Justin Jon Ryan
Quite often I wonder what it is to be a musician, and a lover of music these days. I appreciate many different genre’s of music with Reggae and Ska being a particular favourite. I could in fact have 100 favourite songs, but realistically whittled it down to these 10 below. The invention of the internet has brought with it, the availability and accessibility of all types of music. But personally myself although it has opened a lot of of doors to discover great new music, it has also opened the floodgates to an awful lot of sub-standard waffle.
I remember when buying tape cassettes, vinyl records, videos, DVD’s or a CD of a band and it being an exciting thing to watch and/or listen to an artists new body of work with awe and wonder. Sadly, there hasn’t been a band/movement/cultural phenomenon (of yesteryear in at least twenty years or more),to date that has taken the world by storm. The fashions and haircuts,(not to mention drugs of choice) inspired these bands and movements to emerge and develop from underground club movements into the mainstream cultural conciousness.
The music business has traditionally been an arrangement between labels and mainstream artists, which results in the artists often being exploited. These days it’s the formulaic collaborations resulting in manipulative chart positions, that have homogenised music so that it has become one ‘beige’ mess of blandness. Of the bands signed to record labels, labels don’t take risks on new acts, nor develop them. And if they do however, everything has to be instant, and it makes this kind of music disposable, and cheap.
This has made music worthless, and it makes me sad. Also the listening experience of music has diminished due to poor quality recording being commonplace. Mainstream music is neither inventive nor fulfilling. Music should nourish the soul, be part of the soundtracks to our lives. Music is often listened piecemeal, rather than a complete experience of and album in it’s entirety in correct running order. Occasionally unique artists emerge from the shadows, where they rightfully belong. These days artists are now more self sufficient, and independent but at the same time are having to come up with innovative ways of getting their music made and heard.
But that’s an argument for another day….
This selection of songs here are a halcyon to my youth.
A trip back in time. A whiff of nostalgia, perhaps. But a reminder to myself why I love music and why these songs shaped my life. If you look carefully enough, there are fantastic bands that are waiting to be discovered. Maybe they are playing gigs in your hometown, or locality. This is how I discovered a lot of these bands. There are many bands and songs that I’ve left out that could have, and maybe should have made this top 10 list. But these were pivotal songs in my life, and inspired me to become the musician I am today. And yes I am old enough to remember these records being released for the first time!! Half a lifetime ago…
BEEN CAUGHT STEALING - Jane’s Addiction
Jane’s Addiction’s album Ritual lo Habitual burst onto the world in 1990. This song,’Been Caught Stealing’ was released from that album. It was an exotic brew of Funk, Rock, Metal, Punk, and Psychedelia topped off with Perry Farrell’s helium infused like vocals. I love songs that groove, and this did it in spades. It has a swagger that has long since been forgotten in music. It also revealed that this was a band of skilled musicians who could play and were tasteful in doing so. An eclectic bunch that unfortunately got lost in a world of drugs and personal fallouts. Thankfully they re-grouped, and still play live and record today. But notably it was Dave Navarro, (before his Red Hot Chilli Pepper’s dalliance) that made my ears stand up and take notice!!
CANNONBALL - The Breeders
The Breeders were a supergroup of sorts co-fronted by sisters Kim and Kelley Deal,(with Kim from The Pixies and Kelly from Throwing Muses) enforced hiatuses allowing this collaboration to take place. I remember hearing this song ‘Cannonball’ in 1993 when it was released, on MTV (before it became a vehicle for pointless reality TV dirge). Not only was I drawn to the groove of the drums, but the bass line was snakey, and the guitars weaved in and out of the verses. But the chorus with it’s massive guitars emphasising the quiet-LOUD-quiet dynamic wonderfully, is what blew me away. Such power! Only Nirvana’s ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ has a similar dynamic impact, and it has long since been admitted that The Pixies were an inspiration for that song! The vocals, I couldn’t quite decipher (at first) due to their distorted treatment in the production. But this song rocked! And it still does!!
VASOLINE - Stone Temple Pilots
‘Vasoline’ was released in 1993, released from the Purple album. Once again this song is all about the groove and swagger. The band’s original (and best) line-up was fronted by the late vocalist Scott Weiland, along with Eric Kretz (on drums),and brothers Robert and Dean DeLeo (on Bass and Guitar respectively). The song strutted it’s stuff from the get-go, but the part I loved in the song was the dissonant mood in the middle section just before the guitar solo. It showed me that here was a band that had an intelligent mind, and were capable of using a variety of guitar tones to encapsulate differing moods.. This band were often lumped in with the ‘Grunge’ movement of the time, but this band had more in common (in my opinion) with Jane’s Addiction, musically than that of Pearl Jam, Alice In Chains or any of those contemporaries. A very underrated band.
HOW SOON IS NOW - Love Spit Love
When the Psychedelic Furs went on hiatus in 1992, vocalist Richard and bass playing brother Tim contacted guitarist Richard Fortus and eventually Frank Ferrer (both now in the current Guns ’N’ Roses lineup) to from a new band. This resulted in a 1994 self titled album Love Spit Love, and band of the same name. The American TV programme ‘Charmed’ used the Love Spit Love recording of The Smiths ‘How Soon Is Now’ as it’s theme tune. I was well aware (of and still am) of the brilliance of Johnny Marr as a guitarist and songwriter but also of Morrissey as a vocalist and lyricist. Love Spit Love tastefully and respectfully approached their take on The Smiths classic song. Richard Butler’s distinctive vocal stylings made this song their own. And in turn reignited my love for The Smiths again. But it brought my attention to Richard Fortus as an alternative-styled guitarist, as he was very influential in my earliest forays in learning to play guitar.
SPOONMAN - Soundgarden
I have had the good fortune to work with Michael Bienhorn not once, but twice with The Blizzards with our debut album ‘Public Display of Affection’,and it’s sophomore follow-up ‘The Domino Effect’. We as a band were well aware of his discography, and it was flattering that he chose to come to Ireland to work with an unknown band on their debut album, and consequently the second one too. We were honoured! And he graciously answered our questions about artists he had previously worked with whilst under his tutelage, whilst guiding us through our recording sessions with him. In particular Soundgarden. He spoke very highly of Soundgarden as a band, but also of leader Chris Cornell as a songwriter, guitarist, multi-instrumentalist, and premier vocalist. He mentioned that Chris Cornell had demoed much of the album by himself before the band had got to work on it. The Bienhorn produced ‘Superunknown’ was a masterpiece, which was released in 1994. Most people might remember ‘Fell on Black Days’ or ‘Black Hole Sun’ as the songs getting heavy rotation on MTV at the time. But it was ‘Spoonman’ that stuck out for me. The production quality, the playing, the vocals (and the fact that it is about a real performing street artist ‘Artis the Spoonman’ who also featured in the recording which made it more authentic. And it had an amazing guitar sound. Kim Thayil is another under-rated guitarist, but very influential.
KARMA POLICE - Radiohead
Radiohead might have been known for their more commercial hits like ‘Creep” or ‘High and Dry’, but it was the album OK Computer when it arrived in 1997 that not only blew me away, but set a high benchmark that few bands have met since. The level of songwriting, production, and it’s influence continues to inspire me. I think the album is a masterpiece. ‘Paranoid Android’ was a hint of things to come, but the follow-up single ‘Karma Police’ released in 1997 had an immediate impact on me. It had a dark mood with hints of light in it. And I’m a sucker for melancholy in music. This song hit the target then, and upon re-listens now still does. It transports me back to a different time. I also like when bands do respectful versions of others songs. A Reggae band called ‘The Easy Star All-Stars’ covered this album (Radiodread) and many others. But even their take on it, highlights the quality of the band Radiohead and their vision, but all of the quality of the song.
INTERSTATE LOVE SONG - Stone Temple Pilots
Stone Temple Pilots make the list twice here. Also drawn from the ‘Purple’ album. I could have thrown in Suede, or Manson, or The Stone Roses, or Blur, or any other late 80’s/early to mid/late 90’s band in here. But here’s the reason why! This song has an epic wide-screen quality to it. It has a bittersweet mood to it. The slide guitar sound in the beginning of the song is mournful but hints that something big is going to happen next. And it does…. The perfect setup! Once the song really kicks offs it is a roller coaster ride to the end. The whole song just heartfelt and I loved it then, and still do now.
LOSER - Beck
In 1993, Beck released this debut single ’Loser’. The song was labelled the anthem for ’the slacker generation’, and a ‘Summer of Love’ vibe for the 90’s kids. But it’s conception was far from that. It’s creation rose from circumstances that led to a ‘happy accident’. Also,(unbelievably) was mostly finished in a six and half hour session. It was part influenced by rap, hip-hop, folk, and blues. The songs introduction began with an open-tuned ‘faux-blues’ acoustic slide guitar which was hooky, and the groove was ‘slack and hip-slung.’ Following this the release of this song, Beck was touted as the Bob Dylan of his generation. I think he’s unique in his own way. He has since gone onto write more fantastic music, and his calibre as a songwriter has flourished since. Like many other songs, at that time (pre-internet) it’s popularity meant that it was all over MTV heavy rotation, and radio alike. I wasn’t sure of what to make of it at first, but it grew on me. I think it is one of the greatest songs of all time.
ALRIGHT - Supergrass
Supergrass burst onto the UK music scene in 1995. A trio of (at the time) of teenage zany whipper-snappers featuring Gas Coombes, Mick Quinn, and Danny Goffey who had a boundless mischievous energy, and who hailed from Oxfordshire, England. Brother Rob Coombes joined afterwards. This song ‘Alright’ was their debut single form their debut album ’I should Coco’. It was a call-to-arms for the teenage generation of the time. The songs music video was a reflection of the persona of the band. It was ‘FUN’. And for a long time I’d forgotten that music should be fun, for one reason or another. But this band were a joy to listen to. And they were brilliant live. Plus they could really play, and were well liked and respected. This band gave me hope that perhaps I could do this too. I wanted to live that dream. I wanted a piece of this. Sweet innocent times.
STEP ON - Happy Mondays
This song was originally written and titled ‘He’s Gonna Step On You Again’ and recorded in 1971 by John Kongos. And whilst the original has a vibe of it’s own, it wasn’t until the Happy Mondays got their greasy paws on it ,that it was brought to life in a way no-one could have foreseen. Retitled ’Step on’ and released in 1990, it gave the song a whole new lease of life. The Happy Mondays were the drug-addled and hedonistic party boys of the ‘Madchester’ scene, along with their contemporaries The Stone Roses and others… It was a statement musically, and swaggered it’s way into the UK public’s conciousness. I loved the attitude of the band, and it signified a moment in time when I was emerging from my teenage years lost and directionless. It reminds me now, of a different and simpler time. The band inspired (myself included) thousands to pick up a guitar and form bands. Other mentions of bands that didn’t make this list; The Stone Roses first album, U2 - The Joshua Tree/Achtung Baby. Red Hot Chilli Peppers - Blood Sugar Sex Magik.
Before I Wrap up here are some honourable mentions of new Artists/Music I've discovered...
Formed by former JELLYFISH band members 30 years later ROGER JOSEPH MANNING JR, TIM SMITH AND ERIC DOVER rejoined forces in their new project, THE LICKERISH QUARTET. It has born fruit so far. The band have released 2 of 3 four track EP's THREESOME VOL.1 AND THREESOME VOL.2
Their music showcases stunning production & masterful pop rock songwriting.
BLACK PUMAS are another talented band worth checking out, Amazing new Soul music. THE TESKEY BROTHERS from Australia are fantastic & soulful.
Some other worthy musicians worth a mention....
BILLY STRINGS
SIERRA HULL
CHRIS THILE
MARCUS KING
I hope this blog possibly entertained/educated/enlightened some of you. Maybe it made you laugh? I hope it inspires the music lover in all of us to go and seek out new music, attend gigs, buy music and merchandise so that musicians and artists can go on creating wonderful art for future generations to enjoy. If the internet has helped me in any way, is that is has given me the tools to research music. And I’ve discovered some wonderful music along the way.
Thank you.
