Friday's Music: Always Looking - Dum Dum Girls

Another girl band for you! This is one of my favourites from this band, and I chose it with Saba and Jack’s relationship in mind.

Oh I never felt a beat in my heart ‘til you made it start

I never felt a beat in my heart ‘til you made it start

-

It’s been written in the stars

The reason of the hearts like ours

Yea I was always looking, I was always looking;

I was always looking for you

These lyrics are so painstakingly accurate when it comes to Saba’s (initial?) feelings towards Jack. I instantly got reminded of Saba’s heartstone, something which features continually in both books, and how it gets hot near her hearts true desire. I also felt it important how she threw it away in Rebel Heart, only to have Nero bring it back to her.

I hear him laugh.

His name’s Jack.

Heat burns into me. Crawls over my skin. A trickle of sweat runs down my chest. I pull out the heartstone tucked safe inside my vest.It’s warm. No. Hot.

-

As I move away from him, the hearstone starts to cool down.

~Bushra

Friday's Music: Under My Skin - Jukebox the Ghost

I have a lot of adoration for this band! Not too well known, but unique and quirky. I chose this song because I felt some parts of it represented the relationship between Saba, Jack and De Malo, something I’m sure a lot of us are curious about. It was something new when things started to happen between Saba and De Malo, and I felt like it changed Saba, opened her up. It literally felt that De Malo got under her skin.

I can feel you breathing under my skin,
Yeah I can feel you breathing under my skin

Of course, Jack gets under her skin, but in a different way. Where with De Malo Saba’s fire is sparked and harnessed into this beautiful passion, I feel like Jack is a gust of wind that creates a firestorm of feelings. Although this isn’t the only thing to look forward to in Raging Star, it is certainly something you should look out for. I want to see what Saba chooses to do with Tommo in the mix too, or rather, where the fates will take her.

I don't think there is anyone under your skin,
Like a Cheshire cat I think you're just a grin,
And I can feel you laughing, under my skin,
And the happy palpitations are making me... grin

~Bushra

Friday's Music: Ninth Ave Reverie - The Middle East

Choosing a song from this band was one of the hardest decisions I’ve EVER had to make when it’s come to music. I started listening to them only a couple months ago, but they’re already one of my absolute favourites, and I love almost all their songs equally. It was between this song, The Darkest Side, Lonely and Hunger Song.

Although this isn’t one of their most famous (they’re mostly renowned for Blood), it moves me a lot. I like how his voice is so honest and hopeful and melancholy, and I love how he says ‘you say a lot of things’, he just sounds really fond of whoever he’s singing about, and really sad. The lyrics in general are so quirky, and they paint lovely pictures in my head. I thought I heard a bit of Saba’s father in this song, with his star gazing, and the whole thing with Lugh not believing in the stars.

I wholly recommend the rest of their albums (they only have two, and one of them is really short). Their music is very inspirational and relaxing, and listening to their songs from start to finish is like going on a summer road trip.

You say you can't stop dreaming about your funeral day

Where all your long-time friends will be crying for you

I'd be up the back with a rose in my hand

And I'd give to you in death what I could not in life

~Bushra

Friday's Music: Seven Day Mile - The Frames

This friday, I chose to share with you Seven Day Mile by The Frames, a brilliant band from Dublin. I fell in love with their music after watching a heartbreaking film called Once, featuring Marketa Irglova and Glen Hansard (marvelous people)!

I picked this song in particular because it makes me anticipate how the story will conclude.When will our friends get the rest they deserve? When will all those loose ends be tied? The song's telling Saba to carry on, that soon all of this will be over, after just one more adventure. This song again, reminded me of the themes of fate and destiny in this story, ''I don't have a choice in this, it's a road I've come upon''.

I urge you to listen to the rest of their music, especially Falling Slowly and Revelate.
-
And down here nothing gets chance

It's a world too big for us

Time will be the judge of all here

~Bushra

Try It Tuesday: Eliza and The Bear!

This week, I give to you not a book, but a band. A very, very good band. Let me introduce to you - Eliza and The Bear!

After seeing them as a support act at an Imagine Dragons concert last week in London, I came to the conclusion that this isn't a band that should be in the small print. No, this five-piece should be headlining worldwide, no question. 

With a sound comparable possibly to Mumford & Sons, Foster the People, and Imagine Dragons themselves, amongst many other talented artists, Eliza and the Bear are definitely on the list to watch in the next year.

They currently only have three singles: Brother's Boat, Southern Wild and Upon The North, but tweeted recently saying they expect a new single to be out this summer and their first album's release is scheduled for 2014. 

In the meanwhile, I've been listening religiously to these singles and will continue to do so until they become just a drone in the background...although I highly suspect James Kellegher's vocals will never cease to make me sway along. 

I can't wait to see these guys hit the big time, they really deserve it -  so friendly and very appreciative of new fans. 

You can listen to their released singles on their youtube channel at 

Visit their Facebook page or website or give them a follow on Twitter!

Let us know what you make of Eliza and The Bear and if, like me, Upon the North makes you just irrationally happy! 

~Ella

Friday’s Music: Seven Nation Army – The White Stripes

So today I bring to you Seven Army Nation. Here’s the link.

I chose this song because it reminded me of Saba’s red hot rage. It’s one of the things that fascinate me in this story. Why does she feel this rage so intensely? Where does it come from? Why does it make her so strong? It adds an unfathomable depth to Saba’s character, and matches her already fueled  wild spirit.

I'm gonna fight 'em all

A seven nation army couldn't hold me back

-

And I'm talking to myself at night,

 Because I can't forget

Back and forth through my mind

-

I'm gonna work the straw

Make the sweat drip out of every pore

And I'm bleeding, and I'm bleeding, and I'm bleeding

(these are just some of the lyrics)

This reminds me of her determination throughout the story, in everything she does, like her quest to find Lugh or free Jack from the fire. It also reminds me of her fearlessness in the face of death; Wise man sees that, he turns around an gits the hell out as fast as he can. But we ain’t turnin, I says. No, he says. Wisdom ain’t a virtue I ever aspired to. ~page 292 BRR. That's what Saba's says in response to Ike about the four dead men they saw that were hanged by the Tonton. I also think with Saba, it's hard to approve of her actions and sympathize with her at times, her tenacious body and mind seems like it can take care of itself. 

This song has an intent beat, and I think it matches the steadiness of Saba's persistence to get what she wants.

~Bushra

Friday's Music: The Moon Asked the Crow - CocoRosie

So every Friday, I’m going to be choosing a song that reminds me of a certain scene/character from the Dustlands, or of the story in general. It'll be a mix of obscure and popular artists, with as much variation as possible.

The link to the song is here.

It might seem obvious why I picked this song, but it was for much more than that. Both the music and the lyrics brought about the underlying themes of destiny and fate that put a real twist on this story. The lyrics are like a short tale, the beginning reminding me of the wastelands and the forgotten past:

 I caught a glimpse out the window, A Polish graveyard filled with widows, I coddle a bottle of warm beer, I see a pool of liquid tears, Glimmering so sweet and mellow, A sea of lilting wilting willow, A secret book of forgotten wishes, Drown in ponds with broken dishes

This verse paints a sad, reminiscent image of the past, especially the references to the graveyard, the wilting willow and the books of forgotten wishes. (page 100 of Blood Red Road, where Rooster Pinch shows Saba a book for the first time in her life – that scene ALWAYS comes up in my head, it’s one of my favourite!).

The moon asked the crow, For a little show, In the hazy milk of twilight, No one had to know, The moon asked the crow, For a little show, In the hazy milk of twilight, No one had to know

The chorus is like a little tribute to Nero, and it makes me think of all those times Nero disappeared from Saba’s side for longer than usual. Where was he, and who was he with?  ‘’He’s always got an opinion does Nero, an he’s real smart too’’ – page 8. It also reminds me of De Malo and his relationship with Saba, how it's ‘hazy’ and mysterious.

this artwork was inspired by this song

Angel brother I miss your hair, Careless nature gentle stare, You fell like rain in the dark abysses ,  Kissed the lips of bloody twinsis, Sung to you a slew of sirens, Tricky mermaids and evil pirates,

Saba’s determination to find Lugh, no matter what comes in her way, screams out to me in this verse. And the particular mention of hair too, reminds me of their contrasting hair colours, and how she says ''My golden heart is gone'' when Lugh is taken by the riders.

You watched the sky, With kaleidoscopic eyes, Howling out right, To the blasphemous night, A wolf in the garden, Why do you linger so, Like a silky snail soul, The moon asked the crow

This verse always leaves me conflicted, bringing me a mix of memories and emotions from the story – is it about Saba’s father, his star reading and the way he’s so resigned about everything that’s happening? Or is it about Lugh and his blue eyes, and his hate for their Pa being a ‘star reader’? The mention of howling also strangely reminds me of the scene in pages 27 to the beginning of 30, where their Pa is shot down by the riders, and how Saba feels the red hot rage rise up inside her for the first time. (I still get chills when reading this part). This song certainly deals with the enigmatic fate business in the story, or I think so anyway!

CocoRosie are two sisters that believe in fairies, with unique voices and music. I would definitely recommend them to anyone who enjoys quaint but meaningful music!

~Bushra