| Everything but the Girl – Rollercoaster Lyrics | 6 years ago |
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Between 'Worldwide' (1991) and 'Amplified Heart' (1994), Ben Watt suffered a life-threatening condition. Available public interviews have him explain something of the profound impact of this, and the effect of him feeling compelled to write music, or an album, that dealt not with routine forms and expressions that would have continued a natural path and philosophy of 'life' and 'work' such as we are fed and encouraged in by schools and culture at large; but with, fundamentally, the prospect of dying (which faces us all, by the way) and the metaphysical struggles and questions - or at least the salutations of an art - within it's implications. The album plays, poetically, as a work that listens to it's audience; the purpose is not commercial, but humane. We are (or I feel) invited to share a simple human companionship; not politically - as a John Lennon, or Billy Bragg - but musically, through genuine appropriation of the sentiments and themes we are hearing as much as the comfort of a compassion as the distress of a complainant. Some songs were written by Tracey Thorn, and the feel throughout is that of a couple coming to terms with hardship, and looking, lovingly (or committedly), for a future, for themselves, that is emotionally/spiritually shared and humane; not dominated by outside pressures and demands, whether political and legal or vain and self-imposed and self-induced. A rollercoaster, ultimately, is a ride that is full of drama and emotion, but is vain:- reality, in contrast (whether experienced as restful or mundane), is faced when we have gotten off. When one undergoes a significant (Christian or philosophical) change or transformation, the information (even claimed 'histories') given as our national and cultural identities (mostly before we were old enough to sift things with anything fitly called discernment), on the whole, becomes subject to this new consciousness - affected by some power of experience - that even preferred teachers (i.e. debate - and perhaps reason, or accustomed reasonings) cannot displace. Persons and practices all become less the fixtures that they were before, depending on how they adapt to (or can be persuaded of) the priority we give to our newly planted meditations and directions. Believe it or not (and many will testify)… 'redemption' (or relief) is, or can be, found when we are slandered, sacked, robbed and beaten; or, by some course of wisdom, look for humanity in and from sensitive human souls instead of those we can buy or sell. |
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| Metallica – Creeping Death Lyrics | 6 years ago |
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@[Doapsique:32646] If we decide there's a god... we take religion seriously; if not, we buy and sell music, Grammy awards, 'churches', human slaves... as if nothing mattered. The devil is the 'god (Lord) of this world', regarding (democratic) control - Christians reason (we do not force), and we wait for the living God to judge. The 'angel of death' described in Exodus is referred to, Biblically, as 'The Destroyer'. Metallica were not respected musicians in their day, nor were The Beatles, Black Sabbath; not until they won fan bases (and compromised critics) over, by persistence as much as anything else. |
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| Soul Asylum – Runaway Train Lyrics | 6 years ago |
| Abraham (the father of Jewish/Christian faith) had no option but to cut ties (with 'family' and cold acquaintance alike) to find his own clarity and, indeed, a place where he could express his own responsibility - or, more to the point, be allowed to. Intentionally or not, this empathizes with adolescent confusion; how many pop artists actually do this instead of only fanning their own ego ? News reporting is a privilege; so is artistic exposure. Was in high school when this broke:- cut through bloated and vain 'spirits of radio'. | |
| The Connells – '74-'75 Lyrics | 6 years ago |
| Lovely; but I'd guessing as to whether I was cosying up to a (lyrical) sentiment of faithful or unfaithful nostalgia/action/inaction or whatever else. Should we be indulging this without further information ? | |
| Slayer – Hell Awaits Lyrics | 6 years ago |
| Dogmatic (a la "My Way" by Frank Sinatra; "Girls Just Want To Have Fun" by Cindy Lauper...). | |
| Big Country – Alone Lyrics | 6 years ago |
| Shades of "The One And Only" by Chesney Hawkes. Someone is/was not in touch with their moods, I'm sorry to say. "Nutshell" (Alice In Chains) hits the mark here. | |
| Bruce Dickinson – Born in '58 Lyrics | 6 years ago |
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Touching. A sample (maybe the best) of Dickinson's potential outside of Iron Maiden ("The Chemical Wedding" is immense, but a tangible reason to get back into the band; not why he left or, reasonably, should have left). Great delivery of a powerful message about relationships and what is important (or more important) in life. The stuff that country, and other genres, crave; so long as they have no bias against persons and customs not their own. Not one to dismiss the allegories of a Dio, or a Robbie Robertson, but more of this would have been appreciated before the abandonment of the style (or material/inspiration) in way of a return to old/familiar ground. |
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| Black Sabbath – Black Sabbath Lyrics | 6 years ago |
| This (the influence of business executives and fellow artists - as well as 'inspirations' - upon an individual, or company, and their ethos and work) is comparable, in my view, to what happened with U2 when acquainted with Brian Eno's team/associates. Apparently, Terry Reid turned down Jimmy Page (for Led Zeppelin) on this note. Ozzy, in my book, is not a 'prince of darkness'; but, if he'd do this kind of dirt (not so much the aspects of his art as the compromising of himself for an image) 'all again' ("Road To Nowhere"), who am I to persist, or have any more to do with him ? | |
| Iron Maiden – The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner Lyrics | 6 years ago |
| Maiden's catalogue made me feel cooler, or deeper, than the Kylie fans in school. On reflection, I'm not sure why any of their songs need to exist (other than to convince us that Iron Maiden's gonna get us). That said, "Hallowed Be Thy Name" and "Rime" were (I reckon to this day) seriously profound life lessons I wasn't, at that age, going to get from reading books. "No Prayer" is the essential Maiden, lyrically and philosophically speaking, but, if the jury's in, they probably didn't pull that off. Love "Somewhere In Time" and Adrian Smith's input to the band. This album, today, is the one that doesn't expect us to 'bow down' just because of the portentous themes. Read "L-D Runner" for high school English because of the song. | |
| Dio – Hungry For Heaven Lyrics | 6 years ago |
| Loved "Diamonds: The Best Of Dio". Dio felt like a friend. Even now, if time were not the wall it is, requiring such a tailored watch; I could run a few rainbows just to retest the sound of this with what I hear today. This song, on reflection, called out (or in !!!) to me (I'm not sure how, or why) but 'if there was one person you could interview'... "Mr. Dio. What is your sacred heart ?" | |
| Ozzy Osbourne – Dee Lyrics | 6 years ago |
| A balanced Ozzy suite not matched, in this respect, until "No More Tears". Plenty of time for "Dee" now that I don't buzz my head daft with "Over The Mountain" and little else. (Rhoads) Might have been a seriously interesting modern day classical composer. | |
| Metallica – Creeping Death Lyrics | 6 years ago |
| The 'exodus' (of Israel) is a historical occurrence. Hetfield here, (as on "The Four Horsemen") sings as a personification of God's avenger (the destroyer). This is the equivalent of many Hollywood movie productions; the material does not, authentically, belong with anyone, but those - in this case Jews - who would treat it with it's proper respect and/or expression. "In Bloom" by Nirvana uses this principle (with respect to ignorant subjects of art) for it's theme/object. | |
| Megadeth – Peace Sells Lyrics | 6 years ago |
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Dave may have had a personal grievance in mind (the insults of the latter verses) but that's his business. Sounds like he's a trier/optimist but overcome by (religious, political and economic) weight and hypocrisy. His anger is admirable (wish I cared as much). Great humour ! Something Axl (GnR) has as well but Cobain (Nirvana) seemed to lack. I've met many a degenerate 'redeemed' by their humane comedic qualities. Glad he, now, describes infidelity ("Wake Up Dead") and black magic ("The Conjuring") as contemptible. I've given some of this music up myself. |
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| Anthrax – Madhouse Lyrics | 6 years ago |
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This is not about being, bureaucratically, committed to an asylum. Like many Anthrax songs, it is a social commentary:- society ('the world'), on a large scale, complains about itself; yet perpetuates itself, by way of (educational and political) programmes and 'reforms' that (like a maze) do nothing but retract what was given to protestors by previous agendas. The video (symbolizing 'gay rights') depicts how a man, for example, might think, or claim, he is a woman... and/or (therefore) fit for motherly roles; as well as portraying examples of abusive/misgiven authority. A literal 'madhouse' is used as a metaphor for the macrocosm. Those seeking intimacy/counsel/confession regarding loneliness/paranoia/guilt or fear, such as mentioned in the lyrics, are nudged (in typical Anthrax style) not to surrender to 'doctors' (whatever badge they might produce), nor yet to Catholic 'priests' for that matter; but they, or those, you yourself (privately and diligently) have deemed worthy of the confidence (this principle is that expressed in Kate Bush's "Mother Stands For Comfort" and, in a different manner, Shel Silverstein's "Boy Named Sue"). |
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