Hi everyone! Happy March, and top o' th' mornin', lads and lassies! Just like the word "Irish" itself, both our entries for this list start with the letter I, hence the goofy title for this week's blog. Here goes!
"I Hear the Ax Swinging" by Ghost of Vroom: Some of you may know Mike Doughty from his mid '90s alt-rock group, Soul Coughing. Others of you may be familiar with his more folksy yet still quirky solo material from the 21st century. His latest project, Ghost of Vroom, is probably closer to Soul Coughing than it is to his solo stuff. It's been a long time since I've heard a Mike Doughty that's this rockin'! Probably not since "Super Bon Bon" back in 1996! Like most Doughty songs, "I Hear the Ax Swinging" has a bit of a caustic edge to it lyrically. Some of the lyrics seem random, but the title of the song, which also serves as its chorus, is probably reflective of how Doughty feels about the world today. In other words, he feels that, at any time, we could be "axed out" of the world! Some clever musical references in this song too ("Reach the beach like The Fixx," referencing the British new wave band's biggest album, and "Roundabout, yes..." referencing the song "Roundabout" by prog-rock group, Yes).
"I Ran Away" by Dinosaur Jr.: Fitting to their somewhat intimidating name, Dinosaur Jr. often had an element of heaviness and unpredictability to their music. This, however, is not such a song. It's almost got a country-rock flavor, actually, although that is not too surprising knowing how much lead singer J. Mascis was influenced by folk-rock legends like Bob Dylan and Neil Young as much as he was by noisier groups like The Velvet Underground and The Stooges. Mascis has recruited help from contemporary musicians influenced by his own work, such as The War on Drugs' Kurt Vile, for this particular tune. Adding to the retro flavor of this tune is the 12-string Vile contributes to it!
