Jon Pinon

Jon Pinon

2/17/15

Journalism II

Mr. White

Musical Antidepressants II: Eight Songs for a Weary Mind

A little while ago, this writer published an article which listed eight relatively bright pieces of music that one could listen to in order to shine a ray of light into a difficult day, emphasizing the power of music and its ability to lift our spirits. However, there are some days where happy music simply does not suffice and we need something more in order to alleviate our troubles. This is where another quality of music comes into play: its ability to provide a sort sanctuary during hard times. With that said, here is another list of pieces which are not necessarily sad or happy; simply beautiful soundscapes you can sit back and admire as it takes you away from lifes hardships.1. Led Zeppelin No QuarterLed Zeppelin requires no introduction, being a seminal band who shook the world of music with hard, bluesy rock and is known for such tunes as Kashmir, Black Dog, Whole Lotta Love and, most notably, Stairway to Heaven. The song in question here, the penultimate track from their Houses of the Holy record, deviates significantly from their typically bright and energetic style to present an extremely haunting number which details the struggles of soldiers in the military (even named after a term which describes a lack of mercy towards a defeated opponent). The piece begins with an ethereal keyboard intro played by bassist John Paul Jones, transitions into Jimmy Pages heavily compressed guitar playing, then subsides back to the keyboard playing over which Robert Plant delivers his vocals in an audibly distraught tone of voice. Despite the generally somber nature of the piece, the music and orchestration is such that it can be interpreted as a reflective, contemplative piece that you can put on in order to momentarily escape from the world as you think about how to approach the hardships you are facing.2. Imogen Heap Hide and SeekChances are youve actually heard this song before and simply did not recognize it. Does the phrase Mmmm, whatcha say ring a bell? This song gained prominence when it was used in the climax of the season two finale of the show The O.C., a scene that was subsequently parodied in a Saturday Night Live skit. Ever since then, it has been a part of an Internet meme which involves the song playing during a video clip in which a character is killed on screen. The meme, however, only displays a small excerpt from the middle of this beautiful piece. English singer-songwriter Imogen Heap achieves the songs trademark vocal effect with a vocoder and uses no other instruments aside from her synthesized voice. This contributes to a more intimate feel with the song, as there is nothing else between you and the piece as Heap recites her poetic lyrics guided by the sublime harmonies created by her vocoder.3. Buckethead Earth Heals HerselfThough he first attained popularity when his song Jordan appeared in the video game Guiter Hero II and gained a reputation for its rapid guitar solos, the guitarist Buckethead has an expansive body of work which encompasses his infamous speed as well as acoustic and ambient music. He even has an album titled Spinal Clock which is played entirely with a banjo! This writers personal favorite album of his happens to be Population Override, which features eight extended jams and two interludes featuring the keyboard playing of Travis Dickerson. One of the albums more notable tracks, the piece in question begins with an airy guitar intro and quickly transitions into the beginning of Bucketheads lengthy solo, featuring more blues-influenced and soulful playing as opposed to the mechanical shredding he is known for. The interplay between him and Dickersons subtle keyboard accompaniment truly make this performance something to behold.4. My Bloody Valentine To Here Knows WhenThe early 1990s saw the rise of what is known today as the shoegazing scene, which consisted of a group of bands with styles characterized by effects-laden guitar playing and incomprehensible vocal deliveries that blended in with the rest of the instrumentation, resulting in a rather effervescent sort of sound. One of the most prominent acts of this scene was My Bloody Valentine, whose 1991 album Loveless is often considered the quintessential shoegazing album. This particular number from this album essentially takes all of the aforementioned characteristics of the style and cranks them all up to eleven, to the point where the guitars are nearly unrecognizable and Blinda Butcher can hardly even be heard as she recites the songs lyrics. What this creates is a bizarre sort of ambience that is highly unique even by todays standards; a sort of beautiful noise, if you will, that washes over the listener and entrances them in a way theyve never experienced before.5. Porcupine Tree Glass Arm Shattering

Led by the brilliant Steven Wilson, the England-based band Porcupine Tree is one of the greatest modern frontrunners of the progressive rock genre, delivering a uniquely enticing sound by combining influences from heavy metal, electronic music, and psychedelia. Placed as the closing track from their 2005 effort Deadwing, this song showcases the bands ability to create spellbinding music and goes to show the simple ingenuity of repetition. The recurrent three-chord vamp and steady rhythm combined with Wilsons hazy, monotone vocal delivery create an atmospheric, hypnotic feel that makes this track absolutely perfect for late-night listening after a hard day.6. Explosions in the Sky Your Hand In MineAlongside the aforementioned shoegazing scene, the mid-90s saw the inception of a style known as post-rock. Though rooted in the sounds of the 90s underground scene, the style actually bears little sonic resemblance to it, prominently characterized by the use of minimalistic soundscapes which are unconventional to rock. As one of the most well-known acts in this scene, Explosions in the Sky specializes in gorgeous, cathartic mini-symphonies, and this particular track from the 2003 album The Earth Is Not a Cold Dead Place is certainly no exception. It makes use of simple rhythmic motifs and a rather bright tonality to create an extremely beautiful work of modern art that is guaranteed to make you shed a few tears. Some may even find it inspiring! Whatever the case may be, the feeling of hearing this piece is comparable to letting out a massive sigh of relief at the end of a great struggle.7. Philip Glass The HoursAs one of the progenitors of the minimalist style, Philip Glass is a household name in the realm of orchestral music. Along with contemporaries such as Steve Reich and Terry Riley, his style of composition based on repeated rhythmic motifs and emphasis on layers would serve as an influence for future music in a variety, especially electronic music. Glass has garnered quite a reputation for his work with film soundtracks, most notably that of the renowned art film Koyaanisqatsi and its two sequels. The eponymous composition from the 2002 movie The Hours, though, is another fine example of his work. All of the main characteristics of minimalism are epitomized in this piece; themes constantly repeat and overlap each other but it never feels monotonous, and it develops just as any orchestral work does through its sense of perpetual motion, making it a truly captivating work.8. Brian Eno An Ending (Ascent)Last, but certainly not least, we have a work from the famed producer Brian Eno, famous for his work with acts such as David Bowie, U2, Talking Heads and Coldplay. In addition to producing classic albums such as The Joshua Tree and Remain in Light, Eno is a considered a pioneer of ambient music with releases such as 1975s Another Green World and 1978s Music for Airports. This piece originates from 1983s Apollo: Atmospheres and Soundtracks and is, in this writers opinion, one of the most hauntingly beautiful works ever made. Its composition is deceptively simple, harkening back to the aforementioned less-is-more approach of the minimalist style; the theme, which consists of only a few chords, repeats itself throughout the songs duration and seems to make use of only a single synth reminiscent of a choir. This constitutes an extremely moving, almost heavenly piece that one can almost certainly find sanctuary in when faced with the struggles of the world.Once again, you are encouraged to listen to the above songs as well as more of their respective artists works. Perhaps you will end up create a much larger body of music for you to get lost in during hard times. Hope you enjoy the music!