The Colors of Sadness

Resonator Ghost and Allan Benoit

"May the grass grow long on your road to hell." Resonator Ghost knows so many of the facets we see in the kaleidoscope of life. Click. Poinsettias. Click. Carnations. Click. Church flowers. Click. Love in bloom.

The delicate treatment of Allan Benoit's "Throwback Heart" is sadder than the original, if that's possible. The tender, giving love of the lover who's worth another try.

"Last Time" What if we had the chance and missed it? What if is the saddest, saddest question anyone can ask himself. The last chance to dance, to hold, to talk. How many last times have you seen? How many have you missed? How many have you messed up? Is it a blessing if I don't know or if I do?

"Really hasn't changed all that much all these years."

"All we have is here. All we have is now. Pay attention. The last time is now."

Chuk Cooley & the Demon Hammers

Chuk Cooley & The Demon Hammers

Harsh reality.

The harshest.

The seamy life of those addicted to drugs and the suffering of their loved ones…. All Cooley’s lyrics twine suffering, drug addiction, hope, and love into a living tapestry of the drama that is life. Those of us who’ve had a problem or a relative or friend with a problem with addiction can readily identify with the struggles in Cooley’s lyrics. Yet, folks who’ve suffered other sorts of struggles and setbacks can easily identify with the songs of Chuk Cooley and the Demon Hammers.

His anthem,“It Could of been Anything,” explores all that might have caused him to go off the rails and all the might have caused him to get back on track.

IT COULD OF BEEN ANYTHING THAT MADE ME STAND UP
IT COULD OF BEEN ANYTHING THAT MADE ME QUIT THE JUNK
IT COULD OF BEEN ANYTHING THAT MADE ME NEED THE TRUTH
IT COULD OF BEEN ANYTHING THAT MADE US WORK IT THROUGH
SO WE COULD LIVE
LIVE IN PEACE , SO WE COULD LIVE IN PEACE
SO WE COULD BELIEVE IN YOU AND ME

The video for “The Lost,” the words to “Black Jarr.” Whether you are dealing with serious drug addiction and the way that it leaves you lost to your loved ones, or if you’re just dealing with those elements of life that are difficult to the point of hopelessness, the music of Chuk Cooley & The Demon Hammers speaks to your soul. The driving bass, the steady drumbeat, the vining lead guitar all seem to grow magically from his soul. The lost people, the people in the darkest depths of personal pain all are there in Cooley’s lyrics.

But so is that iron-willed desire to find the good in life. Yeah. Suffering is real. Some suffering we bring on ourselves. Some just happens to us. Some loved ones disappoint or hurt us. We do the same to those we love. We wonder whether those we loved will remember us.

OH AND NOTHING SEEMS RIGHT -RIGHT NOW HERE IN MY LIFE
OH EVERYONE THAT MEANT SOMETHING ABANDONED ME
EVEN THO I AM LOST -WILL YOU REMEMBER ME

Sometimes we see the mistakes we make—and the ones we make because of the first one—as digging a hole we’ll never find our way out of. But if we could bury all our past errors and pains and wrongs, would we begin anew? Or make the same mistakes over and over? Or are we part of a throng of those starting over? Sometimes it’s hard to tell the difference.

OH AND EVERYONE KNOWS YOU GOTTA GO THRU CHANGES
TO GET TO WHERE YOU ARE GOIN.

http://www.myspace.com/chukcooleymusic

http://www.myspace.com/chukcooleymusic

Understand Clova

I owe Des Coffield and John Campbell a debt of gratitude. They very kindly introduced me to Des’s nephew’s band, Clova.

When you feel what I feel, when you hear what I hear, when you know what I know…then maybe, maybe you might understand…

Clova wears its heart on its collective sleeve in this heartfelt CD. Listening to “The Man I Am Inside” is like being deeply in love with the singer.

By the sun and the sky and the open seas,…I’ll finally be free.

Lyrical acoustic guitar; mellow, heartbreaking fiddle, gentle vocals will win your heart.

You can never be a winner when there’s nothing left to gain

From holding on in desperation to the ashes that remain

So its time for you to let go, time to draw a line

Underneath this broken heart and take it as a sign

That what you had was precious, something rare and fine

Surround yourself with those you love and once again you’ll shine

Oh, yes. We’ve all been there. Tried and convicted by those without the right to cast to first stone. Cast off by those who were undeserving of our regard. With each song, Clova will break your heart or win it.

The truth is sometimes difficult but cannot be ignored

If you let it drag you down you’ll never cross the door

But--…the world is full of wonders if you open up your eyes

Life’s journey, however bitter, is all the sweeter for having had the story told by this band: Clova. Try the CD on for size. You won’t be disappointed. I hope a new one will soon break the horizon.

Home sweet home—

Maybe you had the answers all along.

http://www.myspace.com/clovaonline