So what the fuck, are you going to do kid?

Passion in music is a curious thing. Some would argue all music contains a passion of sort. To commit yourself to tape requires a series of events you’ve initialised and that you’ve put time into to get to that point and to create music people genuinely care about requires a powerful emotion; passion by definition. Others would argue thinking certain songs have passion and others don’t is purely subjective, if it stirs emotion through lyrics or music then you’ll immediately consider it passionate. How very contrived.

Lets blow that paragraph apart and I’ll run you through my personal Passionate Top 5.



5. A Day In Black & White – There Are Objects & Objects (Download)
This song is taken from the Washington DC band’s EP, ‘My Heroes Have Always Killed Cowboys’, one of the finest discs you’ll ever buy. The incendiary opening lulls and you’re left building up to a release of tension, before you know it you’re standing with your hand in the air, pounding with the beat, screaming “AND WE, CAN NOT, CAN NOT, CANNOT BE SAVED”. It breaks away and you have a massive smile on your face. If you’re having a shitty day, this is your tune.
Taken from the EP ‘My Heroes Have Always Killed Cowboys’
http://www.dayinblackandwhite.com/



4. Shellac – Prayer To God (Download)
Wow, you have to feel sorry for Steve Albini here. The hatred that shines through here almost makes you feel ill. By the time the song finishes you feel like you’ve been cheated on. You’ve left the house to kill ‘him’. Keys? Check. Black bag? Check. Meat cleaver? Check. Prayer To God? Check.
Ooops, you’ve done it again.
Taken from the album ‘1000 Hurts’
http://www.southern.com/southern/band/SHLAC/



3. Arab Strap – Piglet (Download)
Perhaps not so much passion as unbearable sadness an honest brutality. It’s worth looking up the lyrics to this one, it’ll leave you cold and alone, the darkness draws you into the abyss. If you’re a total freak it’ll probably ruin your life, don’t say I didn’t warn you. Good luck! See you next week!
Taken from the album ‘Philophobia’
http://www.arabstrap.co.uk/



2. Why? – Rubber Traits (Download)
This one bleeds out of the speakers! Yoni Wolf spits it at you, it’s a creed for the disillusioned and the people who long for a better day tomorrow. You’ll feel it, this is passion from within one’s self and somehow turning it into a indie hip-pop classic. It almost leaves you feeling optimistic, at least if you don’t tune into the lyrics. Dance, dance!
Taken from the album ‘Elephant Eyelash
http://www.anticon.com/index.php?section=artist&target=Why&js=yes




1. Modern Life Is War – The Outsiders (Download)
If ever a band were going to kickstart a young person’s life into gear and make them start something then it’s these souls. Motivation shines through, you feel angry? Perhaps a bit lost? Looking at leaflets for Church groups? Fuck it. Stick on ‘Witness’ and release it all into the atmosphere, feel a part of something. Claw at the message and start a band, start loving music and loving life, just do something. Just do it so you can feel like this band, this song. Who wouldn’t want that. Sing along.. this.. this folks, this is fucking passion in music. Right here.

So try and listen to the voice urging you on...
Saying...
This is it kid...
This is your last chance...
And this is the only way to glory...
And this is our last dance.

Taken from the album ‘Witness’
http://www.modernlifeiswar.net