Spring Break
Songs That Drop It Like They're Hot
Stephen Ortiz
Issue date: 10/31/07 Section: Focus
It's hard to describe it but everyone knows what it is - it's that moment where a song unleashes its full glory upon the listener. You're just sitting there, headphones on, nodding your head to the music and then BAM - the song takes an unexpected turn for the better. It, you know, drops and never looks back. So here's my list of some of the best songs that drop.
Contact Stephen Ortiz at
Stephen.Ortiz@UConn.edu.
1. "In The Air Tonight"
Artist: Phil Collins
Album: "Face Value" (1981)
Time of Drop: 3:41
Why It's So Good: Everyone knows exactly what moment this is. For the majority of the song, Phil Collins solemnly sings about lost love and divorce over a simple synthesized drum loop and ominous chords, with the occasional guitar roaring somewhere distant. The perfect way to describe the mood is restrained anger. The song is pure atmosphere. Then, with just under two minutes left, the musical tension is released in an explosion of drums with Collins building up to the final chorus.
2. "Spitting Venom"
Artist: Modest Mouse
Album: "We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank" (2007)
Time of Drop: 1:27
Why It's So Good: Over a repeating acoustic guitar riff, simple as it can get, lead singer Isaac Brock sings about talking badly of others, or "spitting venom," with his usual nonsensical line here and there. The best part though is when he tells the listener to "let it drop, let it all drop, let it all fall off," leading up to the moment where he says, "Now drop," and the rest of the band cranks it up and lets loose. First-time listeners won't even see it coming.
3. "Cygnus…Vismund Cygnus"
Artist: The Mars Volta
Album: "Frances the Mute" (2005)
Time of Drop: 0:45
Why It's So Good: "Cygnus" slowly builds up a simple acoustic track done by guitarist Omar Rodriguez-Lopez and light vocals from Cedric Bixler-Zavala, lulling the listener into a dream-like state, just enough to get your guard down. But less than a minute into the song, you're under attack from all directions. Rodriguez-Lopez's guitar work is phenomenal, eclectic and crashes into the speakers at full speed, setting the mood for the entire album - fast, heavy and all over the place.
Contact Stephen Ortiz at
Stephen.Ortiz@UConn.edu.
1. "In The Air Tonight"
Artist: Phil Collins
Album: "Face Value" (1981)
Time of Drop: 3:41
Why It's So Good: Everyone knows exactly what moment this is. For the majority of the song, Phil Collins solemnly sings about lost love and divorce over a simple synthesized drum loop and ominous chords, with the occasional guitar roaring somewhere distant. The perfect way to describe the mood is restrained anger. The song is pure atmosphere. Then, with just under two minutes left, the musical tension is released in an explosion of drums with Collins building up to the final chorus.
2. "Spitting Venom"
Artist: Modest Mouse
Album: "We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank" (2007)
Time of Drop: 1:27
Why It's So Good: Over a repeating acoustic guitar riff, simple as it can get, lead singer Isaac Brock sings about talking badly of others, or "spitting venom," with his usual nonsensical line here and there. The best part though is when he tells the listener to "let it drop, let it all drop, let it all fall off," leading up to the moment where he says, "Now drop," and the rest of the band cranks it up and lets loose. First-time listeners won't even see it coming.
3. "Cygnus…Vismund Cygnus"
Artist: The Mars Volta
Album: "Frances the Mute" (2005)
Time of Drop: 0:45
Why It's So Good: "Cygnus" slowly builds up a simple acoustic track done by guitarist Omar Rodriguez-Lopez and light vocals from Cedric Bixler-Zavala, lulling the listener into a dream-like state, just enough to get your guard down. But less than a minute into the song, you're under attack from all directions. Rodriguez-Lopez's guitar work is phenomenal, eclectic and crashes into the speakers at full speed, setting the mood for the entire album - fast, heavy and all over the place.
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