Check out my obscure A-list! Choral singing? Check. Detroit techno? Check again? Er, the Hold Steady? Checkity check!
I'm not sure how many of the choices could comfortably be filed under Americana, but I'd wager a few. So it was obscure and contemporaneous! Wow. Joking aside, I thought that the strictures of last week's topic took us in some interesting directions and allowed me to explore most of them. The B-list is a bit more mainstream though and takes in some of the more popular choices on the blog.
The A List (here's the column with comments enabled): Sister Rosetta Tharpe - Can't No Grave Hold My Body Down; Vic Chesnutt - Stay Inside; Blind Willie Johnson - Soul of a Man; The Hold Steady - How a Resurrection Really Feels; Patti Loveless - Rise Up Lazarus; Benjamin Britten - Saint Nicolas, Op 42; Nicolas and the Pickled Boys; Charles Villiers Stanford - Drake's Drum; Traffic - John Barleycorn; Phuture - Rise From Your Grave; Exuma - Mama Loi Papa Loi.
The B list:
Mark Lanegan – Resurrection Song
Mesmeric, melancholy and, as with Vic Chesnutt, the mood is flavoured by a discomfiting squall of guitar that lingers throughout.
Frightened Rabbit – Heads Roll Off
This song should have got nommed for great opening lines: "Jesus is just a Spanish boy's name.' Great vocal, not sure about the rhythm track, bit stadium.
The Moody Blues – Legend of a Mind
Personally speaking, the idea of a deceased Timothy Leary floating across the universe is a disturbing one. Interesting song though, if lacking in a memorable melody.
Ashton, Gardner & Dyke – Resurrection Shuffle
More personal revelation: I like any song that insists you "let your backbone slip". Great funky piece of R&B that has absolutely nothing to do with resurrection.
Spinal Tap – Back from the Dead
This is the Tap. Hear them rear.
Bob Dylan – In the Garden
Too much Dylan on the A-list already, but this is a subtle, thoughtful needling of the Easter story.
The Cramps – Zombie Dance
Who would happily attend a dance where you stood at real risk of having your brains supped? The Cramps pay a visit, so you don't have to. Good fun.
Sinead O'Connor – Troy
An entirely figurative resurrection (the rebirth of a love), but it's intelligent and delicate throughout. Quite stunning to think this was self-produced by a 20-year-old.
Mott the Hoople – Roll Away the Stone
As I mention in the column, it was the metaphor of the week, so Mott make the B.
The Stone Roses – I Am the Resurrection
Zedded, but I don't care. I'm putting it here for two reasons: 1 – the swagger 2 – the bass riff.
A little housekeeping now. Thanks all for taking my proposed amendments in such good spirit last week. It seems that most of you would rather keep posting than using the recommend button and who am I to stop you. I'd just observe though, that it's easy for me to gauge the strength of support for a track by looking at the recommend number. That's all.
Now, this week. A fellow hack at a rival publication once ribbed me when he found out I was involved in RR. "Oh yes, that's that the 'songs about cutlery' thing, isn't it?" he said, and inside a little devil urged my to knee him in the soft parts. A topic like this might seem banal on the outside, but I reckon it may just prove a corker. After all, shoes aren't simple, functional items, they contribute to identity (cowboy or army boots? Doc Martens or trainers?). They're symbols too, of action and movement. They're the first thing in the door and the last thing out. They kick up dust and grind out embers. All in all, I think they're more than worthy of their own playlist. See you on the blog.
The rulebook:
DO NOT post more than a third of the lyrics to any one song.
DO Post your nominations before midday on Monday if you wish them to be considered.
DO Post justifications of your choices wherever possible.
DO Be nice to each other!
The toolbox: Archive, the Marconium, the Spill, the Collabo.
