Walking into a House Of Love

["Bergeon TC (Thomas) at MSXSEPC" <TB831668@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hello all,

many thanks for all the warm e-mail responses to my review of  Ten Years
Gone

I really felt I couldn't tackle this next song without first delving into my
favortie Zep tune.
House of Love and it's theme of a deep relationship gone wrong is the TYG of
the P/P era, yet complete with driving rythum, and similiar optimism. I
really didn't feel that I could do a true song analysis of anything on WIC
until hearing it live, and although I haven't yet heard HOL live, it is the
best starting point and intitially my fave song on WIC.  The fact that this
song has been rarely played on the tour - Shepard's Bush a noteworthy
exception - is far beyond me. As this song moves with so much intensity and
depth. A real Heart in Hander, and emotions on the sleeve big time.

The song picks up and is juxtaposed against the somber mood of WIWAC.  House
of Love opens up with the grunged up drum loop opening.  As clever as Albini
et al are with this, I would have much preferred live vibrant drums with
some spaces between. And God forbid they do this live with the tape loop
intact.  Kind of reminds me of  a few NQ 95 songs that could have used less
Hurd and Gurd. Sometimes it is the moments of silence that make the music.
The into guitar riff is drivingly intoxicating, and sounds confrontational,
repeated 4 times, then wonderfully subtle rushing in cymbal work by Michael
that heightens the drama... almost sounds like a rushing of the wind, or the
opening of the relational confrontation...

Oh - speak to me - tell me the truth
Why don't you let me know?
Oh - throw me the key, I'm locking it up
I think it's time to go.

When I think about it now
We built a house of love somehow

Robert is in fine voice, seductive but also hurt.  And none of the wavering
whining and posturing here!   The framework is laid here in generalities,
but the theme a torn relationship, Why - please explain?  If nothing else
tell me why (throw me the key) so that I can understand and truly deal with
whats gone wrong (lock up my emotions or the relationship and move onward
with my life). The chorus,  short and focused.  Again looking back with fond
memories even in the midst of a relationship gone wrong...  despite all
that,  look what we had, a building of our amourous accomplishments, that
House of Love...

Jimmy and Michael are underplaying to Robert nicely, the chorus suppressed
the first time through to heighten the drama.. then the intro mean riff is
repeated two times, another rush of cymbal tension and...

Oh.. talk to me - your packing your clothes
You leave me walking the floor
Oh, feels strange to me, I'm losing control
I can't feel you anymore

When I think about it now 
We built a house of love somehow
It hurts a little too much...

The evasive scene (and unseen) is painted in,  in more details. A conflict
has insued and she is leaving him.  Emotions are taunt.  He paces, tries to
come to the reality of why things are not working out, and is hurt and feels
no affection from his significant other, who has left him cold. Jimmy is
doubling on guitars - the conflict of the two lovers portrayed musically in
counterpoint?

The chorus builds again, and then a beautiful transition with cascading
chords raining down, sustained beautifully with the "It hurts a little too
much".  This sounds like such overwelming optimism in the face of all that
is unraveling.  I like Michael's shuffle beats here as well.

Oh my crazy arms, so empty now
so cold like dying snow
Mm - remember me - I can't forget
You touched my very soul

Interesting analogy, crazy arms, as in restless with no one to dearly hold
with them. Yes this has all been knocked out from underneath him. The cold
like dying snow sounds almost James Joyce-ian, check out his early short
stories.  Here Robert is alone, frustrated, but rather than be bitter, he
sees the joy that was, and focuses on it over the pain that is.  Please
remember me, you certainly meant alot to me and I am not prideful enough to
conceal this.
Yes you touched my very soul and I am really at a loss here.

The chorus again repeats, only this time with a delicious, "a little too
much" thrown in.  The overtly distortedness of the vocals on this chorus I
can do without.  Again the chords of optimism repeated over the pain wrought
lyrics, what a great contrast...

A nice transition in Jimmy's playing with ringing chords into Robert's
singing

You know you hurt me girl
You know you really really do now
You know you hurt me child
You know you really  really do now
You know things will get better baby
When I was born I was running 
Yeah, just running so hard
But things get much better baby
But things get so hard, so hard, so hard

Robert is passionate here, really reaching out with his emotions.  Again the
overwelming optimism in the midst of chaos. It's hard but keep pushing
through. And no hint at all of any possible reconciliation.

Repeating verses and choruses in the mayhem, with the vocals playful... love
the ending "Just a little too much" repeated over and over. No mention of
the word hurt, RObert  is dealing with an overload of emotions as only he
can.  Love the little change up in Jimmy's playing that goes from the
cascading chords to mean riff and back several times, the inner conflict of
moving on and facing the loss The piece then ends delicously with a slight
stutter in the guitar and falls back solely on the drum loop till a
resounding finish.

Well that's my take on HOL, emotions galore, would love to hear it on this
tour!
Hope you enjoyed it

Topsoilian Tom