Jon Pinon

2/17/15
Journalism II
Mr. White
Musical Antidepressants II: Eight Songs for a Weary Mind
A little while ago, this writer published an article which listed eight
relatively bright pieces of music that one could listen to in order to shine a
ray of light into a difficult day, emphasizing the power of music and its ability
to lift our spirits. However, there are some days where happy music simply
does not suffice and we need something more in order to alleviate our
troubles. This is where another quality of music comes into play: its ability to
provide a sort sanctuary during hard times. With that said, here is another list
of pieces which are not necessarily sad or happy; simply beautiful
soundscapes you can sit back and admire as it takes you away from lifes
hardships.
1. Led Zeppelin No Quarter
Led Zeppelin requires no introduction, being a seminal band who shook
the world of music with hard, bluesy rock and is known for such tunes
as Kashmir, Black Dog, Whole Lotta Love and, most notably,
Stairway to Heaven. The song in question here, the penultimate
track from their Houses of the Holy record, deviates significantly from
their typically bright and energetic style to present an extremely
haunting number which details the struggles of soldiers in the military
(even named after a term which describes a lack of mercy towards a
defeated opponent). The piece begins with an ethereal keyboard intro
played by bassist John Paul Jones, transitions into Jimmy Pages heavily
compressed guitar playing, then subsides back to the keyboard playing
over which Robert Plant delivers his vocals in an audibly distraught
tone of voice. Despite the generally somber nature of the piece, the
music and orchestration is such that it can be interpreted as a
reflective, contemplative piece that you can put on in order to

momentarily escape from the world as you think about how to

approach the hardships you are facing.
2. Imogen Heap Hide and Seek
Chances are youve actually heard this song before and simply did not
recognize it. Does the phrase Mmmm, whatcha say ring a bell? This
song gained prominence when it was used in the climax of the season
two finale of the show The O.C., a scene that was subsequently
parodied in a Saturday Night Live skit. Ever since then, it has been a
part of an Internet meme which involves the song playing during a
video clip in which a character is killed on screen. The meme, however,
only displays a small excerpt from the middle of this beautiful piece.
English singer-songwriter Imogen Heap achieves the songs trademark
vocal effect with a vocoder and uses no other instruments aside from
her synthesized voice. This contributes to a more intimate feel with the
song, as there is nothing else between you and the piece as Heap
recites her poetic lyrics guided by the sublime harmonies created by
her vocoder.
3. Buckethead Earth Heals Herself
Though he first attained popularity when his song Jordan appeared in
the video game Guiter Hero II and gained a reputation for its rapid
guitar solos, the guitarist Buckethead has an expansive body of work
which encompasses his infamous speed as well as acoustic and
ambient music. He even has an album titled Spinal Clock which is
played entirely with a banjo! This writers personal favorite album of
his happens to be Population Override, which features eight extended
jams and two interludes featuring the keyboard playing of Travis
Dickerson. One of the albums more notable tracks, the piece in
question begins with an airy guitar intro and quickly transitions into the
beginning of Bucketheads lengthy solo, featuring more bluesinfluenced and soulful playing as opposed to the mechanical
shredding he is known for. The interplay between him and Dickersons

subtle keyboard accompaniment truly make this performance

something to behold.
4. My Bloody Valentine To Here Knows When
The early 1990s saw the rise of what is known today as the
shoegazing scene, which consisted of a group of bands with styles
characterized by effects-laden guitar playing and incomprehensible
vocal deliveries that blended in with the rest of the instrumentation,
resulting in a rather effervescent sort of sound. One of the most
prominent acts of this scene was My Bloody Valentine, whose 1991
album Loveless is often considered the quintessential shoegazing
album. This particular number from this album essentially takes all of
the aforementioned characteristics of the style and cranks them all up
to eleven, to the point where the guitars are nearly unrecognizable and
Blinda Butcher can hardly even be heard as she recites the songs
lyrics. What this creates is a bizarre sort of ambience that is highly
unique even by todays standards; a sort of beautiful noise, if you will,
that washes over the listener and entrances them in a way theyve
never experienced before.
5. Porcupine Tree Glass Arm Shattering
Led by the brilliant Steven Wilson, the England-based band Porcupine
Tree is one of the greatest modern frontrunners of the progressive rock
genre, delivering a uniquely enticing sound by combining influences
from heavy metal, electronic music, and psychedelia. Placed as the
closing track from their 2005 effort Deadwing, this song showcases the
bands ability to create spellbinding music and goes to show the simple
ingenuity of repetition. The recurrent three-chord vamp and steady
rhythm combined with Wilsons hazy, monotone vocal delivery create
an atmospheric, hypnotic feel that makes this track absolutely perfect
for late-night listening after a hard day.
6. Explosions in the Sky Your Hand In Mine

Alongside the aforementioned shoegazing scene, the mid-90s saw

the inception of a style known as post-rock. Though rooted in the
sounds of the 90s underground scene, the style actually bears little
sonic resemblance to it, prominently characterized by the use of
minimalistic soundscapes which are unconventional to rock. As one of
the most well-known acts in this scene, Explosions in the Sky
specializes in gorgeous, cathartic mini-symphonies, and this
particular track from the 2003 album The Earth Is Not a Cold Dead
Place is certainly no exception. It makes use of simple rhythmic motifs
and a rather bright tonality to create an extremely beautiful work of
modern art that is guaranteed to make you shed a few tears. Some
may even find it inspiring! Whatever the case may be, the feeling of
hearing this piece is comparable to letting out a massive sigh of relief
at the end of a great struggle.
7. Philip Glass The Hours
As one of the progenitors of the minimalist style, Philip Glass is a
household name in the realm of orchestral music. Along with
contemporaries such as Steve Reich and Terry Riley, his style of
composition based on repeated rhythmic motifs and emphasis on
layers would serve as an influence for future music in a variety,
especially electronic music. Glass has garnered quite a reputation for
his work with film soundtracks, most notably that of the renowned art
film Koyaanisqatsi and its two sequels. The eponymous composition
from the 2002 movie The Hours, though, is another fine example of his
work. All of the main characteristics of minimalism are epitomized in
this piece; themes constantly repeat and overlap each other but it
never feels monotonous, and it develops just as any orchestral work
does through its sense of perpetual motion, making it a truly
captivating work.
8. Brian Eno An Ending (Ascent)
Last, but certainly not least, we have a work from the famed producer
Brian Eno, famous for his work with acts such as David Bowie, U2,

Talking Heads and Coldplay. In addition to producing classic albums

such as The Joshua Tree and Remain in Light, Eno is a considered a
pioneer of ambient music with releases such as 1975s Another Green
World and 1978s Music for Airports. This piece originates from 1983s
Apollo: Atmospheres and Soundtracks and is, in this writers opinion,
one of the most hauntingly beautiful works ever made. Its composition
is deceptively simple, harkening back to the aforementioned less-ismore approach of the minimalist style; the theme, which consists of
only a few chords, repeats itself throughout the songs duration and
seems to make use of only a single synth reminiscent of a choir. This
constitutes an extremely moving, almost heavenly piece that one can
almost certainly find sanctuary in when faced with the struggles of the
world.
Once again, you are encouraged to listen to the above songs as
well as more of their respective artists works. Perhaps you will end up
create a much larger body of music for you to get lost in during hard
times. Hope you enjoy the music!