2. “She Bangs The Drums” – The Stone Roses: An Artist A Week/A Song A Day – A History of Alternative Music

2. “She Bangs The Drums” – The Stone Roses

(From the album The Stone Roses)

1989

The Stone Roses would undergo some final lineup changes in the year prior to recording their self-titled debut album. Rhythm guitarist Andy Couzens would be forced out of the band and bassist Pete Garner would choose to leave the group, replaced by Mani, who had played with an early version of the band called Waterfront. This lineup of Ian Brown, John Squire, Reni, and Mani, would be the classic lineup of the band and would be the foursome to write and record their seminal debut album. In the run-up prior to the release of The Stone Roses the band would release the non-album single “Elephant Stone”. “Elephant Stone” would not be a hit but it did serve as a transitional song between the group’s earlier more British Invasion indie rock style and their more psychedelic and danceable music that would soon make them famous. Indeed, like many of their early singles, “Elephant Stone” would be re-released after The Stone Roses became more successful and the re-release of the song would hit #8 in the UK. Their debut album The Stone Roses was released in April of 1989 and the first single from the record “Made Of Stone” was a minor success, peaking at #90 (although it too would later be re-released and go to #20). However, the first Stone Roses song to earn much real traction and mainstream airplay was the second single from their debut album, “She Bangs The Drums”. “She Bangs The Drums” draws on elements of sunny psychedelia, noise rock like The Jesus & Mary Chain, while still also maintaining some of the echoes of British Invasion era pop that the band’s earlier work drew more heavily on. “She Bangs The Drums” doesn’t lean as heavily into the dance culture that would soon define Manchester as “Madchester” but it does have a rhythmic pulse unlike their past work that new bassist Mani adds to the band. “She Bangs The Drums” was the first Stone Roses song to crack the UK Top 40 at #36 (and would hit #34 when it was re-released eight months later). “She Bangs The Drums” didn’t make The Stone Roses superstars but it did announce they were to be a presence on the scene right as that scene was about the exploder into the mainstream.

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6. “It’s A Good Life If You Don’t Weaken” – The Tragically Hip: An Artist A Week/A Song A Day – A History of Alternative Music

6. “It’s A Good Life If You Don’t Weaken” – The Tragically Hip

(From the album In Violet Light)

2002

2002 saw the band release their album In Violet Light which spun off several more hit singles including the ballad “It’s A Good Life If You Don’t Weaken”, an emotionally powerful song that builds from a reflective beginning to a cathartic finish that really showcases the emotive power of Gord Downie’s voice. However, by the early 21st century The Tragically Hip had moved beyond being a successful rock band and had become full-blown legends in their homeland of Canada. This status meant that the band was included as part of a 2002 command performance (a performance given at the request of the reigning British monarch) for Queen Elizabeth II, as well as performing the halftime show at the 2004 Grey Cup for the championship of the Canadian Football League. Around this time the band also contributed songs to the soundtrack for the film Men With Brooms (and had a small cameo role in the film) as well as contributing a cover version of “Black Day In July” to the Gordon Lightfoot tribute album Beautiful: A Tribute To Gordon Lightfoot. 2004 saw the band release their next album In Between Evolution which debuted as another Canadian #1 album. The album also includes the track “Heaven Is A Better Place Today” which served as a tribute for both Atlanta Thrashers hockey player Dan Snyder, who was killed in a car crash, and for soldiers killed in the 2003 Iraq War. The Tragically Hip ended this golden era run with the release of 2005’s double album hits compilation Yer Favourites (which is a great place to start to discover the band).

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