meeyaw's profile

Tears for Fears in the raw

I loved Tears for Fears first album better than the second one, though the second album was my first foray into their music which made me want to back track to the first album. Compared to their second album, this offers a more raw version of Tears for Fears with bold angst ridden tracks such "Watch Me Bleed" and "The Prisoner". The lyrics are heavy on pain and suffering which the album title aptly describes, but the melody of the songs don't seem to draw you down. They're not heavy, though moody, they're quite enjoyable. Track favorites would be "Ideas As Opiates" with the moody synthesized drum background, "Start of the Breakdown" a song with a real nice catchy melody and "Memories Fade" with the haunting lyrics of love lost: "memories fade but the scars still linger, goodbye my friend, will I ever love again, memories fade, no don't pretend you can justify the end, memories fade" They dont make songs like these anymore and they don't play songs like this on the radio anymore.So to anyone wanting to hear something fresh, touch base with the 80s and grab a copy of this album.

You could have it so much better the second time around

Franz Ferdinand definitely makes it better the second time around. I wasn't much of a fan of their first album - but their second offering "You Could Have It So Much Better" proved to me that they have the staying power to be top of their game. Coming from the fame of their mega-hit 'Take Me Out', the album brings us the same retro-rock beats that they're famous for. The Franz sound, have more of the 50's and 60's feel in this album. Definitely still bringing out the same dancey upbeat tunes , you’ll find yourself trapped in a delightful time warp in Franz’s 13 song line-up. With 60s go-go inspired beats in ‘What You Meant’ to songs worthy of being in a Sean Connery James bond flick like ‘Walk Away’- Franz pumps out guitar riffs reminiscent of 60’s instrumental acts like the Shadows and the Ventures. My favorite is ‘Do You Want To’ which is the first single to come out of their album. A fun song with quirky lyrics - “I woke up tonight and I said I’m gonna make somebody love me. I gonna make somebody love me. And now I know, I know that it’s you! You’re lucky, lucky. You’re so lucky!”. It kind of reminds me of Cake’s ‘Short Skirt and Long Jacket’ – because it’s one of those unique love songs that you’ll want to dedicate to someone you love that’ll make them laugh. Retro, with a modern twist to it. Franz Ferdinand packs a punch with a solid second album that can’t miss.

Literally, a new twist to a 'timeless' tale of love

An exhilirating, deeply touching book that will draw you in and won't let go. It's a unique tale about Henry and Clare, whose unusual meeting paves way for a highly romantic and unforgettable story about life and love. Clare first meets Henry when she is six and he, thirty-six, but the first time Henry meets Clare is when he is twenty-eight and she is twenty. The story interweaves the notion of time-travel and uses it as a tool to make a truly memorable story of love. Both Henry and Clare are bound together by knowing that they are meant to be. They feel for each other, but it is intensified by them knowing that their future is there and it is all planned out. The books narrates the story of their lives as told by Henry and Clare, taking turns in telling their story - giving their own point of view of different events in their life. Though the story jumps timelines, from Henry and Clare's first meeting, their own childhood and married lives, to Henry's visits to the past and the future, it comes out as seamless, following the progression of their relationship from beginning to end. Though basically a love story, it gives you more than just romance (though the romantic aspect of it alone is enough for a truly good read ) - it tackles the aspects of family, marriage and friendships - as well as a philosophical view of life and meaning. Henry, being a time-traveler is plagued by knowing events that will pass, but is unable to change them despite his ability to be able to time travel. Causation, from his experience - runs forward. He can't change what is about to happen when he is in the past - as it already has happened. The only reason why he goes to the past is that he already has and it contributes to the future. Though he feels trapped knowing a future that he cannot change - he partly accepts this and at times is relieved, knowing that his future will not change, especially with the knowledge that Clare will always be there. I highly recommend this book, as it really gives a nice twist to your usual story of romance and love - which is executed quite well. It is endearing and heartwarming and you'll fall in love with the story, and the characters, whom you'll feel very close to. Heartbreaking but truly excellent, once you've , finished reading, you'll find yourself wanting to read parts of the book again and again. Had we world enough and time, we'd enjoy moments like what Henry and Clare had shared.