Posts Tagged ‘Psychedelic Rock’

h1

Baïkonour – "Coltan Anyone?" (2005)

2009/08/13


I actually worked for music once. I did some web development for a guy who was into writing critiques for Indie music. A writer by trade, I'm sure he'd laugh at this blog. Whatever. I am not here to bore you with 10 paragraphs for each and every song or to rip apart artists who are just starting out, or that I do not like. I want to share the song with you, give you my 2 cents, and then move on! No critique other than "Hey man, this is good stuff! I think you should hear it!"

Anyway, working for CDs was hardly worth it in retrospect. He clearly gave me a bunch of albums that were "thumbs down" material. I eventually had to tell him I was not interested in working with him because he was: A. only interested in unknown and obscure Indie music (it was his niche) and B. never ever going to be able to compensate me for the serious amounts of time I had put in. I know we need guys like him to filter out what is good and what is not, but we clearly had some artistic differences. When I "quit", I ended up with a fistful of CDs that I did not care for at all. Baïkonour was the one exception though and I always thought this song stuck out.


Song Recommendations

If you like this song, I also suggest:

I also suggest the music genre:


Click here for more info on Baïkonour – For the Lonely Hearts of the Cosmos – "Colton Anyone".

The MP3 may be purchased here…

h1

Jefferson Airplane – "White Rabbit" (1967)

2009/08/01


This is another great climax builder my siblings use to play on the record player when I was young. The slow rolling march of the snare drum in the beginning draws me in too. It always felt a little short though. Like there was room for more. I love it, and yet feel a bit unsatisfied at the end.


Song Recommendations

If you like this song, I also suggest:

I also suggest the music genre:


Click here for more info on Jefferson Airplane – Surrealistic Pillow – "White Rabbit".

The MP3 may be purchased here…

h1

Iron Butterfly – "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" (1968)

2009/07/07


When I was young I though the song was "In a Garden of Evil", though I know "In the Garden of Eden" was another popular misinterpretation. I am definitely one of those people who will make up lyrics if I cannot understand what they are singing, which then makes me look like an idiot when I happen to quote them to anyone else. I'm sure many of you have had the same experience.

At over 17 minutes, this song is a monument, or perhaps more accurately a foundation, for hard rock and heavy metal. I am frequently amazed as the creativity and artistry of the early rock artists of the 60's and how they literally created styles and genres of music single handedly that where unlike anything before. I think Iron Butterfly is a perfect example. So cool.


Song Recommendations

If you like this song, I also suggest:

I also suggest the music genre:


Click here for more info on Iron Butterfly – In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida – "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida".

The CD may be purchased here…

h1

The Beach Boys – "Wouldn't It Be Nice" (1966)

2009/06/20


I would also like to dedicate this bonus song to G, my love.

Also because G seems to like to point out the posts where she is mentioned or an influence, I have created "The Illustrious G" category and added all the posts that belong. I'm sure I missed a few.


Song Recommendations

If you like this song, I also suggest:

I also suggest the music genre:


Click here for more info on The Beach Boys – Pet Sounds – "Wouldn't It Be Nice".

The MP3 may be purchased here…

h1

The Moody Blues – "Nights In White Satin" (1967)

2009/05/02


I was out shopping the other day and I saw this fat man in a Moody Blues t-shirt. I thought to myself, if I let myself go like that, I will not sully the bands I love by wearing their t-shirts out in public. I thought it was kind of a sad scene because The Moody Blues were so loved. They had multiple albums hit the #1 spot both in the US and the UK. Most of my generation probably barely knows them, let alone the next and large old men wearing their t-shirts around town is not going to help that. Listen to this song and you decide if they deserve better or not.


Click here for more info on The Moody Blues – Days of Future Passed – "Nights In White Satin".

The MP3 may be purchased here…

h1

The Doors – "Touch Me" (1969)

2009/04/17


Ah ha! You saw "The Doors" and probably thought the next words would be "Light My Fire", but no! "Touch Me", a less well known classic, is my favorite from the band. It is really too bad about Jim Morrison and the heroin. I like to believe they had A LOT more music in them and perhaps we never saw the full potential of the band play out. (When I'm in a band, I promise not to let the drugs take over.)

The video is a live performance on "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour". I couldn't find the album version online, but this performance holds true to the original. Enjoy!


Click here for more info on The Doors – The Soft Parade – "Touch Me".

The MP3 may be purchased here…

h1

The Polyphonic Spree – "Lithium" (2006)

2009/04/16


I love Nirvana's original version of "Lithium", but today I felt like something a little different. This cover by The Polyphonic Spree is totally awesome in my book. Some commenter on the youtube video above referred to the group and to cover as "gay". Really though, with the whole chorus of Polyphonic Spree singers belting out the lines, it has a sort of crazed mob feeling to it that the original lacks. In fact in some ways the group in this cover sounds even closer to the 'craking' point the song speaks of. And the instrumentation only adds to it with the blend of keyboards, violin, cello, harp, & slide whistles on the one hand, and horns, guitars & drums on the other. So many instruments and voices in a wall of sound at the climax of the song, it is an awesome sound and scene, on the edge of chaos, that I think pays tribute to the kind of thinking that led to the original song by Nirvana.

By the way, they say the white robes are there to provide the "image of purity, hope, and happiness", but really with up to 27 performers at times, I have to believe it is to clearly mark who is in the crowd and who is performing. Plus it puts the focus on THEM, their faces, instruments, and music, not on what each of the 27 members is wearing. I get that. Perhaps they'll let me be number 28?

PS: The FULL song can be heard here. The video above chops off the last minute or so where the song slowly fades one instrument at a time and finishes on a chord so full of optimism that it is hard to believe it is still a Nirvana song. I love it!


Click here for more info on The Polyphonic Spree – Wait – "Lithium".

The MP3 may be purchased here…