3 minute read
Classic Rock
from The Exonian
This new addition to Exeter School's musical provision enables pupils to explore all genres of music.
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by RAFF PIGGOTT GILL
ver the course of last year’s
Olockdown, one of the many clubs and societies introduced via Google Classroom was the High Fidelity Classic Rock Appreciation Society, created by Mr Evans and Mr Brimelow. The society proved popular, attracting the interest of over 25 pupils.
The society gives pupils the chance to explore all realms of music from a range of genres, based on the weekly recommendations of Mr Evans and Mr Brimelow, so whether you’re looking to expand your musical taste, or if you are already passionate and familiar with music from a range of genres and artists, the High Fidelity Classic Rock Appreciation Society has something for everyone.
Recorded in 1970, and originally released on her album Ladies of the Canyon.
Each week, the pupils are assigned three albums to listen to that relate to a specific theme, for example a particular movement, or a particular year. During the week, the pupils will post their top five favourite songs across the three albums in the comments. Previous assignments in the society have included such themes as, ‘Alternative rock of the 1990s,’ ‘Huge albums of 1969,’ and ‘Great live albums.’
The High Fidelity Classic Rock Appreciation Society has done a great job at keeping pupils busy during lockdown, and also carried on since being back in school.
“One of the albums I discovered over lockdown, thanks to the HFCRAS, was ‘Blue’ by Joni Mitchell. At the time, I didn’t really know who Joni Mitchell was; she was just another name to me. After listening to her album, I was interested to find out more about her music. This proved to be very beneficial not soon after, as much to my surprise Joni Mitchell turned out to be a featured artist in the A Level music syllabus. In fact, the very first assignment of the year in music was to analyse Joni Mitchell’s ‘Big Yellow Taxi’. Thanks to the HFCRAS, I had some background and somewhat of a head start when it came to completing this task.” said Ben Reynolds, Lower Sixth.
ALBUM REVIEW
by RAFF PIGGOTT GILL
If posed with the question of the greatest album of 1969, it is likely that your mind would immediately jump to Abbey Road. However, I would advise you to look past this, firstly because it is not true, and secondly because you will find the crown jewel of all British albums of the 20th century. That jewel is Arthur (or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire).
Ray Davies and The Kinks take us on a boisterous, yet mystical, musical journey through the last 150 years of British history, reminiscing about the empire at its finest hours, and at its worst, as well as branching out into criticisms of social issues, many of which still relevant today.
The graceful melodies of such songs as ‘Young and Innocent Days’ and ‘Shangri-La’ wonderfully contradict Ray Davies belting out the bouncy tunes of ‘Brainwashed’ and ‘Victoria.’ The album is injected with playful guitar solos from Dave Davies, such as that of ‘She’s Bought a Hat Like Princess Marina’ and exhibits intelligent, and in many cases, moving lyrics such as those in ‘Some Mother’s Son,’ showcasing the pure genius in the song writing of Ray Davies. This album has something for everyone.
Simply the most sonically masterful Kinks album in so many respects: an album that is truly reflective of the significant impact that the British Empire has had on the world and the legacy that it has left behind.
I would certainly recommend this album to anyone, and guarantee you that it will not only spark a love of The Kinks, it will spark an obsession.
