STABILITY THROUGH MUSIC IN THE COVID-19 LOCKDOWN

I think it’s the need to be able to control something, isn’t it? That’s where this post comes from – a way to document wildly uncertain times through the stuff we love the most: MUSIC.

So, that’s what this is. Nothing big, nothing clever, just a note of albums being played every day each week with occasional music notes or thoughts on the way. A short-term (we hope) list of listening, a music log for the lockdown. Let’s see how it goes. Maybe you’ll dig some out of your collection, too.

MARCH 23
Rush – Snakes and Arrows
Julian Cope – 20 Mothers

Cope, 20 Mothers: This would make a great desert island disc, and not just because it’s fckn oarsome. No two tracks really sound like another so it covers a ton of genres and moods while still making you think and feel, thanks to the Drude’s class-A lyrics and always-present Vibe.

MARCH 24
David Bowie – Never Let Me Down (2018)
I’m a Freak Baby: A Journey Through the British Heavy Psych and Hard Rock Underground Scene 1968–72, disc 1

Bowie, Never Let Me Down. One of the Bowie albums you never really get into, but the re-recorded 2018 version – from the box set – isn’t at all bad. Reeves Gabrels’ guitar is avant-ing all over those pop tunes, pushing the solos further out.

MARCH 25
Pantera – Far Beyond Driven
King Crimson – Live in Toronto 2014, disc 1

Bill Rieflin died yesterday, aged 59. Brain cancer. Another pivotal drum figure leaves us in 2020. Crimson live? Sublime. Pantera FBD? One dimensional.

MARCH 26
Satyricon – Now, Diabolical
Venom – Black Metal
Julian Cope – Self Civil War

Satyricon the big surprise here. Not overly familiar with this album but familiar enough to know that it’s a go-to for precision drums, pace and snarl. But the trippy cold-desert intro of Delirium and mid-tempo cruise through To The Mountains? Hit like new discoveries.

MARCH 27
The Refused – The Shape of Punk to Come

That’s it, that’s Friday – the end of Lockdown Week 1. Weeks 2 and 3 pretty much done and coming soon.

Stay safe, keep the music ON!