Ten Songs

Ginger has tagged me for the latest music meme doing the rounds.

List ten songs that you are currently digging � it doesn't matter what genre they are from, whether they have words, or even if they're no good, but they must be songs you're really enjoying right now. Post these instructions, the artists, and the ten songs in your blog. Then tag five other people to see what they�re listening to.

This list comes either from the stuff I've been listening to over the past few months, or the songs that keep appearing in my head even though I haven't actually listened to them for ages. I think the rules are vague enough to include the latter.

Mostly Autumn: "Mother Nature". The high spot of their celtic-prog period, this epic still closes their live set.

Moloko: "Over and Over". I'm not really into dance music, but this one's got some real instruments on it. I challenge you not to play air-bass to this one.

Yes: "Awaken". I've probably been thinking of this one because I've been staying in Vevey in Switzerland, where Rick Wakeman recorded the magnificent pipe organ section. This is one of those songs that epitomises everything that people love (or hate) about Yes; lots of twiddly bits from Rick Wakeman and Steve Howe, and Jon Anderson's wonderful stream-of-consciousness gibberish lyrics.

Judas Priest: "Lochness". A 13 minute epic. About the Loch Ness Monster. Can you say "Spinal Tap"? Yes, I though you could. Somehow this manages to go beyond cheesy and come right out the other side, even though the melody of the chorus bears a passing resemblance to Dusty Springfield's "Windmills of Your Mind".

Nightwish: "Kuolema Tekee Taitelijan". I'm a sucker for ballads done by metal bands, especially when they resist the temptation to add buzzsaw guitars. This one, sung entirely in Finnish, is beautiful. I love the cello solo towards the end, which fits the mood perfectly.

Blue Öyster Cult: "Harvest Moon". One of the standout songs from their late '90s comeback album "Heaven Forbid". If you can't come up with a Call of Cthulhu scenario from the lyric, you're not even trying.

Porcupine Tree: "Arriving Somewhere (But not Here)". This kaleidoscopic nine minute epic is the high point of their most recent album "Deadwing", going from atmospheric prog to metal and back again.

The Mars Volta: "Cassandra Geminni". TMV seem to combine the raw energy of punk with the complexity of full-blown prog-rock, resulting is something very dark and intense indeed. Don't file under 'easy listening'.

Spock's Beard: "The Beauty of it All". Anyone who wrote off Spock's Beard after the departure of original main man Neil Morse turned out to be wrong. Their music might be more structured and melodic than before, but the progressive textures remain intact.

Karnataka: "Speak to Me". Karnataka played atmospheric celtic-tinged progressive rock, sometimes compared with Mostly Autumn. Sadly the original incarnation of the band imploded before I got to see them live. The excellent live album "Strange Behaviour" turned out to be their swansong; this song is one of two that never appeared on any studio album.

Five people to tag: Scott, of course. Then Carl Cravens, Steve Jones, and to see if any A-list people notice me, Ken Hite and Norm.

Posted by TimHall at July 30, 2005 11:14 PM | TrackBack

Comments

Oh no! He's back! With a two week backlog of f*****g memes to clear! ;-)

Posted by: Steve Jones on July 30, 2005 11:26 PM

Yes, Mr Nose. Just when you thought it was safe....

Posted by: Tim Hall on July 30, 2005 11:50 PM

There are several things on your list (hint: celtic-themed prog-rock) I may have to check out. Michael and I bought the first (?) Blackmore's Night CD recently and have really been enjoying it.

Posted by: Ginger Stampley on July 31, 2005 12:32 AM

I've always had mixed feelings about Blackmore's Night, and find a lot of their stuff a bit twee. One poster on alt.music.deep-purple described their debut album as "a cheap pop album that has little or nothing to do with renaissance music", which is harsh but fair.

I find their albums are about one third superb stuff, one third forgettable filler, and one third terribly cheesy.

Saying that, the first album is probably the best, although there are some good standout tracks on the second one.

I would definitely recommend you check out both Mostly Autumn and Karnataka!

Posted by: Tim Hall on July 31, 2005 10:55 AM

I do need to check out Mostly Autumn.

Railroad Earth is sort of progressive bluegrass, or prog-grass, crossed with jamgrass. They do some serious exploration of places bluegrass has rarely gone.

Posted by: Scott on August 5, 2005 05:02 PM

Comments are closed on this entry


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This list comes either from the stuff I've been listening to over the past few months, or the songs that keep appearing in my head even though I haven't actually listened to them for ages. I think the rules are vague enough to include the latter. Mostly Autumn: "Mother Nature". The high spot of their celtic-prog period, this epic still closes their live set. Moloko: "Over and Over". I'm not really into dance music, but this one's got some real instruments on it. I challenge you not to play air-bass to this one. Yes: "Awaken". I've probably been thinking of this one because I've been staying in Vevey in Switzerland, where Rick Wakeman recorded the magnificent pipe organ section. This is one of those songs that epitomises everything that people love (or hate) about Yes; lots of twiddly bits from Rick Wakeman and Steve Howe, and Jon Anderson's wonderful stream-of-consciousness gibberish lyrics. Judas Priest: "Lochness". A 13 minute epic. About the Loch Ness Monster. Can you say "Spinal Tap"? Yes, I though you could. Somehow this manages to go beyond cheesy and come right out the other side, even though the melody of the chorus bears a passing resemblance to Dusty Springfield's "Windmills of Your Mind". Nightwish: "Kuolema Tekee Taitelijan". I'm a sucker for ballads done by metal bands, especially when they resist the temptation to add buzzsaw guitars. This one, sung entirely in Finnish, is beautiful. I love the cello solo towards the end, which fits the mood perfectly. Blue Öyster Cult: "Harvest Moon". One of the standout songs from their late '90s comeback album "Heaven Forbid". If you can't come up with a Call of Cthulhu scenario from the lyric, you're not even trying. Porcupine Tree: "Arriving Somewhere (But not Here)". This kaleidoscopic nine minute epic is the high point of their most recent album "Deadwing", going from atmospheric prog to metal and back again. The Mars Volta: "Cassandra Geminni". TMV seem to combine the raw energy of punk with the complexity of full-blown prog-rock, resulting is something very dark and intense indeed. Don't file under 'easy listening'. Spock's Beard: "The Beauty of it All". Anyone who wrote off Spock's Beard after the departure of original main man Neil Morse turned out to be wrong. Their music might be more structured and melodic than before, but the progressive textures remain intact. Karnataka: "Speak to Me". Karnataka played atmospheric celtic-tinged progressive rock, sometimes compared with Mostly Autumn. Sadly the original incarnation of the band imploded before I got to see them live. The excellent live album "Strange Behaviour" turned out to be their swansong; this song is one of two that never appeared on any studio album. Five people to tag: Scott, of course. Then Carl Cravens, Steve Jones, and to see if any A-list people notice me, Ken Hite and Norm. Posted by TimHall at July 30, 2005 11:14 PM \| TrackBack Comments Oh no! He's back! With a two week backlog of f*****g memes to clear! ;-) Posted by: Steve Jones on July 30, 2005 11:26 PM Yes, Mr Nose. Just when you thought it was safe.... Posted by: Tim Hall on July 30, 2005 11:50 PM There are several things on your list (hint: celtic-themed prog-rock) I may have to check out. Michael and I bought the first (?) Blackmore's Night CD recently and have really been enjoying it. Posted by: Ginger Stampley on July 31, 2005 12:32 AM I've always had mixed feelings about Blackmore's Night, and find a lot of their stuff a bit twee. One poster on alt.music.deep-purple described their debut album as "a cheap pop album that has little or nothing to do with renaissance music", which is harsh but fair. I find their albums are about one third superb stuff, one third forgettable filler, and one third terribly cheesy. Saying that, the first album is probably the best, although there are some good standout tracks on the second one. I would definitely recommend you check out both Mostly Autumn and Karnataka! Posted by: Tim Hall on July 31, 2005 10:55 AM I do need to check out Mostly Autumn. Railroad Earth is sort of progressive bluegrass, or prog-grass, crossed with jamgrass. They do some serious exploration of places bluegrass has rarely gone. Posted by: Scott on August 5, 2005 05:02 PM Comments are closed on this entry	Links of the day 10 Most Overrated Albums From BBC 6 Music. Coldplay! The Smiths! Oasis! Pete Knobhead Docherty! Who am I to disagree? More Ghost Reveries The Ministry of Information has another review of Opeth's new album. Everything Sounds Like Coldplay Now Mitch Benn's paean to formulaic glum rock for bedwetters is shortly to be released as a single! And there's an album and tour to follow. Scott on Railroad Earth Scott recommends some Railroad Earth MP3s. I'll have to catch this lot if they ever play live on my side of the Atlantic. Farewell, Dr Moog The man who gave the world the Mini Moog, Dr Robert Moog has died aged 71. "The sound defined progressive music as we know it," said Keith Emerson.