The Rescues - Crazy Ever After

The second album in the series is The Rescues' 2008 album 'Crazy Ever After'. I cant't remember how I first heard the band (It might have been via Noisetrade or possibly Grey's Anatomy), but once I heard the opening song 'Lost along the Way' and Break Me Out  I was hooked.

The first thing you will notice about the album is the amazing three-part harmonies of the band members, a couple of great examples being Crazy Ever After and Break Me Out.

It is another one of those rare albums that I love every song on, and often play from start to finish.

If you do like this album, know that The Rescues new (self-titled) album is being released during this December.

Glen Hansard - Review

On Saturday night I went and saw Glen Hansard play the first of two shows at Sydney Opera House. 

Main Set: Just to Be the One, Winning Streak, My Little Ruin – When Your Mind’s Made Up, Bird of Sorrow, Renata, Wedding Ring*, Vigilante Man (Woodie Guthrie), Way Back When, McCormack’s Wall, Lowly Deserter, Astral Weeks (Van Morrison) – Smile (Pearl Jam), Star Star – Pure Imagination – Hotellounge (dEUS), Falling Slowly 

Encore: Love Don’t Leave Me Waiting – Respect (Aretha Franklin), Say It to Me Now – Stay the Road, Leave a Light** (Peadar O’Riada),Aisling Gheal** (Peadar O’Riada), O Sean** (Peadar O’Riada), Gold** (Interference), Her Mercy 

*with Curtis on vocals **with Peader O’Riada on piano/vocals. (Setlist courtesy of Order in the Sound).

The highlight of any Glen Hansard gig is the stories he tells about each song - My Litte Ruin  a song about the privilege friends have to speak the uncomfortable truth to each other; Renata written to a barmaid in a New York pub; McCormack's Wall a song written in the birth place of the great Irish Tenor  John McCormack.

Other notable songs on the night were Bird of Sorrow, Viligante Man (adapted for Donald Trump), Way Back When (dedicated to the migrants in the world), McCormack's Wall and the beautiful fiddle section, Star Star (with its detour into Pure Imagination), Stay the Road performed without microphones, Gold (and the harmonies)

Hard not to leave a Glen Hansard show without feeling like you've been talking with a friend.The show is definitely among the best I've seen with the special combination of exceptional story-telling and brilliant music.

December - I Will Let You Have Your Say

I'm going to start posting reviews of some of the hidden gems in my CD collection. 

December - I Will Let You Have Your Say

First cab of the rank is the debut CD from the Scotish band December. I first heard of them when a few of the U2 fans (@Hwy_Girl and
@U2_ultraviolet) I know on twitter posted a song called 'Alison Stewart' inspired by Alison and U2. It's a beautiful tribute to her, and the band.  

Following that I heard their cover of 'A Sort of Homecoming'. The band originally said the wouldn't cover U2, but this cover is just beautiful, I especially love Ails Pattison's voice which captures the essence of the song beautifully.

The album 'I Will Let You Have Your Say', is a collection of songs inspired by some of the people they look up to or admire.

I recognised some of these names (Barack Hussein Obama, Aaron Sorkin, Maria McKee, and Kenneth Dalglish) while few others I don't know, like American country singer George Jones, lead singer of the Waterboys Mike Scott. I'll be sure to find out more about each of these people now. 

When it comes to music, I'm a words person, I love knowing what a band is writing (and singing) about.  I could relate to their optimism about Barack Obama (like many others, I certainly will be sad when he leaves office), how they found America through Aaron Sorkin, he certainly opened my eyes to a lot about America.

December has lived up to its promise to create emotional songs which are easy to relate too. I can't wait to hear what they do next. Whether you're a U2 fan or not, you should check out this album, especially if you are a fan of good song writing.