By Blu Fernandez
Have you ever wondered “Gee, I sure wonder what Blu from DLR is listening to this week?” Probably not, but here are my favorites from this week anyway. This is my favorite song, album, and artist I’m listening to this week.
Song: Girl From The North Country by Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash
This song is a beautiful folk/country song from ol’ Bobby and Johnny, who had a pretty good friendship in the late 60s. Their voices bounce back and forth on this song, with Bob’s gritty voice and Johnny’s deep tone. I drove up to Red Rocks this weekend to go on a hike and this was a perfect accompanying song. On my way back I decided to take the long way back home and put this song on again. It ended up becoming the soundtrack to watching a bunch of people jump out of a smoking Jeep that erupted into flames and blew up right in front of me. So, if you decide to check out this masterpiece of a song, make sure you're not driving next to any Jeeps, because they might explode in front of you.
Album: Ænima by TOOL
This album is an intense and in-your-face experience all the way through. The album starts out with Stinkfist, a great way to open up the album and let you know what you’re about to get into. It’s pretty rare that I listen to a metal album all the way through since I usually find it to become a little repetitive, or I just want a change of mood. However, this album is one of the few metal albums that I can listen to through and through without feeling the need to switch it. If you’ve heard this album, I don't need to tell you how impressive every song is on a technical and sonic level or how great these songs sound when turned up to full volume. The band does a great job of keeping you interested in every song with their variety of time signatures, energies, and lyrical themes. This album never bores you. Some of the highlights from this album are the aforementioned Stinkfist, Forty Six & 2, Jimmy, and Third Eye. Third Eye closes out the album as a 13-minute long song that I can only describe as a metal ballad dedicated to psychedelics. It’s only right that this intense album was the soundtrack to my friend and I’s battle against a drugged-out, shirtless man at our local Cheba Hut. We listened to this album in the car on the way there, and soon after we ordered our sandwiches, we were holding the door to stop this man from breaking in. He started smashing his head into the glass and he eventually cracked it open. We grabbed chairs and got ready to fight him, but luckily the police showed up just in time and he bolted out of the restaurant. Naturally, on our way home we finished listening to the album. Pumped on adrenaline and fear, this album somehow sounds even better.
Artist: David Bowie
What can I even say about Bowie and do him justice? In my personal opinion, Bowie is the coolest person to ever walk this planet. He is one of the most creative people that ever lived and made some of my favorite songs ever created. He was a genius. He was an icon in every facet he explored. He was an inspiration. He is the modern-day Jesus. Bowie never compromised himself for money or fame, it all just came to him naturally when he made something that he truly believed in. Getting sick of glam rock? Travel to Berlin with Iggy Pop and make 5 iconic albums while kicking your drug addiction. Inspired by London drum and bass and industrial music in the 90s? Make an experimental album and collaborate with Trent Reznor. Bowie made some of the most amazing albums ever created literally up until he passed away, and never once did he compromise his creative vision. Not only that, but he explored other art forms like film, painting, fashion, and visual arts. Not only did he explore them, but he nailed them right on the head. I cannot express enough how much Bowie means to me as a person and culture as a whole. If for some reason you haven't listened to him or are looking to get into him, please do yourself a favor and do so. I would recommend checking out the albums Hunky Dory, The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, Station to Station, “Heroes”, and Blackstar.