Love and the Lack Thereof: February Post #6

Hey all!
I'm back, and so are the love songs.

This time the GOOD (LOVE) SONG is (drum roll please):

I'll Be Your Mirror by The Velvet Underground and Nico

The original hipsters.

A little bit about the Velvet Underground & Nico, for those who don't know:

They were a NYC-based band managed by Andy Warhol (you know, that artist). Lou Reed and John Cale were the most famous members of the group, I'd say (note: one of the Christmas songs I posted was by John Cale). Nico was a German fashion model/singer who collaborated with them on their famous first self-titled album (otherwise known as "The Banana Album"), but later parted ways with the band (for personal and professional reasons). Although they only released a few albums together, the band has been incredibly influential in the rock 'n roll world and their music is still relevant... and beautiful, like "I'll Be Your Mirror."

The first time I heard this song it was actually a live version of Lou Reed singing it instead of Nico, and surprisingly enough, it works quite well both ways. The lyrics are really moving. It's about a lover who sees the real beauty and worth of their loved one, and wants them to see it, too.

"When you think the night has seen your mind,

that inside you're twisted and unkind,

let me stand to show that you are blind.

Please put down your hands

'cause I see you.

I find it hard to believe that you don't know

the beauty that you are.

But if you don't, let me be your eyes,

a hand in the darkness, so you won't be afraid."

These are the words of not just a GOOD love song, but a GREAT one. Real love needs both people to be mirrors to each other, to witness to the beauty and dignity of the other (and also, I would say, to be mirrors of the greatness of Another...). 

If you liked this song, you might also check out:

older stuff like:

Lou Reed's solo stuff

The Stooges

The Kinks

The Pixies 

Patti Smith

and new stuff like:

The Secret Machines

Razorlight

Shearwater

Yo La Tengo

and many more...

Over and out,

Anna

Love and the Lack Thereof: February Post #5

Here comes another one, folks!

GOOD (LOVE) SONG: Honey Come Home by The Head and The Heart

The Head(s) and The Heart(s) in the Tree(s)

First off, I love the band's name. It's perfect! Reconciling our heads and our hearts is basically what human life is all about. I approve.

But about the band: They're based in Seattle, and so far have released one self-titled album. They came out to play in DC recently, opening for Dr. Dog and I missed them. Damn!

About the song: It's a husband (I'm assuming a husband, since it's mainly the male singers singing) begging his wife to come back. The lyrics are really moving to me. There is no bitterness, no anger, just love and repentance, and and understanding of what really matters:

"Oh God I love my vices
but they've taken me to places
that I'd never thought I'd go
and I'm ready to be home
And I think of every spark,
every whisper in the dark,
now it's time
Just wanna die with the one I love
Just wanna die with the one I love... beside me."

What a love song!

I love that song, but honestly, I think I may like this other song of theirs even more. It's not a love song, but I just had to include it in this post because it's amazing:
Lost In My Mind (the video is kinda random).

BUY THEIR MUSIC HERE: The Head and The Heart
If you liked this song, you might also check out:

Ivan & Alyosha (I'll probably post about them later)
The Avett Brothers
Delta Spirit
Justin Townes Earle
Mumford & Sons
A.A. Bondy
Dawes
Blue Giant

Over and out!
Anna

P.S. If you sign up for their mailing list on their website, you can get two free mp3 downloads!

Love and the Lack Thereof: February Post #4

SO: The Features.
They're a great band who seem (to me) to get very little press, despite their awesomeness. They're from a random town somewhere in Tennessee, and have been together since middle school (Really?? Really!!).
Ever since high school, I've loved their extremely danceable, high-energy, but surprisingly emotional and well-written songs.
So, for this post, I picked:
GOOD (LOVE) SONG: The Idea of Growing Old

You turn me on to the idea of playing croquet, as well. 

It is a great love song about real love. The kind of love that makes you look forward to growing old with someone, being married, annoying each other, and still loving each other. It's clear that Matthew Pelham (the singer and song-writer of the band) has a great sense of humor. I love the lyrics:

"We can lay around
and count the number of times
I've acted foolish
and you've rolled your eyes.
You turn me on
to the idea of growing old."

Let's hope your loved one turns you on to the idea of growing old, with them right by your side. Cuz that's real love right there.

BUY THEIR MUSIC HERE: The Features!

If you liked this song, you might also check out:
Razorlight (they toured with them, and that's who I saw them open for)
The White Stripes
Locksley
Kings of Leon
The Zutons
Cloudcult
The Cloud Room
The Dandy Warhols

Over and out,
Anna

Love and the Lack Thereof: February Post #3

Let the love-themed songs continue!

I've been asking around about what people consider good "love songs" (which I am leaving as a very loosely defined idea here, folks), and been getting some interesting suggestions. 
For instance, this one, which my friend Everett recommended to me:
GOOD (LOVE) SONG: Volver  by Carlos Gardel.


Again, here I am venturing into musical territory that I am not very well acquainted with, but oh well. Damn the torpedoes! Full speed ahead! 
Carlos Gardel was one of, if not the, most famous of the tango singers in history. He had an incredible baritone, and was famous for being super-guapo (that's my Spanglish for you). Unfortunately, he died in a tragic plane crash at the height of his career. I like the fact that apparently even though this guy has been dead for longer than I've been alive, people still say that "Gardel canta cada dia mejor" (Gardel sings better every day). There is clearly a real love for this man and his music. Apparently he was also pretty badass, too, because he was shot in the lung at the beginning of his career. The bullet stayed in his lung. Dag.  

See, this is why I wish men still wore hats.

Anyhoo, this particular song is one of his most famous. Understandably. The lyrics are quite poetic. An old man sings about his first love, and returning to the town where it all happened. It's a beautiful song filled with longing for the past and for a love that one cannot forget. I know that doesn't make it the most upbeat, cheerful of love songs, but hey, I warned you I liked healthy doses of realism.  Here is the last stanza translated from the original Spanish (thanks Everett!)-- I like the last line: 


"I fear my encounter with the past, 
which returns to confront my life.
I fear the nights, which, 
populated with memories,
chain my dreams.
But the traveler that flees
sooner or later ceases his goings.
And although time has destroyed my old hope,
it holds, hidden, a humble expectation,
which is my life's entire treasure."


Another line from this song became a famous saying in Latin America: "Veinte años no es nada"--Twenty years is nothing.  
That, friends, is a real love song. 


If you liked this song, you might also check out:
(according to my research)
Roberto Goyeneche
Julio Sosa
Juan D'Arienzo


Or maybe you should just move to Argentina. 


Over and out,
Anna 

Love and the Lack Thereof: February Post #2

And now for something completely different (no, not that):

Sorry boys,  she's taken.

So my brother's friend's family runs a jazz music label, called MaxJazz. They have some really great artists on the label, including a gal named Erin Bode (pronounced Bo-dee).  Through the label, my brother (and then me) discovered her music, and I have to admit, I've been pleasantly surprised. As I have mentioned before, I am not normally a huge jazz fan, and I know little about it, but some of her stuff is great. She's released six albums, so if you like her, then you should be happily perusing through her catalog for a while.

I especially love her GOOD (LOVE) SONG Don't Take Your Time.

Her voice is jazzy and light, and even though I am not always a fan of that sort of vocal style, it works fantastically. I like that the lyrics are pretty simple. It's a very common thought amongst those who are in love and wanting to be with their loved one: Don't take your time!
Also, the sax and piano are great. Apparently, she's married to her bassist (aw).

If you liked this song, you might also check out:

Norah Jones (obviously)
Carla Cook
Gretchen Parlato

I wish I could name more but I just don't know this genre very well.

Hope you enjoyed! More GOOD (LOVE) SONGS on the way...

Over and out,
Anna

Love and the Lack Thereof: February Post #1

It's February! You know what that means: Valentine's Day themed crap EVERYWHERE!
I hate Valentine's Day. The only good thing about it is that my Dad always buys me chocolates from my favorite place (Bruno Bakery on LaGuardia Place in NYC). However, I thought this year I might try to be a little less negative about it all.
I decided that this month's posts on the blog would all be about GOOD (LOVE) SONGS. And with maybe a few GOOD (BREAK-UP) SONGS thrown in there for realism, eh? The songs will be extremely varied: old, new, indie, classic, jazz, pop, etc. I like to mix things up.

Without further ado, here is the GOOD (LOVE) SONG #1:
Frank, AB by The Rural Alberta Advantage

Apparently this is what Rural Albertans look like.

This song, off their one & only album Hometowns (BUY IT HERE: Hometowns), really struck me when I listened to the lyrics. It's about a town in Canada (in Alberta, the province where all three band members are from, hence the name of the group) named Frank, where a huge landslide buried about 100 people. Check it out.
The song is about a couple who die in the slide. The lyrics are great:

My love, I will hold onto your touch
Until there's nothing left of us
Save you from this life
And the cold weight, and the Rocky's clutch
Won't take away our love

So, yeah, it's sad but it's a great testament to the people who died and to the enduring power of love.
Oh, and the song is so catchy. Those "ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh"s are great. The three band members (Amy Cole, Paul Banwatt, and Nils Edenloff) make great music together. Yay! AND, this March the band will be releasing a new album, entitled Departing. Double Yay!

If you liked this song, you might also check out:

Wolf Parade
Frightened Rabbit
The Decemberists
Titus Andronicus
Telekinesis
Port O'Brien
The Rosebuds
Songs: Ohia


Happy February! Hope you got somebody to love!

Over and out,
Anna