First Aid Kit - "My Silver Lining"

First Aid Kit have just released their new album 'Stay Gold' and it sounds much more symphonic than their previous albums. 'The Lion's Roar' from a couple of years ago was a real coming of age album from these young Swedish sisters. It's an album I still play from start to finish regularly.... 'Stay Gold' has everything that album had, plus some. The harmonies are as good as ever and the folk is still more countryfied and there is still some sadness in the songs - even in the more uplifting ones. But this time the producer, Mike Mogis, has recruited a few more musicians - the single "My Silver Lining" will reveal the beauty of that accompaniment. Gold!

First Aid Kit - "Emmylou"

First Aid Kit's tribute to the country singing pairings of 'Emmylou Harris and Gram Parsons' and 'June Carter and Johnny Cash' is as sweet as anything the name-checked artists released themselves... big call, but I will stand by it. In fact, usually when I hear a song name-checking other artists, I go back to those artists - but this one just makes me want to hear more of these Swedish sisters. A love song for music lovers.



Lyrics to Emmylou
Oh the bitter winds are coming in
And I'm already missing the summer
Stockholm's cold but I've been told
I was born to endure this kind of weather
When it's you I find like a ghost in my mind
I am defeated and I gladly wear the crown

I'll be your Emmylou and I'll be your June
If you'll be my Gram and my Johnny too
No, I'm not asking much of you
Just sing little darling, sing with me

Now so much I know that things just don't grow
If you don't blessed them with your patience
And I've been there before I held up the door
For every stranger with a promise

But I'm holding back, that's the strength that I lack
Every morning keeps returning at my window
And it brings me to you and I won't just pass through
But I'm not asking for a storm

I'll be your Emmylou and I'll be your June
If you'll be my Gram and my Johnny too
No, I'm not asking much of you
Just sing little darling, sing with me

And yes I might have lied to you
You wouldn't benefit from knowing of the truth
I was frightened but I held fast
I need you now at long last

I'll be your Emmylou and I'll be your June
If you'll be my Gram and my Johnny too
No, I'm not asking much of you
Just sing little darling, sing with me

I'll be your Emmylou and I'll be your June
If you'll be my Gram and my Johnny too
No, I'm not asking much of you
Just sing little darling, sing with me
Just sing little darling, sing with me

First Aid Kit - "The Lion's Roar" Live on Soundcheck

I've posted an earlier song by 'First Aid Kit' on this blog after their impressive debut album 'The Black & The Blue' from 2010. The release of their follow up album 'The Lion's Roar' has been the coming-of-age for these young Swedish siblings. An album of maturity way past their years... as I have probably stated many times - but this time it is an even stronger case. Traditional folk sensibilities and perfect harmonies are just two of the ingredients that make 'First aid Kit' the best folk band you will hear in 2012... and beyond.

First Aid Kit - "Hard Believer"

First Aid Kit are a Swedish duo consisting of sisters Johanna and Klara Soderberg. They came to my attention with this song "Hard Believer" and I was taken with their folk/pop/acoustic sound, particularly the vocal harmonies that they have perfected. It comes from the debut album 'The Black and the Blue' released in May of this year and was recorded while they were both still teenagers... in fact one of them still is at only 17, with the other at 20. Their songs show a maturity beyond their years. They are playing in Auckland next month at The Wine Cellar. Oh no, not another drive up to Auckland.




So you ask for my opinion
Well what is there to say
To be honest and just foolish
Won't make you wanna stay
You've got to go on and get moving
I can't do that for you
Got so many plans and so much you want to do

Love is tough, time is rough
Love is tough, time is rough
Whoaaaa on me

Well I see you've got your bible
Your delusion imagery
Well I don't need your eternity
Or your meaning to feel free
I just live because I love to
And that's enough you see
So don''t come preach about morality
That's just human sense to me

Love is tough, time is rough
Love is tough, time is rough
Whoaaaa on me
On me-eeee .. on me-eee ...

break

And it's one life and it's this life
And it's beautiful
(repeat)
And it's beau .. beau .. beau ... beautiful

Love is tough, time is rough
Whoaaaa on me