Aggressive, almost thrash guitars, driving through angry songs about men whose relationships had just broken up, or were just about to. One album in particular spoke to me for some reason. Were these songs written buy a stalker, or wittily observed stories about the kinds of men who stalk?
No, I sent you that letter
To ask you if the end was worth the means
Was there really no in between?
And I still don't feel better
I just wondered if it could be like before
And I think you just made me sure!
After a while they split up and the songwriter formed a new band, Cinerama. Instead of the angry guitars, now there where lush sweeping strings, and songs about men whose relationships had broken up stalking their former lovers and obsessively stalking girls they barely knowTo ask you if the end was worth the means
Was there really no in between?
And I still don't feel better
I just wondered if it could be like before
And I think you just made me sure!
But of course none of this has happened at all, yet
We've not even spoken, but i'll bet
Once you're through my door
You'll want to stay for ever more
Because i will hold you so tight, i'll make you see how
You are the right woman for me now
Just give me a glance
To show me that i've got a chance
A few albums later and Cinerama morphed back into the The Wedding Present. The music is less angry than before, but the same themes are there. Pain, confusion, betrayal, lust.
I'm still not entirely sure I understand the songs. There's a profound misogyny to them when taken on face value. Yet there's a subtlety to the lyrics that move them beyond the ranting. They are perhaps satire, and like all satire it has to sound believable. Or it's just skilfully crafted misogyny. Can't rule that out.
Tonight they are playing Leeds.
We've not even spoken, but i'll bet
Once you're through my door
You'll want to stay for ever more
Because i will hold you so tight, i'll make you see how
You are the right woman for me now
Just give me a glance
To show me that i've got a chance
A few albums later and Cinerama morphed back into the The Wedding Present. The music is less angry than before, but the same themes are there. Pain, confusion, betrayal, lust.
I thought I saw a flying saucer last night but of course it was just an aeroplane
I thought I saw Winona Ryder but my eyes were playing tricks again
Some things look wonderful but then they’re different when you look again
And that’s what’s so funny, honey
You’ve looked like my girl for so long that I thought you would always be beside me
But I’d be the first to admit I was wrong
I thought I saw Winona Ryder but my eyes were playing tricks again
Some things look wonderful but then they’re different when you look again
And that’s what’s so funny, honey
You’ve looked like my girl for so long that I thought you would always be beside me
But I’d be the first to admit I was wrong
I'm still not entirely sure I understand the songs. There's a profound misogyny to them when taken on face value. Yet there's a subtlety to the lyrics that move them beyond the ranting. They are perhaps satire, and like all satire it has to sound believable. Or it's just skilfully crafted misogyny. Can't rule that out.
Tonight they are playing Leeds.
All the above written safely before the gig. Leeds Student Union. Tiny compared to all the big stadium things I've been to over the last few years. Maybe 500-800 people. Under ten metres from the stage. An hour later my ears are returning to normal.
Marvelous. Rockier and thrashier than their recent albums. Very quick. They're on just after nine and finish at about ten twenty five. Twenty odd songs in that time. No hanging about for drum solos.
Apparently they're playing Bristol tomorrow... You know if I got off work at four I could probably make it...
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