•
Rating:
"There are no useless CDs." J.Lennon
There are moments when, instead of having spent 18 euros on a CD, you would have preferred to give yourself a hefty whack with a 10-size screwdriver on the balls (like Tafazzi, if you know what I mean...).
Maybe even two.
This is the case with the Raveonettes, two (only two?!) fools with pop-adolescent aspirations, with a '60s style fake-look and graphics to emphasize the sounds of that era, with trivial and banal little songs that have been heard countless times in the previous three decades.
The usual C major chords, the usual Shadow-like guitars, the usual Beatles-style drums, the usual generic choruses, and then I ask myself: what is the point of presenting, once again, the same old record disguised as a fake revival or, even worse, a fake rediscovery of the fabulous Happy Days that no one believes in anymore?
For heaven's sake, nothing disgraceful, everything sounds pretty decent, well-arranged, I just criticize the operation which seems to me so much like something planned at the table to capture "new youngsters" who have only seen that era through the binoculars of their older brother. I say, if you really have to rediscover that period, throw yourself on the great classics of the genre instead of wasting money on little bands that are born and die within a couple of years or a little more (after two records you either veer onto other sounds or have little future, I think, playing this genre, right?!).
Alright, maybe two whacks on the balls are even too many (after all, it's music that can always be listened to in the bathroom – and God knows how much that helps – or as background while traveling by car or, if you're a retailer, to put as a background in supermarkets or grocery stores) in the sense that it doesn't hurt, it's not demanding and makes just enough easy-sixties to get by and not leave the ears completely fasting.
Okay, I've changed my mind: no whack on the balls... since I already bought it, I'll keep it for the car: they say that putting a CD on the rear window means speed cameras can't capture the license plate due to the reflections.
It’s really true: who said there are completely useless CDs?
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 The Heavens (03:55)
Oh, now don't you never disappear
On a night where the moon hangs so low
Hold me amongst falling stars
On a night where the signal turns to go
Step away I'm off to the heavens
But my heart stays with you all the time
Oh, lies don't they ever ring true
Or is it just a means to be cruel
Oh, words when they hit you head on
Do you feel like a saint or a fool
Tell you what, I feel so enraged
My heart turns black all the time
Oh, now I'm racing like the Devil
And I think I'll just stay and hold on
Oh, you've seen the last of me
But my heart stays with you after I'm gone
Oh, yeah I feel no regret
Cause my heart stays with you all the time
Yeah, my heart stays with you all the time
02 Seductress of Bums (03:49)
I love when you kiss me
And hold me tight
I love when you squeeze me
And teach me right
Your young love bewitch me
Seductress of bums
Oh young love invade me
While this dynamo hums
Too young to know
Nightmares of you
Caught in your dynamo
Of sexual intensions
Hold me
Tell me you care
Don't really understand
Why people stare
Now young love has faded
Have all gone to sleep
I'll rewire my lovebox
For my soul to keep
I've got no regrets though
Just fun at the time
I'll give back what's yours girl
I'll take back what's mine
03 Love in a Trashcan (02:51)
If you touch that girl you know it's okay
People say she's a whore anyway
I think she looks like a nice vamp
Looking for love in a trashcan
If you kiss that girl you won't be caught dead
She's the coolest girl you think you ever met
I think she fits right into my life
On the road till the end of time
Now the time is right and you feel the need
To go down low and receive a treat
The jukebox churns out songs about sex
Come on baby you're my best fix
04 Sleepwalking (03:28)
Sleepwalking
Think you look good today
Pretty in black you got it down
I can't hold my breath so long
When you pass me by without a sound
You got something more to give
To girls who never thought they'd love
Love
Upon a summer's night
I flicked my cig and looked at you
Feels like it's always been
Pretty in black knows what to do
Sleepwalking
Then came that beautiful day
When our collided in great sparks
I can't hold my breath so long
Something evil in our hearts
You gave all you had to give
Pretty in black is all you were
Were
05 Uncertain Times (03:58)
Too many fucked up years
And I can't hold her
Too many fucked up times
Have come my way
Too many teardrops yeah
I don't get it
Life moves on
If you want it to
Too many times I've felt
My heart was broken
Wasting time on someone
I don't get
But I've found someone
Who makes me better
Yeah I've found someone
Who makes me go
I wanna ride with her
In uncertain times
I wanna go where my thoughts
Can take a nap
And if the atom bomb should end us both
I'll be happy to go to the stars with you
06 My Boyfriend's Back (02:39)
(Robert Feldman, Gerald Goldstein and Richard Gottehre)
[Spoken:]
He went away and you hung around
And bothered me, every night
And when I wouldn't go out with you
You said things that weren't very nice
My boyfriend's back and you're gonna be in trouble
(Hey-la-day-la my boyfriend's back)
You see him comin' better cut out on the double
(Hey-la-day-la my boyfriend's back)
You been spreading lies that I was untrue
(Hey-la-day-la my boyfriend's back)
So look out now cause he's comin' after you
(Hey-la-day-la my boyfriend's back)
(Hey, he knows that you been tryin')
(And he knows that you been lyin')
He's been gone for such a long time
(Hey-la-day-la my boyfriend's back)
Now he's back and things'll be fine
(Hey-la-day-la my boyfriend's back)
You're gonna be sorry you were ever born
(Hey-la-day-la my boyfriend's back)
Cause he's kinda big and he's awful strong
(Hey-la-day-la my boyfriend's back)
(Hey he knows I wasn't cheatin'!)
(Now you're gonna get a beatin'!)
(What made you think he'd believe all your lies?)
(Wah-ooo, wah-ooo)
(You're a big man now but he'll cut you down to size
(Wah-ooo, wait and see)
My boyfriend's back he's gonna save my reputation
(Hey-la-day-la my boyfriend's back)
If I were you I'd take a permanent vacation
(Hey-la, hey-la, my boyfriend's back)
Yeah, my boyfriend's back
(La-day-la, my boyfriend's back)
Look out now, yeah, my boyfriend's back
(La-day-la, my boyfriend's back)
I could see him comin'
(La-day-la, my boyfriend's back)
So you better get a runnin'
(La-day-la, my boyfriend's back)
Alright now
(La-day-la, my boyfriend's back)
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
(La-day-la, my boyfriends's back)
My boyfriend's back now
(La-day-la, my boyfriend's back)
[Fades]
Know he's comin' after you
(La-day-la, my boyfriend's back)
Because he knows I've been true now...
07 Here Comes Mary (03:02)
Here comes Mary
All dressed in black
Her heart so heavy
A love attack
Her dying cigarette in the rain
The gangs are out
And here comes Mary
They rave and shout
Her love to bury
Her dying cigarette in the rain
Go home and cry to your mama tonight
Go home and bury your love tonight
Young love dead
Lost forever
Young love dead
Lost forever
A dying cigarette in the rain
A shiny gun
To her head
Here comes Mary
Forever dead
A wet cigarette in the rain
Went home and cried to her mama tonight
Went home and buried her love tonight
Went home and cried to her mama tonight
Went out and killed herself tonight
08 Red Tan (03:48)
Valentine I adore you
Her eyes tearing when I say I love you
My brass knuckles you know them well
The pale moon licks my valentine
Uh, uh, honey it's all mine
You'll always remember the very first time
Walking home
Hush, hush girl
Won't believe you today
And if you and me
Should ever go to hell
Come on, let's go right now
Come on, let's go right now
I got things to do
Can't wait around
Better times for you and me
But you're stuck in a rut
Another love affair
Another boy another scare
I can't feel a thing
But I'm sure you can
Warm summer's night red tan
Warm summer's night red tan
Warm summer's night red tan
09 Twilight (03:35)
Honey don't kill that last cigarette
I got a long, long ways to go
I've been a-drinking and a-thinking all night long
Still got so much more to show
To you
Yeah
And when that hand comes searching
Between your thighs
You better play along to the tune
You got nothing to prove
You're a bad little girl
And you know your life is in ruins
So come on
Yeah
And when the sun retreats
And you got the chills
And your feet are aching to go
You better call on me
Cause I'm dog-gone horny
I'm not your friend but your foe
I've got so much time to please myself
I don't count you in at all
All right
Yeah
My heart is like a filling station
And it jumped with joy when you pulled in
And you later got caught for speedin'
And this drug-cop says you need him
But ain't no walls in the jailhouse safe enough
To hold you down tonight
I'll be right out here on the other side
Waiting for you by the red twilight
So when Friday comes and you got the chills
And your feet are aching to go
Don't have to call on me
Cause I'm already there
Come on little girl, let's go!
[Thanks to Soccr_Luvr_@hotmail.com for these lyrics]
10 Somewhere in Texas (04:27)
Somewhere in Texas by the yellow sand
Somewhere in Texas by the yellow sand
Somewhere in Texas I lost my man
Somewhere in Texas by the yellow sand
And how many times do I have to lose you
And how many times do I have to lose you
Before I realize
It's too late
A tornado I truly coming my way
A tornado is truly coming my way
It'll sweep the land
I think I'll stay
It'll sweep the land
I think I'll stay
Somewhere I lost my man
Somewhere in Texas by the yellow sand
11 You Say You Lie (02:55)
You say
You lie
To me
And I
Believe
You
Oh no
That's me
I've heard
A thing
Or two
'Bout you
Romance
A word
Untrue
Echo
Bewitch
Me now
Vibrate
And Shake
And walk
Away
Like you do
Every time
12 Ode to L.A. (03:17)
Come on let's go to where it's fun
I want a slice of L.A. sun
Whoa ho ho ho
Honey let's go
(Feels like you never have to)
Honey let's go
(Come down you don't really want to)
Honey let's go
(Stay out is all you need to)
Honey let's go
(Go to sleep you don't really want to)
So come along and pay the price
This ain't New York this tasty slice
Whoa ho ho ho
Take a minute listen to this town
Don't you ever feel you have to come
Take a minute she won't let you down
See you excited in her arms
L.A. and all her crazy charms
Whoa ho ho oh
13 If I Was Young (02:53)
If I was young and you were too
Then I'm sure we'd run away
But life it takes twisted turns
Makes words hard to say
I've been here for too long
My traveling feet all worn down
I try to hide my tears in vain
Take a look a my eyes drown
And all I have is memories
Of a life I once held dear
And all the lights are out tonight
Oh how I wish I wasn't here
Loading comments slowly
Other reviews
By biaspoint
They manage to surprise from the first listen, offering beautiful songs that are easy to listen to and insufficiently demanding.
A modest but well-produced album, which after a few listens leaves a gust of 50s nostalgia.
