1 post tagged “gavin rossdale”
Nick Drake - "Free Ride" - Pink Moon
At the tender age of 23, the self-expectation and drug abuse chipped too deeply into Nick Drake.
His second album, Bryter Layter, was a highly instrumented, well arranged, almost jazzy folk affair. Standout songs included "Hazey Jane II" and "Poor Boy" (the latter in 5/4 time, no less!). Even John Cale had been on board for the Bryter Layter sessions; you may remember him from The Velvet Underground and Nico and White Light/White Heat.
Mr. Drake's experimentation with and addiction to drugs, along the crushing weight of his own mind, drove him ever closer to the edge. Before shoving off and rendering himself almost completely incapable of playing music, Nick Drake arranged a two-night recording session, each night two hours were spent in the studio.
The result was barely 28 minutes of album, the eleven tracks known as Pink Moon were mastered and the reel was dropped off on the receptionist's desk at his label, where it went unnoticed for several days. Pink Moon features Nick Drake on vocals, Nick Drake on guitar, and, on the title track, Nick Drake on a piano overdub. That's it.
As a huge proponent of the Spector "Wall of Sound," I routinely require a change of boxer shorts when I hear albums like Illinois(e) or SMiLE. Equally as amazing and powerful is the use of blatant simplicity. I could ramble onward about Oasis concerts, when Noel takes the stage alone for three or four songs, or the time Gavin played "Glycerine" in the rain on MTV Spring Break, or why I'm so upset that I didn't see Jeff Tweedy take the stage alone on his last solo tour . . . I guess the point is that this album works.
Why, then, did I choose "Free Ride" rather than the title track as the first recording to post from Pink Moon? I think the melody of the vocals and guitar is really pretty. Enjoy your Monday afternoons, kids.
And here's a bonus for those of you still thinking, "I like this song, but who the fuck is Nick Drake?"
Here's a clip featuring his work that you might recognize:
![VW Cabrio Commercial [2000]](http://a0.vox.com/6a00c225244741f21900c2252941f8f219-200pi)
At the tender age of 23, the self-expectation and drug abuse chipped too deeply into Nick Drake.
His second album, Bryter Layter, was a highly instrumented, well arranged, almost jazzy folk affair. Standout songs included "Hazey Jane II" and "Poor Boy" (the latter in 5/4 time, no less!). Even John Cale had been on board for the Bryter Layter sessions; you may remember him from The Velvet Underground and Nico and White Light/White Heat.
Mr. Drake's experimentation with and addiction to drugs, along the crushing weight of his own mind, drove him ever closer to the edge. Before shoving off and rendering himself almost completely incapable of playing music, Nick Drake arranged a two-night recording session, each night two hours were spent in the studio.
The result was barely 28 minutes of album, the eleven tracks known as Pink Moon were mastered and the reel was dropped off on the receptionist's desk at his label, where it went unnoticed for several days. Pink Moon features Nick Drake on vocals, Nick Drake on guitar, and, on the title track, Nick Drake on a piano overdub. That's it.
As a huge proponent of the Spector "Wall of Sound," I routinely require a change of boxer shorts when I hear albums like Illinois(e) or SMiLE. Equally as amazing and powerful is the use of blatant simplicity. I could ramble onward about Oasis concerts, when Noel takes the stage alone for three or four songs, or the time Gavin played "Glycerine" in the rain on MTV Spring Break, or why I'm so upset that I didn't see Jeff Tweedy take the stage alone on his last solo tour . . . I guess the point is that this album works.
Why, then, did I choose "Free Ride" rather than the title track as the first recording to post from Pink Moon? I think the melody of the vocals and guitar is really pretty. Enjoy your Monday afternoons, kids.
And here's a bonus for those of you still thinking, "I like this song, but who the fuck is Nick Drake?"
Here's a clip featuring his work that you might recognize:
Love,
Hoffie
