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

Vertigo at Foxboro: U2 Concert September 20, 2009

Last night I went down to Foxboro for the U2 concert at Gillete Stadium. If you missed the show, here is how you can recreate my experience. Go to your driveway and sit in a car for over 3 hours. Climb a ladder and get up on the top of your roof. Have someone place 4 action figures on the ground below you. Put a stool on top of them. On the stool place an old 19 inch TV (extra points if you put it on a rotating turntable). Lift up the antenna. Put a rubber chicken on top of it (it is easier to find than a rubber octupus). Light the whole thing up with Christmas lights. Next tell your neighbors with the large stereo system to turn it on in their basement, crank a U2 cd up all the way, and open their windows.  At some point have a flashlight shine skyward from the top of the TV. Look down and enjoy the show.

Well sitting up in the nosebleed seats of Gillette Stadium was an experience! Looking down at the band they looked like people on the ground do as an airplane settles in to a landing at the airport. If the little man held a guitar, I figured out it wasn't Bono down on the stage. The gigantic video screen as part of the set at least let me know what was going on so far below. The sound was muddled up so high, but the familiar pulsating beats of the songs from the U2 catalog were still fun to listen to. Besides the 3 hours of traffic getting into the stadium, the concert was a fun experience that I got to share with my son, Andrew.  The comments in the Boston.com article here, tell you about people's positive and negative experiences.

Here is the set list:

1. Breathe

2. No Line On The Horizon

3. Get On Your Boots

4. Magnificent

5. Mysterious Ways

6. Beautiful Day / Blackbird (snippet)

7. Elevation

8. I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For / Stand By Me (snippet)

9. Unknown Caller

10. New Years Day

11. Stuck In A Moment

12. The Unforgettable Fire

13. City of Blinding Lights

14. Vertigo / She Loves You (snippet)

15. I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight (Remix)

16. Sunday Bloody Sunday / Rock The Casbah (snippet)

17. MLK

18. Walk On

19. One / Amazing Grace (snippet)

20. Where The Streets Have No Name

21. UltraViolet (Light My Way)

22. With Or Without You

23. Moment Of Surrender

We missed the first two songs and left before the final song, sprinting to our car and beating traffic. After dropping off Andy at Gordon College, I didn't get home until 1:45 am. Highlights were Amazing Grace transitioning to "Where the Streets Have No Name" (although the singing was muddy) and "Stuck in a Moment" as it reminded me of times back when it first came out.

Video of Amazing Grace/Streets and Stuck in a Moment from the concert here:




It was my second U2 concert, I saw them on the Pop tour in Foxboro also. I don't know if I would want to go through the parking and driving hassle again and I certainly would like better seats! But it was a memorable time spent with Andy.

Here are some videos I found of the U2 concerts at Foxborough.

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

Moment of Surrender

I have had my tickets for a couple of months now for a U2 concert at the end of September and I can't wait for the show. Here is a video of U2 performing "Moment of Surrender" in Amsterdam on July 20th.



You can see Bono on his knees reciting Bible verses, including Isaiah 40 and singing the refrain from "40" at the end: "How Long?" Many people read various meanings into the lyrics. Some funny, "This song is clearly about winning a bronze medal in the shotput in the 1984 Summer Olympics," and some spot on. This song definitely is paired with "Unknown Caller", my favoite song on the "No Line on the Horizon."

"Moment of Surrender"

I tied myself with wire
To let the horses run free
Playing with the fire until the fire played with me
The stone was semi-precious
We were barely conscious
Two souls too smart to be in the realm of certainty
Even on our wedding day

We set ourselves on fire
Oh God, do not deny her
It's not if I believe in love
But if love believes in me
Oh, believe in me

At the moment of surrender
I folded to my knees
I did not notice the passers-by
And they did not notice me

I've been in every black hole
At the altar of the dark star
My body's now a begging bowl
That's begging to get back, begging to get back
To my heart
To the rhythm of my soul
To the rhythm of my unconsciousness
To the rhythm that yearns
To be released form control

I was punching in the numbers at the ATM machine
I could see in the reflection
A face staring back at me
At the moment of surrender
Of vision over visibility
I did not notice the passers-by
And they did not notice me

I was speeding on the subway
Through the stations of the cross
Every eye looking every other way
Counting down 'til the pain would stop

At the moment of surrender
Of vision over visibility
I did not notice the passers-by
And they did not notice me

Broken Things by Julie Miller

I first heard this Julie Miller song a few years ago based on someone's recommendation. It is on the 1999 Broken Things cd. It needs no commentary as it is a wonderful song. I was thrilled when a lady sang it at our church last year, as it is a great place to sing it!



Broken Things

You can have my heart, though it isn't new,
It's been used and broken, and only comes in blue,
It's been down a long road, and it got dirty along the way,
If I give it to you, will you make it clean and wash the shame away?

You can have my heart, if you don't mind broken things,
You can have my life; you don't mind these tears,
Well, I heard that you make old things new, so I give these pieces all to you,
If you want it, you can have my heart.

So beyond repair, nothing I could do,
I tried to fix it myself, but it was only worse when I got through,
Then you walk right into my darkness and you speak words so sweet,
And you hold me like a child, 'til my frozen tears fall at your feet.

You can have my heart, if you don't mind broken things,
You can have my life if you don't mind these tears,
Well, I heard that you make old things new, so I give these pieces up to you,
If you want it, you can have my heart.

Here is Buddy Miller singing "Hole in My Head". Buddy and Julie Miller have a new album out called "Written in Chalk".

"It is a Song for Sesame Street, I Hope!"

Danielson recently released a 2 cd retrospective of its first ten years (1994-2004). It is called "Trying Hartz" (a review here). If you like your music quirky and creative and you can get away from listening to mainstream sounds, then Danielson may be a group that you will enjoy. Or maybe not! I like the sound. My family thinks I am nuts! I also like the lyrics that can tend to be weird as well as honest and direct; if you can figure out what direction they are coming from!

Idiot Boxsen is a song about the evils of television. Here is a creative video melting the mindset of Sponge Bob, the Veggie Tales and who knows what else done in a Danielson Familie type sing-a-long. The song first appeared on "Tri-Danielson- Omega".



Here they are live doing the same song in 1999 at the Cornerstone Festival and having a bunch of fun!


Another song on the retrospective is "Good News for the Pus Pickers" and what a wild title for a song! It is a strangely energetic song.



Lyrics to Good News For The Pus Pickers:
Seven flowers on the hour cry
"We are groaning for the sons,
Of the One who makes us sing,
To reveal themselves this spring"

We just got outta jail today
And we all are here to say,
All us speaking for the band,
Airplane faith is in your hand

Through the fire and the river
But never ever all alone,
When He set the broken bone,
Hell the grave fell overthrown

On heals Kingdom Come
Comfort creme pours out
On the limb there is the children
Opposite of doormat
So tip your hat and wait on that
And that is that

The last kick
In the teeth
Is the first
Of the blocks
Set to song,
Hum along
And poisons peeved
Double minded me off
Of myself
Dust the eyes
Of my heart
That's on the shelf

We have all picked our noses tall,
Pitfalls and black holes have robbed,
But thanksgiving was our sail,
In three shakes of the lamb's tail

Seven flowers on the hour cry
"Balance seems to be the key,
Join into the famile,
Singing let us a.b.c."

They call me chief, they call me hoss
"You call me son, so I am son"
We live in two worlds, unseen and seen
"Kingdom squeaky clean, resting squeaky clean"
Join into the ships, when your mind is wild
"You call me child, so I am child"

Then there is "Rubbernecker" another song on the compilation.



The critics talk about a Bruce Springsteen song and Danielson's "Rubbernecker" in this video clip. "It is a Song for Sesame Street, I Hope!"



If you have hung in this far then you can download some of thier songs at the Secretly Canadian website.

Three Views on "War Child" Emmanuel Jal

I have enjoyed learning about the life of lost boy, child soldier, hip-hop singer, author, activist, and documentary subject Emmanual Jal over the past few months. I started with learning about his music.

His music on "War Child" has been a steady companion while I am driving my car or out on a run in my iPod. I just haven't gotten tired of many of the songs.

In January I ordered the "War Child" DVD. I believe it is a must-see DVD if you want to understand the man and mission of Emmanuel Jal. It certainly makes Emmanuel Jal's life story accessable and helped me understand much about the situation in Sudan and Africa.

Last week I finally got Emmananuel Jal's biography "War Child" from Amazon. After it arrived I started reading but was disappointed when I reached page 56 and found that there was a misprinting and the book was missing over 30 pages. Amazon refunded my money and I noticed it was also taken off the site. There must have been a whole bunch of misprints. I had to run out to Borders and pick up a copy to continue reading. This book was much more eye-opening than the DVD or music. Emmanuel Jal and the people of Sudan lived through some horrifying circumstances and this book isn't for the faint of heart. Reading about Emmanuel Jal's childhood was indeed sobering. It makes the triumph of his life and music all the more sweet. I noticed that Amazon has the book back on the site, so the misprints have been dealt with.

Emmanuel Jal talks about writing his memoir "War Child" here:

Emmanuel Jal raps out "Forced to Sin" and tells his story at a Barnes and Noble in New York City.

Whether you listen to the music, watch the DVD, or read the book, "War Child" you will be mesmerized with the life story and message of Emmanuel Jal.

And here he perform "Emma".

I also started using Amazon.com to download my mp3's rather that Itunes. The first selection I made was "Gua" Emmanuel Jal's first cd. It is not as well produced as "War Child", I think Roachie (War Child's producer) adds so much to that album. but it is an album of worship music, sometimes sounding like a cross between early CCM music and hip hop music. Some of the songs are very infectious and catchy.

"Gua" was Emmanuel Jal's first cd and it is mainly about finding peace with God in his life, "Ceasefire" is a cd that he made with Abdel Gadir Salim, a muslim from Northern Sudan. They are from opposite sides of the politcal and religious worlds. In fact they were enemies on the battlefield. Of course "Ceasefire" is music of peace. I have yet to buy and download the music, but I will someday soon.

Emmanual Jal talks about his experiences as documented in his "War Child" memoir in a radio interview.

You can read some of my previous posts on Emmanuel Jal here.