25th June 2007, possibly one of the most British and most innovative, transfixing and astounding albums of the 21st century hit the shelves. Yes, it was “An End Has a Start” by Midlands group, Editors. Their follow-up to debut album “The Back Room”, the second release is often regarded as making or breaking a band’s career, but there were no worries here.
The past year has been a true journey, for me and the band alike. The Band have now conquered the US and a good majority of Europe, topped the album chart and the top 40 chart, as well as seeing lead vocalist Tom Smith become a father to Rudy Brae, with long-term radio one presenter girlfriend, Edith Bowman; phenomenal. In comparison, the past 12 months for myself has seen me fall victim to temptation, love, loss, and the perils of a taste for the night life and city lights. You could say that innocent part of me has slipped away, much like “And End Has a Start”; with death, and passing being an integral part of the album’s focus and surrounding.
When it came out last summer, many criticized this theme of death as being too foreboding, and having smothering overtones within the music, but as with any piece of art, it’s always down to interpretation. From the first time I pressed play, I found “An End Has a Start” to not be depressing and centering on mortality, but in fact, I found it to be a true celebration of life, hearing life in the beat of the songs, and the charisma coming through Smith’s wistful words. Looking back now, it is quite ironic. The concept of death/life came to be after a personal loss of the band, and that end, saw a new start with the band progressing professionally and within their family lives.
For me, this record has been there through the romances, the break ups, making love, heartaches, the low times, the fights, and the day-to-day stress and confusion, that life holds. The album remains pristine, and never tarnished and represents life in its pure essence; what they successfully capture. “Look up, through the trees to feel as small as you can”, and other lyrics, “Can I start this again?” are all lyrical concepts that we can all relate to, making the band and their material so accessible and so genuine. For a long time, I think “An Has a Start” will remain a very exclusive and individual record for me, reminding me of summers, love and making me feel alive, amplified by Chris Urbanowicz’s unbelievable and breath-taking riffs.
I remember seeing them for the first time in 3 years last May, hearing previews of “The Racing Rats” and “Escape the Nest”, and being spell-bound, having it on CD only made it worse, being able to hear that power again and again for my own entertainment, and these tracks still remain as fresh as on that tour. This album, as well as the band as a whole, remains cutting edge, compelling and outstanding. I truly love it. With the risk of sounding cheesy, this band is a real favourite of mine and I owe a lot to them for the making of this album. Since its release, I’ve literally listened to it every day and I can guarantee it’ll remain a frequently played album within my music collection. 10, 20, 30 Years from now, it’ll mean just as much to me as it did then and now; still sounding utterly epic and remarkable. If you haven’t managed to even get a glimpse of “And End Has a Start” over the past 12 months, where have you been? Do it. Now!
Thursday 26 June 2008
Wednesday 25 June 2008
DOWNLOAD '08
The world-famous “Download” Festival was back for its fifth year at Donnington. Carrying on its intense reputation of it’s previous sister festival: “Monsters of Rock”, Download ’08 looked to pull out all the stops to make it memorable and fucking insane.
Knowing a fair bit about the festival, since following its growth from starting in 2003, and with its major commercialism associated with Kerrang!, yet not making it to Donnington until this year, I was eagerly anticipating the whole package, though only even going for the opening Friday. I’m relieved to say it didn’t disappoint.
Having prepared for the day with a Tesco supreme breakfast, and a battalion supply of drinks; mainly vodka, it was time to hit the road. Expecting never-ending queues on the motorway, it was plain sailing all the way at excessive speeds to the tune of S.O.A.D’s BYOB, or in our case; Bring Your Own Jägermeister. Nearly reaching the site, we tuned into Download.fm; slightly strange, even when pissed. Bonkers presenters (who had also obviously had a tipple) talking about shenanigans in tents and making bizarre animal noises in between belting out Disturbed tracks, got us geared up for the days festivities.
Despite an extortionate £15 to park the damn car, the Download destruction began. Having waited for an hour to enter the site and being fairly merry, and despite it being grey and grim, a whole world of wonder opened up. Stalls selling: staffs, posters, flags, shirts and the slightly more unusual vodka jellies, bongs and “safe” and “legal” drugs, amongst a variety of other goods, and numerous cuisine stalls and drink tents (Jäger!), stood alongside skateboard demonstrations, Guitar Hero challenges and a whole lot more within this rock community.
From experiencing other festivals such as V, in comparison, Download certainly outdoes them. It has a superb setting in the middle of rolling fields (which when you go past any field after this event, you can only think of the memories), and yes it may be more orientated around a specific music genre, but the whole festival is so well focused and organized that it has to be applauded.
Unfortunately missing Seether for wandering around the site in awe, things just continued to get better and better. From what seemed like an inevitably rainy and miserable day, as soon as Disturbed stepped on the stage, not only was there a sonic explosion, but an explosion of sun beamed down onto the crowd. Not good for those in the pit perhaps, but the whole thing was fucking glorious. “Liberate”, “Prayer”, and playing tracks from their latest album: “Indestructable” it was immense, but on a personal level, seeing Dave Draiman and co. perform “Down With the Sickness” was my Download highlight, as it was for pretty much everyone else. It was possibly a good thing that Kid Rock was a no-show (as he’d been admitted to Nottingham Hospital), as disappointed fans were treated to extra long sets from Chicago’s Disturbed and Judas Priest.
Up next, Motorhead. Legendary. Well…in context that that you can say you’ve seen Lemmy, but I think we could have all benefited from subtitles when he was talking to the audience, but hey it’s Lemmy, he was probably more in the festival spirits (quite literally) than anyone else. It was a bit of a samey set, but, needless to say and yes I’ll be damned for saying it; “Ace of Spades” was downright awesome.
Didn’t’ stick around for Judas Priest (heard them from afar); they seemed to lacking serious amounts of energy which was essential to get the masses ready for the night’s headliners: Kiss. So, it was off to the Gibson stage, which I had kept popping back to throughout the day, and apart from those you were desperate to see on the main stage, this is where it was at. Showcasing some very promising talent, there was more life in this tent than over on the other side of the filed at times, exciting stuff.
And then, it was time. Time to “Rock n Roll all Night” with Kiss! Again, not a mega fan, but there certainly were legions of dedicated fans of all ages who had waited a lifetime for this moment, to add up to an ultimately brilliant atmosphere. It has to be said that these guys really are the professionals of all rock mayhem. As a matter of fact, as I stood there with my fellow music comrades, it led me to think no-one does a rock show like the Americans. Think Metallica and their Summer Sanitarium, think Linkin Park, Guns ‘n’ Roses, Kiss is right up there with them if not pissing all over them and it’s marvellous to watch. Their set must have cost an absolute fortune (but I hadn’t forgotten that £15 car parking ticket-and the rest!), what with: pyrotechnics, fireworks and casting Paul Stanley out into the crowd on a harness, to play on his own podium of rock in the middle of the audience. It was insane! And oh yes, Gene Simmons, (THE) legend, sure did outdo seeing Lemmy earlier on in the day. They played a near-enough 2 hour long massive set; after all they did say “We’ll play for as long as we can” and they can only be saluted for their efforts, and was to their own and to their fan’s advantage. Everyone embraced the moment, and though not playing “Crazy Nights” which I had secretly waited for all day, seeing a performance of “Rock n Roll All Night” was as spectacular as the array of lights and fireworks which created a complete bonanza; awesome, awesome, awesome.
So…first Download. First taste of meaty rock in a field of the weird and wonderful. I’ll be at Donnington next Summer (but hopefully having less grief getting of the darn car park!).
Knowing a fair bit about the festival, since following its growth from starting in 2003, and with its major commercialism associated with Kerrang!, yet not making it to Donnington until this year, I was eagerly anticipating the whole package, though only even going for the opening Friday. I’m relieved to say it didn’t disappoint.
Having prepared for the day with a Tesco supreme breakfast, and a battalion supply of drinks; mainly vodka, it was time to hit the road. Expecting never-ending queues on the motorway, it was plain sailing all the way at excessive speeds to the tune of S.O.A.D’s BYOB, or in our case; Bring Your Own Jägermeister. Nearly reaching the site, we tuned into Download.fm; slightly strange, even when pissed. Bonkers presenters (who had also obviously had a tipple) talking about shenanigans in tents and making bizarre animal noises in between belting out Disturbed tracks, got us geared up for the days festivities.
Despite an extortionate £15 to park the damn car, the Download destruction began. Having waited for an hour to enter the site and being fairly merry, and despite it being grey and grim, a whole world of wonder opened up. Stalls selling: staffs, posters, flags, shirts and the slightly more unusual vodka jellies, bongs and “safe” and “legal” drugs, amongst a variety of other goods, and numerous cuisine stalls and drink tents (Jäger!), stood alongside skateboard demonstrations, Guitar Hero challenges and a whole lot more within this rock community.
From experiencing other festivals such as V, in comparison, Download certainly outdoes them. It has a superb setting in the middle of rolling fields (which when you go past any field after this event, you can only think of the memories), and yes it may be more orientated around a specific music genre, but the whole festival is so well focused and organized that it has to be applauded.
Unfortunately missing Seether for wandering around the site in awe, things just continued to get better and better. From what seemed like an inevitably rainy and miserable day, as soon as Disturbed stepped on the stage, not only was there a sonic explosion, but an explosion of sun beamed down onto the crowd. Not good for those in the pit perhaps, but the whole thing was fucking glorious. “Liberate”, “Prayer”, and playing tracks from their latest album: “Indestructable” it was immense, but on a personal level, seeing Dave Draiman and co. perform “Down With the Sickness” was my Download highlight, as it was for pretty much everyone else. It was possibly a good thing that Kid Rock was a no-show (as he’d been admitted to Nottingham Hospital), as disappointed fans were treated to extra long sets from Chicago’s Disturbed and Judas Priest.
Up next, Motorhead. Legendary. Well…in context that that you can say you’ve seen Lemmy, but I think we could have all benefited from subtitles when he was talking to the audience, but hey it’s Lemmy, he was probably more in the festival spirits (quite literally) than anyone else. It was a bit of a samey set, but, needless to say and yes I’ll be damned for saying it; “Ace of Spades” was downright awesome.
Didn’t’ stick around for Judas Priest (heard them from afar); they seemed to lacking serious amounts of energy which was essential to get the masses ready for the night’s headliners: Kiss. So, it was off to the Gibson stage, which I had kept popping back to throughout the day, and apart from those you were desperate to see on the main stage, this is where it was at. Showcasing some very promising talent, there was more life in this tent than over on the other side of the filed at times, exciting stuff.
And then, it was time. Time to “Rock n Roll all Night” with Kiss! Again, not a mega fan, but there certainly were legions of dedicated fans of all ages who had waited a lifetime for this moment, to add up to an ultimately brilliant atmosphere. It has to be said that these guys really are the professionals of all rock mayhem. As a matter of fact, as I stood there with my fellow music comrades, it led me to think no-one does a rock show like the Americans. Think Metallica and their Summer Sanitarium, think Linkin Park, Guns ‘n’ Roses, Kiss is right up there with them if not pissing all over them and it’s marvellous to watch. Their set must have cost an absolute fortune (but I hadn’t forgotten that £15 car parking ticket-and the rest!), what with: pyrotechnics, fireworks and casting Paul Stanley out into the crowd on a harness, to play on his own podium of rock in the middle of the audience. It was insane! And oh yes, Gene Simmons, (THE) legend, sure did outdo seeing Lemmy earlier on in the day. They played a near-enough 2 hour long massive set; after all they did say “We’ll play for as long as we can” and they can only be saluted for their efforts, and was to their own and to their fan’s advantage. Everyone embraced the moment, and though not playing “Crazy Nights” which I had secretly waited for all day, seeing a performance of “Rock n Roll All Night” was as spectacular as the array of lights and fireworks which created a complete bonanza; awesome, awesome, awesome.
So…first Download. First taste of meaty rock in a field of the weird and wonderful. I’ll be at Donnington next Summer (but hopefully having less grief getting of the darn car park!).
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