Secondary School Days
So I thought I would kick off my playlists linked to my earlier memories of songs that I played a lot when I was first getting into music and playing in bands. Each song I can relate to quite different times from around 13 - 16 years old, quite a random selection. This isn't my secondary school. Stanley Franc Pantera - Mouth For War We start with 'Mouth for War' by Pantera. We start heavy. I remember trying to play this in the second band I was in - we had no singer so was an instrumental affair.. we mainly worked on the first 2 riffs which are still monstrous. Whilst they are a heavy band the musicianship is awesome. http://pantera.com/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pantera Deftones - Be Quiet and Drive (Far Away) 'Be Quiet And Drive (Far Away)' by Deftones. We are still heavy. I was a bit older, maybe 15 / 16 - I used to love playing this as loud as my speakers would allow as soon as me mum left for work, an amazing, bouncy middle 8. Haunting and heavier than lead. https://www.deftones.com/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deftones Ben Folds Five - Battle Of Who Could Care Less 'Battle Of Who Could Care Less' by Ben Folds Five. Here come the lightness, still probably about 15 /16 here and watching the video on MTV2 when the channel played music videos - the piano and bass playing and lyrical content just really worked for me - really fun song, some lovely piano licks and distorted bass kicking in for choruses really helps gives contrast. https://www.benfolds.com/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Folds_Five Pennywise - Peaceful Day 'Peaceful Day' by Pennywise. Punk rock, introduced to this song by friends who also loved Green Day (who will likely be another playlist) tried playing this in a friends band that lasted for all of 2 rehearsals when I was about 14. Managed the get the first riff working, had no vocalist so struggled getting any further. Big fan of the intro riff and how the whole song captures so much energy. https://pennywisdom.com/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pennywise_(band) Paul Weller - Stanley Road 'Stanley Road' by Paul Weller. Indie pop (?) Got this on a free cd on the front of Q magazine (RIP). The piano intro grabs me and the rhythm and guitar playing (heavily panned for the whole song - interesting) are all so clearly distinct - some nice BVs and the main vocal suits his voice so well. Here's a live version from Later With Jools Holland https://www.paulweller.com/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Weller Black Grape - Reverend Black Grape 'Reverend Black Grape' by Black Grape. Pop music (?) with some odd influences, I got their album for Xmas when I was about 14 and for me the whole album is excellent. The production touches are a delight to listen to - theres a really nice bass double stop emphasised at the end of the chorus, great use of harmonica for the main riff, samples from films / speeches, gibberish lyrics, good interplay between the vocals (Shaun Ryder and Kermit). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Grape