May contain a heavy dose of Jim Kerr
Jim’s voice, and his lyrics. They are deep (both voice AND lyrics), as per usual in these early years. His lyrics have a depth beyond his tender years at this point in the Simple Minds story. He so very quickly becomes such a stark, bold lyricist. The imagery he conveys is startling. God, can you…
It’s that bass, to start. Derek’s bassline on this song is fab! Mick’s synths too. And Brian’s drums. And Charlie’s guitar. And Jim’s lyrics…the song really works as a whole unit! But it’s that musical heart of a song…bass and drums. I know I keep saying it, but Brian McGee really doesn’t get enough credit…
A wonderfully political snapshot of Eastern Europe of the late 1970s. If you think Simple Minds only became political in the mid to late 80s…listen to this and you know you’re mistaken. I know I go on about Jim’s songwriting, but I do for a reason, it’s bloody good!! His words are just always so…
https://youtu.be/golZ5ERv76Q Why I love…Boys From Brazil. I’ve talk about my love for Boys From Brazil in passing several times now. On the Simple Minds FB page too, telling Jim how much I would love to meet Brian McGee and thank him…KISS HIM…for those amazing drums. Yes, Jim says Mel Gaynor is the best drummer in…
Because it is one of the (if not THE) sexiest songs they’ve ever made. Jim’s vocals… Just…OMG…WHAAAAA??! All those sounds and moans and god knows what…just… I don’t know what half the words are. It never got an official release until Silver Box…and it’s obviously a demo. Some lines I do know “Unhappy the land…
Why I love…Seeing Out The Angel It starts with, quite possibly, Mick MacNeil’s finest if nor most hauntingly beautiful piece of synth work. It’s quite a simple chord structure, but I find it just gives me goosebumps (chicken skin) EVERY TIME. Then comes in another gem of a bassline from Derek Forbes. His bass comes…
The very first time I heard it, I fell in love with it. It’s Mick MacNeil’s organ playing (I’m assuming it’s an organ, it sounds like one) that first hooked me in. It is SO reminiscent of “Waltzinblack” by The Stranglers (another absolute FAVE instrumental – oddly enough, The Stranglers are the Minds’ support/co headliners…
It’s the rhythm of it to begin with. Very reminiscent of David Bowie’s Station To Station. It reminds me of it, but is far enough removed not to sound a pastiche. A great bassline once again from “Big Dan”. And Charlie uses the guitar effects for a nice screeching sound. Maybe it’s just reverb. I…
https://dailymotion.com/video/x2qiyns If I’m listening to Empires And Dance (and not just on shuffle mode)…it’s that anticipation. Waiting for that *ping* that starts the song off. Not sure what that is…a keyboard note…a synth tone…whatever. It denotes the beginning of one of Mick MacNeil’s most amazing synth intros, ever! It’s got a great pulse, a great…
Mick MacNeil’s synth for starters. Just right off the bat there. The pace of it. The time sequence of it. More great lyrics from Jim. “The suit he wears belongs to me” and “She rag doll, she keeps him warm” are personal faves. And such a fantastically simple chorus “We can live / I can…