Top 10 (Young) Pioneers Songs
I'm really into these guys at the moment so here's my top 10 songs by them. |
| 1 | (Young) Pioneers
We Ain't Even Married
Specifically the version on Free The (Young) Pioneers Now! A hearfelt love song-come-politicical rant with an awesome melody line that reminds me of Bob Dylan. With its harmonica intro and spine tingly background organ, this is easily the best of the three versions they recorded. |
| 2 | (At The Time Of The) Cease Fire
Lyrically one of my favourite (Young) Pioneers songs, with images of two lovers standing in the streets with war going off around them and one admitting to the other "it won't be alright". |
| 3 | Downtown Tragedy
Downtown Tragedy rushes along at quite a pace, eschewing the harmonicas and folk leanings for distorted guitars and thumping drums. The chorus is catchy but lyrically sound, proclaiming "these are cocaine days where the lumpen die". |
| 4 | Carlos The Jackal
Okay, it only namechecks the famous terrorist, and instead concentrates on a relationship inside prison. A great distorted country-inspired riff accompanied by handclaps provide the backing. Like everything from the Crimewave EP the vocals sound like a man with a cleft palatte screaming through a megaphone, but once your ears adjust this can be charming in a way. Thank god for lyric sheets. |
| 5 | Talkin' Johnny Law Blues
Probably the Pioneers' most fun moment, with a cheesy saxophone riff and 12-bar blues guitar, this shows them stepping away from the politics and love songs for a second and having some simple fun. |
| 6 | (It Looks Like He'll Be Joining) The Navy
Set to the melody line of 'achy breaky heart' this is a fun 45-second chant about joining the military due to a lack of jobs around. |
| 7 | Fuck The Labor Pool
Pounding 50's blues infused riffs galore in this tale of Buddy, a guy who gets work at the labor pool each day, until he feels sick at his treatment and walks off the jobsite. |
| 8 | Drown In The James
The singing is especially forceful here, but i'm not sure what it is about this song that is so great, only that it's refrain of "of carbon decay, and drown in the James" gets me every time. |
| 9 | Citizern Soldier
The first Pioneers song I heard, it hooked me in with its great blend of passionate singng, wailing harmoica and folk-as-fuck guitars. |
| 10 | Love Song From The International Section
(Young) Pioneers tackle the subject of a letter home from a soldier stationed in Vietnam. "If we lose, kiss the baby goodbye" is an especially poigniant line, even if it is hidden under thick layers of distortion. |
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