Track Listing from the Session
"Road to Joy" by Conor Oberst (Damon F.)
"While My Guitar Gently Weeps" (Live in Japan) by Jake Shimabukuro (Nils W.)
"Prove It" by Television (Eric F.)
"Windowsill" by Arcade Fire (Damon F.)
"Old Ship of Zion" by Ralph Stanley (Nils W.)
"Just Like You" by Viagra Boys (Eric F.)
"Walking With Thee" by Clinic (Damon F.)
"Extra Man" by The Fucking Champs (Nils W.)
"Fish" by The Clean (Eric F.)
Participants
Damon F.
Nils W.
Eric F.
Spotify Playlist
Apple Playlist
Session Summary
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damon_ferrara
“Road to Joy” may be the quintessential Bright Eyes/Conor Oberst song. Lyrically, it presents his poet’s (pained, cynical) perspective on the challenges of the human experience…from politics to loneliness to self doubt. Musically, it is based on Beethoven’s ‘Ode to Joy’. The song has a rockabilly feel to it building to a frenzied explosion of sound at the end. And, vocally, it is intense. I can just feel the emotion in his voice. His lyrics are brilliant.
‘so when you’re asked to fight a war that’s over nothing, it’s best to be on the side that’s gonna win. And no one’s sure how all of this got started, but we’re gonna make ’em goddamn sure how it’s gonna end.’
I remember being absolutely floored by Arcade Fire’s debut Funeral album in 2004. 5 albums later, they remain in my top ten all time bands. Musically, their songs are full of drama and emotion. Lyrically, they serve as brilliant social critiques and shine a spotlight on the capacity for good and evil that exists in all of us. “Windowsill” is off of their excellent sophomore album 2007’s Neon Bible. WIndowsill begins with basic acoustic guitar and builds to a full band crescendo. Lyrically, it is politically charged and, if any song, captures how I feel about the increasing polarization, hostility, and divisiveness in this country, it is this one. I don’t want to see it at my windowsill.
‘World War III, when are you coming for me? Been kickin’ up sparks to set the flames free. The windows are locked now, so what’ll it be? A house on fire or a rising? Why is the night so still? Why did I take the pill? Because I don’t wanna see it at my windowsill.’
In the early 2000s, UK art punk band Clinic opened for Radiohead and Thom Yorke called them the best on the planet or something to that effect. Their 2002 album Walking with Thee was included in Rolling Stone’s top 50 albums of 2002. Garage rock + vintage organs and synthesizers and lead singer, Ade Blackburn’s, hypnotic vocal cadence come together to create a truly unique and captivating sound. I listened to this album non stop when it came out and hadn’t gone back to it in awhile before preparing for this session. I highly suggest giving the album a listen if you are looking for a new sound. I chose the title track “Walking with Thee” for this session because I love the groove (fuzzy organ, driving beat) and Blackburn’s vocals. It makes me move.