Showing posts with label Band of Skulls. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Band of Skulls. Show all posts

Monday, January 18, 2010

Band of Skulls: Shock Sessions

Here is a studio romp through six of the songs off "Baby Darling Doll Face Honey" by the Band of Skulls. It can be found on Shockhound.com.
Fresh from contributing a track to the Twilight Saga: New Moon soundtrack, England's hottest new buzz band lays down a scorching live set in the ShockHound Studio. Songs include "Light Of The Morning," "Death By Diamonds And Pearls," "Patterns," "Blood" and "Impossible."

Here
is a review of some of the influences found on the album.


Here is another Shockhound video session:

Southhampton, UK power trio Band Of Skulls rock the ShockHound stage for this exclusive Shock Sessions performance. Songs include "Patterns," "I Know What I Am," "Death By Diamonds And Pearls," "Blood," and "Impossible."



Here is a Shockhound video for Fires.


FIRES

Baby, Darling, Doll Face, Honey
Now I don't mean to cause you worry
It's only hands in my pocket
And the Queen on my money

Did you know I've been wanting you?
so leave your locks on the latches
If you bring the water, I'll bring the matches

'cause we are fires in the night
We are fires in the night
Let us bathe you in our heart
'cause we are fires in the night

Come on get up Romeo
Don't you know what the time is?
It's the fall of rock 'n roll,
That's what the news said

Did you know I've been wanting you?
so leave your locks on the latches
If you bring the water, I'll bring the matches

'cause we are fires in the night
We are fires in the night
Let us bathe you in our heart
'cause we are fires in the night

we are fires in the night
we are fires in the night
let us bathe you in our life
we are fires in the night

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Band of Skulls and Prefab Sprout: Breaking Up Songs

When I first listened to Band of Skulls, I was immediatly reminded of an English group I hadn't listened to in years called "Prefab Sprout". Both groups have a male and female singer, sometimes breathy singing, and a similar "feel" (jangly guitars) to their songs. I may be the only one to make this connection, but for some reason it is something I notice even though I can't put an exact finger on why they sound similar. Maybe it is because they both have interesting sounding "breakup songs": see the two videos below for the Band of Skulls song, "Cold Fame", and Prefab Sprouts 1980's song, "When Love Breaks Down". After writing my first post on Band of Skulls, I noticed that the Steve Stockman, author of the book, Walk On: The Spiritual Journey Of U2 had a post on his blog Soul Surmise on a new Prefab Sprout release called "Let’s Change the World With Music". Actually it was a 1992 recording that has just been released. Steve writes"

That McAloon (of Prefab Sprout) believes that music has power is not a surprise. Where I sat up and really started to listen was when I realised that he adds another vital contribution to the mix; God. For McAloon, music is a gift of God for the transformation of individuals and society.

God is everywhere on Lets Change The World With Music. For McAloon the voice of God in our fallen world comes through music. His take on Genesis and the genesis of this album finds God speaking:

“Let there be music,

music will be...

and you shall hear my story,

you will glimpse my glory

and find a refuge

from the trouble that you see.”


Throughout the piece you’ll hear angels sing and sweet Gospel music will carry the heavy hearts, ignite the romance of love and the fire the acts of constructive change. On Ride people “walking in the footsteps of the Lord” know Jesus by their side. On Earth: The Story So Far the birth of Jesus comes with a message of salvation and love. God Watch Over You even suggests incredulously that McAloon is not a believer but is wearing out his knees praying for his children.

Band of Skulls "Cold Fame" from "Baby Darling Doll Face Honey



What's the point of pain if it's been abused?
What's a kid like me even got to lose?
Here I am on your bed again-- its too big for the room it's in.
Wash your face and mouth just a little bit,
everybody knows that you're good at it.
Nothing hurts like an answer phone, drinking some, waking up alone.
Maybe if I try just a little more, I can take myself from this dirty floor.
Walk through buildings of elegance, just like you are intelligent.
But still I fall from grace with this microphone,
how'd you find yourself if you never roam?
Certainly I'm indebted baby, certainly, certainly...

I know my place, but it don't know me.
I know my place, but it don't know me.

No one wants to hear that you're breaking up,
it wasn't long ago we said start me up.
Now all your dreamin' will have to wait, what you deserve you'll anticipate.
Play your 45 with this late at night, open all the windows, turn out the light.
Mysterious creatures will fill the room, a midnight show just put on for you.
But still I fall from grace with this microphone,
how'd you find yourself if you never roam?
Certainly I'm indebted baby, certainly, certainly...

I know my place, but it don't know me.
I know my place, but it don't know me.

Cold fame in my brain, but it's okay cause I know it's the best for me...

Prefab Sprout "When Love Breaks Down" as performed in 1985 from the album "Steve McQueen". In America, it was renamed Two Wheels Good for legal reasons.



When Love Breaks Down

My love and I, we work well together
But often we're apart
Absence makes the heart lose weight, yeah,
Till love breaks down, love breaks down

Oh my, oh my, have you seen the weather
The sweet September rain
Rain on me like no other
Until I drown, until I drown

When love breaks down
The things you do
To stop the truth from hurting you

When love breaks down
The lies we tell,
They only serve to fool ourselves,
When love breaks down
The things you do
To stop the truth from hurting you

When love breaks down, when love breaks down

My love and I, we are boxing clever
She'll never crowd me out
Fall be free as old confetti
And paint the town, paint the town
When love breaks down
The things you do
To stop the truth from hurtin' you
When love breaks down
The lies we tell,
They only serve to fool ourselves,
When love breaks down
The things you do
To stop the truth from hurtin' you
When love breaks down
The lies we tell,
They only serve to fool ourselves,
When love breaks down
The things you do
To stop the truth from hurting you
When love breaks down
You join the wrecks
Who leave their hearts for easy sex
When love breaks down
When love breaks down

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Band of Skulls: "Baby Darling Doll Face Honey"



I heard some drumming and guitar strokes and liked the song. I checked out the song and found it was by a band called "Band of Skulls" I decided to try out some more of their music (even though they had a funky band name) and liked what I heard enough to give them a shot. I found out that they are an English band of three members: Matthew Hayward, who plays the drums, Russell Marsden, who plays guitar, and shares vocals with Emma Richardson, who also is the bass player. The sound is sharp and bouncy at times and I like the spaces that are left between notes and beats. Their cd is called Baby Darling Doll Face Honey
If you like good fun music then this band might be for you! I am still listening through the album and find it to be a nice diversion to what I have been listening to lately. Here are some standout tracks.

Here is a video of "I Know What I Am".

Band of Skulls - I Know What I Am


High ho,
Triple sow cow,
I got a feeling like I'm tired of the flow
But I know what I am,
They know what they are
So let me be

Gasoline
Suck her in,
I got no reason for the state I'm in,
But I know what I am,
They know what they are
So let me be

Hotel,
Taco Bell,
I got the hit that you know damn well,
But I know what I am,
They know what they are
So let me be

Cut, tease,
Better believe,
I got the feeling that I'm underneath,
But I know what I am,
They know what they are
So let me be

But it's alright,
It's okay,
I got the time,
But the time don't pay
It's alright,
It's okay,
I got the time,
But the time don't pay
It's alright,
It's okay,
I got the time,
But the time don't pay
It's alright,
It's okay.

Flip flop,
No stop,
I got the wit that my enemies lack,
But I know what I am,
They know what they are
So let me be

Trick some,
Just begun,
Giving you more when you only want one,
Cause I know what I am,
They know what they are
So let me be

Hot, sweat,
Got debt,
Keep looking in the locker cause you don't know yet,
But I know what I am,
They know what they are
So let me be

Ship shape,
Ticker tape,
Looks to me like a narrow escape,
But I know what I am,
They know what they are
So let me be

But it's alright,
It's okay,
I got the time,
But the time don't pay
It's alright,
It's okay,
I got the time,
But the time don't pay
It's alright,
It's okay,
I got the time,
But the time don't pay
It's alright,
It's okay.

I know what I am,
They know what they are
So let me be
I know what I am.
I know what I am,
They know what they are
So let me be
I know what I am.
I know what I am,
They know what they are
So let me be
I know what I am.
I know what I am,
They know what they are
So let me be
I know what I am,
They know what they are
So let me be
I know what I am,
They know what they are
So let me be
I know what I am,
They know what they are
So let me be

Here is a video of an acoustic version of "Fires".


Baby, Darling, Doll Face, Honey
Now I don't mean to cause you worry
It's only hands in my pocket
And the Queen on my money

Did you know I've been wanting you?
so leave your locks on the latches
If you bring the water, I'll bring the matches

'cause we are fires in the night
We are fires in the night
Let us bathe you in our heart
'cause we are fires in the night

Come on get up Romeo
Don't you know what the time is?
It's the fall of rock 'n roll,
That's what the news said

Did you know I've been wanting you?
so leave your locks on the latches
If you bring the water, I'll bring the matches

'cause we are fires in the night
We are fires in the night
Let us bathe you in our heart
'cause we are fires in the night

we are fires in the night
we are fires in the night
let us bathe you in our life
we are fires in the night