I've got a question for everyone. What are some of your favourite 'moments' in music? I don't mean historical moments, but particular points in songs which stand out for you personally. It could be a particular line of lyrics, a chord change, the opening line of a song, anything. They might not even be great songs or great artists, but they may have just produced one moment of pure magic that sends a tingle down your spine every time you hear it.

Here are a few of my personal favourites:

* Interpol, Stella was a diver and she always got down, 3:00 mark:
I think this one is shared by a lot of Interpol fans at the band's gigs. About the 3:00 mark, Paul Banks starts wailing about Stella (whoever she might be): "Stella! Stella! Stella I love you, Stella I loooove you". I always get the urge to wail along with Paul at this point.

* Franz Ferdinand, Take me Out, 00:56 onwards:
Another blindingly obvious choice. I'm pretty sure everyone knows what I'm referring to here. It's the point at which an ordinary indie number gets hijacked by one of the best guitar riffs you've ever heard, and cements the song's all-time classic status (at least in my book).

* Metallica, One, 4:18 mark:
Probably my first major musical 'moment', and my favourite heavy track ever to this day. This point in the song marks where you can hear Lars Ulrich's drums gradually getting louder and louder, as he beats the skins into submission with quite literal machine gun precision. Pretty soon after this Kirk starts shredding away off the same pattern, and before you know it the gunfire pattern has taken over the whole song. Brilliant, brilliant , brilliant.

What are some of your personal favourite musical 'moments'? I don't care if it's Morrissey or Madonna, as long as it floats your boat.

Don't be shy people!

Great topic.

Beta Band - 3 EP's - "B + A" at about the 3:05 mark

This songs got a great groove going already, but when the guitars/bass or whatever start pumping in at this point the song just takes off.



Explosions in the Sky - Those Who Tell the Truth..., "Help Us Stay Alive," - 0:49

After some soft and ominous guitar sounds, the electric guitars come crashing down and it is stunning. The perfect beginning to a violent, dark album.

Thee More Shallows - More Deep Cuts - Freshman Thesis - 3:45

After Dee Kesler finishes singing in this dark song, the minor guitar pattern drops out, leaving only a moaning violin and an eerie electonic drum pulsing. Then a great metallic noise like something breaking down or collapsing occurs and the electric guitars come chugging in. Tremendous moment on a tremendous album.



Boards of Canada - Music Has the Right to Children - "Olson" - 1:11

Every moment until now has involved some dramatic entrance of new instruments and sound. On this track, BoC pulls off an equally dramatic moment by withdrawing noises and using silence. The songs begins beautifully with swelling synth going through some simple chord changes and a higher melodic synth repeating a gorgeous pattern. Then at the 1:11, both synths drop out suddenly at the striking of a piano chord that begins a trio of chords that is repeated twice to end the song. Just incredible.


I've got a few more great moments in mind, but I'll save them for later.

Agreed on the great topic comment. (RL and I can get along!)

I have hundreds but I'll start with Radiohead.

"Paranoid Android" - (3:34) The "Rain Down" conclusion. Beautiful lyrics and music!

"Exit Music (For A Film)" - (2:48) The drum lead-in highlights the greatest build-up to conclusion that I have ever heard. One hundred years from now, this song will be considered a High Mark in music history.

"Black Star" - (2:40) "I keep falling over I keep passing out when I see a face like you." The subtle harmony adds to the effect of the lyrics. Anyone who has experienced a similar situation can simply feel Thom's pain.

In regards to Radiohead ^ In "Optimistic" when Thom says 'this one drops the payload, fodder for the animals' I can't help but sing it along with him. Illinois by Sufjan Stevens has dozens of beautiful moments but in particular around 3 minutes in on "The Predatory Wasps of Palisades" is just awesome. Also the falsetto on "John Wayne Gacy", the last minute of "Jacksonville", the 2nd part of "Come on Feel the Illinoise", i think i'll stop there. The climax of the solo in "Stairway to Heaven" always gives me chills. The fadeout of "The Bleeding Heart Show" by the New Pornographers. In "They Never got You" by Spoon when the violins first kick in. "Shine on You Crazy Diamond" by Pink Floyd, the chorus is brilliant of course.

My favorite Radiohead moment:

"How To Disappear Completely" from 5:05-5:35. The strings and Thom's voice both seem to be descending into disorder and chaos, and then out of the maelstrom Thom puts everything in its right place, hitting the right note and leading the strings back to order. Oh, how I love that moment.

cool thread.


"Lust for Life" - Iggy Pop (0:00 - 0:05) Without a doubt, the coolest opening drumbeat ever.

"No New Tale to Tell" - Love and Rockets (1:36) That badass flute solo.

"Monkey Gone to Heaven" -The Pixies (1:31) Frank Black lets Joey Santiago know it's time for his solo with the shoutout, "Rock Me, Joe."

"It's The End of the World as we Know It" - R.E.M. (2:26) "LEONARD BERNSTEIN!"

quote:

Originally posted by P-Bo:
Agreed on the great topic comment. (RL and I can get along!)

Come on, P-Bo. You know I ain't got nothin' but love for you.

I've been waiting for this thread forever. I always think about this when I hear a part of a song that blows me away, often unexpectedly.

What RL said about Freshman Thesis, I love that too. Sounds like a creepy, distorted carnival song.

"Cosmonaut" by At The Drive In- From when the music dies down to ominous bass and drums and Cedric Bixler starts growling "Is it heavier than air" to when he completely lets loose and I have no idea what he's saying. But it's one of the most amazing things I have ever heard a person do with their voice. The tension that builds there makes me stop breathing every time I listen to that song.

"Monkey" by Low-0:20- The fuzz comes into play. One of my favorite songs ever.

The opening of "Run into Flowers" by M83

From 1:00-2:00 on "Map" by The Microphones, and then again when the piano comes in at 2:20.. and then AGAIN at 3:50. Oh, and every other second of music The Microphones have ever recorded. Their music is full of moments.

The first five seconds of "When You Sleep" by MBV

"A Spoonful Weighs A Ton" by The Flaming Lips-1:20- This is totally unexpected and awesome.

"Pink Moon" by Nick Drake- 0:42-1:00, the "pink, pink, pink" part.

"Pick Up The Phone" by The Notwist-0:17- probably the greatest electronic riff I've ever heard.

"I Bleed" by Pixies-1:40-2:00, great vocals.

The crash into the chorus of "Once In A Lifetime" by The Talking Heads.

The intro to "Staring At The Sun" by TV On The Radio.

"Plateau" by The Meat Puppets- "There's nothing on the top but a bucket and a mop and an illustrated book about birds."

When "Little Fury Things" by Dinosaur Jr. turns into a real song.

I have a billion others, and I didn't even include Radiohead.

Thanks for the positive feedback and your contributions so far guys... keep them coming! What better motivation to check out some of these great artists?

Another couple of my favourites:

* Neutral Milk Hotel, Oh Comely, 5:30

I would guess that most people that have heard this song would know what I'm talking about here. About three quarters of the way through the song, what sounds like a heart beating suddenly breaks through under Jeff Magnum's singing, and pulses away for a few seconds. Jeff sings: "Know all your enemies, we know who our enemies aaarrrre", there is a second of complete silence in the background, and then the most beautiful horn sound you've ever heard kicks in in the background, with Jeff singing along to the melody at the top of his voice. Amazing stuff.

* Korn, Good God, 2:05

This one was a bit of a guilty pleasure back in my high school days. Two minutes in, a dropped bass guitar kicks in and plays for a few seconds, while Jonathan Davis mutters "Won't you get the fuck out of my face? Now!" a few times, before deciding to try a more aggressive approach: "Won't you get the fuck out of my face.... NOOOOOOOW!!", while the band goes absolutely apeshit in the background. Juvenile lyrics to be sure (hey, it's KORN people!), but listening to it, you can just picture a moshpit going absolutely nuts at this point in their set.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Sina,

This is a good topic. Oftentimes a few "moments" can really make an album for me, regardless of consistent quality or inventiveness.

My favorites are:

"So Come Back, I am Waiting" by Okkervil River 7:04

Scheff howls "So come back to your old black sheep man" at the end of quite a dirge of a penultimate number. Essentially the conclusion of a fantastic album.


"You Got the Silver" by the Rolling Stones 1:55

"Hey babe, what's in your eyes?" My favorite Stones moment. I have always liked their more country-ish, songwriting style.


"Thunder Road" by Bruce Springsteen 1:42

The first time I heard this song it was like nothing I had ever heard. It's like Springsteen made the music move.


"Masterfade" by Andrew Bird 3:52

Nothing like being in a lonely valley somewhere at night, listening to Bird singing "When you're lying on the ground staring up at that inverted compass, I mean Chriiiist who knows."


"Like Spinning Plates" by Radiohead 2:29

"And this just feels like spinning plates." O, OK now I understand.


The best though:

"This is the One" by The Stone Roses 2:04

Up until that point you are really wondering what this song is all about, where it is going, then BOOM!

Here are a few more favs...

"A Nervous Tic Motion of the Head to the Left" by Andrew Bird - (4:20) "Though the words we speak are banal, not one of them's a lie, not one of them's a lie." This is one of those portions of a great song that I just love hearing. I really can't explain why: I just always look forward to it.

"Hallelujah" - Jeff Buckley Version - (3:43) "But remember when I moved in you and the holy dove was moving too, and every breath we drew was Hallelujah." As his voice builds and strengthens, I truly realize the brilliance of this version. Definitely the best example of the true power behind his voice.

"Lover, You Should've Come Over" by Jeff Buckley - (3:27) "Lonely is the room, the bed is made, the open window lets the rain in. But hiding in the corner is the only one that dreams he had you with him......." My all time fav Buckley song; Hopelessly romantic and unbearably sad. From this point in the song until the end, may just be my favorite part of any song ever. If not, it's tied with about 500 other songs.

Third Eye Blind - Motorcycle Drive By (2:06) when the guitar kicks in and Stephen's voice crescendoes off into wistful, ah, never mind, just my favorite part of the song.

RL actually took one of my choices with his nod to the Beta Band's B+A because when those clashing drums come in, it's like the whole song just funkifies.

And speaking of funkifying a song, (2:37) of the New Porno's "These are the Fables" when the pounding piano and funky bass line come through, I can't help but get up and shake my groove thing.

Can's "Soup" at the 1:31 point, where after Damo's ramblings come to an abrupt end, and karoli's guitar starts thrashing, and the bass thrwos its weight around, and then finally Damo rises up in an exultant "I'm flying!", I get this image in my head of some kid just getting out of a boring day of school and jumping into the air.

Finally, at 3:08 of Clap Your Hands Say Yeah's "Skin of my Yellow Country Teeth" when the xylophone and all the instruments meld into a glorious whole and everything seems right. That's probably my favorite.

quote:

"A Nervous Tic Motion of the Head to the Left" by Andrew Bird - (4:20) "Though the words we speak are banal, not one of them's a lie, not one of them's a lie." This is one of those portions of a great song that I just love hearing. I really can't explain why: I just always look forward to it.

I only heard that song (and Andrew Bird) for the first time a few days ago on his myspace page, and I had it on repeat for about half an hour. Top, top song (love the whistling!), and that's a great line too. His album is definitely on my 'must buy' list.

Hey! You may have pretty good taste! Welcome to the site.

Thanks for that Mark.

quote:

Originally posted by paxsoprano:


"Masterfade" by Andrew Bird 3:52

Nothing like being in a lonely valley somewhere at night, listening to Bird singing "When you're lying on the ground staring up at that inverted compass, I mean Chriiiist who knows."

This is my favorite Andrew Bird song, and in my next message I was going to include a different moment from this song, specifically the 1:35 mark, when he sings "when the sky's full of zeroes and ones" and he harmonizes with his own voice. For some reason I just love that line, "the sky's full of zeroes and ones."

As far as "Masterfade" goes, it's just the most-relaxing song I can think of. Perfect for whatever your fave relaxing is: trying to go to sleep, relaxing on the front porch, doing yoga, remembering to tell your loved one that you love them, hyperventilating.

I personally adore the BirdMonster, and I double-dog dare you to come up with a better whistler!!

well, off the top of my head....

Modest Mouse - styrofoam boots: when the drums and bass kick in.

Modest Mouse - Gravity rides everything: when the strumming stops and the beautiful melody kicks in

Modest Mouse - Stars are projectors: whole first half of the song is mind boggling

Modest Mouse - Life like weeds: "I could have told you all that I loved you" part. so many layers all perfectly interwoven.

Beatles - Here comes the sun: Triumphant return of the opening melody after the bridge. gorgeous.

Pixies - Wave of Mulitation: "drive my car into the ocean." there is such liberation in that

311 - Mindspin - second half of the song. i am not afraid to admit my love for 311, and this moment ranks among my top ever. it's freakin sweet.

i thought of a radiohead moment, but by now it's so trite to mention radiohead that it makes me want to punch something. people need to stop mentioning radiohead in every fucking post. i swear, if someone made a thread about the best rap music, someone would go and say radiohead, and people wouldnt even notice because it's radiohead.

quote:

Originally posted by Gopher:
Modest Mouse - styrofoam boots: when the drums and bass kick in.

That is a good one, I forgot about Styrofoam Boots.

It does seem like half the threads lately have turned into discussions about Radiohead and Andrew Bird, but maybe that is just a testament to how great they are?

quote:

Originally posted by Gopher:
311 - Mindspin - second half of the song. i am not afraid to admit my love for 311, and this moment ranks among my top ever. it's freakin sweet.

I always loved 311. Stand proud brother!

quote:

i thought of a radiohead moment, but by now it's so trite to mention radiohead that it makes me want to punch something. people need to stop mentioning radiohead in every fucking post. i swear, if someone made a thread about the best rap music, someone would go and say radiohead, and people wouldnt even notice because it's radiohead.

There is a best rap music thread and Radiohead dominates it. Thom Yorke can spin a beat and tell a story while spittin some of the maddest rhymes I've ever heard. He may be the dopest MC of all time. I'd attribute his street cred to the fact that he was shot 5 times by an M-4 Carbine while running tea off the streets of West Ham.