I always have to stop myself when I say I like “all kinds of music”. Because, honestly, that just isn’t true, there is really only one kind of music I like. No, not [just] Black Metal, I’m talking about music in a minor key. I mean, I’m a pretty happy guy, but there is something about sad, sad songs that just does it for me. I don’t dislike Vivaldi’s “Spring” and “Fall”, but I far prefer “Summer” and “Winter” (guess which seasons he writes in a minor key). “Satisfaction” is a fine song, but I’d rather listen to “Paint it Black” any day…you get the idea. Basically, it don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that sting [of soul crushing sorrow and sadness]
This month on Minor Key Monday I talk about a genre that is near and dear to the hearts of many black metal fans, namely, Brit Pop:
Back in the scholarship halls I used to have the “dinner cook” shift on Thursday nights with my buddy Chris. Seeing as it was a two hour shift and we both liked music, we decided to split the listening into an hour of my music followed by an hour of his music. Considering my music was “unholy black metal” and his music was “brit pop,” it’s amazing how well it worked out. Everyweek was a learning experience. Chris would say things like “This is Graveland too? They were the ones who did Blood of Christians on my Sword right?” while I would counter with “so we’re listening to Blur today? The are part of the big three along with Pulp and Oasis right?”
Cut to 10 years later and I happen to be in New York City and have some friends with an extra Pulp ticket. I seemed to remember always liking them and was like hell, sure, I’ll check em out!
As it turns out, Pulp were pretty great. That Jarvis Cocker guy was a pretty great frontman in a rambly sort of way. And many of the songs, I had to admit, rather rocked. They might not have played today’s song (which, from what I have heard and from what Chris has claimed, is apparently their most epic and sorrowful song) but I was surprised to find music I could appreciate in a genre as seemingly diametrically opposed to my traditional musical interests as Brit Pop.
Do I love every part of today’s song? Not quite, occasionally it veers into the territory of music that I imagine hipsters would listen to. But I won’t let my ridiculous hipster prejudice sully what was by all accounts (based on the concert I saw), a rather brilliant pop/rock band.
Oh, and they use black metal tremolo picking at the end of today’s song, so that’s cool.
2 Comments
Dick Dale would like to have a word with you.
The more I read you, the more I agree 🙂 please keep on writing, I’ve nobody to share my entousiasm both to brit pop and black metal (wich I by far prefer).