Music: Survey of Summer

Illiterati,

For this post I will be doing something a little different. Thus far, I have covered various films, some good, some bad. This post is different. Instead, I will be covering music. Music is technically "art," so I haven't deceived you in any way by making this move. In short, quit bitching.

Now, it should be known that I hate mix-tapes. Nothing screams high-school, braced, acne-ridden girl like a damn mix-tape featuring all of the over-played Miley Cyrus and Rascal Flatts crap on the airwaves. I am also mostly opposed to playlists of any kind. I am a firm believer that a song is not complete by itself. It is part of an album. Just as a scene is part of a film, so too a song is a part of the whole. Because of this, I typically buy albums in their entirety and, to no one's surprise and everyone's chagrin, listen to that album, without skipping any tracks, in its entirety. However, for this post, I will be providing a survey of the music that I either discovered or rediscovered this summer. This list of songs is in no way, shape, or form a damn mix-tape. If you are under that impression, you are an idiot and I am not sure how you could possibly function in society. With that said, if you do listen to these next ten tracks in the order they are listed, they don't sound half bad together. But let it be known again: this is not a mix-tape. I am not an emotional, high-school girl.

Here's the list:

1. "Whole Lotta Love" from Led Zeppelin II by Led Zeppelin: The God's of Rock smiled upon the world when they brought forth one of the greatest tracks of the early '70s. They wrought this song from a dark, sexual place in themselves that was probably very similar to Valhalla. Anyway, this track is awesome. The whole album is awesome. If the only thing we had to show for our society was Led Zeppelin II, I think the people of the future would look back on us and think we were pretty bad-ass. That being said, this is probably the only song in the early '70s that could not only say, "I want to give you every inch of my love" and get an inordinate amount of airtime.

2. "Pumped Up Kicks" from Torches by Foster the People: This song might be the least manly on the track, but it is also damn good. I was introduced to it, of all places, when I was watching the Nightly News with Brian Williams. Apparently he's really into indie rock. This track is pretty chill sounding, almost happy. It sounds a lot like the Dandy Warhols and MGMT. However, for all the happy sounds, the lyrics are remarkably dark. I'll let you discover that for yourself.

3. "Light of the Morning" from Baby Darling Doll Face Honey by Band of Skulls: Another down and dirty rock song like Led Zeppelin. Again it is about at least sex if not love. I know it's been on a couple car commercials, but whatever. The song rocks. I was introduced to this by one of my best friends with a similar taste in music and I have to say I'm glad I was. The rest of the album isn't bad, either.

4. "Second Chance" from Gimme Some by Peter Bjorn and John: This track comes form PBnJ's newest album and it's their best. Everyone loves "Young Folks" but this is better. The entire album is worth a listen. Not a bad track in the lot.

5. "The Bronze" from Queens of the Stone Age by Queens of the Stone Age: A bonus track from QOTSA's first album. QOTSA is one of my favorite bands and when they re-released the their debut, I had to have it. Everyone immediately assumes either "Avon" or "Mexicola" is the best of the album, but they're wrong. "The Bronze" is simply harder rocking and better. Josh Homme knows his shit. Respect Josh Homme.

6. "Gratisfaction" from Angles by The Strokes: I really discovered this album over spring break, but it carried well into the summer. The album as a whole is rather angsty, but this song is probably the most carefree sounding. I still feel like Albert Hammond Jr. got shafted by the band because they threw him into mostly rhythm guitar, but he still comes through and shines. Let the boy spread his wings.

7. "Frustrating Sound" from Radio Moscow by Radio Moscow: I really stumbled upon this band when I was bored on YouTube (imagine that). Anyway, it was a great discovery. The guitarist, don't know his name, plays as good as Hendrix. I'm sure Hendrix fans will get their panties in a knot when they read this, but buck up. This kid is good. The band has a great bluesy sound that is lost on my generation. Maybe if the blues came back, kids my age would learn to live again and not be pretentious and cold...like me.

8. "Ghetto Defendant" from Combat Rock by The Clash: With all the shit that just went down in London (riots and whatnot) I could have said "White Riot" or "London's Burning," but I refuse to be cliche. There are two things this blog will never be: 1. quality and 2. consciously cliche. However, I have high hopes you, reader, won't have an ax to grind if there are unintentional cliches. What I'm trying to say is have a heart and don't abandon ship on me. Anyway, this track is very mellow and the main reason I like it is for Allen Ginsberg. Ginsberg reads some poetry behind the song the whole time and says some rather interesting things ("Do the worm on Acropolis...Slamdance the Cosmopolis"). He also says, "Iron Serenity." I have no idea what it means but it sounds nice. Just listen to the damn song and don't make me over-think this.

9. "The Shrine/An Argument" from Helplessness Blues by Fleet Foxes: This is my favorite album from the summer and this track is the best. I recently saw Fleet Foxes in concert, and it was incredible. Robin Pecknold is easily the best voice in music today and his harmonies with the other band members are delicious. The only problem I have with this track is the very end. Apparently someone decided that throwing in some random blowing on a bass clarinet was art. It isn't. It's crap. It sounds like something dying again and again. They even did it in the concert. It was a low-point for the entire production. Just skip the end of the track. It will ruin it for you.

10. "Get Up (I Feel Like Being A) Sex Machine" by James Brown: This song is funky and wonderful. It doesn't really make any sense. It's just horny and very very funky. I recently rediscovered this song when I re-watched a few of the "The Hire" short films by BMW; one of which stars Brown and this song. It is a damn good song and might just be the recipe for liquid sex. You can't not listen to this song and not be happy. I just used a double negative, but this testament to testosterone and love demands it. Listen up. I hope you take notes.

So that's the survey. I think it speaks for itself.

Piss off,

DG

Post Scriptum: This is not a mix-tape

Post Post Scriptum: I'm serious. This isn't a mix-tape