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ALBUM CHOICE
The Last Shadow Puppets are collaboration between the Arctic Monkeys Alex Turner and The Rascals Miles Kane. If you were expecting something like the last two Arctic Monkeys Albums… think again! Also collaborating with Francis Pallett, who has arranged strings for Arcade fire and does on this album with the twenty two piece London Metropolitan Orchestra. This album goes in the opposite direction to the Monkey’s last album where that was more upbeat and rocky than its predecessor this is more swingy and ballady. Recorded with the influences of doo wop, girl groups and late sixties Bowie in mind this record might be so much of a departure that it’ll be hard for some Monkey’s fans to get their head around. Very self indulgent and arty, the lads have made a record for themselves and put it out. Lyrically while not on par with his work with the Monkeys, Turner is still up there. His moments of genius on this album almost appear lazy compared to his previous gems. This album is a mix between Frank Sinatra, a west end musical, a rock band and a James Bond soundtrack. Only one for adventurous fans of the Monkeys!
ANALOG 18TH TO 20 JULY 2008 GRAND CANAL SQUARE
Analog Main Stage Weekend Ticket is €60 incl booking fee and includes Hal Willner’s Rogue’s Gallery on Friday 18th Tortoise/ Efterklang/ Liars on Saturday 19th Taraf De Haidouks / Vinicius Cantuaria on Sunday 20th July. Dublin Docklands Development Authority is investing heavily in expanding this event.
WHAT IS MUSIC THERAPY? Jim Cosgrove is a Senior Music Therapist who recently gave a lecture on the subject with regard to the treatment of depression and emotional distress, although it can be used with children, the elderly etc. It is one of the creative art therapies offering a mode of expressive awareness through listening with the client. This listening to music together is known as shared musical space and is also called pre-verbal. If the music is right, it can set off a stream of self-expression in the client, either talking or singing themselves– there can be many responses. The challenge for the therapist is to correctly match the music to the needs of the client. Now, it’s great to listen to music together, but I can see one main problem with this. People generally hate to have taste forced upon them, and will have their own pre-formed likes and dislikes, especially in music. That is my only misgiving, the receptivity of the client. For example: Are they too sick or depressed to enjoy or appreciate the music, or is it too far from their existing taste? Jim Cosgrove insists that most have a joy of music, and that there are very few people who are actually tone deaf (maybe 1% or so). ‘He who has not music in his soul, is fit for treason, strategem and spoils’, Shakespeare So then, what can music actually do for someone? Music therapy can improve focus, and boost confidence and initiative. It can also improve physical sense of self and independence. It can connect people to past experiences and can be used ritually, for example, the lament for mourning. It can calm you down and ‘move’ rigid emotions, by offering a chance for emotional expression in the client. Silence is an important part of the therapy when time is given to process any emotions. It can help the person ‘connect’ with themselves and develop personal awareness. It can help with renewal of the self and decrease feelings of isolation. It can actually assist in bringing a person back to awareness. This is called Reality Orientation. Jim Cosgrove played segments from his collection to a very attentive audience. He betrayed his own classical training by playing Claude Debussy, Aaron Copeland and Henryk Gorecki’s Symphony No. 3, sung by Dawn Upshaw. He also played Rhapsody in Blue, by George Gershwin and Kind of Blue by Miles Davis and more. Music has a lot to offer us. He cites melody, pitch, timbre and rhythm to say nothing of the power, prayer and poetry of some lyrics. There is a Music Therapist as part of every multi-disciplinary team in health care in the United States and Canada. It is also a ratified profession by the NHS in the UK. In Ireland, there are only eight full-time Music Therapists. However, it is growing as a recognised discipline and you may study for this at the University of Limerick if you already possess a music degree.
It’s Metallica, what can I say, sheer power, passion or just a certain chemistry. More like sheer heavy metal, but not all their fans are It was October 28th 1981, drummer Lars Ulrich made James Hetfield an offer he could not refuse: “ I’ve got a track saved for my band on new metal blade label, wanna play guitar and sing on it?” They recorded their first track on a cheap recorder with Hetfield also doing bass duties. Ulrich was also manager. They quickly asked Hetfield’s roommate Ron McGovney to play bass and Dave Mustaine took up lead guitar duties. They called themselves Metallica after a suggestion from Bay area friend Ron Quintana and began gigging in Los Angeles, Hetfields birth place. They supported Saxon and other greats. Then came a demo called ‘No Life Till Leather’. It sold well in New York and San Francisco. In San Francisco doing two shows they signed a proper bass player named Cliff Burton from a band called Trauma. A heavy metal shop called Zazula got a hold of ‘No Life Till Leather’ and asked the band to come out to play some shows and record an album. First things first, Mustaine was sent packing after causing too much trouble and Kirk Hamnett was signed from a band called Exodus. It was 1983 and time for ‘Kill em All’, Metallica’s first LP to be pressed. The band toured relentlessly which gave them popularity in Europe as well as the US. 1984 saw the release of their second LP called ‘Ride The Lightening’. This proved Metallica were not a one-trick pony. It also saw them sign to a proper record label, Electra. In 1985 they continued with a third LP. called ‘Master Of Puppets’ which was made in the same studio as ‘Ride The Lightening’. They also at this time got a slot touring with the great Ozzy Osbourne and their popularity took a quantum leap because of this. It was all too good to be true but in 1986 while touring in Sweden on an overnight drive their tour bus skidded and flipped. It killed Cliff Burton. The band figured Cliff would want them to keep going, so they did. In 1991 after a world tour, the band released what was to become the height of their careers, the ‘Black’ album. It went straight to number one all over the world and sold in excess of 15 million copies worldwide. It also got them a grammy. By 1993, after headlining at many festivals, the band were shattered. Four years later ‘Load’ was released. It was produced by Bob Rock, he had also produced the ‘Black’ album. 2001 saw the departure of Jason Newsted because of several problems that had grown to fruition, no real cause is blamed. The band set up Metallica’s H.Q. at an old army barracks and began jamming and looking for a new bass player, as Bob Rock was doing most of the playing. It was at this time that Hetfield went into rehab for alcoholism and other substances. They then made ‘St. Anger’ with Bob Rock. They had also found a new bass player in Robert Trujillo, who had played with Ozzy Osbourne and Suicidal Tendencies. And so you have it, with Metallica’s last video being shot in San Quentin prison. Marlay Park is a humble setting for the men in Metallica as they are now the seventh biggest selling act in American History.
Erykah Badu in Dublin’s Vicar Street, July 1st. I’ve been known to stay awake A beautiful world I’m trying to find Erica Abi Wright (born February 26, 1971), better known by her stage name Erykah Badu American R&B, soul, and hip hop singer and songwriter is best known for her role in the rise of the neo soul sub-genre, and for her eccentric, cerebral musical stylings and sense of fashion. Badu first received notice for her introspective lyrics and jazzy, bass-heavy sound on albums ‘Baduizm’ (1997)– her first album which went triple platinum– and ‘Mama’s Gun’ (2000), also well-received, with the lyrical content winning notices from those who found her lyrics hard to decipher on her initial releases. She speaks from a black subculture sometimes hard to understand. Badu’s lyrics are highly personal philosophies which throw emotional challenges in the face of the listener. The music is sophisticated, as she weaves influences together creating a rich texture of sound. The songs have many parts and speak politically of the black American experience. Barrack Obama’s voice is sampled on her latest release. Musically, she references old school rappers and songs in her compositions. The genre of the music is also underground or alternative hip hop. She has worked with Jill Scott on ‘You Got Me’, winning a Grammy Award for best rap by a duo in 1999. In her videos, she wears colourful clothes and head wraps and scarves. ‘On and On’, ‘Bag Lady’, ‘I’m in love with you’ (with Ziggy Marley), ‘Tyrone’, and more can be seen on Youtube. Also ‘Honey’, the single taken from New AMERYKAH Part One (4th world war), released earlier this year. New Amerykah Part Two (Return of the Ankh) is set for release in July, to coincide with the tour. Erykah has a son named Seven (born 1997) and a daughter Puma Rose (born July 5th, 2004). The father of her second child is West Coast rapper The D.O.C. Badu also serves as an activist in South Dallas where she grew up. Erykah has also appeared as an actress in a number of films. Her charity organisation, Beautiful Love Incorporated Non-profit Development (BLIND) provides community-driven development for inner-city youth through music, dance, theatre and visual arts. Erykah Badu plays Vicar Street on July 1st. If it’s not already sold out, tickets cost around €46.
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Dublin Docklands Development Authority in association with Note Productions presents ANALOG 18-20 July 2008. Can you believe it, Lou Reed, pictured above, will be performing on Friday 18th July as part of the European premiere of Hal Willner’s Rogue’s Gallery. Rogue’s Gallery Tickets €49.95 including booking fee from 
METALLICA PLAY MARLEY PARK
NEW AMERYKAH