Interactive poll: All you do to me is talk talk

George:  Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy “Television, the Drug of the Nation”  First thing I thought of, as he started to speak, was that, when my son was young and we watched a tv show that had commercials, I would ask him to think about what that commercial was trying to do.  Sell him something.  And did he really want that thing, or did he see that they were making it look like something really great to have?  Same thing when anything that was “questionable,” or other parents wouldn’t let their kids see, I just turned it into a talking-about-it tool.  Now to the piece, itself.  With news sound and visual clips, I can see this definitely as an homage to Gil-Scott Heron’s work and also, Bob Dylan, with the figures with signs, both artists who made sharp critical social commentary.  This kind of rap I’m all for.  Just like other things, it can be used for good, or evil, truly.  I always say that if children are only exposed to ugly things,  how can they be expected to aspire to a better world.  All the killings on tv, in their schools, on our streets, case in point.  Very thoughtful, and had this poll not happened, I would never have heard this on my own.  Thank you.  Soul Coughing “Screenwriter’s Blues”  A wonky sort of musical score underneath another commentary on media, here concentrating more on Los Angeles, media capital.  The music sounds a bit like a warped cartoon soundtrack, and then they utilize some cartoon script (The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show’s Mr. Peabody) edited in.  Back to the main course.  There is almost an echo of Jim Morrison’s delivery style in the spoken word piece part. LOL, we are all going to Reseda some day…to die!  Hilarious!  Then on to the hopes and dreams of the screenwriter.  Weird Al Yankovic “Albuquerque”   Straight into the rock band underneath the quick delivery of Weird Al.  This is kind of like Robin Williams riffing while on steroids, but using Weird Al’s voice.  Weasels even rip his flesh in this one.  Totally wonky and fun. 

Kees:  Anthony Joseph “Calling England Home”  This one has a nice, jazz feel right at the start, love those slippy-slidey violin sounds!  There is also a horns-type effect, which is also very slidy, wow.  Not sure how that is achieved, but it’s very effective.  Nice little glisses on some instrument.   He really captures the feeling of being not home, an immigrant.  Paddy McAloon/Prefab Sprout “I Trawl the Megahertz”  Light and airy orchestral beginning, sounds like it may be nostalgic, from the setup.  Female voice tells a child that it’s world is changing, his father doesn’t want to live with them anymore.  Saxophone joins in.  The woman continues describing her experience, trying to navigate in a warlike setting.  Trying to come to terms that everything is now changed, forever.  She is at a loss, over her loss, looking for ways to heal, but none of them are enough, only the oblivion that waits in the stars once she is “bones, or dust, or ashes,” may free her from this pain.  Death of a relationship/death of another one loves, it is the same.  Extraordinary piece.  Alvin Lucier “I Am Sitting in a Room”  Yes, I am patient.  It was really interesting how the voice became more sonorous and sometimes almost muffled.  Also the words became fluttery, for lack of a better word, especially with sibiliant sounds (to be expected, there).  A bit different than straight echo effecting, but similar.  Doubling is very common, as I am guessing most know, in studio vocals.  This takes it far and away from that.  About a third through, the volume also seems to drop, but I think this is just an effect from the however many times the words are now repeated.  By the halfway mark, the sounds are reminiscent of some sort of underground machine area of a large building, to me, as if you are hearing water pipes echoing down immense cement catacombs.  It also makes me think of really super slowed down calliope pipes, as there is now sort of deep bell-like tones.  I found it definitely very hypnotic and relaxing.  This effect intensifies to the end.  I found all three of your selections very worth considering, and even shared this one on FB.  This time, all three of yours are potential contenders, no matter which you pick.

JD:  The Police “Be My Girl” ; Long John Baldry “Don’t Try To Lay No Boogie-Woogie on the King of Rock & Roll” ; Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen “Hot Rod Lincoln”  JD, I remember all of these and the way I approach the lengthier write-ups are based on my first listen to an unknown piece.  However, all worthy entrants and I’m sure there will be others that don’t remember these. 

I prophesy disaster:  The Bevis Frond “The Pips”  The psych-inspired Nick Saloman here, with some whangy guitars and rotor sounds accompany the words of the piece, at an almost equal volume.  A tirade agains many, many things, not sure what The Pips are, but you don’t want them, I can imagine.  Rollins Band “Liar”  Ah, Henry Rollins.  He is a funny one, for me.  I love his poetry that I’ve heard him recite, and listening to him speak on various topics.  Some of the music is too intense/punkish/”yelling,”  for my ear.  Let’s see what is up with this piece.  Wow, quite a trip into the mind of a psychopath.  When the music kicks in, it is everything I would expect from the Rollins Band.  However, because it is couched with the spoken word and not very much of what I would call yelling vocals, I am quite taken with this (just like when I’ve heard him reciting poetry with no accompaniment).  Matthew Trapnell “Ella’s Uncle”  Steady drums and bass, with a whaaaaing guitar and then, harmonica.    Ella tells the story of her uncle, who played the harmonica, first in Louisiana, then moved to Chicago, where he worked in a steel mill.  He began playing to the sounds of the steel mill.  Some vibes are added in, very bell-like, while the harmonica plays in a different way than the Louisiana style.  Now it is picking up the sound of the trainyards and becomes much more intense.  Horns punctuate the wailing blues of the harmonica player.  The harmonica solos out to the ending.   Interesting look at how your environment can directly influence your art.

wiz_d_kidd:  2NU “This Is Ponderous”  A deep “radio” voice, indeed, announces that “this is ponderous.”  Thunderclaps and quick bass lines and popping keys and guitars, underneath, with whacks of percussion.  Horns and squeaky shoes enter the picture and he changes locations abruptly.  He’s been there in other dreams (this is common to have revisited dreamscapes, btw).  A woman’s voice enters and he picks up a phone with someone speaking in a language unknown to him.  The horns herald another new sequence, a repeated theme for the dreamer as well.  Back to the beach and the girl.  It begins to rain, more thunderclaps and the telephone speaker repeats the message to him.  It occurred to me how fun it would be to have a soundtrack to underlie the relating of dreams in dream groups.  Fun track. 

dr wu23:  Masters of Reality “T.U.S.A.”  Love the cover and the album name, btw.  Another deep voiced guy, but this one’s British and it’s not a dream, as in wiz’s previous track.  This guy is musing about a teabag, with a catchy guitar, drums and bass underpinning, which repeats throughout.  A chorus vocal queries why can’t get their tea?  Reminds me so much of my British friends ordering “tea,” at a diner and their disgust at how it is served here in the US!  Very amusing!  William Shatner “Real”  This one should be a doozy, lol.  Full band with electric piano starts the piece, with William chewing up the aural scenery, in his imitable way.  Wonderful surprise of Brad Paisley singing the chorus and playing some great (as expected) guitar. As usual, no one quite does a recording like he does.  😊