Explorations: Tennessee

 

Original video located here. Accessed 15th January 2021

Song title: Tennessee

Artist: Arrested Development

Year: 1992

Why I like this song:

Lately I've been listening to Arrested Development's landmark album 3 Years, 5 Months and 2 Days in the Life Of... (what a title!)

I do recall Arrested Development being something of a big deal in the early nineties - at least big in that I could recognise they songs and they were getting some decent radio airplay. Years later, it seems this album is being acknowledged as making a key contribution to the evolution of the rap/hip-hop genre, what with Arrested Development eschewing the trends of Gangsta Rap and addressing issues from a socially conscious angle. Foolhardy? Maybe. Effective? Absolutely. 

Sure Arrested Development may have crashed and burned after this one album but the album in question is still a gem. And, even if some factions are reluctant (or baffled) to admit it, it still claims a place in rap/hip-hop history

Nineties Revisited: 25th December

Original video located here. Accessed 23rd December 2020

Song title: 25th December

Artist: Everything But the Girl

Year: 1994

Why I like this song:

Hope you all have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Obituary: One Country

Original video located here. Accessed 9th November 2020

Song title: One Country

Artist: Midnight Oil

Year: 1990

Why I like this song:

R.I.P. Bones Hillman

Its Midnight Oil at their most inspirational. Lots of things going on here but the best part is the mid-song climax that leads into Bones' refrain. And they say the bass player is inessential

Obituary: The Love We Make

Original video located here. Accessed 5th October 2020

Song title: The Love We Make

Artist: Girl Overboard

Year: 1990

Why I like this song:

R.I.P. Lisa Schouw

This is something of a hit that time forgot. It may not be remembered now but it was everywhere on Australian radio at the time. Certainly all the ingredients are there: A rousing chorus, the power of Lisa's voice, and a vibe that seems reminiscent of eighties R.E.M. (and this was before R.E.M. will become huge with Losing My Religion). 
Far less deserving hits have been better remembered....

This Song Rocks: The Ballad of the Mighty I

Original video located here. Accessed 24th August 2020

Song title: The Ballad of the Mighty I

Artist: Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds

Year: 2015

Why I like this song:

So I got ahold of the Chasing Yesterday album of Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds. It was pretty good - once again proving that Noel can still pump a quality tune - but he left the best moment for last.

Personally? This is one of the best songs he's ever written. It can easily stand alongside the best songs he came up with in Oasis' heyday 

This Song Rocks: Joker

Original video located here. Accessed 17th August 2020

Song title: Joker

Artist: Soulsavers

Year: 2015

Why I like this song:

Lately I've been listening to the Soulsavers album Kubrick.
Now this was high concept: An album where every song is about a character from a movie by director Stanley Kubrick. This one being about Joker from Full Metal Jacket. 
Needless to say, the film geek in me was already keen. And as it happens, the songs were well produced and inventive.
But does it live up to it's ambitious concept? Well it's an interpretation of someone else's work yes and it certainly is effective but does it succeed? I guess that's a matter of perspective...

This Song Rocks: Walk Me to the Bridge

 

Original video located here. Accessed 10th July 2020

Song title: Walk me to the Bridge

Artist: Manic Street Preachers

Year: 2014

Why I like this song:

I will admit I have lost track of the Manic Street Preachers in recent years but I've been hearing some good things about their Futurology album. So let's check in on an old friend shall we? 

As an album Futurology certainly sounds unique when compared to the rest of Manic's discography. And at the same time, it certainly has a kick - and a willingness to experiment - one wouldn't expect in an act that has been around for well over two decades. Funny thing: twelve albums in and this is the sound of a band that aren't showing signs of slowing down