Songs I Like: School Of Seven Bells "Wired For Light"

Intense but beautiful, "Wired For Light" is all about the dreamy voices of the two singers.  I really like the mid-tempo, relaxed pace and the way the sounds just surround you.  The singing pulls me in and doesn't let me go.  I loved this song immediately after I heard it.  I've heard most of the rest of School of Seven Bells' album Alpinisms, but this is by far my favorite song of theirs.  You know what it's like when you love one song so much that you wished all other songs were just like it?  That's the case for me with this song. 

Take a listen for yourself:

Songs I Like: The Yeah Yeah Yeahs "Zero"

This is my new favorite song.  I was watching some live performance videos posted on Stereogum yesterday, and fell in love with "Zero" by The Yeah Yeah Yeahs on first listen. 

The key to this song is the sassy, spunky vocal performance by Karen O.  You really have to watch a performance or watch the music video for the song to get the full effect.  On this one, Karen reminds me of Chrissie Hynde from The Pretenders.  A lot.  I can easily imagine Chrissie singing this song.  I can easily imagine The Pretenders releasing this song in the 1980s.  If you're a Pretenders fan like me, you'll enjoy this song a great deal.

As with all great songs, the hooks are full and present.  You'll be singing along in no time.  This song was the first single from their latest album, and that's no mistake.  This sounds like a single and nothing but.  It's as plain as day is light: this is a song designed to make you feel good and enjoy yourself.

Musically, this sounds very 80s, only better.  It's like the 80s with today's production methods.  It an unexpected sound by what's basically a three-piece rock band.  It has a huge amount of energy, and that energy is passed on to you.

This song has it all: a big sound, good lyrics, a catchy melody and a kickass lead singer.  It's the most fun I've had listening to music in a while.  Listen below, or have a look at the music video. 

Songs I Like: "You Never Know" by Wilco

I'm going to revive this feature.  There are certainly enough songs in the world to talk about, and my blog needs content.

Today's Song I Like is "You Never Know" by Wilco from their self-titled album.  Normally I'm not a huge fan of Wilco.  I've given them chances, but I just don't get most of their music.  This one, however, I do like.  It's insanely catchy and very well-done.  Every instrument is perfect.  The music is almost hypnotic.  Jeff Tweedy's vocals are passionate and melodic.  The chorus is just one big hook that will get you singing along. 

I especially like the guitars on this song.  After the first chorus, there's an addition of some fuzz guitar to roughen things up a bit, and there's a very good slide solo near the end.  This song has been compared to the work of George Harrison, and I can see the similarities.

Another thing I like is the pounding piano that drives the song forward.  It's just the thing to get you interested and excited about the music.

This is as good as pop gets.  It's a song I can listen to over and over.  I never get sick of it.  Good job, Wilco!

Pond Prompts - 3/26/08

My favorite song right now is...

One song I've really been enjoying lately is "Girlfriend Is Better" by Talking Heads. I like how funky it is, how rhythmic it is. I especially enjoy the bass line by Tina Weymouth. She did it on a synthesizer, not a bass guitar, but that doesn't change the fact that it's a killer bass part. It's the foundation of the whole song. I like the wobbly effect Tina puts on the last part of each repetition of the bass line. The "stop making sense" part is cool too. Overall, this song really rocks.

Are you afraid of death?

You know, the more I think about it, the more I think I shouldn't be afraid of it. To be afraid of something is to assume you will feel some sort of effect from whatever it is you're afraid of. I have no clue what happens after death, but I suspect nothing happens at all. If I won't be around to know I'm dead, what's the problem? Things don't work that way for people, because we value life. We value life so much that we fear death.

Ask me again in about 60 years and I might have a different, more definitive answer.

I don't really have any idea of what to write today, and none of the memes I looked at seemed interesting enough, so . . .

Songs I Like

The Song: Dulaman
The Artist/Group: Altan
Why I Like The Song: This is an absolutely gorgeous song by the Irish group Altan. It's sung in Irish Gaelic, and that singing is the best part of the song. Lead singer Mairead Ni Mhaonaigh has such a beautiful voice, as soft and gentle as a breeze over an Irish meadow. Not only do we get her awesome voice singing in a beautiful language, but the rest of the group sings along with her on the chorus. The effect of all those voices singing together is just heaven. There's also a lot of good gentle guitar playing to back up these amazing voices. This is one of the most beautiful Irish songs I've ever heard.

Songs I Like

The Song: Burden In My Hand
The Artist/Group: Soundgarden
Why I Like The Song: I think this song features some of Chris Cornell's best vocals in any song. He sings somewhere between his more soothing, crooning voice and his screaming voice. The result is a powerful near-wail that holds up through most of the song and knocks the listener (at least this listener) on his or her butt. The lyrics aren't too shabby either, but it's Chris' awesome voice that makes me love this song.

Songs I Like

The Song: American Idiot
The Artist/Group: Green Day
Why I Like The Song: This is Green Day's newest single off their upcoming album, also titled "American Idiot." I enjoy this song mostly because of its catchiness and the return to good ol' hard rocking pop-punk that (in my opinion) GD grandfathered in the early 1990s. Behind all this punk energy are socially concious/critical lyrics about the "idiots" of America following the media, and other topical statements written by the band.

The lyrics don't really do much for me; I'm a bit sick of everything being political these days. But I do admit it's refreshing for Green Day to sing about something other than smoking pot. With or without the political lyrics, this is still a fun song to listen to: fast, furious, and full of excellent punk guitar playing. One would expect no less from Green Day.

Songs I Like

The Song: She Talks To Angels
The Artist/Group: The Black Crowes
Why I Like The Song: First of all, I love the acoustic guitar playing. It's beautiful for a rock song, and also sounds (to me) technically good. I'm a sucker for a good acoustic-based rock song. I also love the poetic and intense lyrics about drug addiction. Lyrics such as "She keeps a lock of hair in her pocket, and a cross around her neck. The hair is from the little boy, and the cross for someone she has not met, not yet."

This is a song that makes you think, makes you listen, makes you cry. It's beautiful and powerful and emotional and I love it.

Songs I Like

The Song: Satellite
The Artist/Group: Natalie Imbruglia
Why I Like The Song: I love the gentle acoustic guitars and the gorgeous, smooth melody. Natalie sings beautifully about her "satellite" with her always-awesome voice. The effect of her voice combined with the laid-back instrumentation is very soothing and romantic. This song never fails to put me in a good mood.