“The Hellion/Electric Eye” by Judas Priest (1982)

It was pointed out to me, correctly, that I don’t have enough hard rock on my blog.

Heavy Metal. Hard rock. “Cock” rock. Speed metal. Norwegian death metal. How the hell do I recommend this shite to my daughter?

Let’s start by acknowledging how much this music meant to me. Yeah, it’s aggressive, and masculine, and oriented almost entirely toward the Y chromosome. Yeah, it might work up some frat boys into a scary lather (and watch out for that!).

But it shook things up, turned things upside down, got your heart racing. And it pissed off your parents!

“The Hellion/Electric Eye” is the opening track to Judas Priest’s album, “Screaming for Vengeance.” It was released (and bought by your old man as a high school junior) in 1982. That cassette was never far from the the stereo in my VW Bug. It was my travellin’ music, a tonic, in a sense. And a part of who I am now.

Okay, follow me on this: I don’t trust the government to do the right thing with its power. Not without serious input and oversight from its citizens.

“The price of freedom is eternal vigilance.” Thomas Jefferson said that. But he meant citizens’ vigilance. Not the government’s.

In a rock and roll way, this Priest track really prepared me to recognize this danger.

“You think you’ve private lives
Think nothing of the kind
There is no true escape
I’m watching all the time”

“Beautiful Day” by U2 (2000)

It’s been about a month since my last post. I’ve been busy with a major career change, a pretty spectacular (but stressful) tremor, but I’m so sorry I’ve stopped talking to you here for so long. I’m hoping this new job will add years to my life, so maybe it’s a net gain overall.

I couldn’t possibly tell you how awesome I think U2 is in one day, let alone one brief internet fart. Maybe over time, as you grow older, I can share their music with you, and you can make up your own mind.

But in case that doesn’t happen, just know that I think U2 rocks. And they speak the truth. And I believe that they will be the first band to “win” the Nobel Peace Prize.

I’ve decided I’m going to focus on the positive for a while. For a change.

So here we go: I love the joy and the power of this track. The magnificent hope of a bright future for all of us. ALL OF US. This is an ideal that many of us (including your daddy) are willing to fight for.

It’s absolutely irresistible.

(Thanks to LazloLozlaenQro for the upload. Damn U2’s corporate suits for making their music so fucking difficult to share with the people!)

And don’t swear in public!

“I’ll Take You There” by The Staple Singers (1972)

I’m not particularly religious. We’ll have that discussion later. But there’s nothing like a fantastic gospel act, like The Staple Singers. You can’t beat the energy, the power, and the promise of hope and glory that explodes forth from really good gospel music.

This track takes gospel and frames it with a terrific soul/funk/R&B vibe. Everything else is still there. Along with some sharp social commentary, if you can hear it (investigate “smilin’ faces” and “lying to the races,” for a start).

Whatever your religious inclinations, you can still benefit from the wonderful, positive beauty and groove of gospel music.

“Over the Rainbow” performed by Israel Kamakawiwo’ole (1993)

There’s just something about Hawai’i that’s magical. And I’m not just talking about the stunning landscape and pristine beaches. I’m talking about the lifestyle, the laid-back refusal to take part in the rat race. There is a reverence and respect for the land, and a great appreciation of music and expression.

Mr. Kamakawiwo’ole has a beautiful, gentle voice that floats over the strumming of his ukulele, reducing songs to an almost primal state of purity. Sadly, he passed away, but not without touching millions of people with his music, especially this track, which gained some well-deserved notoriety.

“Over the Rainbow” was Judy Garland’s signature tune from “The Wizard of Oz.” It’s a powerful song about hope and better days ahead. Not surprisingly, this song became something of an anthem for soldiers fighting overseas in World War II, a little piece of sanity for them to hold onto inside the madness of war. It’s an important song. Mr. Kamakawiwo’ole also adds a bit of “What a Wonderful World,” another important song which I’ll probably post for you very soon.

(Thanks to xTacoBellxx for the nice upload of this track to YouTube)

“The Real Me” by The Who (1973)

This track is from the album “Quadrophenia,” which is one of my all-time favorite records. If I could only pick 10 albums to carry me through the rest of my life, “Quadrophenia” would be one of them.

To me, this represents The Who at their finest, and this is a band that has made more than a few superb albums. The songs are great, the musicianship is terrific, Roger Daltrey’s vocals are as powerful and engaging as ever, and Pete Townshend rips on guitar, while also creating sonic magic in the studio. This album captivated me when I first heard it at the age of 14, and it’s never lost its power or appeal.

On top of the great music, “Quadrophenia” explores issues of social identity and expectations. The story is set in England around a group of “mods,” but it could be about anyone who doesn’t quite fit into the mainstream. Or maybe it’s about questioning whether one WANTS to fit in. Or maybe just trying to find out who you are and where you fit inside the social machine. It was all of that to me, and it came to me at a time when those issues were important. And now that I’m an old man, the issues are still there.

I love every song on “Quadrophenia,” so if you ever want to know a little bit more about some of the stuff that hangs in your Daddy’s head, listen to the album. They even made a pretty good movie out of it in 1979, which I highly recommend.

“I ended up with the preacher
Full of lies and hate
I seemed to scare him a little
So he showed me to the golden gate”

“Bizarre Love Triangle” by New Order (1986)

Some folks I know would describe New Order as a band that makes “dance music,” but they’re much more than that, at least to me. They wrote some great songs, and their arrangements—relying heavily on electronic instruments—are terrific. Unlike some dance music, there is real heft, musicality, and integrity in New Order’s work.

Although it’s not really my scene, there’s nothing like being in a club when the DJ spins some New Order. The sound is amazing, and the crowd is electrified by the music. Not bad for a day’s work.

I also wanted to tell you what I think a good song is. A good song doesn’t rely on production value alone, it can stand up on its own and be heard in any context. This song is a perfect example. It sounds great in its original form, as a so-called dance track, but it also sounds great stripped down to the bare essentials. The Australian band Frente! did a cover of this song with just voice and acoustic guitar, and you can really hear the song shine through.

That’s kind of a test for me. Could a person play the song around a campfire? Would it just sound stupid and repetitious? Or would it still move you?

“Uninvited” by Alanis Morissette (1998)

Alanis Morissette had a huge album in 1995, “Jagged Little Pill,” which took the world by storm. It’s a great record which was overshadowed a bit by idiotic controversy over some of her lyrics. Apparently, if you’re a man, you can get away with “dirty” words, but if you’re a woman, you’ll offend someone’s sensibilities. Proof that women still have a ways to go in our society if they want equal treatment.

This song was recorded for a movie soundtrack, and it was, I think, the first recording she did since the success of “Jagged Little Pill.” I couldn’t imagine the pressure she must have been under to follow up on her previous album.

But then she gave us this magnificent jewel. The production is terrific, a live, cavernous vibe that still sounds intimate. It’s gentle and soothing, yet strong and fierce at the same time. And who can resist Ms. Morissette’s powerful, expressive voice? It works perfectly with the intricate flow and phrasing of her words.

Everyone who worked and performed on this track should be mighty proud.

This is a “headphone song.” Put on a good pair, shut the door, and let it envelop you.

“Black Milk” by Massive Attack (1998)

Massive Attack creates intense, moody, and extraordinarily beautiful music. Considered one of the original “trip hop” groups, they incorporate some incredible sounds and rhythms into their sonic landscapes. They’ve also asked some wonderful vocalists to contribute to their songs, like Elisabeth Fraser (Cocteau Twins) on this track, from their third album, “Mezzanine.”

“Mezzanine” is an epic album, worth absorbing into your life. If it doesn’t absorb you, first.

Beethoven performed by The Muppets

Beethoven’s 9th Symphony is one of the greatest musical works ever created. I’m not even going to try to describe it to you, nor am I going to post some video fraction of dubious quality audio for you here. You simply have to make some time to sit back and really HEAR the Ninth. On a good quality sound system. Or, better yet, a live symphony. Maybe you and I will go someday to see the SF Symphony do it.

The final movement of the Ninth is the one most people recognize, and it’s usually referred to as the “Ode to Joy” (which actually comes from the “lyrics,” a poem written years before by Friedrich Schiller). It is extraordinary. Again, you have to hear it in the right context.

Or a seriously wrong context. Like this version from Jim Henson’s Muppets. Seriously wrong, but seriously funny. And seriously good, too!

“Born in the U.S.A.” by Bruce Springsteen (1984)

Happy April Fool’s Day!  I’m posting this track on this day for a reason, so bear with me.

Bruce Springsteen is a national treasure.  You will find some really hardcore Springsteen fans out there, a testament to his ability to reach people through his music.  He tells it like it is, what it’s like to live in this country, both good and bad.  He’s not afraid to point out problems, to identify issues we all need to talk about.

This track is about a kid our country sent to Vietnam to fight a war.  America didn’t really know what to do about its veterans from Vietnam.  We were used to treating our soldiers as returning heroes, but the Vietnam War was an ugly mess.  An ugly mess that destroyed many lives, including those “lucky” veterans who survived.

Got in a little hometown jam
So they put a rifle in my hand
Sent me off to a foreign land
To go and kill the yellow man

And more:

I had a brother at Khe Sahn fighting off the Viet Cong
They’re still there, he’s all gone

It’s a pretty stark picture of the lingering effects of war.  A war that many people (including me) think was entirely unnecessary, to say the least.

So here’s the April Fool’s connection:  This song has been adopted as a patriotic anthem by people who never bothered to understand the lyrics.  All they heard was “Born in the U.S.A.” and assumed it was some updated version of “God Bless America.”  Certain right-wing politicians even tried (and still try!) to use the song in their campaigns, campaigns that include pretty militaristic policies.

To me that’s just indicative of an absurd, jingoistic mindset, the “my country right or wrong” idea.  An idea that is so ingrained in some folks’ minds that they can’t even hear the words in the songs they use to prop up their paper-thin patriotism.  April Fools!

“You’ll never have a quiet world ’til you knock the patriotism out of the human race.” — George Bernard Shaw