3 Certified Bangers

 My name is Dale Watson and these are three certified BANGERS.

Banger #1, A.K.A. Something I'd put on a playlist right now "Migration" by Camel

A little over a year ago I started going through my dad's records and CD's from the 70's and found what can only be described as an overwhelming amount of prog-rock. I got introduced to one of my new favorite genres of music. I like this song a lot because of the way it naturally grooves despite being in 7/8 which is a fairly uncommon way to write in the west, but it works so well. I think that the song was made just so that the band could play a cool 7/8 groove because when I listen to the rest of the album this song is very repetitive comparatively. It's just the same baseline and vocals transposed around three or so times, and they didn't even bother to write words for it. Normally I might have chosen a different song by this band but having just learned the word "Vocable" it felt very appropriate.

Banger #2, A.K.A. a song that has meant something to me for a while
"Close to the Edge" by Yes




Another song from my dad's collection, but this one I've known about for a while longer than the last song, I'd go as far as to say I grew up on Yes. My dad really liked them when he was a teenager and I think he rubbed off on me a bit in that sense because when he first played the band for me I was hooked. The first yes song he played for me was "Gates of Delirium" off of the album Relayer which is one of my favorite songs of all time, I even based my chant assignment off of a part at the end. Despite this I just clung to Close to the Edge more, there's always been something cool and different about it, and you can't beat a pipe organ solo. I think the root attraction there was the infinite little grooves in the song as well as the green black gradient for the album cover which is different from the usual spacey Roger Dean art but fits perfectly. This song was a gateway for me to start enjoying more variety of music, also just a really good song, certified banger 10/10.

Banger #3  Mats Gustafsson's solo at the Reykjavic Jazz festival in 2013


I have tried for about three months to understand why he played this, I just can't come up with that many ideas as to why I would do this. The two I did come up with were that hes just honking for fun, because to be honest it is really fun. Or he is showing off, because despite how how it sounds, there are some extremely difficult technical things he does, also he can play impressively loud. One of the things I really like about the solo is how he uses the overtone gliss in a different way than a lot of people use it, specifically "house sax" musicians, it feels like its making fun of something that is really popular even though it is not. regardless of whether or not I understand it, I really apreciate the effort he put into the solo here.


BONUS BANGERS!!!!
I have three bonus bangers and I like them all because they are high energy and exciting but all in different ways and all probably appeal to completely different audiences. I just found it very interesting how people like different genres of music, but within those genres can find a song or piece perhaps that scratches the same itch. the songs are:




Comments

  1. Samuel ProsserJanuary 5, 2024 at 9:17 AM

    I remember when you showed me the song Close to the Edge last semester. I did not know that you have known about it for so long. You are definitely right about the pipe organ solo being absolutely awesome.

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  2. Claire CatheyJanuary 5, 2024 at 3:04 PM

    Your #1 banger listed is an artist who I really enjoy listening to and probably would have never found had you not introduced it to me. Close to the Edge reminds me of you because its so long and you're the only person I know who stays so enthusiastic the whole way through. Mats Gustafsson's solo at the Reykjavic Jazz festival makes me feel icky too.

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  3. Baileigh GossettJanuary 5, 2024 at 6:39 PM

    I thought bangers number one and two are bangers indeed. I am newly into the late 60's and 70's music and this is right in there. I had never heard of these artist before. As Sam pointed out, that organ solo is amazing. I am also siding with you on Gustafsson's solo at the Jazz festival.

    ReplyDelete
  4. SantinoJanuary 8, 2024 at 4:38 PM

    I had never heard of Camel before, but I'm glad that I now know about them! You have such an interesting musical palate; any song you've showed me in the past has never ceased to get me interested! I actually really like the fact that this is such a repetitive song. As I'm listening, I'm actively waiting in anticipation for something to change, which ends up making me pay attention to the song more, which makes me enjoy it more! I also have to say that Mats Gustafsson's solo was just out of this world. And terrifying. And super interesting. And hard to listen to. That is all.

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