Another Cure track. This time it is one of my all time favourite tracks, “Close to Me”. I first heard this song in late ’84 early ’85. The quirky music, the sound of Robert Smith’s voice, just a perfect track, and it turned me into a fan. The video was also amazing, but I didn’t see it until ’90, or thereabouts. I wasn’t too into watching TV until I was well into my teens, and then I would stay up late every night catching all the MTV videos they didn’t play during the day. As far as pop songs go, this is one of the best:
I’ve waited hours for this
i’ve made myself so sick
i wish i’d stayed
asleep todayi never thought this day would end
i never thought tonight could ever be
this close to mejust try to see in the dark
just try to make it work
to feel the fear before you’re here
i make the shapes come much too close
i pull my eyes out
hold my breath
and wait until i shake…but if i had your faith
then i could make it safe and clean
if only i was sure
that my head on the door was a dreami’ve waited hours for this
i’ve made myself so sick
i wish i’d stayed asleep today
i never thought this day would end
i never thought tonight could ever be
this close to mebut if i had your face
then i could make it safe and clean
if only i was sure
that my head on the door was a dream
One of my all-time favourite sing-a-long tracks this time.
From the brilliant Beastie Boys first album “License to Ill” it’s “Paul Revere”:
Now here’s a little story I’ve got to tell
About three bad brothers you know so well
It started way back in history
With Adrock, M.C.A., and me – Mike D.Been had a little horsey named Paul Revere
Just me and my horsey and a quart of beer
Riding across the land, kicking up sand
Sheriff’s posse on my tail cause I’m in demandOne lonely Beastie I be
All by myself without nobody
The sun is beating down on my baseball hat
The air is gettin’ hot the beer is getting flat
Lookin’ for a girl I ran into a guy
His name is M.C.A., I said, “Howdy” he said, “Hi”He told a little story that sounded well rehearsed
Four days on the run and that he’s dying of thirst
The brew was in my hand and he was on my tip
His voice was hoarse, his throat was dry he asked me for a sip
He said, “Can I get some?”
I said, “You can’t get none!”
Had a chance to run
He pulled out his shotgun
He was quick on the draw I thought I’d be dead
He put the gun to my head and this is what he said,“Now my name is M.C.A. I’ve got a license to kill
I think you know what time it is it’s time to get ill
Now what do we have here an outlaw and his beer
I run this land, you understand I make myself clear.”
We stepped into the wind he had a gun, I had a grin
You think this story’s over but it’s ready to begin“Now I got the gun you got the brew
You got two choices of what you can do
It’s not a tough decision as you can see
I can blow you away or you can ride with me” I said, I’ll ride with you if you can get me to the border
The sheriff’s after me for what I did to his daughter
I did it like this, I did it like that
I did it with a whiffleball batSo I’m on the run the cop’s got my gun
And right about now it’s time to have some fun
The King Adrock that is my name
And I know the fly spot where they got the champagne.”We rode for six hours then we hit the spot
The beat was a bumping and the girlies was hot
This dude was staring like he knows who we are
We took the empty spot next to him at the barM.C.A. said, “Yo, you know this kid?”
I said, “I didn’t.” but I know he did
The kid said, “Get ready cause this ain’t funny
My name’s Mike D. and I’m about to get money.”
Pulled out the jammy aimed it at the sky
He yelled, “Stick ‘em up!” and let two flyHands went up and people hit the floor
He wasted two kids that ran for the door
“I’m Mike D. and I get respect
Your cash and your jewelry is what I expect”
M.C.A. was with it and he’s my ace
So I grabbed the piano player and I punched him in the face
The piano player’s out the music stopped
His boy had beef and he got dropped
Mike D. grabbed the money M.C.A. snatched the gold
I grabbed two girlies and a beer that’s cold.
I love the lyrics of Frank Black songs. The music and the voice aren’t my favourite, but I love listening to the stories he weaves.
This is “Robert Onion”
Robert leads me into thought
Onion layers wait for you
Bounty of eternal fields
Every muscle knot I feel
Robert tell me what to do
Tell exactly what you’re not, yeahTails pushing grand whales
Heads hope to have the stuff
Each flag had no sailCan you believe enough?
And though Diana calls to you
She will never never yield
Every siren has her spotFour hundred million
Oh that was very far
Robert sweet OnionMakes me feel so tired
Another layer and layers and layer, oh no
Robert can you find your way?
Show me the way to comeZugzwang got me in a way
Under my opposing thumb
Brandishing my shield
Robert leads me into thought
Into the dimming blue
Nowhere in this worldFor this old Jack-Tar
Three cheers for Robert
To the cinnabar
One pondersLayers and layers and layers and layers and
Layers and layers and layers and layers and
Layers and layers and layers and layers andRobert
To the Management,
I recently brought my MacPro in for a repair, due to the Firewire 400 port being dead on the rear of the machine. I brought it in on a Saturday, and was told that I would get a diagnosis within 48 hours (excluding Sunday). When I dropped the machine off I pointed out the port that was having the problem, but didn’t feel comfortable with the store clerks knowledge of the machine when he stated “Wow, these things have two network ports?”
I received a call on the following Tuesday stating that no fault was found with the port (on an earlier call I had mislabeled the port a Firewire 800), but with further discussion, the technician understood which port I was referring to. A later call stated that the machine would need a new Logic Board, and the part should be available in 3 -5 days. I asked if I could pick up the machine until the part arrived and was told that was not SoHo policy, and I had to leave the machine with you, until the repair was completed.
I phoned the shop 3 days later, to get an update. I was told the part was on order, and should be in soon. I was not offered the courtesy of being advised when the part arrived, or notified of any complications in getting the part. So I then proceeded to call every day for an update. Seeing as this is my only computer, and I needed to get some work done (not to mention it was only purchased in September), I felt that this was justified. The technicians didn’t seem to want to help at all when I called, and I was given a “the part will arrive when it arrives” answer. After having my machine for almost two weeks, the part still inexplicably absent, I decided to visit the store for a face to face update.
When I arrived I was told the part was still on order, and when I expressed my dissatisfaction of the length of this process the clerk just shrugged his shoulders and said, “I don’t know what’s taking this so long.”
I then asked to speak with a technician, to try and get a more concrete answer. The clerk went into the tech area, and stated that I wanted to speak with a technician, and I heard a very arrogant sounding “God, the parts on order, what more does he want?” A technician then appeared, and by this time I was getting angry. I stated that the length of time for this repair is ridiculous, and that I wanted an explanation. I explained that I felt that SoHo was not promoting the idea of Apple computers to those who might “switch” from a PC. PC repairs take a fraction of the time, even proprietary parts can be received and swapped in a matter of days. I asked where the part was, and was told there was no tracking numbers for the package from Apple. I then asked to take my machine away, and was told this was not policy. I repeated my request, as I need to get this machine up and running, and did not expect to have to be without it for two weeks in the first year of its life. I was then told that I could take it away as long as I promised to bring it back as soon as the part arrived.
To say I was unhappy is an understatement. I immediately called Future shop (the place of purchase), and was told their Mac Rep was on holiday, but they would get back to me shortly. Not an hour later I received a call stating that I shouldn’t have taken the computer to SoHo, as the Mac Rep recommended Simply Computing as the repair shop of choice in Victoria. I called Simply, and thy stated they could guarantee the part in 3 days. I dropped it off on the following Sunday (another bonus for using them as a retailer), and had the machine back and repaired 2 days later.
So why is SoHo unable to get a logic board replacement in this amount of time? Simply also stated that the parts are shipped via a courier and that they all had tracking numbers. So why does SoHo not have the same information? It seems to me that all of the factors involved (speed, friendliness, knowledge, opening hours) all point to Simply Computing being far superior to SoHo. I would think that an authorised Apple retailer would like to promote the Apple brand, as it is the centre of their business, especially one that has been in business for over 10 years. Through word-of-mouth advertising, your brand has dropped. All of my colleagues who were looking to switch or upgrade their machines will now be going to Simply Computing.
Thanks
I’ve been without a way to record my musical output for a month now. The Presonus Firepod decided to stop communicating through firewire, and to burn out the firewire port on the MacPro. So I dropped it off at Long & McQuade, where I purchased it, for a repair and have still to hear anything back, despite several phone calls.
I was also without the Mac for 2 weeks, but that was due to the repair shop fucking around and not actually getting the replacement logic board. So I picked it up from them and took it to another shop, and had it back in two days! I have an email formulating in my head to the first repair shop, blasting their service, staff helpfulness, and general lack of wanting to help further the Mac brand, and their own retail outlet through, word of mouth advertising.
Now I have the computer back, it’s just a glorified internet/email machine, with the occasional game being played/movie being watched. But without the output to the Genelec monitors, I have to rely on headphones to hear anything decently. Being without the machine allowed me to devote more time to reading some synth books and even writing some music. It’s been near 20 years since I actually tried to write music, and it’s a lot harder than I remembered. But I do have a workable Bass piece, that I hope to complete with some guitar and maybe synth pieces. It made me realise how much I rely on the technology to create my music, and why my ideas are recorded and quickly forgotten about. Writing the music down, and actually working on a piece for more than an hour has yielded better results in a more cohesive, listenable piece.
I’m currently on a sick day, and bored, so I’ll stop the ranting here and get back to some Video watching/Reading…
For some good music and lyrics I recommend Bonnie “Prince” Billy. Any of the albums would do, but the latest two “Ease Down the Road” and “Lie Down in the Light” are fantastic. The songwriting is second to none, and the lyrical content is amazing, each song is a story in it’s own right.
From “Ease Down The Road” I give you “Just To See My Holly Home”
just to see my holly home
evil jack he walks alone
swings a club and stinks something awful
well give him a painful jawful
sara walks a slinky strut
very gorgeous and anxious slut
has a love scar on her wrist
well give her our painful fist
just to see my holly home
just to see my holly home
we will live just us alone
safely in our holly homein come babies one, two, three
like to bounce them on our knee
want to stay and grow up with us
baby stew will surely fill us
just to see my holly home
just to see my holly home
we will live just us alone
safely in our holly homepound them down, pound them out
older ladies scream and shout
hide their bodies in the reeds
shallow bed of soil and leaves
out will grow ideas and laughter
up will rise our earthly daughter
water floods and all upon it
up upon our bloody planet
now weve ended all whod harm us
no one left here to alarm us
and we live just us alone
safely in our holly homejust to see my holly home
just to see my holly home
we will live just us alone
safely in our holly homejust to see my holly home
just to see my holly home
we will live just us alone
safely in our holly home