82 - We Must Away Ere Break of Day

This one isn't playing fair.

I've heard it for the most part months ago when a certain movie trailer first hit screens.  Then yesterday, I was thrilled to find it on the score to the film.  So it's the most recently heard song in my list, it's also one that feels the oldest.

And in some ways it is.  The original lyrics were written barely two decades shy of 100 years ago.

But the way this song is done for this movie, makes it feel like an ancient song of a people seeking their homeland.  Well, that's exactly what it is, and that's what gave me chills when I saw the trailer.

Song 82
       "Misty Mountains" from The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
                                            - Composed/Orchestrated/Conducted by Howard Shore

I get actual chills when I listen to this song.  The cast did an impressive job at singing it, the gentle music background is wonderful.  There is such longing and history laced in the words, and the performance.  I cannot wait to see it on the screen tomorrow night!

I was excited when the first  trailer for Hobbit came out.  As ran I just got more and more excited.  Then this moment came when Thorin (the lead dwarf) begins to sing with this deep rumbling voice.  Then some of the other 12 dwarves stand, and join in the song until they are all in.

It just moved me.  And the whole Autumn  thing should be obvious now.  Autumn, adventure/fantasy, and the fact that this sends shivers of wanderlust and heartache down my spine and to my heart just compounds it all.

Also, Howard Shore has to be one of the most talented composers out there.  I listed all the things he does, because I was told years ago that it was rare that a "Hollywood" composer would do all of that.  Especially for three massive movies, now six.  Between The Lord of the Rings and now the Hobbit Trilogy.

Go enjoy.  Also, I really like the "Blunt the Knives" as sung by the Dwarf Cast on this album as well.

grace, peace + hope
-Jesse

21 - It's So Hot Inside My Soul

A different flavor today.  I don't remember where I first heard this song.  I just know it felt like it was a blade right through my heart.

It still feels that way.

It's a small simple song, but has deep currents and emotions.

Song 21/Day 21
        "Hold Me Jesus" off of the album Songs by  Rich Mullins.

There is a large part of me that feels this could have come right from my own heart.  Not claiming that I'm as talented or gifted as the late Rich Mullins, but he doesn't over complicate the sentiment and intent of this song.

It ties me to Autumn for a few reasons.  The first being the line, "cause I'm shaking like a leaf."  There is a vulnerability in that line, and it echos the season.

I'm particularly fond of and struck by these words:

Surrender don't come natural to me I'd rather fight you for somethingI don't really wantThan to take what you give that I need

The rest is just the music itself.  It just has this sound that brings me to a large opening under huge tress in a wood.  The sky is fading to twilight, and there is a strong chill in the air.  I want to fall on me knees in the middle of this clearing, under the boughs above.  To just slough off all the wrongs and guilt.  To let it just melt away, and feel the arms of Jesus wrap around me in the embrace of creation.

That's what this song does for me.

Hold Me Jesus from Rich Mullins on the album, Songs.

Enjoy!

-Jesse

14 - You Must Pay for Your Crimes Against the Earth

Last day for this part...The Concept:  Feature a song a day for every day of the most magnificent season of Autumn.  The songs are ones that capture the thoughts/ideas/images/feelings of the season for me. 

It's my "Autumnal Playlist" if you will.

Okay, so.  Today's song is another one of those, "heard it in a movie trailer," songs.  This particular song is quite epic.  And after looking up the lyrics and knowing the plot, having read the book the movie was based on, it fit like a glass slipper on a chore laboring beauty.  The band, was one I was vaguely aware of...but never explored.  Like Elbow...once I started sampling...I got everything.  Then I kept hearing their stuff in movies and trailers.  I'm speaking about the epic British band...Muse.  The movie trailer, was Watchmen.

Song 14/Day14

"Take a Bow," as covered by Muse from the album, Black Holes and Revelations.

This song takes me to a different type of Autumn.  A darker one where evil must be triumphed over.  It's in my head of course.  I think it's mainly because they use the word 'hex' in the song...and that makes me think of two things.  Pennsylvania Dutch Barns and Halloween.  Oddly...both make me think of Fall.  So all thoughts lead to Fall.

The intro to the song just paints the images of swirling leaves and grey skies.  The evil leader of the enemy forces surveying his troops.  Haughty and cocksure.  Then, the people riot.  They revolt.  They fight back to take back their land and lives.  It's chaos and confusion.  In the end...the enemy leader is on trial...with a certain outcome.

Like I said, it's a darker Autumn.

I really like the lyric

And our freedom's consuming itself
What we become is contrary to what we want
Take a bow

Muse does a lot of massive epic storytelling with their albums.  It's not for everyone, but I think it's worth the exploration. 

Really short post today.  Sorry folks.  Sleep has been elusive and sickness threatens.  So it's off to bed before today actually starts.

"Take a Bow" from Muse...seriously, check 'em out if you don't know what you're missing.

-Jesse

13 - All the Same 'ole Cliches

The Concept:  Feature a song a day for every day of the most magnificent season of Autumn.  The songs are ones that capture the thoughts/ideas/images/feelings of the season for me. 

It's my "Autumnal Playlist" if you will.

It was November 1998 when I heard this song.  Once again, Evangel days.  I could be found hanging out with my good friends of Sc1N.  Erik, Josh, Brendan, Nate, and Stu.  Good guys.  I had listened to some of this band's music in high school, but had given it up for what would be a long and dis-interesting story for this post.  Suffice it to say, I was well acquainted with the band when I heard this tune.  But this track had a slightly different feel to it.  Possibly because it was a cover.  And to this day, I don't recall ever listening to the original straight through.

I remember going to Best Buy and picking up this intense two-disc set.  Yes, there was no downloading with this song.  Well, not for me.  Much to the band's chagrin there has been lots of downloading...back in those days...thanks to places like Napster.

Song 13/Day13

"Turn the Page," as covered by Metallica from their album, Garage Inc.

Like a lot of the songs in this series, it too has a slow mournful beginning with a steady intense build up the breaking of the song.  Say what you will about Metallica, until St. Anger, they knew how to put an album together.  Garage Inc. has several songs like this cover of Bob Seger's classic, and Lynyrd Skynyrd's, Tuesday's Gone.

While I can't give them the recognition for the lyrics, I do love the delivery of them.  There isn't a voice in metal/hard rock that growls as good as James Hetfield.  Even when I first heard it I knew it was a cover (that was the point of this album,) but it felt like a personal song for him.  As it's about life on the road for touring musicians...it's easy to translate that empathy/sympathy between just about any act.  Well, maybe not Disney Pop acts.

This song works great for the Fall because of the "road" feel of it.  I can visualize a band traveling during the verses and bridge.  The slow times at a lonely hotel in the middle of nowhere.  Bad weather.  Maybe one of the band is leaning over some spiral notebook jotting down lyrics in the tour bus.  The choruses, with the change in music, fits well with images of them performing, giving everything they've got into their music.  Wanting to make a connection with their fans.

That's what I see.

And as stated in previous posts, Autumn really stirs up my wanderlust.  It's difficult to hold it back sometimes, this year in particular, but it's always there.  Waiting for some great tunes, and a road to strike out on.  I really dig these lyrics (the whole 2nd verse):

You walk into a restaurant, strung out from the road
And you feel the eyes upon you, as you're shaking off the cold
You pretend it doesn't bother you, but you just want to explode
And most times you can't hear 'em talk, other times you can
All the same 'ole cliches: is it woman? Is it man?
And you always seem outnumbered, you dare not make a stand, make your stand.

Also, the whole concept of 'turning a page' for whatever reason, conjures up images and feelings of Fall.  It's my favorite time of year to read.  Reading and Road Trips.  Maybe that's a blog series for next year...

But curling up with a good book as the weather starts to cool, the night comes on quicker...imagination gets to run a little freer.  At least mine does...and it's rarely on the leash anyway.  While many people think of Spring as the beginning of new life and all that pastel nonsense, for me it's Autumn.  Yes, the leaves and grass die.  But they are the incubators of the new to come.  If Spring is birth, Autumn is conception.


So, if you're planning any long road trips (maybe we can still catch New England before the leaves are done?) take a listen to Turn the Page.

Here's the link to "Turn the Page" from Metallica.

enjoy!
-Jesse