Day 15: 13 Songs that changed My life

So, here they are then... not the best, just the ones that changed me

1. U2 – “Twilight”. May seem an odd choice. Certainly not their greatest ever. But in the early 80’s, this cassette would keep rolling along in the middle of the night – lulling me into a safe, delay-driven world. Began my life long love affair with U2 that would lead to so many other high points – but this is where it began. Used to stay up late at night, reading Lord of the Rings and playing Boy and War continuously.

2. Led Zeppelin – “The Lemon Song”. I hesitate to say that this saved me from U2, so let’s just say it opened the door for other artists in high school. A rambling epic, given birth by some mongrel blues rhythms, a hint of honky tonk and Robert Plant wailing away. Inspired me to play the bass – I’ve never heard such free flowing rhythm and underlying melody. Songs within songs within songs. Just listening to the first couple of bars and I’m ready for a party then and there.

3. Ride – Vapour Trail. Put on to this by Rachel, the bitch from Belgium (but that’s another story) in my first year at Mac Uni. Early 90’s Manchester “shoe gazing” pop - more harmonies than I thought possible with soaring guitars – and the largest fringes ever seen in rockdom (which brother Dave copied beautifully) – my introduction to the wall of sound. Which leads nicely into…

4. The Cure – “From the Edge of the Deep Green Sea”. So many Cure tracks to pick from – they were the masters of teenage angst way before Kurt and co. This one comes from the Wish album – decidedly upbeat in sound, incredibly bleak in lyrics. Another early 90’s wall of sound, Eno-like landscapes and melodramatic lyrics. And there’s always something about the first song you got arrested to : )

5. Scarymother – Filth. It’s very hard for Dave and I to convince anyone who wasn’t there, that one of the high points of grunge was this little known Aussie band. Blows your socks off, pounds your chest and rushes the adrenaline like nothing I ever known. When I was first starting to preach regularly I would have this on in the car before heading in - ahh the memoirs of an angry young man.

6. Beastie Boys – Sure shot. “Because you can’t, you won’t and you don’t stop”. My first foray away from rock. Beats, flutes, infectious bass grooves and the boys. Dundas was never the same – "ah yes indeed it's fun time"

7. Tea Party – Innana. Eastern sounds swirling around Jeff Martins’ echoing of Jim Morrison. Can proudly say that I walked down the aisle to this one on my wedding day.

8. Tiddas – Sing about life. A reminder of sunny Saturday mornings in a garden in another life. Full of hope, soil and sun. It seems a crime to play this music on any other day of the week now.

9. Tex Perkins – “Please break me gently”. A vain plea. Late night smoky room, 4th bottle of red, and a growling angel. Strangely uplifting even though it names you in the midst of the darkness. The black dog never sounded so good.

10. Luka Bloom – Black is the colour. Traditional Irish folk song - subtle, hopeful and melancholy all at the once. Makes me cry every time. It’s the perfect blend of acoustic guitar and a lilting Irish accent. And Matt Tonks' version is only marginally behind Luka’s. Thanks to Smithy for finally getting me onto the Luka bandwagon. “Write her a letter, just a few short lines, and suffer death ten thousand times.”

11. Bonobo – Pick Up.
Spent some time in London a few years back – partially chasing a girl, partially looking into some alternative worship stuff. Met Jonny Baker there, and found myself hooked into Bonobo and the whole Ninjatune electronica-jazz-chill sort of thing. Completely changed what I was listening to, and opened up a new chapter in the Johnson music catalogue. Give me a glass of red wine, my couch and Bonobo playing and I will be a very contented man. Would be a contender for my most favourit-ist piece of music ever.

12. You Am I – Berlin Chair. A bunch of Sydney boys singing about footy, beer and women. Whenever I get too far ahead of myself, these guys just play some straight up, four to the floor, pub rock with Pete Townsend like-flair. And “Berlin Chair”? Rossy, me and a couple of Tooheys Olds at Kinselas, or the Annandale, or perhaps the Metro? Many, many a great night.

13. Indigo Girls - "Romeo and Juliet" Yet again, not their greatest, but it was the one that made me sit up and listen. When all else was adrenaline, guitars and anger - this said there was something gentle and hopeful in the midst (and of course managed some melancholia as well). A case of melody making a strong come back into my musical library.

so there you go. Not at all where I thought I'd end up. Feels criminal not to name Something for Kate, Smashing Pumpkins, Pearl Jam or The Whitlams (all probably too naturaly 'me' to have changed my life - tho their genius is acknowledged) . And it feels like I'm hiding by not naming Suzie Quatro, Wham or KISS. But there's only 13 songs (or we'd still be reading Darren or Geoff's top 500), and these are mine. Thank you one and all.