Tag Archives: my ipod

My iPod #224: The Jimi Hendrix Experience – Crosstown Traffic

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“Crosstown Traffic” is a track from The Jimi Hendrix Experience’s third and last album, “Electric Ladyland” in 1968. I did listen to the album. That was a while ago. Like in late 2012. So I’ll probably have to listen to it again, to see whether I like it or not.

The only reason I know “Crosstown Traffic” more than any of the other songs on the album is because it is the only one that has a music video, a video that I’ve seen at least four times on the television.

The song is a huge metaphor. Jimi travelled a lot, and was probably hit on by lot of women along the way. Probably be with one and then it would be on to the next one. So he basically compares them to traffic, because he needed to be somewhere else. To entertain the masses of fans he had.

The track is groovy, but pumping too. It sounds like a theme tune to a seventies, undercover police show. I get that feel from it, I don’t know why. Someone did go a bit crazy with the panning though, instruments move from one channel to the other multiples times. I don’t know if that’s really needed. But it’s a minor thing. The song is still good.

My iPod #223: Billy Talent – Crooked Minds

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Good times were had last night. Moving from one place to another, plenty of loud music and dancing was involved. I can remember it all too which is a bonus. So as I sit here on my desk, reminiscing and waiting for the second half of the Arsenal game to start, I bring you the first post of two for today.

“Dead Silence” is Billy Talent’s fourth album, released in September 2012. It brought to an end their “Billy Talent (enter roman numeral here)” naming system that the band had used for their first three albums, but it also brought forward some new ideas and sounds too. Ian D’Sa – the guitarist with the Paul-from-Tekken-like haircut – handled the album’s production, there is the of a piano in one of their songs, it also includes two of the most ‘poppiest’ (don’t like that word) tracks I think the band have done. I listened to it when it became available on Spotify, and it was “Crooked Minds” that really grabbed my attention.

With a message similar to “Red Flag’s”, something along the lines of how ‘the kids’ of today will rise up, cast off the shackles and fight to right the wrongs of the government, “Crooked Minds” reminded me of the material from “Billy Talent II”. That album, for me, is my second favourite…. but only marginally. By the skin of my teeth. But “Crooked Minds” just had the energy that that album had, and what was missing, I feel, on “Billy Talent III”.

Actually, that’s a bit unfair. “Billy Talent II” is great as well….. I’ll save that for another day.

I think it is that “Yeah” that Ben screams/yells at the start that certified it for me. “Devil in a Midnight Mass”…..-esque, you could say.

My iPod #222: John Lennon – Crippled Inside

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“Crippled Inside” from “Imagine” is a “corny Country-Westerner” as described by Lennon himself (about 1:05 minute in) when discussing the tracks he had ready to be placed in the tracklisting, before proceeding to sing it briefly.

I listened to “Imagine” (the album, not the song) for the first time when it was (what would have been) his 70th birthday in 2010. If there was a time to start listening to his solo material, it was definitely then. And after the calming, piano driven ‘anthem’ comes this bouncy track.

It’s about putting on a false appearance and pretending to be happy when in fact you actually feel worthless. Some take it to be an insult song to Paul McCartney; they weren’t getting along so well at this time. Figure it out for yourselves.

My iPod #221: Neil Young – Cripple Creek Ferry

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“After the Gold Rush” is the third album by Neil Young. I listened to it last year after beginning my quest to hear the best ever albums to have been released. Although he does have a voice that did take me a few minutes to get around, I realised that it perfectly complimented all of the songs anyway. So it ended up being no big deal.

“Cripple Creek Ferry” is the little ditty that closes off the album. Some may think it’s a bit short, maybe a waste of time but I really like it. It is only a minute and a bit long, but the melody’s really sweet and you will be singing along to it after a few repeats.

My iPod #220: Eminem – Criminal

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For more insight, click on these three words. I am very sure that it will give you better lyrical analysis than I ever could.

Here is all you need to know. “Criminal” is the last song on “The Marshall Mathers LP“, Eminem’s third album. Or second if you’re a person who negates the existence of “Infinite“. “The Marshall Mathers LP” is arguably Eminem’s best album. Eminem is regarded to be one of the best rappers of all time. Have you pressed play on the video above yet?

It is a great closer to the album. It basically sums up all of the messages conveyed in the prior seventeen songs, and is spat out to you in a humorous and clever fashion. Eminem was the centre of controversy after the release of “The Slim Shady LP”. Many women, homosexuals, parents, the government….. They were all very offended by what this man said. But does he care? No. Because he doesn’t mean it. It is all very funny to him.

Really though, I like Eminem but not as much as I might have sounded two paragraphs above. When his lyrics and beats are on point, he is siiiiick. “Criminal” is another of the numerous instances when he is, indeed, sick.