10 and 1 - Tell Me A Story

People that are good like with words and stuff.

THE GREAT STORYTELLERS

by Matt Bond

Why hello... it's story time, boys and girls. You're a music fan, I'm a music fan, but sometimes you want your favourite singers to weave their poetic words into a story that's a little something more than (x) attempts to mate with (y) or (y) is triumphing over being heartbroken by (x) by swinging on installations on the ceiling or how (x) can be (y) if (x) wants because, baby, (x) was born that way. I love a good 'ole music storyteller. Personally, I'm a big fan of those that rip your heart out, throw it on the floor and then run it over on a Harley Davidson over and over and over again. The main thing is, I know I have a problem. But I don't think I'm alone. We all love music that can make us laugh, cry, singalong and entertain us. There are moments when all we need is your basic (x) and (y) story. And then there's times we want (a), (b) and (c) in the mix adding to the narrative as well. Not in a creepy, sexual way... pervs. 

The smartest writers leave much to the listener when it comes to interpreting their story. With each listen, you could be left viewing a song in a completely different light. A hero becomes a villain, the love of 'his' life suddenly becomes the other woman or what you once heard as a fairly straightforward tale of falling in love is now a deep and complex study or life, love, loss and everything in between. But you don't want to be too complex. Do you know what Black Eyed Peas' 'Boom Boom Pow' was about? Do you know what it means when chicken are jackin' your style? If you do, please let me know. I've been trying to work that out for years now. #jks. It's a statement about artistic integrity, a challenge to those lesser artists than Fergie-Ferg-era BEP's to push art to strange new boundaries. Hence why they are, "so 3008," while you are so, "2000 and late." That's what it means, right? Right?

Anyway, here are ten of my favourite storytellers in music. Maybe some of yours are in here too. As is the '10 and 1' way of doing bid-ness, I'll be leaving you with one artist who might not have the same way with words these guys and gals do. At least in my humble opinion. Enjoy! 

THE 10:

Sara Bareilles

I'm the writer and she's the muse,

I'm the one that you always choose,

She will falter and gift her blame,

And it starts all over again.

- 'Bright Lights and Cityscapes'

My good friend Fry has something to say about Sara Bareilles' storytelling abilities... 

Eddie Vedder

 I changed by not changing at all,

Small town predicts my fate,

Perhaps that's what no one wants to see.

- 'Elderly Woman Behind The Counter In A Small Town'

His catalogue of works reads like a good episode of Law and Order:SVU. Ok, not really (a little), but there's so many songs about social justice and oppressed people and have you heard 'Alive' or 'Jeremy' or 'Black' or 'Man Of The Hour' or any song that this dude's written. Vedder's the man, man. 

Stevie Nicks

 So I try to say goodbye my friend,

 I'd like to leave you with something more,

But never ever been a blue calm sea,

 I have always been a storm.

- 'Storms'

 Stevie Nicks' best stories are about Stevie Nicks. So I guess she's one for those who head straight to the biography section of the bookstore. There's heaps of drama and mystery and romance too. So if you're into those types of books, you're going to love the Nicks. But seriously... who doesn't love the Nicks already?

 
Shirley Manson

Drown in me, one more time,

Hide inside me tonight,

Do what you want to do,

Just pretend happy end,

 Let me know, let it show,

Ending with letting go,

Let's pretend happy end.

- 'You Look So Fine'

I love you, Shirley!!! Please excuse me. I just can't contain myself when it comes to the words of one Manson, S. They'll put you under her spell. SHE'S A WITCH! And what a witch. Garbage drew on an actual story for the song 'The Trick Is To Keep Breathing' which is one of their most beautiful, heartbreaking tracks. And they've got a lot of beautiful, heartbreaking tracks. Like 'You Look So Fine'. It's a story I've gone back and forth with when it comes to the meaning, because part of me wants to believe it's not just a pretend happy end and it's a real one. But it's not so... Oy. I'd love you forever, Shirley! That pretty boy surfer in the video was never good enough for you. 

Billy Corgan

Time is never time at all,

You can never ever leave without leaving a piece of you,

And our lives are forever changed,

We will never be the same,

The more you change the less you feel.

- 'Tonight, Tonight' 

Come on... at one stage he was a really cool dude, right? He was on The Simpsons. It was awesome! Alright, whatever... Corgan had it going on back in the 90s. With just a couple of lines he could leave you contemplating things like the meaning of life, when all you really wanted to do was sing along to that fun '1979' song you heard on the radio. Urgh, I'm going to be stuck on "classic" Smashing Pumpkins for a couple of weeks now. Damn you, Billy Corgan!   

Amanda Palmer

I suffer mornings most of all,

I feel so powerless and small,

By 10 o'clock I'm back in bed,

Fighting the jury in my head

- 'Have To Drive'

What I love the most about Amanda Palmer's stories, is that even though they are so 'her', there are far too many moments in her music that feel like she's telling your story. Maybe 'her' story is 'our' story and she's really just that fan-fucking-tastic at taking some very personal life experiences and putting those into words that any listener can relate to. As a bonus, Amanda is ridiculously clever in her selection of lyrics and can even drop some TWIST! moments into her tracks. Example, 'The Bed Song'. 

Jay-Z

When pop died, didn't cry,

Didn't know him that well,

Between him doing heroin and me doing crack sales...

- 'Moment of Clarity'  

Yes, rap stories are excellent. Especially in the hands of Jay-Z. It's all 'overcoming great adversity' like, starting on the streets and working your way up to becoming #1. Started from the bottom now your here, Drake? Yeahbutno, Jay-Z already told those stories and started much lower and got way higher. And he's got Beyonce. #YOLO.

Lana Del Rey

I hear the birds on the summer breeze,

I drive fast, I am alone in midnight,

Been tryin' hard not to get into trouble,

But I, I've got a war in my mind.

- 'Ride' 

Did anyone else feel that cool breeze of judgment come in through the window? Brrrr. Anyway, haters gonna hate. I've got a lot of time for LDR's breathy tones and melodramatic, Americana-heavy lyrics. She's like the Springsteen of her generation. Haha. I'm kidding. Just wanted some of you to have a slight aneurism. 

Florence Welch

I took the stars from my eyes and then I made a map,

I knew that somehow I could find my way back,

Then I heard your heart beating, you were in the darkness too,

So I stayed in the darkness with you.

- 'Cosmic Love'

Florence's words tell the story of the world through her eyes. And that world is this over the top examination of love, death and war. It can be very violent and honest and beautiful all at the same time. It's just a little bit crackers, but also refreshing. How does she do this? Teach me, oh wise one.

Little May

Somebody told me you were leaving town,

I swear I never thought you'd be the one who let me down...

- 'Boardwalks'

How could I leave out my favourite new storytellers and our Artist of the Month, Little May? Well, I couldn't. Obviously. I've said it before and I'll say it again, these ladies right here are the next great storytellers. And you can find out for yourself by checking out their debut, self-titled EP which is out on October 10. It's also casually hanging out with Rolling Stone Australia if you want to give it a not-so-sneaky listen (or many, many listens) and fall for the oh-so-dreamy stories Little May tell.   

THE ONE:

Nicki Minaj

This dude named Michael used to ride motorcycles,

Dick bigger than a tower, I ain't talking about Eiffels...

(we'll stop there)

- 'Anaconda'

No. A million times no. The disappointing thing about Minaj is, she's actually better than this. Her early raps were full of cutting rhymes and she actually told some decent stories. Now... it's all about how her 'kitty' puts dudes to sleep and now they're calling her NyQuil. NyQuil rhymes with Michael. All of the lols. HAHAHAHAHA. I'm done with life.
 

   

Where Is My Mind? - Your Beauty Is Beyond Compare...

Cyndi Lauper. The most beautiful red head of all...

...With Flaming Locks Of Auburn Hair

by Jo Michelmore

By the time you read this, I will have a new hair colour. Well, I might have. It depends what happens with my fabulous hairstylist in the time between when I write this and when you read it. If you're reading it in 2014, I may have been through numerous colours. I don't know what colour I'll be, but damn it will be hot. I'm sure.


I've been through so many; blue, pink, purple, red, I've even had some blonde for a little while (if you read Candy Shop this week you'll know all about blonde hair). I've done almost every colour except green. I never liked the green hair. It always disturbed me. Looks like you spent too much time in the shower and a dirty moss has grown all over your head. Don't ask me where you're showering. Anyway, as Nayt celebrated the blondes earlier this week, and I left off on a fiery red head in ol' Ginger Spice Geri Halliwell last time we chatted, I decided we should spend today celebrating another hair colour, this time the red heads in our lives. After all, I might have a streak of red hair by the time you read this. And well, we all love a touch of the ginge after all, don't we?

Let's start at the top of the pile with one of the best, It's My Kind Of Scene fave (ok, maybe that's just Matt and I, whatever, we sometimes kinda love her, deal with it); Shirley Manson. The redhead, it just doesn't get better than this. I could probably declare now that I think that Shirley Manson is the most attractive redhead, in the whole world, ever. Got someone else you think competes? Tell me on facebook, this is my blog post. Shirley it is.

So, because I don't think there's a more attractive redhead than Shirley, it's best if no one competes, therefore, I'm going to now feature redheads that I know (think?) some of my friends might like. I'll start with an 80s pop goddess for my friends who can't get enough of that decade, it's Belinda Carlisle. She was in this group, The Go-Go's, who were like the most awesome all girl pop/rock group, long before The Spice Girls were born. No, wait, Ginger's quite old. Maybe they were born, but not famous. Anyway, I digress. Belinda Carlisle paved the way for redheads in pop in the 80s, or something. Maybe I just made that last bit up...

Ok, here's one for my friends who like their musicians a little bit crackers and a little bit 90s. Tori Amos. She's just a bit self indulgent and a little bit odd, but those who are, are so often the best artists and the most creative of all, so I dare not judge. I just admire, 'cause when she's good, she's actually really, really good.

Now one for my friends who like their music a little bit tear-jerky. Sarah McLachan. This one was on the soundtrack of that sappy film, City Of Angels, which was also a bit tear-jerky, if you're into those things. I had a friend who could sing this song like an angel. Damn, some people have good voices. I just rock a karaoke mic every now and then, but some people, phew. Yes, I'll admit it here, I may or may not have shed a tear during this song, once. It was used to promote all sorts of TV shows and dramas and commercials for a while there. I must have cried. Shut your face. You have your own songs. Don't judge me.

I wasn't going to do a whole post and not include some rock, because I am the rock/blues specialist writer on this here blog, apparently. So here you go. Josh Homme. Queens Of The Stone Age. Red hair and rock. Not always the greatest combination. In this case, it works. You're welcome.

I've only included Gina G because she performed at Eurovision in 1996 (albeit without red hair) and well, you know I've been to Eurovision, right? Yeah I have. 2013. This year. It was in Sweden and it was one of the most amazing experiences of my entire life. Jealous? No? You should be.

One more, because I started on someone so fabulous I should end on someone quite fabulous. I wasn't always a big fan of Florence + The Machine, but ol' Flo won me over with this track a couple of years ago, actually. Then I saw her live last year and was totally blown away. Jealous? You should be. Er...what?


Oh Florence, where will you lead me next week? One of your final journeys into the wonder of where my mind is for this year, so let's hope it's somewhere awesome...

It's All Coming Back To Me Now - She Who Must Not Be Named

Who is this?

SHE WHO MUST NOT BE NAMED

by Jo Michelmore

What a crap week for Australian fans of Madonna. First we wait in anticipation for her 2013 tour dates to be announced, then she tells us to work all year to save money to come and see her show, then she cancels any plans to play any shows in Australia. What’s going on Madge? Is this just another dull publicity stunt and you’ll announce dates later in the year? Have you realised your latest album isn’t the greatest and you can’t be bothered making your way to the southern hemisphere to promote something you know doesn’t really deserve much promotion? Is it all a bit more tiring than it used to be and you need a cup of tea and a nap? You are getting on, after all. Those fingerless gloves aren’t hiding anything. We know how old you are. You know what Madonna? It’s Vintage Thursday time and even though I thought I might focus on how fabulous you are, this week you’ve pissed me off. So, instead, let’s focus on some other divas of the past. Until next week, when I hear some song I love from American Life or Bedtime Stories or even that Ray Of Light and remember how much I liked you again. Until then Madonna, you suck.

Marilyn Monroe - Diamonds Are A Girls Best Friend, 1953

Madonna. The 1950’s were the decade you were born. Then there was Marilyn. Beautiful, intelligent, controversial, sexy, icon of fabulousness (Madonna only gets three of those things, you decide which). There’s nothing to be said that hasn’t already been said about Marilyn. Madonna’s been paying tribute/completely copying her for years. Madonna does ok, but Marilyn, there’s just something, there’s a reason you became the absolute star you were and your memory continues to be today. You had it, that quality that can’t be learnt. Madonna’s still trying.

Absolute Garbage, #20 - 16

After an incredibly long hiatus, Garbage are finally ready to release their fifth studio album, Not Your Kind of People, on May 14. One of the most successful alternative bands of the 90s, Garbage was led by Grammy award winning producer Butch Vig (Nirvana - Nevermind), former Spooner guitarist Duke Erikson and producer guitarist Steve Marker. The quartet was completed with the addition of Scottish vocalist, Shirley Manson, who attracted their attention as the front for the underground success, Angelfish. Together, they released two of the greatest albums of the 1990s, even earning an Album of the Year nomination in 1999 for Version 2.0. To celebrate their return, we're counting down our twenty favourite Garbage tracks. Make sure you let us know which of their songs are your favourites too!

#20. Bad Boyfriend

Album: Bleed Like Me (2005)

I wanna hear you call up my name,

I wanna see you burn up in flames...

Shirley Manson knows what she wants in a man. Undeniably sexy, the opening track to Garbage's last LP was raw, loud and a huge departure from the more commercial sound on BeautifulGarbage. Bringing in Dave Grohl for drums took the song from great to unbelievably awesome as he worked in tandem with Steve Marker and Duke Erikson's guitar lines to create what was, at the time, Garbage's heaviest sound. As you'll probably read about another nineteen times before this countdown is over, Manson delivers a show stealing performance with her vocal delivery. From her opening lines she reclaims a lot of the edge that I felt was lacking on most of BeautifulGarbage. She reclaims it spectacularly and never looks back. "If you can't love me honey, Go on just pretend, come on baby be my bad boyfriend." Where can I sign up? (Matt Bond)

#19. Medication

Album: Version 2.0 (1998)

I don't need an education,

I learnt all I need from you...

This is not the Garbage that immediately comes to mind when thoughts of Garbage enter my mind, but it’s Garbage I really, really love. The fourth track on Version 2.0, it sits so beautifully on the album between two of my all time favourite Garbage songs, from the sudden stop of ‘When I Grow Up’, the soft start to this song takes you on a whole different emotional journey to the previous track, then a little over four minutes later, a soft finish to ‘Medication’ and you’re suddenly jolted back into the harshness and anger of ‘Special’; this is how albums should sound when played in full. Vulnerable and exposed, Shirley’s vocal is the star of the track, sometimes showing off her higher vocal range, she sounds strong and clear, the lyrics unguarded and raw; “…somebody get me out of here, I’m tearing at myself, nobody gives a damn about me or anybody else…”. If you ever find the opportunity to hear this song played acoustically, stop whatever you’re doing and concentrate, it’s amazing. Actually, whenever you hear any version of this song you should stop whatever you’re doing and concentrate, it's amazing. Then go and listen to another Garbage song, they’re all quite good. Very good. Go and listen to one now. Quickly. Go. You won’t regret it. (Jo Michelmore)

#18. A Stroke of Luck

Album: Garbage (1995)

I lose what I love most,

Did you know I was lost until you found me?

There's a certain ambiance within 'A Stroke of Luck' that made me fall in love with it from the moment the track begins. With the way the music has been composed and with the lyrical focus throughout on 'falling,' I generally associate the opening with a wide array of falling scenarios; rain, snow and the obvious one - the individual falling down, about to hit rock bottom. Just before any sort of smashing into the ground can occur and by some stroke of luck (see what I did there), they're caught and Shirley Manson's vocal line begins. "Hanging by threads of palest silver, I could have stayed that way forever." Metaphorically falling, only to be saved by a new love... a hope for the future. What's keeping her together doesn't hold, Manson loses her love and once again spirals down and even further down. "Here comes the cold again, I feel it closing in, It's falling down and all around me falling." 'A Stroke of Luck' is tragic, haunting and full of despair. Most of all, it's a brilliant piece of songwriting. Is it really better to have loved and lost, or to have never loved at all? For those of us that want to believe in the former, the words in this song are sure to place some doubt in your mind. (Matt Bond)

#17. Blood for Poppies

Album: Not Your Kind of People (2012)

I don't know why they are calling on the radio,

They know I'm here just out of sight.

The fact that this song made it onto a top 20 Garbage songs list when the song was released less than a month ago is a testament to how awesome this songs is. When I first heard it, I loved it, I reeeeeally loved it but I had to stop and ask myself; did I love this because I’d been waiting so long for a new Garbage song or did I genuinely love it? A little self-analysis, a few (hundred) listens later and nope, I loved this song because it’s a great song. The harsh guitar intro leading into the catchy verse, then the pop driven singalong chorus; is there anything not to love about this track? Just when I think it can’t get better, everything is stripped back for the bridge and then bam, straight back into the catchy, catchy chorus again. The beautiful clip pays reference to the Man Ray and Dali types of the surrealist movement, it’s a little messy and a little perfect, exactly what Garbage is and should be. If the rest of the new album 'Not Your Kind Of People' is this good, I don’t think I'll cope. Someone pass me a paper bag, I’m starting to hyperventilate. (Jo Michelmore)

#16. The Trick Is To Keep Breathing

Album: Version 2.0 (1998)

I won't be the one who's going to let you down,

Maybe you'll get what you want this time around...

The trick is to keep breathing.

In some bizarre way, 'The Trick Is To Keep Breathing' is a motivational song. You wouldn't think so, you know, with the whole depressing tone it has going on. Much the same as 'A Stroke of Luck,' this is a ballad, not necessarily one revolving around being in love, that tells the tale of a girl who's completely down on life. It could be biographical to Shirley Manson, it could be about someone she knew, it could be about someone you as the listener know. "She's not the kind of girl, who likes to tell the world, about the way she feels about herself." I'm sure there's many of you who can relate the lyrics in 'The Trick Is To Keep Breathing' to one or more of your friends who's been through a similar situation. What I believe makes this song better than 'A Stroke of Luck' is the redemptive passage that closes the song. This isn't a ballad about being in love, but there is a message of love in the song. To me, this is a song about friendship. It's about being there for someone, helping them pick themselves up and reminding them that life goes on. Closing the song with Shirley slowly breathing in and out was sheer brilliance and still leaves me catching my breath today. (Matt Bond)  



10 And 1 - All By Myself

Shirley Manson!



Don't worry, I'm going to resist the urge to do what I really want to... post some amazing covers of 'All By Myself!' Instead, we're talking today about lead singers that need to break away from their bands and release some sweet, sweet solo material. Some of them may have already put an album or a song out and others might have never appeared without the support of their bandmates. All I know is, the next ten singers have got to break free. Now, I know it's been a couple of weeks since the last '10 And 1,' so I'd better explain what's the G-O again. I'll list ten singers that could release an amazing solo album that would make us all very, very happy and finish with one that should never, ever even consider it. Not even for a second. Let's get to it...

The 10:

Shirley Manson

of Garbage

Sexy... Everything about you so sexy?

We've been told this a million times... sex sells. Especially in music and, well, porn and a whole bunch of other stuff, but especially in music. You're already starting to wonder where this is going, so I'll get straight to the point. This week, Richard Russell, founder of the amazing British label, XL Records, spoke about the joy that Adele's overwhelming success has given him in a world that's been overrun by "faux porn" pop music;

“The whole message with [Adele] is that it’s just music, it’s just really good music. There are no gimmicks, no selling of sexuality...What a great thing, how amazing. At the level it is at now, it is radical. It is clearly about the music and the talent and the things it is meant to be about. Adele is a good thing to be happening."

Adele is, indeed, a very good thing to be happening for the music industry. Could you say the same of Lady Gaga? Sure, she's running around in a bikini half the time, but would you class her as sexy? With the message she's trying to sell on Born This Way, I haven't really bought into any sexual message. Is Ke$ha sexy, or is she just that drunken easy chick you're willing to lower your standards for? What about Britney Spears? Maybe we shouldn't go into that one. I can't speak for what YOU find sexy, but I can speak for what the good people of FHM and I do, so we're going to do a bit of a face-off today. First I'll give you FHM's ten highest ranking singers in their annual '100 Sexiest Women in the World,' before showing ten women that I believe define the word sexy.

FHM (UK):

1. Katy Perry

Countdown: Women Who Rock - #3, Shirley Manson

#3 - Shirley Manson

of Garbage

Nothing that I write here can truly express how much love and respect I have for Garbage's enigmatic and amazing front woman, Shirley Manson. As the chief songwriter during the decade Garbage was releasing albums, Shirley was producing lyrics that were out of this world, yet insanely honest and somewhat relatable. The self-titled album Garbage came out of nowhere in 1996 with the lead single 'Vow' opening with the unforgettable line, "I can't use what I can't abuse; and I can't stop when it comes to you." In one line, the world was hooked.

Her unique voice can contain more emotion than any other woman on this list. It's in no way the strongest and she doesn't have an incredibly high range, but when it comes to emotion Manson wins hands down. Shirley's vocals can make you feel the highest of highs or the lowest of lows. And then there's the sex factor. No one can sound oh so sexy as Shirley Manson. "This is the noise that keeps me awake, my head explodes and my body aches. PUSH IT!" The woman SCREAMS sex appeal. Although she has her own opinion on why she's considered a sex symbol. "I am not a sexy woman, I'm not beautiful, I'm not a sex kitten, I don't flirt with people, yet I've been tagged more of a sex symbol than women who truly are, and that's solely because I don't reveal too much; people are curious."

Manson hasn't courted the same levels of controversy like some of her contemporaries over the years and is more prone to defend other female music stars like Courtney Love, Lady Gaga and, more recently, Taylor Swift after T-Sweezy's MTV VMA scandal with Kanye West. She's kept most of her private life away from the prying eyes of the media and we love her for it. We know her for her music, nothing else should matter. What we do know, is that she's a staunch campaigner for cancer, AIDS and animal protection charities. Manson's pretty much amazing.

She's established one of the most diverse catalogues in alternative rock music with the albums Garbage (1995), Version 2.0 (1998), Beautiful Garbage (2001) and Bleed Like Me (2005). Version 2.0 would become Garbage's most critically acclaimed album, with it notably being nominated for Album of the Year and Best Rock Album at the 1999 Grammys. Just in case you care (I don't see why you would), Version 2.0 is my favourite album of all time. Manson's 'cool' factor would win Garbage a slot on the outstanding soundtrack for Romeo + Juliet, with '#1 Crush.' The band also recorded the title theme for the James Bond film The World Is Not Enough, one of the best Bond themes of all time.

Lately she's tried out the whole actor slash rock star thing, with her first big role as a part of now cancelled TV series, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. For those that are curious, yes, she played a terminator. Rumours of a solo album where going around for a couple of years, with studio execs apparently none too impressed with the dark nature of her demos. Shirley would do the right thing by refusing to release the album any way other than originally intended. What we can look forward to is the possibility of a new Garbage album sometime this year. Any year that a new Garbage album is dropped is a winning year for me. Bring it on.

Key Tracks: 'Vow,' 'Supervixen,' 'Queer,' 'Only Happy When It Rains,' 'As Heaven Is Wide,' 'A Stroke of Luck,' 'Milk,' 'Stupid Girl' and 'Dog New Tricks' (Garbage), 'Push It,' 'I Think I'm Paranoid,' 'Special,' 'Temptation Waits,' 'You Look So Fine,' 'The Trick Is To Keep Breathing,' 'When I Grow Up,' 'Medication' and 'Dumb' (Version 2.0), 'Shut Your Mouth,' 'Androgyny,' 'Breaking Up the Girl,' 'Cherry Lips' and 'Silence is Golden' (Beautiful Garbage), 'Bad Boyfriend,' 'Why Do You Love Me,' 'Metal Heart,' 'It's All Over But the Crying,' 'Boys Wanna Fight,' 'Right Between the Eyes' and 'Sex Is Not The Enemy' (Bleed Like Me), '#1 Crush,' 'The World Is Not Enough.'

...seriously, there are way too many awesome songs to find all the YouTube links for. Enjoy finding them yourselves!