Ballad in Urgency / Wiser Time by the Black Crowes

I believe this songs are unique in a way that were created to be performed next to each other, similar to how it appears in the album. You know it's two songs, but how it transitions from one to the next is just amazing. I feel warm every time I hear this. I've owned the Amorica album for years now, even owning 2 copies (my brother had one originally). My appreciation of the Black Crowes grew leaps and bounds after seeing them live in Atlanta last November.

Ballad in Urgency

Here with me
And this price you pay
Just a wishful dream
could be blown away

Ask yourself for better or worse
Because what's the use if it's just good luck

A black cat has crossed my path
Tell me what's good luck about that

Hate and greed
Swollen and sweet
Let's start this misery
If that's where you wanna be
Fear and love
From down or form up above
Come to me
Come to me
I bet you please
Come set me free

Excuse me please
For my definition
But deeper still are my convictions

Urgently I wait to hear an answer
While I misconduct
a sad lost anthem
An anthem like you have never heard
Have you heard something so absurd

Hate and greed
Swollen and sweet
Let's start this misery
If that's where you wanna be

You believe me

With my Hate and my greed
We are Swollen and sweet
If you start this misery
Well you're in the place where you wanna be
With my Fear and love
From down or form up above
Come on to me
Come on to me
Well I bet you please
Come set me free

Wiser Time

No time left now for shame
Horizon behind me, no more pain
Windswept stars blink and smile
Another song, another mile

You read the line every time
Ask me about crime in my mind
Ask me why another read song
Funny but I bet you never left home

On a good day, I know it ain't every day
We can part the sea
And on a bad day, well I know it ain't every day
Glory beyond our reach

Seconds until sunrise
Tired but wiser for the time
Lightning 30 miles away
Three thousand more in two days

On a good day, I know it ain't every day
We can part the sea
And on a bad day, well I know it ain't every day
Glory beyond our reach

John Brown by The Honeydogs

I bought the Honeydog's Seen a ghost album from a CD sale years ago, probably around 2005. There were lots of CDs that were priced at a 100pesos, however they were bands that were not really known here in Manila. I risked buying some, including this record. I was fortunate to find albums that I really like such as this CD. I just started ripping this record again and it was refreshing to rediscover the songs I really liked including the slow ballad John Brown. I think I haven't encountered an album I haven't liked yet for the start of 2011.

Can you see a king
Suspend all disbelief?
Walking through the bad part of town,
can you turn the other cheek?
Can you forget that you were chattel?
Bones in our closet always rattle

Caught in a steel trap
Memory serves it's never gonna pass
Old John Brown
Can we keep from goin' down?
Old John Brown
Can we keep from goin' down?

A zealous one born too soon
Could he see his city on a hill in ruins?
Caught in a steel trap
Memory serves it's never gonna pass
Old John Brown
Can we keep from goin' down?
Old John Brown
Can we keep from goin' down?

Can you pray?
Can you take that walk
from Harper's Ferry to Little Rock?
Caught in a steel trap
Memory serves it's never gonna pass
Old John Brown
Can we keep from goin' down?
Old John Brown
Can we keep from goin' down?

Tupelo Honey by Van Morrison

My uncle Ling mentioned Van Morrison yesterday, along with Frank Zappa. I checked a Van Morrison video in Youtube and found it OK. I clicked on another song with a more familiar title, Tupelo Honey. This was a live performance in Montreux 1980. Damn! That's just awe-inspiring. One of the best vocal performances I've seen!

You can take all the tea in China
Put it in a big brown bag for me
Sail right around the seven oceans
Drop it straight into the deep blue sea
She's as sweet as tupelo honey
She's an angel of the first degree
She's as sweet as tupelo honey
Just like honey from the bee

You can't stop us on the road to freedom
You can't keep us 'cause our eyes can see
Men with insight, men in granite
Knights in armor bent on chivalry
She's as sweet as tupelo honey
She's an angel of the first degree
She's as sweet as tupelo honey
Just like honey from the bee

You can't stop us on the road to freedom
You can't stop us 'cause our eyes can see
Men with insight, men in granite
Knights in armor intent on chivalry
She's as sweet as tupelo honey
She's an angel of the first degree
She's as sweet as tupelo honey
Just like honey from the bee

You know she's alright
You know she's alright with me
She's alright, she's alright (she's an angel)

You can take all the tea in China
Put it in a big brown bag for me
Sail it right around the seven oceans
Drop it smack dab in the middle of the deep blue sea
Because she's as sweet as tupelo honey
She's an angel of the first degree
She's as sweet as tupelo honey
Just like honey from the bee

She's as sweet as tupelo honey
She's an angel of the first degree
She's as sweet as tupelo honey
Just like the honey, baby, from the bee
She's my baby, you know she's alright.....

I heard a tale of old Manhattan
I've never been there but I want to go
Standing waiting on my number

Whispering a Prayer by Steve Vai

Sometimes it's difficult to understand instrumental music, especially if you don't know where the songwriter is coming from. I saw a video of Steve Vai talking about motivating yourself with this song in the background. That just somehow made this song easy to digest and start to appreciate it as a work of beauty... an art by itself.

Different by Acceptance

I was on a bus ride this week when I accidentally selected this song. I was to choose the Black Crowes' Amorica album, however ended up on this. It was fortunate to be able to listen to this song again and see it in a different light. It's just a wonder how we can suddenly like a piece of music if you start looking at things from another perspective.

Tell myself, on the ride home.
Getting tired, hating all I've known.
Holding on, like it's all I have.
Count me out, when it's clear that I, find it hard to say.
And you, find it hard to care.

I wanted to see something that's different,
something you said would change in me.
Wanted to be, anything different,
everything you would change in me.

Got this way, upfront but never true.
God I'm wrong, it's just the way I am.
Crashing down, any chance you hear.
Caving in, any chance that you, could see inside of me.
And I don't know what to say, It's fine.
This isn't Hollywood.
So fine, getting in your way.

I wanted to see something that's different,
something you said would change in me.
Wanted to be, anything different,
everything you would change in me.

I'm taking a chance, this could be different.
This could be all I'm waiting for.
Taking a chance, this could be different.
This could be all I'm waiting for.

I wanted to see something that's different,
something you said would change in me.
Wanted to be, anything different,
everything you would change in me.

Something that's different
Something that's different

Gravity by John Mayer

Few songs are well written and well executed. This song fits both. Almost perfect I would say.

Gravity is working against me
And gravity wants to bring me down

Oh I'll never know what makes this man
With all the love that his heart can stand
Dream of ways to throw it all away

Oh Gravity is working against me
And gravity wants to bring me down

Oh twice as much ain't twice as good
And can't sustain like a one half could
It's wanting more
That's gonna send me to my knees


Oh gravity, stay the hell away from me
And gravity has taken better men than me (now how can that be?)

Just keep me where the light is
Just keep me where the light is
Just keep me where the light is
C'mon keep me where the light is
C'mon keep me where the light is
Oh... where the light is!

I'm Going Left by Eric Clapton

It's great to discover songs and artists by listening to an artist that usually listen to then finding out that the song is just a cover from another artist you didn't appreciate before. For me, it starts a snowball effect of listening to the original song and eventually appreciating the original artist more 'til he becomes an eventual favorite of yours.

Looking at the credits of this song, I found that it was originally by Stevie Wonder. I just love how happy this song sounds.

(Well) I'm goin' left
'Til you lead me to the right
Lead me to what is right
I'm goin' left
'Til you lead me to the right
Lead me to what is right

There's a train people say
I could ride to get my whole life straight
But the bridge on the way
Has a toll too much for me to pay
Yes I know it must be
What I chose could mean my destiny
Lights are green all is go
But my heart keeps telling my mind no

(Well) I'm goin' left
'Til you lead me to the right
Lead me to what is right
I'm goin' left
'Til you lead me to the right
Lead me to what is right


There's a plane over there
Where all are given even share
What you get is so small
It's like never having nothing at all
Take my hand says a friend
A will stick with you until the end
But I'm in doubt I must decline
'Cause even friends can change their lines

(Well) I'm goin' left
'Til you lead me to the right
Lead me to what is right
I'm goin' left
'Til you lead me to the right
Lead me to what is right

Stay Young by Oasis

Out of the blue, probably because I just ripped the Faculty soundtrack just recently, I decided to listen to Stay Young in Youtube (cos i don't have the song in the PC and my ipod is somewhere). I checked out the acoustic version performed and sang by Noel Gallagher. I suddenly remembered how much I liked Oasis songs before. I also thought about that I should start focusing on the lyrics part of song writing again.

One way out is all you're ever gonna get
From those who'll hand it out don't never let it upset you
Cos they'll put words into our mouths they're making us feel so ashamed

Making us take the blame
Making us cold in the night
Making us question my heart and soul
And I think that it's not quite right

Hey! stay young and invincible
Cos we know just what we are
And come what may we're unstoppable
Cos we know just what we are

Feed your head with all the things you need
When you're hungry
Stay in bed and sleep all day as long as it's Sunday
Cos they'll put words into your mouth they're making you feel so ashamed

Luha by Rivermaya

One reason I like listening to Rivermaya is that there's always an old song that I can suddenly relate to when I listen to their albums. Listening to it intently, you'll notice that the vocals are overdubbed, Bamboo and Rico, Rivermaya's greatest vocalist in duet with Nathan and Mark Escueta's tight rhythm section in the background. Some songs just don't get better than this.

Wag mo nang ipilit,
'wag mo nang piliting lumapit
Ako'y iyong limutin,
Baka pa ang langit magalit

Balikan mo ang dati,
Isipin kung saan ka nagkamali
Nar'yan ka pa ba
Nagluluksa sa dilim?

Ubos na ang luha

Bago na ang tinig,
Bago na ang ihip ng hangin
Ubos na ang luha
Sa langit at lupang atin

Alaala inaamag
Na sa isipan
Nar'yan ka pala,
Nagdurusa sa dilim

Ubos na ang luha,
Sa langit at lupa

Gusto Ko Lamang Sa Buhay by Itchyworms

I started my day with this song. I really like the candid lyrics and the effects driven guitar sounds on this song. Hopefully I'll be optimistic the rest of the day.

Ayokong maghintay pa sa imposible
Ayoko ng mga romatikong sine
Ayoko nang umasa pa sa walang silbi

Ayokong tumawid pag pinagbabawal
Ayoko ng kapeng maraming asukal
Ayokong bumili ng underwear na mahal

Gusto ko lamang sa buhay ay yakapin mo ako
Gusto ko lamang sa buhay ay yakapin mo ako
Hindi naman ako milyonaryo
Basta't araw-araw yakap mo ko
Feeling ko ang yaman yaman ko

Ok lang kung 'di maging presidente
Ok lang kung mawalan ng kuryente
Ok lang kung ang bumbilya'y walang sindi

Ok lang kung ketchup lamang ang ulam
Ang gulay ay hindi naman kailangan
Basta't sa sandwich mo ako ang iyong palaman

Gusto ko lamang sa buhay ay yakapin mo ako
Gusto ko lamang sa buhay ay yakapin mo ako
Hindi naman ako milyonaryo
Basta't araw-araw yakap mo ko
Feeling ko ang yaman yaman ko
Feeling ko ang yaman yaman ko

Ang dami ko pang sinabi
Tungkol sa aking sarili
Lahat ng yun 'di na bale
Ikaw lang ang importante

Yakapin mo ako
Lunurin sa iyo
Sa loob ng 'yong mga bisig
Dama ko ang 'yong pag-ibig

Yakapin mo ako
Gusto ko lamang sa buhay ay yakapin mo ako...

Gusto ko lamang sa buhay ay yakapin mo ako
Gusto ko lamang sa buhay ay yakapin mo ako
Hindi naman ako milyonaryo
Basta't araw-araw yakap mo ko
Feeling ko ang yaman yaman ko

Respect by Train

I listened to the Drops of Jupiter album while on commute. I was supposed to write about the song Hopeless which I remembered to have included in a mix-tape that i gave to a girl named Regina. The next song to that is Respect, which is more livelier that Hopeless. I'll put an entry about Hopeless probably next time.

Edit: I just love how the guitar is strummed after the line "Everybody needs a little respect"

For reasons I don't know I treated you so cold
I wish I had those times again
Cause something that you said keeps ringing in my head
Someday you're gonna wanna come back and you're gonna wanna treat me fine

Everybody needs a little respect
Everybody needs a little time
Everybody needs a little respect
Everybody needs a little

I watched me push you down in dreams I had of you
And all I remember about those days is I would run around thinking that you'd be alright
But you lost your light along the way
And oh you were right about the things I'd say
Cause if I had it back again I know I'd treat you kind

Everybody needs a little respect
Everybody needs a little time
Everybody needs a little respect
Everybody needs a little time
Everybody got to have somebody
Everybody got to have someone

And all I ever wanted from this play
Was someone to talk to when I get down
It seems you get the things you give along the way
Now all I need is one more chance to make you feel like hanging round

Everybody needs a little
Everybody needs a little
Everybody needs a little respect
Everybody needs a little time
Everybody needs a little respect
Everybody needs a little time
Everybody
Everybody got to have someone

I Don't Love You by My Chemical Romance

I should have noted this down before, back when the Black Parade was it's peak of popularity. I tried to listen to the song recently, and I still like it. Just shows that the guys from MCR writes good music that can be appreciated not just by emo kids. Black Parade, as a whole, is awesome. I enjoyed watching the manila concert. One of the best concerts I've seen bar-none.

Well, when you go
Don't ever think I'll make you try to stay
And maybe when you get back
I'll be off to find another way

And after all this time that you still owe
You're still the good-for-nothing I don't know
So take your gloves and get out
Better get out
While you can

When you go
Would you even turn to say
"I don't love you
Like I did
Yesterday"

Sometimes I cry so hard from pleading
So sick and tired of all the needless beating
But baby when they knock you
Down and out
It's where you oughta stay

And after all the blood that you still owe
Another dollar's just another blow
So fix your eyes and get up
Better get up
While you can
Whoa, whooa

When you go
Would you even turn to say
"I don't love you
Like I did
Yesterday"

Well come on, come on

When you go
Would you have the guts to say
"I don't love you
Like I loved you
Yesterday"

I don't love you
Like I loved you
Yesterday

I don't love you
Like I loved you
Yesterday

Strong Enough to Break by Hanson

Just ripped the Best of Hanson: Live and Electric CD this past holiday season during some down time and listened to this song for a couple of times today during my commute to work. I'm really impressed with this brothers, from tight drumming and Beatlesque vocal harmonies (not really Beatlesque, but I can't think of a word to describe how good their vocal harmonies are). The band's just amazing. For the Live and Electric album, the bass player does an awesome job as well. Makes me want to be a sessionist!!

I don't feel myself today
Just a figure in a big monopoly game
Struggle is the price you pay
You get just enough just to give it away
I'm sinking but I'm floating away
Throw me a line so I can anchor my pain
The fabric is about to fray
The fabric is about to fray

Maybe you could take a look at yourself lately
Maybe you could take a look at yourself lately
Maybe you could take a look at yourself lately

Things keep coming and I keep wondering
I start feeling the walls close in
Things keep coming and I keep stumbling
I start feeling I'm strong enough to break
Oh, I start feeling I'm strong enough to break

Been running through my mind today
Scenarios to add to your hypocrisy
No one ever takes the blame
But everyone is searching for a cure to the pain
Nothing ever seems to change
Oh, nothing ever seems to change
We just play like broken records in a deaf man's charade

Maybe you could take a look at yourself lately
Maybe you could take a look at yourself lately
Maybe you could take a look at yourself lately

Things keep coming and I keep wondering
I start feeling the walls close in
Things keep coming and I keep stumbling
I start feeling I'm strong enough to break
Oh, I start feeling I'm strong enough to break

Carry on just a pawn and the same old song
I'm still holding on

The fabric is about to fray

Maybe you could take a look at yourself lately
Maybe you could take a look at yourself lately

Things keep coming and I keep wondering
I start feeling the walls close in
Things keep coming and I keep stumbling
I start feeling I'm strong enough
Things keep coming and I keep wondering
I start feeling the walls close in
Things keep coming and I keep stumbling
I start feeling I'm strong enough to break
Oh, I start feeling I'm strong enough to break

Come Pick Me Up by Ryan Adams

I tried to give this record for another spin, just to check what other good songs I can relate to now, after not listening for it for quite some time. I just realized that you have to put this record at the exact volume for you to hear the details as there are some soft dynamics happening in the album, but not too loud.

Come Pick Me Up is the song that I really liked while listening to the album today. There's just some magic to it. A lady named Kim Richey lends the vocals.

When they call your name
Will you walk right up
With a smile on your face?
Will you cower in fear?
In your favourite sweater
With an old love letter

I wish you would
I wish you would

Come pick me up
Take me out
Fuck me up
Steal my records
Screw all my friends
They're all full of shit
With a smile on your face
And then do it again
I wish you would

When you're walking down town
Do you wish I was there?
Do you wish it was me?
With the windows clear
And the mannequins eyes
Do they all look like mine

You know you could
I wish you would

Come pick me up
Take me out
Fuck me up
Steal my records
Screw all my friends
Behind my back
With a smile on your face
And then do it again
I wish you would

I wish you'd make up my bed
So I could make up my mind
Try it for sleeping instead
Maybe you'll rest sometime
I wish I could
I wish I could
I wish I could

Carolina in My Mind by James Taylor

Might be sort of an injustice to the great artistic talents of James Taylor, but eversince seeing his bit in the the movie Funny People with Seth Rogen, it's what I'm reminded of when I hear some of his songs.

From the movie:

Ira (Seth Rogen): "Do you ever get sick of singing the same songs over and over?"
James Taylor: "Do you ever get tired of talking about your dick?"

In my mind I'm goin' to Carolina
Can't you see the sunshine
Can't you just feel the moonshine
Ain't it just like a friend of mine
To hit me from behind
Yes I'm goin' to Carolina in my mind

Karen she's a silver sun
You best walk her way and watch it shinin'
Watch her watch the mornin' come
A silver tear appearing now I'm cryin'
Ain't I goin' to Carolina in my mind

There ain't no doubt it no ones mind
That loves the finest thing around
Whisper something soft and kind
And hey babe the sky's on fire, I'm Dyin'
Ain't I goin' to Carolina in my mind

In my mind I'm goin' to Carolina
Can't you see the sunshine
Can't you just feel the moonshine
Ain't it just like a friend of mine
To hit me from behind
Yes I'm goin' to Carolina in my mind

Dark and silent late last night
I think I might have heard the highway calling
Geese in flight and dogs that bite
Signs that might be omens say I'm going, going
I'm goin' to Carolina in my mind

With a holy host of others standing 'round me
Still I'm on the dark side of the moon
And it seems like it goes on like this forever
You must forgive me
If I'm up and gone to Carolina in my mind

In my mind I'm goin' to Carolina
Can't you see the sunshine
Can't you just feel the moonshine
Ain't it just like a friend of mine
To hit me from behind
Yes I'm goin' to Carolina in my mind