Hi All - remember July? Not much has happened since then. Thankfully I am here to remind you of those great musical times. I'm sure you prefer being transported back now rather than having these songs repeated at the relevant time (OK, sorry, no excuses really, just very late).
Forum Faves - July 2020 @adamfarr I remember it being a good month - perhaps not the most prolific, but a few songs really hit me and wouldn't let me forget them.
Here are my faves. No particular order and no particular criteria. Just songs that stood out to me for one reason or another, and that I wanted to get back into your ears at least once more, as they deserve.
What Would Joe Have Done? by @PaulAds First of all, who else would or could write a song like this? Totally original and unique. And very very catchy. I think this may be because it uses an every day phrase "what would xx have done" and the music fits that so perfectly. Then we have the remainder of the verses, cliché-free, and also rhyme-crime-free.
And then we have the message - each chorus resolves to give us a little nugget of help. No repetition, just flowing words each time, with a touch of humour and comfort. Having Joe tell us not what to think but what he would do prevents it being preachy. Can't really argue with that. Knowing that it's addressed to the writer's family members is not necessary, but adds another level of significance.
But this is music. All the above gems could be lost if not set into a necklace of percussion (worth a special listen). guitar (not dominating, just serving), organ (texturising and deservedly getting its own solo), backing vocals (never overdone), and a breakdown to keep our ears interested.
Only unique and well crafted things here - the antidote to wish.com. I'll listen again, a lot I think.
The Only Star by @Jamie I'm not much of a prog rocker, but I do like what I like. Such as this one. I like emotions too - and this one is pretty palpably angry. It may be that pounding bass, the drum crashes, the penetrating guitars, the irate synths, the ascending melody and the general build up of tension that we get here. All of the above create a massive amount of excitement and sweep us along.
"In your lonely Universe you are the only Star" - it's a great song concept and title, and "delusional and hysterical" works so well to kick off the rhythmic chorus.
I can't leave without mentioning the time signature. I find it fascinating that on a casual listen the song drives along as it should and we can even nod along without the time signature hitting us in the face. Yet, subconsciously it's there and really adds to the building nervous tension. There's not many around the forum (or anywhere that I tend to be) doing this and Jamie does it so well.
The Man at the Gig by @Bill SaundersFrom the outset this one has a special feel. The chimes, churchy keys, and waves of time really drew me in. It takes its time, plenty of story content here, and we already have a full picture what's happening.
What sets this one apart is not so much the oft-told story of life's regrets, doubts, and disappointments, but the character's destructive reaction to them. His "losing his internal fight" is tangible and there seems nothing anyone can do. We feel for sure he'll take the wrong decision (tonight at least) in pursuit of youth, perfection and fulfilment, and we're screaming at him to turn around and look at everything and everyone he's forsaking.
For anyone who's not 25 anymore and has some artistic leanings, this is clearly close to home, and so skilfully revealed. The lyrics don't let up for a moment and the production, vocal performance, and playing are top quality. (Bill I hope you - I mean your friend - did the right thing in the end!)
Black Station Wagon by @montydog If there's one thing that's bound to drive a man too far, then it's the wife having fun on Monday, drinking on Tuesday, parading in the car on Wednesday, on the porch on Thursday, and going, well, all the way at the weekend, with some other guy.
In country songs (though we are in a much jazzier sort of Americana than that), very often it's the ladies who resort to crime to get justifiably rid of their abusive other halves, but here our hero's buttons are duly pushed and he may (or may not) have been sent over that edge.
Alan's lyrics are always descriptive and full of details but here we have a cocktail of humour and storytelling that creates a scene that I can see clearly before me. I love the way the protagonist doesn't want to admit to anything but can't stop himself from publicly celebrating his deed. The swinging band with walking bass and spacious guitar is a backdrop that really suits the rich narrative.
A song that sounds like a classic - it could be 1 or 70 years old. Funny and confident, Alan on top form.
I Won't Talk About It by @MonnoDB From my choices this month, anyone would think I like songs that have stories. Or songs that punch you in the gut with the intensity of their emotion and the reality of their characters.
Here's a another one with a huge backstory implied, and which takes us right there to the living room. It's a raw and hopeless scene. We get the perspective of the main character but this reveals the helplessness of other party as well. I hear "never" but I am made to hope that this doesn't mean never.
Karen seems to handle these issues face on. She will write and sing about the "deadliest of flames" and make us understand what's meant, even if we've never imagined what it must be like to grapple with them.
The sparse and gentle production is perfect to communicate such an emotive story. It's sad, sincere, and complex. And I think this song transmits those things in such an engaging way, that I never want to judge, and definitely see something I couldn't have seen before.
Fave of Faves for July 2020What a great month and having these five songs leave a mighty impact on me (not to mention others that didn't make this list) is a huge hit rate. But if I have to pick a Fave of Faves then it will have to be:
The Man at the Gig by @Bill Saunders Many thanks to everyone and many apologies for dragging it out so long before putting finger to key!
Only one person's opinion of course, and you may have others. It was a true pleasure to revisit all these songs (and more) and I recommend the experience.
