Pat: 2012 Music Retrospection

Last year, we decided to make a 2011 Music Retrospection - check here - which reflects our personal view of that year's music highlights.

I revealed that it was pretty hard for me to do it because it really makes doing a deep introspection from everything I've listened and watched since January.

Yet, I am making a 2012 Music Retrospection this year - because I found very interesting to see the big differences from the artists I was listening to and the songs I discovered during the last twelve months.

Deaths like Whitney Houston, Donna Summers, Etta James, Adam "MCA" Yauch or even the Portuguese Bernardo Sassetti really marked this year.

Since we started this project, our FYMS, I've been discovering a lot of new music and re-discovering old bands.

Albums released this year:

- International Records

• Lana Del Rey - Born To Die

Lana is one of the artist that I revealed in 2011 and that I was eager to discover more about. Seems like she is a lot bigger than I expected back then. Her debut record is strong and really shows-off her talent, brightness and capacity of surprising people. Songs like Summer Sadness, The National Anthem and the already hit singles Blue Jeans and Video Games are some of the songs that you should listen.

She was one of the hot topics of 2012 - for all the good and bad reasons - but for me she is a real talent and she really has a bright future.

• Jack White - Blunderbuss

Probably, this is on my number #1 of favourite albums - alongside with another. I've been a longtime fan of Jack White and all his projects but I was waiting for his most dangerous project... When he announced his solo album more than anxious I was curious to see how Jack White - one of my idols, one of the most genius musicians of the last decades -, was going to be like.

I can say that I was overwhelmed by his work. There ain't a song that I don't love. Deep from the blues, mixing his own way of expression and great talent, this is a must-have album for everyone who loves music.

Thank you Jack White!

• Keane - Strangeland

For most of you, this is an obvious choice. This Keane's record shares with Jack White the number #1 place of my favourite records of 2012.

Strangeland has the best of Keane - the melancholic, the life and softness that I love from the first album and the raw, dark and bittersweet sound of the second. This is Keane!

The way they celebrate life at the same time they show how hard it gets is just amazingly beautiful. I can't get enough of this record.

Sovereigh Light Café, Disconnected or Day Will Come are some of the songs that I suggest people to listen to.

Keane are back more than ever!

• Mumford & Sons - Babel

One of this year's revelation. I like Mumford & Sons since their debut record. The softness, kindness and joy that so well reflects the band's spirit is really explicit in Babel.

Babel is a on-going discover. Each time I dare to listen the record I discover new feelings, new sensations, new emotions. It's a lifetime album for music lovers and especially for Mumford & Sons fans. 

I Will Wait and Lover Of The Light are great songs that aren't able to describe the entire album.

Listen Babel and you will understand what I mean.

• Muse - The 2nd Law

Another art piece by one of the greatest UK bands. I love conceptual albums, I can't deny it. And all the mystic inspiration based on life and inner rebellion really attracted me. 

I start writing about this album more than three times, then I realised is one of those albums that you will never be fully capable of talking about for all it's mystery and hidden details. 

I won't quit about trying to write about The 2nd Law.

But for now, I honestly suggest everyone to take a time and discover their electronic-rock-fulfilling sound. 

Madness, Follow Me or Save Me are great examples of Muse's talent and The 2nd Law's greatness.

It's never too much to talk about talent when the topic is Muse!

• (Honored mention) The Killers - Battle Born

One of my biggest expectations of this year was, alongside with Keane, The Killers' new record. 

As I expected, they are quite good in what they do so the waiting was really worth it.

Their exquisite taste is remarkable and that reflects in whatever they do.

Miss Atomic Bomb, Runaways or Run With Me are so different between them and yet so full of The Killers' talent. What a great evolution.

This is usually the hardest list of all. I had a on-going list for this section. I would include so many different artists on this list. But the chosen above are probably, among all my listened albums, the most listened ones.

- Portuguese records

I don't usually like to divide music like this, but exceptionally I'm going to make it.

It has been a great music to the Portuguese music - where we are from - and I found so many great artists that isn't impossible to make a small list of them!

• Salto - Salto
• Walter Benjamin - The Imaginary Life of Rosemary and Me
• Wraygunn - L'Art Brut
• Supernada - Supernada
• Minta & The Brook Trouts - Olympia
• (Honored mentions) TV Rural - A Balada do Coiote and David Fonseca - Seasons: Rising and Falling

Songs released this year:

There are a lot of songs that really enjoyed this year like: Bruno Mars - Locked Out Of Heaven, Salto - Deixar Cair, Keane - Sovereigh Light Café, Rihanna - Diamonds, The Hypers - Never Too Old and a lot of many others.

Probably my most favourite comes from a collaboration between Deadmau5 and My Chemical Romance's singer Gerard Way with the song Professional Griefers.

There's something really mysterious about this song, that way it joins electronic music to a strong punk/rock voice is just amazing. It's one of those unexpected songs that got stuck in my mind for months!

Gigs I went and loved:

You Can't Win, Charlie Brown - Lisboa: Cinema São Jorge

Festival MUSA - Carcavelos

Manu Chao - Cascais: Cascais Music Festival

Salto - Lisboa: FNAC Chiado

Festival Sudoeste TMN - Zambujeira do Mar: Herdade da Casa Branca

Jack White - Lisboa: Coliseu dos Recreios

Keane - Lisboa: Campo Pequeno (+ previous gigs in TMN Ao Vivo - May - and Cascais Music Festival - July -)

The Gift - Lisboa: Coliseu dos Recreios
The Hypers + Unwanted Heroes - Cascais: Rock & Shots

Musical Discovery:

Homeless (that I met as Unwanted Heroes) are my musical discovery of this year.
They are young fresh band whose talent is tremendously huge and having quite a bright future in front of them.
I can't wait to see them become bigger and successful because they do deserve it. They are, for sure, my last music passion of this year!
I could mention so many others but Homeless are young and new - they deserve a shot!


2013 Expectations:
I only expect another great year like this one in terms of shows, albums and artists. I would love to be able to see Mumford & Sons and Muse.
I am working on to see The XX's festival, Willy Moon and David Fonseca. Optimus Alive! is once again on my list but the other festivals are inviting very intriguing artists aswell.
For 2013, I only hope to be greater!


Note: I would like to highlight that I had the need to leave outside, of the mentioned above, artists that mean a lot to me, otherwise the lists would go on and on and I wouldn't be quite a reflection, wouldn't it?
Yet, I did my best to include all of the artists and their work that influenced in a way or another - trying to include them in the most various ways.

Let us know which were on your top! 

Mumford & Sons, I Will Wait

Mumford & Sons are a very interesting English folk rock band, created in 2007.

The band is composed by Markus Mumford (vocals, guitar, drums and mandolin),  Ben Lovett (vocals, accordion, drums and keyboards), Country Winston Marshall (vocals, guitar, dobro and banjo) and Ted Dwane (vocals, drums, guitar and string bass).

For a brief shortline story about Mumford & Sons, check one of our first posts about them here.

Their debut record Sigh No More was released in October 2009. This record was pretty successful and granted the band a bunch of loyal fans and very good reviews from critics besides its fair recognition.
In late 2010, the band were "road-testing" some of the songs like Broken Crown and Below My Feet, being played on several times before their official release.
In 2011, they revealed that they were working on new songs for the upcoming album, with many of them being written before and during the composition of Sigh No More.

In 2012, they raised the parade. On July 16, Mumford & Sons officially released all the details to the very expected second album Babel, including its date release - September 24, 2012 - and a track listing of 12 songs; a deluxe edition would count with three extra songs.

Although, on Babel it's noticeable a very clear sound similarity to their debut record, the band admit that it was intentional and they took their own time to develop and to perfect their characteristic sound.

Babel became the fastest selling album of 2012 in the UK, selling more than 158.000 copies only in the first week.

The lead single of Babel, I Will Wait, premiered on BBC's Radio 1 show hosted by Zane Lowe on August 7 and a few days later, a first performance of the song would be launched on the US festival Red Rocks Amphitheatre.
About the song, Markus Mumford explained to MTV:  "reflects the band's hectic life on the road - which shaped the new album's sound." and Ted Dwane shared with Rolling Stone: "Being away so much for the last couple of years is inevitably a theme on the record, because it's something that we've all shared."

 But for sure one thing is clear - I Will Wait it's a pretty good indie folk song, representing all Mumford & Sons talent and their approach it's incredible, catchy and really fresh.

"I came home

Like a stone

And I fell heavy into your arms

These days of dust

Which we've known

Will blow away with this new sun"

themed week // Mumford & Sons, Roll Away Your Stone

Mumford & Sons are a English folk rock band, created in 2007 and formed by Markus Mumford (vocals, guitar, drums and mandolin),  Ben Lovett (vocals, accordion, drums and keyboards), Country Winston Marshall (vocals, guitar, dobro and banjo) and Ted Dwane (vocals, drums, guitar and string bass).

They appeared around the same time as bands and artists like Laura Marling and Noah And The Whale.
For more details about them, check Ana's post.

They've just released one album in 2009, Sigh No More, seven EPs and a live album.
A new one was announced by Ben Lovett on Mumford & Sons' show at Pinkpop festival, The Netherlands on May 28th,  that was going to be released on September 24th 2012 but the band's representative said it might have been a little premature.
So there are big expectations for the band's new album being release during this year.

Roll Away Your Stone was released has the forth single of their debut Sigh No More and the lyrics have clear Christian influences, due to Markus Mumford childhood education from his parents. There's a website - Shoreline - that describes this song perfectly.

On Shoreline's post, you can read
"It think that this simple but poetic verse gives a lot of insight into how grace can be practiced. In this verse, the singer contemplates being able to start over and to accept redemption, and knows that grace is supposed to work. Yet, the most powerful line come in the end. He realizes that it is not the punishment or pain that truly caused him to except grace, but it was that moment that he realized he would be welcomed back with open arms and no condition that he was changed."

A excellent explanation about this powerful song that reflects about accepting redemption and there's no pain or punishment but only grace to embrace others and help them.

Mumford & Sons are performing on the second day of Optimus Alive, alongside artists like Noah And The Whale and Florence And The Machine. Don't miss their performance.

News // More confirmed acts on Optimus Alive 2012

More artists have been added on the last days to the Portuguese festival happening in Algés.

The recently created Portuguese project Miúda is going to perform on Optimus Alive! on July 13 on the Palco Heineken, on the same day as Justice, Snow Patrol or LMFAO.
On the same day the North-american Dum Dum Girls will perform on the same alternative stage.

On July 14, performing on the same day as Florence + The Machine, Mumford And Sons and The Cure, there will be Big Deal, Here We Go Magic and Lisa Hanningan, all on the Palco Heineken.

Keep up on the entire information about Optimus Alive! 2012 here.

Check the confirmed artists below:
July 13:
Stone Roses; Refused; Justice; Snow Patrol; Lostprophets; LMFAO; Dum Dum Girls; Miúda

July 14:
The Cure; Florence + The Machine; Mumford And Sons; Katy B; The Antlers; SebastiAn; Big Deal; Here We Go Magic; Lisa Hanningan

July 15:
Radiohead; Mazzy Star; The Kills; Metronomy; The Maccabees; Caribou; The Kooks; PAUS; SBTRKT; Warpaint; Miles Kane;

News // More names on Optimus Alive 2012

SebastiAn and Refused are the new names added to the Portuguese festival.

The Swedish band Refused and the French DJ SebastiAn are performing on this year's edition of Optimus Alive respectively on July 13 and July.

Refused were created in 1991 and released three albums until their split up in 1998. This year they are returning with performances on several festivals. On this festival they will perform on Palco Optimus, along with Justice and Snow Patrol.

The French DJ and producer SebastiAn is performing on the alternative stage Palco Heineken. On the same day as Florence + The Machine and Mumford And Sons.

The confirmed names for Optimus Alive'12 are:

July 13:
Stone Roses; Refused; Justice; Snow Patrol; Lostprophets; LMFAO;

July 14:
The Cure; Florence + The Machine; Mumford And Sons; Katy B; The Antlers; SebastiAn;

July 15:
Radiohead; Mazzy Star; The Kills; Metronomy; The Maccabees; Caribou; The Kooks; PAUS; SBTRKT; Warpaint; Miles Kane;


Remember a daily ticket for this festival is 53€ and the three-day pass is 105€.
More information here.

News // More names added to Optimus Alive 2012

During the last days, several names have been added to the Portuguese festival Optimus Alive!

Katy B, who's debut album On A Mission was released in 2011 and Antlers who released Burst Apart last year are both performing on Palco Heineken, on July 14, on the same day as Florence + The Machine and Mumford and Sons.

The Welsh band Lostprophets is confirmed to perform on the same day as Snow Patrol and Justice on the main stage. Their new album Weapons go to stores on April 2 and the new single Bring Em' Down.

On July 15, the last day of Optimus Alive! on the alternative stage Palco Heineken the British producer SBTRKT, The Kills (on the picture above) and The Maccabees are performing alongside with Metronomy or Mazzy Star.

Remember that Optimus Alive'12 is going to happen on Passeio Marítimo de Algés between July 13 to 15 and the price tickets are: 53€ for the daily ticket and 105€ for the three-day pass.

Check the complete schedule below or everything about the festival here.

July 13:
Stone Roses; Justice; Snow Patrol; Lostprophets

July 14:

The Cure; Florence + The Machine; Mumford and Sons; Katy B; Antlers

July 15:

Radiohead; Mazzy Star; The Kills; Metronomy; The Maccabees; Caribou; The Kooks; PAUS; SBTRKT; 

News // Mumford and Sons on Optimus Alive 2012

Mumford and Sons are performing in Portugal.

The English band are performing for the first time in Portugal, on Optimus Alive.

They are performing on July 14, on the same day as Florence + The Machine and The Cure confirmed for the second day of this festival that's happening between July 13 to 15 on Passeio Marítimo de Algés.

The already confirmed names for Optimus Alive are:
July 13:
Stone Roses; Justice; Snow Patrol

July 14:
The Cure; Florence + The Machine; Mumford and Sons

July 15:
Radiohead; Mazzy Star; Metronomy; Caribou; The Kooks; PAUS

To know more about this festival click here.

Mumford & Sons - The Cave

Mumford & Sons are an English folk rock band formed in 2007.
They released their first album called Sigh No More on 2 October 2009 in the UK, and on 16 February 2010 in the United States and Canada. It won the award of Album of the Year win at the 2011 BRIT Awards.

The album sold 626,000 copies in 2010 and 982,000 in the first half of 2011 for a total of 1,608,000.

This song is the third single of the algum and it was released on 26 February 2010.
The song's music video was directed by Fred & Nick of Pulse Films in Goa, India during Mumford & Sons tour on that country.

A number of reviewers have surmised that the title is a reference to Plato's Allegory of the Cave in which the Greek philosopher argued that the invisible world is the most intelligible and that the visible world is the least knowable, and therefore the most incomprehensible. Plato believed that the soul exists in a realm apart from the body and the thinker is separate from the world he thinks about.

Makes sense.


So come out of your cave walking on your hands,
And see the world hanging upside down,
you can understand dependence
when you know the maker's hand.

So make your sirens call,

And sing all you want,
I will not hear what you have to say.

Cause I need freedom now,

And I need to know how,
To live my live as its meant to be.

And I will hold on hope,

And I will let you choke,
On the noose around your neck,
And I find strength in pain,
And I will change my ways,
I'll know my name as its called again.

A.