Let's continue the look back over the story of the man known as Kip Winger. We are going to look at songs 6 thru 10.
'Evil Man' - The Answer from Everyday Demons
I love the name of this band. It is total bad ass rock 'n roll, because it doesn't matter the question these guys are The Answer. This is a great hard rock song for the modern area. The Answer pound through 'Evil Man' as if they were AC/DC gone back in time. The song flows right from the female perspective of Kip being a monster to his own self awareness as to his intentions. This just continues to keep the loud, heavy sound of the beginning of this collection going strong.
'Songs Like This' - Carrie Underwood from Play On
Even though I absolutely love this song, I struggled with where it would fit in this collection. Carrie is probably the angriest, most spiteful we have ever heard her. This may end up being Tony Romo's greatest contribution to society. The song toes that line many do these days between country and pop. If we are looking in the aspect of time, there would likely be a little flash forward between previous two songs and this sort of break-up between Kip and his woman. It almost becomes a self fulfilling prophecy after the earlier message that something would that happen in their relationship.
'New Pony' - The Dead Weather from Horehound
It wasn't until later doing research for my thoughts on this compilation that I found out this song is actually a Bob Dylan cover. Like many before them, The Dead Weather take a toned down folky Dylan tune and kick it up a few notches. That's Jack White singing backup and pounding on the drums. The song feels like an assault on the senses with a beat so thick you can taste it and an aura of being right in middle of the action so you can feel the singer's hot breath on your face. As for the story, I'll leave it slightly up to your interpretation as to who found the new pony. Obviously post breakup, someone has to move on.
'Dull Life' - Yeah Yeah Yeahs from It's Blitz!
The riff to this song just sucks me in. There is something mesmerizing about her voice and the music. The song represents a matured sound for the Yeah Yeah Yeahs than previous albums. There is a fuller sound and more layers to the composition. The line that sticks out is: "We see the nightmare of the lies that you speak." I am not sure who would be saying it, but they are definitely saying it to Kip. It may be a parent or figure of authority almost in a retort of saying what Kip would find as the dull life ain't so bad.
'Scumbag Blues' - Them Crooked Vultures from Them Crooked Vultures
Them Crooked Vultures is a modern power trio with old school roots. That may be easier to achieve when one of your trio is John Paul Jones. His keyboard chops a la Physical Graffiti are on full display. The song has a very early hard rock feel to it with Dave Grohl doing his best John Bonham impersonation. Homage or not, it sounds awesome. I think the title more than anything states how the song progresses the story. Kip is on a downturn here in his life. He is likely feeling some remorse over losing his girl and getting plenty of grief from other people in his life.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
2 comments:
It's sort of an interesting contrast with the first two songs both musically and within context of your narrative. I sort of see Evil Man as Kip trying to affirming his bad persona (whether that's real or just a figment of his young mind). I am not sure that "Songs like this" would have to be a breakup song within the context of your narrative. It could just be the female lead rationalizing her own behavior by blaming Kip's behavior. Just throwing the monkey wrench into the thought process.
As far as my thoughts on these two songs. Evil Man seems like a song I would have really been into at 17. I still like it know, but it doesn't call to me to listen to that. I think that's more of an age and or preference thing on my end at this point. When I do have CD in, I like the song.
"Songs like this" always stuck out in the mix to me. As I think about your narrative it has its place. It's certainly not the genre I tend to go for, but it's alright. I don't push next on the CD player when it comes on, which is complement from considering it is country song and I have an old bad habit of dismissing country without giving it a chance.
I'll talk about the other three tomorrow.
You are probably closer to what I was really thinking when I put this together then trying to remember and reinterpret it myself now 2+ years later. I've always thought that 'Songs Like This' fits the female narrative more than any other song in this compilation. The anger and spite on display fits the emotion of the tale so perfectly.
Post a Comment