on 5 music albums that I swear by

a very random post.

without further ado. without all that pointless writing that precedes such lists. here goes.

5 albums that I swear by (in no particular order)

1. Nevermind  

artist : Nirvana
genre : grunge  
label : DCG Records
release : 14 Sep 1991

Nevermind is hailed by many as Nirvana’s “flagship” album and a milestone in the timeline of grunge music. Released in an era dominated by heavy metal and hard rock, with bands like Metallica and Guns N’ Roses ruling the roost, it was never expected to become the commercial success that it did. But surprisingly within four months of its release it had carved out a niche for itself and had peaked at the top of the Billboard charts replacing Michael Jackson’s ‘Dangerous’.

If there was one reason that propelled Nevermind to the cult status that it did, it was the first single, Smells Like Teen Spirit, which would later go on to become the one song synonymous with grunge itself. And otherwise too, boasting of heavily distorted electric guitars, and angst ridden lyrics, and with tracks like Smells Like Teen Spirit, Lithium, In Bloom and Territorial Pissings, Nevermind took alternative rock by the scruff of its neck, dipped it in a heavy concoction of distortion, bass and drums and thrust it into the mainstream music industry in a manner like no one had ever before. The early-mid 1990s thus came to be known as the “era of grunge” in the music timeline.

my connection : I started liking Nirvana rather late. When I first heard the songs, they seemed to be oddly off-tune and all of them sounded similar for some reason that I find rather hilarious now. It was when I started appreciating Kurt Cobain’s deep throated vocals, and Dave Grohl’s fantastic work with the drums, that it hit me that, “Gosh. This is brilliant stuff”.  As a follow up to this surge in interest in this genre (though much later), I was asked to write a grunge themed story for my college magazine, Cactus Flower. Unfortunately my story never went beyond the second page, but I did delve into a lot of grunge music and did do a lot of research about this genre. And yes, Nevermind somewhat became a way of life for me.

      2. Scenes From a Memory 

artist : Dream Theater
genre : progressive metal
label : Elektra Records
release : 26 Oct 1999

If a music album was defined to be a compilation of songs, then Metropolis Pt 2 : Scenes From a Memory is certainly not one. It is so much more than that. It is an experience that one lives through when he puts it on his headphones and immerses himself in it.

According to Dream Theater, ‘Scenes From a Memory’ is a concept album. It deals with the story of a person named Nicholas, and the gradual discovery of his past life which involves love, murder and infidelity. The entire album is a play that is divided into two Acts. The characters involved are Nicholas himself, The Hypnotherapist and The Old Man in the present day and Victoria Page, Sen Edward Baynes, and Julian Baynes back in 1928. The first track, Regression depicts Nicholas relaxing to the voice of The Hypnotherapist and entering a hypnotic stage. With every song more revelations occur, and we are made aware of Nicholas’ strange connection with Victoria Page. A thrilling yet grim psychological tale unwinds (which I shall not go into, for conciseness’ sake) and we are left gaping in awe at the brilliance of the song writers. (You can read the full story here)

Musically, this album is synonymous with sheer awesomeness. The styles utilized to depict the different moods, Portnoy’s prowess with the drums, Petrucci’s skill with the guitar, and Jordan Ruddess’ brilliant work with the keys make for an experience that is surreal to say the least. Having songs that range from the soft and soothing ‘Through Her Eyes’  and ‘The Spirit Carries On’ to classic progressive ones that combine metal, thrash, synths and grunge like ‘Beyond this Life’ the album cements its position as nothing short of a work of fine art.

If you haven’t heard this album, you have missed out. On a lot.

my connection : Dream Theater has always been up there amongst my favorite bands of all time. Scenes From a Memory does not have any of the songs that DT is known for. Yet it occupies a special place in my heart, for the sheer epicness of the content that it delivers.

  3. S&M

artist : Metallica and San Fransisco Symphony
genre : symphonic metal / thrash metal
label : Elektra, Vertigo
release : 23 Nov 1999

This is one album that amazes me solely owing to the concept which, had this album not existed, I would have considered impossible to be implemented.The fusion of symphonic orchestra with heavy metal is actually as brilliant as it sounds and given that the heavy metal here is courtesy none other than Metallica, you would expect a lot from it.
And my. Does it deliver.
This double-album is essentially a live Metallica concert with additional symphonic accompaniment by the San Fransisco Symphony. The symphony was composed by Michael Kamen, who also conducted the orchestra during the concert.

Most of the songs that occur in the album are regular Metallica numbers from their previous albums, and they sound unearthly with all the symphonic sounds in them. Particularly remarkable in the album is symphonic rendition of ‘The Ecstasy of Gold’ a previously released Metallic instrumental track, and the symphonic version of ‘Master of Puppets’ a timeless Metallica thrash song.

The album also contains two new compositions, ‘No Leaf Clover’ and ‘Human’, which are outstanding in their own way.

What I really like in the album (yes, there is more) is that with all that symphony hullabaloo, Metallica’s thrash roots have not been compromised with. Kirk’s guitar solos have remain unchanged and they blend into the orchestral music seamlessly. Lars’ drumming and Hetfield’s vocals are as superlative as ever (he always sounds better in live concerts than in studio albums :-/) and Burton’s bass riffs are as terrific. Incidentally this entire idea of a classical approach to heavy metal was Burton’s own.

my connection : Fusion music has always intrigued me. And S&M simply happens to be the best fusion album that I’ve heard. Hence …

   4. Use Your Illusion

artist : Guns N’ Roses
genre : hard rock
label : Geffen
release : 17 Sep 1991

Use Your Illusion is touted as GnR’s most ambitious album ever. That’s a slight exaggeration considering the fact that they only released four. (By GnR I refer to the Guns N’ Roses of the 1990s, the one with Slash, Duff and Matt Sorum, not the abomination that exists today)

Riding high on the popularity of their first album Appetite For Destruction (which was, incredibly well received given the fact it was a debut album), Axl Rose took upon himself the elaborate task of planning this album out in a near perfect manner.
When it was released it set the sales charts on fire and in one week, Use Your Illusion I had sold out 685,000 copies and Use Your Illusion II had sold a staggering 770,000.

This double album is important in the GnR discography mostly because it represents a turning point in their style of music. Although the gangsta’ rock n’ roll and hard rock elements have been retained, other newer aspects of music have been experimented with, including blues, classical music and country. In fact, Axl himself plays the piano in some of the songs that are included in this album, something which was unheard of during the recording of their first album.

The tracks in this double album vary from rock n’ roll (Garden of Eden), hard rock (Civil War) and the down and dirty (Double Talkin’ Jive and Get In The Ring) to a cover of Bob Dylan’s Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door. Also a part of this album is the epic ballad trio comprising of November Rain, Don’t Cry and Estranged, three songs whose music videos are considered to be an all time classic trilogy.

my connection : November Rain. Slash. Need I say more?

  5. Machine Head

artist : Deep Purple
genre : hard rock

label : Purple Records (UK) / Warner Bros Records (US)
release : 1 Mar 1972

This is the oldest and the only non-American entry in this list. Deep Purple has always been recognized as one of the big three precursors of heavy metal (Led Zep and Black Sabbath being the other two), and this album is one that justifies their position as one of the all time greats in the history of rock. For one, it contains the cult hit Smoke On The Water, which cemented their position in the Rolling Stones List of the 500 Greatest Rock Songs. For another it has Jon Lord and his phenomenal skill with the keyboard which many say haven’t been paralleled yet. Frankly speaking, the keyboard solo in Highway Star stills sends a shiver up my spine when I listen to it. Not to mention the brilliant guitars and yes, British vocals (something that is very close to my heart) that make Machine Head one exemplary vintage hard rock classic  to cherish. Not surprisingly, when it was released in the UK, it peaked at number 1 in seven days stayed in the Top 40 for 20 weeks. In the US, Machine Head reached #7 and stayed in the Billboard Top 200 for a staggering 118 weeks.

my connection : Generally speaking I prefer British bands to American bands. There’s something in the way they speak which I thoroughly admire and that reflects in their vocals as well. Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, and yes, Deep Purple are therefore three of my favourite bands. And well, out of these, this happens to my favourite album.
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PS : I have absolutely no idea why I wrote all this. Wasted a few hours, as one would say. But trust me, it feels blissfully relaxing now.

november rain – a story

November Rain occupies a very special place deep within my heart. Maybe it’s the feeling that the song invokes when you put it on your headphones and turn up the volume, maybe it’s the music video featuring the sweeping scenes of Slash with his yellow Gibson in the desert, or maybe it’s the soulful funeral music in the very end.

This story, which follows along the lyrics of this epic GnR ballad, was written 5 months back, and wasn’t put up on the blog for some very obscure reason. So in case you are jobless and are willing to read something that has absolutely nothing to do with India winning the world cup, well, then you may.

—

Darkness. Complete and undivided.

As he looked out of the shattered pane of glass, outside the window, out at the dark eerie quietness of the night, he realized that he might as well be looking inwards. For the darkness outside seemed to be but an extension of the darkness within him. Blending into each other with the surety of the passing time. The creases upon his brow did give but a mere hint of his sadness, to whoever would care to look his way. But he knew perfectly well that no-one would. For there was no one left to look his way.

It had started drizzling some time back. And the steady trickling from the darker heavens above was the only sound that made its way into his ears. The sound was beautiful. Sadly beautiful. The melancholic undercurrents were strong in it. And he liked it. He liked it because he liked all things sad and beautiful. He opened his mouth to taste the night air. To taste the moistness and quench his parched throat. But all he tasted was misery. Thick dark misery. He felt liked retching.

It was then that he heard it. Something other than the drizzling, which by then, had transformed into a downpour. Something familiar. Something beautiful.

A tune. A familiar tune, floating in through the cold night air, creeping into his ears. Like some hesitant stranger outside a gate. It took him an instant to recognize the tune. And when he had, he opened his mouth again.

Words flowed out like the endless rain outside. And he sang.

When I look into your eyes,

pause.

I can see a love restrained.

The imagery that floated into his mind was a happy one. He hated it. He hated things which were happy. He let go of it. And it dropped like china on the ground. Shattering in a thousand pieces.

And darlin’ when I hold you
Don’t you know I feel the same.

He closed his eyes. And through his closed eyes he saw the interplay of light and dark. He hated light. Light meant happiness. He hated happiness.

‘Cause nothing lasts for ever,
And we both know hearts can change.

He laughed. Dry humour-less wry laughter. There are no hearts left to change, he said to himself.

And it’s hard to hold a candle,
In the cold November Rain.

He loved this part. No. He liked this part. He did not love. He could not love anymore. He hated love. But yes, he liked it. He liked blowing candles out. It symbolised the triumph of darkness over light. And as he sang, in his mind’s eye, the dark rains washed the lights away. 

He sang, even though he wasn’t a good singer. Never had been a good singer. Never had he sung. But now, he sang. As if that was the only thing which he could do. He sang with the trickling of the rain. He sang with the darkness around him. He sang with the darkness within him. 

So if you want to love me,
then darlin’ don’t refrain.
Or I’ll just end up walkin’
In the cold November rain.

The rain had lightened now. It was drizzling again. But it was still raining. And that was all it mattered. He liked the rain. He liked the sound. He liked the smell. He liked the taste. He liked how it felt.

Do you need some time…on your own
Do you need some time…all alone
Everybody needs some time…on their own
Don’t you know you need some time…all alone

He was alone. He liked being alone. He liked the sound of being alone. You can hear sounds which you otherwise wouldn’t, he had told his mother a long time back. And now, he reveled in the sounds of the solitary. The feeling was blissfully ecstatic.

The tune was still floating in. Riding on the night wind. Unwavering. Resolute. The melody was haunting. Beautiful. Bewitching. It made him breathe in lung-fulls of the night air. Yet he felt strangled. As if the air around him was a cage. And while he heard the tune and breathed in the night air, his hand dropped down.

His fingers felt something solid and hard in his pocket. Something cold.

He knew what it was. And the thought comforted him. He realized that now, he could breathe easier. As if someone had loosened the iron links that made up the cage around him. The load upon his chest seemed to lighten.

He dropped his head and looked down. Smart attire, he observed. A blue tie. A black suit. Black trousers. He liked black. Black was the colour of darkness. He liked darkness. A red … he frowned. What is that red in my left pocket? Creases furrowed on his forehead. His hands came up and he lifted it. It felt nice. Smooth. Velvety. He looked at it closely.

I know it’s hard to keep an open heart
When even friends seem out to harm you
But if you could heal a broken heart
Wouldn’t time be out to charm you

The rain was picking up again. It was getting colder too, he sensed. He liked it. He liked the cold. It calmed him down.

Suddenly in the distance far away, he observed a flickering source of light, through the rain. It was faint and it shone through the water. It shone through the distance. With much trepidation.

And when your fears subside
And shadows still remain, oh yeah

The fear. The fear of the light. He hated it. It spoiled the purity of the darkness. He detested it. The  shadows. He hated them too. They were caused by light and they were impure. They were bits of darkness caused by light sources. He loathed them frauds.

I know that you can love me
When there’s no one left to blame

Love. Exactly how much he hated love, even he was unsure. But alone. He liked being alone. He liked being the only one left.

He looked out, breathing heavily. The night outside was wilder than he had ever seen it and the rain was heavier. Much heavier. A sudden lightning forking through the night, made him recoil involuntarily. It hurt his eyes. He hated it.

So never mind the darkness
We still can find a way

No. A voice in his head said. He wanted darkness. Not a way out of it.

The thunder rumbled yonder.

He looked at the red in his hand. There was a sudden outburst of realisation. And his eyes popped. His head reeled.

No! The voice was screaming now.

He gasped.

Or maybe it is time, a softer, quieter voice spoke.

It is time, he convinced himself through his gasps.

The cold hard object in his pocket had never felt more comforting.

‘Cause nothin’ lasts forever
Even cold November rain.

There was a muffled crack.

And then silence. Complete. Unbroken Wholesome. Silence.

–

The first glimmerings of dawn were appearing in the distance. Heralding a new day. The rays broke  through the fast dispersing clouds. Filtered through the leaves of the trees. The trees loved it. The night had been cold. And wet. The trees welcomed the light of the new day. 

The sun beams hit the cracked window pane, and infiltrated inside. The sight was sorry. A figure in black lay slumped in one corner. The blood trickling down from the hole in the temple had still not

dried.

In one hand the gun was still smoking. In the other, the rose was still fresh.

–

A tribute to November Rain. And Guns n’ Roses.