Today’s song of the day comes to you more out of “the damn song is stuck in my head” then anything else. This takes nothing away from the talented band who performs this excellent song with great musicality. I originally listened to the music of this band because of their band name. I am a huge fan of Don DeLillo’s “White Noise” and The Airborne Toxic Event is the name of a title of the second part of the book. Apparently, I am not alone.
Mikel Jollett, a writer himself, had a rough go at it in 2006. After finding out his mother had been diagnosed with cancer, he experienced a break-up and a diagnosis of his own, a genetic Autoimmune disease. To say he needed immediate gratification and something uplifting is an understatement. He decided the long term process of novel writing could be put on hold in favor of lyrics and songs. After enlisting the help of a trained violinist and several other succesful musicians, Airborne Toxic Event was born. They quickly jumped on the scene and in 2008 released the depressingly beautiful tale, “Sometime Around Midnight” about Jollett running into an ex-girlfriend, who he still loved, at a night club. Awkward!
You can tell he is a writer also. The song is focused on his lyrics. Yes, the orchestra beginning is something out of a movie or Muse song (take your pick) and the guitar that follows is a constant pleasantry for the ears. But, it is Jollett’s voice and lyrics. “The piano is a meloncholy soundtrack to her smile.” Wow! He has a real taste for truthful lyrics. The song gets stuck in your head and you are sent into a whirlpool of Jollett’s “naked” lyrics. Naked meaning lyrics stripped down to the bare necessity. Lyrics that need to be written. You feel a real need for this song. As if, Jollett is telling us we need to listen.
At around 3:40 in the song he almost starts pleading. His voice becomes loud and it strains. At 4:00 he literally pleads. “You just have to see her.” It repeats. Have you ever been in love? That sheer necessity to be with that one person. You just have to see her and in my case you just have to listen to this song.
Check it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2YnDlEMXiU
The Music Court 
Leave a comment