Best Song: One
1.) Daddy’s Song
2.) Good Old Desk
3.) Don’t Leave Me
4.) Mr. Richland’s Favorite Song
5.) Little Cowboy
6.) Together
7.) Everybody’s Talkin’
8.) I Said Good Bye to Me
9.) Little Cowboy (reprise)
10.) Mr. Tinker
11.) One
12.) The Weeping Willow
13.) Bath
Ah Harry Nilsson, one of my absolute favorites. Beyond creating amazing music, he was simply a fascinating person. He would follow up his biggest commercial hit with an album full of bluntness and profanity, only to follow that album with an album of Hollywood standards. A real anomaly in the music world it is nice to still feel his echo in some indie bands today.
Ariel Ballet starts with the very bouncy “Daddy’s Song” which immediately sets the tone for the first half of the album, with amazing vocal overlays that showcase Nilsson’s confidence in his voice. This is followed by the greatest ode to a piece of furniture ever “Good Old Desk”. Harry Nilsson once joked that the song was actually about the initials of the song, G.O.D; but had to constantly tell people that it was a joke. Another treat is “Mr. Richland’s Favorite Song” a story of a pop star that goes from famous to washed up but still loved. The vocal wah-wahs at the end are my favorite on the whole record. If you are wondering about the weird title on this one, well it has a simple explanation. Mr. Richland was a music publisher and this was his favorite song on the album.
“Little Cowboy” is actually a lullaby that Nilsson’s mother used to sing to him which it just sweet. “Together” is an anthemic song that serves as the side closer if you are listening to this on vinyl. Even with out that physical break, it still represents the end on the good times of the first half with its final line.
The second half start extremely strong one track that everyone probably knows already, a cover of Fred Neil’s “Everybody’s Talkin’”. There is no doubt that this is the definitive version of the song, the rollicking upbeat guitar is the perfect foil for the subtle darkness of the lyrics. “Mr. Tinker” is another story of a has-been but unlike the singer in “Mr. Richland’s Favorite Song” the tailor is no longer needed.
After the depression of “Mr. Tinker” we get treated to the greatest song about loneliness ever written. “One” is among the best songs Harry Nilsson ever wrote. The simplicity of the piano is what makes it. What is the perfect amount of notes to represent feeling lonely? Why one of course. It also has the most profound line on the record, “Two is just as bad as one it’s the loneliest number since the number one”; suggesting that it takes more then just being with someone to be happy. Unfortunatly we do get a small let down in the final track. “Bath” isn’t bad; it just feels like a fake Hollywoodish ending after all the depression of the second half. If you don’t mind tinkering with the artistic vision of an album I would suggest changing it on you MP3 player so “Bath” starts the album instead of ends it. This won’t be the last we here from Harry Nilsson, oh no. This is the first of four on the list.
Showing posts with label Harry Nilsson. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Harry Nilsson. Show all posts
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Shake It Up
In this feature I will put my ipod on shuffle and will comment on the first ten songs that come up.
1) Kiss Me, Son of God – They Might Be Giants
This is They Might Be Giants at their best. A shot song that last less then 2 minutes and packs more social commentary then the average Rage Against the Machine song. Sarcastic, quirky and catchy; what more do you want?
2) God Is In The Radio – Queens of The Stone Age
From short and catchy to long and plodding. It is pretty easy to see that this is fronted by the same guy who fronts Them Crooked Vultures. Queens of the Stone Age are all about being a mid-tempo, semi-loud, monotonous beast and this song is no exception. The guitar solo is really classy though.
3) Somewhere – Soundgarden
What is wrong with grunge as a genre? Soundgarden. Needlessly sloppy and full of pointless angst; it is almost impossible to imagine that the same people who did such a great song as Blackhole Sun could also come out with all this horrible mediocre bullshit music. This one isn’t that bad but it sure isn’t good.
4) Memories Are Made Of This – Johnny Cash
What is wrong with county as a genre? Well it sure isn’t Johnny Cash. Avoiding all the common pitfalls of country Cash always delivers. He can be the most depressed person on the planet one moment, but when he is happy nothing in the world can bring him down. And he takes you with him on this cover of a Dean Martin song as he talks about all the pleasant things that make up the memories we chose to keep.
5) Mr. Pitiful – Otis Redding
Oh boy do I love me some Otis Redding. Redding is one of the greatest singers ever and one of the true romantics in music. He always put 120% of himself into his songs and especially live he would be up there dancing and singing and dancing even when the audience was ready to collapse. Mr. Pitiful is one of his best.
6) 10:1 – Rogue Wave
I don’t have a lot to say about this one. A decent tune that is catchy and dreamy but not much else. Rogue Wave has better.
7) Mr. Richland’s Favorite Song – Harry Nilsson
Oh man I love this song. The low but kind of repressed swing of the horns are the basis of a great story about a teen idol as both his fans and the singer himself out grow his fame. The vocal wah wahs at the end are great and a common device used by Nilsson; man you really have to have confidence in your voice to do that.
8) Stiletto – Billy Joel
Not one of Billy Joel’s better known songs which is a shame. Jazzy and driven with a solid rhythm section and some soulful saxophones. When I saw him do it live he introduced by saying “Now this song isn’t what people call “politically correct” but I don’t give a shit I am doing it anyways”. Just a cool song.
9) Say You Love Me – Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac has some of the most inventive pop hooks ever conceived attached to their name. This song isn’t one of them but it is a still good. Say You Love Me has a pretty basic bass pattern, pretty basic country twang to the backing guitars and pianos. The only thing that really makes this song worth its fame is the guitar solo and lead guitar licks when they show up.
10) Magic Power – Triumph
Triumph is often considered the poor man’s Rush. Well if that is true call me a poor man because, while they are similar, they lack the pretentiousness and seriousness of Rush. This song is a souring anthem, a stadium song (but in the good sense). And while I would never treat this like a great piece of art it certainly is a great piece of fun.
1) Kiss Me, Son of God – They Might Be Giants
found at bomb-mp3 search engine
This is They Might Be Giants at their best. A shot song that last less then 2 minutes and packs more social commentary then the average Rage Against the Machine song. Sarcastic, quirky and catchy; what more do you want?
2) God Is In The Radio – Queens of The Stone Age
found at bomb-mp3 search engine
From short and catchy to long and plodding. It is pretty easy to see that this is fronted by the same guy who fronts Them Crooked Vultures. Queens of the Stone Age are all about being a mid-tempo, semi-loud, monotonous beast and this song is no exception. The guitar solo is really classy though.
3) Somewhere – Soundgarden
found at bomb-mp3 search engine
What is wrong with grunge as a genre? Soundgarden. Needlessly sloppy and full of pointless angst; it is almost impossible to imagine that the same people who did such a great song as Blackhole Sun could also come out with all this horrible mediocre bullshit music. This one isn’t that bad but it sure isn’t good.
4) Memories Are Made Of This – Johnny Cash
What is wrong with county as a genre? Well it sure isn’t Johnny Cash. Avoiding all the common pitfalls of country Cash always delivers. He can be the most depressed person on the planet one moment, but when he is happy nothing in the world can bring him down. And he takes you with him on this cover of a Dean Martin song as he talks about all the pleasant things that make up the memories we chose to keep.
5) Mr. Pitiful – Otis Redding
found at bomb-mp3 search engine
Oh boy do I love me some Otis Redding. Redding is one of the greatest singers ever and one of the true romantics in music. He always put 120% of himself into his songs and especially live he would be up there dancing and singing and dancing even when the audience was ready to collapse. Mr. Pitiful is one of his best.
6) 10:1 – Rogue Wave
I don’t have a lot to say about this one. A decent tune that is catchy and dreamy but not much else. Rogue Wave has better.
7) Mr. Richland’s Favorite Song – Harry Nilsson
Oh man I love this song. The low but kind of repressed swing of the horns are the basis of a great story about a teen idol as both his fans and the singer himself out grow his fame. The vocal wah wahs at the end are great and a common device used by Nilsson; man you really have to have confidence in your voice to do that.
8) Stiletto – Billy Joel
Not one of Billy Joel’s better known songs which is a shame. Jazzy and driven with a solid rhythm section and some soulful saxophones. When I saw him do it live he introduced by saying “Now this song isn’t what people call “politically correct” but I don’t give a shit I am doing it anyways”. Just a cool song.
9) Say You Love Me – Fleetwood Mac
found at bomb-mp3 search engine
Fleetwood Mac has some of the most inventive pop hooks ever conceived attached to their name. This song isn’t one of them but it is a still good. Say You Love Me has a pretty basic bass pattern, pretty basic country twang to the backing guitars and pianos. The only thing that really makes this song worth its fame is the guitar solo and lead guitar licks when they show up.
10) Magic Power – Triumph
found at bomb-mp3 search engine
Triumph is often considered the poor man’s Rush. Well if that is true call me a poor man because, while they are similar, they lack the pretentiousness and seriousness of Rush. This song is a souring anthem, a stadium song (but in the good sense). And while I would never treat this like a great piece of art it certainly is a great piece of fun.
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