Few popular artists write music that go beyond the cliches of falling in and out of love, and Nick Drake was one of them. He created beautiful imagery with his imaginative guitar work and his subdued, comforting voice.
His album Bryter Layter is a good example of what he has to offer. It’s adorned with gentle flute melodies, some orchestral involvement and even a sax for jazz sensibility. The lyrics are about feelings many relate to. Nick sings about finding one’s place in the world, navigating urban life, dealing with regrets, and other personal struggles.
My personal favourite is Hazey Jane 1. He directly addresses the listener in this song.
“Do you feel like a remnant of something that’s past Do you find things are moving just a little too fast”
There are other feelings he sings about too. Hazey Jane 2 is about feeling lost after leaving the safe haven of your family. At The Chime of The City Clock is about feeling alienated in a big city. He also expresses his struggle for self-acceptance in Poor Boy.
Nick usually ends these songs on a hopeful note, advising the listener what to do.
“So try to be true, even if it’s only in your hazey way”
There are several instrumental gems on the album too, and he transports the listener to beautiful places with them.
Overall, this is a pretty great coming-of-age album. Nick offers insight into existential challenges all of us face. It’s a cheery, mellow album that feels like a warm hug.
Pomegranate Tiger is a project by Canadian musician Martin Andres. While its sound could be categorized as progressive metal, there is plenty of genre-bending experimentation. Along with big, jarring riffs and crushing heaviness, its albums include classical music pieces as well. The drama and strong emotion created by this combination are a source of its aesthetic appeal. Two albums have been released to date- Entities(2013) and Boundless(2015).
Boundless’ instrumentation is predominantly a one-man show. Andres has recorded the guitars, drums, and piano. His complete creative control has resulted in a more polished sound as compared to that of Entities. The album is also varied in its tone- beginning on an empowering note with Manifesto and ending with a poignant string quartet piece called Ovation. A noteworthy feature of the album is the lurching, djent-y riffs prominent on Boundless, Stomp The Haunted Clown, and With Knives As Teeth. Andres’ guitar solos are fast-paced, melodious and expressive. Though every track has a central melody it returns to, there are frequent changes. This is just enough to keep the listener hooked without creating an impression of mindless noodling.
I like how the track The Masked Ball seamlessly transitions to a piano-centric piece- Paper Hammers. The piano runs on this song are haunting. Andres also demonstrates his penchant for piano runs on the album’s single Cyclic.
Though this is a well-composed album, I would have liked a few more classical pieces. The classical pieces on Entities were also far more poetic than the ones on this album. Another thing worth mentioning is the album art designed by Maldivian artist Maahy. The artwork is a good visual representation of the music’s intricacy. It somewhat enhances the listening experience.
Overall, the album is intricate and rich in texture. It has also been produced well; all the instruments are clearly distinguishable. It succeeds in being dramatic and awe-inspiring for its listener. The skillful instrumentation, production, and artwork make it a complete piece of art.
Anyone familiar with metal would know about Death’s influence on death, thrash, and progressive metal. Even after more than 20 years of its cessation, the band continues to lead the way for musicians. Founder Chuck Schuldiner’s overwhelming solos and technical excellence are widely acclaimed. Lyrically, Death’s early albums explore morbid themes like murder while their later albums adopt a more philosophical approach. All in all, this band made furious music and is not meant for casual coffee table listening.
Sound Of Perseverance(1998) was their last album. This album is technical, clean, and progressive. It avoids the death metal cliche of gory lyrics and instead focuses on philosophical topics. While some fans favor Death’s aggressive early albums, others like their relatively melodious releases like this one. The lineup consists of Chuck Schuldiner on vocals and guitar, Shannon Hamm on guitar, Scott Clendenin on bass, and Richard Christy on drums.
The first song- Scavenger of Human Sorrow- is one hell of a way to kick an album off. I especially like how aggressive and devastating the shredding in the refrain is. Bite The Pain has some impressive tempo changes. The album also has a mild jazzy feel to it- like the bass intro in Spirit Crusher. Voice Of The Soul is the band’s only acoustic gem. It also happens to be their most accessible song. Though it is the most stripped-down track from the album, it exudes grandeur.
My personal favorite is Flesh And The Power It Holds. It’s pretty long and has some interesting changes. There is super-fast riffing interspersed with melodic parts. I also find it quite uplifting. According to me, the best part is the interplay between the bass and lead guitar in the second half of the track. Death’s interpretation of Judas Priest’s Painkiller provides a satisfying end to the album. Schuldiner emulates Rob Halford’s shrieks quite well.
While some might find this album uncharacteristic of Death’s work, it is one of their most dynamic and melodic releases. This album could serve as a good induction for someone unfamiliar with the band and death metal.
I’ve been a progressive rock fan for years, and the great thing about this kind of music is that it takes on a richer meaning each time you listen to it. It’s fun to dig into deeper layers of tracks you think you’d be bored of after a while.
One such album I’ve always liked is Birds Of Fire by Mahavishnu Orchestra. Mahavishnu Orchestra was a band whose music could be categorized as something between progressive rock and jazz. Founded by guitarist John McLaughlin in 1971, it was an important pioneer in jazz fusion. It has since inspired modern bands like Opeth and Cynic. The band dissolved two years later and reunited several years afterward with a different lineup. However, the first stint was their prime. They rolled out two intense albums during this time- The Inner Mounting Flame and Birds Of Fire.
Birds Of Fire(1973) is a powerful journey for a listener to embark on. It features guitarist John McLaughlin, bassist Rick Laird, keyboardist Jan Hammer, violinist Jerry Goodman, and drummer Billy Cobham. Being jazz, the music is more stream of consciousness than structured but doesn’t meander too much.
I like how fierce the first track, Birds of Fire, is. The simmering rage in McLaughlin’s guitar lead reaches a boiling point towards the end of the song. It’s empowering, spiritual, aggressive, and frightening all at the same time. This segues into a playful piece, Miles Beyond, which was written for McLaughlin’s friend Miles Davis. There are low-key tracks too, like Open Country Joy and Sanctuary. The violins take center stage in Miles Beyond and Hope.
One of the most noteworthy features of the album is drummer Billy Cobham’s proficiency. He blows your mind on every track. There is a fun drum solo in One Word that transitions to a great ending.
Overall, the album is a surreal experience. It keeps you gripped to your seat the whole time. For all its noodling around, it isn’t self-indulgent either. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys instrumental music.
Eva Cassidy was a musician from Washington in the nineties. She is well-received for her soulful renditions of popular songs. Despite her talent, fame eluded her during her lifetime. She toiled in obscurity, selling self-released albums from the trunk of her car.
Cassidy’s most popular interpretation is of Somewhere Over The Rainbow originally sung by Judy Garland in The Wizard Of Oz. She reinvents the song and gives it added depth. It’s longer than the original and was performed live at the Blues Alley jazz club in 1996. Her nuanced guitar work and pitch-perfect singing make it captivating to listen to. Described by her friends as a shy and self-critical person, it isn’t a wonder that she didn’t steal the limelight earlier. She was also picky about what she performed, singing only material that meant something to her.
To support herself, Cassidy worked a day job at a garden nursery for many years. This involved a lot of labor in scorching heat. She eventually quit her job to focus on her musical career. Unfortunately, just as she was becoming popular in the Washington music scene, she had been diagnosed with melanoma. The cancer had already metastasized and she did not have long to live.
She lived to see only one solo album released, Live At Blues Alley. This album was recorded at Blues Alley in 2 days. It was financed by savings from her day job. After her death, a label released four albums of her music- Songbird, Live at Blues Alley, Eva by Heart and Time After Time. Songbird sold millions of copies in the US and UK.
My favorite covers from her collection are Over The Rainbow, At Last, and Songbird. Though these songs have been done to death, Cassidy makes them sound original. Unlike most people, she wasn’t afraid of her vulnerable side. Her music was raw and honest even if it hurt. She did her muses proud, too. Mick Fleetwood from Fleetwood Mac said, “Her most noticeable strength was the ability to interpret a song in a way where it becomes her property. She always connected.” I think the genuine feeling with which she performs is what people can learn from her. Her music has the ability to pry emotions out of hardened individuals.
Nick Drake was a 70’s musician who never enjoyed much fame as long as he was alive. His lyrics seem to reflect his inner turmoil and he was like a phantom in the music industry.
Nick seemed like a sombre and introspective guitarist. His lyrics employ elements of nature like the sun, the moon, trees and the rain.
In contrast to his previous albums like Bryter Layter which featured violins and sounds of nature overdubbed on its tracks, this album has little adornment. His singing is also subdued.
What I like about this album is the feeling of calm it brings about. It’s like a slowly rising sun on a still lake. He creates beautiful imagery that transports you to natural places. His voice is almost a murmur but his guitar work shines. It’s difficult to fathom his lyrics but here are five good songs you could check out.
Nick takes you to an idyllic rolling meadow. He uses it as a metaphor to express how happy, strong and carefree he used to be. Now that he is disillusioned by the truth, he feels weak and sings that he needs you, perhaps referring to a girl, or maybe you, the listener.
This song is about respecting perspectives. Different things work for different people. No matter how much people tell him to look at the bright side, he still sees the moon, and that’s the road that works for him.
Here, he warns the listener to be aware of the people who may try to their mind. The protagonist in this song finds himself taking flight and is discouraged by the people on the ground. The point the lyrics make here is that winning the people on earth isn’t worth your time and effort.
This is the most solemn song from the album. The lyrics express feelings of alienation one might have in a town or city. He speaks on behalf of the daily struggles of countless people in a city. It’s easy to feel insignificant like a parasite in a big city, and he wonders if his struggles matter in the grand scheme of things.
This is an optimistic end to the album. The morning reminds us that it’s a new beginning. No matter how bad the previous day was, the rising sun in all its grandeur heralds a new day and another chance to rise.
To say that this band means a lot to me would be an understatement. It was my gateway to a new world of music For anyone who knows about Pink Floyd, there is something otherworldly about them. And while some might argue that one needs drugs to enjoy them, we know that Pink Floyd is the drug itself.
What makes them so remarkable is that their songs aren’t just songs, they’re journeys. They’re well-known for their concept albums. Their albums are cohesive wholes and every song is a part of the whole. Their most iconic one The Dark Side Of The Moon(1973)encapsulates life, from birth to death. This album was followed by the equally legendary Wish You Were Here(1975) which criticizes the music business. The Wall(1979) is a double album that seems to explore human despair and self-imposed isolation. Of course, they have a vast discography and try to push the envelope in every album, but these three are by far my favorite ones.
I usually wouldn’t recommend listening to individual Pink Floyd songs because each song is like a chapter in a novel. This list is by no means objective, but just a brief list of songs I’ve always loved and connected with.
This is the opening track of an album that’s objectively one of the greatest albums ever made, The Dark Side Of The Moon. Since the album is about life, the song begins with a heartbeat, marking the beginning of life. It talks about how you must appreciate your life and find your own ground. A lot of people get stuck digging one hole after the other, and never actually take a second to breathe in the air. Society tells one to ride the tide and go for the biggest wave, but that might send you to an early grave.
The listener is awakened by a loud alarm clock, reminding him of the passage of time. This song talks about how time passes by so fast that it makes your head spin. We battle against against the pressures of our lives, putting off our plans indefinitely until we realise that time is short. Time passes faster the older we get, leading to a sense of despair over missed opportunities.
From the same album, this song explores the concept of death. It probably has one of the best vocal improvisations I’ve heard so far. The soothing prelude gives way to goose bump-inducing singing or rather wailing. The vocalist’s harrowing voice really gets to you. I don’t really associate the song with death, but it does evoke intense feelings within me. It’s just a great song irrespective of the meaning it’s supposed to have. This was my favorite song made by any band for a long time.
This was the first Pink Floyd song I ever heard. I was enraptured the moment it started. I would enjoy this song like it were a bottle of fine wine- I indulged in it occasionally, careful not to get bored of it. Like most of their music, the soft intro and gradual buildup feel like being transported to another realm. After you’ve been warmly welcomed into the realm by the organ, you are escorted by a lead guitar into the verse. This song was written for their former band member Syd Barrett, though I think that backstories detract from the musicality.
The Wall explores the life of a jaded fictional rock star named Pink. Having faced the demise of a loved one, an abusive mother and teachers, Pink builds a proverbial wall around himself. After trying to find solace in drugs, he finally decides to visit a therapist in this song, who administers a medicine. A rather melancholic song, this talks about how our character feels disconnected from the world and all the harsh reality of it. He might have had a fleeting sense of hope when he was a kid, but now all his hopes have been washed away. He’s now fine being oblivious to life and is comfortably numb from his emotions.
I’m Nivedita, and I’ve always been musically inclined. For those of you who know me, I often come across as reclusive and that’s because I love being in a musical world of my own. I’d now love to take you through my world and I hope you enjoy embarking on this journey with me.
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