The Kinks: “The Contenders” from Lola Versus Powerman and the Moneygoround, Part One [1970]
This is a killer harp riff. Just killer.
Wes Anderson mined this album for his latest film, The Darjeeling Limited, which has been mentioned on this blog more than once. The Kinks are one of the most-cited bands on this blog, as a [...]
Entries from February 2009
February 27, 2009
Harmonica Favorites: Part 2
February 26, 2009
Drum Set Favorites: Part 1
Wolf Parade – “You Are A Runner And I Am My Father’s Son” from Apologies to the Queen Mary (2005)
One of the best straight-up rock records of the past 5 years opens with one of the bitchin’-est drum parts around. A simple pattern of bass, snare, and half-open hi-hat (far as I can reckon) lends [...]
February 21, 2009
Harmonica Favorites: Part 1
Bob Dylan – “Early Mornin’ Rain” from Self Portrait [1970]
In his famous review of this album, Greil Marcus asked “What is this shit?” Mostly, he was correct. But, as I mentioned some time ago on this blog, I actually like a few of the songs on Self Portrait. “Early Mornin’ Rain” is perhaps my favorite. [...]
February 16, 2009
Relaxin’
The Miles Davis Quintet – “If I Were a Bell” from Relaxin’ With The Miles Davis Quintet [1956]
Thanks to Presidents’ Day, I had today off work. I think three days is the perfect length for a weekend; they should all be this long. At any rate, after a long day, sometimes there is nothing better [...]
February 11, 2009
Humble Acceptance
Marquis de Tren and Bonny Billy – “81” from Get on Jolly [2000]
Many apologies for my lack of input on the old blogosphere. I’ve been in the middle of an intra-city move and a job switch, so the last month or two have been pretty stupid busy. But I have been listening to [...]
February 11, 2009
Shame
Bob Dylan – “I Dreamed I Saw St. Augustine” from John Wesley Harding [1968]
This is Dylan at his very best. Three verses, no chorus (this seems the preferred format on the whole of JWH).
In the first-person, he describes witnessing the piety, passion, and wisdom of St. Augustine during a dream. In the third and final [...]
February 11, 2009
Dejection
Okkervil River – “On Tour With Zykos” from The Stand Ins [2008]
“I go home, take off clothes, smoke a bowl, watch a whole TV movie. I was supposed to be writing the most beautiful poems.”
Those lines do it for me. Here is a song that I actually listen to when I’m feeling down on my [...]
February 10, 2009
Heart-wrenching, crippling desire
Portishead – “Undenied” from Portishead [1997]
Allow me to begin by saying that this is not quite my favorite Portishead song. It’s my favorite song from their second album, but 1994’s Dummy has a few gems that are beyond compare. That’s not to say I’m depriving you, dear readers, of quality Portishead goodness. This song has [...]
February 9, 2009
Hope
Ted Leo and the Pharmacists – “Hearts of Oak” from Hearts of Oak (2003)
Hope, not only the moniker of the alma mater to 3/4s of SWR, is an emotion called forth by some of my favorite music.
As noted here before, Ted Leo writes great songs about walking around–which, for whatever reason, I tend to [...]
February 7, 2009
Sorrow
Sufjan Stevens – “Casimir Pulaski Day” from Come On Feel The Illinoise (2005)
I don’t listen to this one too much when I am actually feeling sad, but when it comes on I can’t help but being swept up in the low-key sorrow in this tale of love, grief, and waiting.
The song does a pretty good [...]
February 6, 2009
Triumph
Explosions in the Sky – “The Only Moment We Were Alone” from The Earth is Not a Cold Dead Place (2003)
Triumphalism has long been a sought-after criterion among my musical peers. These songs usually grow a repeating chord progression over increasing layers of instrumentation into a moment (or, if you’re lucky, moments) of loud, dragon-slaying [...]
February 4, 2009
Pain
Red House Painters – “Down Colorful Hill” from Down Colorful Hill (1992)
For me, music (and art generally) is about empathy. I need to feel some connection to the songwriter’s joy or pain or to any of the other millions of emotions in between. The successful songsmith will write a melody that is an immediate and [...]
February 3, 2009
“Well, all right/We’ll live and love with all our might”
Buddy Holly – “Well…All Right” single [1958], “Rave On” from Buddy Holly [1958] and “That’ll Be The Day” from The “Chirping” Crickets [1957]
Fifty years ago today, a private plane carrying Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson crashed in an Iowa cornfield, killing all three, and instantly setting the progress of rock [...]
