Public Address | Cafe | Hard News: Review: Lana Del Rey, 'Born To Die'

Yamis

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 14:21:29 +1200

Welcome to the Jungle.
http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/7796537/on-axl-rose-lana-del-rey-relationship

Paul Williams

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:05:21 +1300

Back to the posts re Tracy Thorn, though I'd leap to the defence of her original stuff, I have to admit I love Everthing But the Girl's version of The Only Living Boy in NY

Sacha

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 21:10:37 +1300

there has been a lot of music since rock

BlairMacca

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 20:39:44 +1300

I know its just pop, but man, does it have to be so contrived? I guess I am still waiting for the next coming to blow the doors off, ala Nirvana and the Sex Pistols... Still waiting. Or is that it? Did PR win?

Tamara

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:15:21 +1300

Okay, so I went to le CD shop and blew my gift voucher. On a bunch of stuff that wasn't LDR. LDR was playing while I was there (for a long time) and it must've been the less interesting part of album. Not worth buying the lot so I will…

BenWilson

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 13:17:26 +1300

The technology gods never intended for music to be listened to in a tiny metal box with a pink noise generator at the front.

You're confusing the technology gods with the music gods, from whom the technology gods are stealing worshippers, and they most certainly did intend for that divine…

Sacha

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:52:44 +1300

all in the best possible taste

linger

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:37:51 +1300

@James: Well played, even on a car stereo.
@Sacha: Ah, well, that would be these guys:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-gZKRKNy4w

Rather than, say, these guys:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLru-E3hDdM

(Kenny also did several other similar skits. One I haven’t been able to locate yet was a practical demonstration of the predictable “inhale helium until desired octave…

Simon Bennett

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:36:15 +1300

Listening to LDR now. Pleasant, well-produced pop. Not Earth-shattering, but listenable. Undemanding. Would be good in a car.

Sacha

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:28:14 +1300

meaningless songs in very high voices

James Butler

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:17:35 +1300

means you need something at a higher octane
(e.g. Bee Gees)

Tell you what my car does need: Autotune

linger

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:13:38 +1300

pink noise generator
means you need something at a higher octane
(e.g. Bee Gees)

James Butler

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:09:50 +1300

Get a good car stereo. That goes for all you music freaks. Don't let wubwub loving bogans be the only ones who get to hear their music as the technology gods intended.

The technology gods never intended for music to be listened to in a tiny metal box with a…

linger

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:55:16 +1300

She also invents a genre called "hop hop" ...
a clear sign that the reviewer's a bunny.

BenWilson

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:30:09 +1300

Some of it sounds better on my crappy car stereo than it does through the big speakers at home

Get a good car stereo. That goes for all you music freaks. Don't let wubwub loving bogans be the only ones who get to hear their music as the technology gods…

Russell Brown

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 11:03:08 +1300

While we're on this tip, Tracey Thorn's Love and Its Opposite album is a wonderful, bleakly humorous examination of middle-aged drift:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7aGcocZgjkg

Russell Brown

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 10:58:57 +1300

I fell in love with her here. Admittedly unpolished, but perfect in every other way, IMhO.

A Distant Shore is one wistful, melancholy gem of an album.

Mind you, I like her and Ben's housey-housey stuff too.

Ian Dalziel

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 10:58:45 +1300

the game's afoot...
She also invents a genre called "hop hop" ...
I missed that, something for the more modern bounder perhaps...

JacksonP

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 10:46:12 +1300

Regarding Tracy Thorn, really like her voice, but often feel she's at her best singing for other acts ("Protection" etc).

I fell in love with her here. Admittedly unpolished, but perfect in every other way, IMhO.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bE2GLsoxOJE

philipmatthews

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 10:37:05 +1300

She also invents a genre called "hop hop" ...

Ian Dalziel

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 08:09:51 +1300

Just the facts, Fairfax fail...
For an Entertainment Editor, Stuff's Jule Scherer looks a little amateurish, her on-line Lana Del Rey album review consistently spells her name as Del Ray (at least the heading and caption sub got it right, but why not fix the rest?) – One wonders if…

Martin Lindberg

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 07:47:47 +1300

Great job internet!

The Hadron Collider of hype: Lana Del Rey meets The Hunger Games

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OjnbRv3krA

Matthew Littlewood

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 23:38:44 +1300

Ha! Good shout! Weekend were/are indeed a fine, underrated act, while Colossal Youth is, of course, a classic. Regarding Tracy Thorn, really like her voice, but often feel she's at her best singing for other acts ("Protection" etc).

Ian Dalziel

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 22:05:47 +1300

Incidentally, does anyone else notice any similarities
between Lana Del Rey and The Weeknd?
Guessing you probably don't mean this Weekend...
formed by Alison Stratton from welsh wonders – Young Marble Giants
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Nm72XfRYDg&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlTvmcKwyr0&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvDMn5EgPBM&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDgpRu3W3jA&feature=related

and then, just for fun, there's Everything But the Girl...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_ZQh-FGIQw&feature=related

Sacha

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 20:35:42 +1300

these boots are made for walking

Matthew Littlewood

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 19:24:19 +1300

Incidentally, does anyone else notice any similarities between Lana Del Rey and The Weeknd? Indeed, the parallels are fascinating. LDR has been smothered in a tidal wave of contradictory hoopla and (ultimately dull and pointless) questions about her "authenticity"; Abel "the Weeknd" Tesfaye has refused all interviews, thereby cultivating…

Matthew Littlewood

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:01:57 +1300

I think you've touched on why so many serious reviewers are having trouble with the record; they're expecting it to be something it's not. I'm more inclined to hear it as a series of grand pop productions that I won't be listening to for ever. I think you've nailed it…

Steve Barnes

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:57:26 +1300

Badalamenti/Lynch-like influence

Everything is derivative of Badalamenti/Lynch, even stuff written years before. When you hear a phrase from almost anything they worked on I find it evokes a feeling that any composer that had used similar phrasing meant it to feel like this. Spooky.

Danielle

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:35:38 +1300

after her first record, she didn't really write much worth a damn

Pffft. I admit that Whip-Smart isn't too memorable in comparison with Exile, but it's still solid, and no one ever gives whitechocolatespaceegg the time of day – it was unexpectedly really good.

But yeah, after that, she's on…

DexterX

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 13:47:40 +1300

Wicked.

Ian Dalziel

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 12:11:51 +1300

Cruise control...
Yep. But, y’know what – we have a long, long, long tradition of enjoying illusions. Elizabeth Grant is, essentially an actor playing this role. Get over it. You know movies aren’t actually real, aye?
I can't help but see and hear a female version of Jace Everett's __True…

Steve Barnes

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 10:55:54 +1300

I hadn't realised that Tivo could gather information

That made me glad I don't have one, that's for sure.

nzlemming

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 10:26:59 +1300

I fear for Lana and her upcoming obscurity, I mean she didn't expose any body parts at the rugby sevens how the hell can she expect to remain famous?

I hadn't realised that Tivo could gather information at that level on what happens in the set-top. That's...a little unnerving.

Russell Brown

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 10:20:05 +1300

Going back to the Lana Del Rey record, thanks for the extra links, RB. Initial impressions suggest that their very strengths- their wilfully electic nature, the big, sweeping qality, Del Rey's blankly alluring vocals- are paradoxically, also its weaknesses. I mean, it's so removed- particularly something like "National Anthem" and…

Steve Barnes

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 10:02:36 +1300

I fear for Lana and her upcoming obscurity, I mean she didn't expose any body parts at the rugby sevens how the hell can she expect to remain famous?

JacksonP

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 09:51:54 +1300

Stumbled across another Lana performance on Letterman last night.
SNL decided to cash in on the car crash.
It would have been better all round if she'd done this herself. But then she'd just get compared to Sarah Palin.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_SRvgejnZI

Sacha

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 09:22:40 +1300

Stumbled across another Lana performance on Letterman last night. Better, but still basic issues with breathing and controlling her voice. Maybe we're best thinking of her as a group rather than an individual who seems to struggle alone?

Dean Papa

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 09:06:58 +1300

Lana Del Rey is okay, her main problem is in being overhyped. Now here's a great song from the Mutton Birds, their best, IMO.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gxngv--q-kY

Matthew Littlewood

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 23:18:14 +1300

People bitched about Liz Phair not being able to sing, too. (This makes me want to hop around immaturely flipping them off and waving about a copy of Exile in Guyville.)

True, although my problem wasn't so much that she couldn't sing rather than after her first record, she didn't…

DexterX

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 23:07:59 +1300

Lana Del Rey it is Ok

Without wanting to cause offence for what it worth – which isn’t much – my subjective opinion – Derivative of what? I hear elements of lots of things Tori Amos, Shakespeare’s Sister (the Siobhan Fahey half and not the Marcella Detroit bits), the Verve,…

Ian Dalziel

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 19:18:37 +1300

a thread with the right copy...
Nice to note that Rob Mayes has picked up some work with Ridley Scott...

3410

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 14:23:54 +1300

This track surfaced for the first time late last year.

Surf's Up (piano demo, Autumn 1967 version),

"by Brian Wilson at his home during sessions for The Beach Boys' WILD HONEY album, probably in November 1967".

(Not quite as great as the more widely-known October '66 take (ie SMiLE demo),…

Sacha

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 13:34:33 +1300

People bitched about Liz Phair not being able to sing, too

Really? Liked her stuff when it came out, but then I probably wasn't reading music press much.

Danielle

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 13:23:29 +1300

People bitched about Liz Phair not being able to sing, too. (This makes me want to hop around immaturely flipping them off and waving about a copy of Exile in Guyville.)

Scott A

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 13:20:41 +1300

Well, having checked the album out, I'm going with the more pervasive internet commentariat – apart from the singles, it's a bit rubbish, really.

The lyrics, in particular, become particularly twee after a while.

Sacha

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:21:22 +1300

filled with a healthy chorus coming from our side of the aisle

Wise. All I want for many missing voices.

Russell Brown

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:17:25 +1300

Liz Phair on Lana del Rey

That's a great little blog post right there.

Lilith __

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:15:29 +1300

Lilith – love that Andrew Bird. One of my favourite singer/songwriters is called Sam Sallon.

Oh, awesome, thank you. I will seek out his album!

Re: Andrew Bird: I’ve played Noble beast such a lot, it’s a great album.

You might also like Sean Hayes, if you don’t know him…

Lilith __

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:07:07 +1300

Liz Phair on Lana del Rey:

” it was more than a collection of songs or a performance, it was a phenomenon. Maybe all the more so because she’s not overwhelmingly talented. The minute I hear the whisperings of “how dare she,” I’m interested. I don’t have to like it,…

Jackie Clark

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:04:17 +1300

Lilith – love that Andrew Bird. One of my favourite singer/songwriters is called Sam Sallon. I encountered him years ago on myspace. He’s just beautiful. There’s 3 songs I have of his – which he kindly sent to me on a CD. I’ve tried to find them on youtube, but…

Lilith __

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 11:09:12 +1300

I'm being too subtle

Oh, I get it. ;-) Good point. Both terrible songs though, IMHO!

Sacha

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 10:58:24 +1300

Lest I'm being too subtle (and I do admire her pop mastery, don't get me wrong).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xl0N7JM3wZk

Lilith __

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 10:28:43 +1300

born a copyer

Hey, Metropolis didn’t have a cute cat! :-)

Sacha

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 10:18:50 +1300

I find myself barely able to remember the tunes

That's easy – born a copyer.. :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GsVcUzP_O_8&ob=av2e

Lilith __

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 10:04:38 +1300

Thanks, Jackie. You might also like Josh Ritter?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvCeCVmJAUA

or Andrew Bird?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spad-NyE2HU

JacksonP

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 10:01:26 +1300

I was reasonably impressed by Emeli Sande performing Heaven live on BBC.

Also, her new song, Next To Me, on Graham Norton. Got a gospel vibe, which I don’t mind.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJOALkCw7UA

And if you want a version to swing to, try this. Didn’t realise her album wasn’t out yet. Seems the…

Jackie Clark

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 09:53:11 +1300

Now, if you want meaningful lyrics, this guy is someone I had never heard of, and am very taken by.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6hVM2BkGv0

Lilith __

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 09:46:07 +1300

I want to like Gaga

I have mixed feelings about her. She’s so goofy; she also seems to have a sense of fun and an appreciation of irony that Madonna never had.*

However her music was exactly what I needed after the Sept 2010 earthquake, when we were having so…

Ian Dalziel

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 09:42:04 +1300

is she really going out with him?
the I-love-the-bad-boys vein
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9f4J2x3crc8

Russell Brown

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 09:13:37 +1300

obyn and Bodytalk- are everything Lady Gaga isn't: sharp, funny, concise and charming (I find Gaga's stuff graceless, overbearing, opressive and just not a lot of fun)

Yeah, I want to like Gaga, but I find myself barely able to remember the tunes.

Russell Brown

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 08:27:48 +1300

The four songs I’ve heard (“Born to Die”, Blue Jeans”, “You Can Be The Boss”, and of course, “Video Games”) seem to be all about the same thing- namely an ingenue attracted to seriously bad or slyly abusive men because they’re so glamorous, and she wants to be something bigger…

Danielle

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 03:27:44 +1300

Hey, it's better than her remake of 'American Pie'.

(I quite like the "L. U. V. Madonna!" part. I am a simple soul.)

Biobbs

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 00:26:31 +1300

On the compression front: yeah, it's one of my major bugbears.

Neil agrees with you! Always thinking ahead, that old man...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/9054002/Piracy-is-the-new-radio-says-Neil-Young.html

Sacha

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 21:28:06 +1300

Amanda Palmer's tweeted opinion:

hearing Lana del Rey's whole CD after the mysterious thrill of Video Games is like something mysteriously thrilling happening & then sucking

Matthew Littlewood

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 19:00:18 +1300

For the LDR songs I’ve heard so far, I’d make a distinction between the music, which is pretty much everything you’ve claimed for it, and the lyrics, which are something of a mess, with no real sense of any message or worldview that the performer really believes in; and this…

Russell Brown

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 18:22:23 +1300

I did warn you! Hard to believe she was more sophisticated in her early 20s than she is now. Or that’s how it seems.

It is ghastly.

Lilith __

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 18:18:19 +1300

‘how bad could it be?’ Worse.

I did warn you! Hard to believe she was more sophisticated in her early 20s than she is now. Or that's how it seems.

JacksonP

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 18:07:18 +1300

TW anyone who thinks LDR’s persona is contrived or silly should watch the new Madonna video. If that sounds like a punishment, it is.

My eyes! I resisted this when it came up on twitter, but then thought 'how bad could it be?' Worse.

Sad.

Ian Dalziel

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 16:42:20 +1300

But but, alcohol's a number...
Maths and alcohol don’t mix:
Don’t Drink and Derive!
I'll stick to sets n drugs n rock n roll then....

Lilith __

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 14:35:42 +1300

derive, she said…

How does the old joke go...

Maths and alcohol don't mix: Don't Drink and Derive! ;-)

Sacha

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 12:30:12 +1300

spooky

Ian Dalziel

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 12:18:44 +1300

derive, she said...
making a fast getaway
Exactly. If you don’t do that then you do time.
or, I suspect, risk pointless quantum entanglement
in which case it pays to be very, very able!

Steve Barnes

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 12:09:38 +1300

making a fast getaway

Exactly. If you don't do that then you do time.;-)

Sacha

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 11:54:43 +1300

the instantaneous change of distance with respect to time

making a fast getaway

Steve Barnes

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 11:51:35 +1300

I’m not sure derivative means what you think it does ;-)

How preposterous.

Derivative [dih-riv-uh-tiv]
Noun
The limit of the ratio of the increment of a function to the increment of a variable in it, as the latter tends to 0; the instantaneous change of one quantity with respect to…

Sacha

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 11:12:11 +1300

Lana Del Rey on Jonathan Ross Show tonight

Even less power than the SNL performance. Did not sound like a professional singer to these ears. Best stick to the studio surrounded by smart producers. Making Annabel Fay sound good is not something to be proud of.

Ian Dalziel

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 08:01:35 +1300

it ain’t meme babe…
…the lyrics, which are something of a mess, with no real sense of any message or worldview that the performer really believes in
do it yourself cut up text sites…
(and more here)
hours of fun…

linger

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 01:45:35 +1300

For the LDR songs I’ve heard so far, I’d make a distinction between the music, which is pretty much everything you’ve claimed for it, and the lyrics, which are something of a mess, with no real sense of any message or worldview that the performer really believes in; and this…

Ian Dalziel

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 18:04:01 +1300

Lana Del Rey on Jonathan Ross Show tonight
TV One (sat feb 4m 10.15pm)

Russell Brown

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 16:54:25 +1300

Then you go on to say what it is derivative of.

as an interesting take on 2012 pop music:

Eh?

It is 2012. This is an interesting take on what pop music might sound like this year. I'm not sure derivative means what you think it does ;-)

But yeah,…

Steve Barnes

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 15:50:55 +1300

And there is this...

Steve Barnes

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 15:49:43 +1300

Anyone who says this is derivative, same-old pop music has not actually listened to the record.

Then you go on to say what it is derivative of.
as an interesting take on 2012 pop music:

Lilith __

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 15:28:41 +1300

That's Motivation

Jeepers! Well OK I'll keep the place clean if it'll prevent nuclear war....

Ian Dalziel

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 15:05:35 +1300

the grassy knoll...
I'm moving to a house on the hill on Wednesday.
Have fun, here's some housekeeping tips ...
(in case this whole council thing/city goes nookular...)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=pGJcwaUWNZg#!

Lilith __

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 12:23:31 +1300

BTW anyone who thinks LDR’s persona is contrived or silly should watch the new Madonna video. If that sounds like a punishment, it is.

Lilith __

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 12:02:02 +1300

a house on the hill will do!

I'm moving to a house on the hill on Wednesday. White Zone FTW! I hope. :-)

Ian Dalziel

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 10:03:16 +1300

Lofty views...
Now, about that Mansion on the Hill, seems to be
a popular meme amongst songsters.
there is most definitely an Audience for it...
even just a house on the hill will do!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i043gWMKAVg

Tamara

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 01:38:10 +1300

Thanks Jackie!

Joe Wylie

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 22:09:31 +1300

Colin's twitter debut has made my night.

Lilith __

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 21:35:02 +1300

I don't tweet, so can I just mention here that Colin's twitter debut has made my night.

Jackie Clark

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:31:03 +1300

Yes, I had thought that too. Glad I'm not alone!

Russell Brown

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:18:43 +1300

Another listen to Born To Die while preparing dinner.

Anyone who says this is derivative, same-old pop music has not actually listened to the record. It contains bits of everything from MOR pop ballad to hip-hop. Things jump in and out of the mix like a dub production. There is…

bob daktari

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:54:00 +1300

theres a lot in your crate Jackie that are wonderful... but also more aligned for the young – ie mining territory many of us have been over before especially the indie rock stuff – if I was young I'd think a lot of that haul brilliant but alas I'm just…

Jackie Clark

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:49:50 +1300

Really lovely. Stuff like that is often difficult, live. Songs are sometimes so dependent on where they are sung. I am minded of the year that Breaks Co-op played at BDO, which I thought was a bit strange, being as that particular album's music was best consumed in an intimate…

Jackie Clark

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:38:39 +1300

I know. It was a bit of a surprise. Hame has hugely eclectic taste – music is his everything really – and he’s always trying to get me to broaden my musical horizons. His trick is that he always throws in something I am bound to love – like Jose…

JacksonP

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:48:36 +1300

but basically it just seems to be another peg for the haters.

Which I probably should have left out there in the obscurity.

Jackie, I have been getting a bit hoked on Feist, and they were good at Laneway. Although the PA died in the middle of a song, and…

Russell Brown

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:37:43 +1300

There have been noises about this, but I can’t tell really, as it was all Greek to me.

Part of the melody is somewhat similar – which of course has never happened in the history of popular music ever – but basically it just seems to be another peg for…

Sacha

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:37:40 +1300

that vocal phrasing sure sounds similar

bob daktari

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:28:09 +1300

what a wonderfully interesting lot of artists across a spectrum of fashionable genres you've landed :)

Steve Barnes

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:44:12 +1300

Best comment on Del Rey's video games.
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz Oops, sorry, fell asleep and landed on my z key.

Gabe511 2 hours ago

JacksonP

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 13:53:22 +1300

What would you say 'Video Games' is derivative of?

There have been noises about this, but I can't tell really, as it was all Greek to me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DiGjpoh3kQk

The singing starts at 41 secs.

Jackie Clark

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 13:29:14 +1300

I just had a load of music arrive this morning, courtesy of my brother in Berlin, who fancies himself as my tutor in music appreciation. Some of the stuff that he sent that I enjoyed was: The Chain Gang of 1974

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAaFHBLX-Gs

Escort

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jHDxpADtRc

Feist

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h65YIvjIV7E

Hercules and Love Affair…

Rob S

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 12:59:51 +1300

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMOl_iYJ2qI
It's Friday after all.

Russell Brown

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 12:04:13 +1300

Lana Del Rey it is Ok – but I have enough other great music to catch up on that is less derivative.to pay her any mind.

What would you say 'Video Games' is derivative of? I can't think of any other song that sounds like that.

I like the album,…

Tamara

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 11:04:58 +1300

I am so annoyed I'm stuck at the office with no audio on my computer :(. I have a decent value Marbecks voucher to spend I do so want to make it worthwhile. Keep the recommendations coming!

As for remixes of such things, the Short Club remix of Florence and…

Steve Barnes

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 10:46:07 +1300

Being real, he has to do it because his manager ripped him off, not the "powers that be".

What is a manager if not "a power that be"? A manager sure ain't no artist. Unless, of course, they are "Rip off" artists.

JacksonP

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 10:22:30 +1300

Too early to book a seat at your 50th-birthday concert? ;-)
I wish it was, but sure.

I can't conceivably believe this is what it sounded like before mastering.
It does sound better on Later with Jools. Actually, it almost seems they put the chipmunk filter on the final version. Unless…

Tom Ackroyd

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 10:00:34 +1300

For a lesson in how a good production (Eno) can get transformed into something that is utterly-unlistenable-to, and regardless of what you think of the music, go to iTunes and listen to "Hurts Like Heaven" on Coldplay's Mylo Xyloto.
I can't conceivably believe this is what it sounded like before…

Lilith __

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 09:47:42 +1300

I've been learning his version on guitar since his 1996 concert at the St James . 16 years! Probably have the bridge riff worked out by the time I'm fifty.

Too early to book a seat at your 50th-birthday concert? ;-)

JacksonP

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 09:03:07 +1300

Jeff Buckley’s cover is my favourite version:
+1

I've been learning his version on guitar since his 1996 concert at the St James . 16 years! Probably have the bridge riff worked out by the time I'm fifty.

I tend to play it when I hear sad news.

nzlemming

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 08:12:58 +1300

Being real, he has to do it because his manager ripped him off, not the "powers that be".

There's a fascinating insight into the redoubtable Kelly Lynch here, in the comments.

DexterX

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:49:39 +1300

Lana Del Rey it is Ok – but I have enough other great music to catch up on that is less derivative.to pay her any mind.

When you listen to someone who can sing and then go back and listen to some hack singing “pop” the difference stands out.

Where…

Steve Barnes

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:22:42 +1300

Oh, come on.
Let's get real here....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ki9xcDs9jRk

Lenny now, at the age of 70 ish, has to travel the world singing for his supper thanks to the powers that be in the industry that left him with very little considering what he gave us.
In my mind I live…

Lilith __

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 22:33:50 +1300

Jeff Buckley’s cover is my favourite version:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8AWFf7EAc4

So sweet and gentle. Cohen's own delivery of this song I've never much liked!

Islander

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 22:10:46 +1300

No worries! It was just so good to hear – and Mary Emma (my 4th sibling) would've loved it- rather better than the "Hard Luck Choir" or Leonard's version which is what we had while she was cremated.

bronwyn

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 22:03:39 +1300

Oh sorry that last post was meant to be a reply to you Islander, but something went awry in the posting...

bronwyn

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 22:02:27 +1300

I am sure that I've read somewhere (that I can't find right now) that Mr. Cohen has said that her version of that song is his favourite, even more than his own interpretations.

Sacha

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 20:20:53 +1300

couldn't possibly expect government agencies to meet basic access standards..

Jackie Clark

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 19:16:43 +1300

She is magnificent, isn't she?

Islander

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 19:05:03 +1300

I’ve loved Lang’s singing since 1978 (when I first heard it, in a student flat in Otago)
and Cohen’s words from not long after…Cohen kind of talks his songs, but Lang makes them soar-
thank you so much for posting this!
It was the song we sang at my sister’s…

nzlemming

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:45:15 +1300

No, just the former. Asking you to review all the content would be a bit cheeky.

Whew. I'd hate to fight it out with Keith for bragging rights!

Russell Brown

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:36:58 +1300

As in looking at the nature of the documents and their release? 'Cos I'm not hugely able to actually review all the content (100 papers ~89MB!) ;-)

No, just the former. Asking you to review all the content would be a bit cheeky.

Yeh, but it will be for next…

Russell Brown

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:35:21 +1300

Half her problem with performing them live is that she just simply isn't enunciating very well. She basically mumbles through quite a lot of her lyrics, (watch her mouth, it's barely open half the time) which is stylistic I know, but doesn't help when it comes to hitting the right…

nzlemming

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:34:22 +1300

hipsters love pdfs
#oldskool

Even the blind ones?
#trollbait

nzlemming

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:33:46 +1300

As in looking at the nature of the documents and their release? 'Cos I'm not hugely able to actually review all the content (100 papers ~89MB!) ;-)

Yeh, but it will be for next week.

Sacha

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:16:09 +1300

We now return you to your regularly scheduled programme, "Hipsters we have known"

hipsters love pdfs
#oldskool

bronwyn

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:09:31 +1300

I don’t quite understand why they keep sticking her out there in bare-bones live TV settings to perform songs that are bloody difficult to carry off live without a production.

I'd like to respectfully disagree with the fact that they are difficult songs to sing live; yes the recorded versions…

Steve Barnes

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 17:56:34 +1300

Anyway, I'm going to the pub.

Russell Brown

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 17:50:25 +1300

Could you work this up into a guest post? With links? Serious.

Steve Barnes

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 17:47:25 +1300

The problem does not lie with the artists, whether they be producers, arrangers, engineers or writers and performers. The problem is, as always, the accountants and Lawyers. Those that see the price but not the value, the money but not the meaning.

nzlemming

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 17:41:17 +1300

Threadjack (because I'm too tired to go looking for the original thread)

Briefings to Incoming Ministers are out

I've found 2 that haven't yet put them up so far (the External Reporting Board and the Commerce Commission), and two doc files (CreativeNZ and SportNZ), one xls (to be fair it…

Russell Brown

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 17:26:53 +1300

Anyway, my point was really about how the music industry behaves more like the ravenous bugblatter beast of Traal than an honest agent of artisans. This they have done for years because the business of recording used to be the exclusive province of those with the wherewithal to afford the…

Sacha

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:50:07 +1300

worth watching

I make no guarantees

Steve Barnes

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:52:11 +1300

Now, about that Mansion on the Hill, seems to be a popular meme amongs songsters.

Anyway, my point was really about how the music industry behaves more like the ravenous bugblatter beast of Traal than an honest agent of artisans. This they have done for years because…

Russell Brown

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:44:52 +1300

Wikipedia has the discography of Born to Die's producer, Emile Haynie.

He certainly wasn't an obvious choice: he's only ever worked with hip hop artists before: Kanye, Obie Trice, a couple of Wu Tangs, Kid Cudi, etc. Fascinating.

bob daktari

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:32:44 +1300

not against the commercialisation of music (artists gotta eat etc)... not a fan of the commodification

I'm not so much outraged as bored and it all distracts from the one song of hers I shall give the time of day – potential sale lost... not in this case (cue worldwide…

Steve Barnes

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:25:09 +1300

I am not opposed to those whose primary motivation is the cash

I really don't know what to say to that but then I find the desire for wealth above all else totally repugnant.

Martin Lindberg

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:18:07 +1300

Martin I guess I love music, and honesty, more than a spreadsheet

Well, when you put it that way – so do I. But pop has been marketed as a commercial product since before the Osmonds. I don't understand the outrage around this particular popster.

And, yeah, what Danielle said.

bob daktari

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:08:00 +1300

oh I'm all for artists and companies earning money from music sales.... and I am not opposed to those whose primary motivation is the cash

song sung by woman with well to do father is not a turn off... if that song appeals to the ear

Danielle

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:07:27 +1300

I officially don't care if the music I listen to is either 'real', or 'honest'. Fake me out and lie to my face, popsters: if you can make an awesome song out of it, I'm thrilled.

Russell Brown

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:06:47 +1300

Martin I guess I love music, and honesty, more than a spreadsheet

somewhere someone is screaming market share, market share and bugger the artists career path

But why would you hate an interesting and unusual pop record — with an interesting and unusual marketing strategy — when there's so much…

Steve Barnes

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 13:58:20 +1300

Perhaps if we all just stuck to downloading our music it would discourage those that are just in it for the money and we can get back to real, honest music.
You can sing for your supper but don't expect a mansion on the hill.

bob daktari

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 13:57:55 +1300

Martin I guess I love music, and honesty, more than a spreadsheet

somewhere someone is screaming market share, market share and bugger the artists career path

Martin Lindberg

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 13:48:03 +1300

I'm not stupid so don't treat me as such Record Company guys high fiveing each other over such a clever well executed plan

They may indeed be high-fiveing each other, and why not?

The first-day numbers are in: Lana Del Rey debuted at No. 1 in 14 countries

Russell Brown

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 13:04:48 +1300

That young woman is the real deal – no tricks, no hype, just voice. Extraordinary.

One of the things that makes Adele work so well is that she takes risks — sometimes she might not quite hit the note because she's busy singing the damn song.

By comparison, the world…

bob daktari

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 12:41:38 +1300

My anger isn't aimed at Lana (or whatever name she goes by) but the marketing machine... and the back story... and now we're bombarded with a record marketing by the numbers old skoool sell in for the album – sorry I stopped living in the 90s in the 90s if…

Craig Ranapia

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 12:40:38 +1300

Whether you like either performer or song, it’s great to see how they should be sung after watching would be x-idol-factor contestants murder them completely to death. Tautology intended.

Well, yes – k.d. lang on (I think) The Graham Norton Show of all places nailed what really bugs me about…

Jackie Clark

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:54:09 +1300

That young woman is the real deal – no tricks, no hype, just voice. Extraordinary.

JacksonP

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:42:13 +1300

I don’t quite understand why they keep sticking her out there in bare-bones live TV settings to perform songs that are bloody difficult to carry off live without a production.

In vaguely unrelated news, I caught Adele and R Kelly on Later With Jools last night singing [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hm2E58P_dc|Set Fire to…

James Butler

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:38:47 +1300

Neil's probably talking about a higher-res format (his Archives Vol. 1 was released on blu-ray, ie 192/24 rather than CD's 44/16) but flac is already capable of 192/24.

Whether such high-resolution releases would generally be much of an improvement, given all of the other variables, or even whether it would…

3410

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:29:18 +1300

Meh, I'm a little sceptical that any new format (as described in that link) would be audibly better than a FLAC or Apple Lossless version of a CD track.

Neil's probably talking about a higher-res format (his Archives Vol. 1 was released on blu-ray, ie 192/24 rather than CD's 44/16)…

Grant McDougall

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:22:23 +1300

My perspective on 'Radio'...a heart-bursting arrangement of (yet more) strings and Bel Air keyboards.

It sounds like the second half of Can's majestic Future Days ? Crikey.

Lilith __

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:21:17 +1300

'This Is Not A Test' is a wonderful thing:

Indeed! I think the first 5 tracks of Vol 1 are great; after that, missable. Vol 2 is more consistent.

Craig Ranapia

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:16:31 +1300

I don’t quite understand why they keep sticking her out there in bare-bones live TV settings to perform songs that are bloody difficult to carry off live without a production.

Quite – and if she’d performed to playback she’d still have gotten hosed with hipster douche. I don’t want to…

Russell Brown

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:06:36 +1300

This track is from Volume One; Volume Two is even better. Zooey writes most of the music herself. It’s very jaunty, which isn’t to everyone’s taste, but I’ve got a lot of enjoyment from their albums.

I'm not so sold on the albums overall, but 'This Is Not A Test'…

James Butler

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:02:12 +1300

....and according to Neil, Steve was a vinyl purist!

Meh, I'm a little sceptical that any new format (as described in that link) would be audibly better than a FLAC or Apple Lossless version of a CD track. And this kind of statement:

Such a format, he said, would contain…

Ian Dalziel

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 10:54:55 +1300

under pressure...
I think it's getting worse in the era of pervasive iPods and mp3s, because compression gets around some of the failings in lossy (size) compression codecs (ever tried to listen to a capella choral music on even a 320k mp3? Not pretty, partly because the dynamic range is…

Jackie Clark

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 10:50:46 +1300

I'm an admirer of jaunty. It not only lifts the spirits, it's also a great pace for walking.

Lilith __

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 10:46:38 +1300

Just for you, Jackie!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17KUOQOlt8E

This track is from Volume One; Volume Two is even better. Zooey writes most of the music herself. It’s very jaunty, which isn’t to everyone’s taste, but I’ve got a lot of enjoyment from their albums.

And thanks for the heads-up, Sacha. I don’t habitually…

Russell Brown

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 10:42:19 +1300

Still, she should stick to the recorded world, or do a lot more practice, as her live stuff is truly awful, all things being treacle.

I don’t quite understand why they keep sticking her out there in bare-bones live TV settings to perform songs that are bloody difficult to carry…

James Butler

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 10:37:08 +1300

The big Motown hits of the 60s nearly all made great use of compression – this little article called The Exciting Compressor explains the technique the house producers came up with to make the records sound extra-awesome:

Yep. That's compression applied to individual tracks for artistic effect, and you won't…

Russell Brown

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 10:33:45 +1300

Ah, now I really like this mash-up of 'Born To Die' with bit of Calvin Harris, Steve Aoki, and Afrojack. It's big and downtempo and heavy.

I think some dubstep remixers will have have a field day with the album.

Ian Dalziel

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 10:32:53 +1300

Now we're cooking...
Meatloaf...
My first thought too!
I don't understand Americans.
One minute they are all about the illusion
next minute they're saying we wus conned
I sense... a nation with issues...

Craig Ranapia

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 10:28:26 +1300

Yeah, and your point is? This is not limited to LDR.

FFS, Sondheim wrote brain-meltingly clever, formally-perfect lyrics but you try dancing to this. I double dog dare you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJaXmnWfZh8&feature=related

Or this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJFz-ucuTvs

Russell Brown

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 10:20:01 +1300

I think maybe I suck?

Nah. The big Motown hits of the 60s nearly all made great use of compression – this little article called The Exciting Compressor explains the technique the house producers came up with to make the records sound extra-awesome:

With the Motown mix approach there were…

Russell Brown

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 10:10:15 +1300

I love and loathe video games, it is a great pop song… ruined, for me, by the marketing ride.

Leaves me wanting to smash one of those huge street posters of her in the face

But why? Why so angry?

For me its the Woon remix (this summers James Blake…

James Butler

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 10:00:29 +1300

It may also be time for my 'I am a philistine' moment, James: I think the Pixies albums sound pretty underwhelming (quality-wise, I mean)

Hey, I'm not making any claims about their quality; you're right, they're mostly pretty lo-fi recordings. That's kinda the point – they're recorded without too much…

Jackie Clark

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 09:58:02 +1300

You so do NOT suck. Brandy is indeed a fine, wonderful song.

Danielle

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 09:50:21 +1300

Cue my usual rant about how tiresome rockist obsessions with 'authenticity' are, sexism, Ziggy Stardust, yadda yadda. I will spare you all. :)

It may also be time for my 'I am a philistine' moment, James: I think the Pixies albums sound pretty underwhelming (quality-wise, I mean) and I wish…

Sacha

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 08:33:30 +1300

not bad for a new girl eh

JacksonP

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 08:28:30 +1300

That's a terribly-written review. Oh dear.

It is a student paper, but yeah, it looks a bit like an assignment. C- ?

Russell Brown

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 08:00:05 +1300

I stumbled upon this fairly scathing review from the Harvard Crimson yesterday too.

That's a terribly-written review. Oh dear.

Jackie Clark

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 07:53:11 +1300

Wow. I had never heard of them. Thanks for that, Lilith.

JacksonP

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 07:53:01 +1300

The saga of Lana Del Rey reaches its inevitable Taiwanese animation chapter

That is hilarious. I stumbled upon this fairly scathing review from the Harvard Crimson yesterday too.

"Off to the Races” is the worst of these anachronistic pairings, as its lyrics form a scattered assortment of over-the-top, clichéd lines…

bob daktari

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 07:27:32 +1300

I love and loathe video games, it is a great pop song... ruined, for me, by the marketing ride.

Leaves me wanting to smash one of those huge street posters of her in the face

Her other songs haven't grabbed me and I don't want them to. Refer to poster…

Martin Lindberg

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 07:11:41 +1300

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEN6vsEzw5g&feature=player_embedded

The saga of Lana Del Rey reaches its inevitable Taiwanese animation chapter (via The AV Club)

Lilith __

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 01:34:32 +1300

Just BTW: how live vocal performance is done!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9jP6lFwwvo

Lilith __

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 21:32:25 +1300

This one is OK, even if her voice lacks accuracy in places:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ku5vwa6fVbE&feature=related

JacksonP

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:06:40 +1300

different strokes, as they say...

Because I'm crazy, baby
I need you to come here and save me
I'm your little scarlet, starlet
Singing in the garden,
Kiss me on my open mouth

If you expect more than what it is, you might be disappointed. But yeah, I'd like to…

linger

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 17:12:26 +1300

I’m also stuck on the ball tickling line. I encourage such use of words.eh, whatever tickles your balls. different strokes, as they say...

Yamis

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 17:03:50 +1300

I had only vaguely heard of her before, and I'd seen the Video Games video on TV once or twice. But the music is OK and I don't really give a stuff who wrote it and how organised it is these days. I would have more in the past. I…

Robyn Gallagher

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 17:00:24 +1300

The modern major label underground buzz plant project. Been going strong since Alanis Morrisette (remember her being played on bfm and those videos where you couldn't quite see her face?).

Yes! The marketing of Lana Del Rey reminds me a lot of the hype around Alanis. But both Alanis and…

Sacha

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:59:37 +1300

I won't inflict Simply Red on anyone

appreciated :)

hot_grits

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:23:19 +1300

The modern major label underground buzz plant project. Been going strong since Alanis Morrisette (remember her being played on bfm and those videos where you couldn't quite see her face?).

Still, good thing is you can alway just judge the music as it lies. I mean, Arctic monkeys were still…

Steve Barnes

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:17:48 +1300

I have a couple of songs that bring tears to the eyes every time.

Me too and this is one of them...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4v8VJ0LRgA

Steve Barnes

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:14:43 +1300

Her polygons need tweaking.

Down boy.
;-)

Anyhoo. When I was a junior sound engineer, too many moons ago to mention, limiting and compression were two of the best tools we had at our disposal. Back in the day, as they say, we all got our new sounds from the…

Jackie Clark

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:12:17 +1300

I have a couple of songs that bring tears to the eyes every time. I won't inflict Simply Red on anyone but one of the songs that do it for me is this one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLMotU8Tu9E

And certainly, this one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7ZwViizRwU

Raymond A Francis

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:03:50 +1300

I take no interest in what passes as pop music now I don't think it is written or played for me and can just imagine the huge cringe if some old bugger had expressed an interest in it when I was young

But I love Video Games, heard it first…

nzlemming

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 15:59:16 +1300

Martin Philips said something similar about "Heavenly Pop Hit", I believe

Russell Brown

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:55:46 +1300

The interesting thing about 'Not Given Lightly' is that it was — as Chris has told it — a deliberate attempt at producing a highly accessible, radio-friendly pop song.

It wasn't really, and radio still ignored it, but it became something much bigger than radio.

Russell Brown

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:53:42 +1300

To clarify: The britpoppers (especially Nigel Godrich) did compress for artistic effect, just not one I liked.

I bought What's the Story, Morning Glory? and actually traded it because it annoyed me so much. I didn't understand why until I read about the Loudness Wars.

nzlemming

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:53:02 +1300

+1, even on crappy laptop speakers.

Geoff Lealand

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:48:42 +1300

That too. Also Tom Waits Martha, The Shirelles Baby, It's You, Al Green Belle and Bryan Ferry Let's Stick Together

George Darroch

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:47:27 +1300

With:

What you all appear to have missed – but was revealed at Midem last week – is that Lana del Rey is 100% CGI.

And:
The file was one MediaFire.

Which is, y'know, one of the good file-lockers. I figured it wouldn't have stayed there if someone had really…

Russell Brown

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:35:53 +1300

You downloaded it on Twitter! OMG! Now awaiting a US law enforcement authority rendition?

The link was on Twitter, the file was one MediaFire.

Which is, y'know, one of the good file-lockers. I figured it wouldn't have stayed there if someone had really wanted it taken down.

Sacha

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:27:38 +1300

beautiful love song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NaSV0ymL8jk

Andre

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:18:40 +1300

You downloaded it on Twitter! OMG! Now awaiting a US law enforcement authority rendition?

Lilith __

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:18:33 +1300

I love Video Games, and I was deeply disappointed with LDR’s performances of it both on Later and on SNL but I can appreciate that the song on the video is a crafted artefact as much as it’s a performance.

Likewise, I love this song, with it’s dynamic and vocal…

James Butler

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:16:11 +1300

To clarify: The britpoppers (especially Nigel Godrich) did compress for artistic effect, just not one I liked. My last complaint was aimed at those who produce modern pop, where the putative artists probably don't even know what compression is.

Geoff Lealand

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:13:29 +1300

I know the backstory about LDR but, just occasionally, popular music comes up with an achingly beautiful love song like this. Maybe we could all nominate our favourite--I would offer Nick Cave's Into My Arms