1979

Shakedown, 1979.
Disco was in full disgusting glory, as was glamrock, David Bowie, and various other facets of music that celebrated dazzling cocaine-feuled androgynous misbehavior. There were others, though, not terribly interested in the excesses of rock 'n' roll. Others whose music was likened to poetry rather than hoppin' soundtracks to coke-lining. I like these guys 'cause they kept it real. I like these guys because they preferred subtlety to outRAGEouness.


Neil Young - My My Hey Hey (Out of the Blue)
Though it might be better to burn out than to fade away, Young's burn out example, Johnny Rotton, still periodically plays reunion shows with the Sex Pistols. Way to screw up the impact of this song, Lydon. Anyway, this track opens up Young's Rust Never Sleeps album, while the song's plugged-in counterpart, "Hey Hey My My (Into the Black)", closes it. I prefer this sad and lonesome version, as I would to any song that had a sad and lonesome version.

Bob Dylan - Gotta Serve Somebody
This is probably Dylan's best-known song from his "Christian Phase". It's just a soulful little tune about, no matter who you are or what you're doing, you're either servin' the Devil or you're servin' the Lord. Despite the frustratingly vague lyrics he was known for earlier in his musical career, Dylan at this point in his life is a straight shooter, making very clear his message and motivation and not worrying about whom he might offend.

Patti Smith Group - Dancing Barefoot
This is probably one of the best and more accessible of Patti Smith's songs (though I'm also a fan of her cover of "When Doves Cry" found on her 2002 Land retrospect/compilation, of which "Dancing Barefoot is the lead track). This is a love song to be sure, but not in the conventional poppybopp way. Both lyrically and musically she paints a picture of love that comes from mysterious origins and ends up in unknown places. And while I think that spoken words in music should be limited to 1960s girl groups, this is still a great and nearly magical song.

Joy Division - She's Lost Control
Is it ironic that a song about epilepsy is also kind of danceable? Instrumentally (and even lyrically, I suppose) this is a very unique and ahead-of-its-time song. Despite being very stripped down (you can easily identify each instrument at any given time), heavy studio effects amp up the hazardous atmosphere of the song. Everything sounds as though it's being played through a mattress with the exception of Ian Curtis' voice, which is coming from some barren region of paranoid outerspace. And though the tune is outright weird, it's still dang catchy. Like pop music turned inside-out.

Commodores - Sail On
Okay, maybe the Commodores didn't prefer subtlety at all, what with those huge afros and all that funk they brought. But for every "Brick House" in this world there exists a mellow ballad about moving on. There's a few things I really like about this song. First, I like how well Lionel Richie harmonizes when he sings through his nose. Second, "Would you please just go away" is like asking somebody (oximoronically) to kindly eff off. Third, despite being a very sad song, it gets all optimistic in the end. Good times never felt so good.