The Joys Of Modern Life

by Dennis McCalmont

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about

With a clear commitment to quality on all fronts, Dennis McCalmont’s latest offering, the potentially-ironically titled The Joys of Modern Life is one of the most intimately personal albums I’ve heard in quite some time. McCalmont’s voice is impeccable throughout, and a fine bunch of melodic songs are fleshed out with a consistent contemporary rock/funk sound from his band of inventive musicians. And it’s an all-Irish affair. (Radio stations, please take note).
‘Best Days of My Life’ and ‘Suffocate’ have a very upful, no-nonsense driving sound underpinning some reflective lyrics about life and mis/trust.
‘Pure’ and ‘’Leave’ both ease off the throttle, allowing full space for McCalmont’s soulful vocal and knock-out lyrics. Nature of Life’ has an anthemic intro to kick-start a sturdy funk work-out, and there’s some more heartfelt funk in ‘Something She Said’.
There’s an optimistic knees-up jollity to ‘If You See My Girl’, all about lost love, but there’s a brooding quality to ‘Wasted’ that brings you back to the track time and time again. ‘Fall’ reveals a more reflective side of McCalmont’s worldview. It’s quiet philosophical in its intent and a fine song to boot.
‘Time For Truth’ is a hefty slice of solid rock with an uplifting positivity, and while ‘When The World Goes Crazy’ is slightly more laid back, it enables The Joys of Modern Life to end on an uncertain but ultimately hopeful note. Just like life?

Jackie Hayden (Hot Press)

credits

released July 14, 2016

Dennis McCalmont: Vocals Acoustic/Electric Guitars & Keys
Michael Buckton: Electric Lead Guitar
Craig Donaldson: Bass
Donal Hoban: Drums
Additional Music by
John Flatley Piano
Tony Bambrick Guitar
Mastered by Ciaran Byrne at www.cauldronstudios.com
Artwork & CD Duplication by Ronan Courell
www.duplicationireland.ie
Front Cover Photography by Kate McKeon

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Dennis McCalmont Ireland

www.reverbnation.com/dennismccalmont www.soundcloud.com/dennis-mccalmont #SoulRecall now available on iTunes

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Track Name: Best Days Of My Life
Another Day is quickly dawning
i struggle from my bed still yawning
and the mirror i am facing
cant see inside my mind is racing
I've got schedules to meet Promises to keep
I'll be rushed right off my feet, and there isn't time to eat
But you bring me to my senses, you pull down my defences
And you show me just how Fragile Life can be

Oh The Best Days Of My Life
I dont understand That the Best Days of my Life you could never plan
And The Best Days Of My Life
Are in Someone else's hands
Oh The Best Days Of My Life
You could never plan.

I wanna fly forever free
for we are prisoners of time you'll see
And if by chance that we should meet
It's no coincidence we're standing on the same street
So let's laugh and smile and talk for a while
I can sing my song and you can dance with me
I have a message for you
You may have a message for me
And the Messenger says just let it be

Chorus
Track Name: Suffocate
SUFFOCATE: Composed & Written By Dennis McCalmont

I WAS TRYIN' TO BE A FRIEND
TO BE SOMEONE YOU COULD DEPEND UPON
AND I WOULD HOLD YOU TILL I BLEED, TO GIVE YOU EVERY THING YOU NEED
HEY ITS JUST A TRAIT, A MENTAL STATE, AND I JUST CANT WAIT, NO I JUST CANT WAIT
YOU PICK ME UP JUST WHEN YA LIKE
AND THEN YOU DROP ME FROM A HEIGHT
AND ALL THE LOVING WORDS YOU SAID, THEY ONLY SERVED TO WRECK MY HEAD, AGAIN & AGAIN & AGAIN
HEY ITS JUST A TRAIT, A MENTAL STATE, AND I JUST CANT WAIT, NO I JUST CANT WAIT
HEY ITS JUST A TRAIT, A MENTAL STATE, AND I JUST CANT WAIT, NO I JUST CANT WAIT
NO THANKS I'VE HAD ENOUGH, NO THANKS I'VE HAD ENOUGH NO THANKS I'VE HAD ENOUGH THANKS I'VE HAD ENOUGH
HEY ITS JUST A TRAIT, A MENTAL STATE, AND I JUST CANT WAIT, NO I JUST CANT WAIT
HEY, HEY, I JUST CANT WAIT, NO I JUST CANT WAIT
SUFFOCATE
Track Name: Pure
'Pure' Composed/Written by Dennis McCalmont

Floating in the slipstream, drowning in my head
Waking from the daydream, lying on my bed
Snow is softly falling, a picture postcard view
Putting on her makeup, tryin to look her best for you

One Star in the Heaven
I thought it was You
One Star in the Heaven
Just outta view
Once i was uncertain, but now i'm not so sure
I guess the snow that falls is the only thing that's pure

I wanna write a letter, but i don't know your name
To tell you i feel better, and i hope you feel the same
I wanna walk on water, like i saw it in a dream
Ask Your Sons & Daughters, 'cos they know about these things

One Star in the Heaven
I thought it was You
One Star in the Heaven
Just outta view
Once i was uncertain, but now i'm not so sure
I guess the snow that falls is the only thing that's pure
Track Name: Nature Of Life
Nature Of Life Composed/Written by Dennis McCalmont
Lookin' out on a clear blue sky
Search my Soul for reasons why?
Where is the sunshine she relies on
Storm clouds gather on the horizon

Your life could change in a moment
Your whole life could change in a moment

I am lost I'm all at sea
Waiting for someone to rescue me
Peace to You who understood
That even the bad times can bring some good

Your life could change in a moment
Your whole life could change in a moment
Like this...
Thats the nature of life
One moment good things
Next moment sad things
And then your phone rings
Tell me what does it bring

Your life could change in a moment
Your whole life could change in a moment
Track Name: Leave
Leave...
Lay down your sweet head
Play down the things he said
Like, he never meant to hurt you or desert you
Or make you feel like this
Building himself taller by making you feel smaller
So selfish

But tonight we'll take flight and rise above this
Yes tonight we'll stand and fight to find what Love is..

Wake up as he arrives
Make up just to survive
Now he's out of his head seeing red
Get the Kids up outta bed and run...keep running
Your bags are packed, no turning back
This time it's over and done
You kid yourself that he still cares
Rid yourself of this nightmare

Cos tonight we'll take flight and rise above this
Yes tonight we'll stand and fight to find what Love is..
What Love is...
Track Name: If You See My Girl
If You see my girl
Won't you let her know
Tell her that I miss her so
And if you see my girl
Won't you tell her please
Tell her that I'm down upon my knees

I can't take this anymore
Ever since she slammed my door
Now it's hard to find something that's worth living for
So I get drunk every night
Cause a scene
Start a fight
Just can't live without the light of my life
So if you see my girl
Won't you tell her?

If you see my girl
Send her home to me
Tell her I'm as lonely as can be
And if you see my girl
Won't you let her know?
Tell her that I never meant for her to go

I can't take this anymore
Ever since she slammed my door
Now it's hard to find something that's worth living for
So I get drunk every night
Cause a scene
Start a fight
Just can't live without the light of my life
So if you see my girl
Won't you tell her? her! her! her!

I can't take this anymore
Ever since she slammed my door
Now it's hard to find something that's worth living for
So I get drunk every night
Cause a scene
Start a fight
Just can't live without the light of my life
So if you see my girl
Won't you tell her?
Won't you tell her?
Won't you tell her?
Track Name: Something She Said
Something She Said
Throw me a line, i'll take the hook
Show me a sign, just one look , and you've got me believing
Time after time, you've been there too, a fish out of water, not a clue
Funny you're still breathing

Oh the tide is rising, and you play dead
You got the noise inside your head
Was it something that she said

I know you're a fake you look so real
You get what you take you never feel
But i can see right through you
The look on your face you're just too late
Wrong time wrong place, sealed your fate
Sink or swim that's up to you

Oh the tide is rising, and you play dead
You got the noise inside your head
Was it something that she said

She said, was it something that she said
Got the noise inside your head
Was it something that she said
Got the noise inside your head
Was it something that she said
Got the noise inside your head
Track Name: Wasted
WASTED composed/written by Dennis McCalmont
Worn Out Wasted, Torn Up Tasted
Life's bitterness, Life's emptiness
Cast Out, Homeless, Passed Out, Hopeless
Even in this Crowd You feel Alone

Cos You'll Scream and You'll fight
And You'll Dream beneath the Stars Tonight
But You won't feel the the fear, till the Morning comes again
You'll Start Again, You'll Start Again

You once had a Good Life, Children and a Good Wife
Now it breaks their Hearts to see You Anymore
Lets Drink a Final Toast to Loneliness and The Holy Ghost
Then lay like the Dead crashed out on this floor

Cos You'll Scream and You'll fight
And You'll Dream beneath the Stars Tonight
But You won't feel the the fear, when the Morning brings You Rain
Sweet Tasting Rain, Life Giving Rain, You'll Start Again....

Cos You'd do Anything, Anything just to Kill The Pain
Just to Kill The Pain, Just to Kill The Pain...
Track Name: Fall
FALL
Staring out my window Looking at the sky
I realise there's so much more to this than meets the eye
And the Clouds are an illusion messing with the view
'Cause i know there's something Greater out there
Than just Me and You
We are all just Actors here thrust upon a Stage
No-one wants to feel the hurt No-one wants to feel the rage
So we pretend that it's not happening and quickly turn the page
We may as well be Prisoners locked up in a cage Locked up in a cage

God Bless the Man who thinks he has it all
God Bless the Man who has nothing at all
God Bless the Man who thinks he has it all
He's the Man who's gonna Fall, He's the Man who's gonna Fall

And the World is in a hurry No-one wants to be alone
While i sit and play Guitar for you You play your Mobile Phone
Attractions and Distractions keep me on my own
But something i have learned- I am not Alone, I'm not Alone
Hey 'Look At Me' searching for this thing that they call 'Fame'
'Look At Me' You don't even hardly know my name
'Look At Me' Just like You i wanna shake the Shame
'Look At Me' Just like You Gotta reach beyond the Blame
Gotta reach beyond the Blame

God Bless the Man who thinks he has it all
God Bless the Man who has nothing at all
God Bless the Man who thinks he has it all
He's the Man that's gonna Fall, He's the Man who's gonna Fall

God Bless the Man who thinks he has it all
God Bless the Man who has nothing at all
God Bless the Man who thinks he has it all
He's the Man who's gonna Fall, He's the Man who's gonna Fall
He's the Man who's gonna Fall, He's the Man who's gonna Fall
He's the Man who's gonna Fall
Track Name: Time For Truth
Time For Truth
Take your head out of your hands
Stand up straight and be a Man
There's no need to scream and shout
Speak your Truth and Truth will out
'Cause its time to be seen
To say just what you mean
Come out of the shadows been there too long
Into the light and sing your song
Never too late to speak your mind (what are you waiting for?)
Never too late to speak your mind (what are you waiting for?) Take your fingers from that gun
'Cause your not scaring any one
Take a life to you life's cheap
I wonder how you get to sleep?
'Cause its time to be seen
To say just what you mean
Come out of the shadows been there too long
Into the light and sing your song
Never too late to speak your mind (what are you waiting for?)
Never too late to speak your mind (what are you waiting for?)
Blood spill You must Kill
Blood spill You must Kill
Blood spill You must Kill
Track Name: When The World Goes Crazy
When The World Goes Crazy
I'm not sure about anything anymore
How can i be happy when you're still poor?
I wanna know what's real, i wanna know what's true
I can't find it in the papers or see it on the Evening News

So i trust myself, In this Life, to heal the wrong, to do what's right
And i trust my faith in a Loving Power, it's all i need
When the World goes crazy, I trust myself...

The President well He had to go to War
The Money spent on Armaments, could save the Poor
I hope someday that Sanity prevails
I could'nt face another nightmare
Another Tragedy unveiled

So i trust myself, In this Life, to heal the wrong, to do what's right
And i trust my faith in a Loving Power, it's all i need
When the World goes crazy, You gotta trust Yourself...

I don't need no man upon a Cross
To show me everything We've lost
Take away my Sin, for I'm guilty too
For Thinking of Me and never Thinking of You...
I wanna take Your hand... wanna Pick You Up
Try to understand...Let Me fill Your cup
I wanna take Your hand...Pick You Up
Try to understand...I wanna fill Your cup
I feel so helpless, feel so helpless
And a Government that couldn't care less
Couldn't care less, I feel so helpless
In a World Gone Crazy, In a World Gone Crazy
You gotta Trust Yourself, You gotta Trust Yourself

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