Is Monday getting to you? Did you wake up with murdering thoughts, only quietened with coffee? Did the light coming through your window make you feel like a vampire? If like me, you feel more like crying than facing the world, maybe listen to Brandon Flowers. His brilliant new album, The Desired Effect, does have it (the desired effect, get it? wasn’t it clear? Just me then? ok).
Brandon Flowers has produced a courageous anthemic pop/rock album, with plenty of uplifting moments. Perfect for a miserable Monday are opener Dreams Come True and club-worthy I Can Change, skilfully sampled with Bronski Beat, it will have you cranking up the volume.
Diggin’ Up The Heart will make you think of Billy Idol, and a platinum-blond rock god is a fantastic image for a grey day, isn’t it?
Never Get You Right – starts very mid tempo, building up slowly with a wonderful 80s feel, just like my personal favourite, Lonely Town. The album’s final cut, The Way It’s Always Been is the hug you need today. And if a cuddle by Brandon Flowers is what you get listening to The Desired Effect, I’ll be hitting ‘repeat’ all day – seriously, is it just me realising only now how beautiful this man is?
Listen to Brandon Flowers if you like: The Killers, a bit of Bruce Springsteen, a pinch of Starship and, obviously, Bronski Beat.
I’ve always been a bit of a rock chick. Whether dreaming of bleaching my hair and becoming Debbie Harry, joining Prince’s band à la Sheena Easton, or discovering the badass side to silk blouses and mermaid hair with Alanis Morissette.
The true feminist in me would love to tell you that my love affair with rock music came from idolising inspirational women. But alas, before becoming a rock chick, I was a groupie. Not that I actually trailed tour buses because where I lived, southern Spain, very few buses were worth jumping on. Teeny me would see a man with a guitar on MTV and forget about my toast and nearly burn the house down. My younger self would hang a gigantic flag with a certain rock idol’s face, taking over half of the bedroom, while my little sister was forced to stick her Spice Girls posters behind the door.
So, here it is: I publicly confess a liking for tight jeans, leather jackets and Ray-Bans. It started at an early age and as I grew up, went through a list of crushes I will now proceed to share with all of you… because I feel like embarrassing myself.
Age 7 – Joey Tempest, lead singer of Europe: In my defence, this one sneaked up on me. Up until that age my life was Madonna, hiding under the bed whenever the Thriller video came on and learning Janet Jackson’s best moves. Watching Europe perform Carrie on TV, my parents blew my cover noticing me staring at the screen, hypnotised by the skin-tight leather and permed locks. While I longed to be Carrie, Joey Tempest never replaced my New Kids On The Block posters, so this crush was short-lived.
Age 12 – Jon Bon Jovi, lead singer of Bon Jovi. Because, what’s better than a long haired rocker? One that cuts his hair and becomes the sex symbol every single teen in the nineties wanted to snog. The first vinyl I bought – as it came with bigger pictures of the dude – Keep The Faith, had me dreaming of becoming Mrs Bongiovi. I bought a Bon Jovi t-shirt and decided I would get a Superman tattoo as soon as I hit 18. A couple of years later I stopped paying attention to the band and thankfully, never got that tattoo.
Age 15 – Jarvis Cocker, Pulp icon, a god on stage and the guy that made me realise clever lyrics and the right attitude were far sexier than ripped jeans and curls. I wanted to be in his band – oh Candida Doyle how I envied you – I dreamt of moving to London and bumping into him in a pub, a romance blossoming around chintz wallpaper and sticky coasters. Years have passed since my britpop fever, but I still love Jarvis Cocker’s moves, his wit and yes, one of my dogs is named after him.
Age 17 – Steven Tyler, of Aerosmith. The definition of a bad boy, the guy that had been around for decades before I spotted him, and the sexiest man to utter the word pink. My crush was short-lived though, as I soon discovered Alanis, Sheryl Crow, TLC and Aaliyah. I thought I had kissed the bad boys goodbye, until …
…at the age of 25, I was dragged to a Stereophonics gig, seeing Kelly Jones live for the very first time. And this is where I stop, because honestly, we are at a point that is hard to beat. Leather jacket? Check. Shades and a rock star attitude? Check. R-rated lyrics? Have you heard I Could Lose Ya? And finally, THAT voice. The kind that hits you and all you can utter is “wow”. The raspy type that can’t-sound-this-good-live but then it does. It’s obvious, I’m still hooked.
The funny thing about having a thing for men who play guitar, is that you look back on the –very questionable– real life guys you dated, and how can one not blame rock n’ roll? We all have a dodgy past, our “what was I thinking” crushes. Mine reflect a side of myself steadily developing over the years: the rebellious side, the one that got tattoos and piercings, the one that wasn’t afraid of falling for the less popular guy, dumping those wanting me to be someone else. And now, if you will excuse me, I’m going to play that new Stereophonics song one more time.
C’est La Vie is the first single from Keep The Village Alive, Stereophonics’ new album, out 11.09.15
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