Alright, stop me if you’ve heard this before.
Say you were stuck on a Desert Island, far away from civilization and from other people. And you were given the option to bring five of a certain thing, only these five things. It’s been known to change around with different circumstances, primarily being whether you bring five books, movies, records, etc. Though, as I look at this question, I cannot help but ponder what items I would bring along with me were I to be stranded on a desert island. As the title may or may not inform you, this entry will be devoted to five records I would take with me on my stay in a desert island.
1) Sarah McLachlan-Surfacing
This one is an easy one for me. I can recall some days I spent working and having music playing in the background, letting the CD spin until finished and pop in a new one. This, and number two were summoned very abruptly, seeing as I have heard both albums in their entirety and simply cannot find a single flaw in either album. With Surfacing, McLachlan takes each song and transfuses her ghostly voice and melodic if not haunting style into them. Right off the bat, you have the ever so pristine and eloquent “Building a Mystery”, only to be followed by the ever so enchanting and gorgeous “I Love You”, eventually you have songs like “Aida” and “Angel” which seem almost like stories of people we do not know, and yet we feel attached to. Who is Aida? What angel is saving whom? Eventually the listener is lead to the pitch perfect “Last Dance” a two and a half minute instrumental piece where piano and strings blend together and create a sumptuous mental picture. The music is very memorable and McLachlan’s somber yet angelic voice can send chills down your spine and work its way into your mind.
2) Carole King-Tapestry
You can thank my mother for giving me a primer on Carole King, for ever since I was young, her songs have worked their way into my life. Both King’s melodies and their subsequent covers stand the test of time, allowing the listener to truly take in the emotion she evokes from her soul-wrenching piano playing and impassioned lyrics. “You’ve Got a Friend” may as well be the saddest pick me up song to date. While it’s a song that informs you that whenever you are in need, you have a friend to hold your back. Yet, the song gives the impression that while your friend may protect you, King sings the song as if she is both happy and sad. It’s difficult to describe, yet if you listen to the song, you may understand better. “It’s Too Late” defines pretty much everyone who had loved and been wronged, and now it’s too late. “Tapestry” tells a tale, “You Make me Feel like a Natural Woman” is almost a contrast of “It’s Too Late” seeing as she goes from lovelorn individual to a proud and happy woman. It’s truly stellar.
3) Sigur Ros-Hvarf-Heim
Heima, in Icelandic means home. It’s a word Sigur Ros uses to describe their documentary, chronicling a series of unannounced concerts in their beloved Iceland. As of right now, this is the closer Sigur Ros has to a Greatest Hits album, and picking one album of their to take along with me on a journey to a desert island is like picking your favorite child or pet, impossible. Jon Birgisson, the band’s lead singer sounds almost child like in his warbling falsetto voice, and though they may be in Icelandic, their lyrics give one the feeling of warmth and yes, of home. “I Gaer” in a way reminds me of war and violence, starting with the strains of a music box and eventually leading the way to a storm of guitar and cries. “Staralfur” is pure magic and to me sounds like the music one would hear on their journey to heaven. Though I must admit, what a privilege it is to be able to hear their live and ever so intimate rendition of “Samskeyti” or Attachment in English. “Samskeyti” is essentially, a six minute instrumental song that begins with an organ and ends with an array of instruments. It’s eerie in a sense, but all together encapsulating. An intimate song for an intimate band.
4) Sleater-Kinney-Dig Me Out
Again, deciding the best Sleater-Kinney album when faced with the decision to take only one is impossible, but their 1997 effort, Dig Me Out is ripe with emotion and fury, just like its predecessors and ones before it. In “Turn it On” Sleater-Kinney has created the perfect dance song, it’s loud, fast and has kick ass guitars, not to mention Corin Tucker’s wailing voice, a voice that fits the song, and the band like a glove. “One More Hour” details a failed relationship between Tucker and the band’s other guitarist, Carrie Brownstein. Singing like conjoined twins or a girl with two heads, the power of the song is only the more absolute. Even the title track manages to convey Sleater-Kinney’s anger and energy down to a T. If you are going to start somewhere with Sleater-Kinney who still remain one of my favorites, here isn’t such a bad place to start.
5) Cat Power-The Covers Record
When an artist does a covers album, one can only pray that they manage to pull of the art of covering another musician’s art. In some cases, you have 10,000 Maniacs and their wild rendition of Patti Smith’s already great hit “Because the Night” or Johnny Cash who takes Nine Inch Nails’ song “Hurt” and injects another layer of life into it, eventually in my opinion surpassing the original. Chan Marshall, better known as Cat Power does just this in her first of two covers albums. After having the privilege of seeing Ms. Marshall in concert early last year, I have to say that few are like her. A voice that is worn and smoky and so gorgeous does not come around very often. The album is full of beauty, Marshall takes on everyone from The Stones to The Velvet Underground. Her most popular song “Sea of Love” can be heard in the wonderful film “Juno” which believe it or not was two years ago, give or take a number of months. Cat Power is a unique name, for a unique chanteuse.
As this entry comes to a close, be on the lookout for Part 2 in only a matter of days. Until then, best of wishes.
The Kamikaze Feminist
