h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hello Tom,

Noticed your post on 'What music are you listening to...'

I'm not sure what you're after but:

Jam, only really remember 'Going Underground' but I know more of Weller's solo stuff (he was great live at the Royal Albert Hall.) Overall, not bad.

Kinks, where do I start? The lyrics are fantastic and they created some superb tunes. If ever a band was overshadowed by the Beatles, the Kinks is it. Particular favourites are Village Green Protection Society, Sunny Afternoon and Dedicated Follower of Fashion.

Bob Dylan, hmm, I'm a bit hot and cold with him (though I haven't heard much of his voluminous work.) The Man In Me is fantastic and I like Mr Tambourine Man & Blowin In The Wind but I can imagine everyone says that.

Verve, didn't catch a great deal of their stuff (not even sure how much they did?) but I think Sonnet is good and the demo version of The Drugs Don't Work is fantastic (on the single.)

Razorlight, I have heard Razorlight but I couldn't name any songs. They're one of those bands that I like when I hear but don't seem to like enough to remember. (Does that make sense?)

As I said, don't know if that was what you were after but feel free to question me if you want more. Otherwise, thank you for your time.

Van

Hey van,

Thanks for replying I have to admit I'm a bit too young to remeber more than one of the list of bands, so I'm never going to be an expert, but what I'm looking for is the salient points of the music, like is it the feel, the tempo, the lyrics, the emotions expressed u.s.w.

Verve really only did one album, with Sonnet and The Drugs Don't Work and Bitter Sweet Symphony all on it. Then they disappeared. Very sad.

Razorlight, I agree are forgettable, which makes them rather boring in my opinion. I never want to be forgettable - well music wise anyway...

Tom

I wasn't alive for The Kinks or Dylan and was too young for the Jam (my sister was kinda into them, Style Council & Weller). I've got the Verve album ('Urban Hymns') and I think it was their sound/vibe that I liked at the time. (oh, and the video to 'Bittersweet Symphony') I've recently ripped my CDs onto my pc so I've re-listened to lots of music that I haven't listened to in ages. I wasn't overly impressed with the Verve. It's a decent album but most of the tracks are too long. Bittersweet Symphony is a case in point, beautiful tune, good lyrics but it just goes on for too long. Sonnet is just right and, if you haven't heard it, the demo of Drugs Don't Work is more acoustic and (in my opinion) more mournful than the album version (which is also good).

I'd never thought of it that a band is forgettable; I think you're on the money there. I loved a Zutons track (Confusion) a few years back and I just *had* to find out what it was and who it was by. So, yeah, I think you're right. I can probably say more about the Kinks if you want, though I should really listen to some first, but the lyrics are brilliant.

Hope your music is unforgettable (for the right reasons )

Van

O I'm not sure I'd mind if it was so awful that people remembered it

I love 'Confusion', mainly for the lyrics and the catharsis of the track - its a great emotional ride, which I can like in a song.

Things being too long is a good point. Its so easy to think that you have to hit a 3 minute mark in a song just because, well songs are normally around 3 minutes long. The difference I think, comes when you can follow a story in the music, then you can listen to it for hours (as with opera!)

So much of a band is style these days, which is fun in a way, but difficult to tackle from a musical standpoint, since you have to fit one into the other. Hmmmm...

Have you listened to any post-rock bands like My Bloody Valentine or The Postal Service?

Tom

Hello again Mr Thaumos,

Sorry if I seemed abrupt by not replying sooner; hootoo & RL collided.

I couldn't agree more about a story in music. I can't pretend to understand the musical side of things in any conscious way (I can't read music and I don't know how concertos (for e.g.) work) but I 'feel' what I listen to. Not sure if that makes sense I haven't listened to enough opera but, what I've been drawn to (because I loved the sound of) I've enjoyed even more when I've known the story; the music and words (mostly in a foreign language) have made more sense when I know the story. But I knew there was a story there in the first place so maybe that's why I was drawn? Not sure if that makes sense either

What I mean is that I don't love what I've heard more than I did but I've been able to love it in a more complete way.

I've never heard of My Bloody Valentine or The Postal Service but that isn't to say that I've never heard them! I guess I'm very near to being out of touch but my figertips are still within the grasp of a saving hand!

The best self contained 'story' song, IMOP, is 'She's Leaving Home' by the Beatles; poetry and music collide

with your music; better to hear someone with a passion than someone with a style

Would be glad to talk more, Van

I'd forgotten that The Verve did 'A Northern Soul' (I think it was their first album).
Van