Bojan Preradovic: The Seattle Scene – Playlist Special 2014

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Bojan Preradovic

Charles Moussa

1. “Would?” Alice in Chains
Jerry Cantrell’s and Layne Staley’s vocal harmonization has never sounded better. Very few songs I’ve written over the past 15 years have gone untouched by the sludgy brilliance of Alice In Chains.

2. “Milk It” Nirvana
Kurt Cobain ushered in my musical awakening and sparked off an eternal love affair with feedback and the power chord. In Utero has always been dementedly beautiful. And “Milk It” is the embodiment of Cobain’s hopelessly ill-fated genius.

3. “4th of July” Soundgarden
The Led Zeppelin of my generation. They mesmerize with their use of alternate tunings and compelling time signatures. This is their psychedelic tour de force – hearing it always makes me feel like the world’s about to end.

4. “State of Love and Trust” Pearl Jam
In my angst-ridden teenage years, Eddie Vedder’s seemingly rehearsed displays of emotion seemed kind of distasteful. At some point, I grew up, and just delved into the music. And nothing from Pearl Jam’s catalogue gets my heart pounding like this.

5. “Sworn and Broken” Screaming Trees
One of the most underrated acts of this era. Mark Lanegan’s iconic baritone howl is enduringly relevant. This track always makes me wonder how much more they would have achieved if they hadn’t split in 2000.

6. “River of Deceit” Mad Season
His Alice in Chains bandmate Jerry Cantrell once said that the late Layne Stayley had “the most beautiful way of saying something horrible I’ve ever heard.” Stayley’s haunting lyrics on this track – inspired by Khalil Gibran’s “The Prophet” – prove it.

7. “Seasons” Chris Cornell
This is the most gorgeous showcase of Cornell’s unique vocal and songwriting prowess. Certainly a better one than his atrocious 2009 collaboration with Timbaland (Scream).

8. “Crown of Thorns” Mother Love Bone
This epic track – punctuated by Stone Gossard’s unforgettable riffing – was so much more than just a taste of the sound that Pearl Jam would pioneer; it was the most stellar moment of Andy Wood’s heartbreakingly short career.

9. “Pushin’ Forward Back” Temple of the Dog
Bandmates and friends mourned Wood’s passing in the most constructive way they could: with a remarkable LP – on which this is the best track – that showcased the inspirational camaraderie between members of the scene.

10. “Paregoric” Tad
Tad Doyle’s monstrous growl is at its gritty best here, on the highlight of Inhaler – an album that can still put a dirty grimace on my face.

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