Them, “Don’t Look Back”
Them, Van Morrison’s first band, didn’t last long. Though they released the garage staple “Gloria,” the rest of the songs on their one and only album sound like they were cut from a different cloth. It’s the typical fare you’d expect from a crew of mid-sixties British islanders: talkin' blues, sufferin' soul, pretty ballads, mod R&B and a chilled-out song called “Don’t Look Back.” The track’s pretty bare save for a somnambulant electric piano, an understated guitar and Morrison’s trademark trilling, taken down a couple notches here. I just really like the mood of the song--comfortably cool and restfully resigned.
Pavement, “Black Out”
I like this band because I get the impression they didn’t really give a shit; they were in their own world and the music they made came from a place to which only they had access. This particular song comes complete with some calmly delivered, batty lyrics (“rattlesnakes were walking,” “spastic grass,” “gauzy thoughts”) and ultra-bright guitars playing phrases that wouldn’t sound out of place in a Radiohead song.
Curtis Mayfield, “Think (Instrumental)”
A very pretty tune, this one’s funky, yet not overtly so. Mayfield was a remarkably competent composer and this song finds him effectively using many, but not all, of the tools at his disposal. It’s got a very slight, sublime guitar part and multi-piece brass and wind sections. To me, the pairing of the clarinet and guitar carries the song, but the percussion and bass tracks are flawless, fluently groovy and not to be overlooked. It’s a very emotional song, somewhat reflective and, fittingly, it inspires 'thought' in the listener.
Mott The Hoople, “Thunderbuck Ram”
This song would be perfect for Jamie Thomas’ part in a Zero video. If you’re not in the know when it comes to skateboarding, that last sentence probably won’t mean much to you.
Nancy Sinatra, “Feelin’ Kinda Sunday”
This one’s a duet with her dad, Frank, and it’s not too bad a tune. I can’t get enough of it because I’m such a sucker for sweet background vocals. When producers double or triple track vocals and compress them a little, the effect can be oh so delightful. It softens the tone while filling it out and giving it a little more punch. This song has some good examples and the “ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-oohs” are just too heavenly.
Them, Van Morrison’s first band, didn’t last long. Though they released the garage staple “Gloria,” the rest of the songs on their one and only album sound like they were cut from a different cloth. It’s the typical fare you’d expect from a crew of mid-sixties British islanders: talkin' blues, sufferin' soul, pretty ballads, mod R&B and a chilled-out song called “Don’t Look Back.” The track’s pretty bare save for a somnambulant electric piano, an understated guitar and Morrison’s trademark trilling, taken down a couple notches here. I just really like the mood of the song--comfortably cool and restfully resigned.
Pavement, “Black Out”
I like this band because I get the impression they didn’t really give a shit; they were in their own world and the music they made came from a place to which only they had access. This particular song comes complete with some calmly delivered, batty lyrics (“rattlesnakes were walking,” “spastic grass,” “gauzy thoughts”) and ultra-bright guitars playing phrases that wouldn’t sound out of place in a Radiohead song.
Curtis Mayfield, “Think (Instrumental)”
A very pretty tune, this one’s funky, yet not overtly so. Mayfield was a remarkably competent composer and this song finds him effectively using many, but not all, of the tools at his disposal. It’s got a very slight, sublime guitar part and multi-piece brass and wind sections. To me, the pairing of the clarinet and guitar carries the song, but the percussion and bass tracks are flawless, fluently groovy and not to be overlooked. It’s a very emotional song, somewhat reflective and, fittingly, it inspires 'thought' in the listener.
Mott The Hoople, “Thunderbuck Ram”
This song would be perfect for Jamie Thomas’ part in a Zero video. If you’re not in the know when it comes to skateboarding, that last sentence probably won’t mean much to you.
Nancy Sinatra, “Feelin’ Kinda Sunday”
This one’s a duet with her dad, Frank, and it’s not too bad a tune. I can’t get enough of it because I’m such a sucker for sweet background vocals. When producers double or triple track vocals and compress them a little, the effect can be oh so delightful. It softens the tone while filling it out and giving it a little more punch. This song has some good examples and the “ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-oohs” are just too heavenly.
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