Sunday, December 04, 2016

Primavera Sounds 2017


Primavera Sounds, the music festival in my home city Porto already has confirmed dates, 8 to 10 of June. However no names have been announced yet.
Although, the twin-brother of the festival, Primavera Sounds in Barcelona has already revealed the entire line up, as you can see in the picture above. 
Well, in the last year, the line-up was not that similar (Barcelona's, was in my opinion, much better), but, usually both festivals have a lot in common. 
So, maybe, we can predict to have Arcade Fire, The XX or Bon Iver here in Porto next year!
Arcade Fire, my concert I would love to see, have already schedule the day 10 of June for the Isle Of Wight festival in England, so it would be difficult.
Let's wait and see. 

Wednesday, November 23, 2016

Suede Are Taking A Break


Suede, the London based band, are taking a small break, probably to get again in to the studio.
The group did several live performances since last year's November to promote their last album "Night Thoughts".
After promoting the album during one year, Suede gave their last 2 concerts this week in Mexico.
Simon Gilbert, the drummer, sent a message to the fans thanking them for everything:
" Thanks so much to all of you who were there over the last 12 months...its been a F..... blast...I personally loved playing through NT live... in particular the Roundhouse shows last November... what a couple of nights they were...Love you all see you...again XXX"
I was there, on the Roundhouse shows!
Brett Anderson also, in a interview, said that, when the tour is finished, they will go back in to the studio to start the recording of another album!
Now the wait begins!

Sunday, November 20, 2016

Let's Start A New Week


Let's start a new week with a new playlist, including:
- Leonard Cohen
- The Specials
- Echobelly
- Placebo
- Interpol
- TV On The Radio

These are the bands I want to explore during the next times.
Any advises that I should add here?
Have a great week.

Saturday, November 12, 2016

The Passing Of A Genius


Leonard Cohen has, unfortunately, passed away at the age of 82.
The Canadian was much more than a singer. He was a poet, a musician, a writer, a lover, a passionate about life and a genuinely a good man.
He was be remembered by his fantastic long career and has a man who died still working. He released his last album 2 months ago.
Cohen inspired almost every modern artist and is among the greatest lyricists ever. His charming way of writing, in the beginning, as a way of impressing women is a conjuncture of beautiful and simple rhymes with a lot oh meaning.
Songs like Hallelujah, I'm Your Man, Tower Of Song, Suzanne or So Long, Marianne will be forever in our hearts.
Thank you Leonard.

Thursday, October 13, 2016

Bob Dylan Wins Nobel Prize For Literature


Bob Dylan, the american singer, won the 2016 Nobel Prize for Literature.
Dylan, best known as a musician, won the prize for having "created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition".
A well deserved prize for the poet, since the 60's Dylan has been in the front line of poetry, having written songs about love, life, politics, revolutions, relationships. He always had, and still has, a genius way of choosing words and, let's not forget, most of today's songs are poetry translated into music.
Dylan was the first musician to have won a prize like this because of his lyrics.
Well done!

Wednesday, October 12, 2016

Depeche Mode Unveils New Album And Tour


Depeche Mode will release their 14th studio album next year, during the Spring. The album will be called Spirit and is being produced by James Ford.
Also, to promote the album, there will be a huge tour, starting in May. The first leg, with the Europeen dates have been confirmed.
The highlights will be Portugal Alive festival (again) and London Arena, first UK stadium since 1993.

Dates:

May 5 - Stockholm, Sweden - Friends Arena
May 7 - Amsterdam, Netherlands - Ziggo Dome
May 9 - Antwerp, Belgium - Sportpaleis
May 12 - Nice, France - Stade Charles-Ehrmann
May 14- Ljubljana, Slovenia - Dvorana Stožice
May 17 - Athens, Greece - Terra Vibe Park
May 20 - Bratislava, Slovakia - Štadión Pasienky
May 22 - Budapest, Hungary - Groupama Aréna
May 24  - Prague, Czech Republic - Eden Aréna
May 27 - Leipzig, Germany - Festwiese
May 29 - Lille, France - Stade Pierre-Mauroy
May 31 - Copenhagen, Denmark - Telia Parken

June 3 - London, United Kingdom - London Stadium
June 5 - Cologne, Germany - RheinEnergieStadion
June 9 - Munich, Germany - Olympiastadion
June 11 - Hannover, Germany - HDI Arena
June 18 - Zurich, Switzerland - Letzigrund Stadion
June 20 - Frankfurt, Germany - Commerzbank-Arena
June 22 - Berlin, Germany - Olympiastadion
June 25 - Rome, Italy - Stadio Olimpico
June 27 - Milan, Italy - Stadio San Siro
June 29 - Bologna, Italy - Stadio Rentao Dall'Ara

July 1 - Paris, France - Stade de France
July 4 - Gelsenkirchen, Germany - Veltins-Arena
July 6 - Bilbao, Spain - BBK Live Festival
July 8 - Lisbon, Portugal - NOS Alive Festival
July 13 - St. Petersburg, Russia - SKK
July 15 - Moscow, Russia - Otkritie Arena
July 17 - Minsk, Belarus - Minsk-Arena
July 19 - Kiev, Ukraine - Olimpiyskiy National Sports Complex
July 21 - Warsaw, Poland - PGE Narodowy
July 23 - Cluj-Napoca, Romania - Cluj Arena

Wednesday, September 28, 2016

Bowie Legacy


David Bowie, the legendary singer that passed away earlier this year, is going to release a new compilation album titled "Bowie Legacy".
It was said the musician planned some re-editions and compilations before is death. Who Can I Be Now, the new boxset was released this month and Lazarus, the soundtrack of the musical is set to see soon the light of day. Actually, this Lazarus album will include the very last songs recorded by Bowie during his final Blackstar Sessions.

Legacy won't have nothing really new, except a new mix of the classic "Life On Mars".
It will be some kind of an update of the "Best of Bowie" and "Nothing Has Changed (2CD Edition)", that will collect songs from his early success until his death.

The 2 CD edition of Legacy will include:

CD 1

1. Space Oddity
2. The Man Who Sold The World
3. Changes
4. Oh! You Pretty Things
5. Life On Mars? (2016 mix)
6. Starman (original single mix)
7. Ziggy Stardust
8. Moonage Daydream
9. The Jean Genie (original single mix)
10. All The Young Dudes
11. Drive-In Saturday
12. Sorrow
13. Rebel Rebel
14. Young Americans (original single edit)
15. Fame
16. Golden Years (single version)
17. Sound And Vision
18. "Heroes" (single version)
19. Boys Keep Swinging
20. Ashes To Ashes (single version)
21. Fashion (single version)

CD 2

1. Under Pressure – Queen & David Bowie
2. Let's Dance (single version)
3. China Girl (single version)
4. Modern Love (single version)
5. Blue Jean
6. This Is Not America - with The Pat Metheny Group
7. Dancing In The Street - David Bowie & Mick Jagger
8. Absolute Beginners (edit)
9. Jump They Say (radio edit)
10. Hallo Spaceboy (PSB Remix) - with The Pet Shop Boys
11. Little Wonder (edit)
12. I’m Afraid Of Americans (V1 edit)
13. Thursday’s Child (radio edit)
14. Slow Burn (radio edit)
15. Everyone Says ‘Hi’ (edit)
16. New Killer Star (radio edit)
17. Where Are We Now?
18. Lazarus (radio edit)
19. I Can’t Give Everything Away (radio edit)

The album will be released on the 11th of November.


Saturday, September 17, 2016

And The Winner Is...


Skepta with Konnichiwa. 
I never listened to Skepta, so can't comment the album, but, I was with high hopes (and a lot of people also) that Blackstar would win. Well, in fact, for me, it was the most visionary album on the music history. Bowie, who secretly knew he was going to die, send us a last album talking about it. Even, he released the mythical Lazarus single just days before he died. That's the most artistically and  innovative way of passing way ever.

The award was given by the legedanry Jarvis Cocker. His word were "We as a jury decided that if David Bowie was looking down on the Hammersmith Apollo tonight, he would want the 2016 Hyundai Mercury Prize to go to Skepta."

Well, the climax of the night was Michael C. Hall singing Bowie's Lazarus. The singer/actor is doing a musical inspired by David Bowie's music and his 70's movie The Man Who Fell To Earth.
Check it here:

Tuesday, September 13, 2016

New (But Nothing New) Depeche Mode Video Collection


Depeche Mode are going to release on the 11th of November the "Video Single Collection".
As the title says, it covers all Depeche Mode's videos from all the singles and (the only "new" stuff) over 2 hours of commentaries about the impact of the British band on visual image.

The content will include the videos from all of the U.K. singles from 1981 to today.
Also will be available the american video for Strangelove, But Not Tonight (a b-side, released as a single there to promote the film Modern Girls) and One Caress (released as a promo-single).

So, what is really missing?
It's a pity they didn't include the amazing videos for Pimpf, Halo and Clean. I mean, almost all of the single videos are already available on the Singles 86-98 DVD or on the Best Of DVD, so, it would make more sense to include them (although they were not "official" singles).

Also, what was being criticised by the fans was the format. People wanted something with High Definition or Blu-Ray.

Well, it seems like a commercial orientated release from Sony, with nothing new, when everyone is expecting news about the band's new album due to get out of the studio next year.

Also to point that, this is the first item to be released by Sony, since they bought all of DM's back catalogue.

Monday, September 12, 2016

Major Tom To Ground Control


As most of you may know, there's a musical featuring Michael C. Hall called Lazarus which is inspired by David Bowie music and his 70's movie, The Man Who Fell To Earth.

What you may not know is that it will be released a CD of the musical that consists of Bowie's songs covered by various artists. But there is a second CD with 3 new unreleased David songs from his last studio sessions that created the astonishing Blackstar.
The songs are No Plan, Killing A Little Time and When I Met You.

Even from the other world, David Bowie can still send us new music. Thank you.

Saturday, September 03, 2016

20 Years Of Coming Up


Yesterday, on the 2nd of September, Coming Up, my all-time favourite album, and, for me, the best album ever recorded, turned 20!

After Bernard Butler left Suede, everyone was trying to bury the band, but the remaining lads, including the new boys Richard Oakes and Neil Codling, believed in themselves and, together, they made the greatest comeback of all time.

Not only Coming Up was their biggest-selling album, but the lyrics are much more directed to the fans and the melodies are so happy and cheerful that is almost impossible not to feel happy when you listen to the album.

Personally, it is the only LP that, no matter in which mood I am, makes me feel lightener and happier. Actually, it is the only album that never (really never) gets out of my iPod. Song like Trash, Beautiful Ones or Filmstar are perfect rock hymns with beautiful and very meaningful feelings.

Not only the album is truly amazing, but the b-sides are another collection of fantastic music. Europe Is Our Playground, This Time, Sound Of The Streets are such amazing songs that could shine on any album.



In a couple of weeks, Suede will release a 20-year anniversary version of Coming Up with the album, all of the b-sides, never heard demos of most of the songs and a live recording.



Exacting times, and now it's time to celebrate by listening once again to the perfect album Coming Up!

Tuesday, August 09, 2016

And The Nominees Are...


The 2016 nominees for the Mercury Music Prize were revealed.
Although I think that most of this kind of prizes are about publicity and managers, this is probably the most relevant music award.

The nominees are: 

  • Anohni – Hopelessness
  • Bat for Lashes – The Bride
  • David Bowie – Blackstar
  • Jamie Woon – Making Time
  • Kano – Made in the Manor
  • Laura Mvula – The Dreaming Room
  • Michael Kiwanuka – Love & Hate
  • Radiohead – A Moon Shaped Pool
  • Savages – Adore Life
  • Skepta – Konnichiwa
  • The 1975 – I like it when you sleep, for you are so beautiful yet so unaware of it
  • The Comet Is Coming – Channel the Spirit
Some familiar faces there, Radiohead heading to their 5th try, and they never won. Savages also to go for their second final, and Bat for Lashes to their third. Both Laura Mvula and Michael Kiwanuka were also one time close to win before.
Some people are appointing the 1975 as the winner or, obviously, David Bowie,
Hopefully, David Bowie will win. It is is 3rd time in the finals of the Mercury and, above all of the artists, he really deserves to him because Blackstar is not only a fantastic album, but also a fantastic and brutal experience.
Big disappointment to see that Suede with Night Thoughts didn't make the last round...

Monday, August 01, 2016

New Unreleased David Bowie Album On The Way


David Bowie, the legendary musician that passed away earlier this year, will release a new boxset.
The compilation will be called "Who Can I Be Now" and it is the natural continuation of the previous boxset "Five Years".
It will include mainly things between Aladdin Sane era and the Berlin years.
You can spot not only the 3 studio albums Young Americans, Diamong Dogs and Station to Station (the alst two have two versions each) but also the classic David Live, Live Nassau Coliseum '76, and b-sides and  single versions album Re:Call 2.
But, most important of all, there will be a new album called The Gouster. This album is something like a sketch or an experiment to what became Young Americans.

Quoting Bowie's long-term producer Tony Visconti  "Gouster was a word unfamiliar to me, but David knew it as a type of dress code worn by African-American teens in the Sixties in Chicago," Visconti explains in the excerpt. "But in the context of the album its meaning was attitude, an attitude of pride and hipness. Of all the songs we cut, we were enamored of the ones we chose for the album that portrayed this attitude."
Visconti goes on to discuss his and Bowie's love of soul and says that with The Gouster they "sure as hell wanted to make a killer soul album." This led to a fresh take for "John, I'm Only Dancing (Again)," which was recorded in 1974 and was supposed to be the lead song on the album's original track list. It was later released in 1979. Visconti describes the song as an "outrageous brand new, funkafied version of David's classic."

Saturday, July 30, 2016

Happy Birthday Trash!!!


This year is a very special year for Suede.
Not only the fact that they released they critically acclaimed new album "Night Thoughts" but also because, my favourite LP "Coming Up" turns 20!
It would be great if the band do something like they did to Dog Man Star and make a tribute concert to the album and some clues are starting to appear. The last 3 songs of their last concert were the last 3 songs from Coming Up.
Anyway, yesterday was the 20-year anniversary of the release of their first single from that album and it is my all time favourite song!
Trash is a song about the band, about the fans, about falling in love everyday without caring what people think about us. It's the ultimate Suede song and a song that brought the band to a wider audience. It was the first single to be written by the amazing Richard Oakes and Suede's most successful record!
When they released it, the band lead by Brett Anderson were appointed dead because of the departure of Bernard Butler but they surprised everyone, they gave a big answer to all the critics and showed the magnificence of being part of the Suede world.
Happy birthday to the eternal Trash!! 

Tuesday, April 12, 2016

Peter Murphy Is Going To Play In Porto Next Month


Another very nice concert in my home town.
Peter Murphy, the legendary singer of Bauhaus, is going to play in the fantastic Casa da Música (House of Music) of Porto next month.
The concert in meant to be some kind of his best from the last 30 years and it's already sold out.
The setlist probably will be full of his solo songs, some Bauhaus songs and, who knows, maybe a David Bowie cover!
Cheers!

Monday, April 04, 2016

The Bowie Tribute In Hard Club Porto


As I told last week, there was a David Bowie tribute concert in my home town, Porto.
I was a bit scared because I, honestly, didn't know almost any of the performers.
And in the end, it was a great celebration of Bowie's music with a lot of great versions of his songs.
Most of them (thank God) were very similar to the original ones.
There was a lot of acoustic performances, some of them failed a little bit (Fame, Blue Jean, Where Are We Now?), other worked very good (Five Years, Ziggy Stardust). There was also an incredible version on Lazarus, a very entertaining Let's Dance and the big ending with all the musician on stage singing Heroes and All The Young Dudes. A band played Let's Dance and Little Wonder, and it was terrible, the lowest performance of the night. Don't try to mix those songs with Heavy/Hard Metal. Just doesn't work out in a concert like this.
As a overall, it was a fantastic night, with a lot of nostalgia and good music.
When you have the option, don't stay at home!

Thursday, March 31, 2016

David Bowie Memorial Concert In Porto


Today there's going to be a David Bowie Tribute Concert in Porto, Portugal.
A lot of people is going to play, but special attention for a live message from Mike Garson during the show.
The gig will be at Hard Club, at 20:30 in the city's downtown.
Well, I honestly don't know what to expect from it, but wherever it regards Bowie's music it's always a good thing and specially events like this to praise the greatest musician of all time.
See you there!

Saturday, March 19, 2016

30 Years Of Black Celebration


It's time say, "Let's have a black celebration"

The mythical Depeche Mode's album Black Celebration was 30 years old two days ago.
The LP was, in my view very very important for the band's career. It was the first record after the compilation "Singles" so, we can say it was like a new starting. A new direction, and the direction was dark. Since their second work, "A Broken Frame" there were some shadows in their way of working but nothing as Black Celebration.
The title, the artwork and the songs are very very intimate and obscure. Gore sings a lot of songs on this album that helps to create a more depressive feeling.
It was like a new step. Let's get mature, let's write personal songs, let's think more about classic and less about big hits.
During the recording process the tensions in the band were very high and that is shown in the music.

Then, there are the big big classics. Stripped, A Question Of Time, A Question Of Lust, Black Celebration, Fly On The Windscreen or Dressed In Black are big example of it.
Actually, in my opinion, Stripped is their best single of the 80's. The lyrics, the keyboards riffs, the video, the live version, everything is really really very good.

The "big b-side" (and an a-side in the USA) that came with this album was also a great great tune, But Not Tonight.

This is a great great album that shown a less "80's" side of Depeche Mode and that started to lead their direction to what it would be their masterpieces, Violator and Songs Of Faith And Devotion.

A great time to remember it and to remember how important this British band is.





Tuesday, March 15, 2016

Sem Regras


"Sem Regras" (portuguese for "Without Rules") is a weekly radio program from a local station that broadcasts a number of unkown bands, most of them independent bands, that are using Bandcamp to spread their music.

I was never, specially lately, a big radio fan (unfortunately). I like to pick what I listen, and mostly of the new music I discover is some kind of related to the music that I'm listening now. But, this programme gave me a lot of fresh air to my musical world.

It was because of it that I discovered the swede band Agent Side Glinder or the germans Bleib Morden or the americans Social Station. Today, I listened to it again and, another great song came up, and now I want to listen more from this french guy: Nice Cold Nation, with a song that is a tribute to Ian Curtis.

The type of songs area little bit equal, all of them are dark and very introspective, which is great, and what I currently need to listen. Some, a bit more heavy or punk are there also.

But really, take a listen to the programme, it's worth it. I'll start to listen to more radio now.

Visit the website in order to listen free all the programmes, with setlists include.
http://semregrasluispink.blogspot.pt/



Friday, March 11, 2016

30 Anos de Psicopátria dos GNR


Uma publicação em português para variar um pouco aqui no blog!

Na passada quarta-feira os GNR fizeram um concerto especial de celebração do trigésimo aniversário do clássico "Psicopátria" no Rivoli no Porto. O concerto foi inserido no Porto Best Of, uma série de concertos no Rivoli organizada pelo Miguel Guedes e contou com a primeira parte de Lobo.

O concerto de Lobo foi engraçado, contou com músicas originais deles e ainda uma versão de Little Wonder em homenagem a David Bowie e uma versão do Pós-Modernos (com convidados) dos GNR, tema que a banda tem uma versão gravada em estúdio.

Depois entraram os GNR para o verdadeiro concerto e, como era de esperar, começaram com o Pós-Modernos. Estranho ouvir duas vezes a mesma música seguida no mesmo concerto por artistas diferentes.

O concerto da banda portuense foi do princípio ao fim o Psicopátria, seguindo o alinhamento original.
Algumas velhas músicas, como O Paciente e Coimbra B receberam a sua primeira atuação ao vivo mas também ouve tempo para os grandes clássicos como Efetivamente e Bellevue, melhor momento da música. Uma versão mais alargada da música, que soou espectacularmente bem.

O público animou-se com o mítico "vamos para a piscina" no Dá Fundo e no dançável Nova Gente. Como grande apreciador da música, fiquei um pouco um pouco desiludido com a atuação de Cerimónias, uma das minhas músicas preferidas do álbum, que não soou tão bem ao vivo.

Psicopátria acabou com Choque Frontal (To Miss foi colocada como abertura do concerto, já que a música é praticamente um instrumental psicadélico) onde o público estava todo a aplaudir de pé.

O encore consistiu em apenas no novo tema Cadeira Elétrica. Admito que esperava pelo menos umas 3 /4 canções, mas pronto, o concerto acabou bem.

Uma grande noite, e em low-cost (os bilhetes eram apenas 7,5€) que valeu muito a pena e fiquei cheio de vontade de ver um novo concerto dos GNR, desta vez em formato Best Of, ou então, o ideal era que eles celebrassem para o ano os 25 anos do Rock In Rio Douro, o meu álbum preferido deles!

Thursday, March 10, 2016

George Martin Has Passed Away


George Martin, the legendary Beatles producer, that signed the band back in the 60's and that was involved in mostly of the band's discography and their corresponding solo careers has passed away two days ago, aged 90.
Martin was described as a very good man and soul and a real gentleman and nice human being, that was very calm, wise and professional.
A lot of tribute circulated through the internet, being the most sentimental ones by Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney, who called him the fifth Beatle and his second father.
Death comes to everyone, and George had, for sure, a happy and a successful life.
He will be deeply missed and sweetly remembered.

"I read the news today, oh boy, about a lucky man who made the grade, and though the news was rather sad"

Tuesday, March 08, 2016

A New Album By A Legend


Bob Dylan will release a new album on the 20th of May.
The album will e called Fallen Angel and, for now, there's no more information about it.
Dylan will tour the USA and Japan during the next months.
This will be his 37th album.
In a time where we see some legend pass, like Lou Reed or Bowie, it is great to see that the living ones are still making music.

Monday, February 29, 2016

Depeche Mode To Enter The Studio


Depeche Mode, one of my all time favourite bands, are going to record a new album this year and, probably, to be released in 2017.
Martin Gore already admitted that he and Dave Gahan have already written some songs and are going to enter the studio in April.
The band's latest album was Delta Machine, released in 2013 and was followed by a huge tour.

Depeche Mode already released 13 original albums and all of them (!) entered the UK Top 10, which is an incredible remark.


Thursday, February 25, 2016

George Fest To Be Released In CD


George Fest was a tribute concert in the memory of George Harrison held on the 28th of September 2014.
Many famous artists like George's son, Dhani Harrison, Norah Jones, Ben Harper, Brandon Flowers, Brian Wilson among others, performed classic songs of the ex-Beatle to celebrate is artistic influence in modern music.
Now, actually, tomorrow, the concert will be released in 5 configurations including 2xCD/DVD, 2xCD/Blu-Ray, 3xLP (180 gram), digital, and a store exclusive bundle.

George Harrison is my favourite Beatle. He had a lifestyle truly amazing, and he was a very very very wise person with a fantastic personality. His thoughts and words are a true inspiration for my everyday life. And of course, his fantastic songs as well.


A Night To Celebrate George Fest 

Disc one

1. "Introduction"  
2. "Old Brown Shoe" - Conan O'Brien
3. "I Me Mine" - Britt Daniel
4. "Ballad of Sir Frankie Crisp (Let It Roll)" - Jonathan Bates, Dhani Harrison
5. "Something" - Norah Jones
6. "Got My Mind Set on You" - Brandon Flowers
7. "If Not for You" - Heartless Bastards
8. "Be Here Now" - Ian Astbury
9. "Wah-Wah"  - Nick Valensi
10. "If I Needed Someone" - Jamestown Revival  
11. "Art of Dying" - Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
12. "Savoy Truffle" - Dhani Harrison
13. "For You Blue" - Chase Cohl, Brian Bell
14. "Beware of Darkness" - Ann Wilson

Disc two

1. "Let It Down" - Dhani Harrison
2. "Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth)" - Ben Harper
3. "Here Comes the Sun" - Perry Farrell
4. "What Is Life" - "Weird Al" Yankovic  
5. "Behind That Locked Door" - Norah Jones  
6. "My Sweet Lord" - Brian Wilson, Al Jardine  
7. "Isn't It a Pity" - The Black Ryder  
8. "Any Road" - Butch Walker  
9. "I'd Have You Anytime" - Karen Elson  
10. "Taxman" - Cold War Kids
11. "It's All Too Much" - The Flaming Lips  
12. "Handle with Care" - Brandon Flowers, Dhani Harrison, Jonathan Bates, "Weird Al" Yankovic, Britt Daniel, Wayne Coyne.
13. "All Things Must Pass" - Ann Wilson, Dhani Harrison, Karen Elson, Norah Jones  

Watch the trailer of the album here:

Wednesday, February 17, 2016

Failed Tribute To David Bowie


During this year Grammy Awards, Lady Gaga did a tribute to David Bowie.
Everyone started to speculate that this was going to be the ultimate Bowie's tribute and, after, the performances people  are saying that it was perfect and Lady Gaga was the right choice to make this tribute, etc.
Although, I think it was a very very sad tribute for several reasons.

First, Lady Gaga is an international popstar, with pop songs, with people writing for her, etc. You would put her in the same pocket of Rihanna, Britney Spears, Shania Twain, not in the same section of Bowie. The styles are not similar. Bowie created egos, put make up, wear dresses, etc. but he had a point, a vision, and it was directly related with his music.

Second, the Medley is very confused, it has a lot of songs, played very small parts of it and consisted of only hits from the 70's and 80's. Nothing from Blackstar was played or refer in music or image for example.
Gaga's performance is completely hysterical, it looks more like a cabaret play then a sentimental tribute.

Also the vocal performance is weak... When she tries to thicken her voice, it sounds terrible, also she tries to do a lot of "little voice solos" with fast variations of notes, which is a symbol of current popstars, not Bowie for sure. Ziggy Stardust was more focused on the flying piano then on the music. Also, is she trying to impersonate an English accent? Fame is terrible, and actually when she could shine in Let's Dance on the line "and tremble like a flower" her voice crumbles... Heroes is terrible also, it's like she wants to look tough and very passionate at the same time... It seems forced and unnatural at all.

In resume, Lady Gaga is a little bit out of the top of her success form for a while, and this looked like a desperate way to call attention to her following the death of Bowie (probably it wasn't, but still looks like). It's good for people to make tributes and Bowie surely influenced almost every singer in the world but, in my view this was a weak tribute to be calling so much attention. For example, Mike Garson's tribute was much more true, sentimental and interesting than this one.


But hey, take a look on it and have your own opinion about it:

Tuesday, February 09, 2016

Mike Garson Pays Live Tribute To David Bowie


A lot of artists are paying tributes to David Bowie. But this time is different.
Mike Garson is the most remarkable pianist in Bowie's career. He played in a lot of his albums, from the classic Aladdin Sane (where he created the most insane and cool piano solo ever during the album's title song) to one of my personal favourites Heathen. We can say that Garson was Bowie's piano man in the 70's and the 90's. He also did amazing live performances with the English musician, including heartbreaking versions of Life On Mars? and Wild Is The Wind.

On monday, there was a charity gig called "Celebrating David Bowie" in Los Angeles, USA, where artists like Seal, Ewan McGregor and Gary Oldman performed. Although, the highest point of the gig was when Mike Garson, who was also part of it, played the song Aladdin Sane, where he tried (and succeed) to replicate the original solo from the album version. After this song, Seal joined Garson and the pair performed Bring Me The Disco King from the 2003 Bowie's album Reality.

Quoting Billboard Magazine:
"The emotional core of the evening, though, came from longtime Bowie keyboardist Mike Garson, who nearly broke into tears explaining his year's-long kinship with the late legend whom he said slept directly across from him on the tour bus. After delivering what amounted to a eulogy, Garson played on "Aladdin Sane" -- including his famous avant-solo, for the first time in 20 years -- and stayed onstage for both an improvised ode to Bowie and a surprise appearance from crooner Seal, who sang the obscure, jazzy track "Bring Me The Disco Queen." Garson -- who popped in and out for the rest of the set -- seemed like he was having a going-away party for his friend."

Check the performance here:

Suede And The Press


When you are a big big fan of a band, you always feel that the band is being underrated by the press. In my view, Suede were always a little bit left outside of the music press, since Blur, Oasis or Pulp have overpassed them in therms of comercial success in the 90's. However, even if the popularity of the others bands were bigger, it isn't an excuse of why the press is not covering more Suede, when they are doing new and significant music, while they (the magazines) are still making boring articles about "the last time Liam and Noel chatted" or "What's the best Nirvana album?".
Actually, I think it is really disrespectful that NME or the other magazines, are not giving big headlines, or even news, about the current Suede tour and album. Of course they did a review of "Night Thoughts" (if they didn't it would have been some kind of tragedy, they have the obligation to review every significant album of the week), and almost all of the reviews are having a really, really positive view of the new album. So that should bring more news and more interest on the band by the part of the magazine. However I don't see any news from Suede apart from the album review.

Well, Night Thoughts was number 6 at the UK charts, it was the highest new entry of the charts, they are making a critically acclaimed Europeen tour, they are chatting about important issued like the death of Bowie, how a 90's band can still survive on the music business today, the passion of playing live, they are still debuting live old great songs, they are giving double concert sizes. Wouldn't any of these things be enough to have a link on some newspaper website first page, where they have like 50 daily different headlines? Well, NME preferes to cover that Damon Albarn is returning to Denmark, that Kanye West changed his album title, the deleted scenes of Mrs Doubtfire, or Johnny Deeps 20-years comments about Leonardo DiCaprio. Really, there something much more interesting and meaningful to talk about.

The press, specially NME, have their "wonder" kids, and they keep attached to them. Leaving apart other great bands. Suede were right when they wrote their new song, Outsiders, we (Suede fans) actually feel like outsiders, and the band also feel outside, and the rest of the world wants to try to keep them outside.

It's a pity really. In the Suede world is actually good to feel an outsider, a stranger, a beautiful one, but a little of recognition and publicity is always welcome also,

Thursday, February 04, 2016

Primavera Sound Porto 2016 Line -Up


Today it was revealed the complete line-up of my city's main festival.
The festival will be from 9 to 11 of June and the ticket for the 3 days is 90€.

First, Primavera Sound in Porto is not only a festival it's also a great experience. Imagine watching to your favourite bands' concerts 5 minutes from the beach and sea, in a beautiful green park with 3 stages, foods, drinks, nice atmosphere and beautiful people. The only "almost bad" thing of it is that it doesn't have camping (but personally, I really don't need it).

Well, I admit I was expecting a little bit more from the line-up. I honestly was hoping for a double Suede concert just like what is going to happen in our twin brother Primavera Sound Barcelona. ~

Although we don't have Suede we have a lot of superb acts, which includes PJ Harvey, Brian Wilson, Savages, Sigur Rós, Beach House and Air between others.

This festival is becoming, or already is, the strongest Indie festival of Portugal.
But just look at the picture above to see the complete line-up and I hope to see you there at the festival!

Monday, February 01, 2016

Blackstar by David Bowie, Track by Track


Earlier this year, before knowing Bowie was dying and before listening to Blackstar whole album I made a review of the single Blackstar. After the news of his death, naturally the meaning of the song and of the album changed.
Bowie planned his death, planned his goodbye of music, he knew that this moment was coming so he release his last statement, a fantastic album. There's a lot to analyse of the incredible way David died, his death was a unique historical moment, that will, probably, never happen again. The impact of his death was enormous. I have a solid opinion about it which I'll write later, in another article.

Now, I want to analyse and review his farewell album "Blackstar" track by track

01 - Blackstar
This, and Lazarus, are the most important songs on the album. I think David here, assumes a position of a God (a Blackstar) and, not only predicts his death ("on the day of the execution", "something happened on the day he died") but also clears how he wants to be remembered. And I think he wants to be remembered as a Godlike figure, a Blackstar, something unpredictable and unknown. On the first part of the song, his voice is very solemn, dark and divinal, and then, the song goes through a different direction, almost angelical. It's amazing.
And, the song is so well structured, that, although it has 10 minutes, it's never too repetitive and boring, Those 10 minutes pass really quickly. Love the keyboards on the last verses. Perfect song to define an album and an artist.

02 - 'Tis A Pity She Was A Whore
Bowie released this song as a b-side to Sue back in 2014. Here the song is re-recorded and, although it maintains the same line as the original, the production is must better and clear. The songs is fast, cynical, diabolic. 

03 - Lazarus
Here, we say Bowie defining his death. He realizes his death and tells us that he's not OK but soon he will be free, just like he intends to be. Lazarus, the biblical figure, resurrected from the death. And this is very important, because Bowie, in a way, also came back to life. He's still here with his songs, with his legacy, just like Lazarus did, Bowie died and then came back to stay.
The melody of this song is very soft, peaceful and sad. Actually, after knowing about his death, listening to this song is something very turbulent specially if you see the video. You actually see Bowie dying and you see also his productive soul still working and creating, just like what happened. Artistically the combination of David's death, the song and the video is one of the most emotional moments (or even the most) ever in cultural terms. Fantastic, just a visionary like Bowie could have the courage to do something like this.

04 - Sue (Or A Season of Crime)
Maybe, the best surprise of the album. I was not a big fan of the original version of this song released in 2014. Too jazzy, too soft, disoriented, but here we listen to a brutal and aggressive song, very complete and strong. Much better than the 2014 version.

05 - Girl Loves Me
A nice and strange song. Bowie's voice during the chorus is perfection, and actually it is catchy (very dark catchy), you are singing it easily. Bowie sings in a fictional language during mos of the song. Again, a dark song (like most of the album) but actually very attractive and sexy.

06 - Dollar Days
The sweetest moment in Blackstar. A fantastic song  also about his mortality. "If I'll never see the English evergreens I'm running to", "Don't forget for just one second I'm forgetting you, I'm dying to". A lot of people were calling this album as a jazz album, which I disagree, but actually you have on this song the jazziest moment with the saxophone fantastic solo. This is the brightest song on the album, but still a little bit sad. 

07 - I Can't Give Everything Away
This is Bowie's goodbye. He knows he is passing away, and he is afraid of it, of letting behind everyone he loves. He's sad of leaving but also happy that he did everything he wanted to do with his life "This is all I ever meant, that's the message that I sent". The last verse when he re-sings "I know something's very wrong, the pulse returns for prodigal sons" is truly heartbreaking. Actually, I think we find Bowie on his most vulnerable emotional side. By now, he is everything in music, he is a God, an  alien, a Blackstar but he realises that he is also David Jones, a human being that feels loss and feels pain. Fantastic.

As a whole, a lot of music critics were defining Blackstar as a Jazz experimental album, that David choose it that way because he still wanted to take us to the unknown, like the place where he is now. I disagree, fist this is not a jazz album, it has jazz moments and jazz instruments but this is some kind of glam-rock. I would prefer to call it, this is a "Bowiesh" album, some kinds of modern Aladdin Sane. But also, this a album of a man that is facing dead, so it's way it is a very sad album. For me it's perfect this way, I always preferred sad music. Bowie's voice is still on top and his tone fits perfectly with the content of the album. Blackstar is an artistic testament of Bowie's capacities and is one of the best and most interesting albums of all time because of the brilliance and quality of the music but also because of everything that surrounds it.
Blackstar is one of the most important albums ever released, and we were here to see it. David was here too, and he still is. Just like Lazarus he resurrected and is eternal in this word with his music. 

Thank you.

Wednesday, January 27, 2016

Wonderful Life


Yesterday died the writer of one of the most remarkable songs of the 80's.
Colin Vearncombe, better know as Black, didn't survive to a car accident that occurred on the 10th of January.
Although most of his career didn't follow the huge success of the hit "Wonderful Life" he was very very active during the last 30 years.

Monday, January 25, 2016

Summer In Portugal


These last days some fantastic artists were confirmed to perform in Portugal this summer.

So, very quickly:
- Bruce Springsteen will be headlining Rock in Rio Lisboa.
- The french duo Air will be in my hometown Porto for NOS Primavera Sound.
- Brian Wilson from the Beach Boys will be here, probably also at the Primavera Sound but it's not official yet where he's going to play.
- Radiohead will play at NOS Alive festival.
- LCD Soundsystem were the first name for the mythical Paredes de Coura festival.

As the Barcelona and Porto Primavera Sound have usually very similar artists, I'm really expecting to see Suede here in the summer. They will play two times in Barcelone this year, a Night Thoughts section and a greatest hits one. It would be great also to see here PJ Harvey.

Looks like I'll spend some money in the summer.

Friday, January 22, 2016

Night Thoughts Is Released Today


Suede's new album, "Night Thoughts" is released today.

The album is surrounded by a totally new concept of their music.
All the music is accompanied by a film direct by Roger Sargent.
The album is available in normal CD package, Vinyl, and deluxe edition of CD+DVD with the movie included.
There are 4 full tracks already available on Suede's YouTube channel, the 2 single, Outsiders and Like Kids, plus 2 more tracks, Pale Snow and No Tomorrow. All of them are truly fantastic.
Night Thoughts is receiving very positive reviews, with time, Strange Sound will make its own.
Although it is still early to say, Night Thoughts has everything to become a modern legendary album for the band. Not only because of the new concept but also because Suede explored their more dramatic, melancholic and dark sound again. Their most epic and introspective work since Dog Man Star.
Some songs like Tightrope, I Don't Know How To Reach You or The Fur & The Feathers are among the ones with more potential to become truly legendary songs on Suede's catalogue.

Take a look at this amazing 20-minutes track by track preview.

Monday, January 18, 2016

Bowie's Blackstar Tops the UK, the USA and Portugal


David Bowie's new album, Blackstar topped a lot of countries.

For the first time in his career the album went straight to number 1 in the USA. His previous work, The Next Day was number 2 and his highest place there until then.

In the UK, it's not a big surprise that it went to number 1. Even before his death, everything was pointing that Blackstar would reach the top of the charts.

In Portugal, my home country, although it is not official, it will also be number 1. Last week I tried to buy it on a store in Porto, and not only Blackstar was sold out, but all Bowie discography in CD and Vinyl was sold out in FNAC.

Blackstar also topped a lot of other countries like Germany, Belgian, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, among others.

Lazarus, his goodbye single, was the video with more views on Youtube in a single day. Ever.

Obviously the sad news of his death contributed to these amazing records, but it is completely deserved. Not only Blackstar his a brilliant, amazing, incredible album, but the career of Bowie by itself deserves this kind of recognitions.

Bowie was, is and will be, the most important musician / artist of all time for me.
The Greatest, a Godlike Artist.


Saturday, January 16, 2016

5 Fantastic Not-Famous Bowie Songs



David Bowie died early this week and a lot of people are sharing a lot of his songs around the internet, and that's great.
Obviously, the most shared ones are the big hits, the most successful ones. I did the same. To remember his talent on Facebook I shared the song "Heroes" one of my favourites and a song that means a lot to me.

However, it is a pity to limit the Bowie legacy to his most famous songs, so, I'll share 5 fantastic not worldwide famous David Bowie songs from different parts of his life.

01 - Lady Stardust (from Ziggy Stardust and The Spiders From Mars 1972)
I wanted to put here Rock n´Roll suicide but, although it wasn't a single, it is also a signature song for him.
I choose Lady Stardust because lately I'm playing a lot this song. Some time ago I was a much bigger fan of Moonage Daydream or Star or Five Years, but there's sometimes on the melody that makes me sing it with great passion. The song is not about Ziggy's wife (or maybe it is) but about Marc Nolan. Bowie was a big fan.

02 - Lady Grinning Soul (from Aladdin Sane 1973)
Bowie chose this song for is compilation iSelect which featured his personal favourite songs while trying to avoid most of his greatest hits.
It is the end song of his classic album Aladdin Sane and a song that resumes very well his sound at the time. Very complexed, very dramatic with the remarkable Mike Garson on the piano. A true classic.

03 - Neuköln (from "Heroes" 1977)
Bowie, specially during his Berlin years did a couple of very interesting and very dark instrumental tracks. The most famous one is probably Warszawa, but my personal favourite is Neuköln. It is so dark, so evil that brings a really creepy atmosphere. It's fantastic and the Saxophone (played by him) is what guides the melodramatic tune of the songs. Incredible.

04 - If I'm Dreaming My Life (from "hours..." 1999)
Fantastic songs from the 90's. It's a pure Pop/Rock song with heavy electric guitar and nice solos, but what really makes the song is the ending coda. So good, so perfect, so Bowie.

05 - Heathen (The Rays) (from Heathen 2002)
One of my favourite Bowie songs from one of my favourite albums. THe lyrics are so beautiful and the way the song goes from up and downs is so intense. Bowie's vocal is at his best really. The drum and the keyboards also contribute to a great song. Fantastic, one of those songs I'll keep with me forever.

Monday, January 11, 2016

David Bowie Passed Away

This is the saddest day for music ever.
The legendary David Bowie died at 69, following a 18-month fight with cancer.
This is so sad, so sad, actually I never felt this sad by the death of someone that I actually don't know.
I can say without any doubt that, Bowie is the most influential artist of all time. No one can ever be compared with him, he was high above anyone else, since he was young until the day of his dead.

Bowie released in last album "Blackstar" last friday and, magically, he released also a farewell song, Lazarus, that is a statement about his own death. What a vision.

Listening to Lazarus now is a strange experience... Really sad one, but also amazing one.

Almost all of my favourite artists sent some words about him.

Personally, some of his songs really mean a lot to me. If I would choose two songs, I can say that "Heroes" was some kind of a Shield song for a very special relationship I had and "Where Are We Now?" was the most uplifting experience I had. I was travelling to Slovakia on the next day that it was released, I bought The Times, that had a big article about him and I was in London airport for hours, listening to the song on repeat.

David Bowie, you will be forever with us.

Wednesday, January 06, 2016

David Bowie, The Blackstar


Can an artist be more interesting than David Bowie? Really difficult to answer, and, for me, the correct answer is no.
We all know who Bowie is and what he did (and still does) to music, and how many times his identity changed. Through all the changes, only one thing never changed:the high quality of Bowie's music.

And again, with 68 years old, after the most extraordinary come back of all music history, he releases a great single. It's not his best work (for me) but, he remains very powerfully interesting.
It's not a catchy song, it's not a typical single (it's a 10 minutes track) but it is fantastic.

Blackstar is a mix of different sounds, different instruments and a it is a really dark tune, which completes the lyrics and the melody very well. It's a little bit insane too and has a very peaceful and calm part, something like the moment when you leave the darkness behind, to embrace the heaven, but then you fall again to the dark side.
Oh well, it's fantastic, sounds like something that came from a God, or a superior soul.
Actually, I think that this "title" is the one that fits better to Bowie. Dylan is a legend, Lennon was a revolutionary, McCartney the successful, Hendrix the genious, Elvis the king, and Bowie the God.

The video fits the crazy part of the song very well.
In two days we will have the new album.

Sunday, January 03, 2016

New Year Resolutions


Some people need a wish to start the new year, other to make 2 or 3 goals to achieve a healthier life.
I was listening to some Manic Street Preachers songs this January and was thinking that "Everything Must Go" is probably one of the best songs to start a new year.
Just let the previous year go, let everything go, and let the new year flow naturally, without keeping you stuck to yesterday's problems.

"I look to the future it makes me cry but it seems too real to tell you why, freed from the century with nothing but memory, memory. And I just hope that you can forgive us but everything must go"

Happy New Year!