Desert Island Disks
A shout out has to go to Naughty who's inspired us all to write down the nine songs we just had to have with us if we were stranded on a desert island. Funny thing was that most of these songs jumped out at me right away. No contest. Hands down winners. But let me tell you, the list of Honorable Mention's is vast, and still growing.
I want to up the ante to this challenge though. When I think of disks, I think of whole albums. So, what 9 albums would you have to have if you were stranded on a desert island? I'll post those a little bit later
So, without further ado.....
1. Red Barchetta - Rush
First off, I'm a huge Rush fan. (yes one of those guys) So narrowing this down to just one Rush song might have proven difficult. Heck, just narrowing it down to just one favorite song from Moving Pictures might have proven difficult, but this was the watershed song. When I really payed attention to this song, it finally clicked for me...."This band rules!" Great musicianship, especially the drumming (Neal Peart - Best drummer in rock, hands down) great song arrangement, and the theme of the lyrics is all about freedom. Defying the rules type of freedom. The freedom of a limitless horizon. And also rebeling and getting away with it. For those who might not know, the song is about driving an outlawed car through the countryside, getting chased by the cops, and getting away with it. So, if you're in the car with me when this song comes on, I'm gonna hit the gas pedal. I get this feeling when I'm riding my bike sometimes too.
2. One Love - The Stone Roses
I really loved the "Manchester Sound" in the early 90's, and The Stone Roses lead the way. Some bands have so many influences that they can never reconcile them all. The Stone Roses could. They could combine funk, folk, rock and hip-hop styles and make it all sound great. This song in particular. I loved the start with the bass line and the one distorted guitar chord, and then they just rip right into the song. The lyrics are sultry/sexy (even though I can't understand most of them), and the drumming great great too. This song always puts me in a sexy sort of party mood, and the volume always gets cranked. The Stone Roses first album is much like Moving Pictures, in that nearly every song could make my list, however, ironically, this song wasn't on their first album, it was released later, but its definately from the same sessions. For me this really exemplified the Manchester Sound.
3. Voodoo Chile - Stevie Ray Vaughn
I got dragged to an SRV concert in 84, and he played this song, and it blew my mind. I was watching someone play a Hendrix song better than Hendrix. It gave me goose bumps...sometimes it still does. I was an instant fan. SRV just pours all of his skill and soul, and fury into this song, and I'm amazed that the guitar doesn't end up as a smouldering heap at the end. God Damn! this song fires me up everytime I hear it.
4. Lazy Eye - Silversun Pickups
I think I heard this song everyday for a year, and I never got sick of it. I just love the riff...The steady flow of the song, and it even rocks out in the middle. I think more than anything this song helped me during a very stressful period of life last year. Skitabug knows something of this, and we met when I was starting to come out of this period. But for some reason whenever I was starting to feel overwhelmed, this song would come on the radio and clam me down. Funny how a song can affect you.
5. Given To Fly - Pearl Jam
This song just elevates my soul. Its another song that will give me goose bumps sometimes when I hear it. Once again, when I hear Vedder scream out the chorus, I can just feel all of his fury and all of his soul. To me, this song represents redemption, and resolve. Its about standing up to the worst that life can throw at you, and withstanding it. Also, its about not letting that stance jade you, and make you hard. I also like it because Eddie Vedder doesn't use his whiny voice while singing it.
6. Sweetness And Light - Lush
I like this song because....well, because its sweet. The ladies from Lush can have a very angelic vocal sound (even though I can't understand a single word lol), and combined with the ethereal quality of the music, this is just an awesome chill song. Speaking of the music, for a ethereal song, its very dense. Alot of light and jangly guitars overdubbed on them selves. It has that wall of sound quality to it. This song puts me in a mellow joyful mood....Its hard to describe. Kinda like the beginning of a good wine buzz, or holding your girl and drifting off to sleep after sex. But I digress....
7. California Stars - Wilco
This song speaks to my home state. The place where several generations of my family have called home. And I'm not talking about the suburban sprawl, ALL THAT SUPERFICIAL HOLLYWOOD KRAP THAT THE REST OF THE COUNTRY THINKS CALIFORNIA IS ABOUT!!! No, for me, its all about the simple beauty of the countryside that's often overlooked. Its about the cool stuff I see while riding my bike on quiet backcountry roads. Its about simple sentiments of love and friendship.....innocence I guess. The song also reminds me of camping with my friends. I'm pretty sure this was a Woodie Guthery song originally. "I like to rest, my heavy head tonight, on a bed, of California Stars. I like to lay, my weary bones tonight, on a bed, of California stars. I love to feel, your hand touching mine. Tell me why, I must keep working on. Yes, I give my life, to lay my head tonight, on a bed, of California Stars."
Brilliant.
8. Surrender - U2
This song came from the War album OBTW. This is another song I dig because of the atmospheric/dreamy quality of the music. I dig the pulsing bass underneath the jagged, almost funky rhythm guitar. Combine that with the jarring, distorted slide guitar from The Edge, its a great and gritty combination. I can really hear pain, confusion, and lonelyness in this song, and yet there's an uplifting chorus towards the end. Somehow, despite my moodiness, this song doesn't depress me. It sort of uplifts me. I think its more the music than the lyrics that do that. I can't really place my finger on why this is my DID from U2. I'm a big fan, and there are alot of awesome songs from U2. Certainly more well known ones. But this one really connects with me. Funny thing was that it was really easy to narrow down all of their songs to just a small handful, and this one was my choice. (Bad and Beautiful Day were close runners up)
9. I Am One - Smashing Pumpkins
To put it simply, this song f'in rocks!! The opening drum beat, then the bass line, a couple of distorted chords, and then it just f'in rocks out. I just love it. This is one of my amp out songs. Actually, there are three songs on Gish that I could've chosen. Siva and Bury Me have the same rocking out/amp out quality, but I Am One is the first track, and to start off with a killer drum beat....well the choice was obvious. Jimmy Chamberlin is another one of my favorite drummers in rock, and he kicks ass on this song. (I have a thing for good drummers if you can't tell. He really drives the song without overplaying) I also dig the way the Pumpkins can go from totally rocking out, to being totally quiet, and then just explode again.
OK, time for the Honorable Mentions. I'll try to be brief with these
Sit Down - James
Kind of reminds me of a good drinking song. In addition to that, and more importantly, its an anthem to all the outsiders in the world. There is a place for you.
Baba O'Riley - The Who
Simply a cool song. Cool synthesizers, and great power chords from Pete Townsend
Behind Blue Eyes - The Who
I think this song best personifies who I am
She Sells Sancuary - The Cult
Best song from them
I Wanna Be Adored - The Stone Roses
Close runner up to One Love
Good Lovin' - The Paladins
Great rockabilly song. Makes me want to go swing dancing
Would - Alice In Chains
To me, a very sexy/sultry song
Barfly and Spike - The Chieftains
Great Irish jig. I put this in when I'm feeling my Irish roots
She Moves Through The Fair - Old Celtic Folk Song
A ballad. Poetic, spiritual/mystical, tragic. I've only ever heard it sung by women, which makes it even more haunting.
Here's Where The Story Ends - The Sunday's
Rusty Cage & Burden In My Hand - Soundgarden
I love how they turned up the Bass in Rusty Cage. Burden has a cool hook.
Sloop John B - The Beach Boys
Longing for home.
Salisbury Hill - Peter Gabriel
Same thing. Longing for home, but just happier.
Sproston Green - Charlatans
Another Manchester band I love.
OK, that's plenty. Y'all probably stopped reading by now lol
I want to up the ante to this challenge though. When I think of disks, I think of whole albums. So, what 9 albums would you have to have if you were stranded on a desert island? I'll post those a little bit later
So, without further ado.....
1. Red Barchetta - Rush
First off, I'm a huge Rush fan. (yes one of those guys) So narrowing this down to just one Rush song might have proven difficult. Heck, just narrowing it down to just one favorite song from Moving Pictures might have proven difficult, but this was the watershed song. When I really payed attention to this song, it finally clicked for me...."This band rules!" Great musicianship, especially the drumming (Neal Peart - Best drummer in rock, hands down) great song arrangement, and the theme of the lyrics is all about freedom. Defying the rules type of freedom. The freedom of a limitless horizon. And also rebeling and getting away with it. For those who might not know, the song is about driving an outlawed car through the countryside, getting chased by the cops, and getting away with it. So, if you're in the car with me when this song comes on, I'm gonna hit the gas pedal. I get this feeling when I'm riding my bike sometimes too.
2. One Love - The Stone Roses
I really loved the "Manchester Sound" in the early 90's, and The Stone Roses lead the way. Some bands have so many influences that they can never reconcile them all. The Stone Roses could. They could combine funk, folk, rock and hip-hop styles and make it all sound great. This song in particular. I loved the start with the bass line and the one distorted guitar chord, and then they just rip right into the song. The lyrics are sultry/sexy (even though I can't understand most of them), and the drumming great great too. This song always puts me in a sexy sort of party mood, and the volume always gets cranked. The Stone Roses first album is much like Moving Pictures, in that nearly every song could make my list, however, ironically, this song wasn't on their first album, it was released later, but its definately from the same sessions. For me this really exemplified the Manchester Sound.
3. Voodoo Chile - Stevie Ray Vaughn
I got dragged to an SRV concert in 84, and he played this song, and it blew my mind. I was watching someone play a Hendrix song better than Hendrix. It gave me goose bumps...sometimes it still does. I was an instant fan. SRV just pours all of his skill and soul, and fury into this song, and I'm amazed that the guitar doesn't end up as a smouldering heap at the end. God Damn! this song fires me up everytime I hear it.
4. Lazy Eye - Silversun Pickups
I think I heard this song everyday for a year, and I never got sick of it. I just love the riff...The steady flow of the song, and it even rocks out in the middle. I think more than anything this song helped me during a very stressful period of life last year. Skitabug knows something of this, and we met when I was starting to come out of this period. But for some reason whenever I was starting to feel overwhelmed, this song would come on the radio and clam me down. Funny how a song can affect you.
5. Given To Fly - Pearl Jam
This song just elevates my soul. Its another song that will give me goose bumps sometimes when I hear it. Once again, when I hear Vedder scream out the chorus, I can just feel all of his fury and all of his soul. To me, this song represents redemption, and resolve. Its about standing up to the worst that life can throw at you, and withstanding it. Also, its about not letting that stance jade you, and make you hard. I also like it because Eddie Vedder doesn't use his whiny voice while singing it.
6. Sweetness And Light - Lush
I like this song because....well, because its sweet. The ladies from Lush can have a very angelic vocal sound (even though I can't understand a single word lol), and combined with the ethereal quality of the music, this is just an awesome chill song. Speaking of the music, for a ethereal song, its very dense. Alot of light and jangly guitars overdubbed on them selves. It has that wall of sound quality to it. This song puts me in a mellow joyful mood....Its hard to describe. Kinda like the beginning of a good wine buzz, or holding your girl and drifting off to sleep after sex. But I digress....
7. California Stars - Wilco
This song speaks to my home state. The place where several generations of my family have called home. And I'm not talking about the suburban sprawl, ALL THAT SUPERFICIAL HOLLYWOOD KRAP THAT THE REST OF THE COUNTRY THINKS CALIFORNIA IS ABOUT!!! No, for me, its all about the simple beauty of the countryside that's often overlooked. Its about the cool stuff I see while riding my bike on quiet backcountry roads. Its about simple sentiments of love and friendship.....innocence I guess. The song also reminds me of camping with my friends. I'm pretty sure this was a Woodie Guthery song originally. "I like to rest, my heavy head tonight, on a bed, of California Stars. I like to lay, my weary bones tonight, on a bed, of California stars. I love to feel, your hand touching mine. Tell me why, I must keep working on. Yes, I give my life, to lay my head tonight, on a bed, of California Stars."
Brilliant.
8. Surrender - U2
This song came from the War album OBTW. This is another song I dig because of the atmospheric/dreamy quality of the music. I dig the pulsing bass underneath the jagged, almost funky rhythm guitar. Combine that with the jarring, distorted slide guitar from The Edge, its a great and gritty combination. I can really hear pain, confusion, and lonelyness in this song, and yet there's an uplifting chorus towards the end. Somehow, despite my moodiness, this song doesn't depress me. It sort of uplifts me. I think its more the music than the lyrics that do that. I can't really place my finger on why this is my DID from U2. I'm a big fan, and there are alot of awesome songs from U2. Certainly more well known ones. But this one really connects with me. Funny thing was that it was really easy to narrow down all of their songs to just a small handful, and this one was my choice. (Bad and Beautiful Day were close runners up)
9. I Am One - Smashing Pumpkins
To put it simply, this song f'in rocks!! The opening drum beat, then the bass line, a couple of distorted chords, and then it just f'in rocks out. I just love it. This is one of my amp out songs. Actually, there are three songs on Gish that I could've chosen. Siva and Bury Me have the same rocking out/amp out quality, but I Am One is the first track, and to start off with a killer drum beat....well the choice was obvious. Jimmy Chamberlin is another one of my favorite drummers in rock, and he kicks ass on this song. (I have a thing for good drummers if you can't tell. He really drives the song without overplaying) I also dig the way the Pumpkins can go from totally rocking out, to being totally quiet, and then just explode again.
OK, time for the Honorable Mentions. I'll try to be brief with these
Sit Down - James
Kind of reminds me of a good drinking song. In addition to that, and more importantly, its an anthem to all the outsiders in the world. There is a place for you.
Baba O'Riley - The Who
Simply a cool song. Cool synthesizers, and great power chords from Pete Townsend
Behind Blue Eyes - The Who
I think this song best personifies who I am
She Sells Sancuary - The Cult
Best song from them
I Wanna Be Adored - The Stone Roses
Close runner up to One Love
Good Lovin' - The Paladins
Great rockabilly song. Makes me want to go swing dancing
Would - Alice In Chains
To me, a very sexy/sultry song
Barfly and Spike - The Chieftains
Great Irish jig. I put this in when I'm feeling my Irish roots
She Moves Through The Fair - Old Celtic Folk Song
A ballad. Poetic, spiritual/mystical, tragic. I've only ever heard it sung by women, which makes it even more haunting.
Here's Where The Story Ends - The Sunday's
Rusty Cage & Burden In My Hand - Soundgarden
I love how they turned up the Bass in Rusty Cage. Burden has a cool hook.
Sloop John B - The Beach Boys
Longing for home.
Salisbury Hill - Peter Gabriel
Same thing. Longing for home, but just happier.
Sproston Green - Charlatans
Another Manchester band I love.
OK, that's plenty. Y'all probably stopped reading by now lol