Top 20 songs from AFI (A Fire Inside) with help from Gigi Chiong

AFI (A Fire Inside) is a band from Ukiah, California formed in 1991. They have gone through numerous lineup changes but the band currently consists of Davey Havok on vocals, Jade Puget on guitar, bassist Hunter Burgan, and drummer Adam Carson. They have released 8 studio albums, 10 EPs, a live album, a DVD and various compilation albums. They were first signed to Nitro Records (owned by Dexter Holland of The Offspring) until 2002 when their major label debut, Sing The Sorrow was released which reached the Billboard top 10 and went platinum and gained the band mainstream success. This would continue on with their next album Decemberunderground and Crash Love, their latest album.Davey Havok also recorded an album with members of the Danzig and Sam Hain as the sideproject Son of Sam the album Songs From the Earth in 2001, they later released a second album entitled Into The Night with another lead singer (Ian Thorne).  Davey Havok and Jade Puget also have an electronic sideproject entitled Blakq Audio who released their debut album, Cexcells in 2009. AFI started out as a pretty straightforward hardcore band for their early releases, when the albums Black Sails in The Sunset and the Art of Drowning were released, it signified an extreme change in music and lyrical themes. The music was more melodic and at times, very mellow and lyrically it became more complex. In reference to Black Sails in the Sunset Decoy Music reviewer Aaron Yarborough praised Davey Havok's lyrical contribution to the album, commending his efforts to "find himself," saying "the way he expresses how he feels is pure poetry." I feel that Sing The Sorrow is their masterpiece. it contains more elaborate production, thanks to the production skills of Butch Vig. It also has things like keyboards, strings and even industrial sounds which the band hasn't used before. It appeared on many major publication's ten best list for the year.

Early AFI had a driving force that I know most hardcore bands have/had and although some of their songs are 'silly' ie I Wanna Mohawk but if one really listens to the bulk of it, they really have something important to say. Loyalty is such a huge part of what afi stands for and I think that sometimes that gets overlooked. There are so many sides to them. Melodic, hardcore, poetic, horror punk, gothic punk, rock, etc.. their songs are so diverse and it's very different than most bands out there. There are several themes running through their music, one major one is the feeling of being an outcast. It is not being shown as a negative thing though, they want to include you in on it, and sort of form a bond between them and you, the listener. In many of their songs they use "we" or "us" instead of I for example... Lastly, I wanted to say this is not a full representation of their entire work as a band. Instead of picking out individual songs I would listen to their complete albums to really get a full picture about what they are about. It was extremely hard to come up with a top 20 for this band, I did get some outside help so thank you Gigi Chiong for helping me come up with this list. I did not include every song suggested but I think this list is pretty comprehensive for beginners and to get a feel of what the band is all about. I didn't include certain obvious singles like Girl's Not Grey or Miss Murder. I do love those songs but I truly wanted to go a little deeper into their catalog than just their "hits". Anyways, I have rambled on too long. Onward with the list, in no particular order we begin with....

#20 100 words from the deluxe edition of Crash Love (2009)

A song originally recorded for Sing The Sorrow but later released on the deluxe edition of Crash Love. This song gives me chills. It touches on some themes which were explored through Sing the Sorrow, including that feeling of not truly fitting in. I especially love the line "see how I blend with nothing", it is just so moving.

#19 Despair Faction from the album The Art of Drowning (2000)

This is also the name of AFI's fan club, this song seems to be about pergatory. It's a moving song and another example of some great guitar work. I especially like when the song gets quiet and you only hear Davey's voice say "My whole life is a dark room...one..big..dark...room" which was taken from the movie Beetlejuice.

#18 Too Late For Gods from the album Crash Love deluxe edition (2009)

Davey has said this song is about the concept of corporal deities. I think it also has to do with martyrs. dying for a cause of sorts, or perhaps like many of the themes touched upon on Crash Love,it could be about a celebrity and their fall from grace due to drugs or destructive behavior. The lyrics are gorgeous and it's a shame it didn't make it to the album and appears on the deluxe edition.

#17 Morningstar from the album The Art of Drowning (2000)

Lucifer's last name though this song isn't about Satan. I think this song could be seen as a reference to being rejected, much like in the book Paradise Lost. It talks about being remembered when you are on stage and whether you are just a ghost upon the stage or the star beneath the stage. Powerful song and it also ties into Days of The Phoenix with it's line about the ghost on the stage.

#16 Triple Zero from the album Shut Your Mouth and Open Your Eyes (1997)

Shut Your Mouth and Open Your Eyes is honestly not an album I hear too often. That does not deny the beauty of this song. I feel that later on, they became much better lyrically. I do love these lyrics though "Some sedate through indifference but I withheld zero tolerance." This sounds like it's about AFI and their straight edge philosophy. Short, really punkish song about embracing who you are and about hatred for those who hurt him. A nice intro to their early work.

#15 He Who Laughs Last from the album Very Proud of Ya (1996)

It's interesting to go through all the songs and to see the evolution AFI have gone through as artists, as lyricists and and as people. I just saw this video for the song where the band have Davey trapped inside a trunk of a car and how lowbudget it is. A more innocent time. The lyrics are pretty straightforward which you will probably never see from an AFI song these days. A bad relationship where a person has broken your trust so much you can only trust yourself, a universal message for the ages. A fun, fastpaced song which always make me smile. AFI have really grown up since then. The video for the song contrasts the video for Silver and Cold. In this video the band kills Davey, in the Silver and Cold video Davey kills the rest of the band. Very interesting stuff.

#14 Porphyria Cutanea Tarda from the album Black Sails In The Sunset (1999)

Porphyria is a type of skin disease where a person can basically only be out at night. A really poetic fastpaced song. I think it's about a group of misfits or punk who only come out at night, the darkness which brings them together. "In darkness together we're bringing the light.In darkness together we are forming.The fire tomorrow is born of the night,in darkness together we ignite." Like many AFI songs its about outcasts or society's misfits finding solace in darkness, but still finding happiness in that.

#13 God Called In Sick Today from the album Black Sails In The Sunset (1999)

Darkness of the world, terrible things happening, it's almost like god called in sick today. Love Davey's vocal delivery in this. It goes from extremely mellow to loud and raw. Incredible!

#12 Torch Song from the album Crash Love (2009)

This is from their latest album, Crash Love. The song seems to be about obsession. During the song, he keeps saying all the things he would do for this person, but in the end the lyric says "Leave me. Leave me to grieve that nothing's lost.Leave me, but when you leave, know nothing's lost." This makes me think that he realizes that it was just obsession and not love, and he's ok without the other person. Extremely catchy chorus and great production on this track.

#11 Miseria Cantare from the album Sing The Sorrow (2003)

An amazing intro to the Sing The Sorrow album. Miseria Cantare is Italian for Sing The Sorrow. The intro gives the listener the impression that this is a very different band than they previously thought. It serves as a calling to the fans. You are now one of us. "Radiate, recognize one silent call As we all form one dark flame" This song is saying we all come together as one, even though we are outcasts to the outside world. Many AFI songs revolve around that theme. Truly memorable.

#10 37mm from the album Decemberunderground (2006)

One of the songs I constantly go back to from the epic Decemberunderground. This is a nice play on words as far as the song title goes. AFI has this constant theme with numerology especially with the numbers 3 and 7 on  Decemberunderground, turn the mm sideways, it turns into 2 #3s. 37mm could be referencing a gun or a camera (37mm lens?) The lyrics speak of healing and wounds. I think it's about taking anothers sins, feeling what they're feeling. I'm not sure it is religious but it could be.

#09 Death of Seasons from the album Sing The Sorrow (2003)

Chills. This is all I can say about this song. There are so many layers to it. It starts off as a hardrocking song with screaming, then it turns a bit dancy for a few seconds, then back to hard rock, with a mellow ending. It's always been a favorite and one of the highlights on Sing The Sorrow. I personally thing this song is about a person fed up with society, or perhaps an apocalyptic vision of the endtimes. A great song, and as usual, wonderful lyrics.

#08 Malleus Maleficarum from the album Black Sails In The Sunset (1999)

Malleus Maleficarum was an old book that was used to determine whether someone was a witch back in the Salem Witch Hunts. AFI really likes bringing these obscure references into their songs. I think the song is about taking pride in your own individuality and never living your life by anyone else's rules. "..and with growing pride i'll wear my scars.."
This is one of the greatest lyrics ever and truly represents this song and AFI.

#07 The Boy Who Destroyed the World from the All Hallows EP (1999)

It's crazy how many songs on this list don't appear on AFI's studio albums. It goes to show how many great songs they have. This song has always been an anthem to me. A great, fastpaced short song that is painfully sad as well. It deals with the loss of innocence, about a boy growing up and dealing with all the pain associated with growing up. Lyrically so powerful. I especially love the line "They said it hurt their eyes, but he would never know that they were claiming regret as their own...as their own dissipated."

#06 Totalimmortal from the All Hallows EP (1999)

A song covered by The Offspring. This is a song that has always spoken to me. It reminds me of a really bad day, this song can bring you out of that and really give you strength. Music should always be this good.

#05 Silver and Cold from the album Sing The Sorrow (2003)

Another great favorite of mine. A beautiful piano intro, leading into random beats, into the guitar and song. A perfect balance. Lyrically the song talks about taking someone else's sins, it reminds me a bit of Kate Bush's Running Up That Hill, in that it talks about feeling what another person feels. Maybe I'm alone in seeing that comparison, The song also starts with rain sounds, which people associate with gloominess but also helps trees and plants grows and helps create life. Also, it might be about someone who is a "sinner" finding a likeminded individual. I love that AFI makes their songs open to interpretation and makes it somewhat vague so you can attach your own meaning into them.

#04 Now The World from the deluxe edition of Sing The Sorrow (2003)

This has always been a song I keep going back to, year after year. A song that always brings tears. A person created a scene, an atmosphere for beautiful in the beginning for this person who needed some sort of escape, but this person rejected him. He tries to go back to that summer of innocence and love but it's all faded and torn. a heartbreaking song and lyrically one of the best ever. Davey Havok is a true poet and this song is one of the main reasons why I feelt that way. The reference to seasons and summer are really something.

#03 ...but home is nowhere from the album Sing The Sorrow (2003)

I've written about this song in this blog previously. Such a fitting end to an amazing album. It reminds me of a terrible time in life where you think you cannot escape it and the feelings that come with it. For more about this song, click here to view my previous blog entry about this song.

#02 The Leaving Song Part II from the album Sing The Sorrow (2003)

The second single from Sing The Sorrow and one of my personal anthems. There is also a Leaving Song part 1 on the album which appears later. "Look what I've built, it shines so beautifully
Now watch as it destroys me" This song has an amazing prechorus and a few spanish lyrics. The line I quoted is especially important to me. I think it's about talking about the person you used to be and trying to destroy it before it consumes you. This song is so intense, I love the live versions I have heard of it. Such energy, passion. i believe Jade wrote this one. "Yo he estado aqui muchos veces antes y regreso"... this translates to "I have been here many times and come back"... there are a few AFI songs that have to do with reincarnation too, and the same themes with rabbits and the number 3. I think I read somewhere that Davey Havok's Chinese zodiac sign is the rabbit and it can't be reincarnated or something like that. Very cool song and one to get you pumped, ready to face anything.

and the #1 song is....

#01 Days of the Phoenix from the album The Art of Drowning (2000)

This song is about the Phoenix Theater in California. AFI used to play a bunch of shows here early on in their career, at one point early on, they were thinking of breaking up, after playing at the Phoenix theater, they decided to carry on. That is what the song represents to me, carrying on. Fighting back and never backing down. A powerful anthem and song.



We end with some songs that didn't make the final cut but are still extremely relevant:
We've Got The Knife

Kiss and Control

Midnight Sun

Rabbits are Roadkill on Route 37

Sacrifice Theory

Synesthesia

File 13

It Was Mine

Reivers' Music

Wester

and of course some great cover songs AFI have done throughout the years:

Head Like A Hole (NIN cover)

Don't Change (INXS cover)

The Hanging Garden (The Cure cover)

Jack The Ripper (Morrissey cover)

Demonomania (Misfits cover)

Ziggy Stardust (David Bowie cover)

Currently listening to: Week of June 11, 2012

This week we will be spotlighting some new exciting albums from some great bands! This is an exciting time for music and I cannot wait for some new albums to finally be released, including the new Smashing Pumpkins out soon.

To really hear an artist's work, you must look past the hit singles. The entire album is worth hearing to truly get a glimpse of it all in one body of work. Here are some of the albums I am listening to this week.

Assemblage 23 - Bruise (2012)

Assemblage 23 (Tom Shear) has been making music since the early 90s. Tom Shear has released albums on his own label as well as Metropolis Records. Their style can be seen as a mixture of hard electronic in the early days and has evolved to a more synthpop style recently. Many of their singles have reached the top 0 on the US dance and singles charts. Assemblage 23 tours frequently all around the US and Europe. Bruise is their newest album and it marks a change in style for them. There is more of an emphasis on melody and catchy choruses than in the past. Storm is still my favorite from them, but this is becoming one of the albums I keep hearing again and again. This is available in a 2CD deluxe edition set, and my only con with this is that some of the stronger songs should have been included on the first cd, not just the 2nd which is mostly remixes. Here are some of my favorites.
Crosstalk:

The Noise Inside My Head:

God is A Strangely Absent Father:

Peter Heppner - My Heart of Stone (2012)

Wolfsheim was one of my favorite bands and one of the leaders in German synthpop. They had a style and a voice all their own. Peter Heppner's voice is just magical and like nothing I had heard before. When I heard they had broken up after the release of Casting Shadows (one of their strongest releases) I was devastated. Thankfully, Peter has released a new album to please me and some older Wolfsheim fans. This comes in a huge 2CD set. Peter's unmistakable voice makes this a classic. Unlike Wolfsheim, there are more German language tracks here, though you do not have to know the language to love the beauty in it. Here are some standout tracks:
Give Us What We Need:

 Godsmoked:

Meine Welt:

Sugar - File Under Easy Listening (1994)

The last album from the band Sugar featuring Bob Mould. I loved Bob Mould's work with Husker Du and his solo stuff, I went back recently to hear his stuff with his band Sugar. What great stuff! I remember picking up this album originally in a tiny record store in Brooklyn, NY in 2002. I clearly remember not skipping any tracks, what a great album. It was recently rereleased on a 2CD/1DVD set including all the bsides from that period, all the music videos and a performance on MTV's 120 Minutes. This is definitely one you want to listen to and cherish. Here are some of my personal faves.
Gee Angel:

Believe What You're Saying

Your Favorite Thing

Clan  of Xymox - Medusa (1986)

We end this entry with a classic album from one of the leaders in the 1980s goth rock movement. Clan of Xymox are one of the leading darkwave/goth bands from Australia, always offering great lyrics, emotional music, and lovely vocals. This album has some classic songs from the band. I personally prefer their debut selftitled but this would be my 2nd favorite. This band defines gothic music. A wonderful mixture of Kraftwerk and Joy Divison. Here are some of my favorites:
Medusa:

Louise:

Agonized By Love:

Pet Shop Boys return with new album, Elysium and new single Invisible

The Pet Shop Boys have been doing music since the early 80s. They are best known for their US top 10 single "West End Girls" or their cover of Elvis Presley's "Always On My Mind". They continue to make amazing, meaningful music to this day. Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe are some of the best songwriters and musicians to date. It was announced today that their new album, which will be their 11th studio album, and first since 2009's Yes, will be entitled Elysium and it is due sometime in September. I was a huge fan of their last album and have heard every album to date. Fundamental ranks in my top albums of recent years, Yes was an ok album to be honest. I hope they pick up from their. Judging from their newest single, Invisible, it looks like it will be an improvement. It is definitely a more downbeat song than they are known for an it is a bit heartbreaking. I'm not impressed by the video but the song is amazing. I look forward to their new album. Here is the single, "Invisible" and I will follow with some more classic tracks from the band.
Invisible:

Here is West End Girls:

Always On My Mind:

Domino Dancing:

Numb:

It's A Sin

Some news stories... Morrissey, Punk Britannia, Bob Mould

Morrissey-Wordsmith - A recent MSN interview with Morrissey where Morrissey fueled speculation that he might retire in 2 years and in classic Morrissey fashion does it so melodramatically.

You once said that you don’t foresee yourself performing past 55. Is that still true?
Yes. I am slightly shocked to have gone as far as I have. This is my 30th year, and I’ve aged a lot recently, which is bit distressing for me, as it must be for everyone. The body changes shape and there’s nothing you can do about it. Do I continue as a modern day Andy Williams? I take one hour at a time. We will all probably be blown up by the Syrian government soon, anyway, so it hardly matters in the great scheme of things [laughs].
Here is some classic Morrissey songs:
Irish Blood English Heart:

Sunny:

 Nobody Loves Us:

Interesting Drug:

Watch Part 1 and 2 of BBC's Punk Britannia: This is part of a 3 part series, which explores of history of British punk rock. I will also include part 3, which details the post-punk scene when it becomes available. This documentary is looking to be very interesting.


Part 1:

Part 2: 1 of 4

Part 2: 2 of 4

Part 2: 3 of 4

Part 2: 4 of 4

There is also a great documentary on the history of British synthpop including bands like The Normal, Depeche Mode, OMD and more called synth Brittania, you could watch it here:

Bob Mould will be releasing his new album in September called Silver Age, which promises to be sparkling pop/rock in the vein of the Sugar catalog, meanwhile, he will be touring and playing 
the classic album Copper View from his former band, Sugar on various US tourdates which you can see here:
UNITED STATES
June 9: 9:30 Club, Washington, D.C. (Blowoff DJ set)
June 13: Blow Pop Happy Hour, San Francisco, CA (Blowoff DJ set)
June 22: Highline Ballroom, New York, NY (Blowoff DJ set)
July 3: Summerfest, Milwaukee, WI (‘Copper Blue’ set)
July 10: Boatslip, Provincetown, MA (Blowoff DJ set)
EUROPE
Aug. 4: Liss Ard Festival , Cork, Ireland (‘Copper Blue’ set)
Aug. 6: Tavastia, – Helsinki, Finland (‘Copper Blue’ set)
Aug. 8: Oya Festival, Oslo, Norway (‘Copper Blue’ set)
Aug. 9-10: Way Out West 2012, Gothenburg, Sweden
Aug. 11: Paradiso Grote Zaal, Amsterdam, Netherlands (‘Copper Blue’ set)
Aug. 13: Villa Mainin, Codroipo, Italy (‘Copper Blue’ set; supporting Foo Fighters)
Aug. 15: 02 Arena, Prague, Czech Republic (‘Copper Blue’ set; supporting Foo Fighters)
Aug. 16: Frequency Festival, St. Polten, Austria (‘Copper Blue’ set)
Aug. 18: Pukkelpop Festival, Hasselt, Belgium (‘Copper Blue’ set)
UNITED STATES
Sept. 7: Webster Hall, New York, NY (‘Silver Age’/'Copper Blue’ set)
Sept. 8: 9:30 Club, Washington, D.C. (‘Silver Age’/'Copper Blue’ set)
Sept. 10: Paradise, Boston, MA (‘Silver Age’/'Copper Blue’ set)
Sept. 11: Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA (‘Silver Age’/'Copper Blue’ set)
Sept. 13: Metro, Chicago, IL (‘Silver Age’/'Copper Blue’ set)
Sept. 15: First Avenue, Minneapolis, MN (‘Silver Age’/'Copper Blue’ set)
Sept. 18: Showbox, Seattle, WA (‘Silver Age’/'Copper Blue’ set)
Sept. 19: Wonder Ballroom, Portland, OR (‘Silver Age’/'Copper Blue’ set)
Sept. 21: Fillmore, San Francisco, CA (‘Silver Age’/'Copper Blue’ set)
Sept. 22-23: DeLuna Fest, Pensacola Beach, FL (‘Copper Blue’ set)
 I'm very sad there are no Los Angeles tourdates but if they become available, I will post about them. here is some classic Bob Mould and Sugar songs:
If I Can't Change Your Mind:

Black Sheets of Rain:

Gee Angel:

 See A Little Light:

Song of the day: Men Without Hats - Head Above Water

This Canadian new wave group is best known for it's top 10 single, The Safety Dance, which was released in 1982. Many do not now they also had another hit song called Pop Goes the World, which hit the top 20 in the US in 1987. They were pretty much resigned to "one-hit wonder" status, though like Devo and Gary Numan, it is an undeserved label. The band got the name Men Without Hats because of their refusal to wear hats during the cold Montreal winters. The song Head Above Water is off their newest album, Love in The Age of War, which was released on May 22 in Canada and in the first week of June elsewhere. Famed producer Dave "Rave" Ogilvie (Skinny Puppy, Marilyn Manson) produced this album and it really shows a bit of a darker, more political side to this band.The band is currently on tour with Bow Wow Wow. Here is what lead singer Ivan Doroschuk had to say about the song in a recent interview for the Montreal Gazette:

 “I see a general unease everywhere I go and that’s kind of what the album is about. Love in the Age of War. Like Head Above Water, the first single. I have this feeling we’re all just trying to keep our head above water, to pay the rent, to pay the mortgage. Everyone has financial problems. Everyone is getting laid off. But what do you really need in life? I think one of the main things you need is love. And it’s free. So seek and you shall find. We’re all surrounded by negatives. People think their life is about terrorists and the housing bubble. The unrest here is not so much about the students and tuition fees. It’s a societal thing. People are fed up with everything, just fed up with being stressed out all the time.”

Here is the song:

lyrics:

IT DOESN'T SEEM RIGHT

I WANT TO SAY NO

BUT THE ONLY THING TO DO IS LET YOU GO

I WANTED TO SPEAK

I WANTED TO SAY

BUT ALL THESE DIFFERENT WORDS GOT IN THE WAY

SOMEONE SAID TO ME

BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU DREAM

IT JUST MIGHT COME TRUE

LIFE'S GREAT MYSTERIES TEND TO BECOME CLEARER

ONCE YOU'VE SEEN THEM THROUGH

HOLDING YOUR HEAD ABOVE WATER

HOLDING YOUR HEART IN YOUR HANDS

HOLDING YOUR SONS AND YOUR DAUGHTERS
WE'RE JUST HOLDING ON... 

IT DOESN'T SEEM RIGHT

BUT IT DOESN'T SEEM WRONG

JUST SOMEWHERE WE'VE BEEN HEADING ALL ALONG

I WANTED TO SAY

I WANTED TO SPEAK

I HOPE YOU FIND THE HAPPINESS YOU SEEK

ANOTHER SAID TO ME 

BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU DREAM

IT MIGHT NOT COME TRUE

LIFE'S GREAT DESTINY IS KNOWING YOU ARE LOVED

AND KNOWING YOU LOVE TOO 

HOLDING YOUR HEAD ABOVE WATER 

HOLDING YOUR HEART IN YOUR HANDS 

HOLDING YOUR SONS AND YOUR DAUGHTERS 
WE'RE JUST HOLDING ON..

Currently listening to: Week of June 4, 2012

This week I have been listening to some new music, and some oldies. I've been looking into the underground industrial and goth scene which I felt I have neglected lately. It's never too late to try new things.

To really hear an artist's work, you must look past the hit singles. The entire album is worth hearing to truly get a glimpse of it all in one body of work. Here are some of the albums I am listening to this week.




Men Without Hats - Love In The Age of War (2012)

This album is the band's first in over 10 years. It marks an excellent comeback from this Canadian band. This band is best known as an 80s one hit wonder for the song Safety Dance, but their catalog is filled with a lot more hit songs than this one. This album is no different. Strangely, this album was produced by famed Skinny Puppy and Marilyn Manson producer, Dave "Rave" Ogilvie. He brings a darker edge to this album, along with a sinister new logo. The band has been touring with fellow synthpop group The Human League during this past year. The single from this album Head Above Water has been hitting several indie radio stations and it really gives you an idea of how fun this album truly is. Head Above Water is a bit of a political song, which tackles the struggles we all face just to survive, mortgage, rising debt, but it tells you to believe in love despite all the stuff the world throws at you. Here are some of the greatest songs from this album.
Head Above Water:

Devil Come Round:

Close to the Sun:

Dead When I Found Her - Harm's Way (2010)

This is a new band I just got into. I would describe their sound as very industrial-like with brooding vocals, a heavy Skinny Puppy vibe. I still find it difficult to believe that this was released in the last few years. It sounds more like 80s industrial than actual industrial music from the 80s! There are modern music techniques used but it sounds incredible. Head over to their Soundcloud page to hear the band cover songs from Phil Collins, Nine Inch Nails, Skinny Puppy, Prince and more! I love their sound and I cannot wait to hear their follow up to this. This band first got my attention from several industrial message boards praising them. I had to check them out myself. I was instantly impressed! It's great to hear good music come from a place like Portland, Oregon. This is a band for fans of Skinny Puppy, or Tear Garden, or any of Cevin Key's projects. Here are some great tracks:
Fixer Fixed

Phantoms:

Curtains

Interlace - Imago (2004)

Interlace, like Dead When I Found Her, is another up and coming band in the industrial scene. This Swedish duo has been crafting excellent, hardhitting industrial for years. The first few tracks here are very dance, club-friendly songs, but the later songs evolve into more melodic landscapes. At the same time, it is both personal, and chaotic poetry. This is another band to watch for years to come. Here are some of my personal faves.
Molt:

Sleep On Stones:

Pandora:

Peter Murphy - Love Hysteria (1988)

Peter Murphy's 2nd solo album after the demise of Bauhaus, this album really sees Peter Murphy becoming his own performer, aside from the shadow of the great Bauhaus. The Bowie influences are still there, but Peter seems much more confident in this release as opposed to his debut, Should The World Fail to Fall Apart. This album includes some great songs in Dragnet Drag, My Last Two weeks and the cover of Iggy Pop's Funtime. This is a classic album and anyone who is a fan of 80s goth, or new romantic should own this. Here are some of my personal favorite songs.
My Last Two Weeks:

Funtime:

I've Got A Miniature Secret Camera:

The Cure at Primavera Sound!

June 1st was the birthday of bassist Simon Gallup of the Cure. They also played the famed Primavera festival in Barcelona, Spain. Luckily, live videos exist of this great performance. Lately, The Cure have been performing extremely rare tracks such as The Caterpillar, Bananafishbones, and Just One Kiss. Former David Bowie guitarist Reeves Gabrels is now the official guitarist of The Cure. Here is video of the performance and the full setlist.

The Cure setlist (webcast)

01. Plainsong (not recorded)
02. Pictures Of You (not recorded)
03. High
04. The End Of The World
05. Lovesong
06. Push
07. Inbetween Days
08. Just Like Heaven
09. From The Edge Of The Deep Green Sea
10. Hungry Ghost
11. Play For Today
12. A Forest (Happy Birthday Dear Simon)
13. Bananafishbones

The Kiss:

Dressing Up:

End of the World (partial), Lovesong, Push, Inbetween Days

Boys Don't Cry