LULU by Lou Reed and Metallica

When LULU first came out all the Metallica junkies hated it. The mainstream music heroes said it was a huge flop. Social media made fun of it.

When LULU first came out, I watched a video interviewing the boys of Metallica and Lou and they were saying how it’s probably their greatest effort to date.

And still the critics yelled for it to be silenced.

I’m in the sixteenth minute of Lou Reed & Metallica performing the album live in Köln, and bloody hell it’s good.

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The Tallest Man On Earth

Photo source: The Tallest Man On Earth | www.thetallestmanonearth.com

Swedish born Kristian Matsson is truly a folk singer. His lyrics are mesmerizing, his voice is capturing, and his guitar styles make all memories flow forth fluidly. Kristian Matsson is known to music fans as The Tallest Man On Earth.

In 2008 The Tallest Man On Earth released his first full length album Shallow Grave, which is packed with finger picking that will make the best of them stop and take note. Since then, he hasn’t stopped.

Photo source: The Tallest Man On Earth | www.thetallestmanonearth.com

The Tallest Man On Earth really gives one a feeling they just dropped back into the 60’s folk music scene. Really eerily, Matsson sounds like Dylan. Being a huge fan of Dylan, I am now a huge fan of The Tallest Man On Earth.

Photo source: The Tallest Man On Earth | www.thetallestmanonearth.com

Stunning finger picking, great lyrics, melodic voice with that raspy edge to it, and.. AND LYRICS!

This entire article could just read just as song lyrics. In fact, that is what it shall read like.

Shallow Grave
Come see the ripples on the water
As I throw pebbles in the pond
To let the sky go past its surface
Empty my pockets filled with stones
My pockets filled with stones

Come see the sadness of the sailor
As I will scratch his deep blue floor
Already in my years of bad luck
Oh, I broke his mirror long before

Oh when I dive into the water
I’ve raised the bottom to be saved
It’s just a shallow grave

I found the darkness in my neighbor
I found the fire in the frost
I found the season once claimed healthy
Oh, I need the guidance of the lost

But when I dive into the water
I’ve raised the bottom to be saved
It’s just a shallow grave
‘Cause when I dive into the water
I’ve raised the bottom to be saved
It’s just a shallow grave
It’s just a shallow grave

Photo source: The Tallest Man On Earth | www.thetallestmanonearth.com

 

Honey Won’t You Let Me In
Now the snow will fall and the lover’s call
Will be drenched out by the shatterin’ of verse
As the seasoned shifts lonely minds will drift
On the ocean in a build above its lore
As I knock your door from inside once more
How I wish a soothin’ breeze would let me in
Shake my tambourine at your glowing dreams
So honey won’t you let me in, oh

As we cease to know where our fate will go
We won’t see the rivers tied up in the vines
Branches will untie every mumblin’ lie
Every frayed word in your lullaby is heard
Oh when I catch the ? of our ?
How I wish the turning sunset could record
Blow my engine steam at your glowin’ dreams
So honey won’t you let me in, oh

Now the dust will rise, dress the olden skies
Just a gallery of words we’ve used much
It’s a ? but what if it’s too late
To be building up our muscles in ?
Put me on the mornin’ ship and I will take the trip
To return with all the treasures of the past
It will always seem like a glowin’ dream
So honey won’t you let me in
I said honey won’t you let me in, oh

Honestly, this man is already a legend in my books. What do you think of him?

Reading further in to The Tallest Man On Earth, he is notorious for recording his albums with a portable recorder, wherever he is. Recording vocals and guitar at the same time. When one listens to the recordings on the albums, you can hear this, but to be honest, it fits right in. There is no loss in quality, in fact, there is more attitude given to the songs. It’s a great style. It’s a smart choice by Matsson.

The Tallest Man On Earth has three albums out.

  1. Shallow Grave – 2008
  2. The Wild Hung – 2010
  3. There’s no Leaving Now – 2012

We here at COT surely hope that The Tallest Man On Earth doesn’t stop any time soon making this beautiful music. We support him.

Yes, Metallica!

Photo source: Metallica

Metallica: a band from formed in LA displaced to San Fran.
Born: 1991.

That’s over 30 years now of kick-ass, loud, in your face metal. There is no denying that they catapulted the genre of metal into existence. Before them, we’re left thinking about bands like ACDC, Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, Mötorhead, Deep Purple (if I may)… I’m by no means exhausting this list, but the fact remains that there was nobody before with the same rhythmic intensity that Metallica had, and now continues to have in spite the ruthless critics. Granted ACDC was epic beyond proportions, but they lacked something deeper that Metallica has. Continue Reading →

Saint Motel: a Band Review

Saint Motel is your basic rock and roll band with a bit of pop to it.

They are real popular in the young crowds but their rock out shows attract us young at hearts as well. They just released their vinyl 7″1 record “At least I have nothing” and Dec 3rd had a release show at Origami Vinyl in Echo Park, California to celebrate.

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Useless Keys: a Band Review

Grunge fans, your post-Nirvana phase will be rebuilt with the psychedelic sounds of Useless Keys. They’re currently in the studio to record the album Anything But White Noise, their debut LP. The band has been around for several years, and I have followed them for about two.  I’ve seen members come and go, and now I am so pleased to announce they are back to their original four. Continue Reading →

Kiev: a Band Review

Kiev is one of Orange County, LA’s hottest up and coming DIY bands. They’ve exploded in the last 6 months after their mind blowing live 3D show, which has helped them win several local music awards. On top of this they are all over the music scene in both video and article reviews. Continue Reading →

Rival Sons: a Band Review

Attention Rock and Roll junkies: this is the all-star, stage-dominating, touch-you-deep-in-your-homegrown-soul Los Angeles band you’ve been looking for.  Rival Sons has been rocking the scene since 2008, bringing their soulful and gritty sound from L.A. to Europe and back.  Often compared to The Black Keys, Band of Skulls, or even AC/DC, their sound has developed a loyal following, and I predict something huge on the horizon.  Here are some recent shots from a packed house at Hemmingway’s in Hollywood. Continue Reading →