Thirsty : February 2007 : Listening Post

TOP 5 MOVIES:

1. Rocky (1976)
2. Christine (1983)
3. On the Waterfront (1954)
4. Friday the 13th Pt. 4 (1984)
5. Transformers: The Movie (1986)

Letter from the Editor: A Top 5 for February

By: Sarah L. Myers

1. Hank III - "Pills I Took"
Hank Williams III once said the more self destructive and worse off you are, the more creative you are. A car crash introduces the seventh track on III's "Straight to Hell", followed by some choice pickin' and III's unique crackle and sneer of a voice. III is the real deal. He works hard and lives harder, just like his granddaddy. The similarity between the two voices brings some to tears, but others are more content at the bar. This is a true country song.

2. Tom Waits - "Danny Says"
I always thought this was the Ramones at their best - Joey pining for a lost love, Johnny's shimmering Mosrite coming in at the bridge, a manic Dee Dee in the same room with a crazy Phil Spector - until I heard Tom Waits turn it into his personal funeral hymn. If there was even a hint of promise in the original, Waits stamps it out with a particular brand of devastation that turns everything sung in that voice into gospel.

3. The Pogues - "Haunted"
Featured on the soundtrack to Alex Cox's "Sid and Nancy," this love letter of a song has always been one of my favorites. It's the perfect declaration of lost love, and when a story has lines like "you were so cool, you could've put out Vietnam," it claims an honesty unlike anything I've ever heard.

4. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - "Cannibal's Hymn"
The second song on "Abbattoir Blues", the first of this 2004 two-disc release, is a haunting story that could only be told by Cave. It's appropriately epic and dark, but Cave manages to keep it romantic by moaning about a bruised but beating heart. For everyone that has one of those, this is a mournful and stirring tribute.

5. The Verve - "Sonnet"
I can't pick a favorite song by The Verve. The "Urban Hymns" album alone is the soundtrack to the most extraordinary moments in my life. It was the one album that carried me through high school, then college, then Chicago, then recovery from each of those things. "Sonnet" is perfection from the very beginning - Richard Ashcroft's voice sighs "sinking faster than a boat without a hull", yet by the end of the song, there's resolution with a a beautiful string arrangement and Nick McCabe's guitar break. It destroys you and puts you back together again in just four minutes.

FAVORITE SONGS FROM MY FAVORITE ALBUMS

By: Jason Mathews

1. "Scatterbrain" - Hail To The Theif - Radiohead
Such a long way Radiohead has come in the last 15 years. Hear a new song or watch the latest video and you would not recognize the band that conceived the song 'Creep' in 1993 saturating the TV screen and airwaves. If you're one of those obsessive fans, like me, that pays $1000 for a nose-bleed seat at the next possible concert within 2000 miles you probably realize Radiohead has peaked with their release of Hail To The Thief (or was it OK computer?). No matter what Radiohead will always be one of those bands that thousands of shitty bands claim to sound like. 'Scattebrain', to me, is melodically one of the more genius songs to grace the aural sense.

2. "Sweet Song" - Think Tank - Blur
I've only been listening to this band for the past 4 years and I feel like there's so much catching up to do. This band has true skill. One of my favorite accomplishments for a song is to hear the perfect balance and execution of every instrument involved. Another aspect worth appreciation is the simple, yet skilled, vocal performance (as usual). 'Sweet Song' is one of those incredibly beautiful songs you'll only hear a handful of in your lifetime.

3. "Southern Bells In London Sing" - Wet From Birth - The Faint
Who would have thought a heavily produced album could still be so unique? 'Southern Bells In London Sing' is a song that only equals the greatness of the rest of the songs on the album. The reason I like it the most is simply because it seems to be the track on the album that I would like the least. Make sense? I didn't think so.

4. "Turnstile Blues" - Future Perfect - Autolux
This has the drum sound I've always wanted on a song. But once you start liking the drum sound you only notice the fact that you're suddenly wondering if there are two vocals or just a sweet-ass chorus effect. But wait, same thing with the bass and guitar. How many instruments are there? This is the product of a 'wall-of-sound' mix. Good stuff. Unique too.

5."The Sinner In Me" - Playing The Angel - Depeche Mode
This was the first Depeche Mode album I've owned, but not the first I've heard. Comparing the hits over the years to the songs from their latest album Playing The Angel I'd have to give in to 'The Sinner In Me' due to the evil mood of the verses and the never-heard-before chord progression of the chorus. I've always been a sucker for new chord progressions.

6. "Space Monkey" - Meds - Placebo
One of my all-time favorite bands. I remember when I was 15 years old (1995) in France and someone let me hear this band called Placebo. Since then the music has stuck with me. Unlike Radiohead they have stuck with the same style and tweeked the feel to evolve to the present sound. 'Space Monkey' was an unexpected track from the latest album Meds. Unfortunately, I don't hear lyrics when listening to a song. Therefore, the reason I like this track the most is for the dark feel of its verses.