Got a Bit of Writer's Block? Post a Video!

It's been a busy week- what with S.S.C., and the start of the next Census phase. I spent most of my online time last night checking my e-mail and catching up on the news. This morning, I had to do a couple of hours of work for the Commerce Department, and finished before the heat of midday kicked it. I've got a few hours before I have to show up at the other job, and I'm just not very inspired. I think I'll use the "Post a Video" gambit, like I did in the last post.

I always get a little chuckle when people try to make "Top N Best Songs" lists. I would never say that a particular song is my favorite (although I would, without hesitation, tell anyone that the best album of the 90s was Tra by Swedish (with help from a pair of Finnish vocalists and a Sami joik singer) "heavy folk" group Hedningarna. This is one of those rare albums which is best listened to in its entirety... the cumulative effect of the music, and provides a contrast between different moods- opening track Tass'on Nainen is slightly ominous-sounding and anticipatory, Min Skog opens with a chainsaw (the Plasmatics would be proud) and is as pure an expression of rage as I have ever heard, Gorrlaus is a sultry dance number, Pornopolka (you read that right) is a hilarious, hyper hymn, a spell to inflame lust. I could go on about the album, but you'd be better served just listening to it.

Once again, Warner Music Group demonstrates its sheer suckitude (especially since the album was originally released by wonderful indy label NorthSide Records) by pulling the video from Youtube. Once again, I defer to my great and good friend Jim Keyes to express the proper (and hilarious) contempt that WMG deserves. Because there are no Hedningarna videos to post, here's a nice interpretation (don't let the fact that it seems to be from Sweden's iteration of ____ Idol prejudice you) of Varg Timmen, one of my favorite Hedningara songs, named after the Ingmar Bergman film:





For a heavier take on it, there's a version by Finntroll, but the growled vocals lack the emotional intensity of the original.