Leftovers (Gravity): Gravity’s Gone

Drive-By Truckers: Gravity’s Gone
[purchase]

After Thanksgiving, we at Star Maker Machine have typically run a “Leftovers” theme, letting the writers go back and revisit the themes we wrote about in the past year, and either posting something that wasn’t finished in time, or an idea that never even got started.

When I looked at the 42 different posts I wrote in 2014, I realized that I had essentially written twice for each of the year’s themes, except for one—Gravity. I actually suggested this theme, and thought that it would be pretty popular, but it only prompted five posts. We’ve had problems for the past few years getting people to post. I don’t know if it is just the inevitable burnout effect, or that mp3 based blogs are fading out, or we haven’t recruited enough (or the right) writers, recently, the number of posts, and regular writers, has been dropping.

It’s a bit disheartening, because the decrease in new posts has translated into a decrease in the number of page views. Not only that, but I’ve personally written almost a third of all of the posts this year, so far. Four writers have accounted for nearly 85% of the posts on the site. I think that the writing remains strong, and we have at least one new writer who seems to be interested. However, there have been times, many times, in fact, that I’ve thought about quitting entirely, or starting my own blog to write about whatever I want. But I haven’t, and I think that as long as there are other people who want to keep the SMM flame alive, I’ll keep writing. Not just for the tradition, or out of laziness or out of some sort of duty, because SMM was the first place that I broke through my fears and put my writing out to the public.

No—I’m going to keep writing here because I like doing it. I enjoy the idea of having a prompt force me to make a musical connection. Now, when I first started writing here way back in December of 2011, the themes were surprises, and I would wake up on Sunday morning, eager to see what Darius had come up with. Now that I’m a co-moderator, though, I am involved, along with Kkafa, in picking the theme, which has changed the way I react to them, but even when I suggest one, I don’t always know what I’m going to write about. I enjoy contributing to this blog. I enjoy the creative outlet, I enjoy sharing my opinions and telling my stories, and I enjoy the feedback that I sometimes get (mostly on Facebook—and if you aren’t a member of our page, you should be).

The Gravity theme was, as I wrote at the time, inspired by seeing the band Barnaby Bright at a small concert at a local church. I was impressed by them, and their song “Gravity,” and realized that this force of nature was a common subject for songwriters. There is no question in my mind that I considered trying to get a second post in, about the Drive-By Truckers’ song “Gravity’s Gone,” but it never happened.

“Gravity’s Gone” is a Mike Cooley song. Until this year’s English Oceans, Cooley usually only had a few songs on each album, and most of them are gems. This one is no different. Written during a long, exhausting tour, Cooley felt that things were getting a little out of control, and although he has been quoted as saying that the song, “doesn’t really make a lot of sense, and it wasn’t supposed to,” you can hear his contempt for what was going on in the clever wordplay:

Between the champagne hand jobs and the kissing ass by everyone involved
Cocaine rich comes quick and that's why the small dicks have it all.

But, ultimately, the heart of the song, where you can hear Cooley’s frustration, is in the chorus—

So I'll meet you at the bottom if there really is one
They always told me when you hit it you'll know it
But I've been falling so long it's like gravity's gone and I'm just floating

And that’s sort of how I’m feeling about our little blog here. Are we heading down to the bottom? I guess if we get there, I’ll know it. As long as we are still alive, though, I’m going to keep floating along, putting my thoughts out into the interwebs.

Here’s a bonus video of the band, still including Jason Isbell (who left the Truckers after this album), playing a mostly acoustic version of the song at a record store in Nashville (I am compelled to note that my son met Mr. Isbell, his fellow Nashville resident, last week).

Gravity: Switchfoot

Switchfoot: Oh! Gravity
[purchase]

I spent quite a few hours defying gravity in flying metal birds these past two weeks: 2 3-hour flights and 2 10-hour flights. As a result, I am only able to post a short item, and that at the last minute before we move on to our next theme.

There are more songs titled Gravity than I had imagined. There's a John Mayer tune. And one from Sara Bareilles. And then there's Coldplay as well. In general, they agree that gravity brings you down. On your knees.

Digging a little deeper, I came across yet another Gravity tune by a band I had never heard. Switchfoot comes from San Diego, California: the band's name is apparently a surfing term. They've been around for the better part of 15 years. Whereas the above linked songs are more subdued, romantic (grave?), this Gravity song punches and kicks.

GRAVITY : LIKE TEENAGE GRAVITY

C'mon, quick, quick, very little time left this theme, courtesy the inclement we have been receiving this side of the ocean, seemingly blowing away bits of the inter web. Already delayed by my sinuses being struck by the gravity* of a distant planet, sucking my brain down between my shoulder blades and mulching my synapses, great gaps in blogger dashboard (tech speak!) appeared, denying my ability to put the words and pictures together. And may still. So before it is the tomorrow that is already today in UK, grab your anti-gravity broom and we're off…….

*Gravity (SWIDT), time/space continuum, weather, all the same stuff, really, so quite apt for the given. I know the idea is to studiously avoid the too recent, but seeing as we have largely jettisoned pressing the DL button, I hope I can get away with this fairly recent.

Who's heard of Kasey Anderson? Yeah, me too, but I have heard of Counting Crows, and a year or so back they put out the now near inevitable covers LP, some might say as a way of filling some hiatus in creativity. Actually, that's probably unfair, as they are a band who have always celebrated the songs of others live, and can do it rather well, extracting even more pained pathos than many a songwriter may have realised was possible. Consummate instrumentalists, of a generally organic and Band like feel, with hammond, mandolins and accordions topping up standard guitar, bass, drums, yet topped with the exquisite angsty yelps of Adam Duritz, rendering even Michael Stipes more melodramatic moments to monotone. Yes, I'm a fan.

Kasey Anderson sounds to have had his share of, um, issues, with a stability of mental health and well-being failing to be granted him. I had never heard of him ahead of the Crows. (The Countings?) But, with the wonder of wiki, the earnestness of AMG and the yikes of youtube, I was able to build a picture. He seems to have started as a plaid shirt troubadour, in that Steve Earle/John Mellencamp meeting place, as they each traversed their opposite routes between rock and country, garnishing some good reviews, before beginning to, critically at least, unravel. What Teenage Gravity is, and hence what it is like, remains resolutely unclear from the song, in either version, so I am neither the wiser, nor, at my distance from my teens, able to begin to guess. But it sounds good as a conceptual vagary. The 2 versions are considerably different, and I am uncertain which I prefer. However, what I have to note is the impeccable intro on the cover version, lulling me into a reverie akin to early Fairport and Richard Thompson, just a roll on the drum and all that. Wonderful.

For me, that is all the gravity needed.

Kasey Anderson purchase link

Gravity: Defying Gravity

Cheryl Wheeler: Defying Gravity

Jesse Winchester: Defying Gravity

[purchase]

When released in early 2005, dreamy electric guitar tones opened the 44-minute "Defying Gravity," singer/songwriter Cheryl Wheeler's first studio album since 1999. It was interesting that she chose to title the entire album with the only track that she didn’t write herself – Jesse Winchester’s “Defying Gravity” at track six on her album. 
 
While a singer/songwriter could fall into the trap of rushing out mediocre material to meet self-imposed deadlines, Cheryl's didn’t rush out with “Defying Gravity.” Like Winchester, she’s also known for masterfully crafted songs with colorful lyrics color and intriguing auralscapes. Some of her songs are somber meditations about life, and the “Defying Gravity” CD's jacket gives us all the lyrics to read and reflect upon.
 
Sung from the heart, Cheryl's themes revolve around loneliness brought on by the death of her father ("Since You've Been Gone"), heartache ("Must Be Sinking Now"), and inner turmoil ("Beyond the Lights"). "Summer's Almost Over" is a sad nostalgic tale of a season changing and time passing. "On the Plane" and "It's the Phone" are both funny and cynical pieces that were recorded live at The Bottom Line in New York.
 
With wry wit, she's full of humorous lines like "The air that you're breathing's been re-circulating since Orville and Wilbur were boys..." And the song is nice respite even though it was dropped from her set list for quite some time following 9/11. “Alice" describes a hardworking Minnesota campground host and hotel desk clerk who is full of wanderlust. An instrumental, "Clearwater, Florida," allows Cheryl to showcase her fine and delicate fingerpicking.

Somewhat of a concept album, "Defying Gravity" has a more laid-back and somber tone than some previous releases. She seems more serene, thoughtful and introspective with this project. Tasteful use of guitar, percussion, bass, vibes and keyboards permeates the instrumentation.

"Defying Gravity" is a very strong album with plenty of good lyrics and music to ponder. After listening to a nostalgic closing piece like "Blessed," one will want to reflect upon their own childhood memories and of Jesus and his love. Cheryl Wheeler succeeds in motivating, inspiring and entertaining us with her music. And doesn’t every struggling singer/songwriter have a goal of “defying gravity” to succeed in a rough musical environment? Well she clearly has, and now it’s clearer why she may have titled her 2005 album for that Jesse Winchester cover.     

Gravity: Top 5 Gravity Tunes of the Indie 80's

[Purchase]

In the 1980's most indie rockers didn't dwell on love songs. To truly provide an alternative to the crap on mainstream radio, they had to sing songs about rain, the elements of earth, wind and fire... and gravity. The natural phenomenon" by which all physical bodies attract each other " was a good metaphor for the subjects of Michael Jackson and Madonna songs, but when indie rockers sang about gravity, it just sounded a whole lot more intelligent.

Here are the top 5 "Gravity" songs from the Indie 80's.

"Gravity is bringing me down..."

#5. New Zealand's Tall Dwarfs with "Gravity" from the Homestead sampler Human Music.

"Gravity blocks my screams..."

#4 Basketball Diaries memoirist Jim Carroll and his band's "Wicked Gravity" from Catholic Boy

"And Gravity don't mean a thing..."

#3. Talking Heads "I Get Wild/ Wild Gravity" from Speaking in Tongues.



"Gravity is pulling me around.."

#2. R.E.M. "Feeling Gravity's Pull" from Fables of the Reconstruction

 

"You can not move; you can not dance..."

#1 Pylon "Gravity" from Gyrate

Gravity: Gravity by Barnaby Bright

Barnaby Bright: Gravity
[purchase the Gravity EP]
[purchase The Longest Day (which also has the song)]

Last weekend, I was sitting in a church meeting room listening to two musicians make truly wonderful music. This experience was shared by 25-30 people, and between sets, we were able to chat with them, and ate pot luck snacks. Tomorrow night, the Grammys will honor, for the most part, music that isn’t nearly as good as what I heard from Barnaby Bright last weekend, much of it made by acts that play before tens of thousands of fans at each performance. I know that music isn’t really a competition, and I know that the vagaries of fame has been a common theme of my writing here, but I guess it just galls me that bands such as Barnaby Bright are traveling around, playing churches and small venues, sleeping in fans’ houses to save money, while lesser talents have their own jets and probably complain about the thread count in their hotel’s sheets.

What does this have to do with gravity? I could try to argue that there is gravity in this situation, but that would be a stretch. In fact, I thought of this theme at the show last weekend, when Becky Bliss, one of the married couple that make up Barnaby Bright, introduced this song, and joked that every band has a song called “Gravity.” And while that may be hyperbole, I have 13 distinct songs with the word in the title in my iTunes library, which is a pretty fair amount.

The members of Barnaby Bright are originally from Kansas, who came together for good, personally and professionally, in New York, which is why you sometimes see them referred to as being from Brooklyn (I guess that also gives them some hipster cred. Maybe they would be more famous if Nathan Bliss grew a big shaggy beard, and they wore vintage clothing). Becky has a simply beautiful voice, and when I saw them, she also played keyboards, harmonium and baritone ukulele. Nathan sang harmony, played the guitar and percussion and managed all of their many effects. I understand that he also plays many other instruments. They write separately and together, and their songs have won many prestigious songwriting contests. At the show, they mentioned that they were moving to Nashville, and maybe that will help them get more notice.

“Gravity” is a wonderful song, written by Nathan. It was a finalist in the 2012 Mountain Stage NewSong Contest, which led to a performance on that venerable and respected syndicated radio show. It uses gravity, and related concepts such as falling and weight, as a metaphor for the experience of breaking up.

I’m sure that most people who read this blog—you know, the kind of people who are interested enough in music to read unknown writers opine about the subject—have played the game where you think of a favorite, lesser known band that sounds kind of like a more famous band, and wonder why their levels of popularity are so different. Playing here, I thought of The Civil Wars, a fine act, which like Barnaby Bright, features a man and a woman who write beautiful songs, and perform them beautifully. And I suspect that if I randomly played Civil Wars songs and Barnaby Bright songs for you, you might be able to tell them apart by sound, but not by quality. (It turns out that I’m not the only one—Google the bands’ names together and you will find a number of other people making the comparison).

In fact, The Civil Wars’ excellent breakthrough, Barton Hollow and the Barnaby Bright EP Gravity both appeared on Amazon’s Best Albums of 2011, a great achievement for any artist, when you consider all of the albums released each year. But Barton Hollow was number 5 (and won 2 Grammys) and Gravity was number 91. Interestingly, Barton Hollow has a song called “Falling,” which has a similar theme to “Gravity.” To these ears, both of these songs are of a similar, high quality. What do you think?