2017 - November 29 - Heroes (500th Post Edition)

It started as an idea. Really a pretty bare experiment. September 28, 2005, I decided to start a blog and came up with this little place to call my own. And then silence. Until May 22, 2006. And then silence again. I had 7 posts in 2008, 1 in 2009, and whopping 10 in 2010. And for almost six years, the blog was dormant until I decided to post at least once a day in 2016. And I did it = and I was pretty exhausted at the end, and didn't do what I needed to this year - until July. And since then, it's been pretty steady. Sure, it's been a hole here or there, but it's really been steady.

So, Tore, what have you learned about yourself since you started? Great question. I have learned a few things. First and foremost, I have learned that if I set my mind to something, I can actually follow through on it, and 2016 was a great example of that. I have always been much better at starting projects than finishing them, so that is no small feat. I have also started finding my voice in writing again. I used to have a voice in more creative writing way back in high school, but that was a long time ago - and in Norwegian. Finding it again in English has been an interesting process, and it was ultimately very rewarding about one year ago, when I laid the finishing touches on my first novel (/memoir - it was a hybrid of sorts).

Writing a full novel was an interesting process, as I thought I was writing a completely different book than I ended up with. I was thinking more mystery than memoir, but the book really did take on a life of its own and took me in directions I never anticipated. This year I did not have the drive to go after another novel during National Novel Writing Month - there wasn't an idea that was as burning as last years' - but there may be more things on the horizon for me.

So when I started a blog 12 years ago, I had no idea what eventually would come of it. And today I am publishing my 500th post. I don't have a massive readership, but I average about 40 per day, and that is good enough for me to keep me going. You who bear with me through all my meanderings and remembrances are the true heroes of this blog. And I saved the original for you. David Bowie from Berlin 40 years ago resonates as well with me today as it ever did. And there may be more heroes still to come, as there are more versions out there. But nothing - NOTHING - surpasses what the master himself produced.

2017 - November 28 - Heroes

Today we are heading to Peter Gabriel and his take on Heroes.  We have visited his album Scratch My Back before, and I am happy to return to it - although this apparently also was found on Stranger Things, a Netflix show I still have to watch (yes, I know, I am behind...). Peter Gabriel did take it in a very different direction - his orchestral arrangement makes it much more eerie than any of the other versions, and I believe that this is my absolute favorite cover version of this masterpiece.

2017 - November 27 - Heroes

Yes, it is Heroes Week here at Exiled Expressions, and today's version finds Ian "Lemmy" Kilmister rumbling through both with his regularly distorted bass guitar and a voice that sounds like it is run through a concrete mixer filled with rocks and gravel. It isn't pretty - but then again Motorhead never was... However, it is still an effective version in my book. Once again we are talking about a version where they simply took the song and played it straight through the Motorhead machine - and the result is as expected.

2017 - November 26 - Heroes

I almost think I could spend a week with just playing cover versions of David Bowie’s signature song Heroes - and maybe I will do just that. But today I just start with one of them - a version I just stumbled across right now.

I still remember how I really heard Depeche Mode for the first time... Believe it or not, but I was at farmor’s (my grandmother) place - she had cable, and I would sometimes turn on the music channel - not sure if it was MTV or Sky Channel. And I saw one song from the 101 concert movie. It was Everything Counts. And I don’t know if it was because I realized they really were a band and not a producer constellation or the fact that Everything Counts is a great song, but I really liked it. And then they released songs that were so much closer to my sonic sphere with Personal Jesus from Violator and I Feel You from Songs of Faith and Devotion, and I relented. I have great respect for the work they have done and for their sonic landscape.

It is to this sonic landscape they took Heroes. We are not talking earth shattering or mind bending, but it is rock solid. Dave Gahan’s voice really fits the song, Martin Gore’s treatment of the guitar riff makes it interesting - and it’s all played up against Andy Fletcher’s synthesized backdrop. I like this version a lot!

2017 - November 23 - Lost In The Supermarket

This is what Thanksgiving is all about: Shopping! The Clash got it right back in 1979 on their masterpiece London Calling. I feel Lost in the Supermarket. Luckily all I need to do is close my eyes and listen to a song playing in my head, grounding me as I seek out the different instruments and layers... But The Clash really knew what the holiday season is all about...

2017 - November 21 - Castle On The Hill (1917 Edition)

One hundred years. That’s how long it is since the world met a fantastic woman: Eldbjørg Gabrielsdatter Sletvold. She met and married the love of her life, and they had six children - the second youngest turned out to be my mother (five girls and one boy in the span of 9 years). I was not fortunate enough to spend much time with my grandfather, but his spirit lived on through bestemor.  And today she would have turned 100. I learned a lot from her, but it was never taught, it was simply lived. And I miss her. I miss her a lot.

Most of my memories from childhood and well into my teenage years revolve around family, so a song about those kinds of memories suits today well. Bestemor’s house was indeed a castle on the hill. It might not have looked like a castle, but it was to me - and I know it was to her. She once won a vacation for refusing to sell the house for far more than it was worth. It turned out the world calling her were doing a radio show or something like that - my memory is a little shaky - but the bottom line was that she really didn’t want to move. It was her home through good times and bad, and the memories contained between those four walls were worth more than any amount of money.

So I’ll let Ed Sheehan sing about the country lanes winding by and all those great memories of growing up. His memories are different than mine, but we have a Castle On The Hill in common.

2017 - November 20 - Ride On (for Malcolm Young)

I wouldn't call it unexpected. AC/DC's vastly underappreciated rhythm guitarist Malcom Young passed away Saturday after a long time's illness that already had him retiring from the band in 2014. My road to discovering him parallels what so many have talked about in his memorials and testimonials. It first was Bon Scott and Angus Young (even though I really only discovered them after  Brian Johnson had taken over the mic), the singer and the crazy schoolboy guitarist, who drew me in. Then, years later, I realized the minimalist genious of the rhythm section - a rhythm section that really  included the rhythm guitarist and riff factory Malcolm Young.

It was interesting watching him on stage. His stance is wider than Larry Craig's in the Minneapolis airport bathroom stall, always in the background, and never flashy. He always seemed content - but may even have been excited - to lay the foundation for brother Angus' antics and flashiness. Not to mention the two larger than life singers he backed up.

While I may have discovered the joy and excitement of being part of the musical backdrop because I never developed the skills to be a good lead guitarist and dropped to bass as a result, I am still greatly appreciative of all the unsung heroes in bands. John Paul Jones in Led Zeppelin, Bill Ward in Black Sabbath. And Malcolm Young in AC/DC. Ride On, Malcolm...

2017 - November 19 - Creep

Ahhh... Radiohead. Creep. This song was my anthem in 1993 (although it was first released in 1992, 25 years ago). I'm a creep. I'm a weirdo. What the hell am I doing here? I don't belong here. The lyrics spoke to me, and the ugly guitar coming in just before the chorus simply underlined it further. I don't feel the need to say much more. This is masterfully done.

2017 - November 18 - Loser

I have a trio of self-deprecating songs in mind. I started yesterday with Amazing, which is really is an amazing song about feeling inadequate. Today, the follow-up is a lot more free-flow. It is Beck, with a song from 1993 - his first hit. This is the song that had just about everybody singing in Portuguese: Soy un perdedor then continuing in English: I'm a loser baby, so why don't you kill me.

While the chorus is not a happy one, the beat and melody is very uplifting. I loved this song when it was released, but of the three self-deprecating songs, it is probably the weakest one. But here is Beck, with his 1993 single that ended up on 1994's Mellow Gold: Loser

2016 - November 17 - Amazing

Johnette Napolitano was in the band Concrete Blonde, a band with moderate success in the alternative scene, especially with their third album, Bloodletting. Their lead singer, Johnette Napolitano, has a great way with words, writing fabulous lyrics, and she has a very vulnerable voice with an edge to it. I liked Concrete Blonde and got a chance to meet them when they played in my hometown in 1988 or 89, following the release of Free, their second (and my favorite) album. I only met the guys in the band, although Johnette Napolitano was in the room, and I didn't see them perform. I had places to be that night that involved a girl I was pursuing (unsuccessfully, as usual) - but meeting an actual American band, even though they weren't that big, made a lasting impression on me.

In 2007, 10 years ago, Johnette Napolitano released the album Scarred. I am not sure how I ended up finding out about it - but I did purchase it, and when I heard the song Amazing, I think my heart almost stopped. It is the best representation of feeling inadequate I have ever heard in song. And it is so worth listening to again...

2016 - November 16 - No Surprises

There is actually a link between yesterday's song and today's - although it is indirect. Portishead's drummer, Clive Deamer, has been touring with Radiohead since 2011 or thereabouts. I didn't notice that until I started watching a concert from Milan from June 16, 2017, the 20th anniversary of OK Computer, an album that I believe is one of the best records of the 20th century. And yes, I said one of the best... So I thought, why not find another song from that album. I have already played Exit Music (for a Film) - and it is simply packed with great songs. Not a dull moment (I even like Fitter Happier). But I am thinking I feel like another beautiful ballad from the album. No alarms and No Surprises. Silent.

And here is the concert from Milan I was talking about. It is amazing. 

2017 - November 15 - Hunter

Today is St. Antler's Day. It's the holiest of holidays in rural Michigan. Schools shut down because people simply don't come to school - or send their kids in. At the community college I work, we don't observe the day, but traditionally, classrooms are a little less full than on a regular day.

To prepare for St. Antler's Day, people take out and polish their guns and stock up on ammo. They also find a place in the woods to set up a shrine. Some like to set it up outdoors, while others build a little chapel. They set out food for St. Antler, hoping he will come visit in the days leading up to the holiday. Then they go to purchase a license to partake in the festivities. This is all done way in advance, so that people can start celebrating at the crack of dawn. And if they are lucky, St. Antler comes to visit early that day, and they celebrate by firing their guns. Often they are fired aimlessly - especially if St. Antler comes 6-8 beers or more into the day.

For those who do see St. Antler and fire their guns with a good aim to celebrate, they usually take home his carcass, make sure it is checked to be found appropriate by the authorities, then butcher it and stock their freezer with it. Others don't see St. Antler on St. Antler's Day, but they have two holy weeks until the calendar strikes December to court St. Antler. And drink beer. Lots of beer.

So yes, it is hunting season in Michigan. Which means I wish I was in England - more specifically Portishead. Because I love Portishead. The song Hunter is from their third album, 3, which is the darkest of their records to date. And yes, I love it. This is from a filmed performance - Portishead in Portishead - because I think watching these great musician is a treat. Just to see how much it really is about the music - and how their setup allows for maximum communication with each other.

2017 - November 14 - Perfect Strangers

The five years from 1968 to 1973 showed three massive British bands truly finding their place. Blazing the trail was the inimitable Led Zeppelin, who in that span recorded and released five spectacular albums (Led Zeppelin, II, III, untitled, and Houses Of The Holy). Following a little after was Black Sabbath, who also released five albums (Black Sabbath, Paraniod, Master of Reality, Vol 4, and Sabbath Bloody Sabbath), and then there was Deep Purple Mk. 2. After ousting Rod Evans and Nick Simper, they were replaced with singer Ian Gillan and bassist Roger Glover, and they also released five albums in that time span (Concerto for Group and Orchestra, In Rock, Fireball, Machine Head, and Who Do We Think We Are). The middle three albums are nothing short of masterpieces, while the first and last are less vital to the casual listener, but still great listens. But while both Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath continued with the same lineup until about 1980, Deep Purple started blowing up. First with Gillan and Glover leaving, then guitarist Ritchie Blackmore left, before the band really fell apart after replacing him with Tommy Bolin, who did not survive the substances he pushed through his body.

After more than ten years apart, and 8 years after the disbandment of Deep Purple, Mk. 2 got together again. The reunion was anticipated - but it was not just a nostalgia trip. They recorded new material in the form of an excellent album, Perfect Strangers. Then they toured, and the tour was a huge success. I still remember a classmate of mine in elementary and middle school getting a chance to see them - and he was ecstatic about it. They were indeed in amazing form - there was a broadcast of their Paris show in 1985 that I devoured. They made it through one more album, House of the Blue Light, then they kicked out Ian Gillan as he couldn't work with Blackmore - and things went all over the place (quite the soap opera in many ways). These days they are still touring. After the rest of the band finally decided that Blackmore was more of the concern than Gillan, they eventually stabilized with Ian Gillan, Roger Glover, Ian Paice on drums (the only Deep Purple member who plays on every album), Jon Lord on keyboards, and Steve Morse on guitar. Jon Lord retired in 2002, ten years before he passed away, and was replaced by Don Airey, who still is with them. And they still release new music - surprisingly good new music. It sounds like the chemistry is there better than ever. But today we are looking back to 1984 and Perfect Strangers - and why not play the title track? It is a great, great song!

2017 - November 13 - Victim of Changes

Today I am going back in time. The year this song was recorded was 1976, but I didn't discover it until about 1985 or so. It was pretty early on in the friendship with Jan Are -  his brother, Leif Ove, was pretty sizable fan of Judas Priest, introducing me to the Rocka Rolla album with the bottle cap and Coke lettering on the cover. But I believe he also had the album Sad Wings of Destiny, which is where the song Victim of Changes is found. Rocka Rolla was their debut, but they really started finding their sound and their form on Sad Wings of Destiny.

The beginning of the song has the crunching guitars, with a basic riff - but the riff and the song keeps morphing, and we are dealing with a song that has clear progressive elements to it here. The progressive element is something they didn't always maintain in their music, but here, on Sad Wings of Destiny, they are clearly a progressive proto-metal band. And if you keep with it until the quiet part... "once she was wonderful, once she was fine, once she was beautiful, once was mine..."  The power is in this late build up. And then the lyrics... A broken relationship, most definitely... And a heavily alcohol fuelled one at that. This, to me, is still one of the absolutely finest moments of Judas Priest. I mean, how do you top this?

2017 - November 11 - Like Cockatoos

So for a third song it became really difficult. There are so many songs on Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me that I love, and listening to it again really is making it even more difficult, as I am remembering more and more, singing along more and more, and experiencing all the emotions music brings me (and that is pretty much all of them). However, I have to choose one, and Like Cockatoos has always drawn me in partly based on the rhythm, and partly based on the bass line. When I lived in Bergen, I was a very frequent house guest at my very good friends Jørund and Anne Grete's apartment, and Jørund had a keyboard that could program tracks. Playing around with the different percussive sounds, I built the drum pattern, then added the bass track. I used headphones, making me a recluse in their company (which may not have been a bad thing for them either considering how often I was there), but at the same time protecting them from the racket as I was developing this pattern.

2017 - November 10 - Catch

With an album that repeats one phrase (kiss me) three times in the title, I think it is appropriate to play three songs in a row. At least it makes for a heck of a great excuse to stay with the album for another couple of days. And today's song really follows the track order of the album. The song Catch also made it as a single with an accompanying video - The Cure had used Tim Pope to make a lot of their videos, and Catch is no exception. Tim Pope was a very prolific music video director, particularly in the mid to late 80s, and his vision really helped frame The Cure's quirky image - and took them out of the dark shadows of early goth into a much more playful mode, which sometimes contrasted with the songs.

Robert Smith's lyrical genius also shows up here - I have always been drawn to the phrase "And I used to sometimes try to catch her, but I never even caught her name." There is an uplifting melancholy to the song that I think is pretty unique to The Cure. Catch!

2017 - November 9 - The Kiss

My last post - from last week - was Southern Gothic. And then I started reading the book The Night of the Moths by Riccardo Bruni (one of this month's selections for Kindle First, where Amazon Prime members can get a book for free every month - before the publishing date). And there was a reference to The Cure and the Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me album. And knowing how The Cure was seen as a goth band (that's the connection to Southern Gothic), I thought it would be nice to play a song from Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me - and then I realized that it's 30 years old this year. 1987 was when it was released, and that was right around the time I was introduced to them as well. Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me was my gateway drug to The Cure, and I still find it to be a most excellent album. I like albums that sprawl and don't confine themselves to one style (just listen to Demon Box by Motorpsycho, and you will know what I mean), and Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me does not disappoint. From longer, epic sounding songs to short, catchy pop tunes with an underlying melancholy, Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me is to me a masterpiece - and I like it better than Disintegration, the follow up album that really launched them to massive world wide success and often is referred to as their crowning moment.

The Quietus, which is an excellent online magazine with great articles about the arts, has a really nice review of that can be found at http://thequietus.com/articles/22262-the-cure-kiss-me-kiss-me-kiss-me-review-anniversary - and inspired by that, I chose my song for the day. It is the closest thing to a title track - and it is also the song that really got me completely turned on to The Cure. I remember teenage days with curtains completely drawn so no light would come into my room, and The Kiss on the stereo. For your own sake, play it loudly and let guitars wash over you until you drown in the sound. It is such an amazing sonic experience to me to listen to this song - and I can do it over and over and over again.

2017 - November 2 - Southern Gothic

Anybody who has been reading this and listened to my music knows that I have a pretty varied taste in music, and today’s song is an example of that. Dan Tyminski was the singing voice of George Clooney’s character in the movie O Brother, Where Art Thou, he is a long standing member of AlIson Krauss and Union Station, and he has released a couple of more traditional albums before he branched away from the traditional and into more modern sounds with his Tyminski project. The debut album is just out, and it is awesome. The title track lives up to it’s name, with great lyrics and a great melody. Southern Gothic...