Thursday, 3 March 2011

Long songs that never fail to impress me..

Note: definition of a 'long' song: over 6 minutes.

Often today thanks in part to the rushed world of mainstream radio among other reasons, many new songs tend to be in the 3-4 minute bracket range. However, music must never be limited to any time scale and so I started to wonder, what songs do I have in my Itunes that never seem to get boring - no matter how many minutes they go on for?

  • A New Error, Moderat, 6:07 - the intensity of this music is what does it for me. Perfect to psyche somebody up or when having to really concentrate on something I think. 
  • Cardinal Song, The National, 6:18 - a very emotional song with a twisted and confused logic in the lyrics until the finale. Gripping. 
  • Paranoid Android, Radiohead, 6:24 - the different moods that the journey of 'Paranoid Android' takes you through means that there is always something to listen out for. 
  • Hotel California, The Eagles, 6:32 - a true classic, the amazingly vague and fascinating lyrics are matched by the music which by now is world famous. 
  • How Soon is Now, The Smiths, 6:42 - one of The Smiths' classics this song may be a tad repetitive but for some reason 'next' never really seems to get clicked when it comes on. 
  • No Woman no Cry, Bob Marley, 7:07 - a wonderfully evocative, emotional song from the king of Reggae that I could listen to again and again and again...
  • Flugufrelsarinn, Sigur Ros, 7:47 - probably the most unique song in the list by the Icelandic band, it's music that similarly to Moderat really gets me focused. 
  • Only in Dreams, Weezer, 7:59 - another favourite not least for the way it seems to be split between 'song' and then music alone. The lyrics too help you through the 8 minutes of Weezer. 
  • Dance with the Devil, Immortal Technique, 9:39 - probably one of the most graphic and disturbing stories I've ever heard in music, the story of 'William' is sure to captivate. 
  • The Decline, NOFX, 18:22 - don't be put off by the length of this, the song takes you through so many moods that it's impossible not to like. The finale is a classic for me. 
  • Marimba and Shit-Drums, Moonface, 20:16 - again very different from a band that I know very little of, but the unique drums mean that 20 minutes is not a chore at all. 
Any more?

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