After Me Comes The Flood

[In case no one noticed, the titles of my posts are from lyrics to songs uploaded here.]


First up, Regina Spektor. A Russian Jew who moved to America in the 80's. She used to listen to the Beatles in Russia, and not understand a word. She said that Rubber Soul changed her life. (I may well be in love with this woman).
I think Regina captures the eclectic yet childlike spirit of the Beatles, without sounding much like them at all. She gets compared to Tori Amos and Fiona Apple, but I think she is far, far more loony. For proof listen to Apres Moi, in which she sings "Apres moi le deluge, after me comes the flood", and even belts out some Russian poetry by Boris Pasternak. If Apres Moi is too out-there, there's Better - which is as 'normal' as she can get, but it's a beautiful song too. I highly recommend her new album, which could possibly be on my top 20 by now. I think my top 20 has more than 20 albums...

Regina Spektor - Apres Moi - [mp3]
Regina Spektor - Better - [mp3]



Next up is The Rapture, a New York band very much in the business of making rock kids dance - a difficult trick to pull off. One of my favourite lines is from the end of Woo! Alright Yeah ... Uh-huh. It goes "People don’t dance no more/ They just stand there like this/ They cross their arms and stare you down and drink and moan and piss." Wait for it! The other song I've posted is Get Myself Into It, which has quickly moved onto my list of party-perfect numbers (which includes LCD Soundsystem's Daft Punk is Playing at My House, and Goldfrapp's Ride a White Horse - Thanks to Salil for that last one].

The Rapture - Woo! Alright Yeah ... Uh-huh - [mp3]
The Rapture - Get Myself into It - [mp3]



Last and probably least, is Muse - an atrocious band that I just happen to love. I'm not sure why. Perhaps because they are overblown, geeky, theatrical, and sci-fi-metallic. Perhaps because the lead singer sounds like Thom Yorke on speed. The video for their track Knights of Cydonia on their latest album, is a space cowboy kung fu mishmash. Check it out on youtube. I'm posting a different song, with less Ennio Moriccone...

Muse - Starlight [mp3]

When I look into your eyes

Conjucntivitis.

When you can finally wear fancy shades no matter how much they clash with your personality.

So I was forced to not go to office (I go even on Sundays, for no reason at all). And thus I can post.

Nine Inch Nails. The ones they nailed Jesus up with. You can't help but shudder at the thought. But once you look past this morbidity, there is some intricate, solid music to be found. I once listened to a BBC 6 music show where Trent Reznor was airing his favourite music and the man has taste. It shows clearly in this song, everything is so tight, its alt rock perfection. I first heard this song with Rahul Joseph, Roopa's brother, the day I was leaving Delhi after Stephens. When I reached the station, the keyboard chords were stuck in my head. As I stood on the platform, sweaty and light-headed, in my head I could feel everyone around me moving with the music. What a scene.

When I went to Delhi this time, I went to Blues in the evening. And boy it rocked. In college we always went there for an afternoon beer, succumbing to lure of happy hours. Few tables would be occupied, we would always be the largest group, the waiters were relaxed.

But this time I was there at 9 pm. There were people dancing all over the place, the waiters were scampering around, a European couple were killing the dance floor with one of those straight backed ballroom dance thingies, it was joy. I wished they played the Sounds there, but all we got was Superstar.

I have started falling in love with a band called the Magic Numbers. Yohan doesn't like them. They are fat siblings who are what you would call crooners. But I like them. The music is plain and honest, the sort of thing I would listen to on an aimless winter afternoon. They are very mellow and just the right temperature.

There is much to do and celebrate.

Nine Inch Nails - The Hand that Feeds [mp3]

The Sounds - Dance With Me [mp3]

The Magic Numbers - Love's a game [mp3]