The Music Court

Halloween is rapidly approaching and since this is the last song of the day post before Halloween let us tickle the frightening fancy by choosing an artist who claims, in this song, that he is “the god of hellfire.” He also brings us fire. This man is, none other then, Arthur Brown, and his eccentric style of psychedelic rock and his flamboyant and theatric performance style were large influences on musicians like Alice Cooper.

In 1968, Arthur Brown released the single “Fire,” and scared the public with his odd style and the fact that while performing the song he wore a helmet  onto which had a bowl which held lighter fluid or petrol. One problem, the bowl was not insulated and the heat from the burning fuel quickly conducted through the fixing bolt to the top of Brown’s head, causing him considerable pain. Yes, he certainly brought everyone fire and took himself to burn. The song, which included the usage of a hammond electronic organ and an orchestral backing, sounded so good that people simply ignored the fact that the performer was, quite literally, on fire.

Well, the late 60’s were an odd time and no one took advantage of this quite like Arthur Brown and his crazy world. The song though is fantastic and for Halloween it is a must. So, for all you college students hitting up frats, clubs, and bars for the wacky events of Halloween make sure to suggest to the DJ’s, “Fire.” If one of them actually has the song commend them on being awesome.

"Fire," No, I am not kidding, FIRE!!! everyone RUN!!!

It looks like a pillow

This is the first time I have been able to look at my computer screen since this morning. Over the past week and a half I have had 2 tests, 2 essays, and 5 articles due, 3 for my internship, and 2 for my school paper. Tomorrow I have my last test at 4:25-5:50 and afterwards I will most likely collapse from complete euphoria and sleep. Also, tomorrow is my brothers 18th birthday, so that trumps most things and you should all wish him a happy one.

Anyway, understand why the title of the song of the day is such? It is even better that it is by the fab four. I really am so tired and it is leading to me feeling sick and then, therefore, being tired of being sick and being tired. I don’t even know what I am writing about. Luckily, I have The Beatles to lead the way.

Interesting story to go along with what the song is about. Many may know that it is on The White Album, but do you know what it is about? John Lennon, while at a transcendental meditation camp suffered a bout of insomnia, so, in response, he wrote this fantastic song. Lennon’s insomnia led to beautiful music. My inability to sleep often leads to tossing and turning in bed, anger, and then more tossing and turning. I’m going to start writing songs when I cannot sleep. The first one will most likely be titled, “I’m So Angry.”

“I’m So Tired”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZf9ncOQ2xM

Tomorrow is a tremendous day of new album releases, seeing over 20 musicians releasing new CD’s. One of these musicians is John Darnielle and his Mountain Goats, who I recently saw perform at Ithaca College. His new album is named “The Life of the World to Come” and each song is cleverly named after a Bible passage. This will be Darnielle’s 17th album. 17th! You can see why he is running out of song titles. To celebrate tomorrow’s release I thought we could look at one particular Mountain Goat’s song that is sticking out in my head this morning entitled, “Autoclave,” off of Darnielle’s last album Heretic Pride released in 2008.

The Life of the World to Come

Darnielle’s style is infectious. His odd, mountain goat-like voice takes some getting used to but after a song or two your are hooked. His folk backing and tremendous lyrical ability makes his songs even more approachable. This is how I fell into the Mountain Goats trap. Watching “Moral Orel” on Adult Swim, I watched one of the more depressing episodes of any show I have ever seen, which used The Mountain Goats’ “No Children,” as its backing track. “No Children,” an equally gnarled song.

Wrong Mountain Goat. But, it is pretty cute

Yet, today, we will discuss “Autoclave,” which uses an extension of Darnielle’s normal folk style for the music while pouring on the listener lyrics like:

“Hand me your hand, let me look in your eyes
As my last chance to feel human begins to vaporize
Maybe it’s the heat in here, maybe it’s the pressure
You ought to head for the exits, the sooner the better”

To understand this song which states that his heart is an autoclave one must know what an autoclave is. An autoclave is a device used to sterilize equipment and supplies by subjecting them to high pressure steam at temperatures over 121 degrees Celsius. What does this have to do with the song? Well, look at the lyrics above. Vaporize, heat, pressure; choice words with a lot of meaning. By saying that his heart is an autoclave he means that no person can spend any time in his heart for there is just to much heat in there. Yet, for some semi-optimism out of this song you can look at how some bacteria can survive in an autoclave. Okay, maybe that does not help.

Take a listen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sskFjbHu_W0

Okay, now we got the right ones

Well we have had a role reversal today. Anthony took the lyric of the day from me. He just snatched it from me behind my back. Unfortunately, I cannot photoshop, so I will just settle for a Song of the Day. No particular reason for this one except for the fact that it is an incredible work of harmony and infectious rhythm and sound.

The Magic Numbers are from Greenford in West London and consist of a pair of brothers and sisters which I think is just splendid. In 2002 they released their first album The Magic Numbers and it hit major success among the indie crowd. I’d like to talk about why and the big reason for it is the title track, “Mornings Eleven.”

I will be frank. I say a lot of songs are good. What would be the point of running a blog and specifically focusing on bad music. Well, if you remember from the summer, we tried to start a bad music portion where we could just pan horrible music. It did not carry like expected but, what the heck, maybe we will bring it back. With good songs comes a lot of loquacious mumbo jumbo from me in an attempt to make you agree. Here, with “Mornings Eleven,” I know you will like it.  The song is perfectly crafted. Its use of harmony is impecable. It changes effortlessly and each new portion is better then the other. It is an absolute delight to here this song and I hope to share it with you.

Just Click this Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTfd6niKw5E&feature=related (The video is wierdly cute)

It may be the 62 installment of song of the day but the number that is sticking out in my mind is 60. 60 times Josh is hitting his head next to me attempting to figure out his physics homework. 60 years old, one Bruce Springsteen, has turned today, marking the 44th year of his remarkable music career. (44 including his earliest of music work). So, inspired by Springsteen’s lyrical message to continue overcoming and the subtle optimism he always expresses in his music, let’s focus on a specific song that sticks out in my mind as classic Springsteen, “The Promised Land.”

The Boss

“The Promised Land” was released in 1978 on Springsteen’s fourth album Darkness On The Edge of Town, which came right after Born To Run. Obviously, since Born to Run was one of the biggest albums of all time, it was kind of hard to follow it up. Not everyone can do a Dark Side of The Moon to Wish You Were Here, back to back, awesomeness. Well, Springsteen sort of did it. Darkness On The Edge of Town is a solid album with such hits like “Badlands,” in addition to “The Promised Land.”

The Boss in Front of a Closet

The reason “The Promised Land” is always on my list of top Springsteen hits is because of its hopefulness. When all is bleak, Springsteen sings of his blue collar character who wants to break out of his daily cocoon. In the chorus he screams to the wind, “Mister I ain’t a boy, no I’m a man, and I believe in a promised land.” He blows into the harmonica and slams on the guitar and breaks through with music. Sort of like Bruce Springsteen himself. So, Happy B-day Bruce, keep on living in “The Promised Land”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4n-XdUUrWs&feature=fvw      (“The Promised Land”)