Mastodon’s Brann Dailor & Songs About the Devil
Over seven albums and 18 years, Mastodon has stretched the definition of metal. Co-founder, drummer and lyricist Brann Dailor recently joined Jim and Greg to look back over the band's career. The conversation ranges from forming in Atlanta to coping with personal tragedy through music. They also couldn't resist asking how the heck they wound up as wildlings on Game of Thrones. Plus, Jim and Greg share a few of their favorite songs about the devil.
Mastodon
Based in Atlanta, Mastodon recently won the Grammy for Best Metal Performance and has sometimes been called (in what Jim thinks is a back-handed compliment) "a thinking person's metal band." This week, our hosts sit down with drummer Brann Dailor of Mastodon to talk about musical influences from Black Sabbath to Bowie, lyricwriting, and Game of Thrones. He also talked about the tragic events that brought the band closer together and shaped their musical projects, like watching family members battle cancer (Emperor of Sand) and his own sister's suicide in 1990 (Crack the Skye).
Songs About the Devil
The tale of Robert Johnson selling his soul to the devil at the crossroads in exchange for his prodigious guitar playing skills is one that dates back to the early 1900s. This inspired an entire new category of tracks: devil songs. Jim and Greg share a few of their favorite tracks that reference the character of "the devil."
*Note: Sound Opinions does not endorse the devil or any of his messages.
Jim
- Loretta Lynn, "The Devil Gets His Dues"
- Johnny Cash, "To Beat the Devil"
Greg
- Gun, "Race With the Devil"
- Gil Scott-Heron, "Me and the Devil"
Featured Songs
- Mastodon, "Curl of the Burl," The Hunter, Reprise, 2011
- Mastodon, "Colony of Birchmen," Blood Mountain, Reprise, 2006
- Metallica, "Seek and Destroy," Kill 'Em All, Blackened, 1983
- King Crimson, "21st Century Schizoid Man/Mirrors," In the Court of the Crimson King , EG, 1969
- Stevie Wonder, "Superstition," Talking Book, Motown, 1972
- David Bowie, "Look Back In Anger," Lodger, Virgin, 1979
- Chet Atkins / Jerry Reed , "Jerry's Breakdown," Me & Chet, Eagle Rock, 1972
- John Coltrane, "A Love Supreme, Pt. 3: Pursuance," A Love Supreme, Impulse!/GRP, 1965
- Mastodon, "Blood and Thunder," Leviathan, Relapse, 2004
- Lethargy, "Create," It's Hard to Write with a Little Hand, Dirty Girl Music/Endless, 1996
- Today Is the Day, "In the Eyes of God ," In the Eyes of God , Relapse, 1999
- High on Fire, "10,000 Years ," The Art of Self Defense, Man's Ruin, 2000
- Mastodon, "March of the Fire Ants," Remission, Relapse, 2002
- Mastodon, "Octopus Has No Friends," The Hunter, Reprise, 2011
- Rush, "2112," 2112, Mercury, 1976
- Mastodon, "I am Ahab," Leviathan, Relapse, 2004
- Mastodon, "Creature Lives," The Hunter, Reprise, 2011
- Mastodon, "Roots Remain," Emperor Of Sand, Reprise, 2017
- Mastodon, "Crack The Skye," Crack The Skye, Reprise, 2008
- Black Sabbath, "Electric Funeral," Paranoid, Vertigo, 1970
- Isham (Ike) Alexander, "Paradiddle," Ten Basic Recommended Rudiments for Percussionist, CD Baby, 2016
- Mastodon, "Basteroid," The Hunter, Reprise, 2011
- Ramin Djawadi, "Main Title," Game of Thrones (Music from the HBO Series), Varese Sarabande, 2011
- Mastodon, "Show Yourself," Emperor Of Sand, Reprise, 2017
- The Mountain Goats, "The Best Ever Death Metal Band in Denton," All Hail West Texas, Emperor Jones, 2002
- Loretta Lynn, "The Devil Gets His Dues," Don't Come Home a Drinkin' (With Lovin' on Your Mind), Decca, 1967
- Gun, "Race With the Devil," Gun, CBS, 1968
- Johnny Cash, "To Beat the Devil," Hello, I'm Johnny Cash, Columbia, 1970
- Gil Scott-Heron, "Me and the Devil," I'm New Here, XL, 2010
- Falcon Jane, "Ginger Ale," Feelin' Freaky, Darling, 2018
- ABBA , "Ring Ring," Ring Ring, Polar, 1973
- Phoebe Bridgers, "Smoke Signals," Stranger in the Alps, Dead Oceans, 2017
- Aretha Franklin, "Precious Memories ," Amazing Grace, Atlantic, 1972
- Aretha Franklin, "Jump To It," Jump To It, Arista, 1982
- Aretha Franklin, "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)," Aretha, Arista, 1986
- Aretha Franklin, "I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You)," I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You) (single), Atlantic, 1967
Dear Listeners,
For more than 15 years, Sound Opinions was a production of WBEZ, Chicago's public radio station. Now that the show is independent, we're inviting you to join the band and lend a hand! We need your support more than ever because now we have to do all the behind-the-scenes work that WBEZ handled before (like buying insurance and paying for podcast hosting, ugh). Plus, we have some exciting ideas we'd like to try now that there's no one to tell us no!