It recently dawned on me that I have been a loyal fan of Links for about a year and never wrote or said a word about why. Here it is readers...
The obvious and generic reasons are the usual. They're powerful blues have a way of shaking my veins to the very core and the lyrics are roughly etched onto the inside of my skull. Every single song has a way of relating to some feeling I have had more than once, various friends and girlfriends that have come and gone, or a particular event in my life where said music would be the ideal soundtrack choice if my life were ever documented on the silver screen. (unlikely but thats not what this is about)
Canopy "We're finally free, underneath the Canopy. I've built it just for two... I've built it just for you" - This one reminds me of my motorcycle. The way the bass line starts out has the same feeling that my hog had when it came to life every morning. It also has a kinship to the lyrics since I felt completely free on it. Free from traffic and high insurance rates... but most of all because it was the first vehicle I paid for myself after those wretched months at Starbucks (since I was never given one as a kid) and fixed myself and it allowed me to be free from depending on someone else for transportation and free to be me. I was born to ride.
710 "Back on 710, driving to get next to you. My whole ride is spent, thinkin what we're gonna do" - Quite the straightforward song, this one reminds me of my long distance (and only) relationship I had in 2006. Hundred of miles of asphalt and dirt or clouds and rain and for what? well, not nothing. Quite a few lessons learned but mostly emptiness. 710 doesn't get me hung up on this, only reminds me of what I learned and how much I've grown since then.
Talk Talk Talk "It would be so nice to see, you comin over to me, and hear you talkin, talking to me" - Talk is definitely a song for the present, as it pertains to a current girl and my feelings for her. I would have no problem telling her of said feelings but sometimes its like I don't exist. We pop in and out of each other's lives because we're each living our own. We talk for hours on end and I love hearing every word she has to say so much to the point where I can't wait to hear her voice. I try to get close but every time she seems just outside my reach. 'I'm waiting for courage to come and take this heart off my sleeve' and just maybe I can have what I love. K.A.S.
Under The Anchor "When I was younger my father told me, he said boy a man knows his role. So I went to teacher same question each week, so afraid I'd never know" - This song also has a current place of thinking since it is what inspired me to drop-out of school. I was tired of waiting for something to save me. By that I mean everyone (my family, friends, teachers, etc) telling me that getting a degree is the only way to live your life and I have to do this. It was this song that made me say "to hell with it." School is just not my thing. Sitting at a desk while listening to someone who already failed in their dreams and decided to teach talk my ear off with opinions or who simply don't want to be there (I'm talking more about Pierce than CSUN, but both are somewhat guilty of this). Those who can't do.... teach. Well, I can do... and I can do a lot of things without having to get the OK from a piece of fancy paper. School is good for some, just not a wrestles heart like me.
Cold Water "If I'm a nuisance won't you let me know, cause I don't know" - This one goes back to K.A.S., b/c I don't know if I'm being a nuisance or not. Well, I'm pretty sure I am, but I'm also a stubborn romantic I won't give it up. This song is a twist of blues and soul embedded in rock.
Not The Only One "Take back what you did, I meant no harm. Take back what you did, forget it, the harm is done" - Not the Only One is about an outlaw. It takes me back a few years to my arrest and getting some of my friends arrested. In my defense, we were innocent but looked guilty, and looked guilty because of me. I cost my friends a lot of money whilst getting off nearly scot free myself, and the court system fucked over one them real bad. So I worked my ass off to help them in any way I could. By doing so, I became a man... and a thief. Ripped some prick off for a few bills and gave it to those close to me that needed it. In the end, everything ended up all right. "Not The Only One" reminds me of the tough times that made me the man I am today. The others often talk about how they would take it back if they could. I say no, I needed that.
Links is a band that makes music which brings things out in me. Good things, bad things, fun things, and most important of all... love. I recommend giving them a listen and if you're feeling adventurous enough, go see a show. You'll probably see me there, say hi. If you're still not convinced, all four of em are insanely good looking and funny as all manner of hell.
until next time, Slainte'
I Am Jack, Finally Free...Underneath The Canopy
