Long time readers will know I’m a huge fan of artist Brinton Jones and his band Devil Whale (formerly Palomino). They’ve recently put out a great new album “Like Paraders”. Anyway, heard this great interview on Radio West that discusses them and their music (with Devil Whale performing live) but also the whole “what?… there are talented indie music in Utah County?” Yeah, maybe not the most controversial or compelling of subjects, but interesting nonetheless.

I found Josh’s song Solarstorms somewhere online last year and loved it. I purchased his EP The End Of Fear and really liked the other songs as well. It’s good enough that I don’t even feel bad that now he’s giving it away for download. I really like his approach to viral marketing and wish him the best as he endeavors to get some more publicity. If you download his songs make sure to return the favor by passing word along.

Yael has been compared to the likes of Feist, but her choice of instrumentation is all her own. I can’t get over how cool the trombone is “New Soul”. The music video is also very cool.

Most people know Victoria Bergsman, or have heard her voice, from the wildly successful song “Young Folks” by Peter, Bjorn, and John. Her guest vocals on the track really made the song what it is. But a few also might also know Victoria as the shy and unassuming vocalist of The Concretes from 1995 – 2006. I have always loved the Concretes but also felt that the strongest thing they had going for them was Victoria and her vocal purity. While the band may be extremely talented, I’ve often thought things would have been better if the sonorities of the other pieces in the track matched. As it was, there was not nearly enough “white space” to compliment the simplicity and reluctant beauty of Victoria’s vocals.

But that’s why it was so thrilling to discover Victoria’s new project “Taken by Trees”. Finally she has surrounded herself with what I think her vocals deserve, less. The result is an album, Open Field, which is simply the best work she has ever done. Track after track the listener is granted more freedom to access the timid, humble sound that is so starving from the world. With so few Emiliana Torrinis and Lisa Gerrards to offset the (insert name of female pop, full-of-herself, vocalist here)s that so inundate the radio waves, I find it refreshing that a singer can be successful, adored, and remain humble. With Open Field you almost feel that you are being served – that Victoria really wants you to have an enjoyable listening experience that you can almost interact with and explore.

Here’s a flavor from the album.

This isn’t a new song, but one well-worth blogging about. I first heard this at a small venue my wife and I had gone to to listen to one of our favorite local bands. The band was late getting on and the sound guy had this playing. I love it so much I had to interrupt him to ask him the name. But it wasn’t ’til much later that I saw the creative music video shown here that I was even more astonished with this truly great song.(But then my co-worker played it too much and now I hate it )

When a band can sound this good with one mic and no overdubbing it’s probably safe to say they’d be good live. I love the the playful harmonies in this song and the raw, un-tampered with sound of Aberfeldy and their minimalist recording style.

Tab:

Guitar 1, Intro

 4 e & a | 1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a | 1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a |
(12)(10)-|-------------12--10-----(10)-(8)-|-------------10--8--(8)----------|
---------|---------------------------------|------------------------(10)(8)--|
---------|-12------------------------------|-10------------------------------|
---------|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
---------|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
---------|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|

 1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a | 1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a |
-8-------------------------------|-8----------------------(12)(10)-|
-------------10--8---------------|-------------10--8---------------|
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|

| 1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a | 1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a |
|-------------12--10-----(10)-(8)-|-------------10--8--(8)----------|
|---------------------------------|------------------------(10)(8)--|
|-12------------------------------|-10------------------------------|
|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|

 1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a | 1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a |
-8-------------------------------|-8-------------------------------|
-------------10--8-------10------|---------------------------------|
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|

Guitar 2, Intro

 1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a | 1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a |
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
---------12--12----------12------|---------10--10----------10------|
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
-10--------------10--------------|-8---------------8---------------|
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|

 1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a | 1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a |
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
---------10--10----------10------|---------10--10----------10------|
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
-8---------------8---------------|-8---------------8---------------|

 1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a | 1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a |
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
---------12--12----------12------|---------10--10----------10------|
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
-10--------------10--------------|-8---------------8---------------|
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|

 1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a | 1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a |
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
---------10--10----------10------|---------------------------------|
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
-8---------------8---------------|-8-------------------------------|

The first guitar part during the verses is just a variant on the intro. I think I’ve given you enough to figure that out.

Guitar 2, Main Verse Rhythm Figure:

 1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a | 1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a |
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
---------12--12----------12------|---------12--12----------10------|
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
-10--------------10--------------|-10--------------8---------------|
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|

 1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a | 1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a |
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
---------------------------------|-------------------------10------|
---------10--10----------10------|---------10--10------------------|
---------------------------------|-----------------8---------------|
-8---------------8---------------|-8-------------------------------|

Guitar 1, Chorus:

 1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a | 1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a |
-8-------------------------------|-7-------------------------------|
---------10----------------------|---------8-----------------------|
-----------------10--------------|-----------------9---------------|
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|

 1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a | 1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a |
-8-------------------------------|---------------------------------|
---------10----------------------|-8-------------------------------|
-----------------10--------------|---------------------------------|
---------------------------------|-----------------10--------------|
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|

Guitar 2, Chorus:

 1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a | 1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a |
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
---------10--10----------10------|---------10--10----------10------|
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
-8---------------8---------------|-8---------------8---------------|
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|

 1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a | 1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a |
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
---------12--12----------12------|---------------------------------|
---------------------------------|---------10--10----------10------|
-10--------------10--------------|---------------------------------|
---------------------------------|-8---------------8---------------|

 1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a | 1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a |
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
---------10--10----------10------|---------10--10----------10------|
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
-8---------------8---------------|-8---------------8---------------|
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|

 1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a | 1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a |
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
---------12--12----------12------|---------------------------------|
---------------------------------|---------10--10------------------|
-10--------------10--------------|-----------------10------7-------|
---------------------------------|-8-------------------------------|-8

I admit that I was completely ignorant to the fact that A-Ha was still recording music (I haven’t kept up on my Norwegian synth-pop like I should have). I haven’t heard anything from them since Take on Me. But when I heard I Wish I Cared I was floored by it’s expressiveness. A complete diversion from their original glory tunes. It is wonderful that they are still innovating and still creating wonderful work.

Since this song does not feature guitars I’ll simply post the chords.

Chords:

Verse:
E - A - D - E

Pre-Chorus:
A - E/G# - D - E - F#m - A - E

Chorus:
D - A - E

Lyrics:
To hold me closer or set me free
To trust completely or let it be
You don’t know my destiny
You can’t see what I can see

Hey – I wish I cared
Hey – I wish I cared

To love me truely or let me go
In between I don’t want to know
This is how it has to be
No more us and no more we

Hey – I wish I cared
Hey – I wish I cared

Once again, on the station
See your face in a crowd
Comes again the sensation
You can’t hear yourself think
With their voices inside your head

Hey – I wish I cared
Hey – I wish I cared
I wish I cared
Yes I really do
I wish I cared
(Hey) I wish I cared
Yes I really do
I wish I cared
(Hey) I wish I cared
I wish I cared

> Skip straight to the tab

This song has always had me confused. Being that Anberlin is a Christian alternative band, it took me by surprise to hear this extremely sad and, at times, cynical song seemingly questioning God. But it hearing it leaves me completely captivated every time. There is obviously a huge amount of emotion and back story behind this song so I endeavored to find out what the writer had to say about it. This is what I found:

Stephen: “Fin” (pronounced like the fin on a shark’s back) means ending in French. I felt like this was a conclusion (or just a start) to my epic tug-of-war with God. I have a lot of questions, a lot that I may never really understand or have the capacity to comprehend in this lifetime. “Fin” is a series of four stories, that all tie together in the line ‘patron saint of lost causes.’ The first story is a personal memoir about my life as a child and the pull on my soul even then. I deliberated even at eight years old, that it would be better that God and the devil would just both leave me alone. The second story is about a couple from my early teen years’ church who cried for a miracle. It was a promised miracle, and it never came about. That leaves an impression. The third is about a mentor that used the guise of ‘missions work’ to leave his family in shambles and eventually decay. That plays with your salvation, when one experiences it. [The fourth story is about] Billy, a traveling ‘ healer’ who crippled my life and growth right in front of me. All these things and many, many others made me lose my salvation. But later in life I realized I needed to stop looking at Christians to see Christ. I wrestled with God, and he won.

Tablature

The tab that follows only represents the first part of the song (up until about 3:30).

Guitar 1 Main Rhythm Figure:

 1  &  2  &  3  &  4  &  5  &  6  &  | 1  &  2  &  3  &  4  &  5  &  6  &  |
-0--------0--0--0--0--------0--0--0--|-0--------0--0--0--0--------0--0--0--|
-0--------0--0--0--0--------0--0--0--|-0--------0--0--0--0--------0--0--0--|
-9--------9--9--9--9--------9--9--9--|-6--------6--6--6--6--------6--6--6--|
-11-------11-11-11-11-------11-11-11-|-7--------7--7--7--7--------7--7--7--|
-11-------11-11-11-11-------11-11-11-|-7--------7--7--7--7--------7--7--7--|
-9--------9--9--9--9--------9--9--9--|-5--------5--5--5--5--------5--5--5--|

 1  &  2  &  3  &  4  &  5  &  6  &  | 1  &  2  &  3  &  4  &  5  &  6  &  |
-0--------0--0--0--0--------0--0--0--|-0--------0--0--0--0--------0--0--0--|
-0--------0--0--0--0--------0--0--0--|-0--------0--0--0--0--------0--0--0--|
-1--------1--1--1--1--------1--1--1--|-8--------8--8--8--8--------8--8--8--|
-2--------2--2--2--2--------2--2--2--|-9--------9--9--9--9--------9--9--9--|
-2--------2--2--2--2--------2--2--2--|-9--------9--9--9--9--------9--9--9--|
-0--------0--0--0--0--------0--0--0--|-7--------7--7--7--7--------7--7--7--|

Guitar 1, Bridge (at the “That you are the patron saint..” part).

 1  &  2  &  3  &  4  &  5  &  6  &  | 1  &  2  &  3  &  4  &  5  &  6  &  |
-------------------------------0-----|-------------0-----------------0-----|
-------------------------5-----------|-------4-----------------4-----------|
-6-----------------6-----------------|-6-----------------6-----------------|
-7-----------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
-7-----------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
-5-----------------------------------|-------------------------------------|

Guitar 2, Main Rhythm Figure:

 1  &  2  &  3  &  4  &  5  &  6  &  | 1  &  2  &  3  &  4  &  5  &  6  &  |
-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
-4--------6--------7--------2--------|-------------------------------------|
-------------------------------------|-5-----------------------------------|

 1  &  2  &  3  &  4  &  5  &  6  &  | 1  &  2  &  3  &  4  &  5  &  6  &  |
-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------|
-4------------------------------5\4--|-2-----------------------------------|

Lyrics:
Feels like you’re miles from here
In other towns with lesser names
Where the unholy ghost doesn’t tell
Mary or William exactly what they want to hear

You remember the house on Ridge Road
Told you and the devil to both just leave me alone
If this is salvation, I can show you the trembling
You’ll just have to trust me, I’m scared

I am the patron saint of lost causes
Aren’t we all to you just near lost causes?
Aren’t we all to you, just lost?

Tommy, you left behind something
That’ll mean everything right before you die
What if you gained the whole world?
You’ve already lost four little souls from your life

Widows and orphans aren’t hard to find
They’re home missing daddy, who’s saving the abandoned tonight.
Wish your drinking would hurry and kill you
Sympathy’s better than having to tell you the truth

That you are the patron saint of lost causes
All you are to them is now a lost cause
All you are to them is now, causes.

Billy, don’t you understand?
Timothy stood as long as he could
And now, you made his faith disappear
More like a magician and less like a man of the cloth.

We’re not questioning God
Just those He chose to carry on His cross
We’re no better, you’ll see
Just all of us, the lost causes

Aren’t we all to you just lost causes?
Are we all to you lost, lost causes?
So all we are to you is all we are, is all we are
All we are is all we are.

[Choir:]
Patron Saint, are we all lost like you?
Patron Saint, are we all lost like you?
Patron Saint, are we all lost like you?
Patron Saint, are we all lost like you?
Patron Saint, are we all lost like you?
(Lost causes, we are is all we are)
Patron Saint, are we all lost like you?
(To you, lost causes)
Patron Saint, are we all lost like you?
Patron Saint, are we all lost like you?
Patron Saint, are we all lost like you?
He just saved

I have to say that the Strokes are great. I just think Albert Hammond Jr’s stuff is better. Everyone Gets a Star, is fast becoming one of my favorite songs, and, at least in my mind, is better than anything the Strokes have done. I’m glad Hammond has began experimenting with solo work and look forward to more from him.

Tab

Guitar 1, Main Verse Rhythm Figure:

 1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a | 1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a
--------------------------------|---------------------------------|
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|   2x
---------4---------------4-------|---------------------------------|
-5---5-------5-5(5)5-5-------5---|---------5---------------5-------|
---------------------------------|-7---7-------7-7(7)7-7-------7---| 

1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a | 1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a |
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|
---------------------------------|---------------------------------|   2x
---------4---------------4-------|---------------------------------|
-5---5-------5-5(5)5-5-------5---|---------4---------------4-------|
---------------------------------|-5---5-------5-5(5)5-5-------5---|

Guitar 2, Verse Rhythm Figure 1:

1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a |1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a |
--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
3---3---3---3---3---5---5---5---|2---2---2---2---2---0---0---0---|
--------------------------------|--------------------------------|   2X
--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
--------------------------------|--------------------------------|

Guitar 2, Verse Rhythm Figure 2:

1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a |1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a |
2-2-0-0-----0-0-2-2-0-0-----0-0-|--------------------------------|
--------3-3-------------3-3-----|2-2-0-0-----0-0-2-2-0-0-----0-0-|
--------------------------------|--------2-2-------------2-2-----|   2x
--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
--------------------------------|--------------------------------|

Guitar 1, Chorus Rhythm Figure:

1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a |1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a |
--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
7-------------------------------|--------------------------------|
7-------------------------------|6-----------4-------------------|  2x
7-------------------------------|7-----------5-------------------|
5-------------------------------|7-----------5-------------------|
--------------------------------|5-----------3-------------------|

Guitar 2, Chorus Rhythm Figure:

1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a |1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a |
3-3-3-3-3---5-5---5-5---5-5-5---|2-2-2-2-2---0-0---0-0---0-0-0---|
--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
--------------------------------|--------------------------------|

1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a |1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a |
3-3-3-3-3---5-5---5-5---5-5-5---|2-2-2-2-2---0-------------------|
--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
--------------------------------|--------------------------------|
--------------------------------|--------------------------------|

Lyrics

Won’t you go back to where you go?
I want you to, forever no
These guys have all got problems
These guys have all got their problems

Today, you’ve come now go away
I know it gets so confusing
Sometimes it all seems to drag me down
And when I’m getting closer
So close, everything just falls apart

When will you stop and see me through
There’s something else I’d rather do
Although you’re getting angry
I know everyone gets a star

Today, you’ve come now go away
I know it gets so confusing
Sometimes it all seems to drag me down
And when I’m getting closer
So close, everything just falls apart

The tab for Brett Dennen’s “Day By Day” is coming soon (as soon as I pick me up a mandoline).

day by day
minute by minute
it’s how we’re living

(repeat like a million times)