Top 10 Favorite Songs

10. Bob Dylan (1964). “The Times They Are a-Changin”. The Times They Are a-Changin. No other song in the world speaks more true to the time it was released in. Written as an ode to the modern, changing world Dylan spoke with the people of the day and reminded them the fleeting time they were all apart of, marked with war, debate, and strife.

9. Led Zeppelin (1970). “Moby Dick”. Led Zeppelin II. Finally defining their styles and delivery in the instrumental “Moby Dick”, Page and especially Bonham (in his nearly 10 min drum solo) showed their true capabilities to the world and greatness of the music they could produce.

8. Led Zeppelin (1975). “10 Years Gone”. Physical Graffiti. The greatness of “10 Years Gone” comes in how it displays the talent, greatness, and ability of every member of Zeppelin from Jones to Bonham. The bass, the guitar, the drums, and the vocals are more tied together here than in any other song in Zeppelin’s massive set lists over the years; great example of band chemistry.

7. Jimi Hendrix (1968). “All Along the Watchtower”. Electric Ladyland. Originally a Bob Dylan single, Hendrix’s added guitar truly earned the song global recognition even from Dylan himself who though that Jimi’s guitar was well deserved and fit almost naturally with the song as if it had been written to accustom it. Jimi’s signature licks and guitar style dominate the song as do his raspy but powerful lyrics.  

6. Queen (1975). “Bohemian Rhapsody”. A Night at the Opera. It is impossible not to recognize the operatic style of “Bohemian Rhapsody”. From ballads, to hard rock solos, this song has it all and is still known as one of if not the most elaborate single in rock history. The contrast from beginning to end is a true ride and serves as a testament to the song’s and Queen’s impact in the rock world.

5. Led Zeppelin (1971). “When the Levee Breaks”. Led Zeppelin IV. A true homage to Zeppelin’s bluesy style, “When the Levee Breaks” lugs on dictated by Bonham’s hammering bass drum and Page’s looping guitar. From harmonica’s to distortion over Plant’s voice, the song produces quite a profound effect.

4. Black Sabbath (1970). “Planet Caravan”. Paranoid. Besides its blatant psychedelic mood and delivery, “Planet Caravan”, while drifting from Sabbath’s usual hard delivery, explores the unknown much like many other Sabbath songs. Its unique sound and lulling lyrics paired with Iommi’s smooth jazz playing throughout define the greatness of the song.

 3. Black Sabbath (1970). “Hand of Doom”. Paranoid. This song is Sabbath incarnate. A chugging bass thanks to Geezer Butler, a powerful chorus, and an explosive verse and solo at the hands of Iommi alongside Ozzy’s allusions to war, drugs, and violence define the true awesomeness of “Hand of Doom”; an original metal classic.

2. Led Zeppelin (1975). “Kashmir”. Physical Graffiti. Zeppelin’s variety in their music is well known it defined them, but in “Kashmir” these eastern influences culminated rhymically and melodically into a real musical masterpiece. Known by its iconic strings beside Page’s guitar playing, the song stands as a brilliantly unique and an undeniable anthem to Zeppelin’s legacy.

1. Black Sabbath (1970). “War Pigs”. Paranoid. Simultaneously creating the metal genre and preaching the corruption and evil of the time, Sabbath shouted at the dictators and evil of the world with “War Pigs”. With Iommi’s god-like solos and melodic climaxes, paired with Ozzy’s ringing vocals, the song plunges into the depths of the dark-side of human nature, and it does so masterfully. 

Short Fiction

           The blood was oozing out of every crack in his bronze chest plate; he could barely breathe let alone walk. I threw him upon my shoulders disobeying his commands. It was like a dream, the flames, the death, the curdling screams, the bodies strewn about, the weight of my friend and mentor bearing down upon my shoulders. Julius awoke me from my daze, “Marcus he must live! Retreat to the camps, run my brother!” I broke off into a run, almost a gallop with all of the weight upon my back, like a wounded horse expending its last breaths. I could not stop. I would not stop. The burden of Atlas could not have halted me.

            

             "Marcus let me die!” he said again and again between his gurgles and bloody coughing fits. I would not listen. I dabbed his wounds, and stood in awe before the numbers of them across his torso, some from arrows, others from blades. He writhed in pain grabbing the back of his leg which bored a massive gouge traversing from ankle to knee. The cloth I had used had become an absolute red, like the finest silk.

            

           “How does he fare?” said Julius after returning back. I told the truth, “I fear the Magus Sisters will give him no quarter. He is fading.” Never before had I seen a man’s will shatter by the mere utterance of a few words. Julius stood back in awe, and then fell to his knees. Julius pounded the sand, his fists burned with rage, contempt, and anguish as did his tears. It spread like disease amongst the men; there wills toppled like the columns of a temple one after the next. Before my eyes were ruined men with broken spirits and I was one of them.

           That tent haunted my thoughts. I paced through the camp speaking with and consoling the men. Respect called me to it, respect for the man I had always admired, the man who’d shown me the way of the blade, of the warrior, the man who’d lay dead upon red sheets of silk. I pushed aside the curtain and entered the tent. It was black, the candles I had lit were doused and their aroma absent. Before I could begin to think where his body had gone an arm wrapped around my neck bringing me to my knees. “I live brother” he whispered to my years, in a weak yet stoic voice. “These wounds will never heal, I am lame now. You Julius will rise in my stead. Take these men and restore their spirit as I have time and time again, lead them into battle.” He released his grip and told me his choice. “This night I will take a ship and set sail for another life, I must leave this one behind for I can fight no longer. Tell the men I was slain, that you pushed my body off to sea into the arms of Poseidon. I only ask I go down in history as a warrior, nothing more. May my final hours not be tainted in the books of tomorrow.” I answered his last wish and gave him my thanks for the years and the battles we shared. That very night he slipped into the darkness. I could only stand and watch as the once Great Achilles faded away into the depths of the sea, into the annals of history, and into the hearts and minds of millions to come.