I am in the middle of something very surreal. In my experience, once you have been tagged with a writing assignment, it doesn’t go away until you complete it. That’s why, for over a week now, I’ve been mulling over the project pinned to me by John B. of Blog Meridian. It had something to do with choosing several “favorite songs” and then—and then what?
I’m not sure what I was supposed to do with the favorites, or precisely how many of them I was supposed to pick. In fact, I’m making up the rules as I go along, because the original post is gone! (Or at least very cleverly hidden.) But I feel bound by honor to go on and complete this piece.
I tend to take “best of” lists too seriously, in this case trying to embody the very best of all that music has conveyed to us in the last several decades. Finally, I gave up, played a few albums that have been enjoying favored status lately, and took a few notes.
Now I am able to offer this definitive list of songs that will impoverish your life if they are not part of it. I have decided to list five. 
“Hurt,” American IV: The Man Comes Around, Johnny Cash
If anything, Cash’s shadowy, half-sung, half-spoken rendition adds weight to the original. His voice is raspy with age, and I can never hear this song without being moved to hope for a redemption beyond pain and loss. 
“Faith Enough,” Who We Are Instead, Jars of Clay
The Jars penned a bittersweet ballad in this one, and the paradox of our crazy-lovely world gets me every time. No doubt I’m also influenced by the fact that I am still torn up over Ernest Hemingway’s A Farewell to Arms, which I finished mere days ago, and from which the Jars pull the quote that inspires this song: “The world breaks everyone and afterward many are strong in the broken places.”
“Ballad in Plain Red,” I See Things Upside Down, Derek Webb
Combine The Screwtape Letters
just keep selling truth in candy bars
on billboards and backs of cars
truth without context, my favorite of all my crimes
Right on. And the song’s creepiness is only exceeded by its catchiness.
“Reconstruction Site,” Reconstruction Site, The Weakerthans
Ridiculously strong metaphors, dry humor and a certain wistfulness make The Weakerthans a band that gets a lot of playing time around here. The hard part was deciding which song to list. Finally, I settled on the title track from their latest album, Reconstruction Site. Check out the verve:
I’m lost. I’m afraid. A frayed rope tying down a leaky boat to the roof of a car on the road in the dark, and it’s snowing. If I’m more, then it means less. Last call for happiness. I’m your dress near the back of your knees and your slip is showing.
And in conclusion:
Buy me a shiny new machine that runs on lies and gasoline, and all those batteries we stole from smoke-alarms, and disassembles my despair. It never took me anywhere. It never once bought me a drink.
How can you not love these guys?
“Nightswimming,” In Time, R.E.M.
I had to include something from a band that could arguably be considered “classic.” (Go on and debate if R.E.M. qualifies.) I’ve always liked the longing for simple things expressed in this one—watching a full moon, swimming at night, a childhood that seems far off. Lilting piano work brings out a haunting beauty. This is one rare set of lyrics, in fact, “the only song we’ve ever written where the lyrics came first” (Peter Buck). With good reason.
That completes my phantom music meme. According the rules which I am making up, I don’t have to tag anyone else with it right now. Go give the songs a listen.
7 comments:
I love the Weakerthans; that song and a few others on the album make me shake my head in awe.
Do you listen to much Sufjan Stevens? If you don't I think you should check him out. He is incredible. I have a link on my site to here which has posted Sufjan's take on traditional Christmas tunes (don't worry, the are not for sale so it isn't illegal as far as I can tell). You should check it out.
Tim: "I love the Weakerthans..."
Yes. YES! The joy I feel at meeting another Weakerthans fan, and an old friend at that, can hardly be described.
O.c., I'm not really up on Stevens. But with a name like Sufjans, I don't see how he could miss. I'll take a listen.
Now I know I was easy on you all. I didn't "tag" anyone and force you to assemble your own list of favs, but I am curious. If any of you feel led, go on and spit out a superlative song title or two.
Oh my, if you do not know Sufjan you are in for a treat. He is a Christian and writes INCREDIBLE music. When I started listening to him I didn't know he was a believer; but, when I found out that he made good music and a Christian it nearly broke my mind.
I could start all sort of fights with a statement like that...
Regarding the unofficial tagging, you are on.
Here is the requested post.
Ariel,
I had cleverly hidden the original post in the archives; if you're curious, here it is.
You done good, even without the post. And The Weakerthans seem intriguing. I'll give them a listen.
Some of the links that on my post in the above link were not working, they should be fine now.
Post a Comment