Top 13 Songs
About an hour and a half ago I told Neil (can't be bothered destroying everything by attempting to tag him) that his favourite song is shit. Which it is. So I said I'll put together a top 10 of my favourites so he can say the same thing about my music taste (which is exceptional, obviously).
Anyway I've surprised myself, it's quite a mix. Oh and I got to 10 and decided I'd left out a few that needed added so here we are, top 13 favourite songs. Opinions would be lovely (of any sort, you won't be changing my mind about any of them!).
In no particular order...
The Mars Volta - The Widow
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5d91pMZkxkQ
This song has the absolute best chorus ever, and a trumpety solo in it. Oh and the lyrics are brilliant (so much so I've included the lyrics video on youtube above!). Nothing more to say really, it's just a perfect song.
My Dying Bride - Symphonaire Infernus et Spera Empyrium
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKYmXeTTdWs
This is the only metal song on the list (weirdly enough) but I love every second of it. Again it's the lyrics that really do it for me and it has several of my favourite lines ever 'masturbate to the sound of a knell' and 'make yourself all honey and the flies will devour you' are the two that spring to mind right away. For some reason I've always associated this song with Murnaus film Faust, not sure why (maybe it's the time 'dance the cobbles') but that film goes hand in hand with this song for me. I'll edit something together someday.
Goldfrapp - Deer Stop
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMsxa3qk2bA
One of the few songs that remind me of a 'certain someone' that doesn't instantly make me want to kill everything. Reminds me of the good times, laid outside at 4am smoking and generally being filthy bohemians. Ah well...
Rose Kemp - The Unholy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uxu0Xx0DVwk
Oh Rose Kemp... She's set the standard pretty high for every other woman I'm likely to meet. I'm saving myself for a rune carving, robe wearing, guitar playing, screaming doom goddess. Preferably with two parents in Steeleye Span and with an oft misread name. Oh by the way at around 2:16 of this song when the guitar really kicks... It does something to me... Weird shuddery things... If I was every lucky enough to meet Rose I'd beg her to play that riff at me until I died.
Steindór Andersen & Sigur Rós - Á Ferð Til Breiðafjarðar Vorið 1922
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Qap_JEChc0
Simply one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard. I have no idea what he's saying and I don't want to know, at this point I've made my own meaning. If anyone reading this outlives me (likely) this is my funeral song. Cheers.
Fleetwood Mac - Man of the World
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CT7mzrJunc
I love Peter Green, he's possibly my favourite guitarist of all time and he has that debilitating mental illness that really endears me to people (don't get me started on Howard Hughes...). I've read interviews with the rest of the band saying that they wish they could stopped his mental decline and often mention the lyrics to this song, Mick Fleetwood then commented "my god... how didn't I notice...". I find Man of the World to be an incredibly sad that really shows Greens feelings at that time of his life.
Sparklehorse - Spirit Ditch
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPWf-KbHsRU
I remember exactly first hearing this band. Neil and I were sat inside Sander Yard cafe in Whitby (unusual since I normally sit outside and smoke) trying to outdo each other with insane musicians (I was certain I'd win with the whole Varg vs Euronymous thing) and Mark Linkous / Sparklehorse was mentioned. My initial reaction was 'I'm not listening to a fucking band called Sparklehorse!" but I was sent this song and it really spoke to me. Again it's almost painfully sad (the voice recording from his Mother is particularly touching) and after being told that he committed suicide all of his music took on a deeper meaning.
Rest in peace Mark, wish I could have met you.
Gravenhurst - Cities Beneath the Sea
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCUgAVO4zhA
I may well be cheating with this one, its probably not my favourite Gravenhurst song but he dedicated it to me live! I love Gravenhurst, he made me want to give up music because he's already written everything I want to write. Anyway, I booked him for my festival last year and got to hang out with him a bit, we talked about books (he recommended House of Leaves and From Hell) and taught me how to fingerpick on guitar. Quite what made him choose this song to dedicate to me has had me thinking since but I imagine it's a Whitby / sea connection. Oh and he smokes a pipe, lovely guy.
Ulver - It Is Not Sound
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URqgcp1tiTU
The opening noises are some of my favourite sounds ever. Ulver can do no wrong in my eyes (except when playing live...) and this is just the perfect example of why I love them.
Pixies - Velouria
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYUm5T8uQIY
Pixies are one of my all time favourite bands. I was given a cd of about 40 albums by a guy I worked with called Tommy Hair which included every Pixies, Cure and My Bloody Valentine album so yeah, I owe him a lot. He also taught me everything I know about recording sound and was an all round nice guy. I never saw him again after we finished work on that film but was told a few years ago by a mutual friend that he had died suddenly while working abroad in Dubai...
The Beach Boys - God Only Knows
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDfH_J4MAUQ
Quite simply one of the best songs ever written. Thats it.
Cardiacs - Dirty Boy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-dd4fMUhAY
Again cheating because I couldn't find a video for my actual choice 'Foundling' but this is the song that got me into Cardiacs. Neil had been pestering me for what felt like decades to check out his favourite band, the Cardiacs and every time I gave them a listen I felt like I was going insane (in the really bad way). I've no idea what happened but Dirty Boy came on shuffle once and I've been a bit obsessed ever since. Sing to God is one of the greatest albums ever made and you really owe it to yourself to (at the very least ) give it a go. Might just grow on you.
Stars in Battledress - Full Colour is His Name
http://starsinbattledress.bandcamp.com/track/full-colour-is-his-name
Again, this was a Neil suggestion. I gave the album a listen when he first made me a copy and I liked it... That was about it though. Anyway months later this particular song came on shuffle (gods bless shuffle!!) and it gave me real chills. Its just one of those 'every second is perfect' songs. I also enjoy trying to work out the lyrics, I can understand how someone can sing so clearly and beautifully yet I still haven't a clue what he's saying?! One of the few lines I can hear for certain is 'mystic noise like slow turned key, filthy venom seek me, month or weekly' I shudder every time I hear that. Amazing.
So there you are, please feel free to comment and tell me how shit and wrong I am (I'm not).
Anyway I've surprised myself, it's quite a mix. Oh and I got to 10 and decided I'd left out a few that needed added so here we are, top 13 favourite songs. Opinions would be lovely (of any sort, you won't be changing my mind about any of them!).
In no particular order...
The Mars Volta - The Widow
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5d91pMZkxkQ
This song has the absolute best chorus ever, and a trumpety solo in it. Oh and the lyrics are brilliant (so much so I've included the lyrics video on youtube above!). Nothing more to say really, it's just a perfect song.
My Dying Bride - Symphonaire Infernus et Spera Empyrium
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKYmXeTTdWs
This is the only metal song on the list (weirdly enough) but I love every second of it. Again it's the lyrics that really do it for me and it has several of my favourite lines ever 'masturbate to the sound of a knell' and 'make yourself all honey and the flies will devour you' are the two that spring to mind right away. For some reason I've always associated this song with Murnaus film Faust, not sure why (maybe it's the time 'dance the cobbles') but that film goes hand in hand with this song for me. I'll edit something together someday.
Goldfrapp - Deer Stop
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMsxa3qk2bA
One of the few songs that remind me of a 'certain someone' that doesn't instantly make me want to kill everything. Reminds me of the good times, laid outside at 4am smoking and generally being filthy bohemians. Ah well...
Rose Kemp - The Unholy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uxu0Xx0DVwk
Oh Rose Kemp... She's set the standard pretty high for every other woman I'm likely to meet. I'm saving myself for a rune carving, robe wearing, guitar playing, screaming doom goddess. Preferably with two parents in Steeleye Span and with an oft misread name. Oh by the way at around 2:16 of this song when the guitar really kicks... It does something to me... Weird shuddery things... If I was every lucky enough to meet Rose I'd beg her to play that riff at me until I died.
Steindór Andersen & Sigur Rós - Á Ferð Til Breiðafjarðar Vorið 1922
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Qap_JEChc0
Simply one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard. I have no idea what he's saying and I don't want to know, at this point I've made my own meaning. If anyone reading this outlives me (likely) this is my funeral song. Cheers.
Fleetwood Mac - Man of the World
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CT7mzrJunc
I love Peter Green, he's possibly my favourite guitarist of all time and he has that debilitating mental illness that really endears me to people (don't get me started on Howard Hughes...). I've read interviews with the rest of the band saying that they wish they could stopped his mental decline and often mention the lyrics to this song, Mick Fleetwood then commented "my god... how didn't I notice...". I find Man of the World to be an incredibly sad that really shows Greens feelings at that time of his life.
Sparklehorse - Spirit Ditch
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPWf-KbHsRU
I remember exactly first hearing this band. Neil and I were sat inside Sander Yard cafe in Whitby (unusual since I normally sit outside and smoke) trying to outdo each other with insane musicians (I was certain I'd win with the whole Varg vs Euronymous thing) and Mark Linkous / Sparklehorse was mentioned. My initial reaction was 'I'm not listening to a fucking band called Sparklehorse!" but I was sent this song and it really spoke to me. Again it's almost painfully sad (the voice recording from his Mother is particularly touching) and after being told that he committed suicide all of his music took on a deeper meaning.
Rest in peace Mark, wish I could have met you.
Gravenhurst - Cities Beneath the Sea
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCUgAVO4zhA
I may well be cheating with this one, its probably not my favourite Gravenhurst song but he dedicated it to me live! I love Gravenhurst, he made me want to give up music because he's already written everything I want to write. Anyway, I booked him for my festival last year and got to hang out with him a bit, we talked about books (he recommended House of Leaves and From Hell) and taught me how to fingerpick on guitar. Quite what made him choose this song to dedicate to me has had me thinking since but I imagine it's a Whitby / sea connection. Oh and he smokes a pipe, lovely guy.
Ulver - It Is Not Sound
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URqgcp1tiTU
The opening noises are some of my favourite sounds ever. Ulver can do no wrong in my eyes (except when playing live...) and this is just the perfect example of why I love them.
Pixies - Velouria
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYUm5T8uQIY
Pixies are one of my all time favourite bands. I was given a cd of about 40 albums by a guy I worked with called Tommy Hair which included every Pixies, Cure and My Bloody Valentine album so yeah, I owe him a lot. He also taught me everything I know about recording sound and was an all round nice guy. I never saw him again after we finished work on that film but was told a few years ago by a mutual friend that he had died suddenly while working abroad in Dubai...
The Beach Boys - God Only Knows
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDfH_J4MAUQ
Quite simply one of the best songs ever written. Thats it.
Cardiacs - Dirty Boy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-dd4fMUhAY
Again cheating because I couldn't find a video for my actual choice 'Foundling' but this is the song that got me into Cardiacs. Neil had been pestering me for what felt like decades to check out his favourite band, the Cardiacs and every time I gave them a listen I felt like I was going insane (in the really bad way). I've no idea what happened but Dirty Boy came on shuffle once and I've been a bit obsessed ever since. Sing to God is one of the greatest albums ever made and you really owe it to yourself to (at the very least ) give it a go. Might just grow on you.
Stars in Battledress - Full Colour is His Name
http://starsinbattledress.bandcamp.com/track/full-colour-is-his-name
Again, this was a Neil suggestion. I gave the album a listen when he first made me a copy and I liked it... That was about it though. Anyway months later this particular song came on shuffle (gods bless shuffle!!) and it gave me real chills. Its just one of those 'every second is perfect' songs. I also enjoy trying to work out the lyrics, I can understand how someone can sing so clearly and beautifully yet I still haven't a clue what he's saying?! One of the few lines I can hear for certain is 'mystic noise like slow turned key, filthy venom seek me, month or weekly' I shudder every time I hear that. Amazing.
So there you are, please feel free to comment and tell me how shit and wrong I am (I'm not).