Grief

Five long years ago
Socially distanced funeral
Grieving on our own

Californication by Red Hot Chili Peppers

This album saw the return of original guitarist John Frusciante, who had left the band some years previously after struggling with drugs and alcohol. The recording process sounds like they had fun, creating a relaxed west coast garage feel with a mix of punk, funk and laid back vibes. There are a couple of instances of white people rapping, but fortunately not too many to spoil things.

https://album.link/gb/i/945575406

River

Describing a route
From the high peak to the sea
Forever flowing

We're Only In It for the Money by The Mothers of Invention

Judging by the cover I was expecting some sort of parody version of Sgt Pepper’s by the Beatles, but what I actually got was almost aggressively bad. Unfunny skits, unlistenable experimental interludes and lyrics that were written by someone who hated both hippies and ‘the man’, trying to show how ‘CRAAAAYZEEE’ they were but sounding like a budget Dr Demento. 

https://album.link/gb/i/1443746670

Hills

You never quite know
What awaits your tired old feet
Over the next hill

Want Two (Canadian Version) by Rufus Wainwright

Not much appears to have changed since the first album which very much underwhelmed me. He still sings in that affected, Thom Yorke style where every syllable is drawn out until it collapses under its own weight and you’ve lost track of what he was singing at the start of the verse. I genuinely thought he was singing about being “under the pastries” at one point.

Musically, there elements of classical stuff and hints of Phillip Glass, but it’s mostly inoffensive stuff. There’s nothing like the weird experimental pieces on a Radiohead album, for example. Apparently iTunes wanted me to listen to the Canadian version of this album, which turned out to have some bonus live tracks sung in French which I ended up liking quite a bit more than the rest! How aboot that, eh?

https://album.link/gb/i/1444179278

Chick

Driven by hatred
Of Catholics, atheists
And AD&D

Very by Pet Shop Boys

This was the moment that Pet Shop Boys went from being purveyors of cerebral, arty music into producing huge, gay, disco stomps and cemented their place in their British pop star firmament. There’s a lot to enjoy here, but the references to Lady Di on ‘Dreaming of the Queen’ now feel very poignant. Stay for the hidden track after Go West at the end!

https://album.link/gb/i/1645236674

There's No Place Like America Today by Curtis Mayfield

This is an album that deserves to stand alongside What's Going On by Marvin Gaye as an inditement of the state of America. Mayfield sings of poverty, violence and oppression counterbalanced by love and faith. A great soul album, in the truest sense of the word.

https://album.link/gb/i/120146434

Bright

After a dark night
A bright beam of sunlight falls
Motes of dust dancing

Snapshot

Check the cargo deck

Vargr mercenaries on board
Snub pistol, snapshot

Tickle

Something in the air
A familiar tickle
Then a sudden sneeze