The Sound and The Smoke
Plans for the weekend
Editor’s Note:
Brady’s Back! This time with another curated playlist for readers to enjoy. If you’ve read his excellent primer on How to Listen to Music published yesterday, then this should pair nicely. Plus a small treat for all pipe smokers as I have a recommended documentary on pipe smoking for your viewing pleasure.
- Frank Theodat
Playlist (Brady)
Hello again, my music loving friends. Here is my curated playlist for your weekend enjoyment:
And here are my track-by-track notes so that you can share all of my correct opinions exactly get a feel for why I think each piece is worth your attention. Happy listening!
"Symphony No. 1 'Winter Daydream'" - Pyotr Tchaikovsky (LSO under Valery Gergiev): Tchaik’s early symphonies are overshadowed by the still excellent but overplayed Nos. 4-6. But this is a stellar example of Romantic orchestral composition and is more restrained (relatively) than the bombast he’d come to embrace. I personally enjoy his first three symphonies more than the later ones. Enjoy this perfect encapsulation of the winter mood to cool off a hot summer.
“You’re Not You Anymore” - Counterparts: Post-Hardcore is a genre usually marred by the adolescent emotional content of emo tropes, but this song manages to evoke some real pathos leading way to a hopeful conclusion and has some excellent lyrical twists, including the title line. The vocals are raw and powerful and the riffing is byzantine yet melodic. A brilliant song.
“Sleep” - Eric Whitacre (BYU Singers under Ronald Staheli): This achingly beautiful choral setting of a Robert Frost text is sometimes maligned by the snobbier set for its liberal use of planing techniques. For the layman, that just means he moves chord structures wholesale through a scale. The naysayers are dumb and the effect Whitacre achieves is stunning. The soprano movement against the underlying harmony at 4:06 is one of the most arresting moments in all recorded music for my money.
“In Remission” - The Menzingers: This is pop punk that’s grown up and gotten jaded and added a gruff edge and it’s fantastic. Lyrics are tremendous and include an all-timer line in the bridge: “If everyone needs a crutch, then I need a wheelchair.”
“This Will Be Our Year” - The Zombies: Hey, did you know music can be happy and upbeat without being corny? It’s true. This truly lovely little tune is a perfect optimistic pick-me-up that never drifts into sentimentality. A love song for the best of love.
“Didi (My Doe Part 2) - The Matches”: Progressive pop punk by way of Van Halen’s “Why Can’t This Be Love?”. The guitar and drum interplay at the end along with the intricate vocal descant is something to behold.
"I, Caligvla - Ex Deo": (screaming/growly vocals warning, but still intelligible) Historical death metal about the rise of Caligula. Was he a very bad man? Yes. Is this still impossibly badass music about him? Yes. What do we make of that cognitive dissonance? I don’t know, just relax and enjoy it.
“Motion Picture Soundtrack” - Radiohead: It would be nuts to call Radiohead’s magnum opus Kid A underrated but this particular closing song is, I think. The pump organ, the analogue synths, the dreamy harp, the 1930s Disney choir. This song is a masterclass in pop/rock aesthetics. It simply sounds f—ing incredible.
“Let Me In” - Make Them Suffer: (lotsa screaming warning) Look, most extreme music genres ending in -core get pretty whiny. This track though, from a concept record about the bands parents’ and grandparents’ relationships, tackles intense themes with aplomb. This is hard listening emotionally. But also a great example of harsh vocals giving access to a tonal palette missing from standard singing. This is a man begging forgiveness for his wrongs and the tone of it is appropriate to the subject matter and quite moving.
“The Background” - Third Eye Blind: I’ve got a big soft spot for angsty 90s alternative rock and Third Eye Blind and Everclear lead that field by a mile. This deep cut from 3eb’s self titled classic is every bit as good as the front half tunes you’ve heard and will be eternally on the radio. Lyrics, vocals, and instrumental performances all on point. Buckle in for some nostalgic sadboi fun.
“Living Waves” - Persefone feat. Paul Masvidal: (blah blah there’s screaming in it) Progressive metal at its absolute finest. The Buddhist themed lyrics are kind of goofy for me, from my worldview, but the melodic content makes up for them. Masvidal’s computerized vocal contribution is perhaps an acquired taste, but ends up enhancing the atmosphere. The real reason in the end for including this song, though the head-jerking metric modulations are a blast, is the guitar solo. Utterly captivating legato and whammy bar wizardry, ending with some harmonized two-guitar work that’s like Boston on acid.
“Shop Vac” - Jon Coulton: Is this song a joke? Explicitly. But many a truth is spoken in jest. When you look past the deliberate corniness of this tune and listen deeply to the lyrics you’ll find an utterly harrowing and tragic expression of a failing marriage killed by each spouses’ respective acquiescence to suburban ennui. Masterful writing.
“Been Here Before” - Jeremy Enigk: This is pretty run-of-the-mill navel gazing indie rock, until right after the first chorus. I am rarely shocked and blown away by things in music, but this floored me the first time I heard it. YMMV and I won’t spoil what happens, but it’s truly special. Big arranging props to Mr. Enigk.
“Virus” - Deltron 3030: A dystopian sci-fi concept album from an alt-rap supergroup with a biting sense of humor? A song written from the perspective of a mad villain who rhymes “virus” with “papyrus”? Where the f do I sign up? Right here at P,P,&P, of course. This whole album is very worth your time and this is a good starter cut.
“Blues Clair” - Biréli Lagrène: Continuing my trend of jazz heresy, I offer this great gypsy jazz tune on which I assert that Lagrène does Django better than Django. Of course I love the progenitor of this endlessly enjoyable subgenre, but the latter day Frenchman ax-wielder featured here is the GOAT.
“Sacred Worlds” - Blind Guardian: I don’t know what you even call this other than “EPIC”. It’s technically “power metal” I suppose, but that diminishes the impact to say so. It’s orchestral music (with a real orchestra) fused with traditional metal with lyrics derived from fantasy literature and it’s difficult to explain how huge it sounds. Mind blowing stuff.
"Emperor Waltz, OP. 437" - Johann Strauss II: Cartoons and comedy probably killed the impact of the Blue Danube Waltz (though I still love it). So along the same lines, but not spoiled by familiarity, I suggest this rousing piece by the Waltz King of Vienna (idk if people call him that, but I’m starting it). If it’s on your to-do list to feel impossibly regal as you go about your day, this will do the trick.
“Ice To Never” - The Black Queen: The Purple One is the most obvious influence on this vocalist, but boy does he kill it on this track. What we’re left with is not a Prince pastiche but something wholly unique by incorporating the clear inspiration. The addition of lots of more modern electronic music tropes also helps differentiate it. And what lifts it out of the morass of electro-pop for me is the use of space. Lots of pop doesn’t breathe at all, but these guys know better.
“Sacred Grounds” - Kruger Brothers and Kontras Quartet: This is bluegrass by way of classical string quartet. Banjo, guitar, and bass meet violin, viola, and cello to take you on a grand Applachian journey you won’t soon forget. This one grabs you wistfully by the heart and doesn’t let go.
Pipe Smoking (Frank)
Two weeks in and we haven’t published any content regarding pipe smoking. After all, it’s in the title of the magazine! Shame.
To rectify that, below is a trailer to a wonderful documentary I had the pleasure of viewing called Father the Flame (2019). The film follows four pipe makers and includes a cast of business owners, tobacco experts, and pipe aficionados discussing the history, legacy, business, and contemplative nature of pipe smoking. As the occasional pipe smoker myself, it was a treat to watch the love that goes into the profession, learn about the rich history, and the see the hard work that goes into making beautiful and quality pipes.
Currently, you can watch it for free on Tubi.
In the future, we’ll be publishing written tobacco reviews and recommendations (both pipes and cigars) for the aficionados in our readership.
Enjoy!
That’s it for this week. See you on Monday.
I need to watch that documentary...
"The Background" is not only one of Third Eye Blind's best songs, it's one of the best 90's songs period.