Rock artists have always had a tricky relationship with the fine arts. On one hand, many musicians come from scholarly backgrounds, having studied art and literature in college. But on the other hand, rock ‘n’ roll is a primal music made for people who want to unwind and have a good time. Throw too many artsy-fartsy references into your songs, and you’re going to lose a good chunk of your less-cerebral fan base. But rockers need to be well-read in order to engage audiences with their lyrics — otherwise you might as well just be LMFAO. This ominous track from Metallicas second album not only grabs its title from Ernest Hemingways 1940 novel; it also borrows its setting and theme. The book reflects on the brutality of war, set against the Spanish Civil War. Likewise, Metallicas crushing song takes an antiwar stance: Take a look to the sky just before you die / It is the last time you will. The bells that open the song drive home the message. - Archer
Posted on: Mon, 17 Nov 2014 21:15:29 +0000
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