Jonathan Davis - What it is

I'm a 34 year old white guy with dreadlocks. Many many moons ago, I was a 15 year old white kid without dreadlocks. I saw this music video, the song was Falling Away From Me and the band was KoRn. I saw this video of these angst ridden, dreadlocked young Americans, making noises I didn't know guitars, basses or even the human vocal chords could make. I was in awe. That day, I vowed to grow my hair out and get dreadlocks. I haven't managed to let go of them and get a proper haircut.

I've mellowed out a bit (which is why I am part of this blog, and not some rap-metal throwback collective), and it turns out so has Jonathan Davis, KoRn’s frontman, whose solo music is finally here.

I listened to ‘What it is’ a couple of days ago with my wife. I went in expecting wailing guitars, slappy bass and lyrics about a broken man trying to come to terms with who he is. I only got one of those things, and I wasn't very impressed.

The next morning I woke up with the song in my head. I listened to some other music, but couldn't shake Jonathan’s catchy haunt. So I had another listen. This time I knew what to expect. A Solemn piano sets the tone with a distant crying guitar providing a background for Davis’ distinct voice and a powerful drum beat. But it's the chorus that will grab you and take hold. So catchy!

He announced his solo project in 2008, and its taken 10 years to get to where we are. During that time we expected a dubstep record, maybe an attempt at death metal, an experimental 80’s electronic cover album, but what we got is a grown up, chilling look into the twisted mind of a truly creative man. The album should be dropping later in the year, and we can't wait to hear more.

The lyrics are meaningful and the music is epic. It won't fill any dancefloors, but it will make the hairs on your neck stand up. The song outlines the struggle within us all to come to terms with who we are. “But I will embrace who I really am, if it's a son of a bitch or a terrified kid, then that's what it is”. Or a 34 year old white guy with dreadlocks, then that is what it is.

The Gray Vines - See Me

Sometimes, politically, Britain and the USA seem worlds apart. We have our problems, they have their, very different, problems. Musically, however, both nations have a history of producing loud and hard hitting rock ‘n roll protests to these problems.

This week we had a listen to the new single, ‘See Me’, from New Jersey Alt-Rockers, The Gray Vines. This sub-2 minute attack feels both like a love-letter to The Dead Kennedys and a vicious hate-letter to the greedy, established decision makers of America.

The driving guitar riff during the bridge makes you sit up and take notice of Jake Hoffman’s plea “You cry when your stack is shrinking, they cry when they're dying”. This is Raw, this is aggressive, and this is bloody brilliant.

Singer and Guitarist, Hoffman is joined by Casey O’Connell on the bass (with more vocals) and drummer (with even more vocals) Jordan Bowen, and if this track is anything to go by, they are set to take their home state by storm. Appealing to the indie crowd with a splash of dirty punk rock, it's impossible not to mosh and thrash to the catchy beats and infectious riffs. A modern twist on the skate punk rock that made it's way from California to the UK in the early 90’s. This track wouldn't seem out of place compiled next to Bad Religion, yet it fits right in with the chuggy aggressiveness of today.

The video is subtitled with the lyrics, an aggravated message to the ignorant fat cats, crying over their millions, while the real problem is on the street level. As the rich get richer, the poor get poorer, and scenes of riots and fighting create a backdrop for the video, reminding us that the cultural divide is constantly being ignored. “Think of all the things you choose to see. See me!”.

So, it turns out, our establishments aren't any different. The problem is the same all over the world, and it always has been. There were punks in the 70’s, rappers in the 80’s, metalheads in the 90’s all holding up the same middle finger the Gray Vines are holding up right now. The message is always as strong and the music always kicks ass!

Go give the band plenty of love over at Facebook and Instagram. Tell 'em we sent you.

Sunday Morning Chillout Playlist

So on Friday my brother moved back to England from Australia. Having been over 12months since I last saw him there was a lot of catching up to do, and alcohol to drink. After a good 12hour catch up, lots of music sharing and story telling we crashed out.

Saturday - Write off.

Which leads me to Sunday. 2 day hangovers are pretty much part and parcel of getting older. I need some music to gradually raise my mood, here it is then, some Sunday Morning Chill to gradually pick you up and get you in the mood for the day.

The latest tracks of 2018... Franz Ferdinand, Jack White, Weekend Debt, Lissie, Pale Waves and more

Dolores O'Roirdan’s Death

The awful news coming in today that Dolores O'Roirdan of The Cranberries has suddenly passed away 😢.

This really is a sad day, Blue Monday became just that.

I’ve been lucky enough to see Dolores 10 years ago during her Solo days and had been looking for to the recently cancelled Cranberries Tour, which would now never be rescheduled. 

Another lost star well before her time.

It shows how fast life can change and we should truly make the most of it.

🎵'Cause we were raised, 

To see life as fun and take it if we can 🎵

A statement from her publicist said: 

“The lead singer with the Irish band The Cranberries was in London for a short recording session.

“No further details are available at this time.”

RIP Dolores ❤️❤️

Off topic : Extended Ending - Greatest Trick shot in Pool Tournament

Off Topic  Video: https://youtu.be/35w4JgnEuGc

This was the greatest trick in a works pool match. You won’t believe the ending. Certainly Britains next Snooker Master. Extended Ending so you can share with your mates, this is how a pro tidies up a game.



Rebranded to alom.r - A Life of Music Rocks

Rebranded to alom.r - A Life of Music Rocks.
New design for the blog and new address :)
http://www.alifeofmusic.rocks

Old address still works but I'll be upgrading and adding a fully fledged www site too shortly.

Weekend Debt - Three Oh Three AM lyrics (updated with actuals)

Following on adding weekend debt lyrics, I tried to do Three Oh Three AM lyrics. Well that was a nightmare talk about misheard lyrics 😂 I think I'm not one cat Darling!

Anyway, again have a listen on Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/track/5mldJwRSbDKb4l8qnfhBw9?si=6rqrn4U8QEafhaVBbbZ-rA

Edit: so thanks to @weekenddebt Twitter I've been given the correct lyrics for the bit that's sounded like "I think I'm not one cat Darling.." so I've updated the lines.

Edit pt2: Grant replied on Facebook and sent through the actual lyrics so I've dropped these in. Fair to say I was a fair bit off. But happy singing now :D

Courtesy of Grant Scott:

Three oh three a.m.

Early morning
Late thinking
Country boy
Cunt of a boy
Fire your parka on
And bounce out
 take your tie off though
He don't know you patched English to see him

Down at broadwicks bunking gaff
Drinking spirits out a flask
We make our craft
Simpatico and funny
Honey, tell me where you go
But I drink black not mocha darling
Don't tell me to grow
Did you come alone??
Did you what

You used go to see all the bands you liked
But you would dream of him in another light
Cause he would knock you over and chuck you down
And he would call you princess, then smash your crown
He was the one for you, or so you said
But that's cause he's 20 and he takes you to bed
And all the kids from school know that your bad
Does he drive you mad?

Down at broadwicks bunking gaff
Drinking spirits out a flask
We make our craft
Simpatico and funny
Honey, tell me where you go
But I drink black not mocha darling
Don't tell me to grow
Are you going home?
Are you what

Down at broadwicks bunking gaff
Drinking spirits out a flask
We make our craft
Simpatico and funny
Honey, tell me where you go
But I drink black not mocha darling
Don't tell me to grow
Does your dad condone?
Does he fuck




And here's my original attempt to write out their lyrics, captured in time for shits and giggles.


Weekend Debt - Three Oh Three AM  Lyrics my misheard ones (well almost lol)

Early morning, I'm late thinking.
Oh he's a country boy 
He's a (?) boy   [listening to radio edit]
Fire your Parker on though, and bounce out
But take your tie off though cause he don't know
You've part extinguished to see him (?)

Down at Broadway spunking gaft (?)
Drinking spirits how they're fast
We make our calf(?)
Oh you're so practical and funny, Honey, tell me where to go
I think I'm not one cat Darling!
But I drink black not mocha, Darling, 
don't tell me to go!
Did you come alone?
Did you what?

You used to go and see all the bands you liked
But you would dream of him in another light
Cause he would knock you over then push down
And he would call you Princess and smash your crown
He was the one for you, or so you said.
But that's cause he's 20 and he takes you to bed.
All the guys in school knew that your bad
Does he drive you mad?

Down at Broadway spunking gaft (?)
Drinking spirits, how they're fast
We make our cars (?)
Oh you're so practical and funny, Honey, tell me where to go
But I drink back from none cat (?!), Darling, 
But I drink black not mocha, Darling, 

don't tell me to go!
Are you going home!
Are you what?

Down at Broadway spunking gaft (?)
Drinking spirits how they're fast
We make our calf(?)
Oh you're so practical and funny, Honey, tell me where to go
But I think back from one cat (?! Nope I'm done), 
But I drink black not mocha, Darling, 

don't tell me to go!
Darling, don't tell me to go!
Cause you're backing down (?)
Does he what?

Weekend Debt - Boyfriend Averse lyrics

Ok so I'm proper getting into Weekend Debt. The frustrating thing is I can't find the lyrics, and being south of the border it's taken a fair amount of listening to understand the accent fully. I think it's almost right but feel free to add comments / corrections :)
Check out the band www.weekenddebt.com

Spotify - Weekend Debt Boyfriend Averse

Weekend Debt - Boyfriend Averse

So tell me it's over
Tell me I'm not ready
You bite your tongue, you clench your jaw.
Work glides up her nose
In the subby the subcy is taking control
Eyes like blackpool around the room 
in the back of my car she changed her tune.

Same black converse Boyfriend Averse 
Say something stronger say something stronger
Same black converse Boyfriend Averse 
Say something stronger say something stronger

She's f*cking gorgeous can't you see?

I hate the way she looks at me

Oh how I give it all just to see her smile

I take her hand and dance for a while

Lose are minds, feel the beat,

Fall in love as you dance with me

Same black converse Boyfriend Averse 
Say something stronger say something stronger
Same black converse Boyfriend Averse 
Say something stronger say something stronger

We are both freaks and we're meant to be
We're meant to live in our memories
Drinking in the clubs, falling down the streets

We are both freaks and we're meant to be
We're meant to live in our memories
Drinking in the clubs, falling down the streets

We are both freaks and we're meant to be
We're meant to live in our memories
Drinking in the clubs, we're falling down the streets

Same black converse Boyfriend Averse 
Say something stronger say something stronger
Same black converse Boyfriend Averse 
Say something stronger say something stronger