The 8 songs I could spend the rest of my life listening to.
For those unfamiliar with the concept of Desert Island Discs, it is a radio show broadcast on BBC Radio 4, where guests are asked the hypothetical question: ‘if you were stranded on a desert island and could only pick 8 pieces of music, a book, and a luxury item, what would you pick?’
First things first, I wouldn’t take a book with me as I’m not much of a reader, and my luxury item would of course be a sound system to listen to my music choices.
As for my music choices, these are all songs that I consider to be perfect. They are songs that never get old, songs that you don’t just listen to – you listen into. This is a topic I will cover in a future blog piece; a listening exercise to properly listen to your music.
Choice 1: Last Goodbye, Jeff Buckley
The album this song is from, Grace, is a classic and each song is amazing in it’s own way, but Last Goodbye is Jeff’s best song in my opinion.
The instrumentation, lyricism, and structure of the song is unlike any other song I have ever heard, which makes it a song that will never get old.
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Choice 2: Gypsy, Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Greatest Hits’ album was actually the first record that I bought, purely so I could hear how Gypsy sounded on vinyl.
This is another song that I notice more details every time I listen. The backing vocal harmonies, guitar melodies, subtle accents from a piano and xylophone, and the constant pulse from the drums driving the whole song, is what makes it a masterpiece.
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Choice 3: Check the Rhyme, A Tribe Called Quest
Hip hop / hip hop jazz is a bit of a guilty pleasure of mine, which is thanks to A Tribe Called Quest.
It is hard not to love this song: the back and forth between vocalists in the verses, the simple beat between the drums and bass, and the catchy hook in the choruses. I was hooked from the moment I first heard it.
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Choice 4: Lateralus, TOOL
A band that I can imagine I will talk about again in the future, TOOL is one of the reasons my music taste took a turn towards Metal music.
It is a bit of a cliche to say you ‘experience’ music, however that is completely apt when listening to TOOL‘s music. The complexity of the polyrhythms between drums and bass, combined with soaring vocal lines and guitar melodies, this song will blow your mind.
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Choice 5: So Long Forever, Palace
Palace is one of my favourite bands for many reasons, partly from the nostalgia they give me from my college / university days, but partly from their amazing and distinctive sound.
This is my personal favourite of theirs, the way the song constantly builds throughout, leading to the final crescendo of echoing guitars, vocals and drums.
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Choice 6: Come Running, Van Morrison
Another classic, Come Running was an accidental discovery for me when I bought the record.
I find the blend of the bass-line, piano chords, brass backing instruments and vocals to be completely mesmerising, as each instrument is adding a simple-sounding yet complex component to the ensemble. You can easily find yourself listening multiple times to allow yourself to fully digest what each instrument is adding.
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Choice 7: Ivy, Frank Ocean
In truth, any song from Blonde could have made it to this list, but for me, it just has to be Ivy.
Another song that’s effectiveness is it’s simplicity, Ivy has you hooked in right from the moment you press play. The multiple layers of guitar melody and chords, mixed with Frank’s effortless vocals, blends to make a beautiful yet strangely haunting song.
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Choice 8: Shine On You Crazy Diamond Pts 1-5, Pink Floyd
My personal favourite 13+ minute-long song, this song made me laugh out of pure admiration when I first heard it.
I remember seeing this album in the local record shop. I decided to listen to it before buying it, so as I drove home I stuck it on. I had chills the entire time, and the moment David Gilmour’s vocals kicked in, I involuntarily laughed because the song was so good. Strangely enough, as I laughed, someone in the background of the song laughed as well, listen 8:46 in. Masterpiece.
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A list varied on genres, decades, and runtimes, I could happily live the rest of my days on a desert island with these songs as my soundtrack.
Thanks for reading.
Refind 
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