Best of – Page 3 – Lost in the Cloud

Top 20 Bands: 8 & 7

8. Pink Floyd

Pink Floyd is one of the most successful bands in history, making their inclusion one of the few commercially accepted ‘greatest bands of all time‘ that I vehemently agree with. They have certainly earned their place among my favourites from 1967’s Piper at the Gates of Dawn through 1979’s The Wall. The innovation they nurtured has transformed popular music. Roger Water’s insightful songwriting is enhanced by the ingenious early guitar work by Syd Barrett and the eventual musical perfection that is David Gilmour’s guitar and voice. Nick Mason and Richard Wright provide the backbone with their inventive work on percussion and keys. Two of their records—The Wall and The Dark Side of the Moon (1973)—can be found on my Top 50 Albums list.

‘Astronomy Domine’ from Piper at the Gates of Dawn, live in Belgium in 1968:

‘Comfortably Numb’ from The Wall, at Live 8 in 2005, because David Gilmour is still awesome:

+++++

7. Converge

I have a not-so-secret penchant for metal and among my favourite metal acts (such as Botch, Curl Up & Die and The Beach Boys) Converge stands out as the most consistently excellent, energetic and innovative. They’ve been bringing it heavy since 1990(!) and they remain a phenomenal live act. Their seminal 2001 release Jane Doe is featured in my Top 50 Albums list and was one of my Top 21 Albums from the 21st Century (seventh). Their most recent record, Axe to Fall, was my third favourite record released last year.

‘Concubine/Fault & Fracture’ from Jane Doe:

‘Dark Horse’ from Axe to Fall, live at the Hollywood Palladium in 2009. The sound isn’t great, but Ben Koller’s introductory drum solo is ridiculous:

+++++

Top 20 Bands: 20 & 19, 18 & 17, 16 & 15, 14 & 13, 12 & 11, 10 & 9

Top 20 Bands: 10 & 9

To begin the countdown of my Top 10 of 20 [favourite] Bands:

10. Grandaddy [UPDATE: moved to number 4.]

Grandaddy was/is a remarkable band that has yet to reach stardom…and they probably prefer[ed] it that way. They were/are the ultimate ‘DIY’ band. They often wrote powerpop songs about the struggle between technology and nature in the modern world. Their child-like keyboard lines and Jason Lytle’s high-pitched singing voice make them one of the most unassuming acts you could ever hear, but truly they ought to be regarded as excellent songwriters. And yes, I prefer them ever-so-slightly to The Beatles. Their 2000 release The Sophtware Slump is featured on my Top 50 Albums list.

‘Summer Here Kids’ from 1997’s Under the Western Freeway:

‘The Crystal Lake’ from The Sophtware Slump:

+++++

9. The Clash

The Clash is a very interesting case. Essentially they ‘sold out’, as is expressed in the 1979 Crass song ‘Punk is Dead’: CBS promote The Clash, Ain’t for revolution, it’s just for cash… Essentially the eloquent sage Steve Ignorant is right, but that never seemed to keep Clash patches off of the denim jackets of the gutter punks. The anarchopunks could pump their fists to ‘London’s Burning’ while—on the way to pick up her son from football practise—the white suburban mother could shake her hips to ‘Rock the Casbah’. It doesn’t matter – everyone loves The Clash. The Clash (1977) can be found on my Top 50 Albums list.

‘I Fought the Law’ from The Clash:

‘The Magnificent Seven’ from 1980’s Sandinista, live on The Tomorrow Show with Tom Snyder in 1981:

+++++

Top 20 Bands: 20 & 19, 18 & 17, 16 & 15, 14 & 13, 12 & 11

Top 20 Bands: Honourable Mentions

Before I move into the Top 10 of my Top 20 Bands, I feel the need to mention ten significant bands that might have been part of my ‘cut’ at various points in recent history, but just didn’t make it into my Top 20 this time around. (Perhaps this could be seen as my ’21-30′.)

Frightened Rabbit – Let’s see how the whole longevity thing plays out – the first two records have been a steady improvement from ‘incredible’ to ‘phenomenal’.
Pedro the Lion/David Bazan – Excellent songwriting, but albums are often incoherent with themselves.
Cass McCombs – There’s a quality to Cass McCombs that convinces me he’s one of the greatest living songwriters.
Starflyer 59 – Something’s absent on most of their recent material…
Grizzly Bear – Also needing a bit of longevity – It feels strange to consider Grizzly Bear one of my favourite bands, but they most certainly are.
Deerhunter – Let’s hope they keep up this steam…
Brian Eno – Mostly hit, but sometimes miss.
Camera Obscura – There’s something to this group that keeps me listening, but I am hoping for something to make them stand out.
Cursive – Maybe it’s because they still haven’t grown up?
Curl Up & Die – I wish they had made more material before disbanding.

Perhaps you are thinking, ‘Who can beat the bands above along with Spiritualized, The Kinks, The Velvet Underground, Tom Waits, The Beach Boys, The Beatles and Neil Young?’ I hope not to disappoint, but prepare to find out just how bad my taste actually is in the coming week…

Top 20 Bands: 12 & 11

Rounding out 20-11:

12. The Beatles [UPDATE: moved to number 11.]

Where would the world be without The Beatles? But then again, where would The Beatles have been without Elvis? And where would Elvis have been without Big Boy Crudup? And Crudup without Lead Belly and Blind Lemon Jefferson? And Blind Lemon Jefferson without Hobart Smith? STOP! INFINITE REGRESSION! So basically Hobart Smith founded The Beatles, who would become the single most influential musical group in history. I know what some of you are thinking: ‘Beatles not in the Top 5, let alone the Top 10! Blasphemy!’ They are phenomenal, and if George Harrison had written more of their songs (I’m in love with George) and they didn’t write all of their cute pop music that preceded Rubber Soul (and even Rubber Soul isn’t entirely free of it) they’d probably be higher on my list. While The Beatles will find their way into what seems to be every other Top 10 list, their lack of longevity also plays a factor here. Still, two of their records are found on my Top 50 Albums list: The Beatles [The White Album] (1968) and Abbey Road (1969).

‘Strawberry Fields Forever’ from their 1967 album Magical Mystery Tour:

‘Let it Be’ from their 1970 album of the same name:

+++++

11. Neil Young [UPDATE: moved to number 14.]

The legendary Neil Young has often been noted for his sincerity – noticing a pattern in my preferences? It’s true that I’m a sucker for artists that I can truly believe, and among them Neil Young is the Godfather. This personal touch plus his unique vocal style (oftentimes accompanied by driving guitars) have made him an incredibly distinct artist in a music world full of clones over the last five decades. His album Harvest (1972) is featured on my Top 50 Albums list and 1970’s After the Gold Rush should probably in there as well.

‘Needle and the Damage Done’ from the album Harvest, performed on The Johnny Cash Show in 1971:

‘After the Gold Rush’, from the album of the same name, live in 1978:

+++++

Top 20 Bands: 20 & 19, 18 & 17, 16 & 15, 14 & 13

Top 20 Bands: 14 & 13

¡Dos más!

14. Tom Waits [UPDATE: moved to number 15.]

Tom Waits is an acquired taste for some, but regardless of his more abrasive presentation since the late seventies, he has been a source of inspiration for countless artists and has been covered by everyone from Bruce Springsteen to Screamin’ Jay Hawkins to the unfortunate thing that was Scarlett Johansson’s debut record. His unique style of storytelling and experimental production make him an intriguing and always reinvigorating voice in the music world. His persona is commanding in every sense. Not only this, but the man’s longevity makes him an enduring legend. One is not compelled to say, ‘I loved his stuff from ’79-’81, then from ’99-’01.’ He just doesn’t stop making high quality records. Waits’ album Swordfishtrombones (1983) can be found on my Top 50 Albums list.

‘Heartattack And Vine’ live from his amazing 1980 album of the same name:

‘Chocolate Jesus’ from his 1999 album Mule Variations, live on Late Night with David Letterman:

+++++

13. The Beach Boys [UPDATE: moved to number 12.]

The Beach Boys seem to have always been second best to The Beatles (‘What’s wrong with second best?‘). It was always a back and forth between the two. Part of me is tempted to switch the two, but I do love The Beatles just that wee bit more (hinting at a Beatles placement in the very near future) and that’s probably primarily due to the presence of the late great George Harrison. Still, it must be said that The Beach Boys are nothing short of a phenomenal group. Where I criticise The Beach Boys’ earlier material I do the same for The Beatles’, but I must hand it to The Beach Boys that they were better pop writers than even The Beatles. The bigger Brian Wilson’s ambitions were the more I fall in love with The Beach Boys and that ambition is owed, in part, to The Beatles’ Rubber Soul. Two of The Beach Boys’ records can be found on my Top 50 Albums list: Pet Sounds (1968) and Surf’s Up (1971).

‘Good Vibrations’ from Smiley Smile (1967), live on The Midnight Special in 1979 (it could certainly do without this audience, but look at Dennis owning on the drums):

‘Wouldn’t It Be Nice‘ from Pet Sounds.

Brian Wilson performs ‘Surf’s Up‘ from the album of the same name.

+++++

Top 20 Bands: 20 & 19, 18 & 17, 16 & 15

Top 20 Bands: 16 & 15

Today’s installment of my Top 20 Bands:

16. Descendents [UPDATE: moved to number 20.]

Descendents are amazing and have been greatly overlooked for their role in the historical progression from punk rock to hardcore. Their lyrics aren’t often phenomenal (and sometimes downright explicit!), but their material has a mysterious attraction and drive behind it for me. I listen to gems like ‘My Dad Sucks’ and ‘I Like Food’ and think, ‘This was 1981?!’ They probably aren’t a band for everyone (though they should be!), but I encourage everyone to give them a shot (or five – it has taken some friends several listens before they ‘see’ the light…some never see it). Their record Milo Goes to College (1982) is one of my absolute favourites and is featured on my Top 50 Albums list.

‘Suburban Home’ from Milo Goes to College:

‘Descendents’ from their 1985 album I Don’t Want to Grow Up:

+++++

15. The Velvet Underground [UPDATE: moved to number 16.]

The Velvet Underground are an incredibly influential group. Mixing exceptional songwriting and uncommon and difficult subject matter (such as prostitution and drug use), they influenced the subsequent generation of both popular and independent music. Their record The Velvet Underground (1969) is found among my Top 50 Albums (and it’s cover features and incredibly Andrew-looking Lou Reed, though Lou is certainly less handsome).

‘I’m Waiting for the Man’ from their 1967 album The Velvet Underground & Nico:

‘Sunday Morning’, also from The Velvet Underground & Nico (as it is so difficult to find a good track off of their other records on Youtube):

+++++

Top 20 Bands: 20 & 19, 18 & 17

Top 20 Bands: 18 & 17

In continuing my Top 20 Bands countdown, I present you with two more amazing musical acts:

18. The Kinks [UPDATE: moved to number 13.]

The Kinks were an unstoppable force during the British Invasion of America in the mid-60s, popping out hits like ‘You Really Got Me‘, ‘All Day and All of the Night‘, ‘Tired of Waiting for You‘, etc. While these are surely classic tunes, their excessive familiarity to me (through being forced to listen to oldies radio stations as a child) gave me a great aversion to The Kinks. But like my aversion to The Beatles and The Beach Boys, I have grown out of this distaste for The Kinks (thanks to initial interest years ago via Rushmore and the watering of the seed by the Greg, the Band Evangelist) – and I even love their hits now too! It’s probably a shame to some people that The Kinks are down here at number 18 in my top 20, but I’m not especially familiar with their work after 1970’s Lola Versus Powerman and the Moneygoround, Part One and I’ve only been really listening them for some four years now. Give me more time to wise up. Their album The Village Green Preservation Society (1968) can be found among my Top 50 Albums.

‘Sunny Afternoon’ single promo, later included 1966’s Face to Face:

‘Apeman’, featuring a creepy and massive-haired Ray Davies, from 1970’s Lola Versus Powerman and the Moneygoround:

+++++

17. Danielson/Daniel Smith

Whether it is through a band consisting primarily of his siblings (Danielson Famile), through a solo project consisting of the man in a gigantic tree costume (Brother Danielson) or his most recent incarnation as just plain Danielson, Daniel Smith has been consistently producing honest, unusual and compelling art over the last two decades. Danielson appeared on my radar soon after my conversion to Christianity in the beginning of high school and I have grown more in love with them/him ever since. Interesting note: Through his association with Danielson I first gave Sufjan Stevens a shot. Read more about Daniel in this post. His/their second record, Tell Another Joke at the Ol’ Choppin’ Block (1997), is featured on my Top 50 Albums list.

I wanted to post ‘Headz in the Cloudz’ from the debut Danielson Famile album, 1996’s A Prayer for Every Hour, but embedding is disabled. View it here.

‘Things Against Stuff’, live from 2004’s Brother Is to Son from Brother Danielson:

‘Did I Step on Your Trumpet?’ from 2006’s Ships by Danielson (one of the best music videos of all time):

+++++

Top 20 Bands: 20 & 19

In typical LITC obsessive list-making fashion I’ve decided to compile a list of my Top 20 Bands of all time. I must admit that this list is prone to change, whether it be in order or in composition (perhaps in the coming years more recent groups like Frightened Rabbit, Grizzly Bear and Deerhunter might make their way on or classics that have been in my rotation for most if not all of my life will sneak in like Starflyer 59, Nirvana, The Rolling Stones and The Smashing Pumpkins). I’ll probably modify this list with my ever-changing taste and an ever-growing musical collection, but I will say that the bulk of this list has remained rather consistent over the last few years. I’ve decided instead of one massive post to split it up into groups of two. Perhaps you’ve not really given some of these groups a fair listen, or perhaps this will encourage you to give them another shot. So without further ado, I give you 20 and 19.

20. Spiritualized

This group, borne from the ashes of Spacemen 3 in 1990-1, consists primarily of Jason Pierce (J. Spaceman) and his inability to stop creating good music. From space rock to gospel, Spiritualized have been a mainstay of English music for two decades, while their commercial success has yet to match their commercial success. Annette first turned me onto this band in 2006 (very late in the game) and I can’t get enough. Their 2008 record Songs in A & E can found among my Top 50 Albums. Might I also suggest 1997’s Ladies and Gentlemen We are Floating in Space, which was narrowly edged out of my Top 50 Albums in a move I’m not entirely confident in.

‘Broken Heart’ from Ladies and Gentlemen We are Floating in Space, live in 1998 on Later… with Jools Holland:

‘You Lie You Cheat’ from Songs in A & E, live on The Late Show with David Letterman, 2008:

+++++

19. Sebadoh/Lou Barlow

Lou Barlow is an amazing songwriter and over the last 20+ years he has certainly spread his influence through Dinosaur Jr., Sebadoh, Sentridoh, The Folk Implosion and his recent solo career. As mentioned before, Greg first turned me on to Lou Barlow. Read more about him (and take a look at list of Greg and my ‘Top 30 Lou Barlow Songs‘) in this post. His amazing record with Sebadoh III (1991) is featured among my Top 50 Albums.

‘Rebound’ from Sebadoh’s 1994 album Bakesale:

‘Too Much Freedom’ from Lou Barlow’s 2009 album Goodnight Unknown:

Happy 41st, Elliott

Today marks what would have been Elliott Smith’s 41^st birthday and I’d like to share a brief thought.

Think about some of the most influential popular musicians from the last 50 years. Perhaps Bob Dylan, The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Michael Jackson, Nirvana, Creed [followed by an audible laugh] and so on. Perhaps we could come to a consensus and say that these names (with the exception of one) are legendary. Dylan, McCartney, Lennon, Gilmour, Waters, Jackson, Cobain. We could continue the list for ages, but what I want to point out is that I’ve listed surnames and readers who are familiar with popular music in America and Britain probably knew exactly whom I was referring to. When I write ‘Paul and John’ you probably realise that I am referring to the principle songwriters (though George is clearly the best) of one of the most influential bands in history and in the proper context we will often call Michael by his forename without too much confusion. This is probably due to the fact that Michael Jackson and The Beatles are very much household names. Still, taken on their own we’ll more typically employ the surname.

Now, I am not suggesting that somehow Elliott Smith might someday be recognised among these greats. He’s been grossly underrated and ignored in the public, but such is the lot of a shy and reclusive indie songwriter who killed himself at 34. Regardless, I find it quite interesting that when I write about Elliott Smith I cannot write, ‘Smith recorded his debut record while still fronting Heatmiser.’ It feels unnatural and impersonal. Elliott wouldn’t want to be talked about that way (although he probably wouldn’t want to be talked about at all). (This is all apart from the fact that ‘Smith’ is one of the most common surnames in the English language.) Perhaps the same can be said of Sufjan Stevens, but we all know that writing/saying ‘Sufjan’ is a billion times more pleasing than writing/saying ‘Stevens’. When we write or talk about Elliott it is as if we are talking about an old friend. I never knew Elliott. I never met him and I never saw him in concert, but his music reaches out to listeners like me and each listen becomes a very personal encounter. Elliott shares his soul with us and—as I’ve written about before—he shares our souls for us.

I’ve been compiling a list of my ‘Top 50 Elliott Smith Songs’ for several months now. As Greg so conscientiously shared his ‘Top 50 Sufjan Stevens Songs’ in order based upon his preference, I had hoped to do the same for Elliott. But Elliott’s work is quite different from Sufjan’s and I found that after arranging the first few songs on the list in preferential order it became very arbitrary – I am in love with different tracks for different reasons. So, like my ‘Top 50 Albums’, I am going to organise these songs by title. These tracks (as well as many many others) are all gems and if you don’t own any of the official releases I suggest you look into making some purchases immediately. Enjoy.

Top 50 Elliott Smith Songs

‘2:45 A.M.’/Either/Or, 1997
‘Angeles’/Either/Or, 1997
‘Baby Britain’/XO, 1998
‘Between the Bars’/Either/Or, 1997
‘The Biggest Lie’/Elliott Smith, 1995
‘Can’t Make a Sound’/Figure 8, 2000
‘Christian Brothers’/Elliott Smith, 1995
‘Coast to Coast’/From a Basement on the Hill, 2003
‘Dancing on the Highway’/Basement era sessions, circa 2003
‘A Distorted Reality Is Now a Necessity to Be Free’/From a Basement on the Hill, 2003
‘The Enemy Is You’/Either/Or era, circa 1997
‘Everybody Cares, Everybody Understands’/XO, 1998
‘Everything Means Nothing to Me’/Figure 8, 2000
‘Going Nowhere’/Either/Or era, circa 1997, officially released on New Moon in 2007
‘Good to Go’/Elliott Smith, 1995
‘Happiness’/Figure 8, 2000
‘High Times’/Either/Or era, circa 1997, officially released on New Moon in 2007
‘How to Take a Fall’/Either/Or era, circa 1997
‘I Better Be Quiet Now’/Figure 8, 2000
‘I Can’t Answer You Anymore’/3 Titres Inedits (French promo), 2000
‘I Didn’t Understand’/XO, 1998
‘In the Lost and Found (Honky Bach)’/Figure 8, 2000
‘King’s Crossing’/From a Basement on the Hill, 2003
‘L.A.’/Figure 8, 2000
‘Last Call’/Roman Candle, 1995
‘Let’s Get Lost’/From a Basement on the Hill, 2003
‘Miss Misery’/Good Will Hunting (soundtrack), 1997
‘Needle In the Hay’/Elliott Smith, 1995
‘No Name #2’/Roman Candle, 1995
‘O So Slow’/Basement era sessions, circa 2003
‘Oh Well, Okay’/XO, 1998
‘A Passing Feeling’/From a Basement on the Hill, 2003
‘Pictures of Me’/Either/Or, 1997
‘Pitseleh’/XO, 1998
‘Pretty Mary K’/Figure 8, 2000
‘Roman Candle’/Roman Candle, 1995
‘Rose Parade’/Either/Or, 1997
‘Say Yes’/Either/Or, 1997
‘Shooting Star’/From a Basement on the Hill, 2003
‘Son of Sam’/Figure 8, 2000
‘Southern Belle’/Elliott Smith, 1995
‘Splitsville’/Southlander (soundtrack), 2001
‘Strung Out Again’/From a Basement on the Hill, 2003
‘Stupidity Tries’/Figure 8, 2000
‘Sweet Adeline’/XO, 1998
‘True Love’/Basement era sessions, circa 2003
‘Twilight’/From a Basement on the Hill, 2003
‘Waltz #2 (Xo)’/XO, 1998
‘The White Lady Loves You More’/Elliott Smith, 1995
‘You Make it Seem Like Nothing’/Either/Or era live recording, circa 1996

(For the sake of space I’ve omitted anything Elliott did with other musical acts, otherwise I’d certainly include ‘Plainclothes Man’ and ‘Half Right’ from Heatmiser’s 1996 album Mic City Sons and the rare recording from a French radio broadcast of ‘The Machine’ from Elliott’s high school band Stranger Than Fiction.)

Happy birthday, Elliott.

1969 – 2003

Eff you, Oscar…here’s The Arts & Faith Top 100

Oscars are on Sunday. Some good films will be celebrated, some so-so films will get awards–sadly, the best film of the year (Fantastic Mr. Fox) will walk away empty-pawed (though you must check out this terrifically funny animated acceptance speech made by Mr. Anderson).

However, an online group affiliated with the thoughtful religious-y journal IMAGE (who once bastardly REJECTED a story I sent in!) just released their collaboratively determined top 100 films, somehow relating to Arts & Faith (not crystal clear on the criteria…).

One of the crafters of A & F 100, Jeffrey Overstreet, a film critic/novelist whom I had the chance to grab a meal with once upon a time, wrote a bit about the list in anticipation of questions raised by the list–here’s one response I liked quite a bit:

Question #6: Is it just me, or do most of these films look like hard work?

The Arts and Faith Top 100 are not favored for their difficulty. They are honored for their excellence, their beauty, their capacity to inspire us to become more fully human.

Each movie on this list explores fundamental and provocative spiritual questions. Questions that challenge us to grow in understanding. Questions that cultivate community through the experience of bracing conversations. Questions that kindle our deepest longings for all that is sacred and good.

In other words, yes—some of these films require serious work on the part of the viewer. But they are full of rewards for those who give them a chance.

The Arts and Faith Top 100 Films will arrest you with their vividness and strangeness. They are full of beauty and mystery. And unlike what is commonly categorized as “Christian art,” they will leave audiences with some doubt as to their precise application. They tease the mind into thought and reflection—again and again and again.

I agree wholeheartedly with his point & lament it at the same time. As a culture, we’ve been raised on a steady diet of candy art, making these cinematic banquets taste bitter to our palates. I’d love to encourage us all to line up a number of these films on the ole Netflix queue, yet at the same time, I feel MY OWN resistance to sitting down to 3+ hours of static camerawork, silence on the soundtrack, and characterizations that feel incredibly ripe for satire (ahh, the pretension!).

Let me then suggest two things:

1. My own recommendations from this list. I love the following films enough to own them–I will gladly loan them to you and am also willing to sit down and watch/discuss them together (if you live in a 20 mile radius of La Mirada, CA).

#2 The Decalogue (it’s about 10 hours long, in Polish–one short film per commandment, but they are not really interconnected so you can dip your toe in with a few films, maybe I, VI, or X)
#3 Babette’s Feast (Danish, Oscar winner, slow but beautiful story of the lavishness of grace)
#8 Andrei Rublev (Russian, B/W, slow as hades, but lovely as Abraham’s bosom)
#12 Wings of Desire (German, my favorite film of all time! Just got a new Criterion edition too)
#15 Three Colors Trilogy (Polish/French, you should watch all 3 and tell me which you connected with the most)
#30 Stalker (Russian, MOLASSES SLOW, but deep as can be, haunting, beautiful)
#36 Days of Heaven (American, pretty accessible…amazing cinematography)
#51 The Spirit of the Beehive (Spanish, so sweet & profound & memorable)
#56 Ponette (French, on my personal top 10, unbelievable performance from a 4 year old)
#65 After Life (Japanese film about dead people picking one memory to live in forever)
#90 Frisbee: The Life and Death of a Hippie Preacher (I didn’t actually LOVE this documentary–it’s a bit amateur–but the STORY is so worth exploring)
#96 The New World (American, I have the extended director’s cut–so powerful!)

2. Please challenge ME to take on one of these based on your recommendation…I need to keep my tastes from atrophying due to my consumption of the “frivolity-industrial complex” produced films that are playing in my local excuse for a cinema.

With our great affection for lists, perhaps someday we’ll have a “Lost In the Cloud Top 100″…until then, enjoy these selections!