5 Songs to Get You Through the Week #32

5 Songs to Get You Through the Week is a feature I run on Young Ears, Fresh Perspective on Sundays/early hours of Monday morning where I pick out 5 tunes that I think are notable and tell you a bit about them. The point is to give you some rocking music to help you deal with your weekday blues. You can either listen to one each day, listen to them all at once, or any other combination that you feel. As long as you can get through the week without the man getting you down, that's all I care about. Without further ado, here are the 5 tracks I've picked out for this week:

1. Owner of a Lonely Heart, by Yes

With the tragic passing of Chris Squire (the bassist of and co-founder of prog-rock band Yes) it is only appropriate to honor the man's memory and legacy by including one of his band's most well known songs. Though Yes had a great deal of fantastic work that got them fame beforehand (dating back to the 60's), this was one of the songs that really put them on the map in the eyes of mainstream rock in 1983. May you rest in peace, Chris.

 
2. Hustle and Cuss, by The Dead Weather

Jack White has had quite a few interesting musical projects over the years, one of the most under rated of which (in my opinion) would have to be The Dead Weather; a band that includes  Alison Mosshart on lead vocals, rhythm guitar, keyboards, Jack White  on drums, lead vocals, and guitar, Dean Fertita on lead guitar, keyboards, and backing vocals, and Jack Lawrence on bass, backing vocals, and drums. The tune Hustle and Cuss really showcases the kind of howling bluesy classic prog rock that the band makes. It's dark, but has a wicked groove to it.

3. Hey Joe, by The Jimi Hendrix Experience

The Jimi Hendrix rendition of Hey Joe is probably the best known version of this blues standard. Surprisingly Hendrix's playing is a little more reserved on the recording rather than him going off on his wild fiery guitar odysseys that he was famous for. Maybe that is for the best though because it helps preserve the structure and focus of the song on the emotional and lyrical content being conveyed to the listener.

4. Speedin' Back to My Baby, by Ace Frehley

In 1978 tensions between the four members of Kiss were running high, so their record label came up with an idea to give them all some time and space from each other while still getting new material from the group: each member would record a solo album and all would be released on the same day. Lead guitarist Ace Frehley's album Ace Frehley ended up being the most successful due to being the most rocking with catchy hooks; especially in tunes like Speedin' Back to My Baby. It's a pretty basic song, but it pulls it off in all the right ways.

5. Sheena is a Punk Rocker, by The Ramones

To end things on a fun note, this classic from The Ramones' first album is a sure fire win if you want to get your internal motor revving. It is pretty much everything that a Ramones song needs to be: catchy, upbeat, memorable, simple and fun. Plus, it actually does have a bit of deeper meaning about the difficulties of being different in adolescence to it if you do take the time to listen to the lyrics and not just dance around your bed room or car to the song itself.