Songs of Innocence - U2

Was so stoked when I heard you could download the new U2 album for free from the i-tunes store. Given the response I had to their 2009 album, 'No Line on the Horizon', I was a little bit nervous before I listened to the new album for the first time. 

A few observations, 

• it is Adam and Larry's album, they really drive the songs. 

• The album is a tour of the Dublin they grew up in, and perhaps the most personal album they have recorded to date.  Songs on Bono's mother, their musical influences, and growing up in Ireland. 

• The lyrics are certainly among the strongest Bono has written. 

• It will be interesting to see the form the tour takes, its seem certain that it will more intimate than the last few.  Would love to hear these songs, played with in orchestra. 

Will be interesting to see how Songs of Experience compliments the album, when (yes I am an optimist) it is released).  On that point, U2 have recorded a musical version of the introduction to Blake's 'Songs of Experience collection', and you can find it on the deluxe edition of the remaster of 'The Joshua Tree'. (Would love to see it being played as the intro or outro on the tour, but I suspect that's unlikely). 

My favourite songs:

Every Breaking Wave, Song for Someone, The Troubles (ft's Swedish singer Lykke Li), Raised by Wolves. 

X-Factor 2014 - review...

I have  been meaning to post this for a while, but now we've got to the Grand Final, I realised I should post about the show. 

This isn't really news to anyone, but its not a music show. First and foremost it is a popularity content, with the added bonus of singing.  

The three acts competing in the final are Marlisa, Dean Ray & Brothers 3. In my opinion (and the i-tunes sales) Dean Ray should win next week.  But given it is decided by a public vote, I won't be surprised if Brothers 3 win. Would be intrigued to see how the rankings would have changed if i-tunes sales were included. 

Reigan Derry, was my favourite in the show, and while I am sad to see her out. I will be buying her album when it comes out (hopefully soon). Have a listen to her original 'Ink on Skin' here.  

My favourite performances from the show were: Reigan's performances of 'Hallelujah'; 'Creep' and 'Burn for You' and Dean Ray's performances of 'Hurt', 'Reckless' and 'Mr Brightside. 

Here's the video of Hallelujah. 

Will still watch the final to see how it all ends. :) 

Book review - The Fictional Woman - Tara Moss

Last year the Lieutenant General David Morrison give a speech about the investigation into the Australian Army - one line especially resonated with me - 'the standard you walk past is the standard you set'. It has certainly given me pause to think about the world in which we live, and especially how our society portrays woman. Coupled with this, is that I am now raising a son, and it matters what I say and how I behave. The greatest influences will be what I do and what I leave unsaid (implicit approval).

I think I first heard Tara Moss on ABC's Q&A program during 2012, and my recollection is that she was one of the more articulate panelists - bringing a great perspective to the issues. The work she did to bring to light what was happening on Manus Island earlier this year was impressive.

With both those points in mind, when I heard she was writing her first non-fiction book, I was intrigued and looking forward to reading the book. Even more when I hear her on QandA & at Stanton Library recently.

Her book, The Fictional Woman begins with a series of powerful statistics, about the number of women in parliament, in cabinet, number of female story-tellers, in our papers and in popular culture (books, films, art). I don't recall the book talking about music, but I suspect similar stats would be found (any top 100 list, music hall of fame of inductees).

These statistics matter, because they are the voices we hear, and the voices that shape how we understand the world. It is sad to read the stats around the number of female characters in film, novels, and TV who are in positions of influence and power.

That 80 % of working characters in G rated films are males matters, that not one had a female working in medical science, law or politics matters.  One show, I was put onto recently, which challenges this, is the Danish TV show Borgen, I suspect West Wing (and Newsroom) would too.

In summary, I can't recommend this book highly enough, for everybody to read. In some ways, there's nothing new in this book, but sadly, it does reflect the world we are living in, and understanding this point is the first step to change.