Once upon a time Black Kids were the band of the moment. Their debut album Partie Traumatic, released in 2008 (was it really that long ago?) was voted one of Spin magazine’s top 40 albums of that year and included catchy anthems of dancefloor angst like “Hurricane Jane” and “I’m Not Gonna Teach Your BoyfriendContinue reading “Bands That Time Forgot #1”
Category Archives: music
Bruce Springsteen – ‘Rosalita’ live
I’ve been listening to Bruce Springsteen recently so I thought I’d share a clip that is probably my favourite live clip by anyone. I’m not sure that Springsteen’s somewhat serious, brooding image does justice to his live performances, which are always packed with energy and fun. It’s all here in this epic and exhuberant performanceContinue reading “Bruce Springsteen – ‘Rosalita’ live”
Childhood Obsessions #1: The Motorcycle
When I was a kid I was in love with motorbikes – along with dinosaurs and knights, they were one of the great obsessions of my childhood. I can’t remember how it started, but by the age of nine my bedroom walls were lined with posters of Kawasakis, Suzukis and Hondas; I amassed a sizeableContinue reading “Childhood Obsessions #1: The Motorcycle”
Do You Listen to Song Lyrics?
Recently I was reading a blog post about the debut album by one of my favourite bands, Dire Straits. As well as celebrating the spell-binding guitar and characteristic vocal style of Mark Knopfler, Another Grumpy Commuter paid attention to the excellent lyrics on the album. “Down to the Waterline” is a tale of teenage liasonsContinue reading “Do You Listen to Song Lyrics?”
It’s ok to be moody…
This is a new song I found in my sleep. I had been trying to understand the approach of less melodic artists like Nick Cave, with their dark and moody intensity, not a vibe that I normally create. One day I heard the chorus of this song, with lyrics, as I was waking up. ItContinue reading “It’s ok to be moody…”
Sharks by Tom George
This is a song that I wrote when a friend asked me to appear at his ‘dream-pop’ themed event. I hadn’t heard of the genre before, but started strumming at my guitar, and this is what came out – kind of dreamy, kind of melancholic. “The sharks are in the park, your heart is onContinue reading “Sharks by Tom George”
Beat This! My Ten Favourite Drummers…
As a kid, I had so much rhythm bursting out of my soul that I would play on anything, with anything. I would tap on school desks with pens, then click my teeth together as I walked home. In the lounge, I would line up cushions on the sofa and hit them with wooden spoonsContinue reading “Beat This! My Ten Favourite Drummers…”
England, 1967 – Jimi Hendrix had good reasons to smile…
The American guitarist had made it big in the UK and was already causing psychedelic earthquakes back home; it must have seemed like all his dreams were coming true. I was so glad to find this footage on youtube recently which captures him in the first flush of fame at his irrepressible best. The mostContinue reading “England, 1967 – Jimi Hendrix had good reasons to smile…”
Ten Great Protest Songs (for Pete Seeger)
The music community recently mourned the great Pete Seeger, who finally left the stage at the grand old age of 94. Seeger was a key figure in the protest song tradition, nurturing and inspiring a generation of left-leaning folkies including Bob Dylan. It occurred to me that when Seeger started performing in the 1940’s, heContinue reading “Ten Great Protest Songs (for Pete Seeger)”
Where Do Songs Come From? (a writer’s guide)
Can I start by saying that this is not an attempt at a “how-to” article for budding songwriters. For one thing, I dislike tuition in popular music, but also in an important sense, I don’t really know how I write songs anyway. For me, there is a fundamental mystery at the heart of the creativeContinue reading “Where Do Songs Come From? (a writer’s guide)”
Tom George 