Tuesday’s Music for the Cloudy Confined

I’m listening to the album SMiLE by Brian Wilson as I write this, so my list will likely fluctuate during the course of writing this. Listening to it, though, I remember how much I have enjoyed the Beach Boys music over the years (even though this isn’t a Beach Boys record). “Good Vibrations” is probably one of my favorite all-time songs. Either way, this music is keeping the day bright as the looming clouds outside prepare to unleash their fury.

• Pearl Jam, “State of Love and Trust”: I have loved this song since I heard the opening power chord riff on the singles soundtrack. This song, along with “Breath” and the Ten album kickstarted my love for Pearl Jam’s music.
• Temper Trap, “Fader”: This is a “guilty” favorite, I suppose. It’s not a bad song, really, but it’s the sound of the vocals that gets me (not so much the lyrics). I’m not totally sold on Temper Trap. I wasn’t fond of “Sweet Disposition” when I first heard it, though I appreciate it more now. “Fader” is just a cool rock song.
• M.I.A., “Jimmy”: This song has great beats and cool raps. I’ve grown fonder of M.I.A. recently. From reading online sources, the song is about a relationship with a journalist in Rwanda that never materialized. Sometimes her vocal sound is a little annoying, but it generally fits for what she’s talking about. This song’s from Kala.
• AC/DC, “Big Gun”: I remember seeing the video for this when I was younger. I always liked the heavy guitar riff and the solo. I didn’t know much about them then other than they had been associated with negatively influencing people. Then I learned about Angus Young and his brother Malcolm and singer Brian Johnson, and I was hooked. Then I heard Bon Scott’s (original singer for the band) stuff, and I was hooked. I think this song was on the soundtrack for the “Last Action Hero” movie.
• Beach Boys, “Good Vibrations”: While I love many Beach Boys songs, this one takes the cake. This song has a great intro, great harmonies, and a great finale. This song demonstrates the direction Brian Wilson was trying to go but couldn’t because of the naiveté of his bandmates. Little did Wilson know this song would influence the Beatles towards creating Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, which is arguably one of the greatest rock and roll albums of all time. This song, paired with the Pet Sounds record, was part of the Beach Boys’ peak period.
• Brian Wilson, “Child is Father of the Man”: I throw this song in there because the guitars are really cool sounding and the fact that this song was a part of the concept album Wilson was working on prior to hearing “A Day in the Life” by the Beatles. This is just a hip song.