Heart of Glass

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1.)  Philip Glass- Opening/Floe

a.    Philip Glass has this amazing talent for taking absolute chaos and containing it into a tiny, neat little minimalist package. His works can drive people insane, and at the same time cure insanity. I have found emotional sanctuary in the repetitive, yet touching notes he writes. Glass is able to change the entire song while maintaining the exact same concept throughout. I see it as a predecessor to techno, repetitious with subtle progression.

                                              i.     These two particular pieces from 'Glassworks' are striking to me. ‘Opening’ is appropriately titled, it’s a river of passion, trickling along piano keys introducing something you would not expect. I have heard many piano works, but none stay with me as much as this one. He manages to just hit the right chord (pun intended) with me, as if he is expressing something that I could never relay into words. A certain thing that I feel every time I look at the mountains, every time I see the sun set over the ocean, and every time I drive through rural areas. It tells a story without ever speaking a word, and the repetition allows you to reflect within yourself; to really think about an emotional reaction rather than just having it. As it fades out, it hangs a low note, which leads the listener quietly into ‘Floe’. And what a complete 180…while yes, it is still Glass, and still repetitious, it’s a completely different musical perspective. It sounds like it came from the future, or from some far reach of outer space. The use of electronic keyboard combined with the classic orchestra is incomparable. The first time I heard this I felt like I was spinning through a black hole. The turmoil of my mind was suddenly solved through music. Most people think it sounds weird, or too arty, and well, it does. And that is what is so fucking awesome about it. The vocalist isn’t even saying a damn thing. She is literally just repeating basic scales.  Around 3 minutes and 11 seconds, he breaks it right back down and reveals all of the layers to you, one by one. Starting with the beginning low note of whatever instrument it is, and then showing you little glimpses of his soul. Whatever it is about these two pieces, they make me feel alive; they express something for me that I could never express for myself. Enjoy.

Yeah it feels like...

*Picture is a reference to the music video.

4.) MGMT- Someone's Missing

         a. I didn't really develop a relationship with MGMT until this album, 'Congratulations'. I had heard all of the radio hits, 'Electric Eel' , 'Kids' and 'Time to Prentend', but I didn't feel a strong musical connection to them until I popped this CD in. I loved it from the moment 'It's Working' came railing on. But when number three hit, I was stunned. A slow drum roll to ring it in, followed by harmonic guitar and vocals. The song is well thought out, yet kind of novice and spontaneous.

        i. This song, in particular, makes me think about two important people in my life. They might not even know that this song reminds me of them, and they have no idea how much they mean to me. I will just never forget this one particular night, where I was the only one left standing (well, sitting actually), playing DJ in my mind, as these two particular people lay silently in the two adjacent chairs, napping lightly, or daydreaming on some other level. It wouldn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that we were in our 20’s and having the time of our lives previous to this little musical moment. It became what felt like my duty to wind down the musical atmosphere with something calming and yet deep enough to linger a little. At that moment, it became my ultimate calling to make sure these two important people in my life were relaxed (whether they were awake or not through all of this I will never know, nor ask). While no one was missing from this, the song was just such a sweet and quiet way to tone down the night. I was reminded of this song tonight as I was sitting with these same people, about 6 months later, contemplating the concept of “dying to live, and living to die”. Seemed like a fitting moment to my recent ‘funeral’ theme. The slow start might bore you, but once you hit that 44 seconds, it’s pure joy. Like a sudden burst of energy; suddenly you are in a field of flowers and it’s the 1960’s and you just feel groovy as hell. It has just the right wave of guitars, the perfect vocal echoes, a strong enough bass-line and a drum kick to get you dancing. All of these things stir together so fittingly to make a song that is strong enough to pull you out of your seat, and quiet enough to settle you into it. Enjoy.

So school is in session..

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Picture unrelated.. i just thought it was cool and fit in with the 'funeral' theme.

3.)  Ani DiFranco- Educated Guess

a.    Ah, Ani… a strong force in my musical world. Each of her albums is completely different than the last, swirling through all sorts of genres. Her voice is like an instrument all in itself…soulful, jazzy, smooth and rough. I would place her tone and timbre with the likes of Ella Fitzgerald and other scat-spitting jazz queens. Not to mention she started her own record label at 18 or some crazy shit.  Her lyrics cover topics along the lines of political agenda, gender/sexuality issues, and just straight up poetry. This particular song is from one of her newer, less radical album, appropriately titled Educated Guess. She managed to record the entire album with an 8track, and the result is pure gold. I have related so strongly with the lyrics, and felt as if she was explaining something to me about myself, at varying moments of my life with very different interpretations. The only justice I could do with this one is to post the lyrics. But the lyrics only swim well with the music. Enjoy:

                                              i.     Looks like my crazy family
Is down one crazy daughter ‘cause
I'm shipwrecked in a desert that
Once was underwater just
Looking for a swift turn of phrase
Some colors to fly
As I float by
In the parade

Plus I dream in skin scented sentences
Of a stronger faster fiercer you
And to each noun, verb and predicate
I dedicate a vivid hue
But you ain't done too well
Getting past your permanent pastel
Have you now?
Yes, the desert seemed so promising
And then it paled somehow

So school is in session
Get your chin off your desk
Now pick up your pencil
And turn over your test
Use your education
And take an educated guess
About me

I've got a slot at eye level like
A speakeasy door
And I know you know the password
‘Cause I've seen you here before
And I've got something sweet for you
And I don't care if it is more than you deserve
I've got a lot of love and a lot of nerve
So, baby, watch me while I take this curve

Yes school is in session
Get your chin off your desk
Now pick up your pencil
And turn over your test
Use your education
And take an educated guess
About me

Plus I have this whole new family
And I'm in love with each of them
And I'm on this list called lucky
Whenever I'm in reach of them
And I'm learning how to say
That I'd be happy either way
With your love

I'm calling on the stars above

School is in session
Get your chin off your desk
Now pick up your pencil
Turn over your test
Use your education
And take an educated guess
About me