Song of the Week #6

Better late than never, I suppose:

Theoretical Girls - Computer Dating

Album: N/A. You can find it on Theoretical Record, a compilation

Year: Some time between 1977-1981

Genre: No Wave

I'm not going to call myself an expert on the no wave scene by any stretch of the imagination, but it was definitely a revolutionary movement, and Theoretical Girls were a very creative group. Some people might know them as the first home for Glenn Branca, who later developed a big name for himself as an avant-garde composer. This song puts the band's talent to use, creating a tapestry that mocks the advent of computer dating in a gloriously before its time piece. It 's repetitive and tense, raw and energetic, quirky and creative all in one song.

Song of the Week #5

Hunx and his Punx - You Don't Like Rock 'n' Roll

Album: Gay Singles

Year: 2009

Genre: Punk, Pop

Hunx and his Punx are fun as hell and this song is, in my mind, the epitome of that. You Don't Like Rock 'n' Roll is a catchy, upbeat anthem for rock fans to get behind. The song has enough of an edge to it to make it great to chant along with. I can play this song at any time and it will bring a smile to my face.

Song of the Week #4

Kongh - Pushed Beyond

Album: Counting Heartbeats

Year: 2007

Genre: Sludge Metal

As odd as it sounds, this was the first sludge metal band I ever listened to. Not Mastodon, not Acid Bath, but Kongh. This album does hold a fair bit of nostalgia for me, but this is not one of those albums that faded out as part of some short-lived phase. Counting Heartbeats embodies everything that I love about sludge metal. Pushed beyond is relentlessly slow-paced, but it is by no means static. It's dark and brooding and heavy as all hell. I can't help but find a beauty in it, though. It embraces the magnificence of darkness and alienation. Truly a fantastic song.

Song of the Week #3

Sun Ra - Images

Album: Space is the Place

Year: 1973

Genre: Avant-garde Jazz

This is an odd piece for Sun Ra. By that I mean it's fairly normal compared to most of his avant-garde work. Images has such a good balance between big band and avant-garde sounds, though. The rich and full composition is underlined by the points in which it deviates from its own formula. This song is a prime example of Sun Ra's ability to control chaos. With this song, he tips his hand and shows us just how much power he commands over his music. The result is both beautiful and eerie.

Song of the Week #2

The Mountain Goats - Satanic Messiah

Album: Satanic Messiah EP

Year: 2008

Genre: Indie

The Mountain Goats are one of my favorite bands of all time and this song helps to demonstrate why. First off, let it be known that I consider John Darnielle the lyrical genius of this generation. Satanic Messiah is the title cut off of one of the Mountain Goat's lesser known EPs and it is the most beautiful song you will hear about the return of the antichrist. The character of this song wants to see fire rain down upon the earth, but there is a sense of hesitation. The melancholy of the music and the hesitance in John's voice, though, lead us to hear a bit of regret. The kind of regret you feel when you first realize just how hot fire really is. What makes this song so great, though, is its ability to make you feel that regret. That is what makes Satanic Messiah such a powerful song.

Song of the Week #1

In an attempt to liven things up around here, I'm installing a lame song of the week feature! I'm not just going to post a song and leave, though, as many others do. You get to choose to ignore my ramblings about the selected songs as well! But enough introduction, let's cut the ribbon already with...

Moss Icon - Lyburnum Wit's End Liberation Fly

Album: Lyburnum

Year: 1994

Genre: Punk, Emo

This song is long, static and beautiful. In its lack of movement it is captivating and works well to convey pure apathy, nihilism and feelings of futility in the face of an increasingly hedonistic and self-cannibalizing world. It's cynical and honest, full of sincere emotion and for that it shines magnificently.