Starts With S, Part 8
Steppenwolf - Monster / Berry Rides Again
"Monster" is a big, loud, rock n' roll protest song about colonialism and injustice, which holds together pretty well despite its many disparate parts. Still, it's not hard to see why it wasn't as big a hit as, say, "Born To be Wild." On the other side, "Berry Rides Again" is an energetic tribute to Chuck Berry himself, loaded with Berry-isms in the lyrics and the guitar action. It's less worn down than the A-Side, so it doesn't sound as fuzzy.
Sugarloaf - Green-Eyed Lady / West Of Tomorrow
I like the funky bass and keyboard stylings on the A-Side, it's definitely got star quality. "West Of Tomorrow" also has its charms, including some very pretty harmony singing in the chorus, but it doesn't have anything to match that bass riff from "Green-Eyed Lady." Still, both sides are in excellent condition and they are both worthy listening experiences.
The Sunshine Company - Happy / Blue May
The surface is a little noisy, but "Happy" still sounds pretty good through it all. It's very upbeat, California-style 60s pop, exactly what you'd expect from a group called the Sunshine Company. The ame goes for "Blue May," and to be honest, either could have been the A-Side and made as much of an impression on me. It's nice mood music, nothing especially memorable.
The Supremes - Love Is Here And Now You're Gone / There's No Stopping Us Now
If this had been something like "You Can't Hurry Love," I'd be ecstatic. "Love Is Here" doesn't appeal quite as much to me, and this copy is unfortunately a little worn out, but it's still a fine example of the Supremes' enchanting style at the height of their classic period. The B-Side is basically perfect, if a bit paint-by-numbers in comparison to the A-Side. They had catchy pop down to a science at Motown in those days.
Sweathog - Hallelujah / Still On The Road
Very fine sound, I must say. "Hallelujah" is a crowd-pleasing rocker, sure to get people sweating in the club, if that's what they want. "Still On The Road" is similarly loud and rockin', but lacks that sweaty goodness, by which I mean the songwriting just isn't quite there. Writing good rock songs is harder than it looks.
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a companion piece, to this post.
Jeremy knox spent his whole life falling in and out of love. He knew, rationally, it wasn't really love. It couldn't be, if it was so fleeting. But he fell nonetheless.
In and out.
So, Jeremy had supposed it would always be this way. People had made his heart race and his stomach flutter. Had altered his brain chemistry and also left him in despair. Sometimes they had left first, and sometimes he had. None of them had really mattered much though in the grand scheme of Jeremy's life.
He worried often if it was a flaw in his system that made his emotions so overpowering. That made his want so desperate. Some kind of identity crisis that made him latch on to a person every time, even though he knew deep down it wasn't quite enough. His sisters called him a romantic. His friends called him hopeless.
But Jeremy Knox just wanted to be loved. He wanted a healthy outlet for all he was willing to give another person. He wanted someone who shook his world up but also made everything still.
Practice was in full swing around him, and though Jeremy was locked in (he rarely ever wasn't) he couldn't stop the persistent thoughts about love echoing through his head.
He jogged across the court, waving over his backliners to follow him as they convened with their goalies to go over plays as they prepared for their next scrimmage.
One person's absence was quickly noticeably felt. Like a phantom limb. Jeremy scanned the court as he came to a stop three quarters down.
His eyes found him instantly, as they would in any room.
Jean Moreau.
He sat on the far end across the space from Jeremy and his little gathering. His eyes were closed his head leaning back against the plexi glass walls. His racquet was clutched in his hands and even from here Jeremy could tell he was grounding himself in the present moment. Catching his breath.
Jeremy allowed him.
Though it took everything in him to keep his feet planted where they were.
He spoke quickly to his team directing them on positions and plays. A few ideas he and Jean had cooked up during their late night practice sessions. His team nodded their heads in understanding and broke away to take up their positions on the court.
Jeremy stayed where he was and watched Jean. He remembered then, just last night, how Jean had checked him and Jeremy without thinking had latched onto Jean's jersey to prevent a fall. Jean had acted quickly, wrapping his arms around Jeremy, dropping his racquet to the floor in efforts to save Jeremy from the fall.
They had stared at each other for a beat too long before Jeremy spoke. Cheeks flooded with heat.
"Kinda defeats the purpose of a check, no?"
Jean huffed out a laugh. Jeremy couldn't see the way his lips twitched under his helmet, but he knew the way they would have. He had memorised the lines and, albeit very limited, expressions Jean had worn on his face.
No, Jeremy had never really fallen in love before. He had felt bursts of it, here and there, with girls and boys alike. But nothing really compared to the feeling he got as his body moved towards Jean now.
As if pulled by some invisible string. One that had always been there, from the very first day this beautiful but hurt boy had stepped out of the airport. It had lay loose and unmoving, only now Jeremy was certain it was being tugged at from the other end. And he was not going to fight it.
He came to a stop in front of Jean, and kneeled down on one knee. His forearm coming to rest up on the other.
"Jean," he said. Anticipating the ocean grey that would pull him under.
His eyes opened. Jeremy sank.
He smiled instinctively, without thought.
"Ready to jump back in?"
Jean moved forward then, pressing into his space. Jeremy let him.
His lip twitched.
Suddenly, he closed the gap. Pressing his forehead into Jeremy's. Jeremy smiled wider then and pressed back, their sweat making their skin stick. The intimacy of it filled Jeremy up with warmth from his fingers to his toes. He could spend his whole life bathing in the light of Jean's soft glow.
"Oui," he said.
His french slipping from between his lips, a whispered confirmation. Sure, he was just answering Jeremy's question. But the intensity in Jean's gaze felt like it meant more.
Jean stood then and his hand wrapped around Jeremy's, engulfing it completely, as he effortlessly hauled him up off the floor. All bone and sinew. His hands were calloused and rough and Jeremy had spent one too many nights dreaming of them.
Jean smiled down at him, sweet and lasting, before he strode off to his position on the court.
Jeremy dropped his gaze down and felt the size of his grin pull at his cheeks, as warmth blossomed under his skin. He looked up again and locked eyes with Laila across the court. Her eyebrows lifted a smirk on her face and Jeremy's grin never faltered.
Jermey knew, then, there would be no more falling in and out of love. Just falling. Knowing that he'd be caught this time.
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