Well with all the recent posts about AI music generation, deep fake images etc etc, the obvious next step has to be…..

ChatGPT, Write a very interesting opening post for the forum at theafterword.co.uk

Certainly! Here’s an engaging and thought-provoking opening post for the forum at theafterword.co.uk:

Title: “Music, Memory, and Meaning – What’s the Song That Defines You?”

Hello everyone,

I’ve been reflecting lately on how certain songs seem to have a way of embedding themselves in the soundtrack of our lives. It’s more than just a melody or a catchy chorus—sometimes, a song can feel like a personal time capsule, unlocking memories and emotions with just a few familiar notes. It could be a track that reminds you of a place, a person, or even a moment in time you’d long since forgotten.

So, I thought I’d pose a question to you all: What’s the song that defines you? The one that, whenever you hear it, you can’t help but think, “That’s me. That’s my life, right there.” Whether it’s a song that was a constant during a pivotal moment, or one that just feels like it gets you—what’s the track that resonates so deeply with your own » Continue Reading.

There’s a new album due from Rose City Band early next year (January I think) and the lead track has been released. It’s rather fabulous.

I know that they are “influenced” by the Grateful Dead (I recall a few years ago that @junior-wells stated that their album Summertime was a cross between Grateful Dead and Lloyd Cole). This track seems to maintain that position – my immediate thought on hearing was “A Touch of Grey”.

Compare and contrast the videos in the first comment.

Help me out here folks.

Firstly, I love this track and am generally a fan of most of Ms Nicks stuff (although her later albums were always a bit bland). I would probably say that Edge Of Seventeen is up there with the best tracks she has written – including her Fleetwood Mac stuff.

But…

The YouTube clip in the first comment is the recently aired / posted performance of Edge Of Seventeen from SNL and I think is terrible. I can’t put my finger on why and understand that she’s now about 140 years old and so the voice maybe not what it was, but I just don’t like this.

The comments on YouTube though are universally positive. Is it just me then ? What am I missing ?

On BBC Two last night and on iPlayer (link below) a 2.5 hour compilation of an assortment of clips from the BBC archive. Some real gems including a rare performance from Blue Nile, acoustic Eurythmics, early Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell….. Full list below.

1. Pet Shop Boys / Opportunities – OGWT 1986 2. Dusty Springfield / Save Me, Save Me – Shirley Bassey 1979 3. Beach Boys / Barbara Ann – Later 2012 4. Bob Dylan / With God On Our Side – Tonight 1964 5. MC Hammer / U Can’t Touch This – Women 1991 6. Josephine Baker / La Vie en Rose – Royal Variety 1974 7. Jeff Buckley / Grace – Late Show 1995 8. INXS / Bitter Tears – Paramount City 1991 9. Billy Joel / We Didn’t; Start The Fire – Wogan 1989 10. Tammy Wynette / DIVORCE – Tammy 1977 11. U2 / I Will Follow – OGWT 1981 12. Blue Nile / Body and Soul – Later 1996 13. Eurythmics / When The Day Goes Down – Wogan with Ben Elton 1989 14. B-52s / Roam – Paramount City 1990 15. Four Tops / When She Was My Girl – Marti Caine 1982 » Continue Reading.

As I’m crap at writing reviews, I’ll just leave this as a simple post…..

Held by Trees are a group of ex Talk Talk alumni and various other session musicians (including the one and only Robbie McIntosh who I know is highly regarded in these parts), that came together a few years ago and released the album “Solace’. Very much inspired by Mark Hollis it’s an album that anyone who likes later Talk Talk will enjoy.

They have just released their first collaboration with a vocalist – Martin Smith – as an EP. A couple of 12 minute long tracks and a shorter more upbeat one, followed by instrumental versions of each. As you would expect with ex Talk Talk alumni/ inspired by, its beautifully played delicate instrumentation with the restrained vocals of Martin Smith weaving in an out.

Highly recommended.

Obligatory YouTube sampler in the first comment.

https://heldbytrees.bandcamp.com/album/held-by-trees-martin-smith

I came across this advert from 1996 for M&M’s which have a voice over by Alexis Sayle, but more interestingly the music is by none other than Steven Wilson. This would have been when he was in the early days of Porcupine Tree.

I know that especially in the early days of their careers, musicians will take on any jingle / TV / etc etc work to supplement their income. I guess some will keep it quiet, some will embrace.,

So what other example of your favourite rock ‘n’ rollers extracurricular activities do you have…….

The track “Above The Clouds Of Pompeii” by Bears Den (see comments) popped up on my YouTube feed and posting here just because it’s rather lovely.

It’s from their debut album “Islands” which was released in 2014 and has its inevitable 10yr anniversary due imminently.

That said, a band that don’t get enough discussion and well worth investing your time on (in my humble opinion)

Received an email from Bandcamp this morning regarding a new release from @twang….

It looks like it’s a 20th anniversary remaster / reissue, but without any marbles.

So, @twang – time to blow your trumpet (I know you play guitar) and tell us all about it……

https://jonathanroberts.bandcamp.com/album/fast-loose?from=fanpub_fb

New song from the legend that is Steve Cropper (see first comment). Album due next month.

I’m liking.

I was just watching a clip on You Tube of the Joe Bonamassa live at the Hollywood Bowl with orchestra. Whilst I like a lot of Bonamassa stuff and he is undoubtably a superb guitarist, I often find his live performances a little too sterile (i.e. too much like the studio album) and so this at leasts adds a new dimension.

Anyway, whilst watching I was thinking it would be great to see this live, but the economics of touring the world with an orchestra are probably not feasible. However, thinking further – would I be right to assume that with any “… and orchestra” concerts, the actual orchestrations would be worked our for each instrument and they would follow the score without needing to really know the actual song. As such, does that mean that any concert with orchestra could in theory just turn up in any city, employ the local symphony orchestra for a couple of nights and bob’s your uncle…. ?

New two part documentary based on the book by Stephen Witt.

Enjoyable documentary that pretty much follows the book (which I read a few years ago) – it gives a good insight into how file sharing started, how a employee of a CD manufacturing plant in the Deep South helped it along and most notable how clueless the record companies were in how to address (sue your customers – good plan!).

Not sure what service it’s being shown on in the UK (but I guess in the true spirit of the program you can always find on the eel market).

Article from the Guardian about it……

https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/article/2024/jun/11/how-music-got-free-docuseries-paramount

No I haven’t acquired a stutter…. There is actually a new song and forthcoming album from Matt Johnson.

Album “Ensoulment” out in September. First song in comments.

Sometimes you come across a write up for a new album release that, even though you have never heard of, you just have to go and explore…….

Bill Fisher / How To Think Like A Billionaire

“Imagine Kate Bush and Tori Amos wrote a yacht doom album satirising the edgelord-tech-billionaire-worship generation, recorded by Peter Gabriel and Michael McDonald in the early 80s using an industry prerelease unit of the late 90s Yamaha PSR-8000 synthesiser, several heavily distorted guitars, and a baby grand”

Its on Bandcamp (and YouTube)

Not content with just releasing a superb new album, One Deep River, the guitar legend that is Mark Knopfler has just released a 4 track EP, The Boy, of “extra” tracks he had kicking around. There’s an official video (see first comment) of one of the tracks “All Comers”, which for me is up there as one of his best – a simple joyous track.

I know it may be staged, but the video comes across as a bunch of shit hot musicians simply enjoying making music. That opening guitar is instantly recognisable as MK……

For all you Blue Nile fans out there – new pressings on vinyl for all 4albums……

https://thebluenile.tmstor.es/?utm_campaign=The%20Blue%20Nile%202024%20Vinyl%20Reissues&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Mailjet

Whilst Gary gives you world leaders as rock stars, who would like to see characters from Trumpton embracing the world of pop ?

In the spirit of my previous posts on new stuff, and the fact that the Japanese group Mono are one of my favourites, here is the newly released title track from their forthcoming album (out 14th June)….

Video in first comment.

And yes, I know that I keep banging on about Mono and that everyone promptly ignores me, but I don;t care. I like them,

Okay – I know that this charity single got a bit of a kicking when it was previewed on here a few months ago, but anyway….

They have just released the “official video” on YouTube that’s basically an animation that shows who is playing during the song. Some are obvious, but some surprised me. Whether or not you agree with charity singles, like Mark Knopfler, etc etc, its still a fun exercise to to a spot the various guitarists on here.

But, even better,,,,,,,

At 5:45 (right after Duane Eddy) who should pop up – none other than “Twang”

@twang – having a couple of your albums, I know you are pretty good, but I must say, I’m impressed you managed to get this gig 😉

Video in first comment.

A completely new artist to me (and I did a quick search on here and found no mention, so probably new to a lot of folks).

American singer, songwriter and keyboard player that is heavily influenced by classic New Orleans artists (Dr John, Allen Toussaint) that has been going for around 5 years now (as a solo artist). Came across his album “Francis Comes Alive” (guess what that was inspired by) at the weekend and it’s superb.

As its someone that’s new to me, I did some quick research and he has a couple of studio albums and an EP out – reviews have described him as “Francis captures a sound that’s somewhere between Elton John and Little Feat” and “lovers of Dr. John, Leon Russell, and The Meters will immediately feel at home amid Francis’ fat-bottomed, bluesy bangers”, Guest musicians on the second studio album include Derek Trucks on slide guitar. You get the idea.

There’s a bunch of clips from this live show on YouTube – I’ll post the opening track in the comments, Actually the whole concert movie is up on YouTube.

After watching the video of Make Me Smile the other day, my YouTube feed was populated with a few old classic music videos which I duly watched.

Being a teenager in the early 80s, I guess I grew up in the “golden age” of music videos – MTV had just started, there were the “event” videos like Thriller, Undercover of the Night, etc etc (I still recall watching the being premiered on The Tube).

Even though YouTube is the perfect platform for music videos, it seems they are not as important as they used to be – there seems to be an abundance of “lyric videos” and not the big event productions – is this simply due to the fact there are so many, its no longer a medium that stands out ?

So, what are the all time greatest music videos (my choice in the comments) and are there any recent ones that have impressed ?

I know that it’s not really funny, but this news story made me laugh….

A student in Taiwan tried to cheat multiple insurance companies by claiming he had suffered from severe frostbite whilst out on a scooter ride by immersing his legs in dry ice for 10 hours which resulted in him having to have both amputated. Surely a contender for the Darwin Awards (although I think it has to result in death to be eligible for those).

The upside I guess is that Xi Jin Ping will read this and give up on plans to invade Taiwan if that’s the level of intelligence…….

Any better contenders for most stupid thing this week……

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/5114699

Following up from my multiple award winning thread from a month or so ago, and to show that I can follow the mods instructions bu posting videos in the comments, I bring you more new stuff…..

More new tracks that have struck a chord and you think others may like….

Kamasi Washington / Prologue – taster track from the new album due in May, a fine piece of sax from the modern jazz supremo. This one grabbed me on first listen and I’m looking forward to the album

Slash featuring Brian Johnson / Killing Floor – guitar legend plays an old Howlin Wold track with Brian Johnson on vocals and Steven Tyler on harmonica… what’s not to like ? A taster from a new album of blues covers due also in May.