It's tricky; a one word title.

Reminiscing. A one word title is kind of cheating, though.

After Googling The Rising, I realized that it's a song I'm familiar with, but forgot the name of. Today's critique will be on Jackson Browne's Running on Empty instead.

It's a great song. I love it.

#496...
 

Good evening. For tonight's program, I jump back sixteen years in time to 1977. Fellow Music Banterers, I give you...

Running on Empty- Jackson Browne

Wow. This is one powerful set of lyrics. They really hit home with me, because I'm a restless spirit. I've always wanted to take off and join the birds, to be free of the constraints of this ground on which I tread. I recently visited Europe for a couple of weeks, specifically Germany and the Czech Republic. I want to revisit the places I saw; the Church of Our Lady in Dresden, Prague at night, the Bastei rock formations, but I also want to see new places; England, Switzerland, Rome, Paris... I want to be familiar with all those places, I want to know them. To become a part of them. But time just doesn't cooperate; "I'd love to stick around, but I'm running behind". Reading these lyrics made me realize that maybe it's better to make the best of the little piece of the world you already have, than to try and see it all. Maybe it's better to be appreciated in that little community, than to be unknown across Europe. Maybe it's better to have a few good friends and a place to call home than to be cultured and sophisticated.

I rate these lyrics a 9/10, mostly because of the way they affected me. I could not write anything close to touching these. Thank-you, Jackson Browne.

That concludes tonight's program. Thank-you for taking the time to read my review. Be sure to check in tomorrow at the same time. I will be skipping over the Rolling Stones' Brown Sugar, a track I am familiar with, to R. Kelly's Ignition (Remix). But until then, I wish you all a good night.

I have that Holly box set and I love it. "Well Alright" is one of the greatest pop songs ever written. Nice work, I can't find the 6th one either.

Reminiscing. Don't worry, I had trouble finding it myself just now.

#'s 494 & 493...
 

Good evening, fellow Music Banterers. As you probably didn't notice, I neglected to post last night. I will not elaborate on the reasons, except for saying that it involved a six-foot American alligator. However, the track's lyrics really weren't worth reviewing. Here they are, see for yourself. But without further ado, I present tonight's program...

Time to Pretend - MGMT

To me, these lyrics are about the rock star lifestyle, "Make some music, make some money, find some models for wives" and how it comes with its own baggage. "The models will have children, we'll get a divorce, we'll find some more models, everything must run its course." How many times has that happened? This is why I don't think I'd want to be a star. The story is always the same in the end. Divorces, affairs, drugs... pretending to have a decent life. I challenge somebody to show me a rock star with one marriage. I'm sure there are a few, but I honestly can't think of one. The song ends with a Jimi Hendrix reference: "We'll choke on our vomit and that will be the end."

Apparently, they're actually about the life cyle of the praying mantis. Hmm.

I'll give them a 7/10. Not life-changing, but not a turn-off, either. I don't think I could write better lyrics myself.

Tomorrow, I review Sunny Day Real Estate's Song for an Angel, as requsted by Briks. Hopefully, no reptilian creatures will delay it. But for now, I wish you a good night.

Briks' pick!
 

Good evening. For tonight's program, I take my first recommendation, from a user with whom I am proud to share the title of youngest Music Banterer, Briks. His suggestion...

Song About an Angel - Sunny Day Real Estate

If you've exchanged much music banter with me, you'll know that I'm a fan of '60s psychedelia, and thus, abstract lyrics. I've heard it said that to to write abstract poetry takes little to no talent. Technically, that is correct. But, to write significant abstract poetry, that moves your listener - that is another story. To write apparently meaningless lyrics that affect people more than apparently meaningful lyrics - that takes skill (and often drugs). Personally, no set of straightforward lyrics has moved me as much as The Beach Boys' Surf's Up. Why? I can answer in one word: connotation. Choosing the right word to convey a certain emotion to the listener. But now, for this set of lyrics in particular...

I could spend hours analyzing this song. The lyrics are very cryptic. However, here are a couple of notes. It seems there has been some tragedy in this man's past, from the first stanza. The angel says he is maried to his pain. Perhaps the angel is a dead lover? Desperation pervades the song. As I said, I could spend hours reviewing these lyrics, but they truly can't be described. I recommend you read them for yourself, by clicking on the bold title above.

8/10 score. My only criticism is that they are perhaps too cryptic. Thank-you, Briks, for an excellent recommendation.

That concludes tonight's program. Tomorrow, I will actually listen to one, and only one, of the six songs I've reviewed. Be sure to check in at the same time tomorrow. But until then, good night.

#492...
 

Good evening. As you might have noticed, I didn't post yesterday. I was rather busy, and by the time for reviewing came around, I didn't have the energy for a proper write-up. However, the song I chose to listen to was Jackson Browne's Running on Empty. I've only listened once, and since I make a rule of at least three listens over 24 hours before judging a song, you won't be seeing that until tomorrow or later. But enough pre-amble, let's get down to business. Allow me to present...

I Will Survive - Gloria Gaynor

At a glance, these are shallow. Her man leaves her, wants her back, she ain't goin', etc. But what changes the song is the lonesome tone that pervades the lyrics under the surface. She wants him back, she needs him back, but she has hardened herself. It seems like she is singing to herself. He might be long gone and frankly, not give a damn about where she goes and what she does, but she just can't get him out of her head. She desperately wants to phone him and make up. Will she?

9/10. They flow. Enough said.

Thank-you for reading, as always, and remember to tune in at the same time tomorrow. I'll be looking at Joan Jett and the Blackhearts' I Love Rock 'N Roll. But until then my friends, good night.