Ominous Feeling.

My favorite song was "Building Steam with a Grain of Salt."  Most of the time the very first song of the album is what determines whether or not I like the artist or the any of his music at all.  It is sort of harsh way to judge the artist but I have found that it works. 

The reason I like this song was how it has an ominous, dark feel; it creates a mysterious atmosphere which is continued through the entire song.  I think that it was a great way for DJ Shadow to have this as his first song because it really plays into his own personality and how he rarely ever makes appearance and interviews.  It mirrors his personality and how he would be preferred to be seen as a channel for as he called it "the dream” and to teach others.  He wants to be known and remember for what he did, not for who he was, remember for his contribution to music and not as a person people obsess over.  I think that his dream could be that music can bring the world together in peace or at least closer to peace.  Perhaps to at least able to make people realize that the world is bigger and more important then our own little problems. 

Since music can be a channel to express a problem that is hurting the artist themselves or otherwise hurting the world; such as Tupac Shakur did by using an  acronym for his tattoo.  Most people thought it was just slang to express how he had a hard time growing up and only to express his tough life but, it was  to express the tough life that many children suffer.  THUG LIFE (T.he H.ate U G.ive L.ittle I.nfants F.***s E.veryone) was a rude and straight forward expression that hatred inflected on other only brings about more hatred.  Instead we should change and open our arms to love, leave hatred aside and end the violence.

Both Tupac & DJ Shadow speak of truth, they never saw or see themselves as a the main figure, but only a figure to meaning that is behind the music.  The first song was a good way to express himself and his ideals.