One to Watch in 2008

Morrissey's Wobbling Voice

I just heard Morrissey's new single "That's How People Grow Up" on BBC Radio 6 (best radio station in the world EVAH, in case you didn't know).

The song starts with a dramatic opera singer, reminiscent of Klaus Nomi (whom Morrissey loved - intentional reference?) before the song properly kicks off. It sounds like a single from his "Viva Hate", "Bona Drag" period.

I like. Then again, I can't take the blinders off when it comes to him.

Meaningless Like a Game of Chess

The Magnetic Fields are my favourite American band. Or, to be more precise, Stephin Merritt (the man behind the band) is my fave American musician. I love everything he does with the Fields, as well as his side projects (The 6ths, The Gothic Archies and Future Bible Heroes.) Jeez, the guy is prolific. But we are the lucky ones for having such a genius-like soul pumping out music as if there were no tomorrow.

Yesterday saw the release of The Magnetic Fields' latest album, "Distortion". At face value, it owes a lot to the Jesus and Mary Chain[1] in its love affair with feedback and sweet melodies. But, if you dig deeper, the references lie in places as far off as Japan, the salons of Austria and The Beach Boys' California (with a quick tour of the Wild West).

Merritt's lyrics are still the best thing about his music. He is up there with Morrissey when it comes to extracting the silly from the melancholic, the wistful from the ugly. My mother, during all the years I subjected her to The Cure and The Smiths, never said a word to me about my music. But a few years back, when I was listening to "The Wayward Bus" on repeat, she begged me to stop because it was depressing her... and she was loaded up to her hair roots on Prozac! Dear mom, they are not depressing - they are just misunderstood.

Through sleet and snow,
and storm and hail
Through every degradation
and betrayal
Past rhyme, and reason,
and beyond the pale,
darling, I will love you
till the bitter end...
and all the bitter moments till then

[1] Kevin and I have got tickets for their gig at the Roundhouse (the Tuesday). Anyone else going?