Thursday, Mar. 04, 2010

Pod Picks for March 4, 2010

With the Lust List being unveiled in this issue of Surge, it is only right that we recommend three songs for downloading (legally, of course) that deal with the very delicious vice of lust in three different ways.

"Lust for Life" by Iggy Pop

Before Royal Caribbean got a hold of this Iggy Pop classic and made it into a catchy little jingle, it was an uncomfortable listen, delving into the darker sides of humanity. Attacking love and drugs and the American Dream while reaching for something more, something real out of life. Or at least that's what I got out of lyrics like, "Oh love, love, love...that's like hypnotizing chickens...all on a government loan...with the liquor and drugs...cause of a lust for life." Well if that doesn't book a million cruises I don't know what will.

"Lust" by The Raveonettes

This song may make you feel a little dirty. The fuzzy beats and the overstated guitar are reminiscent of the Jesus and Mary Chain. The echoing vocals drone out lyrics that deal with loneliness, honesty to the point of pain and unrequited love. The track is sharp, feeling almost like an androgynous cowboy tale, cutting to the quick with words like, "I ride these ropes alone, beneath the sulfur sky... I struggle and I cry, I pounce with no revenge, at least I never lied." The true terms are intentionally shrouded but always intoxicating when it comes to The Raveonettes delivery.

"Young Lust" by Pink Floyd

This song is of course meant for a bigger purpose - providing a huge transition in Pink Floyd's rock opera, "The Wall." This is the part of the story where the rock star realizes that his estranged wife has moved on with another man and the British rock-god feels forced into debauchery while on the road in America, sending him into a mental deterioration of isolation and drugs. The devil is in the details here, guitarist, David Gilmour slices through most of the song, illustrating what a virtuoso he was at painting the picture of rage with his riffs. Roger Waters was able to say so much using very little words, evidence of what an impactful storyteller he was while creating classic concept albums. The whole sentiment is captured within the lyrics, "Will some cold woman in this desert land/make me feel like a real man? Take this rock 'n' roll refugee/Oooh, baby set me free." Pure genius that this song can stand on its own as a testament of rock 'n' roll excess as well as serve as a bridge in a musical journey.