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November 14, 2005
10 Loud Guitar Songs
Monday. Working on the novel. Frustration! Frustration! Then maybe a few lines that seem (sort of) successful. And frustration again! But the end is clearly in sight.
It's one of those days where, after an hour or so of screwy, occluded thinking and thwarted attempts to clarify a messy chapter, I wind up putting the headphones on (careful not to disturb Michael in the next room) for a while. Sometimes the volume sort of shakes things up, clarifies things, and then I can return to the writing. Sometimes.
A list: a random ten of my favorite "loud guitar songs."
Bailter Space, "Get Lost," from ROBOT WORLD. I saw this band live once, at the Mercury Lounge in NYC. I stood directly in front of the stage. On the first song, the singer/guitarist cut his hand on his guitar, spattering orangy blood in my face. I fainted, and missed the entire concert. Anyway... I think they're one of the most underrated and criminally ignored bands ever... this is the loudest song from their freakiest album.
My Bloody Valentine, "To Here Knows When," from LOVELESS. Duh.
Slowdive, "Catch the Breeze" (especially the final couple of minutes), from JUST FOR A DAY. (Confession: during the majority of 1991-1992, my haircut was just like the dudes' in the photo below.)
...And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead, "Baudelaire," from SOURCE TAGS & CODES. I didn't like their last album as much, but this one is amazing. When Mysterious Skin was at the Sundance festival this past winter, they played there, and Brady Corbet and I got to see them.
Mogwai, "Ratts of the Capital," from HAPPY SONGS FOR HAPPY PEOPLE (I love how it keeps building and building, sparkly sounding, adding layer upon layer of guitar, and then at about 4:19 it kind of spills over and breaks into a leaner, sparer guitar sound).
The Mars Volta, "Son et Lumiere" / "Intertiatic ESP," from DE-LOUSED IN THE COMATORIUM. Loud, loud, loud. And yes, in case you're curious, I'm still in love with Omar Rodriguez-Lopez, the world's most perfect human.
Van Halen, "Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love," from VAN HALEN. Okay, so it doesn't fit with the rest of these, and it doesn't seem like something I'd like. But it's great, with an amazing guitar riff at the beginning, and it reminds me of when I was fourteen and queasily turned on my the sight of a shirtless David Lee Roth doing a backbend on the LP's back cover. Should I be embarrassed by this?? (Note: I'm obsessed with contortionists. Anyone who shares this fascination should go to the Limbermen site immediately.)
Low, "Prisoner," from the FINALLY... cd-ep or THE CURTAIN HITS THE CAST vinyl lp. Really slow and repetitive, but it's sooo great LOUD, and weirdly inspiring. Such a great, desperate lyric. "I am not a prisoner / but I'm in prison..."
Swervedriver, "Duel," from MEZCAL HEAD. This song sounds like it has 27 guitarists playing on it.
Flying Saucer Attack, "Rainstorm Blues," from FURTHER. Someday when I make a horror film I'm going to include this as music over the opening or closing credits.
Any suggestions you might have for further clearing the mind, please send 'em along.
Posted by at November 14, 2005 12:32 PM
Comments
Mogwai is amazing.
Posted by: damien at November 22, 2005 11:15 PM
There's a song by a band called Empire State called 'Bleeps and the Blips' which always calms me the fuck down.
Also, don't forget the Albini - produced Auteurs 'After Murder Park'.
Also, anythingn by the Rock-A-Teens.
Also, American Music Club's 'Love Songs for Patriots' and 'Mercury', especially the songs 'Mercury' and 'Patriots Heart'.
Eleventh Dream Day's 'Beet'
K. McCarty's album of Daniel Johnston covers, 'Dead Dog's Eyeball'.
Just watched 'Mysterious Skin' Last night - you're extremely lucky to have a movie version of your novel that is SO GOOD, with two leads that are SO GOOD! Most authors don't do that well.
You've been blessed by the stars. All that UFO shit, I guess.
Posted by: technopuritanism.net at November 18, 2005 11:21 AM
Dammit. I should've commented sooner. My first thought when you mentioned guitar songs was most of Siamese Dream by Smashing Pumpkins. Apparently, I wasn't alone. Their single, "Drown", from the Singles soundtrack is another great guitar track.
I'll also plug all of Turbonegro's Apocalypse Dudes, especially "Age of Pamparius" and "Self Destruct Or Bust". The bass in that one always gives me goosebumps.
Posted by: ttrentham at November 18, 2005 10:57 AM
oh !
Posted by: caro at November 17, 2005 02:53 PM
1. John Frusciante - Murderers
2. Sonic Youth - Schizophrenia
3. Blues Explosion - Wail
Posted by: stéphanie at November 17, 2005 02:42 PM
Well, I would be embarrassed by the David Lee Roth comment, but that's just me.
Oh, let's see...I just heard "Mine Is No Disgrace" by the Melvins w/ guest vocalist Foetus and his always-great Thirlwellian lyrics augmented by an explosion of guitar during the chorus.
The whole Siamese Dream album by Smashing Pumpkins has a really great layered guitar sound.
Posted by: Matt at November 16, 2005 06:46 PM
I'll just list the first ten "loud guitar" songs that I think of and that typically cause me to play air guitar:
1. The Kiss - The Cure
2. Judith - Perfect Circle
3. Zero - Smashing Pumpkins
4. Holidays in the Sun - Sex Pistols
5. 50-Foot Queenie - PJ Harvey
Well, there's five. I have to go to a meeting at my job. Ugh.
robert
Posted by: robert at November 16, 2005 12:52 PM
Laughter. Try some. No heady, thoughtful, or sardonic junk. Go with silly stuff.
For me it's saying aloud the name of Scott Baio's character on Arrested Development. It's a lawyer named Bob Loblaw.
Posted by: Aaron at November 15, 2005 08:02 PM
I am going to say Sunny Day Real Estate the first album is more straightforward guitar stuff. But when I personally am looking for a head clear- I go with something loud and to the point like Minor Threat.
The new Trail of the Dead is not so good? That is too bad cos I love Source Tags and Codes.
Posted by: bree at November 15, 2005 11:37 AM
hey scott,
great site!,
my current 6 headcleaners
The fall "the Classical"
Big Black "El dopa"
Om "Variations on a theme"
Black Sabbath "Sweat leaf"
Swans "The Sound"
The wedding present "bizarro"
The ultimate HEADCLEANER music
Coil "Time machine"
(if you can stay awake, that is)
take care, alex.
Posted by: alex walsh at November 15, 2005 07:31 AM
hmm.. last comment didn't post. anyhow, just discovered your blog, how mega rad. great list -- i haven't heard that low song, but i've got the most recent album and it rules. my additons suggestions for loud guitar ass-kickery:
hold steady -- little hoodrat friend
'mats -- kids won't follow
pavement -- texas never whispers
stripes -- blue orchid
bikini kill -- all
go team (80s calvin johnson project, not new exclamation point band) -- 3 ways to sunday
Posted by: teenagekicks at November 15, 2005 01:08 AM
I had no idea you had a blog until someone on dennis cooper's blog mentioned it today. awesome! great track choices (have you heard the new low? it rules.).
other loud guitar musts:
"your little hoodrat friend" -- the hold steady.
"texas never whispers" -- pavement.
"kids won't follow" -- the 'mats.
"dan dare" -- mekons.
"blue orchid" -- the stripes
"in heaven (lady in the radiator song)" -- the pixies.
"3 ways to sunday" -- the go team (the calvin johnson go team of the eighties, not the new band with the exlamation point).
Posted by: teenagekicks at November 15, 2005 01:03 AM
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