Year in review - Music and Reading

Time to recap the year in music and books.  I didn't watch any films though I'm hoping to see the new Star Wars film The Last Jedi.

Books
I didn't read much this year - the standout was Prophetic Lament by Soong-Chan Rah.As I mentioned here the book is about the place of lament in the life of the church. The book focuses on the United States, but I feel pretty confident in saying that lament doesn't have much of a role in the Australian church. My goal was to read 43 books, I've currently read seven, so next year's goal will be a little less ambitious.

Music
It has been a different story with music.  I've listened to quite a bit of music and I'd say it's been a good year.

The memorable releases during the year for me:

• U2 - Songs of Experience
• Julien Baker - Turn on the Lights
• December - 33
• Pearl Jam - Let's Play Two
• Amanda Held Opelt - Embers
• Nichole Nordeman - Every Mile Mattered
• The Likes of Us - Roots and Wings
• Taylor Leonhardt - River House
• Lara Landon - The Never Again

As always, I exclude cover albums and live albums from my best of list. Although during the year I've enjoyed listening to Pearl Jam's 'Let's Play Two' which features songs recorded during the two concerts the band played at Wrigley Field (home ground of the Chicago Cubs), and December's album 33, featuring covers of U2 songs.

So onto the rest of the albums, the three that stand out are Nichole Nordeman's Every Mile Mattered; U2's Songs of Experience and Juilen Baker's Turn on the Lights; an honorable mention goes to Amanda Held Opelt's Embers. These albums are tied together by the personal nature and authenticity of the lyrics. The albums resonated with where I am at he moment in my life but particularly Nichole Nordeman and U2. Songs of Experience and Every Mile Mattered are probably my joint album of the year. I've found it really hard to separate them given their emotional impact on me. 

Both albums are really deep lyrically, and with Songs of Experience, I certainly notice different lyrics or notes each time.

In terms of live music, I saw three shows this year - Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band; Fleet Foxes and Lisa Hannigan.  Of these, I think my favourite was Bruce Springsteen - He's just an amazing performer, with some really powerful and moving songs.  Lisa Hannigan was brilliant too, she has a beautiful voice and it was lovely seeing how delighted she was to be playing in the Sydney Opera House. 

Next year is looking great too.  I'm looking forward to the new albums by Glen Hansard, Katie Herzig, Christa Wells and Sarah Blasko, and we'll see what else comes along. 

On the touring front, on my wish list are tour announcements from U2, Radiohead, Pearl Jam and Bon Jovi, but who knows :). 

Year in review - Sport

The year is winding down so its time for a few reflections in the year, beginning with Sport.

Without a doubt the highlights of the year were the BlackFerns winning the Rugby World Cup, seeing the All Blacks play the Lions in Wellington, NZ winning the America's Cup and the men's and women's final of the Australian Open.

The Women's Final was won by Serena Williams against her sister Venus Williams (it was Serena's 22nd Grand Slam title, making her one of the greatest tennis players in history).

The Men's Final was between the 17th and 9th Seeds - Federer and Nadal - it was memorable because I doubted we'd see the two play in a Grand Slam final again. The final was also a really great match with an exceptional standard of tennis.

Other memorable moments:

Cricket: David Warner's 100 in the first session of the Sydney test against Pakistan; Bangladesh winning their first ever test against Australia. Steve O'Keefe's 12/70 in the first test  against India)

The Men of the Series in the Ashes this year has to be the Selectors - who picked Shaun Marsh (who scored a century in the Adelaide test) and Mitchell Marsh (who's century in the Perth test was a vital cog in winning that test).

Though perhaps a little more seriously, its hard not to be blown away by Steve Smith's figures - during 2017 he has scored 1127 test runs at 70.43; currently the second highest number of runs and the second best average (with a qualification of more than 500 runs).

Rugby League: Fiji and Tonga winning Rugby League games against New Zealand. Cameron Smith proved he is one of the greats of the game, leading Melbourne to the Premiership; Queensland to the State of Origin Series win and Australia the World Cup. During the season he broke records that possibly won't be matched.

Rugby Union:  One of my highlights of the year was seeing the Lions play the All Blacks in Wellington.  Sure the All Blacks lost, but it was just amazing being part of it. The atmosphere in the stadium and city was unforgettable. On the whole the All Blacks had  a pretty rusty year, but hopefully its just part of the plan to peak in a World Cup year (2019).

AFL: The Swans making the finals after a 0-6 start. (though their performance against Geelong was disappointing). The inaugural Women's Competition (won by Adelaide).

Football: Sam Kerr and the Matildas were a breath of fresh air.  The Matildas won their first tournament (and beat the US for the first time).  On the back of this (and wins against China and Brazil the Matlidas are now ranked fourth in the World).

I shouldn't forget the New England Patriots winning the SuperBowl after trailing 3-28.

Songs of Experience - a review

Just over a week ago, U2 released their fourteenth album, (and companion album to 2014s Songs of Innocence) Songs of Experience. It's been on fairly regularly since then. I'm not going to tell you where it fits in their cannon. It's too soon for that, and to be honest I am not sure I really want to do that, given the emotional reaction I had to the album.

I wasn't really prepared for the album to hit me as much as it did. Listening to You're the Best Thing about Me; The Blackout, Get Out of Your Own Way and American Soul didn't give me a clue it would have such an impact.

Listening to the album the whole way through changed all of that. From 'Love is All We Have Left' to 'Thirteen (There is a Light)' what struck me is how the album impacted me emotionally.

The album has been billed as a series of letters to Bono, to Ali and his kids, to America and to us as fans. The songs are among the most personal Bono has written. Another theme about the album is living in light of your mortality.

Three songs also deal with the refugee crisis - American Soul, Summer of Love and Red Flag Day.  Each of these highlights it from different angle - American Soul calls the US to be a sanctuary for those fleeing conflict. Summer of Love tells how Bono is thinking about the West Coast (not in California) but the West Coast of Syria. Red Flag Day focuses on deaths at Sea.  That three track section packs so emotional punch.  (Love this post from atU2's Sherry Lawrence about those songs).

Given where I am in life, the album is in many ways exactly what I needed to hear, spoke to my concerns for the refugee as mentioned above, and just how I feel.  Last year, I was diagnosed with cancer, and am more acutely aware of my own mortality, and trying to focus on what really matters, including the legacy I will leave. Love is All We Have Left grabs me because that's certainly how I feel

Musically it touches all the buttons - there is shimmering soundscapes which build and fall, and there is also grungy guitar and powerful basslines.  I also really love how the album has used musical and lyrical elements from Songs of Innocence. The most notable are Lights of Home and Iris (Hold Me Close); American Soul and Volcano; and 13 (There is a Light) and Song for Someone.  I highly recommend listening to both albums back-to-back, each album adds depth to the other. Much like Blake's collection of poems did. 

There's a lot I love about the lyrics of the album, to me they're among the more personal Bono has written.  The real standout is 'The Little Things that Give You Away' - I could post a lot of the lyrics, but this bit as the music builds packs a powerful punch

Sometimes i wake at four in the morning / where all the darkness is swarming / and it covers me in fear /// Sometimes I'm full of anger and grieving / So far away from believing / That any sun will reappear / Sometimes / The end is not coming / It’s not coming / The end is here / Sometimes

They played The Little Things a few times on their tour for the Joshua Tree, but to me, this version is much better than the live version they played then.

Thinking about the album as a whole, that songs that stand out are 'Love is All We Have Left', 'Get Out of Your Own Way'; 'The Little Things that Give You Away', Landlady, Thirteen (There is A Light).

Get Out of Your Own Way, was written as a message to his kids, but in a recent interview Bono also highlighted it as a message he needed to hear. Likewise there is a message in it which I needed to be reminded of.

Landlady is a beautiful love song to Ali (though, I'm not so keen on the title).

Thirteen (There is a light) is a perfect ending to the album. I have the version with the bonus tracks, but I often stop listening here. I doubt they will close their Experience and Innocence shows with this song, but it would be so fitting.  

I love how given all the crap that's going on in the world (and in my life) the note the band want to highlight is Love, Joy, and Light, the album is about fighting and believing, not grieving.

+++

A couple of asides - on the bonus tracks; I love the St Peters String Mix of Lights of Home - I almost prefer it to the version on the album. Book of Your Heart is a great song, but there's nothing on the album I'd sub out for it. The remixes of You're the Best Thing About Me and Ordinary Love are good but not great, I prefer the acoustic version of You're the Best Thing About Me. 

The second aside is that with this album reaching number one in the US, U2 have become the first band to have a number one album in the 1980s, 1990s, 2000s and 2010s, an amazing testament to the band.

I'm looking forward to hearing what this collection of songs sounds like live - and what songs they are paired with from the back catalogue.

Christmas music

Inspired by the Folk Carols at Barneys tonight, I thought I'd post on my favourite Christmas music (both Carols and Songs).

First on my list is O Little Town of Bethlehem. I particularly recommend the version by JJ Heller (Unto Us). The love the line: 'The hopes and fears of all the years, Are met in thee tonight'.

Matthew Perryman Jones sings another of my favourite carols O Come O Come Emmanuel. I love the passion and intensity he brings to it. There's also something in his arrangement of the song being slowed down.

Another of my favourites is In The Bleak Midwinter, particularly the last verse, focusing on our response to the coming king.

What can I give Him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;
If I were a Wise Man, I would do my part;
Yet what I can I give Him... give my heart.

Here's a beautiful version by Christa Wells. (I also recommend the version by Jars of Clay)

Speaking of Jars of Clay, their version of I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day (on Christmas Songs) is great. Particularly given the broken and divided in world in which we live.

The last verse highlights the answer from heaven that Peace will come and Christ will prevail:

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead, nor doth he sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail
With peace on earth, good will to men."

The next one is O Holy Night (Third Day, Christmas Offerings). One of my favourite lines is 'A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices', a subtle reminder of the significance of the coming King.

Now, onto Christmas songs. So, so many chose from.  The three I will chose are Happy Christmas (War is Over); It's Christmas, Baby Please Come Home and I Believe in Father Christmas.

I love Sleeping at Last's cover of Lennon and Ono's Happy X'Mas (War is Over). It's a beautiful arrangement.

U2 have recorded both Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) and I Believe in Father Christmas. Christmas Baby Please Come Home is quite a fun song. I Believe in Father Christmas was originally written to protest the commercialisation of Christmas. I can only echo the sentiment here

'I wish you a hopeful Christmas
I wish you a brave new year
All anguish, pain and sadness
Leave your heart and let your road be clear.' 

What I'm in to - November

Another month has come and gone, and we're now in December.  So its time to share what captured my attention during November. 

It was a pretty quiet month reading wise.  I didn't start or finish any books, and I'm no where near my goal of 40 books for the year.

A different story so far as music goes - I spent a bit of time listening to the Anniversary Edition of R.E.M.'s Automatic for the People, which came with a recording of a show they did after the albums release. They didn't widely tour the album, so I'm glad they included that. There's also a CD of Demos which I haven't explored.

Other than R.E.M.'s reissue, I listened to Amanda Held Opelt's Embers. Really lovely folk album with really great lyrics. You can read more about the album here.

I also heard new songs from Sarah Blasko and Glen Hansard. Sarah Blasko's album is also due to be released next year.

U2's new album has now been released, I'll write more about that next month.

TV
Been enjoying 800 Words lately, working my way through season 2. Really easy to watch with characters that you grow to know and care about.