Taking 51 minutes for myself

Seasons change and so does the weather.  Unfortunately, that means HOT has descended on us.  That means mid-30sC for us (mid to upper 90s or 100s) here and it’s hot and humid.  The rainy season doesn’t start for about 6 more weeks.  Songkran is right around the corner and that’s the celebration of water, but since it’s celebrated on a moon phase, sometimes it is celebrated a few weeks earlier than the true rains.  We have had some overcast days, so 30-50% chance of rain, but so far it’s held off… At least in Rama II it has. 

So, we are dealing with the heat and humidity right now.  Late March and April are hot and bad.  After that, it does mellow out a bit.  As much as it can mellow in a tropical jungle.

That being said, we are taking things a little slower these days.  I had to walk to Tops this morning for chicken and a few little things we needed and the walk there and then home (1km round trip) and I was sweating through my shirt.  To the point I needed to change.  Pool days are coming back.

No real Kiddo or life events to share today, but I do want to share something.

I mentioned a few weeks back, the new Depeche Mode album, Memento Mori and that dropped yesterday.  It was 1100 here when the album dropped and so I got a chance to listen to it in its entirety.

I like to listen to a new album raw and on speakers, not in headphones for my first listen.  I also like to chore or cook while doing that.  Just to let the songs and sounds fill the world I’m in.  That way, listening, my brain will hook on a song and in further listenings, I can focus in and see why or what pulled me for that song or part of the song or album.  

After that, I go into headphones and close the world and listen, really focusing in on the songs this time.  The music.  Lyrics.  Vocals.  All of it.  I am in my closed world and I can possess and be possessed by the music.  I take it in gulps if I want.  Or slow sips.  After that, I try a third listen during my day and see what I’m left with or what really grabs me.

Usually, with Depeche Mode, I can pick a song or two that leap off the page- as it were- and grab me.  Nothing on this album did.  And that’s ok.  It’s great, in fact.  This is an Album and that’s how it should be heard.  At least, in my opinion.  When I think of the Memento album, it went into that pantheon for me.  Because, I like the tracks, I like the sound, but it’s better as a whole than parts.

I listen to things like George Michael’s Listen Without Prejudice, Radiohead’s Kid A, Poe’s Haunted, or The Flaming Lips Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots and yes, there are songs I like off those albums, but those ALBUMS man!!!!  I could probably name another dozen albums as well (see- The Cure, Geographer, Imogene Heap/Frou Frou) but the whole is better than the parts.  Go ahead and take a day or weekend and listen to the four albums named above and then Memento Mori and get back to me if you want.  Some good music.  Some good songs.  Some good vocals and music.  Good stuff.  Really good.  But the albums - WOW!  

If it is the band’s last- Bravo!  I mean that.  Bravo.  17 albums over 42 years and another world tour.  Depeche Mode went from poppy love songs and pop hits to a moody, ambient, lyrically challenging band that helped define the Synth Pop, Brit Pop, Electronica, and Alt Rock genres.  I don’t like Elvis or the Stones, but I will give recognition of influence every time.  I see Depeche Mode in very much the same light.  Pioneers.  

Gun to my head, one track of Memento and I’d go with Before We Drown.  Moody, interesting, vocally Dave crushes it, Martin in the background following his muse, and it’s synthy swell just hits me right.  Gun to my head, I’d rather have the 51 minutes to just listen to the whole album.

On the off chance that Depeche Mode, Dave Gahan, or Martin Gore read this; Thank you!  Bravo!  Brilliance!  Looks like I’ll be stuck on 51 live shows over the last 30 years.  Oddly apropos considering the album's length.  

Next week will get us back to our regularly scheduled blog posts, but thanks for indulging my review and if you want to give it or anything else a listen and share your thoughts, hit the comments.  Oh, and if you listen to Poe’s Haunted and haven’t yet read Mark Z Danielewski’s House of Leaves, you might want to do that, as it will inform your listening of that album.  Also, the opening track is the actual message Poe left for her mother upon her father’s passing.  Real art and beauty there.  Enjoy the music and if you don't want to do that, take it from Depeche Mode and Enjoy the Silence.  Cheers for now.