It had become an annual tradition for a buddy and me to make compilation albums each year highlighting to the other new music we had purchased. Whether we had any set rules or not, I always tried to keep it to two songs max from a single album and always tried to pick the 'hidden gems' from the album. I didn't want to just throw out all the singles that people might have already heard on the radio or TV. The overall point was to highlight the album and introduce music that the other person hadn't heard and might otherwise not listen to. I believe this album would reference back to my musical year of 2009. I spent much more time on this compilation than I had in the past mulling over the song sequence trying to find a good flow knowing that is part of the recipe to make new songs appealing. Eventually I noticed a theme I was creating and came up with the concept of trying to put my disparate songs together into some kind of mosaic portraying a life story of my fictional character, Kip Winger. I've wanted to get back to posting an overview of why I picked the songs while trying to explain my thoughts on how they form the story. So here I go. Sit back and enjoy this look back at The Legacy of Kip Winger.
'Do You Do You Dig Destruction' - Turbonegro from Retox
I fell in love with this song the first time I heard it. When thinking of what to put together on my album, I knew I had to put this in somewhere. I think it may have been part of a Jackass or Viva La Bam soundtrack which is partly how I came to possess it. I have since picked up a couple other albums from this Norwegian punk band. The song's loud, upbeat tempo makes it a good starter song and the lyrical content really painted the formation a story in my head. It gave me the beginning to build off of. The song is stereotypical punk in its anti establishment message. This gave me an image of the youth gone wild of Kip almost in the same light of Alex from A Clockwork Orange. He's a misfit, a trouble maker that is living life for the kicks without a care in the world. A good interpretation on my part since later I did research for this and read how the band made the video to look like a James Dean type rebellion gang. That was kind of the feel I was looking for.
'Teenagers' - My Chemical Romance from The Black Parade
It took me a few listens before I truly understood The Black Parade even though looking back the message overall kind of slaps you in the face. This song always stood out for me and fitting perfectly to continue the feel of rebellion. Although this song kind of becomes the other side of the point that the adults in Kip's life are looking to shape the kids into what they want them to be. The chorus sticks with me as I love the sound of the lyrics, "Teenagers scare the living shit outta me." Plus I've always been a sucker for upbeat sounding songs that have darker under tones (look for this later). Here I am still trying to set the character ground work of what Kip's life is.
'It's The Little Things We Do' - The Zutons from Tired of Hanging Around
This was my second album purchase of the Zutons having highlighted Who Killed... in previous compilations. This is their sophomore effort and seems to fulfill the second effort letdown. The songs just aren't as special and imaginative as their first release. I enjoyed this song as a standout on the Zuton's album. The lyrics crack me up and I like the perspective they put on the issues with partying hard on the morning after. I keep the pace upbeat but try to put a little extra spin on Kip's situation. He may have these inklings that he may need to change his lifestyle, but only really in the pain of a hangover of regret. Still, I think the point of this song in the story is still to showcase how hard he is currently living.
'Day Tripper' - The Jimi Hendrix Experience from BBC Sessions
I thought this was a great cover by a guy that has the easy ability to make anything sound his own. I enjoying hearing people take Beatles' songs and put more juice into them. Plus, it was about the only thing from the BBC Sessions album that I knew I could highlight that most people hadn't heard before. It keeps the pace fast if not quickens it even more. In the idea of the story, I believe it just rounds out more of the partying aspect and issues that Kip runs into with his lifestyle. I especially like the nuance you could create when considering the old rumors on what the Beatles meant when they said daytripper.
'Monster' - Lady Gaga from The Fame Monster
This is Lady Gaga's second album. I think this is a good representation of Gaga's edge before it became so painfully obvious to everyone. Like most of her songs, the groove is tight and makes you want to move. I really liked the narrative Gaga works on in the song and I think shows her depth over other 'dance' artists. Here it where I attempt to introduce the female lead of Kip's story. I don't think I ever thought of a name for her. This could even not necessarily be my lead female yet, just one of the women Kip hooks up with in his party lifestyle. I thought it fit well to keep the pace up looking more into Kip's life and maybe how the other sex would see him. Probably doesn't get more obvious than saying 'the boy is a monster.'
This concludes this first section of five songs on The Legacy of Kip Winger compilation album. Their are 40 songs in all so my remedial math skills say that means 8 posts in all if I don't do a final sum up. Be sure to check back in a couple days for the next part.
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3 comments:
I think if I was putting this together with a visual narrative, I'd almost overlay the first two tracks. Get Kip walking through the gridlock of a major city. Exhaust puffing out of car bumper-to-bumper. Kip probably smoking - maybe chewing tobacco. Get the image of the spitting with that. Then juxtapose that with his caretaker - parent, foster parent, etc. in an office or working somewhere. Just someone provide that ying to Kips yang.
That's leads to the third song where he or the caretaker obviously do something out of character indirectly for the other person - maybe both doing that. Sort of providing that conflict between the characters - the caring conflicting with the personalities, the age difference, the goals in life, etc.
That leads to fourth song, where I think you actually introduce the female lead through Kip's eyes during a drug and/or sex scene. I'd call her Sugar - you know something that tastes good, but is bad if you have too much of.
The fifth song then you flip perspective to the female lead and provide whatever depth you need out of her.
Yes I think the layout could be a little different if this was more of a rock opera movie or musical. I'll be interested to hear what you thought of some of these songs one day.
Without going into great detail, I enjoy all 5 of these songs. The first two are very solid, and I listen to them often. The Tubrenegro song is perfect to kickoff a mix album. Teenagers always makes me wonder about what is going on. The third tune is good, but I don't really have any deep thoughts on it. The fourth, it's sort weird because you get this dream scenarios of the Beatles mixing with Hendrix, but I think the backup vocals sound almost too Beatles. I would like to have seen them veer away from that. The fifth song is OK. Part of me really likes the over-the-top nature of Gaga. Part of me feels like it is too geared toward an audience and too produced.
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