4. Public Transport (You're Better off Walking)
Public transport in Dublin is badly organised, expensive and difficult to figure out. Everything's always late and the timetables are almost always ripped off or graffitied beyond recognition for Dublin bus. If you try and get the Luas there will always be some drunk man with gloves trying to press all the buttons for you while nagging you for your last two quid.
In the winter the heat never works on the bus and in the Summer it's always ridiculously stuffy. If you have the balls to step onto a bus and ask how much it is to a certain location the bus driver's eyes will pierce your soul as if you've just raped his goldfish. As a citizen of Dublin you are expected to get onto a bus and say 2.50 and throw it in the little gray money muncher. This often confuses me as I don't use the bus enough to know how much anything is. This makes it awkward as I stand, counting my change with a queue of impatient South-siders behind me.
Basically Dublin Bus and the Luas have something in common, they're both shit and full of dick-head junkos which brings me to the next item on the list...
3. Scumbags, Nack-Attacks, Junkos (Can I has a Euros?)
Basically you can't sit outside a cafe having a coffee and a smoke without some mad looking man covered in bruises telling you some made up life story. I was enjoying a cuppa with some friends when a battered looking man approached us asking us if we had a minute to spare. I immediately just ignored him as honestly, as cunt-worthy as it sounds I don't want to give random people any of my money. I just don't give a shit, everyone has there problems and I don't want to hear it. He went on to tell us about how he was recently "jailed for a fight I didn't bleedin' start".
In fact, my friend Mark is sitting next to me know with a black, now yellowish eye due to a mugging incident. My friend Dani now has bruised rips and a chipped tooth as they were stopped by some moron nack-attacks on the street. Not cool Dublin, not cool.
It's also incredibly annoying having some toothless fat woman in a tracksuit begging me to grab her a sliced pan in the shop. Just because she's been barred for trying to nick a can of Karpackie in her knickers.
2. Expensive Living (What do you Mean Six Quid for a Pint)
Dublin is expensive. It is so very, very expensive. In our house we've had couch surfers from Finland, London, Germany and Canada. One thing they've all mentioned is how ridiculously expensive this country is. My flatmates and I felt the effect on our return from Berlin where everything from tobacco, booze to food and public transport was about half, or less even than you will be forced to pay in this city. Rent isn't cheap either if you want to live somewhere that you won't be stabbed. It sucks being on the dole in a city like this. You'll scrape by but you can't really live comfortably unless you have a decent paying job. Which there aren't very many of in this pint sized town.
1. The Alternative Music Scene (or lack of)
This one's a shortie. Essentially if you want to go to a alternative bar in Dublin you have two or three alternatives. In comparison to other cities where you could say: "Monday I wanna mosh to some rock music, Wednesday I wanna stomp to some Dubstep and if I fancy it on Friday I'll do some ridiculous hardcore dance at some stupid gig" and you can. Here it's like ok I can go to Twisted Pepper or I could go to Fibbers if it isn't ten euro in. It sucks big time.
I'm in a very bad mood today so I'm sure this post is considerably more aggressive than any other one's I've written. I promise a very happy Five Things I Love About Living in Dublin. Fuck it, I'm gonna watch movies and have toast for dinner.
Showing posts with label music. Show all posts
Showing posts with label music. Show all posts
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Angsty Autumn
I've been in a really odd I'm-an angry-19-year-old mood the past few weeks. Maybe it's due to the autumn weather or something. Of course it's obvious that I'm a bit late for the whole angsty teen thing, I mean I do know that. It's possible that it could be due to the fact that I have a mere 5 months of teenagerdom. It could well be a subconscious retaliation on my inevitable aging, whatever, I'll spare everyone the details of my abnormal anxieties. So here's Steph Funk's list of Autumny, angsty, angry and plain old fashioned depressing as fuck songs from the 80's and 90's. These songs have made us rage in our underwear, they've made us draw big angry black abyss circles in our teenage diary's, they have even lead us to curling up in the fetal position on our Ikea beds. I want to share them with you, god knows why... and tell you a little bit about what makes them great and super depressing.
Teenage Riot -Sonic Youth
Song: Teenage Riot
Band: Sonic Youth
Album: Daydream Nation (1988)
It was definitely tough to choose from which dirty, distorted Sonic Youth number to pick. Teenage Riot is kind of an odd song for Sonic Youth. It's pretty clean in comparison to their other songs. Particularly stuff on their earlier albums. But it's still got a grunged up punk feel to it. Personally I love Goo and Dirty boots, both of which are kind of "fuck you" songs. However I think even the slightly cleaner guitar and vocals in Teenage Riot definitely do something to me, boil my blood or get me all riled up. If I listen to it on the way to college I get really pumped. I don't know about what really. Hearing Kim Gordon say "Say it don't spray it" and "We will fall", which is a reference to rock/punk legends The Stooges, another favourite band of mine, it's just brilliant. The introduction, her spoken word bit makes the song in my eyes. Or ears.
I don't know what the song is about. I've listened to it and kind of made my own interpretations in the past, after a little research I found out that I was way off. Byron Coley apparently said that it's based on a the band appointing J Mascis as their "de facto alternative dream president". Which is kind of weird.
Even though this lyric is more than likely something to do with J Mascis (Dinosaur Jr.), "Teenage riot in a public station, gonna fight tear it up in hypernation for you." That doesn't mean that I won't enjoy the messed up beauty of the song anyway.
Today -Smashing Pumpkins
Song: Today
Band: Smashing Pumpkins
Album: Siamese Dream (1993)
Today is depressing because despite what you might think on hearing and not listening the lyrics seem pretty upbeat, right? It's playing and you're singing along "Today is the greatest, day I've ever known." That's all lovely, Billy Corgan, the song writer, is having a lovely old time. In the video he's having a great time in that run away ice-cream truck. Then the song continues, "Can't live for tomorrow, tomorrow's much too long. I'll burn my eyes out, before I get out." After a few minutes of lyrics about regret and self mutilation in the form of pink ribbon scars you realise that the only reason Billy thought that today was beautiful is because it's his last. And it clicks that even with that cool little guitar riff the song is about suicide. He thinks that tomorrow's a waste of time. He reckons he's bruised and restrained and needs some angel wings to cleanse his regrets. So there you go a song about suicide that I saw on somebody's blog (not going to name names) in a "My favourite Summer songs post". That poor girl, fooled by Corgan's lyrical trickery that make us think it might be a happy enough tune.
In Guitar World 1995 Corgan said "When I added the opening riff, it completely changed the character of the song. Suddenly, I had a song that was starting out quiet and then got very loud" Good thinking Billy you bald bastard, you had us all fooled.
Disorder -Joy Division
Song: Disorder
Band: Joy Division
Album: Unknown Pleasures (1979)
Disorder is great for so many reasons. It goes something like this: drum beat for a few seconds, excellent bass riff kicks in, a little distorted guitar kicks in for another few seconds. Just when you thought the song was brilliant enough and it couldn't get any better than the melody you're hearing Ian Muthafuckin Curtis begins to sing. His trademark voice, deep and sad. The lyrics are brilliant, like most of Joy Division's songs they tell a story. Ian Curtis was certainly a man with a story to tell. He tells his own story most of the time. A socially awkward man who doesn't know how to deal with people or relationships. "I've been waiting for a guide to come and take me by the hand. Could these sensations make me feel the pleasures of a normal man?" This kind of tells us that he doesn't believe he feels what other people do, that he doesn't get the same pleasures out of living or whatever.
It was no secret that he had to deal with epilepsy and he had a fit at a gig or two. Ian Curtis took his own life in 1980, suffering with depression and the curse of a brilliant, poetic mind. The song could be about a lot of things, there were a lot of things going on in Curtis's life. Personally I reckon it might be about generally being defective and the chaos that comes with epilepsy. Basically the song is about disorder and I think everyone can relate to that. Anyway, here's some lyrics from the song. Some of my favourite lyrics ever:
"It's getting faster, moving faster now, it's getting out of hand. On the tenth floor, down the back stairs, it's a no man's land. Lights are flashing, cars are crashing, getting frequent now. I've got the spirit, lose the feeling, let it out somehow"
Story of an Artist -Daniel Johnston
Song: Story of an Artist
Band: Daniel D. Johnston
Album: Don't Be Scared Cassette (1985)
First off, this video is really cool. There is no official video for the song so this has been made by someone in youtube land with footage from the documentary The Devil and Daniel Johnston. Which is all kinds of awesome and is responsible for my personal discovery of this man and his music. There's a lot of sadness in this song. Daniel Johnston suffers with bi-polar disorder, which has been a problem throughout his life. For those of you who don't know, he's the guy who shoved an old woman out a window.
Daniel Johnston despite his illness, is a lyrical genius. He's a big fat man who is sad and lost and writes beautiful lyrics. He has an incredible and very unusual voice. The song, despite it's quiet, slow piano and strange vocals is another classic "fuck you" song. It's basically saying to all those people who don't take him or artists in general seriously, you know shut up, you don't get it. One of the first lyrics you hear is "Some would try for fame and glory, others aren't so bold." Which makes you a little sad for him and maybe it reflects on a small part of yourself. People are judging him which also relates to you in some way. "Why are you so odd?" They ask. Then he goes on to explain how the best things in life are free and he says to all the haters; "You've got me wrong, says he. The sun don't shine in your TV." and you realise that he's kind of just doing what he loves despite what everyone else thinks. And even though Daniel D Johnston isn't a grunger or a punk, the spirit is there, that free spirit. The lyrics from the begging of the song are altered slightly for the last line; "Listen up and I'll tell a story
About an artist growing old. Some would try for fame and glory. Others just like to watch the world."
It's a happy song in a way, a kind of follow your heart song but it's sad too. It's sad that people judge and nobody understands him or you or whoever listens to the song and is reminded of themselves. It kind of does the opposite of Smashing Pumpkins Today, you think it's full of sorrow but then bam, he's fine with it.
The Stooges -I Wanna Be Your Dog
Song: I Wanna Be Your Dog
Band: The Stooges
Album: The Stooges (1969)
I love this song. It came out in 1969 and it sounds like something from the 1980's. It's rough, it's heavy and I love it. The key elements of the song are the very simple 3 chord guitar riff, Iggy's spectacular voice and the chilling sound of one piano note being pounded throughout the song. The song is probably one of The Stooges best known. It's simple, short and has no particularly memorable lyrics yet it's been covered by some of the greatest artists on the past few decades. The long list includes Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Slayer, RCHP and Sonic Youth.
Even though the lyrics are kind of left to be interpreted by the listener they can really only be about two things;
The obvious, raw sex. Which is what is insinuated in these lyrics; "So messed up, I want you here. In my room, I want you here. Now we're gonna be face to face and I lay right down in my favorite place." Some have even suggested that this part is about his desire to have sex with another dude. Whatever it was it was definitely some kind of sex.
There's also a more symbolic way of interpreting the lyrics. There is certainly a sense of self hatred that can be picked up by the key lyrics. "And now I wanna be your dog." This could be symbolic of Iggy's submission and his sense of self worth at the time of writing.
Despite the questionable lyrics and very simple song construction it is one of the greatest songs in rock and punk history. I can't really say much else about this song other than it fucking rocks.
Teenage Riot -Sonic Youth
Song: Teenage Riot
Band: Sonic Youth
Album: Daydream Nation (1988)
It was definitely tough to choose from which dirty, distorted Sonic Youth number to pick. Teenage Riot is kind of an odd song for Sonic Youth. It's pretty clean in comparison to their other songs. Particularly stuff on their earlier albums. But it's still got a grunged up punk feel to it. Personally I love Goo and Dirty boots, both of which are kind of "fuck you" songs. However I think even the slightly cleaner guitar and vocals in Teenage Riot definitely do something to me, boil my blood or get me all riled up. If I listen to it on the way to college I get really pumped. I don't know about what really. Hearing Kim Gordon say "Say it don't spray it" and "We will fall", which is a reference to rock/punk legends The Stooges, another favourite band of mine, it's just brilliant. The introduction, her spoken word bit makes the song in my eyes. Or ears.
I don't know what the song is about. I've listened to it and kind of made my own interpretations in the past, after a little research I found out that I was way off. Byron Coley apparently said that it's based on a the band appointing J Mascis as their "de facto alternative dream president". Which is kind of weird.
Even though this lyric is more than likely something to do with J Mascis (Dinosaur Jr.), "Teenage riot in a public station, gonna fight tear it up in hypernation for you." That doesn't mean that I won't enjoy the messed up beauty of the song anyway.
Today -Smashing Pumpkins
Song: Today
Band: Smashing Pumpkins
Album: Siamese Dream (1993)
Today is depressing because despite what you might think on hearing and not listening the lyrics seem pretty upbeat, right? It's playing and you're singing along "Today is the greatest, day I've ever known." That's all lovely, Billy Corgan, the song writer, is having a lovely old time. In the video he's having a great time in that run away ice-cream truck. Then the song continues, "Can't live for tomorrow, tomorrow's much too long. I'll burn my eyes out, before I get out." After a few minutes of lyrics about regret and self mutilation in the form of pink ribbon scars you realise that the only reason Billy thought that today was beautiful is because it's his last. And it clicks that even with that cool little guitar riff the song is about suicide. He thinks that tomorrow's a waste of time. He reckons he's bruised and restrained and needs some angel wings to cleanse his regrets. So there you go a song about suicide that I saw on somebody's blog (not going to name names) in a "My favourite Summer songs post". That poor girl, fooled by Corgan's lyrical trickery that make us think it might be a happy enough tune.
In Guitar World 1995 Corgan said "When I added the opening riff, it completely changed the character of the song. Suddenly, I had a song that was starting out quiet and then got very loud" Good thinking Billy you bald bastard, you had us all fooled.
Disorder -Joy Division
Song: Disorder
Band: Joy Division
Album: Unknown Pleasures (1979)
Disorder is great for so many reasons. It goes something like this: drum beat for a few seconds, excellent bass riff kicks in, a little distorted guitar kicks in for another few seconds. Just when you thought the song was brilliant enough and it couldn't get any better than the melody you're hearing Ian Muthafuckin Curtis begins to sing. His trademark voice, deep and sad. The lyrics are brilliant, like most of Joy Division's songs they tell a story. Ian Curtis was certainly a man with a story to tell. He tells his own story most of the time. A socially awkward man who doesn't know how to deal with people or relationships. "I've been waiting for a guide to come and take me by the hand. Could these sensations make me feel the pleasures of a normal man?" This kind of tells us that he doesn't believe he feels what other people do, that he doesn't get the same pleasures out of living or whatever.
It was no secret that he had to deal with epilepsy and he had a fit at a gig or two. Ian Curtis took his own life in 1980, suffering with depression and the curse of a brilliant, poetic mind. The song could be about a lot of things, there were a lot of things going on in Curtis's life. Personally I reckon it might be about generally being defective and the chaos that comes with epilepsy. Basically the song is about disorder and I think everyone can relate to that. Anyway, here's some lyrics from the song. Some of my favourite lyrics ever:
"It's getting faster, moving faster now, it's getting out of hand. On the tenth floor, down the back stairs, it's a no man's land. Lights are flashing, cars are crashing, getting frequent now. I've got the spirit, lose the feeling, let it out somehow"
Story of an Artist -Daniel Johnston
Song: Story of an Artist
Band: Daniel D. Johnston
Album: Don't Be Scared Cassette (1985)
First off, this video is really cool. There is no official video for the song so this has been made by someone in youtube land with footage from the documentary The Devil and Daniel Johnston. Which is all kinds of awesome and is responsible for my personal discovery of this man and his music. There's a lot of sadness in this song. Daniel Johnston suffers with bi-polar disorder, which has been a problem throughout his life. For those of you who don't know, he's the guy who shoved an old woman out a window.
Daniel Johnston despite his illness, is a lyrical genius. He's a big fat man who is sad and lost and writes beautiful lyrics. He has an incredible and very unusual voice. The song, despite it's quiet, slow piano and strange vocals is another classic "fuck you" song. It's basically saying to all those people who don't take him or artists in general seriously, you know shut up, you don't get it. One of the first lyrics you hear is "Some would try for fame and glory, others aren't so bold." Which makes you a little sad for him and maybe it reflects on a small part of yourself. People are judging him which also relates to you in some way. "Why are you so odd?" They ask. Then he goes on to explain how the best things in life are free and he says to all the haters; "You've got me wrong, says he. The sun don't shine in your TV." and you realise that he's kind of just doing what he loves despite what everyone else thinks. And even though Daniel D Johnston isn't a grunger or a punk, the spirit is there, that free spirit. The lyrics from the begging of the song are altered slightly for the last line; "Listen up and I'll tell a story
About an artist growing old. Some would try for fame and glory. Others just like to watch the world."
It's a happy song in a way, a kind of follow your heart song but it's sad too. It's sad that people judge and nobody understands him or you or whoever listens to the song and is reminded of themselves. It kind of does the opposite of Smashing Pumpkins Today, you think it's full of sorrow but then bam, he's fine with it.
The Stooges -I Wanna Be Your Dog
Song: I Wanna Be Your Dog
Band: The Stooges
Album: The Stooges (1969)
I love this song. It came out in 1969 and it sounds like something from the 1980's. It's rough, it's heavy and I love it. The key elements of the song are the very simple 3 chord guitar riff, Iggy's spectacular voice and the chilling sound of one piano note being pounded throughout the song. The song is probably one of The Stooges best known. It's simple, short and has no particularly memorable lyrics yet it's been covered by some of the greatest artists on the past few decades. The long list includes Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Slayer, RCHP and Sonic Youth.
Even though the lyrics are kind of left to be interpreted by the listener they can really only be about two things;
The obvious, raw sex. Which is what is insinuated in these lyrics; "So messed up, I want you here. In my room, I want you here. Now we're gonna be face to face and I lay right down in my favorite place." Some have even suggested that this part is about his desire to have sex with another dude. Whatever it was it was definitely some kind of sex.
There's also a more symbolic way of interpreting the lyrics. There is certainly a sense of self hatred that can be picked up by the key lyrics. "And now I wanna be your dog." This could be symbolic of Iggy's submission and his sense of self worth at the time of writing.
Despite the questionable lyrics and very simple song construction it is one of the greatest songs in rock and punk history. I can't really say much else about this song other than it fucking rocks.
Friday, September 17, 2010
A lotta love for Love.
I just wanted to dedicate a post to Courtney Love. I'm eating a Milky Bar yogurt and watching Courtney Love behind the music. Shedding a tear as I type. Damn you MTV!
It doesn't matter how much bad press she gets, the 14 year old grunger in me still thinks that she's awesome. She's a punk ass bitch and I love her. :)
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Photos from Electric Picnic 2010
Here are some pictures from my favourite moments at Electric Picnic. I was having too much fun to bother taking snaps for most of the weekend but I think I got a few good ones!
Adam on the giant recycled bicycle. He was so happy.
Aoife and myself, I have a feeling this was one of the first days. We look too normal.
The lead singer of the band Foals, who I love. It took us ages but we squished to the front and rocked out with a guy wearing a lampshade.
This was an old fashioned swing set that we paid a mere fiver for. It was SO worth it though. One guy passed out got swung around for a good 10 minutes before anyone realised...
Adam hanging out in Body and Soul. Such a great place, the fountain, the swings, the art, the cafes. Everything in the Body and Soul area was perfect.
A really cool tree I found on my wanders through the arena.
Everyone chilling on Saturday afternoon. Hitting the booze again to rid of those nasty hangovers. There really is nothing worse than a festival hangover. It's like a normal one heightened by the heat of your tent, the constant noise, the lack of running water and normality in general.
Adam on the giant recycled bicycle. He was so happy.
Aoife and myself, I have a feeling this was one of the first days. We look too normal.
The lead singer of the band Foals, who I love. It took us ages but we squished to the front and rocked out with a guy wearing a lampshade.
This was an old fashioned swing set that we paid a mere fiver for. It was SO worth it though. One guy passed out got swung around for a good 10 minutes before anyone realised...
Adam hanging out in Body and Soul. Such a great place, the fountain, the swings, the art, the cafes. Everything in the Body and Soul area was perfect.
A really cool tree I found on my wanders through the arena.
Everyone chilling on Saturday afternoon. Hitting the booze again to rid of those nasty hangovers. There really is nothing worse than a festival hangover. It's like a normal one heightened by the heat of your tent, the constant noise, the lack of running water and normality in general.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Electric Picnic
I'm really excited about Electric Picnic this year. Although last year's was a mud-fest I still had a great time. This year I'm volunteering with Oxfam, it will be the 4th festival that I've volunteered at this Summer with all my festival buddies. (Who I'm moving in with in a few weeks!)
The bands I'm most looking forward to are;
Modest Mouse
Friendly Fires
The Japanese Popstars
Foals
Dan Le Sac vs. Scroobius Pip
Hypnotic Brass Ensemble
Booka Shade
Hot Chip
LCD Soundsystem
Tiga
& of course Massive Attack
Even though it's really exciting, it's also kind of sad. I know this is the last festival before we all go back to college. I had such a good time at Castlepalooza, Life, Sea Sessions and Oxegen this Summer but I know this time next month I'll be sitting in a cold room, hopefully in Marino studying research skills for journalism or something.
Which is great, but I'm going to miss waking up in smelly tents, living of packs of crisps and peeing in rotten porta-loos!
Anyway, even though I was trying to avoid it, I guess that this is kind of good bye Summer post!
And a hello again college!
Blink 182: This is my rant, deal with it.
Blink 182 are playing the O2 in Dublin tonight. So here's a picture of them by my favourite taker of photos, David Lachapelle.
I'm actually pretty upset today. I was all set to go to Blink, I'd been Facebook status-ing it up and Tumbling about it non-stop. That's often how you know something really has me all hot and bothered. Unfortunately I am unemployed and living with my parents in the middle of nowhere, Co. Westmeath.
My plan was to borrow some dosh from my parents for the ticket, as I was supposed to meet a mystery internet girl who would sell me the ticket before the gig.
To my dismay, it my plans turned to poop and now I can't go. And yes, I know it sounds kind of sad and slightly melodramatic. Mostly because Blink aren't really a very serious or meaningful band to most people. In fact they're kind of a joke with their quirky videos and their whiny pop-punk voices but I don't care! They mean a lot to me, they were well and truly my gateway band.
I always remember when I was I dunno, say 11 or 12 or something like that, when my Grandad was the only person in my house with Sky on they television. I would sneak up to his sitting room after school, while he was still at work in Dublin. I used to use a tape to record my favourite music from the telly so that I could watch it in my own room on my giant boxy hand-me-down television from the year 190-splosh.
I remember one day flicking through the channels and seeing All The Small Things on Kerrang. I immediately recognized it. It was a popular song even years after it had been released. I recorded it, along with some shit HIM song, Evanescence and Pain by Jimmy Eat World.
After that, I would constantly go back to Kerrang and P-rock and Scuzz searching for bands like Blink. Yes, there were some bands that I became attached to that are a little less... well, good. Like say Bowling For Soup. Because of bands like Blink I discovered NOFX and Sonic Youth and so many other bands. In reality I kind of have Tom, Mark and Travis (Drool.) to thank for all the awesome bands that shuffle about my ipod today.
Things could have gone very differently and right now I could be upset about never seeing Tiesto live. Basically, I've been waiting for Blink to play in Ireland for quite literally years and years and now that they are it's killing me that I'm going to miss that performance. I know it's whiney and stupid but it really is making me upset. I really hope that someday I get to rock out to some live Blink 182.
In other, more important news the interview for my journalism with photography course is tomorrow. Fingers crossed that I'll get it. This year has certainly been a journey of self exploration, now that it's finally clear what I would like to do it's terrifying that I might not get it.
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