Dave's Recs: Top Heartstring Pullers

By: Dave Griffiths, Programming Director

Music truly is a robust art form. From happiness to sadness, music covers the entire spectrum of human emotion and all it needs is a good combination of notes and arrangements. Now, I mainly listen to a lot of fast-paced music, but every now and then I have to slow things down for those moments when you just feel like staring at the ceiling and reminiscing about life. These are those top heartstring pullers, so go grab a box of tissues because we’re about to get real sentimental.

1. "Ahead On Our Way" by Nobuo Uematsu

If you have every played the Final Fantasy series of video games, then you’ve already heard of this guy. This song appears in Final Fantasy VII, arguably one of the best of the series. The entire soundtrack perfectly fits the setting, characters and storyline and helps create a truly memorable gaming experience. However, I chose this song because of its simple, calming melody with a subtle backing track that really knows where to hit you in the heart. The song reminds me of growing out of childhood innocence, yet never forgetting those times. Maybe you’ll feel the same way.

2. "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart?" by Al Green

I would list almost every Al Green song in this category if I could, but sadly, I can only choose one.  The reason I chose this song was just because of how relatable and raw it really is. Listen to the lyrics layered over a low-tempo classic soul arrangement and you’ll hear and feel one of the most realistic accounts of heartbreak ever recorded. It’s a perfect song to put on when staring out of the window as rain slowly slides down the pane.

3. "Thinking Loudly" by El Ten Eleven

I already discussed in an earlier entry why El Ten Eleven is a band you should definitely listen to.  When I first heard this song, I was struck by the slowly growing, moderate tempo opening that just perfectly explodes into this slow, emotionally driven barrage of guitar chords and cymbal crashes. In that moment, I’m hearing emotion and it’s hard not to link an emotional instrumental tune to a tough moment in your life.

4. "Jesus Christ" by Brand New

I started listening to Brand New when I was in high school, so naturally, there were a lot of moments in my life that Brand New helped me get through. Out of all of their songs, I’ve always felt that "Jesus Christ" was one of their deepest and most personal. The subject matter in itself is deep enough, but the fact that these personal lyrics are being sung over this melancholy progression of simple guitars and rhythms only deepens that emotional response. It’s a beautiful song to listen to, but keep the Kleenex on hand just in case.

5. "Luna" by Smashing Pumpkins

This is probably the only song on this list that isn’t necessarily sad. The lyrics are about just being in love, and I guarantee the dreamy guitar sound and slow tempo will help to churn up some old memories of that first time you ever experienced that feeling.

6. "Blue Boy" by Texas is the Reason

I couldn’t do a list of emotional songs without touching on one of the big bands in the '90s emo movement. I chose this song because of its simple melodic intro and moderate tempo compared to some of their other songs. It’s definitely not a tear jerker, but it will still help you to look back on some of your memories of the past.

Dave's Recs: Spotify me, Captain!

By: Dave Griffiths, Programming Director

I love Spotify.  No chance of downloading viruses.  No limited number of skips.  All you have to deal with is a couple of ads and you’re good to go.  I’ve made dozens of playlists, but these are the album playlists that make up the majority of my listening time.

1.  Attack on Memory - Cloud Nothings
I had never heard of Cloud Nothings until this album began to show up in ACRN’s rotation.  I instantly fell in love with this album not only because it was made by a couple of Clevelanders, but also because every song on the album is so diverse and could easily stand on its own as a great single.  Literally every style of rock is explored in this album and I would say it encompasses the definitive college rock sound without overwhelming newcomers with too much experimentation.  It is a must-listen.

2.  Seasons In Verse - My Heart to Joy
I began getting into emo in high school and picked it back up in college. I’m not talking about that emo with the Mickey-Mouse-voice vocalist you hear for a year before the band vanishes without a trace; I’m talking about pure emotion surrounded by the raw sounds that hark back to the glory days of punk rock.  This album encompasses both elements perfectly.  The lyrics are so simple, yet the vocals and musicianship are filled with so much power that you can find at least one song to relate to even if you have no idea what the song actually means.  It's the perfect album to come back home to after a long day at the office.

3.  Dive - Tycho
Techno and synthesizers have always held a special place in my heart.  When I first heard this album, I thought it was good, but I thought it was a one-hit-wonder kind of a deal. 

Big mistake. 

Not every person will like Dive because of its ambient sound, but if you’re looking for a trip into the wonders of rhythm, sounds and beats, it's something you need to listen to at least once in your life.  Each arrangement is unique and Tycho takes you on a catchy ride that encompasses the laid-back side of techno.  If California had a soundtrack, this would be it.

4.  Cherish the Light Years - Cold Cave
If you took the '80s synthesizer sound, added a touch of gloomy undertones and threw in a little eccentric personality, then you just created one of the greatest alternative electronic acts in the modern world. 

When I first heard "Confetti" from this album, I was obsessed.  I listened to it three or four times in a row and then annoyed my roommate by playing it three more times that night.  As I kept playing Cherish the Light Years, I began to move away from the single and discovered a great electronic sound that emulates the best sounds and styles of the '80s while cutting away all the crap and cheesiness of the decade.

If you’re looking for a nice technological sound without constantly pulsating bass and lyrics that consist of more than repetitions of three word phrases, then this is the album for you.

5.  El Ten Eleven - El Ten Eleven
The name of the game here is musicianship, and these guys are masters. 

Lyrics aren’t always needed to create emotion.  Rather, one just needs guitars, bass, a drum set and a good sense of how to arrange the clashing sounds together to create a mood. 

El Ten Eleven's self-titled is the kind of album that builds up to a dynamic sound with the melodic tuning and simple chords of a guitar, a smooth bass line and a simple drum rhythm that never overpowers. 

Each instrument is given equal treatment and what results is a collection of beautiful arrangements that explore every human emotion without uttering a single word.