Songs That Touch My Soul
Published February 26, 2008
“Come on Closer” – Jem
This is a deceptive track, hiding its erotic nature under a layer of electro-folk-pop. Jem’s 2004 debut album Finally Woken is rarely far from the top on my Sansa’s most played list and this song is only one of the reasons. It has a strangely ethereal quality with layers of synth woven through and supporting Jem’s gossamer, lithe, Beth Orton-esque vocals which are very soon joined by a heavily distorted, almost hard rock guitar riff. It sounds bizarre and believe me it is, but the rhythmic motions and contradicting musical styles create an erotic atmosphere, and it’s fabulous to belly dance to. But it’s the lyrics that are truly the sexual touch, hidden in what could be mistaken for a an almost cheery electro pop song: “Come on closer/ I wanna show you/ What I'd like to do/ You sit back now/ Just relax now/ I'll take care of you”. And that is just what this song inspires in me. Anyone feel like sitting back and letting me belly dance naked in their lap? Come let me show you how much pelvic control it takes to gyrate and grind slowly while straddling you.
“Keith Don’t Go” (Acoustic Live version) – Nils Lofgren
I'm a writer and music journalist originally from Salt Lake City, but now living in Scotland. I was a Punk/Goth in the '80s and these artistic influences have stayed with me; although a love of Chopin, chamber music, and Spanish guitar would seem to belie this. I am one of many assistant music editors at Blogcritics.org, staff writer for a gay men's magazine based in Edinburgh, and a freelance writer.
- Songs That Touch My Soul
- Published: February 26, 2008
- Type: Opinion
- Section: Music
- Filed Under: Music: Pop, Music: Indie Rock, Music: Folk, Music: Electronica, Music: Dance, Music: Blues, Music: Alternative Rock, Music: Acoustic, Culture: Personal History, Review
- Part of a feature: Songs That Touch My Soul
- Writer: A.L. Harper
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Comments
*laugh* Thank Phillip! Sons of William are amazing. Jem is great fun too. Go check her out.
pwinn, you're a married man. are you actually allowed to read this column?
i mean, i didn't read it..just looked at the pictures and stuff.
no, really!
Reading the column is no problem. Commenting on it, well, that might have been foolish. ;-)
And why couldn't a married man read my column? Ok, yes... I know I'm very sexual about music but only because to me the two go hand in hand. You can't have really good sex without music and you can't have really good music that doesn't illicit feelings of passion. You know that lust swelling of the chest you get when you listen to something that is really good. It's like the foreplay of mind-blowing sex...
A bit of that, I suppose, comes out in my music witting.
I love the Dan Wilson. The Colbie bird is pish, I'm afraid. It's pleasantly packaged pish, but I think I'll have to take a pass on that.
I had to read most of this with my eyes closed.
How do you read with your eyes closed? Having a psychic moment you were you?
Add your comment, speak your mind
(Or ping: http://blogcritics.org/mt/tb/74252)
Good grief, woman! The way you write about music -- amazing. I love Sons of William already, and now I'm not sure if I should check out Jem or not!
:-)