OK, so since I regained connectivity, I've been buying a ton of music.... including Iron Maiden's "Number Of The Piece" and "Piece Of Mind".
The music and vocals are fucking amazing. I never realized that Maiden was so proggy, when I was 14. At the time. I thought they were just. I dunno, fancier than Priest and (evnentually) not as caffeinated as Metallica. But, wow. And, damn, so good at the technical stuff. whew.
But, then I started listening to lyrics.
He is the king of all the land
In the kingdom of the sands
Of a time tomorrowHe rules the sandworms and the Fremen
In a land amongst the stars
Of an age tomorrowHe is destined to be a king
He rules over everything
On the land called planet DuneBodywater is your life
And without it you would die
On the desert the planet DuneWithout the stillsuit you would fry
On the sands so hot and dry
In a world called ArrakisIt is a land that's rich in Spice
The sandriders and the 'mice'
That they call the Muad' DibHe is the Kwizatz Haderach
He is born of Caladan
And will take the Gom Jabbaryada yada j'bar
I can't even pull a line to highlight, because the next one is just as bad. And fuck if I can remember how all those syllables fit the music now that I'm listening to the Minutemen. It was awkward. Props to Bruce Dickinson for making it sound awesome, though.
Oh. Well.
I guess musical skill and verbal skills are separate. And I'd be grateful for more of either. Can I Haz Oyster Miracles?
I remember listening to some Iron Maiden sometime in the late 90s and thinking that if you cut their hair and put them in jeans and glasses bam! You’ve got the most amazing mathrock in the land. I don’t know how they could keep all those parts straight.
I give Bruce Dickinson this: At least he’s writing about something, you know? Aleister Crowley, native americans, Dune. Stuff that interests him. Not just a bunch of baby-baby-baby or navel gazing, personal confessional horseshit.
Dude’s fit as a fiddle too. I think he eschewed drugs and whatnot.
And he’s an airline pilot?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruce_Dickinson#Aviation
I don’t know how they could keep all those parts straight.
seriously. musically, those guys are awesome.
At least he’s writing about something, you know?
oh yeah. i give him that. none of the songs are about him or whoever wrote the lyrics – i think the bassist writes some. it’s all detached narrative. and good subject choices. more than once, i found them to be interesting gateways into bigger things. little history or literature lessons. but it’s not always great poetry. great music, great delivery, but the words… eh.
but, it’s a minor complaint. i’m still digging the whole thing. and i liked them like crazy when it was fresh. 25 years of age… some sagging is expected.
And he’s an airline pilot?
crazy. there’s a tour film about them where he flies the hops between gigs, on their own private 7×7. seems like a fun dude.