Here are some songs I am obsessed with right now. Each of them resonate with me for one reason or another.
Shakey Graves – “Late July”
I love the lyrics of this. It reminds me of “Tom Dooley” which I used to sing in the car with my family on road trips. There is a certain amount of bravado to the lyrics as well.
Well, mama should be oh proud of me
I lived like a man, oh, I’ll die like a king
Cause I’m eager, young and qualified
Got a date with that chair in late July
Benjamin Tod Flippo – “The Mountain” originally written by Steve Earle
To be honest I think this version is even better than the original. It is so much rawer and less produced. The combination of the banjo and his voice reminds me a bit of those civil war shows that were popular a decade ago. It’s a sweet song of loss, regret, and the graceful acceptance of one’s fate.
Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats – “S.O.B.”
I think it might be because this guys reminds me a little of my uncle Sandy. Or it might be because he’s so animated and they have a little “brother where art thou” thing going but you can’t help but tap your toes. The bridge of “whoas” is pretty catchy too. Plus they look like they would be a great bunch of guys to party with – don’t seem to take themselves too seriously. Just watch their video for “I Need Never get Old.” which I would like to be the closing song at my funeral.
Wax Fang – “Majestic”
I first came across this song like most people on the cartoon American Dad. To be honest I am not sure what to make of it. Perhaps it’s a song about appreciating what one has, and what you think you have, that you really may not really.
If you’re searching the lines for a point then you probably missed it.
There was never anything there in the first place.
Miike Snow – “Genghis Khan”
The song is about obsession and possessiveness. The video is awesome because the villain realizes he really loves the protagonist. You can see him struggle with his role and the expectation that he should kill Bond. He returns home to his wife and family where he isn’t really happy. He returns to kill the spy but admits he doesn’t even know himself and in the end releases Bond who in turn has a crisis of identity. He and villain realize they need each other, and in fact define each other. They end up in a happy gay marriage.