Some of you may be trying to support Ukrainian musicians with the #Music4Ukraine Challenge, but maybe you don’t know where to start. I will be publishing a series of mini blog posts about some of the great Ukrainian music I found and I’ll give tips about the types of listeners I think might enjoy it. Be sure to listen to the song below and if you like it share it with your loved ones.
“I’m the Mountain”
By Stoned Jesus
- The A section begins with minor acoustic guitar arpeggios, with a looming bass drone.
- This is one of the few songs I’ve come across sung in English, the lyrics are dark – bemoaning a love gone wrong and accentuated with tight moaning harmonies.
- After the second verse the song stops abruptly and is restarted with a new acoustic lick, which is eventually joined by an acoustic drum set and bass. It slowly evolves until the acoustic guitars are overtaken by spitting fuzzed out guitar.
- Until that point, it’s clear that the song is dark but the connection to 1990s grunge music becomes undeniable.
- At times the song has hints of a low-fi Soundgarden/Tool demo track, but it’s much rougher around the edges.
- That is, with the exception that the vocalist doesn’t resemble Chris Cornell’s voice (no one does). He’s got a deeper tone, more like Eddie Vedder in range but without the gravely tone. In all fairness though, that is still a weak comparison, the singer of Stone Jesus has a sound that is all his own.
- This song is great for fans of grunge music or anyone looking for a soundtrack to accompany their feelings of isolation.
If you’re looking for other great Ukrainian music I encourage you check out the playlist below. As I find more tunes I’ll add them there and I plan on publishing more “Hasty Reviews” like this to help you find the artist that bests suits your style. Also, if you’re interested in learning more about #Music4Ukraine be sure to check out my Listen for A Cause post.
Plan M: Finding Joy in Music Blog 