What The Heck Is Alex Listening To?: A Thread

Discussion in 'Your Bijou Blogette' started by afarewelltokings, Jun 17, 2019.

  1. afarewelltokings

    afarewelltokings the internet's #1 Julia Child fan

    I stole this from @Acey (who I believe stole this from someone else). So here's where I'll put what I'm listening to! If it's any merit towards the integrity of my listening choices, I'm a music education major in college. Here's a list of some of my favorite albums currently (updated 7/15/20):

    • A Farewell to Kings by Rush
    • Power Windows by Rush
    • Obwaytel GC by Obywatel GC
    • Music for the Masses by Depeche Mode
    • Construction Time Again by Depeche Mode
    • Speak & Spell by Depeche Mode
    • Crash by The Human League
    • Speaking in Tongues by Talking Heads
    • Remain in Light by Talking Heads
    • Fear of Music by Talking Heads
    • Another Light by Red Vox
    • Songs From The Big Chair by Tears for Fears
    • The Hurting by Tears for Fears
    • Living in the Background by Baltimora
    • True by Spandau Ballet
    • Strange Times by The Chameleons
    • Q. Are We Not Men? A. We Are DEVO! by DEVO
    • Information Society by Information Society
    • Islands by Kajagoogoo
    • Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd
    • Duty Now For The Future by DEVO

    I also have a Spotify playlist of my favorite Rush songs and a stim music playlist (also on Spotify)!

    If you'd like to follow me on last.fm here's the link!
     
    Last edited: Aug 7, 2020
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  2. afarewelltokings

    afarewelltokings the internet's #1 Julia Child fan

    I'm going to start doing an album of the day thing! For the Album of the Day post, I will send a YouTube link to the album, write about my relationship with the album, and do a little write up of each track under a spoiler on the post.

    Today is Monday, June 17th, 2019! Today's album is Permanent Waves by Rush!

    (This is a playlist on YouTube, so I'm not sure if embedding it will work.)

    Permanent Waves was some of my first exposure to Rush, at the ripe age of 8 years old. A song came on the radio as my mom was driving me home from school, and she blasted it. We sat in the garage until the song ended. I looked at her and said "wow! she has a good voice!" and my mom replied, "[birthname], Geddy Lee is a man." and I said "oh." and the rest is history! This album was released in 1980, and was Rush's 7th studio album! This album took a sharp turn away from what they were known for, and that was fantasy-esque progressive rock. However, the turn away from progressive rock brought on larger commercial success, as well as more frequent airplay.

    Track 1 - The Spirit of Radio: This is it. This was the song that I had mentioned in the album description. Typically, only 3 Rush songs play on the radio. Oddly enough, this isn't one of them! It has a nice opening riff, and I enjoy the reggae turn towards the end of the song.
    Track 2 - Freewill: Freewill is the trademark commercial success song from Permanent Waves. It's basic rock and roll, I suppose. Although it does come with a surprisingly "woke" twist, and I mean that in the least sarcastic and offensive phrasing possible. It's one of those that sort of makes you think. Geddy's vocals in this song are so high pitch, that I couldn't even sing them pre-T!!
    Track 3 - Jacob's Ladder: Oh man, this song is awesome! It's the borderline instrumental piece. Vocals are minimal within the song, but it really shows how good of musicians Rush really are. It gives a good visualization of what the few lyrics are trying to convey. Neil Peart really is a talented writer through and through.
    Track 4 - Entre Nous: (Pronounced like on-tray new) I hate to admit, this is my least favorite song on the album. I've never heard a Rush fan say "Wow, Entre Nous is my favorite Rush song!" (Or even their favorite song on Permanent Waves...) Not saying it's bad! It just doesn't particularly stick out to me. It's good, yes, but it doesn't have the spark that Rush usually puts into their music. Perhaps this was more tailored towards airplay; it would make sense.
    Track 5 - Different Strings: This song is definitely slower than the rest of the album. However, I love it. It's soft, it's gentle, it's like the warm embrace of a long lost friend. If I remember correctly, Geddy did the lyrics for this song. Very soft.
    Track 6 - Natural Science: DAMN, WHAT A BANGER OF A CLOSER!!!! Natural Science is, without a doubt, my favorite song on Permanent Waves. It has so many different emotions conveyed, the transitions seem abrupt yet smooth. It all fits together so well. The guitar is extremely fun to listen to, and equally as fun to play. This song definitely goes back to their prog rock routes, sitting at just over 9 minutes long. It's one that I find myself specifically going back to time and time again, even when I'm not in the mood to listen to an entire Rush album.
     
  3. afarewelltokings

    afarewelltokings the internet's #1 Julia Child fan

    Today is Tuesday, June 18th, 2019! Today's album is Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd!



    Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd is truly the definition of 70s progressive rock. Long, synthy, rocky goodness, with one song that got commercial success. It's very slow tempo-wise, as Pink Floyd albums tend to be. It often conveys a feeling of overall lonliness, something I have been familiar with in the past. This is an album I like to put on when I'd stupidly pull all nighters at school. I'd have this playing, the sweet sounds of guitar as the sun rises through my window, the feeling of "aw fuck, I have a class in 3 hours and I didn't sleep". Wish You Were Here was Pink Floyd's 9th studio album, released in 1975. (They were coming down from the high/success of Dark Side Of The Moon.) It was also the 2nd concept album with the theme written entirely by Roger Waters. A lot of the lyrics in this album are Waters relfecting on the life and struggles of former lead singer Syd Barrett, who was not in a good period in his life.

    Track 1 - Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Parts I-V): Everything about this song is so smooth. It really shows such raw emotion that one cannot usually express in words alone. You get lost in the song, you lose track of time. It's so powerful. The solos are stunning.
    Track 2 - Welcome To The Machine: You'd have to pay VERY close attention to catch the auditory transition between Shine On You Crazy Diamond and Welcome To The Machine. Perfect mastering and blending for a smooth and flawless fade into the next song. When you listen to this song, you feel like you're floating in a void of nothing, the only sensory around you is the sound of Pink Floyd. It's honestly hard to do anything besides listen whenever I have this song playing.
    Track 3 - Have A Cigar: This song actually isn't sung by Waters or Gilmour! It's sung by English folk rock singer Roy Harper, who Pink Floyd has often labeled as an influence of theirs. It only wasn't sung by Waters since his voice was strained from touring during the recording of this album. It's very blues-y to me, with the only synths really portraying and reassuring that this is more progressive rock than blues rock. Don't let that undermine the power that the synths hold in this song. The synths drive the melody and the vibe of the song.
    Track 4 - Wish You Were Here: Ah yes, the title track. Also the track that got all the airplay. Wish You Were Here (the song) was my first ever exposure to Pink Floyd. This song is rooted deep into my soul. It was the first song I ever learned on guitar. I told my music therapist in high school that this song gave me a feeling of hope and reassurance, that there's a future to come. He told me that he'd never heard anyone see it that way before. We'd end off all of our sessions playing this song on guitar together. He's my biggest inspiration for going to school for music. This song is very near and dear to my heart, and will always be at the core of me as a human. (This is more of a reflection than an analysis I suppose.)
    Track 5 - Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Parts VI-IX): We continue where track 1 left off, part 5 of Shine On You Crazy Diamond. As expected, if you were to expect it, it carries the themes and riffs from parts 1-5. Parts 6-8 are all completely instrumental, while part 9 gives us closure on the album and on the story that this album portrays. I don't know if I can really say much else on that note.
     
  4. afarewelltokings

    afarewelltokings the internet's #1 Julia Child fan

    not album of the day but i'm finally listening to Mink Car by They Might Be Giants
     
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  5. afarewelltokings

    afarewelltokings the internet's #1 Julia Child fan

    I've been listening to The Queen Is Dead by The Smiths a lot today. highly recommend.
     
  6. afarewelltokings

    afarewelltokings the internet's #1 Julia Child fan

    oh fuck I forgot I had a music thread oops

    I don't think I'll be continuing my album of the day thing I did before but this'll definitely be getting use
     
  7. afarewelltokings

    afarewelltokings the internet's #1 Julia Child fan

    here are some recent jams!!


    Big Apple - Kajagoogoo


    Something About You - Level 42


    Money - The Human League


    Foundation - Spandau Ballet
     
  8. afarewelltokings

    afarewelltokings the internet's #1 Julia Child fan

    this song deserves it's own post though



    this is Good Vibrations by The Beach Boys and it is the most intricate rock song I've ever heard. it's amazing. once I'm more awake I need to write a detailed breakdown of why I love this song so much and why Brian Wilson is a goddamn genius, but please listen to this. this is a song that everyone needs to hear at least once.
     
  9. afarewelltokings

    afarewelltokings the internet's #1 Julia Child fan


    Houses in Motion - Talking Heads
     
  10. afarewelltokings

    afarewelltokings the internet's #1 Julia Child fan


    Leave in Silence - Depeche Mode
     
  11. afarewelltokings

    afarewelltokings the internet's #1 Julia Child fan


    Head Over Heels/Broken - Tears for Fears

    (quick fun fact about me and this band: i personally didn't learn about Tears for Fears through Donnie Darko like i've heard a lot of people have, i began listening because i really enjoyed Ninja Sex Party's cover of "Everybody Wants To Rule The World" and for several years i exclusively listened to the "Shout: The Very Best of Tears for Fears" compilation)
     
    Last edited: Jun 22, 2020
  12. afarewelltokings

    afarewelltokings the internet's #1 Julia Child fan


    Dancing With Tears In My Eyes - Ultravox
     
  13. afarewelltokings

    afarewelltokings the internet's #1 Julia Child fan


    Time, The End Of Time by The Chameleons
     
  14. afarewelltokings

    afarewelltokings the internet's #1 Julia Child fan


    Love to Hate You - Erasure
     
  15. afarewelltokings

    afarewelltokings the internet's #1 Julia Child fan


    Melting The Ice Away by Kajagoogoo

    honestly this whole album is highly underrated
     
    Last edited: Aug 7, 2020
  16. afarewelltokings

    afarewelltokings the internet's #1 Julia Child fan


    Something Ain't Right - David Byrne
     
  17. afarewelltokings

    afarewelltokings the internet's #1 Julia Child fan


    Terrible Lie by Nine Inch Nails
     
  18. afarewelltokings

    afarewelltokings the internet's #1 Julia Child fan


    Style In Full Swing - Boots For Dancing

    yall this is basically the Talking Heads that time forgot, i highly recommend their rarities/Peel sessions compilation, called The Undisco Kidds
     
    • Informative x 1
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