Heartland

Surely you know the rules?

You're cast away on a desert island. You're allowed eight pieces of music, the complete works of Shakespeare, the Bible (or other religious/philosophical book) and another book of your choice, plus a luxury item (which must not be used to help you escape from the island).

A wee explanation for each of your ten choices (eleven if you replace the Bible) would help.

Based on songs I'd never get tired of listening to....

The Cure - The Figurehead
(The best song on Pornography IMO)
The Sisters Of Mercy - Dominion/Mother Russia
(Ensuring I get my moneys worth time wise)
Philip Glass - Facades
(For the contemplative early evening dusk moments while staring out to sea)
The Stooges - We Will Fall
(Likewise)
Spacemen 3 - Revolution
(To listen to while building a shelter)
The Monkees - I'm A Believer
(To remind me of my kids)
Metallica - Orion
(My selection wouldn't be complete without a bit of Metallica)
Neil Young - After The Goldrush
(Needs no explanation surely - just astoundingly beautiful)

Zen & The Art Of Motorcycle Maintenance - instead of the bible. I haven't read it. Enough reason.

Watchmen - For the same reason as the music choices. I would never get bored of reading it, finding each hidden gem in the panels.

Luxury Item: Some really nice fresh coffee in a sealable pack (a big one).

The Rolling Stones - Gimme Shelter
A fantastic song, and for me the Stones at their creative peak. I could, and have, listened to it for hours.

Fields of The Nephilim - Preacher Man
So many good memories of dancing to this that I'd never feel lonely.

Lalo Schifrin's theme to The Taking of The Pelham 123
This gives me goosebumps, it's dirty, raucous, in your face and quite brilliant. I could close my eyes and be in 70s New York wearing flares. The film is great, too.

Sisters of Mercy - Anaconda
The lyrics. Nuff said.

Public Enemy - Black Steel in the Hour Of Chaos
(Or any song from It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back) So I could dance like the S1Ws.

Sisterhood - Jihad
If I could play this all day at ear splitting volume I'd be happy.

The Cure - Catch
This song never fails to make me cry. I'd listen to this every day as I planned my escape.

March Violets - Snake Dance
I like snakes and I like the Violets.

Books - I've read the Bible, I didn't like it. I'd take Brighton Rock by Graham Greene instead, and probably swap Shakespeare for The Canterbury Tales by Chaucer.

My luxury item would be a yacht. Not to use as means of escape but as somewhere to live. I'm really bad at DIY and building things but very good at listening to music.

i would change Bible for Russell's History of western philosophy.
music. i guess some of Gira's kids. some of polish musician Lech Janerka, some Eno. but i can't point specific songs/albums, it's always changing.

Eight songs or eight albums ?

iesus wrote:Eight songs or eight albums ?

Songs.

See above.

Michael Nyman ~ Endgame from Drowning by Numbers, can't live sans this track
TSOM ~ Never Land (Jazz Odyssey), when this appeared, I came
Megadeth ~ Wake Up Dead, thses guys still kick Metallica's erse! First time I heard I knew this was the band for me
UFO ~ Alpha Centari/Lettin' Go, loved them since I heard 'em on the Peel show, stuck with them all the way through the 'punk wars'
Genesis ~ Watcher of the Skies from Live, quite simply the track that changed my life
James Rays Gangwar ~ Rev Rev Lowrider from the live CD, Eric shows Mr. E what a real 'industrial Groove Machine' snouds like
RevCo ~ Stainless Steel Providers, love Chris Connely's steal of Beach Boy lyric and the industrial thunk of it all
Paradise Lost ~ Mercy, this band are soooooooo underated it's not funny

book ~ Any Human Heart, William Boyd, best book I've read

lux ~ a small French Tabac so I had plenty of fags and coffee, nuff said

Alone on a desert Island...

Glass - Bat for Lashes
Early morning alarm call. Reminder that there are two suns shining. One where I am, and one where I should be.

Regular John - Queens of the Stone Age
Beach work-out to stay fit and healthy, and keep my sense of identity.

Enola Alone - Manic Street Preachers
Two-fold. To accept the word 'alone' and played at 11, to scare the wild animals away.

Pigeon Town - Lydia Lunch & Roland S. Howard
My name for my Island. Also played at 11 as I go foraging for food/wood.

Smile Like You Mean It - The Killers
As I'm shit scared whilst foraging for food/wood and I hear a tiger growl. Yes, there are tigers on my Island.

You're So Great - Blur
A self-song and a pat on the back when I make it back alive. Not having been eaten by tigers.

Perfect Drug - Nine Inch Nails
Uplifting song whilst I'm putting away the 'shopping'. (See luxury gift).

Whatever Happened To My Rock 'n' Roll - Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
Chill time. Bounce time.

Purity - The God Machine
On repeat for four hours. Whilst I drink my coconut wine I've learnt to distill. By the pint.

Red Flags and Long Nights - She Wants Revenge
Awareness of where I am, and the awareness of Mother nature. Eventhough stupidly drunk.

Book(s): 'Lost Light' - Michael Connelly. I love Harry Bosch because of this:

There is no end of things in the heart.

Somebody once told me that. She said it came from a poem she believed in. She understood it to mean that if you took something to heart, really brought it inside those red velvet folds, then it would always be there for you. No matter what happened, it would be there waiting.

She said this could mean a person, a place, a dream. A mission. Anything sacred. She told me that it is all connected in those secret folds. Always. It is all part of the same and will always be there, carrying the same beat as your heart.

I am fifty-two years old and I believe it.

At night when I try to sleep but can't, that is when I know it. It is when all the pathways seem to connect and I see the people I have loved and hated and helped and hurt. I see the hands that reach for me. I hear the beat and see and understand what I must do. I know my m*****n and I know there is no turning away or turning back.

And it is in those moments that I know there is no end of things in the heart.

That would be hand-written and pinned above my luxury item; a mirror.

Can you ever imagine never being able to see yourself? I think identity is very important for survival.

The Bible and Shakespeare would just become fire starters, as appropriate, when the jungle was too wet.

We've shown you ours Mark; so now you show us yours.

God I love it when you're domineering.

I've put quite a bit of thought into this.

1: Meat Loaf - Bat Out Of Hell. The soundtrack to many a long childhood car-journey, and I can still sing along with the entire album word-for-word. A karaoke favourite when I'm drunk enough.
2: Blondie - Rapture. The first ever 7" single I bought for myself, and Debbie Harry was my first ever crush.
3: The Damned - Nasty. As featured in the Young Ones episode of the same name. Dave Vanian instantly became my style icon.
4: The m*****n - Wasteland. Specifically the performance on The Tube, which led to a mate lending me his older brother's copy of FALAA.
5: The Sisters Of Mercy - This Corrosion. Patricia Morrison! Baby oil! Patricia Morrison! The Steinman production! Patricia Morrison!
6: Bill Hicks - You're Wrong Night. I guess I can't have the whole of Rant in E-Minor so this part will have to do. Bill had a huge effect on me while I was at college.
7: Tool - The Grudge. The opening track to Lateralus simply blew me away the first time I heard it, and it still leaves me stunned every time I listen to it again.
8: The Unthanks - Here's The Tender Coming. And to finish on a quieter note, the haunting title track to the Unthanks' first album under that name. A wonderfully haunting tune.

I'll keep the Bible and Shakespeare; There are parts of each that I've not read and always meant to.

Book: The Lord Of The Rings. It's been my favourite book since I first read it at the age of eleven, and I've probably read it at least once a year since. I've still not stopped finding something new in it.

Luxury: Can I have about a metric tonne of weed?

markfiend wrote:
Luxury: Can I have about a metric tonne of weed?

Good choices Mark.

Now - I considered this option myself. Would a box containing Rizla's, Cutter's Choice and a metric tonne of week be allowed?

1. THE HUMAN LEAGUE - Zero As A Limit
2. JAPAN - .....Rhodesia
3. CARL ORFF - Omnia Sol Temperat
4. MOTT THE HOOPLE - All The Young Dudes
5. NEW YORK DOLLS - Human Being
6. BOWIE - John, I'm Only Dancing
7. SISTERS - Driven Like The Snow
8. HANOI ROCKS - Tooting Bec Wreck
Tomorrow a totally different list

For the book I would have Sir Charles Oman's "History of The Art Of War In The Sixteenth Century"

And I would need two luxury items :-

An endless supply of cigarettes - I don't smoke very much at all now but all that solitude would go down better seen through a nicotine haze.

A fully functioning bathroom - I like to start the day with a shower and I don't really fancy crapping in the sand.

But if I had to choose one I'd probably go for the ciggies.

Johnny Rev 7.0 wrote:
Red Flags and Long Nights - She Wants Revenge
Awareness of where I am, and the awareness of Mother nature. Eventhough stupidly drunk.

Never heard this. In fact never heard OF this. Just listened to it for the first time... absolutely stunning.

Pure Gold.

I'd love to see every member of the forum contribute to this. I will be looking up every piece of music listed here and having a listen. I do rate TSOM, but I have to say that not one of their tunes would individually make it into my DI Discs.

What I am loving about this though is that I believe people who actively enjoy TSOM music, would probably have other musical taste that I would find interesting - and just by the tunes listed here, it would seem to be the case. Am also enjoying the specifics of this - ie not just: 'The God Machine' or 'Phillip Glass' - but the single piece of music by them. Makes for very interesting browsing.

1. Joy Division - Transmission
I'd forgo the rest to take this. I struggle to believe that it gets any better. And for some reason, unless I stop and compose myself, this brings tears to the eyes.
2. Massive Attack - Safe from Harm
Hard to choose one song from my favourite band, but I guess it has to be this one. Not all of their songs strike home lyrically, but this one has me every time.
2. Love and Money - Lips like Ether
Wanted to include one pop song, and this is the best one that springs to mind, beating out the likes of Human League, Michael Jackson et al.
4. Dick Gaughan - Now Westlin Winds
Have to have something from my favourite LP, and although not an easy choice, I'll go for this adapation of a Robert Burns poem.
5. The Beatles - Let it Be
My Mum died last week after a long battle with cancer. Her favourite song. Another one for the memories.
6. Nirvana - Smells like Teen Spirit
On a desert island, there'd be times you would want some rock music. This does that.
7. DJ Tim & Misjah - Access
As for 6, you'd want to dance every now and then, and this is the danceyest thing I know, in a stomping kind way.
8. Uriel - You who are reading me now (Kid Loco 'Love Experience' remix)
My mate Scott's greatest hit, of sorts. Good for sunset type wibblings. Also, another memory track, dedicated to my wife and kids.

I'll have a go at the Bible, and there's bits of WS I've not read, so that's Ok by me.

AN Other Book - Wasp Factory, Iain Banks

Luxury - a digital photo frame with a solar battery so it never runs down, loaded with my favourite photos.

I've already changed my choices twice. I'll have to get back to you but Alice Cooper will be there. Have narrowed my book choices down to three, will Stig triumph? Wait and see

Oh and I'm glad to see we are now choosing dics of the vinyl kind rather than the floppy type

bearskin wrote:My Mum died last week after a long battle with cancer.

Hugs (if you want them).

Bauhaus: Bela Lugosi's dead
This monster brings together 2 of my pet loves: gothic rock & dub. It goes on for about 10 minutes and it keeps amazing me.

Sisters: Gimme Shelter
Well yeah, there has to be some Sisters in my bag. Okay it's a cover, but it could be their theme song in a way. I might even go for a VT era live version because of Tim's guitar...

Neil Young & Crazy Horse: Cowgirl In The Sand
This is a prime example of the mighty Crazy Horse groove. I couldn't live without that!

Genesis: Watcher Of The Skies
Also from the Live album like James said. When that track begins, it just takes me places...

Slowdive: Souvlaki Space Station
For those long, hot summer nights while looking at the stars and spacing away. I just want to hang in that bassline forever.

Horace Andy: Youths of Today/Jah Youth
Never leave home without some Horace stuff. This song + dub has been on very high rotation lately. Sublime stuff.

Caribou: Sun
Caribou made an almost perfect album with 'Swim'. Something like unplugged or organic house music. Even on deserted islands one needs to dance and this track would be more than perfect for that.

David Bowie: Wild Is The Wind
For me this is Bowie's best ever performance. Always makes me forget about time and think about loved ones...

The Cramps: Human Fly
For those moments you just need to rock the f**k out! Could've chosen a Ramones or Stooges track too and altough both bands are among the very, very best what rock music has to offer, The Cramps are just in a league of their own. Lux & Ivy, just thinking a moment about them makes me shed a tear and feel invincible at the same time!

Gil Scott-Heron: I'm New Here
He'll be my soul choice. A Bill Callahan song and one that Gil used to great effect on his excellent 'comeback' album a few years ago. I'm sure it'll make me smile after years on that island!


In the book dept I might go for the Old Testament. Or for Steve's choice 'Zen & The Art Of Motorcycle Maintenance'... That one is on my to-read list for quite a while now so if I haven't read it by then, I'll put that in my bag.


My luxury item would be the highly popular metric tonne of weed

Debaser wrote:Oh and I'm glad to see we are now choosing dics of the vinyl kind rather than the floppy type

Nice to know where my mind was at last night

sifting out 8 songs to be listened to until I… leave..?… Good challenge Mark. I enjoyed.

Cat Stevens -Sad Lisa. (… my brother and me playing it)

The Sisters of Mercy- Phantom. (Bombproof shelter)

Type O Negative -Wolf Moon [Including Zoanthropic Paranoia]. (A tribute to my first true crush, P. Steele )

Metallica- Until It Sleeps. (the "things" inside will probably scream, so it will hold me until I sleep)

Peste Noire - Dueil Angoisseus. (to keep the rage...)

Crippled Black Phoenix- We've Forgotten Who We Are. (pure sensibility, in case i start to forget).

The Ramones- Pet Sematary- To have a laugh and eventually a party on my own in the sand.

The Gathering-Even the Spirits are Afraid (this has always been full of meaning for me... I may reach my beloveds for a while!)

No Bible for me. So i have 3 books left, correct?
Then, P. Verlaine's Les Poètes maudits; Baudelaire's Les Fleurs du mal… and … Burgess' A Clockwork Orange (conforting readings for my new situation)

As for the luxury… Would it be too much obtuse carrying my piano with me? If I'm not allowed then I'll say cigarretes + lighter (as a kit )

1. Depeche Mode - Walking In My Shoes Leaving footprints in virgin sandy beaches...and later finding them

2. Echo & The Bunnymen - Rescue When I need rescued, won't you come on down?

3. Cabaret Voltaire - Yashar There's 70 Billion people...

4. Joy Division - Atmosphere Takes me back to listening to the John Peel Show and waiting for that new song that blows you away...still works

5. The Clash - Justice Tonight/Kick It Over 12" Just the best song to turn up the volume and...

6. Faithless - Insomnia To play as the sun sets over the crystal waters, to dance...to remember

7. Siouxsie & The Banshees - Night Shift Bring on the creatures that roam in the night...

8. The Doors - When The Music's Over Turn out the lights...


I really don't need the Complete works of Shakespeare, so I'll change that for Margrave Of The Marshes/The Olivetti Chronicles by John Peel...I know John didn't finish Margrave, but when I read it, I hear his voice in my head...and I've always thought that was a good thing to remember him by

I'll give the Bible a read...might be interesting

The one other book of my choice will be Stieg Larsson's Millennium Trilogy because when I read it the first time it was a challenge to get past the first 129 odd pages...now I can read the trilogy knowing that it will eventually all make perfect sense

Luxury Item; Soap on a Rope

bearskin wrote:Pure Gold. I'd love to see every member of the forum contribute to this.

I think your wish may becoming true.

It is seriously fascinating to see other people's insights.

DSOTM

Dale Carnegie's How to win friends and influence people. Good tinder.

A bottle of Jura to share.

Sisters-Floodland II-the best song for the beach,any beach

Morphine-Mile High-to lift the spirits when low

The Verve-Lucky Man-coz it's a great one

Chemlab-Chemical Halo-when in machine mode

Kula Shaker-Figure It Out-when levitating

Massive Attack-Risingson-while hunting

The Dandy Warhols-Not If You Were The LAst Junkie On Earth-catchy ass song

Depeche Mode-Never Let Me Down Again-so i can sing it to the coconut tree

NIN-Gave Up-i like the tempo

Stones-Jumping Jack Flash-while climbing on the palms

book:Under the Dome-S.King-it's big,it's interesting

item:cigarettes