Ryan Adams - "How Do You Keep Love Alive" (Live)

Ryan Adams has been in constant rotation for the last few days...and he is also the mid-week palate cleanser. I've been a fan of his since I first heard Whiskeytown back when I was dj'ing in Calgary. I've always thought his music was a perfect marriage of "americana", country, and The Smiths...a mix of influences that probably doesn't do him (or his work) justice. It's thousands of times better than some pithy description I could come up with...all I know is that his music resonates with me, and today's video is one of the most beautiful songs I've ever listened to. The music, coupled with incredible lyrics, make this song one of my favorites by him. Enjoy...

Lord, I miss that girl
On the day we met the sun was shining down
Down on the valley
Riddled with horses running
Crushing them with flowers
I would have picked for her
On the day she was born
She runs through my veins like a long black river
And rattles my cage like a thunderstorm
Oh my soul

What does it mean?
What does it mean?
What does it mean to be so sad?
When someone you love
Someone you love is supposed to make you happy
What do you do
How do you keep love alive?
When it won't

What, what are the words
They use when they know it's over
"We need to talk," or
"I'm confused, maybe later you can come over"
I would've held your mother's hand
On the day you was born
She runs through my veins
Like a long black river and rattles my cage
Like a thunderstorm
Oh, my soul

What does it mean?
What does it mean?
What does it mean to be so sad?
When someone you love
Someone you love is supposed to make you happy
What do you do
How do you keep love alive?
When it won't
How do you keep love alive?

Buy his records...thank me later.

Weekend Picks - 03/11/11

Tuesday is usually the day that new music is released...and it just might blow your mind if you could see just how many albums are released weekly. Loads of nonsense shipped to fill up shelves in record stores...some of it new...some of it old (with great new artwork!). Wasn't it Morrissey who said "reissue, repackage, repackage..."? Despite a truck-load of bad records released this week, there happened to be 2 excellent albums quietly put out...and people in "the know" (like myself) quickly scooped them up (Rival Schools, and Rheanna Downey). Now if you missed out on purchasing these records, you can still change course...you can still salvage your weekend so it's not a total loss! Here are my weekend picks...2 brand new records, 1 record that is yet to be released (but can be listened to here), and 3 albums you should have purchased a long time ago. Enjoy...

Weekend Picks - 03/11/11

-The Violet Burning: "The Story Of Our Lives" (still unreleased)
-Rival Schools: "Pedals"
-Rheanna Downey: "Pull The Moon"
-The Tallest Man On Earth: "The Wild Hunt"
-Gliss: "Devotion Implosion"
-Ryan Adams: "Love Is Hell"

Buy these records...thank me later.

Note: The picture above is Gliss...rocking the stage at the Silverlake lounge. A huge thank-you to Stephanie for suggesting them. They remind me of The Jesus And Mary Chain, minus the Reid brothers fighting in between songs. They are incredible!

Top 7 Break-Up Albums

I will never forget the line in "High Fidelity" that asked the question, "am I miserable because I listen to pop music, or do I listen to pop music because I am miserable?" Rock history is a virtual pot-luck of songs about break-up's, failed relationships, significant others killed in various automobile accidents, and other morbid love stories. It's either the greatest form of emotional catharsis, or it's a modern form of torturing yourself...pining over that person you spent hours making mix tapes for ( I am dating myself because I said "mix-tape")...and drowning out the sadness with music. From my experience, those feelings have usually been summed up best by someone else; a poet, a band, or morrissey. So here it is...for all you miserable sacks out there who need something awesome to listen to during this winter of your discontent...

I give you my top 7 break-up albums:

1. Cursive - "Domestica": Apparently penned during the lead singers divorce, it's a scathing critique of the "ex"...and if you can't feel the pain through your speakers, you might want to check if you have a pulse.

2. Jawbreaker - "Dear You": Another punk rock gem that will soothe your aching heart. A blistering journey through the depths of human depression...with many-a-jab at the one who wreaked havoc on the heart.

3. Joy Division - "Closer": While not a classic "she broke my heart" record...this album is a blizzard of darkness. If a slab of concrete in a morgue could make sounds...it would sound like this record.

4. Marvin Gaye - "Here, My Dear": Not only did Mr. Gaye have an albums worth of lyrical dissing to give his ex-wife (Who also happened to be the daughter of Motown Records head Barry Gordy), he also was legally bound to record another record per their divorce. He recorded an entire record of songs describing, in detail, how their relationship crumbled. Here, my dear, enjoy the record I made for you...forever.

5. Morrissey - "Viva Hate": A nice trip down depression ave. with the amazing lyrics of the Moz. With songs like "Suedehead" and "I Don't Mind If You Forget Me" you can easily spend an enjoyable hour drowning your sorrows with one of the best vocalists, ever.

6. Park - "It Won't Snow Where You're Going": This album is not only a gem musically, but the lyrics are sure to remind you that somewhere, someone else has had it much worse than you could ever have it. Someone apparently dated the devil incarnate...

7. Ryan Adams - "Love Is Hell 1 & 2": An amazing snapshot of the life, and death, of a relationship. Drown your tears with this record...from start to finish. It isn't the darkest record...and it isn't the most depressing...but it is a perfect record for a rainy day.

Buy these records...thank me later.