There are some songs that just grow and grow on you, they dig deep, into your soul. Is it a soul? Do we even have one? Is that a bit fucking metaphysical for this kind of time on a Saturday morning? Anyway, this is one of those songs, for me. A bit of a surprise this, really, given it is quite a recent release and I only ever liked a few Maximo Park records. But this song. It just cuts me down, stops me in my tracks, in the most brilliant way. I want to play it and play it and play it. Again. Mostly because of, yes, the guitar hooks and the lovely use of delay, delay, delay... but also, it cannot be ignored, it's Paul Smith's accent. It's a Tyne and Wear 'thing'. And, personally, it takes me back to a home fae home, the North East of England. Spend eight years living anywhere, you will miss it occasionally. Sigh. I miss the beach at Tynemouth. I miss the people. I even miss the old house, in a way. But in particular, apropos this song, I love the way Paul delivers his lines, witness 'Sunday social' (at 1.50) as an example. It's, frankly, rather orgasmic to me. But, er, I guess I have always been a bit strange like that. For accents. They just make me so, well, rigid.
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Paul Smith - 'Our lady of Lourdes' (4.20)
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Paul is over here now. You can buy the album as well, please.
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NB: Review of Warpaint @ Stereo, Glasgow 22-10-10 coming soon! With pictures. And songs!
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Fuck's sake Colin. Too Much Information. And only three posts into this new life. Must, Try, Harder... Oh...
ReplyDeleteGenuinely do not understand the liking of a North East accent. I often wish my parents had not allowed me to develop the one I am now in ownership of and instead had retained the Scottish accent I had as little one.
ReplyDeleteAh, well, such is the beauty of the ear Steph. We each hear different things in everything around us. I feel a similar way about some Scottish accents, as you do about the NE accent (step forward Dundee!). But, true, I will admit that Jimmy Nail's crooning SO does not DO IT for me. :)
ReplyDeleteI think it is also in part due to an unhealthy obsession and preoccupation with my own voice, not just the accent, but voice. Hmmm. But hearing good ol' Smithy from the minging rival town over the A19 from me - well - he is just amazing, isn't he?
ReplyDeleteIs that in the context of hearing your voice on an ansaphone/voicemail message? Or elsewhere? Everywhere? Eeeep. I shan't mention Rival Town but I will repeat that I am in love with this song and, yes, Paul's accent. Glorious and amazing all round!
ReplyDeleteNo. I don't have that thing that a lot of people do where they cringe where they hear themselves recorded. Get over it. But I've been told by a number of people of the years that I have a 'distinct' voice. Which I find unsettling. I'm audibly different? And, in a good or a bad way? Or would I rather not know.
ReplyDeleteBloody hell, Colin. You've got me venting my niche mental concern all over your blog! I'm stopping now.
Oh, apart from, I went through a phase of being so involved in this malark that I considered doing a Pop Cultureddd podcast to gain further perspective.
PS Rival Town smells. I mean that. It honestly smells bad.
I think, yes, I would take 'distinct' to mean 'interesting'. It is something that stands out and engages attention. In a good way, I suspect. No? But, hey, feel free to vent!! You should do a podcast anyway, keep us oldies up-tae-speed with the change in musical weathers. And, aye, it does. I remember all too well.But then North Shields smelled a bit funny as well, to be truthful. Fish boxes it was. And anti-mackem BO, obviously.
ReplyDelete"Anti-mackem BO" made me chuckle quite loudly!
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