2016 Memory And Legacy

Well, people are saying (and they are right) that 2016 was the worst year ever, that a lot of great artists died and that it was like a nightmare.

Actually the bad vibe started in the end of 2015, as a prelude to 2016, with the death of Lemmy, the legendary singer of Motorhead.

Then, it came the death of Bowie. The saddest and, at the same time, greatest death in music history. Bowie, knowing he was passing away, gave us his last piece of magic. He released Blackstar, and, moments before dying, he released the single Lazarus, the man who resurrects according to the bible. Bowie died, but impressed everyone with his pure genius. It was really sad and really incredible. It was the moment that I felt more a death of someone that I don't actually know in my life.

Then, another one very sad was Leonard Cohen. Cohen was getting very old, we could see it, but he, also, released a new album this year. His interview where he says that he is ready to die it's also a peaceful and nostalgic moment. What a man.

George Michael, was never one of my favourite artists but his death also caught the general public very surprised and, it was sad. Listening back to Michael, he did have some very great songs.

Prince also, I never was a super fan, but he inspired almost all of my favourite artists.

Glen Frey, Frank Sinatra Jr. and Dale Griffin (from Mott the Hoople) also left their mark int his year.

Well, the truth is that, the world's greatest artists are getting old. The major acts from the 60's and 70's are, most of them, in a very good shape, but they are getting old, and that's life. McCartney, Jagger or Brian Wilson won't be here forever, unfortunately.

But, as a conclusion let's celebrate the gigantic legacy that, the artists that passed away in 2016 left us. Specially, let's celebrate the greatest musician of all time, David Bowie. Be well David, and thank you.

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. 

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!

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.

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.

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!

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

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.

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:

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.

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.

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!

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...

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."

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!! 

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!

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!

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!

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.

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/