SOUNDTRACK: STONE GOSSARD-“I Need Something Different” (2013).
Stone Gossard is the rhythm guitarist for Pearl jam. He’s also one of their major songwriters. He has one or two songs that he sings with the band. This is a solo effort which indicates that he might be a heavier influence on the band.
Stone Gossard last released a solo album 12 years ago. There’s a new Pearl Jam album in progress and Stone’s other band Brad put out an album not too long ago, so why not release a solo album?
I don’t know how much Gossard does on this song, but I rather imagine he plays everything (the solo is fine but not amazing and the drums are solid but don’t really standout). And while that sounds dismissive, it’s not meant to be. Gossard creates a solid sound of simple rock.
The guitars are loud and bouncy. Stone’s voice is rough and workmanlike—there’s a reason he’s not a lead singer. But his voice works great for this aggressive slice of rock.
The riff is continuous and non stop, while he sings I need something different. And then at the mid way part the keyboards start—perhaps this is the something different. The keys break the propulsion with a poppiness that you wouldn’t expect in the song.
Then the song returns to its original style. It’s not a terribly original song, but it would be a fun bar anthem.
[READ: June 10, 2013] Speak, Commentary
When this book first came out I was pretty delighted. What a funny concept—overblown writers and political pundits do DVD commentary about films they had nothing to do with. It seemed like it would be very funny indeed.
And here’s the thing. It is. For a few pages. But each one of these things feels as long as the actual movie they are commenting on. Alexander and Bissell have done their research—they know what these figures will say. And say. And say.
As I said the premise is awesome, check out these wonderful combinations:
- NOAM CHOMSKY & HOWARD ZINN on The Fellowship of the Ring
ANN COULTER & DINESH D’SOUZA on Aliens - TERRY DWIBBLE & STEVEN McCRAY on Start Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
- JERRY FALWELL & PAT ROBERTSON on Planet of the Apes (1968)
WILLIAM BENNETT & DICK CHENEY on Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
[Terry Dwibble & Steven McCray are (presumably) fictional characters—die hard Trekkies who are thrilled to be able to add this commentary and, frankly, this is the best one of these pieces.]
I think part of the problem with the book is the sequencing. The first piece is incredibly dry. I recall reading this when I first got it. I don’t know if I read all the way through Chomsky and Zinn. And I know I didn’t make it through all of the second one (Coulter and D’Souza)—my d0g eared page failure still lingers to this day.
But I finished this time. (more…)
I Just Read About That... 