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I incorporated this song in a Yelp review a year ago. It was in response to feeling particularly down and listless, when I was trying to figure out how to find balance in my life. Unemployed and searching for meaning, I’m finding this theme particularly relevant again…

Ferry Building Marketplace in San Francisco

The naked, descending notes on the opening track of Radiohead’s Kid A fall into a schizophrenic scatter of ambient sounds. I remember first understanding this album in New York when I plugged in at the Museum of Natural History and it transformed my experience into one more visceral. The chaotic repetition is meditative, and it distracts from the endless noise and static in the head.

Everything…

Everything….

Everything…

There’s little better than enjoying a cup of coffee in the Ferry Building. The echo of spoken voices provides just the right amount of audio haze, and the view of the Bay keeps the mind at peace. The food options are also incredible – my favorites being Delica rf-1 and Acme Bakery – where one can grab a bite of quality comfort to enjoy with the scenery.

There are two colours in my head…

There are two colours in my head…

What was that you tried to say?…

I like to believe everything happens for a reason. Maybe it’s delusion, but there’s solace in knowing that, like the song, even random chaos retains some structure, that even the craziest noises can come together in meaningful harmony. Visitors enter from all around the world and are never seen again. It’s serendipity and chance that pulls us together. You prepare yourself as best you can for the world, but if the world isn’t ready, you must remain patiently wanting… and after that, it’s all a matter of luck…

It’s all a matter of timing.

Everything…

Everything…

Everything…

…in its right place.

These are the songs that defined my life. There are others, of course, but I felt the included were those important enough to share. Click on artist names for info and song names to have a listen for yourself…

Chris Cornell – “When I’m Down” (1999)
No one believed me when I told them the then recently Soundgarden-separated Chris Cornell’s solo album, Euphoria Morning, was an eclectic masterpiece of somber alt-rock. I’m sure they believe me even less after the crap he’s released since then (Audioslave aside).

The Wallflowers – “One Headlight” (1997)
My favorite band from 1997-2004ish. There’s a soulfulness to Hammond-filled, rustic Americana that I think anyone can appreciate.

Jewel – “You Were Meant For Me” (1996)
Sexiest song ever. If love were bottled into a song somehow, it would sound like this and come from Jewel’s mouth. I wasn’t a huge fan of some of the other songs on Pieces of You though. Additionally, I’m not sure one can actually bottle something into a song.

Oasis – “Don’t Look Back In Anger” (1996)
Post-Beatles, co-Radiohead, pre-Muse Brit rock at its best.

Gin Blossoms – “Til I Hear It From You” (1996)
Don’t hate.

Lisa Loeb – “Stay (I Missed You)” (1994)
One of the sweetest songs ever written. I think a whole generation of kids fell in love with Lisa Loeb the day this song was released.

Green Day – “Basket Case” (1994)
I didn’t get it at first…

Weezer – “Buddy Holly” (1994)
Pure 90s nerd rock. Weezer defined a generation with their Blue Album. Sadly, they sort of fizzled away creatively. Still, it’s amazing how their first two albums can still keep us loving them despite the mediocre fare Cuomo and crew have released since.

The Cranberries – “Zombie” (1994)
I actually just heard the MTV Unplugged version today. Click the song title link and listen to it. It’s even better than the original.

Radiohead – “Creep” (1992)
My anthem for about 70% of my high school experience. I had a great time but it was still high school…

Kris Kross – “Jump” (1992)
Okay, this one is kind of a joke. I remember liking it for a short while but not long enough to learn the lyrics. Honestly, I’m not sure why I even bothered. Maybe it’s because citing “Ninja Rap” just felt too wrong. Also, I was, like, 10 or something…

Michael Jackson – “Thriller” (1983)
I would leave the room when the video played on television. And this was BEFORE he was accused of child molestation.

The Carpenters – “Sing” (1973)
For the record, I don’t like the Carpenters. I sang this song at my preschool graduation in the Barbers Point Naval Base.

Gerry & The Pacemakers – “Ferry Cross the Mersey” (1964)
The first pop song I remember really liking…

I was five.

www.radiohead.com
www.myspace.com/radiohead

Ambient and rhythmic. Dark and tribal. A great mix of themes from Amnesiac and Hail to the Thief. Download “These Are My Twisted Words” for free or stream it at their blog, Dead Air Space.

☥

www.radiohead.com
www.myspace.com/radiohead

What more do you need to know? Download it here (proceeds go to charity) or stream it for free.

From Dead Air Space, the official Radiohead blog:

“i am the only one that got through
the others died where ever they fell
it was an ambush
they came up from all sides
give your leaders each a gun and then let them fight it out themselves
i’ve seen devils coming up from the ground
i’ve seen hell upon this earth
the next will be chemical but they will never learn”

Recently the last remaining UK veteran of the 1st world war Harry Patch died at the age of 111.
I had heard a very emotional interview with him a few years ago on the Today program on Radio4.
The way he talked about war had a profound effect on me.
It became the inspiration for a song that we happened to record a few weeks before his death.
It was done live in an abbey. The strings were arranged by Jonny.
I very much hope the song does justice to his memory as the last survivor.

It would be very easy for our generation to forget the true horror of war, without the likes of Harry to remind us.
I hope we do not forget.

As Harry himself said
“Irrespective of the uniforms we wore, we were all victims”.

This morning the Today program played the song for the first time and now it is available to download from our website.

Please click here to download.

The proceeds of this song will go to the British Legion.

To peace and understanding.

To peace and understanding…