2010年 Feb 5日 Friday, 0:44
I initially thought of doing this around October 2009 and though I'd wait untill the 1st of Jan 2010 to start. Well January has come and gone and I have eventually got my act together.
Here is the brief: everyday I will pick a song that has been tickling my fancy, maybe write a bit about it and expect no one to ever read this.
February 20 Take My Life by Whoever was playing at Nick and Laura's Wedding
When it comes to Christian songs I have a few types that I really dig. Take My Life is what I would call a 'prayer song' and one of my favourite ones at that. Today I heard it at Nick and Laura Ionidies weddings and it really fit. Sure the arrangement wasn't as I would have done it but this song is about the words and this dedication really fitted into the wedding ceremony.
"Take my life, and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee;
Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in ceaseless praise"
February 19 Line in the Sand by The Doors
I love it when Motorhead slow down and grind out a song instead of just rip through it and this is possibly their best example of this. Really burns along, costantly on the edge of exploding. Also one of the best wrestling songs ever.
February 18 The End by The Doors
This is the most messed up song I will listen to. Jim Morrison is one disturbing fellow.
February 17 Great Leap Forward by Billy Bragg
As left as a red flag (and he has sung under his fair share of them in his time), as working class as a coal mine and as outspoken as Pauline Hanson in her prime Billy Bragg demands attention. This is perhaps his signature track and in it he sums up both my disgust at war, my dislike of consumerism, my curiosity with how the internet will effect politics and offers perhaps one of my favorite lines of all time:
"So join the struggle while you may,
the revolution's just an ethical haircut away,
when you're waiting for the great leap forwards."
Feburuary 16 Imitation of Life by R.E.M.
R.E.M. are perhaps one of my favorite crafters of music art around. It manages to be both melodic and catchy yet still intelligent. This song and it's film clip really sum that all up. If you haven't seen the film clip then it is really worth a look.
February 15 One Crowded Hour by Augie March
I went through a period about half a year ago where I listened to just about nothing but Augie March. I think in just one and a half months I clocked up over 150 tracks and I would have to say that this song, the one that drew me to this fantastic Aussie band, remains one of my favorite of all time. It is one of those timeless songs that will never really go out of fashion. The music and lyrics work together to create a beautiful, yet ambiguous image. I've listened to this song countless times but am still not sure exactly what it is about. One thing I'm certainly sure of though is that I wish I could write like this.
February 14 In His Image by the Bathurst Pressie Church Band
The first thing that hooks me in this song is the guitar hook. It can be done quite delicately (as Emu Music do) but I like to give it a bit more grunge, a bit of character when I play it. This isn't just because I, generally speaking, like that sound more but making the riff a bit rougher around the edges adds another layer to the meaning behind the song.
"In his image, we have been made though we see shattered remains."
I can't rave enough about the lyrics of this song, they are just such a great explanation of the gospel: We were made in God's image, but with sin we have shattered that vision. But Jesus, the "exact perfect picture God" was "shattered that we may be whole." So in conclusion, while the initial hook is the guitar riff, the bit that sticks with me is the lyrics. Go Emu Music!
February 13 Wheels by Foo Fighters
I've listened to a lot of the Fooies in the last 3 months and as this is their newest song it has coped a fair bit of air time. I must say, it took a while to grow on me but right at the moment I would rate this as one of the Foo Fighters better songs. While it has nothing on the likes of The Pretenter or My Hero and can't even stand next to Everlong (possibly my favourite song ever), it is really quite catchy. From the classic "one, two, three, four" count in to the great vocal track it is just flat out solid. The bit that gets me though is when the guitar 'drops out' in the intro and verse guitar riffs, coupled with some very effective sliding up and down the neck (which these guys do as well as anyone) it creates a really nice effect and give the song a slightly unique feeling.
February 12 Master of Puppets by Metallica
From the opening crunching riff through the sordid tale of cocaine addiction, through the instrumental, through to the final grinding chorus this song just plain rocks. Metallica can blow the cobwebs off my speaker any day.
February 11 Kashmir by Led Zeppelin
This song is so epic it made mopping the floor after Foodworks closed tonight feel epic.
February 10 Wonderwall by Oasis
It's a pitty this song is so cliched but also no real wonder that it is. It is just that darn good.
February 9 Where Did You Sleep Last Night by Nirvana
There comes a time every night when I have to turn my music down so the neighbors don't get angry. Nirvana sucks when that happens. The exceptions are anything they did acoustically, like this one. I like to see this as Kurt's last scream off into the dark. So beautifully raw.
February 8 Lachlan Tigers by The Bushwackers
Funny story about this track. I was out at a friends place for a bonfire when I was about 9. At that stage in my life I absolutely loved this band and song and I somehow convinced the bush band that was play to give this a go and let me sing it.
February 7 Blessed be Your Name by the Bathurst Pressie Church Band.
I decided that at least every Sunday I will throw in a Christian song and more than likely it will be one I played at church. Today this one kicked off the service and we rocked it out, was lots of fun, just an out and out praise to God, a modern day Psalm if you will. It left me smiling while I played and sung it, just a great way to worship the Blessed Lord.
February 6 Gimmie Shelter by The Rolling Stones
Was watching a doco called The Seven Ages of Rock today and it talked about at the end of the first 'age' (the 60's basically) the Stones thrived in the darkness created by the fall of the Hippy dream. Songs like this one and Sympathy for the Devil delved into dark depths where songs had not yet been. This forced me into my Stones collection and I really listened to this song for the first time ever. I cannot believe in my time as a fan of the Stones I have not really listened to this song before.
February 5 Blind Willie McTell by Bob Dyan
Another beautifully written song, just a tribute to all those who have ever strummed a guitar and song a crackling tune. Dylan at his sublime best.
February 4 Little Lion Man by Mumford & Sons
It may be cliched enjoy listening to the song that won the hottest 100 around this time of the year but so what. Once again, I wish I could write like this.
February 3 I Am Mine by Pearl Jam
Dusty, brooding, powerful, I wish I could write like this.
"The ocean is full 'cause everyone's crying
The full moon is looking for friends at hightide
The sorrow grows bigger when the sorrow's denied
I only know my mind
I am mine"
February 2 The Widow by The Mars Volta
I bought the album Frances the Mute on a whim about three weeks ago after hearing this song on the store PA out at Foodworks. Every time I hear it it punches me in the face. I think my favorite part is when it runs out of the chorus into the amazing guitar solo but really the slow, brooding build up is what makes that moment so amazing and honestly quite cathartic.
February 1 Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin
Well, I can't say this song has particularly popped out today as much as it pops out every single time I hear it. As I have said before, there is no such thing as a perfect song but this is as close as rock will ever come.