Songs You Never Expected (alternative, rock, great song, albums, cover)

lucifer_sam · 02-15-2009, 01:02 PM

I'm sure we've all had this experience before, listening to an invariable record that's got a pretty constant groove when you get sidelined by an unusual or disparate track.

For example, the first time I listened to Bowie's Low I was completely taken aback by Warszawa. I mean, it's a great track, but there's a certain power about it when you listen to all the songs preceding it. It just hits you; it's supposed to be track one of side B and it just takes the album in a completely different direction.

Another song that hit me was off Spiritualized's Ladies and Gentlemen..., Electricity. The tracks leading up to it and after flow in the same way but this rocker is almost caustic the way it snags you and pushes the tempo to a different level. It's certainly a good song but I'll say that it makes the rest of the album seem like such a downer.

Anybody got any others?

Roygbiv · 02-15-2009, 01:23 PM

Ah yes, Warzsawa. I accept it because it was on purpose. Side A and Side B are supposed to be two different entities.

Anyways, 5 - 4 = Unity by Pavement from Crooked Rain Crooked Rain was such a curve ball I actually said "what the ****" out loud the first time i heard it. Tortoise-like post-rock in an alternative rock album? WHAT THE ****?

Bulldog · 02-15-2009, 01:37 PM

One which instantly comes to mind for me is the Sorrowful Wife off Nick Cave's No More Shall We Part. The rest of the album just has that really mellow and smooth feel, as does the song. About 3/4 of the way through it just explodes into this really loud barrage of noise that continues 'til the song fades out. Really took me by surprise when I first heard it.

Another one would be Seen and Not Seen on Remain In Light by the Talking Heads. Just a pretty strange spoken word vocal, kinda takes the album in that more avante-garde direction it goes down towards the climax.

simplephysics · 02-15-2009, 01:52 PM

Lonely As Can Be by The Concretes, particularly the second half of the song - what's Animal Collective doing in here?

Electioneering breaks up Ok Computer a bit, but I'm ok with that.

Another is Boy Soprano by Xiu Xiu.. a really great song in an average album, but that's for another thread.

Roygbiv · 02-15-2009, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bulldog

One which instantly comes to mind for me is the Sorrowful Wife off Nick Cave's No More Shall We Part. The rest of the album just has that really mellow and smooth feel, as does the song. About 3/4 of the way through it just explodes into this really loud barrage of noise that continues 'til the song fades out. Really took me by surprise when I first heard it.

Another one would be Seen and Not Seen on Remain In Light by the Talking Heads. Just a pretty strange spoken word vocal, kinda takes the album in that more avante-garde direction it goes down towards the climax.

Another Eno doing. Side A is crazy polyrythms and side B is ominous, avant-garde.

**Janszoon** · 02-15-2009, 05:24 PM

I thought the a cappella cover of the Pixies "Mr. Grieves" at the end TV on the Radio's Young Liars EP was pretty unexpected the first time I heard it. Pretty cool though.

02-15-2009, 01:02 PM	#1 (permalink)
lucifer_sam Unrepentant Ass-Mod Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 3,921	Songs You Never Expected I'm sure we've all had this experience before, listening to an invariable record that's got a pretty constant groove when you get sidelined by an unusual or disparate track. For example, the first time I listened to Bowie's Low I was completely taken aback by Warszawa. I mean, it's a great track, but there's a certain power about it when you listen to all the songs preceding it. It just hits you; it's supposed to be track one of side B and it just takes the album in a completely different direction. Another song that hit me was off Spiritualized's Ladies and Gentlemen..., Electricity. The tracks leading up to it and after flow in the same way but this rocker is almost caustic the way it snags you and pushes the tempo to a different level. It's certainly a good song but I'll say that it makes the rest of the album seem like such a downer. Anybody got any others? __________________ first.am

02-15-2009, 01:23 PM	#2 (permalink)
Roygbiv marquee moon Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 759	Ah yes, Warzsawa. I accept it because it was on purpose. Side A and Side B are supposed to be two different entities. Anyways, 5 - 4 = Unity by Pavement from Crooked Rain Crooked Rain was such a curve ball I actually said "what the **" out loud the first time i heard it. Tortoise-like post-rock in an alternative rock album? WHAT THE ? __________________ Roygbiv's Review Revue LATEST REVIEW SILENT SHOUT BY THE KNIFE**

02-15-2009, 05:24 PM	#6 (permalink)
Janszoon Mate, Spawn & Die Join Date: May 2007 Location: The Rapping Community Posts: 24,593	I thought the a cappella cover of the Pixies "Mr. Grieves" at the end TV on the Radio's Young Liars EP was pretty unexpected the first time I heard it. Pretty cool though. __________________ A Night in the Life of the Invisible Man Time & Place 25 Albums You Should Hear Before the Moon Crashes into the Earth and We All Die last.fm

02-15-2009, 01:37 PM	#3 (permalink)
Bulldog why bother? Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: UK Posts: 4,840	One which instantly comes to mind for me is the Sorrowful Wife off Nick Cave's No More Shall We Part. The rest of the album just has that really mellow and smooth feel, as does the song. About 3/4 of the way through it just explodes into this really loud barrage of noise that continues 'til the song fades out. Really took me by surprise when I first heard it. Another one would be Seen and Not Seen on Remain In Light by the Talking Heads. Just a pretty strange spoken word vocal, kinda takes the album in that more avante-garde direction it goes down towards the climax.