Nick’s Favourite Music of 2011
GIRLS - VOMIT
That title still confounds me. There’s absolutely nothing in this song’s lyrics, music or accompanying video that suggests why Christopher Owens felt that the word “vomit” somehow perfectly summarised this tender and brilliant track, my favourite of the year.
For a better explanation of why this song is so beautifully perfect, I’ll defer to the review of Father, Son, Holy Ghost I wrote three months ago:
The song starts quietly, with a very slowcore-sounding guitar leading the way. It’s soon joined by Owens’ new singing voice (less fey, more honest) pining (mourning, perhaps?) for a lost love. And then BAM! Drums, bass and an organ explode into action, before softly retreating again. The song builds up yet again, paving the way for a crunchy grunge guitar solo. Then quiet once more. When the song raises the volume one final time, it holds it there, changing moods ever-so-slightly and shifting into sheer optimism, making the guitars brighter and clearer, bringing in a gospel choir to bring it all home. “Come in to my heart,” Owens sings. We’re already there.
What I also wanted to mention (but couldn’t find a way to comfortably fit it in) is how the later, brighter guitar licks remind of Manfred Mann’s Earth Band(’s) superlative cover of ‘Blinded by the Light’, and how the gospel choir’s crescendo towards the end recall Pink Floyd’s ‘Great Gig in the Sky’.
One more thing: the more I listen to this song, I don’t think Owens is addressing just any person. I doubt he’s even speaking to a person at all. It seems to me that he’s talking directly to love itself.
Winner of this year’s “Best Song Ever” award
[Last year’s winner]
