5 Songs to Get You Through the Week #54

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. Planet Caravan, by Black Sabbath

This is one of Black Sabbath's most relaxing and romantic songs. I know what you're thinking. Josh, WTF? Black Sabbath in the same sentence as "romantic" and "relaxing"? Sounds like you've been smoking the same stuff that they used to! I assure you however that these words are an apt description of the song. However, it is in a very creative and science fiction kind of way. All kinds of things about planets and space are mentioned all throughout the song. For those who are jazz guitar enthusiasts,  this is right up your alley.

2. Fluff, by Black Sabbath

Another peaceful song by Black Sabbath. This song reminds me of sitting at my living room window watching snow come gently falling from the sky in the middle of the night. It really is a Tony Iommi masterpiece, as he plays all the guitars and piano in the track. There are layers upon layers of instruments and they all come together as a well constructed puzzle. In a way it really is an elaborate tapestry of sound.

3.  Zeitgeist, by Black Sabbath

When Black Sabbath reunited with singer Ozzy Osbourne to record and release the 2013 album 13, a lot of what they did was try to recapture their old sound. You can really tell when you listen to the track Zeitgeist, which basically sounds like a newer version of Planet Caravan. It isn't romantic like the old track, but it is very much in the same jazzy relaxing vibe as its inspiration. It does put you in a similar mindset to say the least.

4. Solitude, by Black Sabbath

This is another one of Black Sabbath's not so loud and rumbling tunes. This one while in some ways relaxing is a bit more on the depressing side, but given the title and subject matter of the lyrics that much is obvious. Many people (myself included) have been able to relate to and resonate with it to some degree at some point in their lives. It is a mournful, yet simultaneously beautiful song. It brings to light what goes through a heart during times of great emotional duress.

5. Changes, by Black Sabbath

This has to be one of Black Sabbath's most famous non-rocking tunes. It is piano driven with some nice string backing. It is also some of the most heart felt and sincere singing I have ever heard out of Ozzy. It's a song about love, loss, and heartbreak. If you thought Solitude was relatable, THIS is even more so. Almost everyone deals with a break-up during the course of their lives. Let Ozzy's words just flow through to the very corners of your soul when you listen to this...