5 songs for feeling aggravated
Mar. 22nd, 2007 12:48 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
enthusiastickaggravated. ag·gra·vat·ed. ag-ruh-vey-tid. made worse or more severe; intensified; annoyed; irritated; exasperated.
5. "The Last Polka" by Ben Folds Five
I honestly expect Ben Folds to show up on this list a lot; musically speaking he's one of my "go to" guys. Still its interesting to me to see him in the #5 spot two weeks in a row. This particular number is from his band's self-titled debut album released in 1995. It details a relationship on the edge of break-up, but for my money what really sells the song is the piano part. Folds seems to rail against the ivory keys in an increasingly desperate flurry as the song goes on (this is particularly noticable if you listen to the live version from his 2002 "Ben Folds Live" album). There's also something about the crescendoing fervor with which he sings the bridge: "he said 'well I hate that its come to this, but baby I was doing fine - how do you think that I survived the other twenty five before you?"
4. "One Step Closer" by Linkin Park
A guilty pleasure to be sure, Linkin Park nevertheless does certain primitive emotions very well, in an admittedly fairly raw and childish sort of way. This is the single that put them on the map in 2001, and though it has been and is overplayed it remains one of their best efforts. What better song to evoke feelings of aggravation than one whose break consists of nothing more than lead vocalist Chester Bennington shouting, "Shut up when I'm talking to you." OK, so its kind of a terrible song and they're pretty much a terrible band, but for me at least the song still works when I'm in exactly the wrong mood.
3. "The Way I Am" by Eminem
There's nothing quite like listening to rich and talented people complain about the pressures of their success. In this second single from his sophomore album released in 2000 Eminem did his level best to piss off pretty much everyone who was responsible for making him famous. Certainly the move was carefully calculated to cultivate his image, and ultimately endear him even more to his legions of fans - and it worked. That doesn't change the fact that the song also works, nor does it change the honesty that makes it so effective. "If you tempt me my tank is on empty," growls Marshall Mathers, in a perhaps earnest threat to assault anyone who bothers him when he's out in public with his daughter.
2. "Nugget" by Cake
The moment the first discordant strains of this song hit my ear I'm snapped instantly into its groove. That's hardly unusual for Cake, but this song from their 2006 sophomore album is unusual, or at least unorthodox by their standards. The repetitive verses paint evocative images, a technique frontman John McCrea has honed over the years. But then he drops a straightforward chorus of "Shut the fuck up," and his back-up singers chime in to say the same. There are other songs that are good when you want to sing along and tell the world to shut up (see the Simple Plan single of the same name, or entry #4 on this list) but there's something about the seductive rhythm of this song that makes it work particularly well.
1. "Killing In The Name" by Rage Against the Machine
Once again this week the #1 spot is occupied by a band that, if I'm being honest with, I'm not as familiar with as I should be. I didn't get into Rage Against the Machine until well after they broke up. In 1993 this was their first single, which sparked much of their subsequent fame and controversy. It has become one of their signature songs, and with good reason. I like it for several reasons, but it appears on this list mostly because of frontman Zack De La Rocha's willingness to shout "Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me," sixteen times in a row, and his ability to pack more fervor into each successive repetition. Think what you like about the band and their politics (and, for that matter, their reunion appearances, scheduled for later this Spring); it doesn't change the fact that this song defined impotent rebellion for an entire generation of angry young men.
Next week: 5 songs for feeling amused.
5. "The Last Polka" by Ben Folds Five
I honestly expect Ben Folds to show up on this list a lot; musically speaking he's one of my "go to" guys. Still its interesting to me to see him in the #5 spot two weeks in a row. This particular number is from his band's self-titled debut album released in 1995. It details a relationship on the edge of break-up, but for my money what really sells the song is the piano part. Folds seems to rail against the ivory keys in an increasingly desperate flurry as the song goes on (this is particularly noticable if you listen to the live version from his 2002 "Ben Folds Live" album). There's also something about the crescendoing fervor with which he sings the bridge: "he said 'well I hate that its come to this, but baby I was doing fine - how do you think that I survived the other twenty five before you?"
4. "One Step Closer" by Linkin Park
A guilty pleasure to be sure, Linkin Park nevertheless does certain primitive emotions very well, in an admittedly fairly raw and childish sort of way. This is the single that put them on the map in 2001, and though it has been and is overplayed it remains one of their best efforts. What better song to evoke feelings of aggravation than one whose break consists of nothing more than lead vocalist Chester Bennington shouting, "Shut up when I'm talking to you." OK, so its kind of a terrible song and they're pretty much a terrible band, but for me at least the song still works when I'm in exactly the wrong mood.
3. "The Way I Am" by Eminem
There's nothing quite like listening to rich and talented people complain about the pressures of their success. In this second single from his sophomore album released in 2000 Eminem did his level best to piss off pretty much everyone who was responsible for making him famous. Certainly the move was carefully calculated to cultivate his image, and ultimately endear him even more to his legions of fans - and it worked. That doesn't change the fact that the song also works, nor does it change the honesty that makes it so effective. "If you tempt me my tank is on empty," growls Marshall Mathers, in a perhaps earnest threat to assault anyone who bothers him when he's out in public with his daughter.
2. "Nugget" by Cake
The moment the first discordant strains of this song hit my ear I'm snapped instantly into its groove. That's hardly unusual for Cake, but this song from their 2006 sophomore album is unusual, or at least unorthodox by their standards. The repetitive verses paint evocative images, a technique frontman John McCrea has honed over the years. But then he drops a straightforward chorus of "Shut the fuck up," and his back-up singers chime in to say the same. There are other songs that are good when you want to sing along and tell the world to shut up (see the Simple Plan single of the same name, or entry #4 on this list) but there's something about the seductive rhythm of this song that makes it work particularly well.
1. "Killing In The Name" by Rage Against the Machine
Once again this week the #1 spot is occupied by a band that, if I'm being honest with, I'm not as familiar with as I should be. I didn't get into Rage Against the Machine until well after they broke up. In 1993 this was their first single, which sparked much of their subsequent fame and controversy. It has become one of their signature songs, and with good reason. I like it for several reasons, but it appears on this list mostly because of frontman Zack De La Rocha's willingness to shout "Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me," sixteen times in a row, and his ability to pack more fervor into each successive repetition. Think what you like about the band and their politics (and, for that matter, their reunion appearances, scheduled for later this Spring); it doesn't change the fact that this song defined impotent rebellion for an entire generation of angry young men.
Next week: 5 songs for feeling amused.
