Blog week #4 - Nick M.

For the following examples, I began my search for new and inspirational material by seeking music on the topic(s) our group has been focusing on. The examples I have chosen are also in some way reflective of the musical structure or expression we are experimenting with, but it began with the text.

1. Buffalo Calf Road - A. Savage

One thing that was really striking about this song is the dissonance between the pleasant musical mood and the horror of the story that was being told. Something that I think we have strives for in our jam sessions is the juxtaposition of highly contrasting elements. It also seems to fit right along the lines of what we have discussed as our topic of protest. 

"After all the gold was gone
Oil came in its wake
Pale face stranded out and found
A new promise to break

Once their land and lore had been stolen there was
Nothing but their water left to take
Nothing but their spirits left to break"

https://open.spotify.com/track/2uvvlRHhX7oGwiAWkuYnzr?si=4p3UlhtiQk-UNlMsJRHVeA

2. The Man Who Would Be King - Billy Woods

The horror of this track kind of left me speechless. I am only beginning to parse the meaning of the words, but they land with intensity regardless. Aside from the actual lyrics, the other musical content feels like a kind of collage of old radio/tv propaganda, electronic music, other "non-musical" sound samples, and a sort of operatic voice repeating over and over. It is quite chaotic and unstable feeling, but still creates a foundation underneath the words.

Without fully understanding the complex lyrics myself, I want to be clear that there is strong language used here that seem to depict very graphic scenes and themes, both literal and implied.

CONTENT WARNING
Use of the n-word

Racial violence

Sexual Content, Assault

https://open.spotify.com/track/6I2GIsTe4ekunivrTBqQqt?si=NX8i-xQ3Tfi0_DYFvAuybg