Stapleton’s voice is incredibly strong. But there’s a part of me that feels like the draw is in the harmonization with his wife, Morgane Stapleton. The sound of their voices together reminds me a lot of what I love about The Lone Bellow, and the way Kanene Donehey Pipkin‘s voice adds to the harmonies. I’m also reminded of how influential Katie Toupin’s voice was, to what I loved about Houndmouth.
I’ve forgotten how fantastic it is, to lend ones voice to a choir – to become a part of some larger energy greater than any single, individual part. It’s rare for me to sing much anymore, but this was a lovely reminder of what can happen when we all gather together.
“Daddy don’t pray anymore
I guess he’s finished talking to the lord
He used to fold his hands and bow his head down to the floor
But daddy don’t pray anymore”
I have had the song “Black Balloon” by the Goo Goo Dolls stuck in my head for days now. And I have absolutely no earthly idea why.
“It’s impossible to comprehend
how it’s possible
that in every ending you and I
meet again”
The horns still do get me, every time. And it’s difficult to not just have an extra spring in my step, whenever I listen to this song. It would be interesting to come up with a list, but as far as this one goes: this is a song that always seems to make me feel happier, every time I listen to it.
But here’s the weird thing for me. Normally, I’ll fixate on a song and just listen to it over and over again. But lately? For the last few weeks? I’ve fixated on guitarist Vito Bratta’s guitar solos from these songs.
It’s not that I listen to only the solos. I’ve still been looping the songs. But the solos are what echo in my ears, at random hours, even when I don’t have my headphones in. I’ll be doing the dishes, and suddenly one of his solos just starts playing in my head.
On our last day in Portland, when we were out grabbing some cocktails near the hotel… we were sitting in Pink Rabbit when I heard this song.
“I hear Jerusalem bells are ringing
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing”
“If it’s small enough to carry
You and I can call it home”
So here’s this weird thing: Charly Bliss is totally not a band I would think to listen to. I happened across this post on MetaFilter, and gave the album a listen. After a few songs, I added it to my library. And then I started to play it a few more times. And then I started to listen to it non-stop.
“When he sings he looks so far away
Like there’s something
He almost remembers
And doesn’t know how to say”
“Every year it’s about the same
I’m swimming in my dreams across the lake
in second place”
But Bellue’s style was a revelation. I think it’s the inclusion of the false harmonics that take it up a notch for me, as I simply couldn’t believe he’s making all of that happen at the same time.
The lyrics are… fine. And the song itself is quite short (hence me wanting to introduce a few other songs). But the choice to fixate on this particular song seems more pathological than some of my other choices. Maybe it’s the length, and just how quick it is (under two minutes).