|
Author: tantan on April 16 2008 Viewed 3312 times. 25 people liked this blog. You can rate it below if you haven't already.
People who enjoyed reading this: bla, Roshi, sAMsKi, jdg, SenorFrio, license, Leo, timmo, MonkeyPlus1, madeofoak, EsromCole, mlbot, jkn, tylth, eevvrr, Otterfan, minisystem, Zanf, thehydrax, frnortnr, hecanjog, KidQuaalude, opticecho, sclr, applaud
-->
There have been many fave this, fave that blogs lately. Lets take it further.
Name your (no more than) five absolutely favorite songs of all time. I'm talking songs that are fundamentally, archetypally connected to your soul. Songs that you never, ever tire of hearing. Songs that make you cry, or shake your ass, or piss you off in that righteous sort of way every single time you hear it. Songs that other people can cover and you still feel that tug. Dig deep. There is no shame here.
Finally, to hell with lists. Say something real about these songs and where / how they get you.
Mine.
1. Depeche Mode. Stripped. This song, for me, is the perfect dark techno-pop song. The sounds are clever, the arrangement is very effective, and melodically it is a punch to the gut. Every time that big old string pad kicks in, I am toast. I love this song to death, and I love every cover version of it, including that recent sort of popular cover by Shiny Toy Guns.
2. The Cure. Sinking. There are so many Cure songs milling about in my subconscious, in particular this one, A Forest, and To Wish Impossible Things. However, this is the first of their songs that I heard that tapped into the sort of desperate emotional vibe that they would gratuitously, wonderfully exploit on Disintegration later on. The simple little piano riff kills me.
3. Bjork. All is Full of Love. Specifically, the Funkstorung remix that features in Chris Cunningham's video. A perfect, gorgeous song. The sounds, songwriting, and more than anything, her performance are terribly moving to me.
4. Slowdive. Dagger. So much of Slowdive's canon is huge and dripping the sort of miserable sentiment that I get off on, I'm not sure what it is about this tiny song that hits me. Contrast? Its sparseness in context of their other work? However, it moves me just as much out of context. I just know that it is a very simple little gem of a song, and it works because of it.
5. Skinny Puppy. Worlock. Oh man, that vocoder. Damn.
Hm, with the possible exception of the bjork track, no IDM or contemporary electronic peoples.
Also, due to popular request: please recount your five favorite jerkoffs -- identify the location, duration, and time of day.
| |
Comments
04/16/08
+
PM |
QUOTE |
PERMALINK |
REPORT
Otterfan
SenorFrio said: "Public Enemy - Black Steel In the Hour Of Chaos"
That was #6 for me.
astroid might be off by 15 songs, but 17 of them are also in my fave 5. However the Shins and 'I Know What Boys Like' are actually crap, so he gets an A-.
04/16/08
+
PM |
QUOTE |
PERMALINK |
REPORT
Otterfan
And if no one says "Congoman" by the Congos I'll make it the 23rd addition to my favorite 5. The musical expression of life emerging from the primordial ooze. Best thing Lee Perry ever did, and that's saying a lot.
04/16/08
+
PM |
QUOTE |
PERMALINK |
REPORT
tantan
roshi, about arthur russell, it makes no sense to me that you would like it. Can you please explain?
04/16/08
+
PM |
QUOTE |
PERMALINK |
REPORT
minisystem
depeche mode - people are people
cure - 10:15 saturday night
ministry - stigmata
lego feet - leaves on the line
the smiths - how soon is now
04/16/08
+
PM |
QUOTE |
PERMALINK |
REPORT
tantan
minisystem you're clearly my soul mate
04/16/08
+
PM |
QUOTE |
PERMALINK |
REPORT
Zanf
Reload - Le Soliel et La Mer [Black Dog remix]
One of the most beautiful pieces of electronica Ive ever heard. Perfect for tension and release and has that 'yearning' feeling that just reduces me to tears
Brian Eno - An Ending (Ascent)
My friend Kevin lent me this album just before he was due to go on holiday and I listened to it continuously. The day he was due back, I found out that he had committed suicide. When I visited his mum and tried to return it, she insisted that I keep it and considered it a parting gift from Kevin. Its my friend saying goodbye.
Talk Talk - The Spirit Of Eden
An album I just cant get over. nuff said. Inheritance is a particular favourite from it: link
"Heaven bless you in your calm
My gentle friend
Heaven bless you"
Talk Talk - New Grass
Another Talk Talk album [Laughing Stock] that I love to bits and this track is the redemption song. Just a groove that plays over and over with this trickling guitar melody and Mark Hollis's voice, sounding like he might just crack at any point.
Japan - The Art Of Parties
I got into Japan through a mate at school and just couldnt get over how funky they were and the weirdness of the synths. Turns out I now live about 10 minutes from the where the school used to be where they all first met [its now a drive-thru mcdonalds and a lidl!]
04/16/08
+
PM |
QUOTE |
PERMALINK |
REPORT
Zanf
6 would have to be....
Fela Kuti - Water No Get Enemy
The simplicity of the message really hit me when I first heard it and the groove blew me away. It made me a big fan of Fela after that.
04/16/08
+
PM |
QUOTE |
PERMALINK |
REPORT
Roshi
tantan said: "roshi, about arthur russell, it makes no sense to me that you would like it. Can you please explain?"
link
04/16/08
+
PM |
QUOTE |
PERMALINK |
REPORT
Roshi
04/16/08
+
PM |
QUOTE |
PERMALINK |
REPORT
tantan
thank fuck I already know what those are and didn't follow the links from my work computer
04/16/08
+
PM |
QUOTE |
PERMALINK |
REPORT
dylan
I have so many favorite tracks, but these are the ones that I have been listening to in heavy rotation these days:
Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth - Caramel City:
This is just classic boom-bap production by Pete Rock, replete with that sultry Rhodes sound and big booty bass. C.L. Smooth gives a classic delivery about the ladies, which undeniably proves his smoothness.
Autechre - Second Scepe:
This track is pretty much what got me into Autechre. The electro beat evolves logically and the synthesis is just awesome. The reverb swells adds to Autechre's detached, yet evocative sound.
Coppé - Bones and Ashes:
Coppé is my friend, so I may be a bit biased. But in all honesty, this song is just too damned beautiful. A lot of the sounds were taken from samples of her father while he was hooked up to a bunch of medical machinery in the hospital (shortly before he died). The production by Ryan Breen (Back Ted 'n' Ted) is just so amazing. One of the saddest songs I have ever heard, and my personal favorite of her prolific output.
Mega Man 2 - Dr. Wiley's Castle (Level 1):
Maybe it is just nostalgia for the good old days, but I have been listening to a lot of NES soundtracks recently. I have been using MIDI NES a lot too, so I have been looking to Mega Man in particular for inspiration. I can see how this track, a long with other classic video games, has influenced my sound. I love the game too; probably one of the hardest games I have played. A close second in terms of video game music would have to be the Castlevania series.
Oval - Do While:
This is another example of electronic music that you can listen to for any length of time. It is about 25 minutes, with no real harmonic or melodic variation, but the sonic textures and production are really dynamic that it doesn't really matter.
04/16/08
+
PM |
QUOTE |
PERMALINK |
REPORT
Roshi
tantan said: "4. Slowdive. Dagger. So much of Slowdive's canon is huge and dripping the sort of miserable sentiment that I get off on, I'm not sure what it is about this tiny song that hits me. Contrast? Its sparseness in context of their other work? However, it moves me just as much out of context. I just know that it is a very simple little gem of a song, and it works because of it."
Do you mean this song?
David Brent said: "
I froze your tears, and made a dagger
and stabbed it in my cock, forever
it stays there like Excalibur
Are you my Arthur? Say you are.
Take this cool dark steeled blade
steal it, sheathe it in your lake
I'd drown with you to be together
Must you breath? 'Cause I need heaven."
(If you will not meatspin, I will meatspin you!)
04/16/08
+
PM |
QUOTE |
PERMALINK |
REPORT
thehydrax
mostly shoegaze. in no particular order, it would go something like this:
Echo & The Bunnymen - over the wall. So powerful, especially live
Ride - like a daydream. reminds me of sunny days. the best guitar outro
Pale Saints - time thief. weird & creepy. angular & all that.
The Bats - North by North another awesome outro
Moose - Ballad of Adam & Eve. I love the texture, the emotion, sentiment. it's awesome
+ one more
Headless Chickens - Gaskrankinstation. just insane & demented link
04/16/08
+
PM |
QUOTE |
PERMALINK |
REPORT
frnortnr
hhmmmmmm
the cure- pictures of you- yes, possibly nostalgia kicking in, but it is a really beautiful song. the way the guitars sweep in there, i dunno. nice.
brothomstates -kava- the sharpness of the percussion mixed with the melody just kills. i LOVE this song. could listen to it 1.8 billion times in a row.
the stone roses- i am the resurrection- again nostalgia, but they were one of those bands that were just perfect for awhile. and then when the second part of this song kicks in, the jamming psychedelic bit, it's so gooooooood.
autechre-VLetrmx21- it's not sad, but makes you feel like you should cry cause it's so beautiful. this is my fav ae song.
spiritualized- take your time- hypnotic.
ministry- burning inside- just awesome. angry!!!!!
luke vibert- anything. i can't pick- almost everything he does makes me happy.
there are so many more, many of which are listed, for example i feel very bad about leaving ride, the smiths and plaid off this list.... but i will stop now.
04/16/08
+
PM |
QUOTE |
PERMALINK |
REPORT
frnortnr
oh and u-ziq. damn that man made so many of my favourite songs.
Register / login
|
^
EM411 is Copyright 2001-2008 EM411.com
All rights reserved. | Contact | RSS
|
