A few days ago, my friend Ari over at We Buy Balloons sent me a link to the song Strange Overtones by David Byrne and Brian Eno. I was in the middle of a Pearl Jam overload, but I downloaded the Byrne/Eno album nonetheless. I have been listening to it in the car for a few days and I have fallen in love. Recently I started listening at home with my headphones and started to examine the lyrics a bit more closely. Both lyrically and musically this album is a complex tapestry of images, ideas, and philosophies. The arrangements soar like hymns to some unnamed religion.
I have collected a few lyrical snippets with youtube clips to some of my favorite songs. They are in no particular order. Enjoy...
Ev'rybody says that the living is easy
I can barely see ‘cause my head's in the way
Tigers walk behind me-
they are to remind me that
I'm lost- but I'm not afraid
Then a piece of mind- fell over me
In these troubled times- I still can see
We can use the stars– to guide the way
It is not that far- one fine…
And we'll mix our lives together
Heaven knows- what keeps mankind alive…
We're home- and the band keeps marchin' on
Connecting- to ev'ry living soul
Compassion- for things I'll never know
Strange Overtones
In the music you are playing
I'll harmonize
It is strong and you are tough
But a heart is not enough-
The beauty of these songs is that they are instantly accessible, making you feel like you have known them your entire life. They are easy to sing a long to, but dig a bit deeper and they open up both sonically and lyrically. This album is more than music; it is a journey, an exploration. Enjoy your trip. Stop here for a more info on David Byrne.
Thanks Ari.
No comments:
Post a Comment