Now and Then

Now and Then, the 'last' Beatles song, was released earlier today. 

The song, like Free As A Bird and Real Love from the Anthology Series in 1995, stems from a John Lennon demo. Back in 1995, the technology didn't exist to isolate John's vocal from the piano. 

That was then, this is now. John, Paul, George and Ringo are united once again, to complete the song, continue The Beatles story and help with yet more Beatles remasters and reissues (of the Red and Blue compilation albums).

Personally, I'll never tire of reading about The Beatles, or listening to their brilliant music that wowed (and changed) the world, or hearing their musings and philosophies on life. Give Peace A Chance, All You Need Is Love, We All Shine On .... important then, more so now.

The Beatles story is wonderful and this is another chapter of the most incredible book that takes in; friendship, music, death, love, travel, children, creative souls, mind-blowing success, mind-bending drugs, break-ups, make-ups, reflection ... and four characters that developed through the years, four people we all fell for. It's been quite the journey ... a long and winding road.

Now, with Paul and Ringo in their 80's, this really is likely to be the last time The Beatles create and release a new song. Their legacy will last forever and I'm sure that someone somewhere is working up an ABBA experience style series of shows  ... but lets focus on the new song.

The piano is haunting, and Lennon's voice hits hard, it gripped me immediately. Paul comes in, subtly at first, then your hear his voice coming in stronger, then Ringo's drums seem harder and Paul's bass is there, the strings are sublime and everything builds quite beautifully.

Paul sounds older, his voice still gelling with Lennon in the 70's. George's slide guitar from the 90's is there, the strings swirl and after the second chorus there is a gorgeous dreamy instrumental with classic Beatle aaahhh's and oooohhh's.

I know it's true

It's all because of you

And if I make it through

It's all because

Of you

There was a surge of optimism in mid-90's Britain when The Beatles last released new music. Britpop was at its 1995 peak and Labour were riding towards government. The Tories were on their way out and the nation was ready to party - things could only get better.

We could sure use a surge of optimism and change right now!

Official audio

Peter Jackson's Now and Then film

Freak Scene

Trust Me #53 - Freakscene by Dinosaur Jr

Freak Scene was my introduction to Dinosaur Jr. This was probably back in 1992 and very probably through my  my friend Grant Mitchell who used to make me some super cool mixtapes. Grant was so on it with Americian independent guitar music. Freak Scene led me to buy the bands Fossils compilation on CD from Missing Records and I've followed the band ever since.

Freak Scene was originally released in 1988, as a single and on Bug, the bands 3rd album. J Mascis' guitar sounds absolutely captivated me. In Freak Scene he has a couple of Townsend windmill moments after the first verse (that contains the memorable line the weirdness flows between us), then there is a heavy chugging riff before J breaks out of it with a super clean jangle sound, before going back to the heavy chug.

As the second verse begins (the first repeated again) there is an acoustic, J's vocal is pretty hushed but then things explode after 90-seconds as Mascis sings;

So fucked I can't believe it

If there's a way I wish we'd see it

How it could work, just can't conceive it

Oh what a mess, is just to leave it

Mascis then shreds his guitar gloriously, creating a truly beautiful noise. Then it cuts as he brilliantly rhymes thrill you, kill you, will you, still you - utter genius. Super cool and outstanding use of swearing.

Sometimes I don't thrill you

Sometimes I think I'll kill you

Just don't let me fuck up will you

'cause when I need a friend it's still you

Dinosaur Jr then make the last 60-seconds sound like being in an indie punk guitar band is the most fun thing you could ever do with your life. In fact they do that throughout the song! But they really hammer it in the last minute! They sound so fucking cool, fun, fresh and vital.

Verse, guitars, repeat verse in a different way, chorus?, guitar solo, verse, another guitar solo.

Long live J Mascis!

Original video

Trailer for Freakscene - The Story Of Dinosaur Jr

A list of all previous songs I've blogged about in my Trust Me feature are listed below, along with links to each blog. Freak Scene joins them.

I've also collated them all into a playlist on Spotify that you can find by searching for Everything Flows - Trust Me , or you can CLICK HERE

Previous Trust Me blogs

1. Something On Your Mind by Karen Dalton

1A. Crimson and Clover by Tommy James and the Shondells

2. I Am, I Said  by Neil Diamond

3. Where's The Playground Susie?   by Glen Campbell

4. If You Could Read My Mind by Gordon Lighfoot

5. Gimme Some Truth by John Lennon

6. Gone With The Wind Is My Love by Rita and the Tiaras

7. In The Year 2525 by Zager and Evans

8. The Music Box by Ruth Copeland

9. The Ship Song by Nick Cave

10. Sometimes by James

11. I Walk The Earth by King Biscuit Time

12. Didn't Know What I Was In For by Better Oblivion Community Centre

13. When My Boy Walks Down The Street by The Magnetic Fields

14. The Man Don't Give A F**k by Super Furry Animals

15. All Flowers In Time Bend Towards The Sun by Jeff Buckley and Liz Fraser

16. Are You Lookin' by The Tymes

17. A Real Hero by College & Electric Youth

18. Feelings Gone by Callum Easter

19. Sunday Morning by The Velvet Underground

20. Did I Say by Teenage Fanclub

21. Don't Look Back by Teenage Fanclub

22. Your Love Is The Place Where I Come From by Teenage Fanclub

23. Belfast by Orbital

24. Clouds by The Jayhawks

25. Dreaming Of You by The Coral

26. Everlasting Love by Love Affair

27. Walk Away Renee by The Left Banke

28. Teenage Kicks by The Undertones

29. Shaky Ground by Sneeze

29. Rill Rill by Sleigh Bells

30. I Can Feel Your Love by Felice Taylor

31. The State We're In by The Chemical Brothers w/ Beth Orton

32. Sunshine After The Rain by Ellie Greenwich

33. Losing My Edge by LCD Soundsystem

34. Mondo 77 by Looper

35. Les Fleurs by Minnie Riperton

36. Rat Trap by The Boomtown Rats

37. How High by The Charlatans

38. I Can't Let Go by Evie Sands

39. Pop Song 89 by R.E.M.

40. Summertime Clothes by Animal Collective

41. There She Goes by The Las

42. We're Going To Be Friends by White Stripes

43. Autumn Sweater by Yo La Tengo

44. Sister Rena by Lomond Campbell

45. Revolution by The Beatles

46. Lazarus by The Boo Radleys

47. Wrote For Luck by Happy Mondays

48. American Trilogy by The Delgados

49. Loser by Beck 

50. Silent Sigh by Badly Drawn Boy

51. Comedy by Shack

52. Take The Skinheads Bowling by Camper Van Beethoven

Blood Orange EP

 

With no prior warning, Poster Paints released their Blood Orange EP on Friday 20th May, simultaneously announcing they had signed with Ernest Jenning (America) & Olive Grove Records to release music this year. 

Those of you that read my previous blog reviewing their Sleazys show (or if you follow the band on social media) will note that they have received test pressings of their debut album. Expect more news on that soon.

Carla: "We're really excited to be working with Ernest Jenning & Olive Grove Records on releasing our music this year! It's a brilliant opportunity for us to collaborate with two brilliant independent labels who are committed to supporting artists they love and be part of a global family who will nurture our music."

The Blood Orange EP features the two singles released last year plus the title track and a cover of the Love Positions/Lemonheads gem Into Your Arms.

Blood Orange is a dreamy beauty that flows with ease, at a gorgeously lazy pace, there is plenty of space before shimmering guitar comes in, picking up into the bursting blood orange refrain, Carla singing over another sublime Liddell guitar riff.

I'm seeking something more exciting, to colour in my day

Poster Paints take on Into Your Arms is pretty true to The Lemonheads version, Liddell plays an aching riff while Carla sings with a purity and soul. Poster Paints have a natural ability to make everything they do sound dreamy - in all the right ways.

I know I won't be alone, be alone anymore

Debut single Number 1 still bursts with energy, the beats, the reverb, the hooks ... cause kids are so naive, I wear my heart on my sleeve ...

Never Saw It Coming sounds even better 9-months down the line, the sound and portrayal of heartbreak in the hook I can't believe you're gone, I never saw it coming 

Poster Paints are beginning to build momentum again. I can't wait for more shows and the album.