Dust (Another Go) ( #BOTB )

If at first you don't succeed then try again or just give up.  Well, I don't like to give up...

Almost Like a Dream

       As I compose this post, it has been one week since my wife and I returned home from another epic road trip.  During the course of 23 days at the end of May and beginning of June we travelled about 7400 miles through seventeen states with destination points in Florida, New Jersey, and Tennessee. These rounds gave us pleasant visits with many friends and family members.   Considering the scope of this trip, everything went very smoothly in all respects.  The weather was a bit cooler than we had expected, but it was quite pleasant compared to the hot temperatures we have typically encountered when we took this trip in July and August.  And now, this near perfect vacation is behind us with summer just beginning.   Now how do we top this for the rest of the summer?

      Looking back the whole adventure seems like a dream.  My wife and I have both been rather tired since our return and it has felt good to be resting in our own home.  But we sure did have a great time.  It's been mostly cloudy and cool here in Los Angeles since our return.  That's fine with me.  If we don't see a day over 80 degrees the rest of the year I wouldn't be disappointed. Now if only it would rain.  Of course, it never rains in Southern California--or so that song says.  Let's forget about that song for now and move on to another as I present another...

Battle of the Bands

        Battle of the Bands is the blogging event started by Far Away Series and now hosted by StMcC Presents Battle of the Bands.   This event happens each month on the 15th and on some there is also a Battle on the 1st of the month.  My blog is one of those with a second Battle excepting over these summer months.   The premise is simple:  Listen to the songs presented below and then in the comments vote for your favorite and tell us why you liked it.  Then visit the links listed near the bottom of this post for more Battle action.

Dust (After the First Dusting)

       In my June 1st Battle I used the 13th Floor Elevator song "Dust".  If you missed that Battle then you can hear the versions here.  Those of you who did participate in that Battle will likely opt not to hear those versions again, but being the contrarian that I can be I've decided to use the same song again with different versions.  I'm not sure how many visits I'll be getting on this Battle so maybe it doesn't matter what I use or whether I do a midmonth Battle or not.  If nothing else, I'm just practice writing.  I've got to get back in the swing of things in respect to writing because I want to do some other writing in the coming weeks.  And damn!  I'm lazy of late.  So rather than wallow in the dust, I'll have another Battle for the song "Dust".  

        Although I have long considered The Elevators album Easter Everywhere to be one of the greatest rock albums of all time (and one of the most influential), I was never particularly enamored with the song "Dust"--it was one of my least favorite songs of the album.  Now after having immersed myself in the song and actually understanding the lyrics, this song is now perhaps my second favorite song from that album (after the incredible "Slip Inside This House").  I think "Dust" is a beautiful song with such poetic lyrics.  I'm standing by my opinion of the greatness of this song.  It took many close listenings to come to this appreciation, but now it plays in my head with frequent regularity if I'm not actually listening to it.  

        To attest to my argument that the song requires several hearings to fully appreciate, I played this song often during our recent road trip.   My wife, who is not much of a rock music fan, having been subjected to my obsessive playing of the song begin to like it quite a lot and by the last leg of the trip home would sometimes ask me to play the song.  Now she too is a fan of the song.  I do think this song is somewhat addictive.  It's worth the addiction in my opinion.

         I hope you will consider the following versions carefully and let us know which version you like the best.  I think you will appreciate this Battle more than the previous one.   

 

Tommy Hall Schedule  "Dust"   (2006)

         I'm not sure if Tommy Hall actually has anything to do with this band that carries his name.  And if you are wondering who Tommy Hall is, he was one of the original members of 13th Floor Elevators and the one who wrote most of the lyrics on their albums.  His namesake band seems to be primarily a 13th Floor cover band, but I didn't find too much detailed information about the group.  However they have several videos on YouTube of them covering the Elevators songs.  I like that the lyrics are very easily discerned which what attracted me to the piano/vocal cover by TW that I used in my earlier Battle.  Do you like this version any better?

Misty Lane   "Dust"   (2020)

      As best as I can determine this band comes from Australia.  I don't find much about them other than they do psychedelic pop music.   Their version of "Dust" is mostly about production.  The lyrics are somewhat muddled behind an array of synthesizer sounds and backing vocals and sound effects.  Whatever it is they are doing, I like it.   I think they have a cool sound and despite the lyrics not standing out, they capture the sound of pop psychedelia well.  What do you think?

Time to Vote!

           I don't know how much participation I'll get for this Battle, but I do hope you vote and tell all your friends to do the same.  Just listen and see what you think.  Which song version do you prefer?   Hopefully you have an opinion of some kind.  You don't have to know about music to have an opinion since it all comes down to your own personal taste.

        Please vote on your favorite by letting us know your choice in the comment section and tell us why you prefer the version you chose. Then after you've finished here, please visit the other blogs listed below who may or may not be participating this time around. And if you've put up your own BOTB contest let us know that as well so we can vote on yours. I don't know if anyone else will be doing a Battle this time around, but you can still check out these sites.


Here are some other places where you might find BOTB posts:

 StMcC Presents Battle of the Bands

  'MIKE'S RAMBLINGS'

'Curious as a Cathy'

Sound of One Hand Typing

Jingle, Jangle, Jungle 

Landmark Sounds (Diedre Knight)

BATTLE OF THE BANDS BY DEBBIE D

Battle Results on Wednesday June 21st

   

       I plan to be there.  Hope you will too.