*But the feeling that you're under can really make you wonder...*

The White Stripes have been a part of my music collection for quite a while now, though, I think I first became aware of them because of an episode of Gilmore Girls. The first album I purchased was White Blood Cells because of the song loud, punk-like song, “Fell In Love With A Girl”. It wasn’t until a year later that I heard Get Behind Me Satan and quickly fell in love with the entire album – and it’s still my favorite of their albums.

 

But instead of going album by album today, I’m just gonna do a quick inventory of my favorite White Stripes tunes. “Truth Doesn’t Make A Noise” is fantastic for the amazing and addictive guitar riff and the piano’s response to the riff. “The Denial Twist” was my favorite for a very long time for the fun, dance-y, ‘60s feel. “I’m Bound To Pack It Up” is very reminiscent of Led Zeppelin to me – but I love the acoustic guitar and minimal percussion. “I Want To Be The Boy To Warm Your Mother’s Heart” is awesome because of the featured slide guitar (I do love slide guitar!). More recently, I’ve found myself entirely addicted to the noisy “There’s No Home For You Here”. I love the harmonies and the driving guitar, but my favorite part is the bridge – and of course, the guitar is pretty impressive as well. “Apple Blossom” is another song that sounds like it was ripped right out of the ‘60s and I love it. Of course, there are numerous songs of theirs I could include in this list, but I am a bit pressed for time today, so that will have to wait for a later date…

 

But the thing I really love about The White Stripes is how bare their recordings are. Those oddly rustic guitars, the boyish vocals, the simple drumming, it all sounds out of place in this era, as if Jack and Meg White stayed under a rock for a quarter century and then came out and started making music. I mean, it’s just what it is… it’s not over dressed, not over produced. It is just plain and simple rock and roll. Fabulous! Love the way Jack uses piano in so much of his music. And Meg? No, she’s not a great drummer, but what she adds is a raw quality, that any technically talented drummer would completely destroy.  Somehow, though, the band’s stripped-down sound and lo-fi production just works. Jack White combines his acoustic guitar strumming with lots of bluesy licks and riffs, and Meg's insistent drumming propels the songs forward effectively. The vocals are another high point, as Jack comes out sounding like Mick Jagger and at other times sounds boyishly innocent. Music made by two people, sounding like it was recorded in a garage, has no right to pack this much of a punch. But it does. The conviction the White Stripes bring to their music alone would be enough to give them a listen.

It started off so well…

I can't believe it's taken me so long to get around to writing about this band, but Queen has long been one of my favorite bands. I got hooked on Queen about a decade ago after I had listened to a mix CD that included “Bohemian Rhapsody”, “Crazy Little Thing Called Love”, “We Will Rock You” and “We Are The Champions”. I’d known those songs before, but never really listened to them… and as is typical for me, after hearing a band I really like, I dive right into their music for several months.

 

After borrowing News of the World from a friend, it seemed that each week I’d run out to buy another one of their albums. So, what can I say about Queen? Queen was incredibly different. They could have wild, loud rockers one minute, and then they would have a pretty ballad the next.  Or even better, they would have some bizarre song that was filled with their British charm. John Deacon is an amazing bassist. Deacon bass lines aren’t just that thumping you tend to hear – His bass lines were melodic and beautiful – And he wrote some of the biggest Queen hits. Roger Taylor can totally rock out on the drums and watching him behind a ridiculously huge set, and know exactly where he’s going… It’s pretty impressive. (And it’s because of him that I mastered the drumstick twirl!) Not to mention he can sing higher than me! Brian May is my favorite member… (I think I’ve already mentioned my “thing” for guitarists). Brian is an extraordinary guitarist and the way he used guitars as other instruments – Well, I’ve never heard another musician able to orchestrate a choir of guitars the way Brian can. And Freddie? Jeez, he’s one of the most charismatic front mans ever. He wasn’t much to look at, but that voice! So powerful which such a fantastic range… And he had a distinctive style on the piano as well. And he’s written some of rock and roll’s most complex songs.

 

My favorite album may be The Game – though, that’s not to say I don’t dig their other albums. Honestly, every album of theirs (particularly the earlier albums) have tons of noteworthy songs. I know that to some The Game marks the beginning of the end for Queen. It’s Queen’s first pop album and is the first of Queen’s albums that doesn’t boast the use of no synthesizers. In fact, the first sound of the album is a synthesizer. So, the album may lack the depth of Queen’s preceding albums and lack the edge of News of the World, but it doesn’t make it a bad album. “Play The Game” is a fantastic showcase for Freddie’s amazing vocals. “Another One Bites The Dust” is quite a departure for the band and for the writer of the song – John Deacon – successfully crossing over into the funk genre. Brian’s heavy “Dragon Attack” and John’s catchy “I Need Your Loving Tonight” are both great tunes. And “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” is a lovely little rockabilly tribute to Elvis with a great Brian May guitar solo played on a Fender Telecaster instead of his usual “Red Special”.

 

Brian wrote two absolutely gorgeous ballads on this album as well – “Sail Away Sweet Sister” is by far my most played Queen song. I love Brian’s vocals and amazing guitar solo – and Freddie’s vocals on the bridge tend to blow me away. (How does he hit that note?!) “Save Me” is the other ballad – and it has another killer guitar solo. And Freddie’s vocals are, of course, perfect. It builds up to a poignant climax flawlessly with its catchy and heartfelt chorus. While it may not be groundbreaking, it doesn’t detract from the beauty of the song. It’s a lovely and strong closer to the album.

 

So… I suppose that’s about all I’ve got to say about Queen for now, but be prepared for me to revisit the subject somewhere down the line.

Don't let 'em tell you what you wanna be....

What can I say about Paul McCartney that hasn’t already been written somewhere? Probably not too much, but I’m gonna try.

 

Paul McCartney is my favorite Beatle. I think it was the White Album picture that officially hooked me. I remember after I had gotten The White Album while I was in high school, I was laying on my bedroom floor looking at the photos included with that album. I remember looking at that picture of Paul (you know the one) and thinking, “Okay yeah, he’s pretty good looking.” Of course, there’s much more to Paul McCartney than a pretty face. He is an amazingly talented musician, songwriter, entertainer… I mean, how many people have written such a vast amount of songs that basically everyone knows? I can tell you, there aren’t that many songwriters you can say that about. His voice is so extraordinary – it’s distinctive, but so versatile at the same time. It’s pretty amazing that he could sing “Here, There and Everywhere” in such a sweet voice and alternatively launch into a song like “Lady Madonna” or “Helter Skelter”. There was a time when I didn’t realize the same person sang those songs! And as a musician – his bass lines were always melodic and distinct, he played some pretty awesome guitar solos, he can rock on the piano, and can even hold his own on the drums.
 

Anyhow, I’ve recently had the good fortune to get tickets to see Paul McCartney in concert – again! I’ve been lucky enough to have seen him twice before. In fact, my first real concert was to see Paul McCartney. Let me tell you, that was an amazing experience. I was able to see him towards the height of my Beatlemania – with my best Beatle friend – and it was the most incredible concert I’ve ever been to. Even the second time I saw him couldn’t compare. Also, up until that concert, I really couldn’t understand the girls during the ‘60s screaming and carrying on the way they did when they saw the Fab Four. And while I still don’t completely understand the logic of screaming during the performance of a song (how can you hear it if you’re screaming?), I do understand the involuntary emotional response that happens being so near such a magnetic and charismatic presence. I’ve never been a very scream-y person, but at the beginning and ending of each song, the excitement just is too much to keep bottled up.

 

Since I found out I’m going to see Paul again, I’ve dug up all of my Paul-related CDs and have been listening to him and The Beatles almost exclusively. This is something I haven’t done for about 7 or 8 years. It’s been interesting and amazingly, despite the fact that I know all of this music so well, it still triggers that emotional response in me. Giddiness, exhilaration, and a bit of wonder at the awesomeness of the songs.

 

I think my favorite Paul album post-Beatles is Ram. “Too Many People” has been one of the songs I’ve been constantly going back to this week. I really love the song. The guitar, the drums, the way it builds… To me, it’s a pretty great way to open an album.  “Dear Boy” is another track on the album that I tend to keep going back to. I know I’ve mentioned it before, but I’m such a sucker for harmonies, and this song is saturated with them. Absolutely catchy melody, simple lyrics, and so many layers of McCartney,  that one could almost get lost in it. My favorite bit is the last 30 seconds of the song when there are all those parts going on at the same time. Oh my god! It’s almost as good as a guitar solo for me!  I also must mention the fantastic guitar riff in “Smile Away”. But really, the entire album is incredible. It’s strange for me to think that this album was actually met with a fairly poor critical reception – especially since it’s so well revered now.

 

Oh well, before I close for now, I do want to say one last thing. While I am definitely a Maccaholic, I don’t want you to think I play that stupid game of “who was better? John or Paul?” I just refuse to play that game, just as I reject any suggestion that the Beatles could have done what they did, been what they were (or are) to millions of us, without George or Ringo. They all had a very important part in the band and are all amazingly talented individuals. And like Paul said in Living In The Material World, “I always likend us [The Beatles] to four corners of a square. People say, ‘Ah, well, John and Paul were the important ones.’ But I say, ‘No, no, it’s a square.’ Without any of the four corners, you collapse.”

 

So, be prepared for more entries about “My Boys”, but until then, I’ll leave you with this:

I’m never gonna know you now, but I’m gonna love you anyhow…

This entry has actually been rather difficult to write, because I have so much to say about this artist and when trying to choose songs to mention, I’m finding that every song that he wrote is worth talking about. There are so many gems in so many songs, it’s damn near impossible to just pick a few. I’m going to attempt to limit this post to just a few of my most played songs of his, but I’m not gonna guarantee anything!

So, Elliott Smith has been a major part of my life for the last five years. For those of you who aren’t familiar with his work, he was an indie singer-songwriter. He wrote some of the most beautiful lyrics I’ve ever heard – with absolutely gorgeous imagery and layers of emotional depth. I love the way he strings together those words... I've always had a fascination with the way a writer strings together words, where they become a beautiful poetic jumble – and he would use some really pretty words. His melodies are exquisite and feature an intricate musical structure. Elliott was an amazing guitarist and his voice… Well, I’m more than a little in love with that voice. It’s soft, haunting, ethereal … and distinctive. But you should know, he did not write happy and silly pop songs. His lyrics articulate thoughts of sadness and loneliness and feelings almost anyone can relate to at one time or another. His life was, admittedly, kind of a mess – marked by unhappiness and drug use and ending tragically with his sudden death in 2003. But the way he wrote about his troubles, it makes the pain and heartbreak beautiful.

My relationship with Elliott began in the summer of 2007 and I was immediately taken by him. The first song of his I ever heard was “Condor Avenue” from the album, Roman Candle. He wrote that song while he was still in high school. That is one song that I love singing because of all the great words and imagery he uses. “…slipped past into rhythmic quietude”, “the chimes fell over each other”, “they never get uptight when a moth gets crushed, unless a light bulb really loved him very much”, and “I’m lying down, blowing smoke from my cigarette, little whisper smoke signs that you’ll never get”… I don’t know. The words are just so pretty and paint such vivid images. You’ll hear a lot of imagery in Elliott’s songs. His words in “Waltz #2” about how she “stares into space like a dead China doll” are another example. And in the song, “Plainclothes Man” (that was recorded while he was still with his band, Heatmiser) has possibly my favorite way of describing a photograph: “A perfect moment in a flash of light”. How amazing is that? Or is it just me? … Yeah, okay.

My first favorite song of his was off the album, Figure 8. “Wouldn’t Mama Be Proud.” Love the harmonies – and love hearing Elliott singing harmony with himself. And the lyrics (as always), pretty amazing. “Stupidity Tries” was another of my favorites upon first listen. It has a wonderful build up and I love the guitar “falls” (I have no idea if that’s the technical term for what’s going on, but it happens in every verse – the first time is about 13 seconds in, after “and he’ll cut…” and the guitar notes slide down. You would think I’d know the technical terms, wouldn’t you?). And it’s pretty awesome that he uses the word “conquistador” in a song. Not often that you hear that word in music – except, y’know, the Procol Harum song, but I digress. Another song from Figure 8 that gets a lot of airtime on my playlists is “L.A.” As far as Elliott songs go, this is maybe one of the happiest. So yeah, maybe he was feeling bad the night before, but today he’s feeling better. It’s extremely catchy, more great harmonies, and the guitar… Great riff and I love (love, LOVE) the palm muted, clicky guitar bit. Kind of a ‘70s-ish vibe to it. It’s one of those songs that always makes me smile.

Honestly though, just about every song you listen to, you’re going to find something amazing in it. Some of my other most played Elliott songs are “Say Yes”, “Between the Bars” (lyrics are fantastic on both of those), “Cupid’s Trick” (as fantastic as the album version is, I am a bit partial to the live version of the song), “Coming Up Roses”, “A Fond Farewell”, “New Monkey”, “No Name #4”, “Independence Day” (fabulous groove to the song), “Bottle Up and Explode”, “Waltz #2” (yeah, I dig the way he names some of his songs too), and today my song of the moment was "Oh Well, Okay"… And then there are a couple of bootleg recordings I got my hands on, but my favorite of those may be the song, “See You In Heaven”. There aren’t lyrics, but the music, the melody… It’s beautiful and uplifting.

One of the things about Elliott though… It’s a little bizarre, but I feel a connection with him. I feel like I know him – and what’s even crazier, I feel like he knows me and understands me. It probably says more about me than I should be revealing in such a public forum, but there have been periods of my life where I’ve felt like he’s the best friend I have. I know it’s strange to feel such a strong connection with someone I didn’t even know existed until after he died (though, it may be a little reminiscent of “Pictures of Lily” by The Who), but I think it says a lot about his songwriting ability – that he was able to build that kind of connection with people through his music. I know in reality, if I had known him, he wouldn’t have been the easiest person to be friends with… I know enough about him personally to have figured that much out, but I’m also pretty sure I would have loved him just the same.

And okay, I’ve got a bit of a crush on Elliott…

Guitarin'

So… I have a confession. I have a thing for guitarists. I have since junior high when I fell in love with Keith Partridge, but as much as I dig guitarists, I’m even more a fan of guitar solos. *sigh!*

Guitar solos… Honestly, I’m not sure when my obsession started with them, but I’ve definitely been in the basic realm of “guitar solo whore” for the better part of a decade at least. Guitar solos almost always can give me a bit of a thrill. I have never been moved to tears by a guitar solo – But they do have quite an effect on me. Something I can hardly explain at times. There are the ones that make me absolutely giddy. There are ones that are like an adrenaline rush, where I have the urge to step on the accelerator and zoom to 90 mph on the freeway with the windows down. Then there are the ones that I close my eyes and let the notes wash over me like a waterfall, ones that hit notes that send shivers down my spine…

The guitar solos I love the most are the melodic ones. I’m all about the melody (something I’m sure I’ll write about in a later post). Believe me, I have respect for the guitarists that play the rapid-fire, shredding solos that are so prominent in heavy metal songs – but for me, those can’t compare with the note bending, clean solos. The way a guitarist can make the instrument speak… That is something that can always send me.

There are a number of solos that I am particularly inclined towards – and before I get into this list, allow me to say, these are just my favorites. I know there are hundreds of fabulous guitar solos out there! This is not a professional ruling, just the opinion of someone who is infatuated with guitar solos and the musicians that play them! (And it’s a safe assumption that you will be hearing about these artists again in future posts).

“25 or 6 to 4” by Chicago has a pretty cool solo – though, not super clean, and very of its time – particularly with the use of the wah-wah pedal. “Let It Rain” by Clapton… Of course, I have to have Clapton included on a list of guitar solos. I’m also in love with his solos in “White Room” (Cream) and the solo he does on the Concert for George version of “Isn’t It A Pity.” I was particularly proud of myself while listening to that solo for the first time and knowing it was Eric playing before I saw it was him. This was while I was just beginning to recognize various guitarists’ styles – and Eric’s style is as distinctive as a voice. It couldn’t be anyone else.

I’m crazy about the solo in “Peace Frog” by the Doors. The solo in Elvis Costello’s “I Want You” is pretty hot, despite the fact that it’s just 2 slightly off-key notes. It totally works in that song. The Carpenters song, “Goodbye To Love” is probably the first guitar solo I ever really took notice of. Of course, the song is fantastic (and one of my favorite Carpenters songs), but Tony Peluso rocks that solo. And it wasn’t common at that time to have a love ballad with a fuzz guitar solo interjected in the middle of it. Rock on, Carpenters!

So it doesn’t seem like I have an aversion to more modern guitar solos, allow me to include The White Stripes’ “I Want To Be The Boy To Warm Your Mother’s Heart” (I have a major thing for slide guitar), The Raconteurs’ “Consoler of the Lonely” (yeah, yeah… I dig Jack White), Stone Temple Pilots’ “Lady Picture Show” (the acoustic version is really amazing too! Gorgeous song and gorgeous solo), Velvet Revolver’s “Fall to Pieces”, and Red Hot Chili Peppers’ “21^st Century”.

Obviously, any catalog of guitar solos would be sorely lacking if I didn’t include Led Zeppelin and Jimi Hendrix. There are so many of both that are featured in lists of the best solos… “Stairway”, “Heartbreaker”, “All Along the Watch Tower”, and “Voodoo Child (Slight Return)” are the ones I see all the time on those kinds of lists, but my favorites are Jimi Hendrix’s “Bold as Love” (I really dig ballads – and love that under water sound) and Zeppelin’s “Over the Hills and Far Away”.

I’m a big fan of Elliott Smith and while he doesn’t have the super-impressive guitar solos that usually dominate lists, I’m completely in love with his style and his guitar work on “Southern Belle” and “Almost Over” are remarkable (I really dig that style of playing the same note over really fast in a tremolo effect). My favorite solos of his, though, are in his live performances of “Cupid’s Trick” and “Mr. Good Morning”. They’re not extended solos by any means, but something about them absolutely sends me.

I’ve been quite a fan of Queen and in particular, Brian May, for quite some time – in fact, I had quite a crush on him as well! (Like I mentioned before, I have a thing for guitarists). Brian’s style is quite unique, particularly with the orchestrating of guitars. “Bohemian Rhapsody” is the most popular of his, but I’m even more impressed with the orchestrating of a Dixieland band of electric guitars in the song “Good Company”. The guitar solos in “ Dead on Time” and “Keep Yourself Alive” are electrifying, but my all time favorite Brian solo is from one of my favorite songs of his, “Sail Away Sweet Sister”. The part that always sends my insides swirling is from 2:10-2:20, with the guitars playing in harmony.

This brings me to my favorite band of all time – rather predictably, The Beatles. John, Paul, and George all had some amazing guitar solos throughout their career as Beatles. “Taxman,” “Drive My Car”, “I Feel Fine”, “Yer Blues”, “Something”, “Back in the USSR” (more of that playing the same note over really fast during that last verse. *sigh!*), and of course, “The End”, featuring all three alternating for the solo. Though, I think my favorite solo of theirs (at the moment at least) is “Hey Bulldog”. The bit from 1:23-1:28… God, yeah. Love that bit.

But my all time favorite guitar solo is from George Harrison’s last solo album, Brainwashed. The song, “Rising Sun”, is a beautiful song, but that solo… It’s so silky smooth… so sleek, so clean – it makes my heart race. And at 3:59, when he hits that one note – Oh my god! There’s that swirly feeling in my stomach, shivers down my spine, and there’s an overwhelming feeling of happiness. I just find myself grinning idiotically by the end of that song. No other solo affects me quite in that way…

So yeah, I told you… I’m a guitar solo whore.