34/14 - The Searchlight Slumps Over, So Sick Of The Night

What I listened to while the end-of-the-summer-rains fell.

Sun Kil Moon - I Love My Dad

Because it was my dad's 65th birthday on Thursday.

Jamie xx - Sleep Sound

Because I discovered this fantastic video:

Destroyer - Bay of Pigs

Because it reminds me of so many things; none of which I can put my finger on, but all of which make me feel warm inside.

Spoon - Knock Knock Knock

Because of brilliant use of guitars.

Kent - Innan Himlen Faller Ner

Because thunderstorms coincided with a shitstorm in the world.

Allt som sågs som farligt och avantgarde,
det bleknar, trubbas av tills det är normalt
Allt som nu är fel det var rätt en gång
Allt som var vitt blir svart imorgon
Allting som är gammalt var nytt ett tag
Även vi som är så unga ska dö en dag
Det man ger är värt mycket mer än det man tar
Vår trasiga värld blir ert ansvar

And well, I couldn't not include Beyonce in this entry:

Get More: 2014 VMA, Artists.MTV, Beyoncé, MTV VMA Video Vanguard (Medley), Music, More Music Videos

33/14 - Educated Criminals Work Within The Law

Nostalgia and political frustration, wrapped up in a fist.

Morrissey - The World Is Full of Crashing Bores

The ultimate Moz-song really. Politics, pop-star-bashing, self-pity and defiance, all in one.

It's just more lock-jawed pop-stars
Thicker than pig-shit
Nothing to convey
So scared to show intelligence
It might smear their lovely career
This world – I am afraid – is designed for crashing bores
I am not one

Audrey - We Thought We Were Ghosts, But We Are Feathers

I once had a mighty crush on the drummer in this band. She lived close to me and we went for coffee a couple of times, but nothing more. Then, on the last night of last week's festival I ran into her again, after eight years of no contact. It was a strange, lovely moment, and the next day I dug out this EP and its nostalgic romantic shimmer has never been stronger.

Jonathan Wilson - Future Vision

Another crumb left from the festival. Didn't see him perform this particular tune, but it's got a hazy post-60s feel to it, a fantastic bridge at 2:20, and a prettyy nice guitar solo too.

Björn Afzelius - Valet

ISIS aren't primarily muslims; they are primarily fascists. The Israeli state isn't first and foremost Jewish; it's first and foremost right-wing. Parties who combine the word democrats with a national prefix rarely rate democracy highly; they most often suffocate it under nationalism and xenophobia. Fight the far Right, before it's too late.

Arcade Fire - Neighbourhood #3 (Power Out)

Best systemfighting bass-riff since RATM.

The power's out, in the heart of man
Take it from your heart, put it in your hand!

31-32/14 - Things Are So Passionate, Times Are So Real

In the past three days I've seen the following artists live:
Tinariwen
Motörhead
The National
Darkside
Queens of the Stone Age
High As a Kite
Jonathan Wilson
Sharon van Etten
Bill Callahan
Mapei
Janelle Monáe
Outkast
Deafheaven
Planningtorock
Seasick Steve
Jaakko Eino Kalevi
Neutral Milk Hotel
Jenny Wilson
Mos Def
Robyn
Nils Frahm
Daniel Hope & GSO
Holly Herndon
...and as a majority of them were bloody awesome, and as I'm late with last week's list, I'm cheating on my own rules and putting together a double list of the top 10 from Way Out West.

Janelle Monáe - Electric Lady

Janelle rules my heart forever after this gig. Coolest. Tightest. Happiest. Best. A friend described it as James Brown meets Charlie & The Chocolate Factory. She even did a pitch perfect cover of I Feel Good.

Ooh, shock it
Break it, baby
Electric Lady, Electric Lady

Darkside - Paper Trails

I could spend a whole festival just watching these guys. There's something so sensually perfect about every note and every light effect it almost gives me a boner.

Queens of the Stone Age - Feel Good Hit of the Summer

I've seen them before, but I've never enjoyed it this much. The latest album is so good live. But this... what a singalong

Nils Frahm - For – Peter – Toilet Brushes – More

Last night of the festival. A lone german guy, two pianos, a couple of extra keyboards, a breathless opera-house. Pure magic.

Sharon van Etten - Your Love Is Killing Me

That voice, live. I am so in love.

Daniel Hope & Berlin Chamber Orchestra - Vivaldi's The Four Seasons, Recomposed by Max Richter: Summer, III

Another spinetingling moment in the operahouse. The perfect ending to the festival.

Mos Def - Auditorium

I love going to old school hip hop concerts at festivals. Just a superb MC, a DJ, some roses and a lovely pick n' mix of beats, tunes and rhymes. Heartwarming, unassuming, and cool as fuck.

Outkast - The Whole World

Was so tagged for this. Was a bit disappointed. Dre seemed to be going through the motions, looked like he more or less hated playing Hey Ya, and on top of that had some tasteless sexist backdrops. But the first run of hits (B.O.B., Gasoline Dreams, Rosa Parks, Skew It On The Bar-B, Da Art of Storytelling) was superb, and then they saved face a bit in the end with this joyous offering.

Deafheaven - The Pecan Tree

Is there a better way to start a day at a festival than with an early afternoon metal-blow out? Will definitely be listening to this album a lot after this.

Neutral Milk Hotel - In the Aeroplane Over The Sea

The rain started falling. The poncho-crowd huddled in front of the stage, but then Jeff came out and all sang along to every single word he belted out.

How strange it is to be anything at all...