People In Planes

People In Planes is a group that sounds totally American, but they are, in fact, from Wales. They have some albums – no, really, Hotspur? – yes, really, but I don’t like any of them NEARLY as much as the incredibly awesome As Far As The Eye Can See… This album is awesome from beginning to end, the way I’ve listened to this album over 100 times, no kidding. Recently, I sort of ‘remembered’ them again, and found my CD and played it. Still wonderful! It has some rockers, some ballads, and some jazzy, loungey pieces with odd but good parts. Several of the songs start out seeming like ordinary indie rock songs, but they all have some part, some line, some bridge, something in them that kicks them all over the edge.

I’ll start with a ballad in case you only have time for one song. For Miles Around

This is more of a jazzy one – dig the horns – with a strange but oddly meaningful message. Penny

This song is probably the most important, the one that most of you will identify with. It tells of a woman breaking free from something that keeps her down, whatever that may be. The repeated message is something that some of you might hear in your heads sometimes, for one reason or another, but the chorus is your escape. It’s called Token Trapped Woman.

Token Trapped Woman

I have to sell my soul to you
and that’s just to pay for its renewal

How long have you been at it
How many fingers am I holding up
I know I was away for a while
But now I’m back, does it make any difference
This woman’s in a state
Better tie her up
Put her on my plate
And I’ll make her smile again
That’s the point
Nobody ever asked you how you feel

You are trapped
Don’t waste your energy
You’re just trapped
Don’t waste your energy

Cracked up woman
On the run
See it weighs me down
Like tar in your lung
You are trapped, don’t waste your energy
Waste your energy

You said that night that we might run away
And yes we’ll end up in some better place
And once we’re gone there’d be no coming back

Why should you beg forgiveness, from us
For the pleasure you give us
You’re just trapped
Don’t waste your energy

You said that night that we might run away
And yes we’ll end up in some better place
And once we’d gone there’d be no coming back

This is another slow song, but more of a sad one – it just so happens to follow the previous song. Falling By The Wayside

I’m including this one simply because it appeared in an episode of House. It seems to be very Foreigner-esque, but then it kicks in hard in the chorus. Light For The Deadvines

There are 12 songs in all, and every single one of them is excellent. Check out this album, get some time and a comfortable place, and listen to it all the way through. You won’t be sorry.

Edward Hotspur

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