for days on end. From the moment the song begins you’re drawn into a dramatic western shoot-out scene and it’s all too exciting to imagine. If this epic track doesn’t get you pumped, then I’m afraid you may be entirely devoid of life. Notable Lyric: “You can beg, you can plead, you can cry, you can pray, but nothing’s gonna save you from the tidal wave”

What were your favourite releases of 2016? Let me know, I’d love to chat about them!

Spotify Playlist - https://open.spotify.com/user/starkiexoxo/playlist/5Ttzfa7VGDx0YK265Uc66e

2016 was a doozy in many aspects, luckily, the music sector was not one of them (if we discount some major deaths). This year saw some amazing releases, what follows is a collection of my favourites. Tomorrow the honourable mentions will be posted.

Favourite Album:

Spring Forever – Columbus Spring Forever is an album that invites you in, warm, welcoming, yet laced with melancholy. Columbus waits no time to begin sending you down memory lane. Swarmed by nostalgia and lost love, the experience is whole hearted and moving. This is an album that asks for a second and third and fourth listen and so on because the stories told are encapsulating. There is ardent evidence of youthful energy held throughout Spring Forever. Despite this the lyrics hold mature observations on times and trials past. Displaying an even further refined sound than their previous ep it is evident that Columbus were intent on debuting their first full length with a catalogue of tracks which demand the attention of the scene. Stay is one of many highlights of the album, showcasing an impressive guitar solo, the most ‘rock’ song on the record is a triumph and invites the idea that Columbus are unafraid of experimentation. Nervous Wreck takes a moment to step back from the heavy hitting instrumentals, occasionally an acoustic track with poor placement can derail the momentum of the album, this is not the case here. Best listened to with closed eyes and headphones, Nervous Wreck tears at your heart strings in the most delightful way. It is a song that washes over you in waves of sadness and discomfort. The true champion of this track is the bleak honesty of the lyrics. Alex Moses is given the opportunity to take our undivided attention and direct it towards his harsh yet delicate vocals, he succeeds in delivering a heartfelt song which lingers long after the track has finished playing. Spring Forever finishes strong with its titular track. Albeit sad, the song brings a sense of closure and acceptance. This leaves listeners with an indescribable sense of contentment. At the end of the day pain rises and subsides, what brought love and happiness can bring indifference and depression. But nothing lasts forever, and as the final track draws to a close, it feels like that is okay. Notable Lyrics: “Inside me ambition begs, I hope that I don’t let him drown” – Stay “My head filled all the hallways with watercolour pictures of you leaving” – Nervous Wreck “And if I kiss you with this sore throat, will you feel the same as I’ve felt every time I’ve tried to swallow your words?” – Spring Forever “I just want to hold your hand, but I can’t help feel thorns in the palms of everyone I love” - Daffodil

Favourite Single:

Astoria - PLTS Astoria takes pride in highlighting distinct vocals and rad instrumentation. The track feels gritty yet fun and it’s this combination of notions that makes it so enjoyable. It leaves one wanting more, and in 2017 PLTS will hopefully deliver. Notable Lyrics: “My polyphonic thoughts of you are rotten to the core”

Favourite Live Release: