Music post: Grumpy music
Oct. 29th, 2005 10:45 amWeirdly enough, making this post has actually put me in a good mood, almost to the point of cackling. Go figure.
Generally speaking I like happy optimistic music -- when I was going through my list for this set, I was surprised how many songs I like actually have a word like 'happy' or 'merry' in the title. But I do have a few growly songs.
Graham Parker, Stupefaction (from "Master Hits"). Rock. I ask the landlord, 'How much you making? Don't you get tired of just taking and taking?'
The Who, Guitar and Pen (from "Who Are You"). Rock. When you sing to your mum and you hum and you croon, and she says that she'd like it with more of a tune ...
John Hiatt, A Perfectly Good Guitar (from "The Best Of"). Rock. It breaks my heart to see those stars smashing a perfectly good guitar.
Cake, Rock 'n' Roll Lifestyle (from "Motorcade of Generosity"). Rock, with horns. And how much did you pay for your black leather jacket? Is it you or your parents in this income-tax bracket?
The Kinks, A Gallon of Gas (from "Low Budget"). Bluesy rock. A bit of nostalgia from the last energy crisis. I got some red-hot speed and some really high-grade hash, but a gallon of gas can't be purchased anywhere for any amount of cash.
Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Ballad of Curtis Loew (from "Greatest Hits"). Blues. Those of you who only know "Free Bird" and "Sweet Home Alabama" are really missing the good stuff. On the day old Curtis died, nobody came to pray. Preacher said a word or two and they chucked him in the clay.
Alan Parsons Project, I Wouldn't Want to Be Like You (from "I, Robot"). Good old seventies rock. If I had a mind to, I wouldn't want to be like you. If I had time to, I wouldn't want to talk to you.
Tim O'Brien, Oxford Town (from "Red on Blonde"). Bluegrass-style cover of the Bob Dylan song, Like all bluegrass, it sounds cheerful even when it's talking about bloody death. He went down to Oxford Town. The guns and the clubs, they followed him down, all because his face was brown.
Billy Joel, Close To the Borderline (from "Glass Houses"). Rock. I always find it kind of laughable to have Billy Joel singing about how one of these days he's going to crack, just you watch, but it's still a great song. Blackout, heatwave, .44-caliber homicide, the bums drop dead and the dogs go mad in packs on the West Side.
Bruce Springsteen, The New Timer (from "The Ghost of Tom Joad"). Rock. Slashy, too, in a depressing sort of way. My Jesus, your precious love and mercy tonight, I'm sorry, could not fill my soul like one good rifle and the name of who I ought to kill.
Pursuit of Happiness, I'm An Adult Now (from "Love Junk"). Rock. I don't hate my father any more. I don't get drunk just to spite him. I've got my own reasons for drinking now. Think I'll call my dad up and invite him.
Generally speaking I like happy optimistic music -- when I was going through my list for this set, I was surprised how many songs I like actually have a word like 'happy' or 'merry' in the title. But I do have a few growly songs.
Graham Parker, Stupefaction (from "Master Hits"). Rock. I ask the landlord, 'How much you making? Don't you get tired of just taking and taking?'
The Who, Guitar and Pen (from "Who Are You"). Rock. When you sing to your mum and you hum and you croon, and she says that she'd like it with more of a tune ...
John Hiatt, A Perfectly Good Guitar (from "The Best Of"). Rock. It breaks my heart to see those stars smashing a perfectly good guitar.
Cake, Rock 'n' Roll Lifestyle (from "Motorcade of Generosity"). Rock, with horns. And how much did you pay for your black leather jacket? Is it you or your parents in this income-tax bracket?
The Kinks, A Gallon of Gas (from "Low Budget"). Bluesy rock. A bit of nostalgia from the last energy crisis. I got some red-hot speed and some really high-grade hash, but a gallon of gas can't be purchased anywhere for any amount of cash.
Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Ballad of Curtis Loew (from "Greatest Hits"). Blues. Those of you who only know "Free Bird" and "Sweet Home Alabama" are really missing the good stuff. On the day old Curtis died, nobody came to pray. Preacher said a word or two and they chucked him in the clay.
Alan Parsons Project, I Wouldn't Want to Be Like You (from "I, Robot"). Good old seventies rock. If I had a mind to, I wouldn't want to be like you. If I had time to, I wouldn't want to talk to you.
Tim O'Brien, Oxford Town (from "Red on Blonde"). Bluegrass-style cover of the Bob Dylan song, Like all bluegrass, it sounds cheerful even when it's talking about bloody death. He went down to Oxford Town. The guns and the clubs, they followed him down, all because his face was brown.
Billy Joel, Close To the Borderline (from "Glass Houses"). Rock. I always find it kind of laughable to have Billy Joel singing about how one of these days he's going to crack, just you watch, but it's still a great song. Blackout, heatwave, .44-caliber homicide, the bums drop dead and the dogs go mad in packs on the West Side.
Bruce Springsteen, The New Timer (from "The Ghost of Tom Joad"). Rock. Slashy, too, in a depressing sort of way. My Jesus, your precious love and mercy tonight, I'm sorry, could not fill my soul like one good rifle and the name of who I ought to kill.
Pursuit of Happiness, I'm An Adult Now (from "Love Junk"). Rock. I don't hate my father any more. I don't get drunk just to spite him. I've got my own reasons for drinking now. Think I'll call my dad up and invite him.
(no subject)
Date: 10/29/05 04:39 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 10/29/05 04:54 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 10/29/05 05:01 pm (UTC)Tim O'Brien joined a whole slew of other bluegrassers in my current living town recently to do an all-'grass salute to the Moody Blues. I thought of you.
(no subject)
Date: 10/29/05 05:51 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 10/29/05 06:45 pm (UTC)Anyway: Thank you! (I must admit that, for a southerner, my knowledge of Skynyrd is sadly lacking.)
(no subject)
Date: 10/29/05 07:11 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 10/29/05 07:38 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 10/29/05 09:07 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 10/30/05 04:04 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 11/1/05 02:28 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 11/1/05 02:33 am (UTC)I used to have a co-worker who'd listen to a song like this one and then turn to me, with his brow all furrowed, and say, "Listen to that! And even so, you know they're nothin' but a buncha dumb-ass rednecks!"
(no subject)
Date: 11/1/05 02:35 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 11/1/05 02:36 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 11/1/05 02:37 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 11/1/05 02:38 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 11/1/05 02:39 am (UTC)