VfB Stuttgart

Yesterday I wrote down what happened to my team and I was hoping that we still continue the way we had chosen. But things change in this business as soon as our ink was dry. The president and the manager chosen a manager for the team that everyone among the rest of the supporters can't agree with. It is the one no one would like to see at this place, even if he grown up in the neighborhood of our place. So now in my opinion the road to League two will be reserved for us. It is still hard to see the that plans for the future were destroyed by leading persons in this club. I think about to give my season ticket give away to someone else who is willing to watch this team suffer. Anyway, on Sunday I booked a flight to Sri Lanka again for three weeks recreating my little soul. Only two weeks and I will be in the sun again for a couple of weeks and none of these themes will bother me in  these times.

McCarthy - Red Sleeping Beauty

Money, Money

As usual as every second weekend we went to support our team in Stuttgart. Knowing well that we are rightly at the bottom of the table and this means less to most of the supporters. Looking back in history we played Champions League against Manchester United and had a bright future. But stupid presidents and corrupt management took us to the second league at last. Therefore we changed management to replace the old system (as we was told by all those who had something to say). Trying to get a new idea of playing football with young and talented payers. We had success with this concept in league two and we promoted to Bundesliga with a young and promising team. I didn't saw great football during this season and we lost more games than we won. The last games were hard to watch and in only a few games I missed passion in playing. Anyway, last Saturday we lost against Schalke 04 and the result is totally okay. But when I switched on my laptop on Sunday morning I read the headlines that Stuttgart suspended the manager and asked myself why. Probably the machinery works well in this business and the discharge of the manager is comprehensible but for me this club lost its soul and honesty. Typing these words don't mean that I lost my affection to the team but my aversion against the management is growing day by day.

Horace Andy - Money, Money

I'm Alive

Last week I heard the latest record by Beth Dito I'm Alive and I asked myself if she's turning now into R&B and where I know this song before. Some investigations and I had the answer. The original is sung by Johnny Thunder, an American R&B singer from Florida. It is one of those classics released 50 years ago now. A fuzzy guitar makes the intro to Thunder's soulful voice. This song made me investigate more by him. Thank you Mrs. Dito.

Back again

During the last years I featured The Limiñanas at this place. For me it is a band that can't make anything wrong. These French couple help oneself by a lot of music from different eras. I can hear influences by Velvet Underground, surf rock, Ennio Morricone and New Order as well. All mixed assorted to their very own unique style. After they released an EP last year they are back with an album that is on heavy rotation at my home and on the way to my office. Give them a little chance and listen and I am sure you won't be disappointed.

Mark E. Smith 1957 - 2018

Many tributes were made today and all words are spoken. Like many of you I don't like everything he did but I have a great respect to his output over almost 40 years. I don't know him personally but for me he had always a fierce aura. And so was his music: not giving any shit to mainstream just doing his very own thing. He accompanied me since his first record Live at the Witch Trials and during the decades he surprised me with something new.

Rest well Mark and may you have always a place of honour in the pub in heaven.

And as a bonus: Back in 2005 BBC invited him to report the results of the Saturday English football leagues. He did it in a very uneuphoric way with his inimitable Northern accent. What proves: MES could also read out of the phone book.

Ska Wednesday

During the past days I turned into Ska again and stumbled into The Skatalites once again. They were more than a band - they were an institution for Jamaican music. Formed in the early 60's they played for vocalists like Bob Marley, Jimmy Cliff or Peter Tosh. For me they are the godfathers of Ska and had a huge influence to every other band playing this kind of style. I don't have to say more because I am sure a lot of you will know them and every one have a special song for your favourite.

The Skatalites - Guns Of Navarone
The Skatalites - Rock Fort Rock
The Skatalites - Al Capone

Poisen Ivy

There was a time in the late 70's/early 80's when there was a mod revival going round in Great Britain. We haven't got the feeling and the background in Germany to to or feel the same because it was a very British style. We also had some motorcycle gangs around here but no scene like mods or rockers in these days. The Lambrettas and Poison Ivy were one of the big things at these times for me. Ska, mod and basically R 'n' B sounded great at this times. Great to remember these days.

Metron Parkas and Stepping Stone were another band that impressed me at these days.

9 Lazy 9

Back in the early 90's a few Coldcut-members formed Ninja Tunes, a record label with some different kinds of sounds. Not fixed on one style they signed various artists and the label is still on duty. 9 Lazy 9 was one of the first bands being signed by the label and they released a fantastic album in 1994 called Paradise Blown. I came to this record by recommendation of a friend. He was more into jazz and funk than in rock and I was glad that I investigated more of them. 9 Lazy 9 was an electro band from Italy based in the tradition of downtempo, breakbeat and trip hop but they did it in very own and unique style. Often adding some horns to their sound.

 

Connected By Love

Another new song that came to my ears this week was by Jack White. Announcing his forthcoming album he gave us an appetizer with his newest single. It is another blues song where he can suffer about love gone by. Anyway, it's the way he plays his guitar that makes this song more than the average. And the added gospel voices to the end of the song fits perfectly.

Everybody's Coming To My House

There is too much new music that was released every day. I subscribed to some promoter's sides filling my in-box with tons of music every day. Most of them I delete at once because I haven't the time and muse to listen to every new track (JC knows what I mean). Since a few months I'm using Spotify and every Friday they collect about 25 new tracks according to the music I listen usually. This seems to be okay because to try them in one hour while I am on the way to office seems to be a good deal. Most of them they offered yesterday was not too bad but only one song made me curious to investigate for more. The song is the first appetizer of David Byrne's new album American Utopia and will be released in early March this year. Everybody's Coming To My House is co-written and produced by Brian Eno and it shows David Byrne at a very high level. Carried by a reluctant saxophone, a driving rhythm and some guitar licks are the ground where he can show his abilities in singing. One of the best new songs I heard this year. So please show me the way to this house.

Ruins

These days the new album by Swedish sisters Klara and Johanna Söderberg called Ruins will be released. It will be definitely not a groundbreaking album but of course a record I will listen a few times this year. I can't explain why I love them - possibly because they are able to make great songs and singing in harmony. If you're a bit into folk and country it will be a pleasure to listen to them.

This is a song from their new album that shows their abilities of making relaxed music.

I saw this appearance a few month ago in German TV. They played this song in a late-night show live in Hamburg. I really like the concept of this talk show where guest where interviewed by Ina Müller at the counter of a small bar.

This song is also played live in an American show but don't ask me about more details.

All My Friends

I have to admit that I've stolen this song from my youngest brother's playlist the other days. Lens Mozer is an Californian singer/songwriter appearing with a nice and warm song. It is just an easygoing jangly pop-track that made me think about Galaxy 500 years ago. This could be a song for next summer, even if it is a long time until we will reach them.

Johnny Cash Cover

CC has a long going series about songs covered by Johnny Cash that I enjoy every week. Most of them are better than the originals or equal to them. There are very less artists that tried to cover the songs written by the man in black. If they did - most of them failed. When I think about some songs from him interpreted by other artists that are worth to be featured I remember a record released 30 years ago. Jon Langford, a long time and huge fan of Johnny Cash and his music made a tribute to him long before Johnny had his comeback with American Recordings. It was in these days you kept your preference to him as a secret because lots of folks couldn't agree to. I bought this record and from this time I knew that Johnny Cash was a giant because he wrote songs for eternity. Only a few songs could reach to the originals like Michelle Shocked's version of One Piece of the Time but there is one song on this record that is not a copy of the original. Marc Almond made with The Mekons a version of Man in Black that was unique and fits to his songs. I still like this version and don't want to judge if it is better than the original or not. It is great in it's way.

Mark Almond - Man In Black

Just A Smile

A few days ago I updated my mobile phone with new music. I deleted some records and load up some new music. The day before some of Rory Gallagher's songs from his first self titled record came to my ears after a long long time. I really can't believe that it is 47 years ago that I heard this songs for the first time by an older friend. Of course it is just a special way to play the blues-rock schema once again like it was used to do in the early 70's but listening now Rory made some outstanding and unique versions of this genre and I think it is worth to remember to him. I really don't know if he was as big in England like he was in Germany in the late 70's but I grew up with him and are lucky to see him live once in my life. It was pure energy and he gave us the feeling that his music came straight from his heart. The other one's that was forgotten in this kind of music was Tommy Bolin, but this is another story to be told.

Rory Gallagher - Just the Smile
Rory Gallagher - I Fall Apart

Trouble

Last Saturday I went to support Stuttgart against Berlin. When I arrived at the train station I couldn't believe what I saw. The train was filled with more than 100 men dressed in black coats and wearing  balaclavas on their head. We all had problems to find a free wagon because they occupied almost every space. I quickly understood that this train was full of hooligans and I made my thoughts what will happen the next 40 minutes until we arrive at the stadium. All of the normal people stood there trying to act unremarkable and talking no words. It was a very scary atmosphere that I've never been in before. I read a lot about these guys going out for a fight and not to support their team like they should. But listen to them about taking a few days off work to go to Ukraine to battle with the natives makes me think about how stupid people should be doing this. Finally one station before we arrived special police forces stopped the train and put them all out. I have no idea if they arrested them or kept them several hours from other people. At least I don't want to see this once again in reality. By the way we won 1:0 against Berlin. But I will always combine the hooligans to this game.

Dave Edmunds - Trouble Boys
Ryan Adams - Trouble
George Thorogood - So much trouble

And my greatest fear was this

The Rezillos - Somebody's gonna get kicked his head tonight

Alberto Balsam

The first two weeks of business in the new year are over and I have to say it is enough now. My co-workers didn't do anything than usual business and let lots of things over for me to do. This week I only concluded many things belayed than they should be. Anyway it is weekend and I won't think about the last working week and look forward to the start of the second half of Bundesliga. My team is still lower placement of the table and today's game against Berlin will show us the way into the future. Anyway, we will support them in any way. Aphex Twin's track is one them I still can listen to after all the years. Alberto Balsam was released on his epic album ... I care because you do back in 1995. I bought this record by recommended by a friend but didn't come close to this record for a long time. But suddenly a decade ago I fell in love to this record. It was far ahead of many records that was released in these days. Now it is a record I still listen to with a lot of joy.

While typing these words I watch Bayern Munich and they lead 0:2 in Leverkusen. This result will make the league boring.