Paul Schiernecker

Category: Music

  • Music Jar – week 29

    Each week, I listen to a new band or artist, based on recommendations from those I trusted enough to throw names in at the start of the year. This week was the turn of alternative rock group, Wolf Alice.

    What I Knew Before
    I knew some of Wolf Alice’s songs, had probably heard their first album, but they certainly signify a point where I stopped knowing about the cool new music and listened to everything I knew from 2004 – 2010 ad nauseam. There was an episode of the excellent Song Exploder where they broke down Don’t Delete The Kisses. Regardless of my interest in the band and that song, it takes everything in my being not to call it Kisses On The Bottom, which is the unfortunate title of Paul McCartney’s fifteenth studio album.

    What I Know Now
    Wolf Alice are from a city I used to know, called London. They are a four-piece band fronted by Ellie Rowsell (who I obviously have a crush on) and who remain one of the most exciting British rock bands of recent years. Their second album, Visions Of A Life, won the Mercury Prize in 2018. They described their music as “the lovechild of folk and grunge” and if there was ever a soundbite that was going to appeal to me then it was that.
    I have missed out by not being into Wolf Alice when live music was a thing that we could actively participate in. I hope they and it return to us soon.

    Favourite songs:
    Don’t Delete The Kisses, Silk, Fluffy and Teenage Headache Dreams.

    Favourite album:
    This is a real Sophie’s Choice, but it has to be My Love Is Cool.

  • Music Jar – week 28

    Each week, I listen to a different artist, pulled at random from a pickle jar I keep on my drinks caddy. This was was the turn of scribble-faced rapper, Post Malone.

    What I Knew Before
    I thought that Post Malone was short for Post Office Malone. I was familiar with his two biggest hits; Sunflower and Circles. I had seen pictures of him. I guess you would call him striking-looking. That was about it.

    What I Know Now
    Post Malone, or Austin Richard Post as his dad calls him when he’s in trouble, was born in Syracuse, New York. His music is a heady mix of hip hop beats combined with country (linked to his time in Texas) and R&B. He seems to be a real fan of music, citing Bob Dylan as a huge influence and DJing at an emo night in LA. He’s certainly the produce of his tastes and it’s great to hear something that sounds so refreshing and different alongside being an area of music that I wouldn’t immediately think had much to offer me.

    Favourite songs: 
    Circles, Sunflower and Wow.

    Favourite album:
    Stoney.

  • Music Jar – week 27

    Each week, I listen to an artist I’ve never really got into. This week has only been slightly impaired by listening to the Hamilton soundtrack on repeat but my artist of choice was Mexico City’s very best, Mexrrissey.

    What I Knew Before
    Weirdly, I saw Mexrrissey a few years ago when they blessed Camden with their presence and performed at the Electric Ballroom. They combine the music of The Smiths with Latin beats and rhythms. The excellent part of this is that you can listen to The Smiths without having to think about the terrible person that Morrissey has become.

    What I Know Now
    Pretty much as above, but I’ve learnt that they only have one album; No Manchester, released in 2016.

    Favourite songs:
    El Primero del Gang, International Playgirl, Entré Más Me Ignoras, Más Cerca Estaré

    Favourite album:
    No Manchester

  • Music Jar – week 26

    Each week, I listen to a different musical artist, having taken the name from my elusive pickle jar (not a euphemism). This week was the turn of the woman who can do anything, Anne Erin Clark or as you may know her, St Vincent.

    What I Knew Before: 
    I knew St Vincent from her excellent first couple of albums as well as her performance with Nirvana in 2014 where she did an exceptional version of Lithium. I was also aware of her dating history, because she has fantastic taste. More than anything, she’s an exceptional guitarist, who tends to be overlooked, just because she’s a woman. I’ll add a video of her being a guitar god.

    What I Know Now:
    St Vincent has realised albums since 2014, which is probably the last time I had any kind of musical awareness. One of those was with David Byrne, who is obviously an absolute hero. Imagine the music they made together. I don’t need to, because I’ve listened to it a lot this week.
    Annie was also in Polyphonic Spree and Sufjan Stevens’ touring band.

    Favourite songs:
    Now, Now, Los Ageless, Fast Slow Disco, Weekend In The Dust.

    Favourite album: 
    Love This Giant.

  • Music Jar – week 25

    Inspired by A Beautiful Mess, I started my own Music Jar. I asked friends for band recommendations and am working through them over the course of 2020. This week was the turn of Norwegian truth-sayer, St. Thomas, the performing name of Thomas Hansen.

    What I Knew Before
    Absolutely zip. I was sat on my lunch break at work, putting my list together, when my friend Tom made the suggestion. He’s a gentleman with an eclectic taste in music, so I figured it was worth a throw.

    What I Know Now
    I am richer for the experience of having heard St. Thomas. I was initially won over by his whimsical lyrics and piercing Neil Young-esque vocals.
    On my second day of listening, I mentioned it to Tom and he recommended I also watch the documentary, Burn The Place You Hide. This helped me understand a lot more about where the music was coming from.
    Thomas Hansen formed St. Thomas after listening to Elliott Smith and quitting his job as a postman. He had a unique and beautiful way of looking at the world and truthfully using the content of his own life in his own music. Throughout his life, he struggled with depression and social anxiety and this led to issues with drink and drugs as he attempted to self medicate.
    Hansen was unapologetically himself, insisting that the first take of each song be used on a given album, and refusing to perform if the conditions were not perfect.
    He was no angel, prone to bouts of self deprecation or micro-aggressions, but there was nothing in his actions which would justify the sad end that he met.

    Favourite songs:     Be Cool Be Nice, The Cornerman, The Cool Song, Along Long Time, Born Again.

    Favourite Album: I don’t want to pick. Mysterious Walks, Hey Harmony and I’m Coming Home all get my vote.

  • Music Jar – week 24

    At the start of 2020, when we had no idea what a horrific trash fire this year would become, I put the names of 52 musical artists into a pickle jar. They were all recommended to me by friends or musicians that I knew I should know more about but had never had the time to get into.
    Each Monday, I take out a name and listen to that band for the week.
    This week was the turn of Kettering-born psychedelic rockers, Temples.

    What I Knew Before:
    It is possible that I had heard some Temples songs before. I’m fairly sure that Sarah, who is responsible for them being on this list, told me to listen to them after she invited me to go and see them a few months ago. I am gutted that I didn’t take her up on the offer.

    What I Know Now:
    Temples are 100% my bag. I don’t know what I wasn’t listening to them before. My only excuse is that they rose to prominence, as an NME band, after my tenure. I used to know all of the cool new bands, then I got older and I couldn’t keep up. It hurts my little indie heart to know that music is moving on without me.
    Temples have three albums; Sun Structures, Volcano and Hot Motion. All three are excellent. I have also dipped into the Sun Restructured album (thanks for the tip-off Ben), a remix of their first that sounds even trippier.
    For those who haven’t heard Temples before; there’s elements of The Beatles and The Rolling Stones at their most experimental, alongside Empire of the Sun and MGMT, if you want something more recent and tangible to cling to.

    Favourite songs: Certainty, Sand Dance, Shelter Song, Hot Motion and You’re Either On Something.

    Favourite album: They are all worthy of your time, but Volcano clinches it. 

    Spotify my favourite songs from this project.

     

  • Music Jar – week 23

    Each week, I take the name of an artist from a pickle jar and listen to them, learning as I go.
    This week was the turn of Seattle-born rapper, Benjamin Hammond Haggerty aka Macklemore.
    What with one thing and another, I’ve been somewhat distracted from my usual tasks but I did listen to both Macklemore albums a few times through to get a grip of the Mac – is that okay to say?

    What I Knew Before:
    I knew the name. I knew he had a penchant for thrift shops, hence his song, Thrift Shop. That’s about it.

    What I Know Now:
    Not much more than that to be honest. I found out that he works with Ryan Lewis, a name I hadn’t been familiar with before, despite having heard some of their Billboard smashes.
    I will say this, the pair of them are clearly onto a winning formula. There’s something bright and catchy about their music and I could listen again.

    Favourite song: 
    Thrift Store, Good Old Days, Summer Days – he seems to like days.

    Favourite album:
    GEMINI.

    Spotify my favourite songs from this project.

  • Music jar – week 19

    Week. Jar. Band.

    This week was the go of self-described Texan “boy band”, Brockhampton.

    What I Knew Before: Very little. The recommendation came from my Twitter friend Daisy (hi) who offered the band up when I was compiling my list in late 2019. I know they were due to play gigs in the UK and I’m now gutted that I’m not going to see them.
    What I Know Now: They released their first mix-tape in 2016 and then THREE albums in 2017. They’re led by Kevin Abstract (great name) who has also put out some compelling solo stuff. Reading up on them, it sounds like an amazing experience to be a part of a collective like Brockhampton. They all bring something different and clearly work together well.
    Favourite song(s): FACE, NO HALO, SUGAR.
    Favourite album: iridescence

  • Music Jar – week 17

    Every week, I take a band or artist from the jar and listen to their back catalog in an attempt at widening my musical knowledge.
    This week was the turn of emo Jersey Boys, My Chemical Romance.

    What I Knew Before: I was very much aware of MCR prior to this project. At the height of their fame, I did what I could to avoid them, changing channels whenever the videos for Helena, I’m Not Okay (I Promise) or Ghost Of You came on Kerrang TV. I even saw them live, when they supported Muse at their Wembley gig in 2007. As memory serves me, I went with my then girlfriend and rolled my eyes through the entire set. I wasn’t an emo kid. I was put off of a number of bands by the people who were into them. I like to think that people’s tastes are a lot more rounded now but at the time I was an elitist indie kid who didn’t understand what it was that MCR were doing.
    What I Know Now: I missed out by being so short-sighted in my tastes. By lumping an entire genre of music together, I didn’t know one of the most important bands of the twenty-first century when they were right in front of my face.
    The things that MCR were doing are only now being rolled out on a wider scale. In their excellent documentary; Life On The Murder Scene, they call other bands and musicians out for abusing their positions of power to take advantage of young, female fans. The reason that rock music has grown tired and want to bring some of the fun and pantomime back to it. They celebrate their own soapbox by making powerful statements about isolation, addiction and mental health. I read that statement back and wonder what there isn’t to love about My Chemical Romance.
    The way Gerard Way approached songwriting and fronting a band remains unique. He thinks in comic book terms, his first love, and one that he has cemented through his incredible work creating The Umbrella Academy. He knew that he didn’t want to waste the opportunity that was his own life so pulled together a group of friends to form a band. His lyrics tell stories and his confident world-building is bombastic, crazed and colourful. You can feel his love and torture through his songs.
    This is combined with the wild thrashing of Frank Iero and Ray Toro, two of the best guitarists I’ve ever watched play. His kid brother, Mikey Way, plays bass and offers support in a way only a sibling can and their eventual drummer (they had previous), Bob Bryar, built something steady into their wild and wired world.
    What MCR did with each album is identify what they wanted and grow into it. They provided a voice and an outlet for a lot of disconnected kids. The value that they added is unfathomable.
    I have shared the name of my artist of the week on social media for seventeen weeks now. It speaks volumes that the biggest reaction to my announcement was for My Chemical Romance. I dedicate this week to the MCR-my and the Killjoys.
    Favourite song(s): Skylines and Turnstiles, Early Sunsets Over Monroeville, Helena, I’m Not Okay (I Promise), I Don’t Love You,  Mama, Teenagers and Blood.
    Favourite album: There’s no question about it, The Black Parade is not just their best album but one of the best concept albums I’ve ever had the pleasure of listening to.

    Spotify my favourite songs from this project.

  • Music Jar – week 16

    Like Groundhog Day, but every week, I take an artist’s name from a pickle jar and listen to their back catalogue. It’s better than facing the inevitability of the news.
    This week I had the exquisite pleasure of listening to British singer-songwriter, David Gray.

    What I Knew Before: I knew Babylon and therefore I knew White Ladder. I also knew “O” but this turned out to be by Damien Rice.
    What I Know Now: David Gray is from Sale, Cheshire. He has a lot of studio albums as well as a number of live performances available on his Spotify. I am fairly sure that if I ever got the opportunity to see him live then I would cry. I have no doubts that he will be an artist I continue to listen to and maybe I should have listened to certain people and got here sooner.
    Favourite song(s): This is difficult because there is so much material. The obvious ones are This Year’s Love, Babylon and Sail Away. I liked Shine and Birds Without Wings from A Century Ends and Faster, Sooner, Now from Sell, Sell, Sell. His cover of Buckets of Rain was lovely. Some of the tracks on Gold in a Brass Age reminds me of Bon Iver. I’m working on a theory that it was his reaction to 22, A Million.
    Favourite album: I’m going to do the obvious thing and not say White Ladder, and that’s because the way he sounds on A Thousand Miles Behind is raw and sublime.

    I’ve started a Spotify playlist where you can listen to my favourite songs across this project: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3vjalT7B0EFZOv0k3610CX?si=pI1ivFnORwGXKYW8jbjqjA