The Hawk In Paris (Part Deux)

Hey there! You remember the last time I posted about these guys?
Of course you don't. It's probably the first time you've ever heard of them as well. But it's alright, I'm here to the rescue!
You are about to witness the actual definition of awesome music. This is The Hawk In Paris, an electronic music project created and produced by Dan Haseltine (the amazing frontman of Jars of Clay), Matt Bronleewe (the amazing producer) and Jeremy Bose (musical mad scientist of sorts). These guys were friends in college, worked together, separated for ten years then came back to write together again, producing this one of a kind musical project.
It's basically pop music, with heavy electronic influences from 80s bands (Depeche Mode, Massive Attack...etc).
I said it last time I wrote about them; I never thought I'd like electronic music until I first listened to them, I recall the first song I previewed was "The New Hello (His)". I was shocked, then gave it a 2nd and 3rd chance, then got hooked on them for eternity.
I wanted to share with you a song called Beg For Love in the last post. I couldn't because I had obtained the demo version from Dan Haseltine's website, on which he left it available for download for only one day. He didn't wish for it to be spread as I presume, so I didn't post it to my SoundCloud account. That was the demo version.
They had released only two EPs until October 29th when they released their full length album Freaks. It included my dear "Beg For Love"  just with a different bridge instrumental. Needless to say, I was THRILLED!
Much to my joy they also graciously put it up to their SoundCloud account, so there you go. the much sought after: Beg For Love (with the lyrics that I deciphered)

Beg For Love (from their LP, FREAKS)

Lover in waiting out in the winter
You just wanna hold her or she wants just to let go
Will you watch her walk away?
Are you really gonna let her go?
Lie in the circus, forgotten your while
Your voice, over-rated, or she wants just to let go
Will you watch her walk away?
Are you really gonna let her go?

Don't make me beg for love, if I don't want to
Don't make me beg for love

There's a break in the action, a pause in the violin
She's a boat on the ocean, a drift on your silence
Will you watch her float away?
Are you really gonna let her go?
On this occasion, steady breathing is a cleansification
You'll be dead, she'll be leaving
Will you watch her float away?
Are you really gonna let her go?

Don't make me beg for love, if I don't want to
Don't make me beg for love

[bridge]
Don't make her wait, make her wait any longer (x 4)

Don't make me beg for love, if I don't want to
Don't make me beg for love

This next song is also one of my favorites on the album, it's called Wake Me Up. Here's a lyric video I found on YouTube, enjoy!
Wake Me Up (from the LP FREAKS):
That's it, guys! I hope you enjoyed the songs as much I do.
They are currently crowd-funding the release of FREAKS on CD and vinyl, they're almost there. So, check out these links if you're interested in their project:
PledgeMusic Crowd-funding project: Link
FREAKS: On iTunes
FREAKS: On Spotify
My last post: The Hawk In Paris
Freaks + Outcasts EP on NoiseTrade: Link

Pompton Lakes (THE band!)

Okay guys, I'm so very excited to be writing about those guys! It's been quite some time since my last "musical" post. But I guarantee you this band will make your day a lot better once you have a listen to their stuff, talk about the real deal! 

Their style/genre as self-proclaimed is "Safe Rock", and I guess it's fitting. The laid back feel to their music is very relaxing yet very uplifting. And their lead vocalist, Jeff Martin, has a flexible, mellow, beautiful voice.Their songs are more of an experience than just "songs". They average at 4 minutes long, yet you'll feel so absorbed into the music that they'll feel longer. 

Put your headphones on. Lie on your bed in the dark. Listen to Pompton Lakes. 

They released their début album "Rest" in October last year, it's a mix of songs that meld very well together. They are a band of Christian members, so their lyrics are mostly faith-based. They don't preach and aren't saying the same old same old. They're innovative in their sound, so I'm pretty sure whether you're an occasional listener or an experienced musician, you'll hear something you'll like :)

So, here are some examples of why they're a great band:



1- Music video for the opening track "Home":
A great song, with a nicely made music video of a hipster-ish feel, enjoy!

Lyrics:

Lately I've tried to find home

In places where I know it can't be found

I looked at You 'cause where else can I go?

Apart from You I'm truly on my own

I lost this one, but still have victory

Your arms are open, You set me free

You gave me breath, now I need faith

I pray that You would help me keep my path straight

I looked at You 'cause where else can I go?

Apart from You I'm truly on my own

I lost this one, but still have victory

Your arms are open, You set me free

Running back home, running back home, to You

I've been in the dark but now I see light, peeking through

I lost this one, but still have victory

Your arms are open, You set me free

(running back home, running back home)

I lost this one, but still have victory

Your arms are open, Your love has set me free

Your arms wide open, Your love has set me free

 2- Rest:
Words cannot describe how much I love this song, nor how beautiful it really is. Click the play button on the widget below to listen.

Rest by pomptonlakes

Lyrics:
Find rest, oh my soul, in Christ alone

When you walk through the waters
I am there, there with you
And when you pass through the rivers
They will not sweep over you

In quietness and trust
You will find love

When you walk through the fire
You will not, not be burned
On days when you feel like you’re on your own
You’re not alone, not alone


In quietness and trust
You will find love

Find Rest, oh my soul
In Christ alone

Side note: if you're hearing sleigh bells in this non-Christmas song, and you think you've lost it. You didn't, I was a bit surprised too. It's done so tastefully that it's just the perfect addition to this song. Kudos for the PL guys for pulling this one off!
3- Pride: 
This one is a favorite of mine, listen below!



Lyrics:
I’ve spent enough time in my Pride
Now I’m trying to get out
Trying to get out
I want to be Your hands and feet
But I’m caught in between
I’m caught in between

I’ve run far enough from You
And I’ve wrestled with the truth
I’ve wrestled with the truth
But when I look up toward the stars
So clearly there You are
So clearly there You are

You make a way
Where I thought there was no way



4- Merciful:
Another beautiful song on this album...

Lyrics:
I come to You today
I know it’s been sometime
Well it seems like I’ve been running for
Most of my young life
As if I get too close
That I might prove You right…

That You’re good
And You are Merciful

And if you need some time
I would understand
Who am I to think You’d come running
Now that I am back
What if I get close
And You don’t prove me right



Special thanks to: Jeff Martin, the lead singer of Pompton Lakes, for providing me with the lyrics to Rest, Pride and Merciful...and for being super humble!
Also to: the folks at Blimey Cow for introducing this amazing band to us, mere mortals.

I hope you enjoyed the great music and please, check out this band, you won't regret it!!

Pompton Lakes:
On Facebook 
On Twitter
Official website
 
"Rest":
On iTunes
On Spotify 

Tenth Avenue North

Time for yet another music themed post. This time it's a better known band, Tenth Avenue North.
The band was referred to me by a new friend who is also a musician, before that I had listened to some of their songs but in a more scattered way. So I got their albums and started listening carefully. I gotta admit, it's lyrics that catch my ear at first. Music is also important but I just can't listen to something when I don't agree with what it's saying, even if it's set to the best musical piece ever known to the human kind. So, I went on to dig deep into the lyrics, because I gotta be honest at first all of the music sounded the same to me (embarrassing I know). The hooks are just the catchiest. And from a band of Christian faith, the lyrics are incredible!
Here I picked one song from each album they released, these are not necessarily my favorites since most of their material is great to me except for some occasional flops on each album. These are just the ones I feel are the right combo of music, lyrics and vocal performance.

1. By Your Side - from Over And Underneath (their debut album):

Lyrics:
Why are you striving these days
Why are you trying to earn grace
Why are you crying
Let me lift up your face
Just don't turn away..

Why are you looking.. for love
Why are you still searching... as if I'm not enough
To where will you go child
Tell me where will you run
To where will you run

chorus-
cause I'll be by your side
Wherever you fall
In the dead of night
Whenever you calling
And please don't fight
These hands that are holding you
My hands are holding you

Look at these hands and my side
They swallowed the grave on that night
When I drank the world's sin
So I could carry you in
And give you life
I want to give you life

Chorus
cause I'll be by your side
Wherever you fall
In the dead of night
Whenever you calling
And please don't fight
These hands that are holding you
My hands are holding you

Here in my side
Wherever you fall
In the dead of night
Whenever you calling
And please don't fight
These hands that are holding you
My hands are holding you


(Chorus 2x)

Cause I, I love you
I want you to know
That I, I love you
I'll never let you go
love, love

cause I'll be by your side
Wherever you fall
In the dead of night
Whenever you calling
And please don't fight
These hands that are holding you
My hands are holding you


Here in my side
Wherever you fall
In the dead of night
Whenever you calling
And please don't fight
These hands that are holding you
My hands are holding you

Here in my side
My hands are holding you

2. Healing Begins - from The Light Meets The Dark: 
(this was a tough pick because their sophomore is my favorite release, but this song is amazing and the melody is really addictive. Oh, and the name of the album comes from its lyrics)

Lyrics:
So you thought you had to keep this up
All the work that you do
So we think that you're good
And you can't believe it's not enough
All the walls you built up
Are just glass on the outside

So let 'em fall down
There's freedom waiting in the sound
When you let your walls fall to the ground
We're here now

This is where the healing begins oh
This is where the healing starts
When you come to where you're broken within
The light meets the dark
The light meets the dark

Afraid to let your secrets out
Everything that you hide
Can come crashing through the door now
But too scared to face all your fear
So you hide but you find
That the shame won't disappear

So let it fall down
There's freedom waiting in the sound
When you let your walls fall to the ground
We're here now
We're here now oh

This is where the healing begins oh
This is where the healing starts
When you come to where you're broken within
The light meets the dark
The light meets the dark

Sparks will fly as grace collides
With the dark inside of us
So please don't fight
This coming light
Let this blood come cover us
His blood can cover us

This is where the healing begins oh
This is where the healing starts
When you come to where you're broken within
The light meets the dark
The light meets the dark

3. Don't Stop The Madness - from The Struggle: 
(chosen primarily for lyrical reasons, I don't savor the ongoing "choir" theme this album has. Still a pretty good song)


Lyrics:
There's a beggar down inside of me
Standing on the corner of the street
And my shame is my only company
Can use some cash, but can't admit my need
For what you've got and what I could receive
I need you love to come and break the silence

Don't stop the madness
Don't stop the chaos
Don't stop the pain surrounding me
Don't be afraid, Lord, to break my heart
Just bring me down to my knees, yeah

All I hear is what they're selling me
That God is love, he isn't suffering
And what you need's a little faith and prosperity
But, oh my God, I know there's more than this
If you promise pain it can't be meaningless
So make me poor if that's the price for freedom

Don't stop the madness
Don't stop the chaos
Don't stop the pain surrounding me
Don't be afraid, Lord, to break my heart
If it brings me down to my knees, yeah

In a marriage lost
And the cry in the dark
Don't stop with your love
And the mother's tear
For the child that starves
Don't stop with your love
When we're breaking down
We're falling apart
Don't stop with your love
And with new eyes to see
This is your mercy
Don't stop with your love

Don't stop the madness
Don't stop the chaos
Don't stop the pain inside of me
Do whatever it takes to give me your heart
And bring me down to my knees, Lord

 That's it for now, I guess I shall return with a holiday themed post right before Christmas. It's really close though :)

Mood Swings

I admit it, I've been acting like a total 4 year-old this week. The week began terribly with having to spend a whole day outside. I hate the outdoors!! It was pure torture for me. But then it was finding out the results of two quizzes I had taken the week before. Oh God, did I mess up! I was appalled, mostly of myself, I didn't even think I could do this bad. I was a complete wreck by Tuesday.
I have no idea what happened, but suddenly it all went better. Like when you give some candy to the aforementioned 4 year-old after crying hysterically. It probably has something to do with a pep talk given to me by a friend, I was like: "That's it, I'm done"...but then she was like: "Get up on your feet and just don't give a crap about it!" I NEEDED this!
The next day I had yet another quiz, physics this time. I felt pretty terrible before it, but after it was done...well, it was done anyway.
And I hit rock bottom again. A person with whom I've been friends for some time posted on facebook what implies that they just don't care anymore, about anything or anyone (pretty sure it's me at this case). I was angry, for I've been trying to reach out to this person while they just don't. I never wanted it to be like this, it hurts just to talk about it
 Since I decided not to give a crap about anything either, I tried to get my mind off of it. Let me tell you, listening to Gangnam Style by Psy does help, I was just laughing my butt off like an idiot :D
The soundtrack to the week is VERY diverse, ranging from slow, moody, melancholic songs, to upbeat, energetic pop. I'm the kind of girl who listens to Jars Of Clay and Taylor Swift, and I don't think I'd want to change that :))
So, here are the songs that stuck with me. They're on the two sides of the spectrum, but to me they're all good music.

P.s. to listen to any of the songs just click on the play button under the title :)

1. Headphones by Jars Of Clay:

Lyrics:
I don't have to hear it, if I don't want to
I can drown this out, pull the curtains down on you
It's a heavy world, it's too much for me to care
If I close my eyes, it's not there

With my headphones on, with my headphones on
With my headphones on, with my headphones on

We watch television...but the sound is something else
Just a song played against the drama, so the hurt is never felt
I take in the war-fires, and I'm chilled by the current events
It's so hopeless, but there's a pop song in my

Headphones on, in my headphones on
With my headphones on, with my headphones on

At the Tube Stop, you sit down across from me
(I can see you looking back at me)
I think I know you
By the sad eyes that I see
I want to tell you (It's a heavy world)
Everything will be okay
You wouldn't hear it (I don't want to have to hear it)
So we go our separate ways...

With our headphones on, with our headphones on
With our headphones on, with our headphones on
I don't wanna be the one who tries to figure it out
I don't need another reason I should care about you
You don't want to know my story
You don't want to own my pain
Living in a heavy, heavy world
And there's a pop song in my head
I don't want to have to hear it

2. Scenic Route also by Jars Of Clay:

Lyrics:
Don't turn your back on me
Or read in between my words
I'm trying to drag this out
Taking the scenic route

I know we could get there much faster if we wanted to
But that isn't what you and I came here to do

No nails to untie the knots
No veins left to take the shots
No touch to end a fight
Or letting who's wrong be right

We're just sitting like novels we've picked up but never read through
You think you know my ending, I think I know yours, too
You see, nowhere in these old conversations is there anything new

Even though we know the sun will rise
Every ray of light still takes us by, by surprise

Baby, leave it all behind
Baby, leave it all behind
Missed a road sign
I don't want to get home soon
Drive the car all the way around the moon
Baby, we could get lost
We have another state to cross
We could find each other out
Tell our secrets on the scenic route
I don't want to get home soon
Drive the car around the moon
I don't want to crush you or rush you
I'm not going faster if you want to and if you want to
I don't want to rush you or crush you
But I won't go faster if you want to
It's not what we came here to do
I just want to drive
I just want to drive
  
3. Red by Taylor Swift:
 

Lyrics:
Loving him is like driving a new Maserati down a dead end street
Faster than the wind, passionate as sin, ending so suddenly
Loving him is like trying to change your mind once you’re already flying through the free fall
Like the colors in autumn, so bright, just before they lose it all

Losing him was blue, like I’ve never known
Missing him was dark grey, all alone
Forgetting him was like trying to know somebody you never met
But loving him was red
Loving him was red

Touching him was like realizing all you ever wanted was right there in front of you
Memorizing him was as easy as knowing all the words to your old favorite song
Fighting with him was like trying to solve a crossword and realizing there’s no right answer
Regretting him was like wishing you’d never found out that love could be that strong

Losing him was blue, like I’ve never known
Missing him was dark grey, all alone
Forgetting him was like trying to know somebody you never met
But loving him was red

Oh, red
Burning red

Remembering him comes in flashbacks, in echoes
Tell myself it’s time now, gotta let go
But moving on from him is impossible when I still see it all in my head
Burning red
Loving him was red

Oh, losing him was blue, like I’ve never known
Missing him was dark grey, all alone
Forgetting him was like trying to know somebody you never met
‘Cause loving him was red
Yeah, yeah red
Burning red

And that’s why he’s spinning round in my head
Comes back to me, burning red
Yeah, yeah
His love was like driving a new Maserati down a dead end street

That's it peeps, the stuff I needed to blurt out. I shall go back to being buried alive in books, praying it would all pay off in the end.

Peace, Love and Longing for Perfection :)