R.E.M. Calls it a Day

     I Just finished reading the news on R.E.M.’s official website that after more than 30 years together as a band they have decided to call it a Day. 

Here is the post from their website

"To our Fans and Friends: As R.E.M., and as lifelong friends and co-conspirators, we have decided to call it a day as a band. We walk away with a great sense of gratitude, of finality, and of astonishment at all we have accomplished. To anyone who ever felt touched by our music, our deepest thanks for listening."

R.E.M.

    I have always had a place in my musically bombarded life for R.E.M. . I finally got to see them live a few years ago and Michael , Peter and Mike did not disappoint.

  As I end this short note I will go and spin on my turntable a copy of  Lifes Rich Pageant….

Buy the Sky and Sell the Sky and Bleed the Sky and Tell the Sky…Fall on Me

Joe Cornelisse-SSGS

Beirut releases new record “The Rip Tide”

    I have always been a sucker for a good horn section, they just seem to pick up where the strings leave off and almost seem to breathe life into songs where life was lacking, and with the band Beirut you not only get the horns, you get the accordion (a very underrated rock and roll instrument) you are also served up some piano, ukulele, mandolin, glockenspiel, violin, cello, tambourine...the list is endless, but rounding it all out is this mesmerizing voice of Zach Condon , a voice that is an instrument all of its own.  

    Now after two full length releases and a few singles Condon and his band of wildly accomplished musicians are staying the course musically on their latest release “The Rip Tide”. Track by track “The Rip Tide” takes you on journey’s that only music can. East Harlem is a track that has buried itself in my head and will not leave, that is a statement that applies to pretty much every track on this record. Port Of Call takes me away from my daily troubles and places me far away where they cannot find me, with lyrics like: you’re the face in stone, through the land I own, you never found it home, you’re not the girl I used to know from the track Goshen .It’s not hard to see why Zach Condon is not only a gifted songwriter but storyteller, one that we have been waiting for to grace our turntables for some time. 

  I will be the first one to admit it that after the first 6 seconds or so of A Candle’s Fire the lead off track from Beirut’s third full length album “The Rip Tide” I wanted to clap, and I mean clap in that flamenco dancer style, then by about half way through I was reflecting on everything that is good and bad in my life….this record weaves moods and tales from beginning to end.

The Rip Tide Track Listing

A Candle’s Fire

Santa Fe

East Harlem

Goshen

Payne’s Bay

The Rip Tide

Vagabond

The Peacock

Port Of Call

LABEL: Ba Da Bing Records/Pompeii Records

 Check out the track "East Harlem"

Joe Cornelisse-SSGS

PS I LOVE YOU + DIAMOND RINGS-"LEFTOVERS"

     Every once in awhile I come across a track that sticks in my head and won't leave, this track by PS I LOVE YOU featuring Diamond Rings called "Leftovers" is one of those tracks. I really can't go into too much detail why it's won me over because I really don't know, maybe it's because I really dig both of the artists and for them to come together and put something out that's this good is just a real treat for all of us.

"Leftovers" is from a 7" released by Paper Bag Records...it can be found HERE.

Without further ado here is the video...and if you get a chance to check out either PS I LOVE YOU or Diamond Rings LIVE do it! you will not leave disappointed.

Joe Cornelisse-SSGS

Where the Hell has he Been ?

    Maybe some of you have been asking yourselves why there have been no new SSGS Blog posts over the last month...or maybe not, that's cool but just to let you know I'm still alive..I'm still here..I still want to report and to challenge..but my personal life took and turn for the "different" and my mind has been on other things. 
      I have been itching to get back to writing, so within the next week or so you will start to see some new stuff up here. Thanks to everyone who have continued to visit the SSGS blog and my Facebook page...

I'm O.K.


Joe Cornelisse-SSGS