I decided to take a crack at articulating what it is about these seven songs that makes each of them so special to me. If you're taking the time to read this I would encourage you to listen to a few of the pieces I have here, as I think they are all precious examples of musical, philosophical and artistic expression. One thing I wish to note is that even though I primarily praise and analyze the lyrics of the songs listed here, I do hold to the philosophy that if a song contains great lyrics but shoddy music then it is a waste of sonic space and it should simply exist as poetry. I love none of these songs on a strictly lyrical basis and I believe that merely reading the lyrics to a song is a lessened experience. The title of each song is linked to its respective youtube video for your potential convenience.
by Radiohead
When I'm at the pearly gates
This will be on my videotape, my videotape
Mephistopheles is just beneath
And he's reaching up to grab me
This is one for the good days
And I have it all here in red, blue, green
In red, blue, green
You are my center when I spin away
Out of control on videotape, on videotape
On videotape, on videotape, on videotape
This is my way of saying goodbye
Cause I can't do it face to face
I'm talking to you before
No matter what happens now
You shouldn't be afraid
Because I know today has been
The most perfect day I've ever seen
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Radiohead is not a Christian band and they never have been, but this song, in the very least, begs to be interpreted on a spiritual level. The lyrics reference "pearly gates," and "Mephistopheles," who appeared as the demon in the Faust legend and German folklore, but beyond that one finds this concept of everything we do being on videotape, "in red, blue, green," referencing the additive primary colors used for various kinds of video displays. I adore this language Thom Yorke uses, especially in the line, "You are my center, when I spin away / out of control on videotape." Is this not what we often experience on some level? The feeling that God sees us in our moments where we are out of control, wandering away clumsily and stupidly in plain sight, knowing this will be on our videotape.
A note: Do try and watch the video of this song. It's a live performance by arguably the best band in the world, so take the opportunity to watch them do their thing.
A note: Do try and watch the video of this song. It's a live performance by arguably the best band in the world, so take the opportunity to watch them do their thing.
by Brand New
Jesus Christ, that's a pretty face
The kind you'd find on someone I could save
If they don't put me away
Well, it'll be a miracle
Do you believe you're missin' out
That everything good is happening somewhere else?
But with nobody in your bed
The night's hard to get through
And I will die all alone
And when I arrive I won't know anyone
Well, Jesus Christ, I'm alone again
So what did you do those three days you were dead?
'cause this problem's gonna last more than the weekend.
Well, Jesus Christ, I'm not scared to die,
I'm a little bit scared of what comes after
Do I get the gold chariot?
Do I float through the ceiling?
Do I divide and fall apart?
'cause my bright is too slight to hold back all my dark
And the ship went down in sight of land
And at the gates does Thomas ask to see my hands?
I know you're coming in the night like a thief
But I've had some time alone to hone my lying technique
I know you think that I'm someone you can trust
But I'm scared I'll get scared and I swear I'll try to nail you back up
So do you think that we could work out a sign?
So I'll know it's you and that it's over so I won't even try
I know you've coming for the people like me
But we all got wood and nails
And we turn out hate in factories
We all got wood and nails
And we turn out hate in factories
We all got wood and nails
And we sleep inside of this machine
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The Devil and God are Raging Inside Me is a difficult album. For two years I found it too whiny, too emotional and adolescent, but then I found that Jesse Lacey has this knack for taking simplistic, nearly childish musicality and lyricism and turning it into something surprisingly powerful and emotive. The lyrics seem to contain a fair amount of teen angst and insecurity before they take a dramatic turn toward the topics of death, doubt, sorrow, the sinful nature of man and Christ's imminent return. These words were obviously written by a guy who grew up in a youth group, read his bible, probably confessed Christ as savior at one point, and is now fighting a very real battle within himself. A friend of mine calls this album "the soundtrack to spiritual warfare." This song is the soundtrack to the thoughts that I think we all have if we are honest with ourselves. "If this is all real, when I die, am I going where I think I'm going?"
by Explosions in the Sky
As I was listening through my music library to pick songs for this list, I was actually blindsided by the emotional reaction I had to this song. Much of this is due to the fact that this is the song that Mandy walked down the aisle to on our wedding day (courtesy of my good friends, Josh and Griffin). It's cliche in a sense, but that was the best day of my life, and this gorgeous song was the perfect soundtrack to that moment and now serves as a sort of microcosm of all the feelings and memories I have from that day. With that said, don't let my bias lessen its stand-alone, objective beauty. The guitar line that begins at the two and a half minute mark will melt you, regardless of your attachment to this song.
We were walking, holding hands
With our bare feet in the sand
And the seagulls overhead
When I broke the spell and said
"I could never divorce you
Without a good reason
And though I may never have to
It's good to have options"
But for now, I need you
But for now, I need you
But for now, I need you
But it was only in my head
Because no one ever says
What they really mean to say
When there's so much at stake
So I told her I loved her
And she told me she loved me
And I mostly believed her
And she mostly believed me
====================
This has been on my mental list of favorite songs for quite a while, and nothing has managed to bump it from its spot. David Bazzan has always employed two writing styles in his work. The first is characterized by an almost childlike sincerity, and the second is marked by sharp but simplistic sarcasm. This song is a representation of the latter, and every single aspect of it plays into Bazzan's overall message. The cliched, jr. high love poem-language he uses in the first verse, the sing-songy melody with which he sings "but for now, I need you," the alternately somber and whimsical tone that the music conveys; it all adds up to a concise, scathingly effective criticism of modern concepts of love, romance, marriage, commitment and relationships as a whole. The intro/outro is an example of masterful guitar writing as well.
Our Skin Worn Thin
Our Bones Exposed
Life Reduced to Ticks
From Forest Caves and azure Skies
We Chrashed upon this Earth
The Years, they passed and so did we
Yet, Resistance would be formed
Our Bones Exposed
Life Reduced to Ticks
From Forest Caves and azure Skies
We Chrashed upon this Earth
The Years, they passed and so did we
Yet, Resistance would be formed
====================
I included lyrics for this song simply because it was in-keeping with the overall format of this blog, but I must admit I had no idea what they were until now. The lyrics are not the point of Isis songs, as evidenced by their general scarceness and in-discern-ability. This song represents almost everything I relish in music. Enormous heaviness, beautifully dark textures and melodies, meticulously constructed builds and crescendos, layered dynamics, solid rhythmic queues, and the list goes on. If anything, listen to the song from 3:50 onward. The vocals completely melt away and everything settles into a slow, methodical jam, which perfectly builds for almost four minutes into a colossal wave. Really listen to the nuances in the guitars; how they layer over one-another and build in complexity. One reviewer described Isis' sound as "the way guitars talk to each other when no humans are around." It's almost an absurd statement, but it captures the hypnotic quality their music possesses. Prepare to be startled by the intro.
In the tower above the earth
There is a view that reaches far
Where we see the universe
I see the fire, I see the end
Seven miles above the earth
There is Emmanuel of mothers
With his sword, with his robe
He comes dividing man from brothers
In the tower above the earth, we built it for Emmanuel
In the powers of the earth, we wait until it rips and rips
In the tower above the earth, we built it for Emmanuel
Oh my mother, she betrayed us but my father loved and bathed us
Still I go to the deepest grave
Where I go to sleep alone
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Wake, stand and feel your worth, O my soul.
Kneel and know the Word that can save us all.
We are fuel and fire both.
We are water.
Wed with wine and ghost.
We are wrought with breath and dirt, washed in second sight.
Woven through the earth, wreathed in rings of light.
Stand and feel your worth, O my soul.
Kneel and know the Word, come to die.
We will wield a second birth, whet our wits and knives.
Wrap our knees in earth, wrap ourselves in light.
Wake, we will weigh and drink this cup.
We will burn, but we will not burn up.
Wake, feel your worth, O my soul.
Speak the Word, the Word that can save us all.
Awed by grace, I fall on my face.
And scream the Word that can save us all.
====================
This song is simply a battle cry. It is a reminder to see myself as my God sees me. It is the Psalmist's addressing of his own soul. "Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me?" Enormous, beautiful, dark and poetic, this song captures the struggle I face in doing just what it says: "Stand and feel your worth, O my soul. Kneel and know the Word. The Word that became flesh and dwelt among us. The Word that died to save us all."
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