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1. neil young - "harvest"
by now you are either saying 'what?' or nodding your head. i first heard
this album when i borrowed it from lucas' dad way back in high school cause
pearl jam thought he was cool and i thought it was rockin'. 'the needle
and the damage done' remains one of the best anti-hard drug songs written.
even better, though, is the feeling that pervades the whole album, from
beginning to end this is a man's soul set down on a spinning disc.
2. mogwai - "rock action/young team"
i used to naively think that i wouldn't like this band. too 'arty' or too
'slow/weird'. but seeing them live last year with '...trail of the dead' and 'further'
completely blew me away. the sonic experience (even with earplugs on) was
spellbinding, and then i heard the two albums mentioned here. they stretch sounds
and loop samples to make it feel like you are surrounded by amazing and entrancing streams
and waterfalls of noise.
3. hot water music - "caution" when i was on crutches recently i listened
to this everyday as i took on the big hill down to the station, it kept
me motivated and moving even when i thought i couldn't hop another step.
i can't think of a band that i have felt such an affintity with for in quite a while.
4. propagandhi - "less talk... more rock" i have lost the
cover to this, and so it got buried in my CD rack, but its been a staple
at work for me for the last week. the last album before john samson left
to play modern romantic poetry set to heartbreaking music with 'the weakerthans'.
its an amazing blend of light ('refusing to be a man') and dark ('nation
states') and every song has at least one lyric that makes you stop and think
either due to its ingenuity or social relevance.
5. skateboarding after having to sit out 6 weeks... the feeling of rolling around, just the
simple act of carving up/over/around obstacles. the art of finding your balance and
skills coming back. smiling like an idiot for hours on end... 'nuff said!
6. the rolling stones - too many songs to list! they
may be dinosaurs now, but back in their day they made music that still more
than stands the test of time. if you think the hives, the vines and the
strokes are good, pick up 'exile on main street', 'beggars banquet' or any of
the bizillion greatest hits around (i recommend 'high tides and green grass'
or 'forty licks') and learn. NB :if anyone has any vintage live recordings
pleeeeaaaase let me know.
7. the
smiths - "the very best of..." yeah, morrissey is a twat. yeah,
some of it sounds a bit twee, but i cant deny the beauty of tracks like
'charming man' or 'how soon is now' or the complete inanity/stupidity of
'some girls are bigger than others'. they capture a feeling of ennui or
listless boredom that thousands of copy-cat indie bands have failed to do
in the decades that have past since they split.
8. meeting new
friends who make you stoked to be alive, and seeing old ones when ive slacked
and haven't caught up for a while.
9. dancing with friends
to bad-ass rock'n'roll and not caring about if you are in time (shouts out
to thommy, brian and the cut'n'paste djs, breakin' bj and all the kids that
'shake' it at the spanish club)
10. bandannas (whether axl
rose-style or as a bit of pocket
flare) they are as good as they are funny... |
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