Part A) Lester Bangs’ “On Van Morrison’s Astral Weeks” is one of the most famous pieces of music writing in US history (by one of the most revered music writers). How does Bangs intermingle his own mindset as he listens to Astral Weeks with his analysis of Morrison’s songs and performance of them? How does Bangs go from being depressed in his bedroom armchair to his close analysis of Morrison’s album – “What Astral Weeks deals in are not facts but truths?”
In this article, Lester Bang talked that clearly about his experience of 1968 that he had been through a physical and mental wreck, he had a serious problems both in physical and in psychological. He sunk in an armchair in his bedroom. Then it shows up in the television, and Lester Bang then realizes that it was the subject of this piece, the rock record with the most significance in his life. He treated it as a beacon and expresses others things rather than “nihilism and destruction” (p.179). Lester Bang explained that it sounded like the man who made Astral Weeks was in terrible pain, pain most of Van Morrison’s previous work had only suggested; but also included the redemptive redemptive element in the blackness with the connection of pure beauty. He believes that “Astral Week” was the product of the era talking about US history. Lester Bang then connects with the characteristics of Van Morrison such as his interests in musical or verbal information into a small space, note, word, sound, or pictures together.
Part B) Compare Ellen Willis’ “Velvet Underground” to Jeff Chang’s “The Meters.” What is each author trying to accomplish in their essays? How does each author use music and specifics from the album to help them achieve their goals for the essay? Be specific.
Ellen Willis in the article “Velvet Underground” tries to accomplish about making the comment and express his thoughts on this album. As what Ellen said, this album “Velvet Underground” are all about sin and salvation. Ellen Willis explained about the experience of Velvets, the punk music in America, how Velvets straddled the categories and the rock and roll music. Ellen Willis then make the music reviews for the songs of “Velvet Underground”. Jeff Chang in the article “The Meters” introduces about the desert island to us the New Orleans music of jazz, punk music, and others to connect with the historical events that happened with music.
Part C) Discuss how Greg Tate develops his piece in contrast to an additional desert island piece (not the ones from Parts A and B). How do the authors use personal experience to develop their piece?
Greg Tate talked about his desert island of Miles Davis’s Bitches Brew in this article using his personal experience of listening to them and his special understanding of it. Greg Tate firstly talks about the story of Miles Davis, and then explains that the album Bitches Brew remains the undiscovered country today since it’s an album of ciphers and gestures, signs and runes, hints and haints, mysteries and prophecies (p.107). Talking about other reasons, Greg Tate just mentioned that without it, he would never embarked on his true love. The author just used his own personal experience of the true feelings that he had when listening to this album.
Part D) Brainstorming: What are two albums in contention for your desert island? Why are they so important to you?
Two albums in contention for my desert island are Coldplay’s “Album Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends” and Eason Chan’s “U87” in Cantonese. On of my favorite band is Coldplay, and I like his album of “Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends” released in 2008 best mostly because of the songs that show up in this album. I think this album is different from others since many songs just show the passion of life and the considerations and thoughts that the band have for the world and people. Eason Chan is a singer from Hong Kong, China, and he’s one of the very popular Chinese male singers in pop music. The album “U87” is named because of that type of microphone. In this album, Eason Chan sings about the absurd of human being and their lives, the feeling of sorry for the passing of time, and the singer’s understanding of life.
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