Poets by the Tragically Hip
On one level, I feel bad for Canada. Some of their greatest products have someone not translated into American society or culture. Hockey is one of those things. Americans, frankly, could careless about hockey. TV ratings back this up. (Piss poor management of four teams (Chicago, Boston, New York, and since they once were moved from the Twin Cities, the Twin Cities) in what would be American hockey heartland plays a role in this).
Anyway, the Hip are another of those Canadian products that just haven't been all that well accepted by the American public. Maybe it is because Gord's lyrics are so deeply rooted in Canadian literature and culture. Maybe it's just because the Hip are, in away, just a pretty good rock band. And in a country filled with pretty good rock bands, the Hip are left on the North looking south. I guess only crappy Canadian bands make it big here in the States (Nickelback [throws up/])
But Gordie does have his way with words - funny, true, and probably deeper than I think.
Don't tell me what the poets are doing
Don't tell me that they're talkin' tough
Don't tell me that they're anti-social
Somehow not anti-social enough, all right
Friday, December 28, 2007
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Mr. Jones
Mr. Jones by The Counting Crows
The first chords ring out and there's a tamborine and the lead singer is bursting out "la la las". So you know right away we're dealing with a pop song. And really, honestly, we're dealing with a song that we all know is just so-so. Sure it's catchy and all that... it's not bad it's just a song.
But you know what? This is the most honest song ever written. Crazy? Maybe, but I love this song. Just check out this selection of lyrics:
We all want something beautiful
I wish I was beautiful...
Stare at the beautiful women...
We all want to be big big stars, but we got different reasons for that...
We all want to be big stars, but we don't know why and we don't know how
No these are Earth shattering lyrics. They aren't mind blowing or even intellectual. But they're true and honest. Maybe we all don't want to be big stars, but at one point most of us DID. We wanted to be popular. We wanted to be Bob Dylan or some actor or athlete. We've probably all found ourselves in bars, drinking, wanting something beautiful and to be with that beautiful woman/man. And that's what I love about this song; the brutal honesty. That's what so beautiful about this song. That's why I love it.
As far as Mr. Jones... I guess there is this whole debate as to who it is and go here if you have an opinion. I like the Bob Dylan and the Ballad of a Thin Man line of thinking.
Watch it here:
The first chords ring out and there's a tamborine and the lead singer is bursting out "la la las". So you know right away we're dealing with a pop song. And really, honestly, we're dealing with a song that we all know is just so-so. Sure it's catchy and all that... it's not bad it's just a song.
But you know what? This is the most honest song ever written. Crazy? Maybe, but I love this song. Just check out this selection of lyrics:
We all want something beautiful
I wish I was beautiful...
Stare at the beautiful women...
We all want to be big big stars, but we got different reasons for that...
We all want to be big stars, but we don't know why and we don't know how
No these are Earth shattering lyrics. They aren't mind blowing or even intellectual. But they're true and honest. Maybe we all don't want to be big stars, but at one point most of us DID. We wanted to be popular. We wanted to be Bob Dylan or some actor or athlete. We've probably all found ourselves in bars, drinking, wanting something beautiful and to be with that beautiful woman/man. And that's what I love about this song; the brutal honesty. That's what so beautiful about this song. That's why I love it.
As far as Mr. Jones... I guess there is this whole debate as to who it is and go here if you have an opinion. I like the Bob Dylan and the Ballad of a Thin Man line of thinking.
Watch it here:
Starting Up Again
For reasons that we can't and won't explain... we're back. Hopefully you have an RSS feed!
Monday, July 2, 2007
Way Down in the Hole
Way Down In the Hole by The Blind Boys Of Alabama
Just hearing this song makes my heart stop, my heart melt, and my mind forget everyone else in the world. It's the opening credits to the first season of the Wire... the greatest TV show in the history of TV. And this isn't even an argument. This is fact. The Wire is flat out amazing... I love it. God I love it.
I was watching it last night and totally forgot that the world existed as I sat there taking in the episode. That's how good this show is, you forget that the world and even yourself exist.
And the song, pretty awesome isn't it? Thank you Mr. Waits, thank you.
When you walk through the garden
you gotta watch your back
well I beg your pardon
walk the straight and narrow track
if you walk with Jesus
he's gonna save your soul
you gotta keep the devil
way down in the hole
he's got the fire and the fury
at his command
well you don't have to worry
if you hold on to Jesus hand
we'll all be safe from Satan
Watch:
Just hearing this song makes my heart stop, my heart melt, and my mind forget everyone else in the world. It's the opening credits to the first season of the Wire... the greatest TV show in the history of TV. And this isn't even an argument. This is fact. The Wire is flat out amazing... I love it. God I love it.
I was watching it last night and totally forgot that the world existed as I sat there taking in the episode. That's how good this show is, you forget that the world and even yourself exist.
And the song, pretty awesome isn't it? Thank you Mr. Waits, thank you.
When you walk through the garden
you gotta watch your back
well I beg your pardon
walk the straight and narrow track
if you walk with Jesus
he's gonna save your soul
you gotta keep the devil
way down in the hole
he's got the fire and the fury
at his command
well you don't have to worry
if you hold on to Jesus hand
we'll all be safe from Satan
Watch:
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
A Shot In the Arm
A Shot In the Arm by Wilco
I think the opening lines pretty much say it all:
The ashtray says
You were up all night
I mean, who wouldn't give up an arm or a leg to write a line like that?
This is one of the more beautiful songs that I've heard. The song pretty much reaches out to everyone, we've all had that long night with someone - usually the relationship is doomed - but you plug away out of fear of what's on the other side and out of what was once was. This song covers all that:
You've changed
Oh, you've changed
What you once were isn't what you want to be anymore
I know I've had friends and now former loves who changed - usually this happens after I lost consistent contact with them. People change, or maybe better yet, their priorities change. They no longer want to be the lawyer, the spark plug who wants to change the world... maybe they become docile, settling for fifth or sixth place when they could have had first or second. Maybe most people do this... I don't know. Maybe we could all use a shot in the arm. Then again on second though, drugs probably aren't the answer.
Watch:
I think the opening lines pretty much say it all:
The ashtray says
You were up all night
I mean, who wouldn't give up an arm or a leg to write a line like that?
This is one of the more beautiful songs that I've heard. The song pretty much reaches out to everyone, we've all had that long night with someone - usually the relationship is doomed - but you plug away out of fear of what's on the other side and out of what was once was. This song covers all that:
You've changed
Oh, you've changed
What you once were isn't what you want to be anymore
I know I've had friends and now former loves who changed - usually this happens after I lost consistent contact with them. People change, or maybe better yet, their priorities change. They no longer want to be the lawyer, the spark plug who wants to change the world... maybe they become docile, settling for fifth or sixth place when they could have had first or second. Maybe most people do this... I don't know. Maybe we could all use a shot in the arm. Then again on second though, drugs probably aren't the answer.
Watch:
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Enjoy the Silence
Enjoy the Silence by Depeche Mode
Honestly, I don't have a ton to say about this song. It's sort of cool and has a nice sound. I like the chorus and it's a nice love song at that too. The end of the song always bothers me because it sort of drops off into nothing. I know, silence... I get it. But I don't enjoy it all that much.
Watch (No truth to the rumor that the King stars in this video):
Honestly, I don't have a ton to say about this song. It's sort of cool and has a nice sound. I like the chorus and it's a nice love song at that too. The end of the song always bothers me because it sort of drops off into nothing. I know, silence... I get it. But I don't enjoy it all that much.
Watch (No truth to the rumor that the King stars in this video):
Monday, June 25, 2007
Instant Pleasure
Instant Pleasure by Rufus Wainwright
If there was ever a song that should be the anthem of the of 21st century, this would be it:
I don't want somebody to love me
Just give me sex whenever I want it
'Cause all I ask for is instant pleasure
Instant pleasure, instant pleasure
Of course the song is being sarcastic. It's taking shots at the world, society, and culture that we live in. This is a song that would make Rollo May proud: sex is faceless, love is meaningless, physical pleasure is what we desire, emotions are not to be considered until after the fact and forgotten about then, and finally we want all this right now. Consequences be damned.
We have, as a culture, decided that we should act first and think second. This isn't always a bad thing. But in 99% of ones daily life, thinking before jumping is necessary. But at the same time, we have been able, thanks to money, medicine, science, and technology, to redo our mistakes. In an image conscious culture, the possibility to 'redo' or 'undo' our actions has allowed us to act before we think. This has lead to much fun.
Of course this leads to a lot of bad consequences - from car accidents to shitty investments to going home with someone you shouldn't be to shitty education and educational systems were the test is more important than knowledge or intellect - the moral hazard of these decisions has decreased over the years. Instant gratification rules the day. Can you make me a buck? Can you get me off? Can you get a high score than the one town over? I know I'm drunk and I know he's drunk, but we've got airbags baby! And if shit happens, we'll deal with it, even if it tears us apart, brings stress to our familes, and bring upon emotional distress. At least we can look back and say, 'wow that was a fun night'. It's a selfish world, and everyone else has to deal with it.
Think that all these folks get laid?
Do it cause their pain is great?
What you thinkin' anyways?
If drinkin' coffee's your idea of really cool
You can't expect no crazy chick to notice you
Just sittin there dreamin' instant pleasure
Instant pleasure, instant pleasure...
I don't want somebody to love me
I don't want somebody to love me...
Watch:
If there was ever a song that should be the anthem of the of 21st century, this would be it:
I don't want somebody to love me
Just give me sex whenever I want it
'Cause all I ask for is instant pleasure
Instant pleasure, instant pleasure
Of course the song is being sarcastic. It's taking shots at the world, society, and culture that we live in. This is a song that would make Rollo May proud: sex is faceless, love is meaningless, physical pleasure is what we desire, emotions are not to be considered until after the fact and forgotten about then, and finally we want all this right now. Consequences be damned.
We have, as a culture, decided that we should act first and think second. This isn't always a bad thing. But in 99% of ones daily life, thinking before jumping is necessary. But at the same time, we have been able, thanks to money, medicine, science, and technology, to redo our mistakes. In an image conscious culture, the possibility to 'redo' or 'undo' our actions has allowed us to act before we think. This has lead to much fun.
Of course this leads to a lot of bad consequences - from car accidents to shitty investments to going home with someone you shouldn't be to shitty education and educational systems were the test is more important than knowledge or intellect - the moral hazard of these decisions has decreased over the years. Instant gratification rules the day. Can you make me a buck? Can you get me off? Can you get a high score than the one town over? I know I'm drunk and I know he's drunk, but we've got airbags baby! And if shit happens, we'll deal with it, even if it tears us apart, brings stress to our familes, and bring upon emotional distress. At least we can look back and say, 'wow that was a fun night'. It's a selfish world, and everyone else has to deal with it.
Think that all these folks get laid?
Do it cause their pain is great?
What you thinkin' anyways?
If drinkin' coffee's your idea of really cool
You can't expect no crazy chick to notice you
Just sittin there dreamin' instant pleasure
Instant pleasure, instant pleasure...
I don't want somebody to love me
I don't want somebody to love me...
Watch:
Friday, June 22, 2007
Down With Disease
Down With Disease by Phish
My best friend in my late grade school years and into high school was a big music fan. And he LOVED Phish in high school. Loved them. I'm not totally sure why since, I mean they're aiight, but they're Phish. They can write a catchy hook and Mike Gordon is pretty awesome, but they didn't actually mean anything. I mean what did Phish even write about? What was the point to their songs?
Yeah, they were a jam band and sort of got lumped in with the Dead because of that (unfairly I might add... unlike the Dead, Phish were pretty good). Anyway, this song was loved by pretty much everyone who didn't actually follow or was into Phish since it had a nice hook and the lyrics actually meant something (usually to females more so than males in high school).
Waiting for the time when I can finally say
That this has all been wonderful but now Im on my way
But when I think its time to leave it all behind
I try to find a way but theres nothing I can say to make it stop
I guess those pretty much perfectly sum up high school and leaving high school. So at the very least, at least Phish has that going for 'em.
Watch an unlive version of the song... like all jam bands Phish was known for their live performances, which I thought sort of sucked:
My best friend in my late grade school years and into high school was a big music fan. And he LOVED Phish in high school. Loved them. I'm not totally sure why since, I mean they're aiight, but they're Phish. They can write a catchy hook and Mike Gordon is pretty awesome, but they didn't actually mean anything. I mean what did Phish even write about? What was the point to their songs?
Yeah, they were a jam band and sort of got lumped in with the Dead because of that (unfairly I might add... unlike the Dead, Phish were pretty good). Anyway, this song was loved by pretty much everyone who didn't actually follow or was into Phish since it had a nice hook and the lyrics actually meant something (usually to females more so than males in high school).
Waiting for the time when I can finally say
That this has all been wonderful but now Im on my way
But when I think its time to leave it all behind
I try to find a way but theres nothing I can say to make it stop
I guess those pretty much perfectly sum up high school and leaving high school. So at the very least, at least Phish has that going for 'em.
Watch an unlive version of the song... like all jam bands Phish was known for their live performances, which I thought sort of sucked:
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Dark Matter
Dark Matter by Andrew Bird
As the song builds from the very beginning, with the whistling and big electric guitar, I get happy.
Memories are restricted to just a few random times walking around Chicago whistling the song. It's a good summer song, something that maybe pops into your head as you leave some place that made you feel good. It's one of those type songs - subtle, yet big. Something you hear when you leave... something that would play at the very end of a movie.
Watch it live:
As the song builds from the very beginning, with the whistling and big electric guitar, I get happy.
Memories are restricted to just a few random times walking around Chicago whistling the song. It's a good summer song, something that maybe pops into your head as you leave some place that made you feel good. It's one of those type songs - subtle, yet big. Something you hear when you leave... something that would play at the very end of a movie.
Watch it live:
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Stay With Me
Stay With Me by Faces
We're just going to let Chuck Klosterman take this one for us:
"The single-greatest male singing voice of the rock era belongs to Rod Stewart. Nobody at Spin believes me when I make this argument, and many of my coworkers assume I am trying to be ironic when I insist that Rod Stewart's whiskey-soaked throat is more moving that Sinatra's... "Stay with Me," a Faces tune where Rod convinces a woman to have sex with him, only to beg her to leave his flat before he wakes up the following morning (although he does offer cab fare and cologne). That's the second component of Rod's persona: He is a male tart and a bad boyfriend, probably because he makes a lot of decisions when he's drunk... If all you ever do is drink brandy and chase women and miss those women when they leave (and then question why they were even there in the first place), that becomes the way you understand existence; consequently, that's how you try to understand everything else. And that's completely valid, if not necessarily universal. Rod Stewart may be a blond clown with bad judgement, but everything he says is true." - From Killing Yourself to Live: 85% of a True Story which you can buy here.
Watch:
We're just going to let Chuck Klosterman take this one for us:
"The single-greatest male singing voice of the rock era belongs to Rod Stewart. Nobody at Spin believes me when I make this argument, and many of my coworkers assume I am trying to be ironic when I insist that Rod Stewart's whiskey-soaked throat is more moving that Sinatra's... "Stay with Me," a Faces tune where Rod convinces a woman to have sex with him, only to beg her to leave his flat before he wakes up the following morning (although he does offer cab fare and cologne). That's the second component of Rod's persona: He is a male tart and a bad boyfriend, probably because he makes a lot of decisions when he's drunk... If all you ever do is drink brandy and chase women and miss those women when they leave (and then question why they were even there in the first place), that becomes the way you understand existence; consequently, that's how you try to understand everything else. And that's completely valid, if not necessarily universal. Rod Stewart may be a blond clown with bad judgement, but everything he says is true." - From Killing Yourself to Live: 85% of a True Story which you can buy here.
Watch:
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Heart In A Cage
Heart in a Cage by The Strokes
I just write 'em as they come... but still lots of Stroke songs recently. Yet, that's not a bad thing.
In the first months of 2006 this was probably my favorite Friday/Saturday night song. Not sure why, it isn't the most 'oh yeah, night on the town baby!' song. But it's just got that driving beat and it just sort of feels like one of those songs that you would have playing in the background of a movie when one is at a bar just soaking it in, the people, their actions, the ridiculousness of it all... it's one of those songs. It helps me sort of see the hypocrisy of my generation. Maybe it's the bridge that sort of brings that to life for me:
All our friends, they're laughing at us
All of those you loved you mistrust
Help me I'm just not quite myself
Look around there's no one else there
Watch:
I just write 'em as they come... but still lots of Stroke songs recently. Yet, that's not a bad thing.
In the first months of 2006 this was probably my favorite Friday/Saturday night song. Not sure why, it isn't the most 'oh yeah, night on the town baby!' song. But it's just got that driving beat and it just sort of feels like one of those songs that you would have playing in the background of a movie when one is at a bar just soaking it in, the people, their actions, the ridiculousness of it all... it's one of those songs. It helps me sort of see the hypocrisy of my generation. Maybe it's the bridge that sort of brings that to life for me:
All our friends, they're laughing at us
All of those you loved you mistrust
Help me I'm just not quite myself
Look around there's no one else there
Watch:
Monday, June 18, 2007
Bandages
Bandages by Hot Hot Heat
When the 'garage rock' revolution or renaissance of 2000 and 2001 took off, it brought rock music back to the forefront, or at least, to the conscious of white, middle America. I've always been surprised that it didn't take off even more so. Yes I guess the White Stripes are pretty much HUGE at this point, and the Strokes will sell out 2,000 seat places and probably sell 100,000 records... but still the pop-punk that Greenday 'started' in the mid 90s seems to have deeper commercial roots. Then again, when I think about this, it's probably because Sum 41 and Good Charlotte write songs that aren't about being 23, which is what the Strokes do. I'm sure I wouldn't love the Strokes if I was 15 when "Last Nite" came out.
Anyway, what was I saying... oh yeah, eventually I was going to point out that the "Garage Rock" of 2000 and 2001 lacked something necessary for mainstream awareness: Fun. The Strokes were conscious of the 21st century existence of being a male in a sea of women and frats. The White Stripes are the White Stripes, they have fun and most of us weren't/aren't/will never be in on the joke, thus they aren't fun. The Hives were a shot in the pan. The Vines sucked. Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs were too arty or at least looked way too Village for America. The Dandy Warhols (I'll include them just to include them) were far too aware and tried to hard. There was no fun.
But then this song came out, and it was fun and everyone loved it, and if the iPod was huge then, I'm sure if would have been used in an iPod commercial (and maybe it was, I don't remember). This song is fun... and that's why I've always thought that the narrator is more writing this song as a fun joke to his girlfriend... they sort of flirty, you're a pain in my ass, type of stuff that couples engage in. Maybe I'm wrong... who knows.
Watch:
When the 'garage rock' revolution or renaissance of 2000 and 2001 took off, it brought rock music back to the forefront, or at least, to the conscious of white, middle America. I've always been surprised that it didn't take off even more so. Yes I guess the White Stripes are pretty much HUGE at this point, and the Strokes will sell out 2,000 seat places and probably sell 100,000 records... but still the pop-punk that Greenday 'started' in the mid 90s seems to have deeper commercial roots. Then again, when I think about this, it's probably because Sum 41 and Good Charlotte write songs that aren't about being 23, which is what the Strokes do. I'm sure I wouldn't love the Strokes if I was 15 when "Last Nite" came out.
Anyway, what was I saying... oh yeah, eventually I was going to point out that the "Garage Rock" of 2000 and 2001 lacked something necessary for mainstream awareness: Fun. The Strokes were conscious of the 21st century existence of being a male in a sea of women and frats. The White Stripes are the White Stripes, they have fun and most of us weren't/aren't/will never be in on the joke, thus they aren't fun. The Hives were a shot in the pan. The Vines sucked. Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs were too arty or at least looked way too Village for America. The Dandy Warhols (I'll include them just to include them) were far too aware and tried to hard. There was no fun.
But then this song came out, and it was fun and everyone loved it, and if the iPod was huge then, I'm sure if would have been used in an iPod commercial (and maybe it was, I don't remember). This song is fun... and that's why I've always thought that the narrator is more writing this song as a fun joke to his girlfriend... they sort of flirty, you're a pain in my ass, type of stuff that couples engage in. Maybe I'm wrong... who knows.
Watch:
Monday, June 11, 2007
Under Control
Under Control by the Strokes
It's easy, feels right, and it's straight forward. From the opening drums to Julian's voice to the guitar work, you know how this song is going to play out... and that's what makes it enjoyable. This album reminds me of my senior year of college and my dorm room. Nothing really interesting to add there... I liked my roommates, we had some nice conversations, for the most part we got along.
But back to the song... it's really just an easy, summer night, type song. Crack open a window, a beer, and watch a baseball game on the porch type of song. Maybe throw my arm around a new girlfriend. Something like that... I love it.
I don't want to change your mind,
I don't want to waste your time.
I just want to know you're alright.
I've got to know you're alright;
You are young, darling
For now, but not for long
Under control.
It's easy, feels right, and it's straight forward. From the opening drums to Julian's voice to the guitar work, you know how this song is going to play out... and that's what makes it enjoyable. This album reminds me of my senior year of college and my dorm room. Nothing really interesting to add there... I liked my roommates, we had some nice conversations, for the most part we got along.
But back to the song... it's really just an easy, summer night, type song. Crack open a window, a beer, and watch a baseball game on the porch type of song. Maybe throw my arm around a new girlfriend. Something like that... I love it.
I don't want to change your mind,
I don't want to waste your time.
I just want to know you're alright.
I've got to know you're alright;
You are young, darling
For now, but not for long
Under control.
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Right Back Where We Started From
Right Back Where We Started From by Maxine Nightingale
Two memories of this song:
1) It's played about 29 times during "Slapshot", the greatest hockey movie of all time and one of the funniest movies ever if you ask me. Classic.
2) About two years ago, I went up to my buddy's parents beach house in Michigan. We spent one of the days playing softball with some friends he knew up there. That night someone had a party. We went. And this song came on and all everyone there went nuts. It was pretty crazy. It's a fun song and everything, but who would have thunk people born in the late 70s and early 80s would be going nuts over this song? It was a lot of fun though.
Watch:
Two memories of this song:
1) It's played about 29 times during "Slapshot", the greatest hockey movie of all time and one of the funniest movies ever if you ask me. Classic.
2) About two years ago, I went up to my buddy's parents beach house in Michigan. We spent one of the days playing softball with some friends he knew up there. That night someone had a party. We went. And this song came on and all everyone there went nuts. It was pretty crazy. It's a fun song and everything, but who would have thunk people born in the late 70s and early 80s would be going nuts over this song? It was a lot of fun though.
Watch:
Saturday, June 9, 2007
The Delaney
The Delaney by The Libertines
Pete Doherty has packed a shit load in to his brief 28 years here on Earth. Maybe too much. But hey, anyone who writes songs that sort of sound like the Clash meet the Ramones in the 21 century, dates Kate Moss, and has a crack addiction... well he gets a tip of the hat from me. Not that I support drug use or abuse, but we can appreciate Mr. Doherty's efforts of living the Rock'n'Roll life style. Personally, I attempt to be a man of the High Life, and therefore I can appreciate someone else's efforts to lead a life for a cause and of substance (abuse). So I raise my High Life to Mr. Doherty for his musical talents.
And to be honest, it's a shame that Chuck Klosterman and Pete haven't taken a trip across Europe. Sure, there is a 86% chance that one of them will die on such a trip, but if Chuck survived it'd be like the greatest rock'n'roll book ever. This needs to happen.
Anyway, I like this song, it is as if the Ramones sped up a Clash song... what's not to love?
Watch:
Pete Doherty has packed a shit load in to his brief 28 years here on Earth. Maybe too much. But hey, anyone who writes songs that sort of sound like the Clash meet the Ramones in the 21 century, dates Kate Moss, and has a crack addiction... well he gets a tip of the hat from me. Not that I support drug use or abuse, but we can appreciate Mr. Doherty's efforts of living the Rock'n'Roll life style. Personally, I attempt to be a man of the High Life, and therefore I can appreciate someone else's efforts to lead a life for a cause and of substance (abuse). So I raise my High Life to Mr. Doherty for his musical talents.
And to be honest, it's a shame that Chuck Klosterman and Pete haven't taken a trip across Europe. Sure, there is a 86% chance that one of them will die on such a trip, but if Chuck survived it'd be like the greatest rock'n'roll book ever. This needs to happen.
Anyway, I like this song, it is as if the Ramones sped up a Clash song... what's not to love?
Watch:
Friday, June 8, 2007
Summerteeth
Summerteeth by Wilco
It's not every day that great musicians write cheery songs about depressing topics. In fact, I think the list consists of two songs (at least to my knowledge): "Blue, Red, and Grey" by the Who (really Pete Townshend) and "Summerteeth" by Wilco!
Seriously, has suicide ever sounded so cheery? I know, M*A*S*H taught us that suicide was painless, but it wasn't cheery and peppy. This song is cheery and peppy. I like it, of course I pretend it isn't about suicide and I just like the lines "It's just a dream he keeps having, and it doesn't seem to mean anything". In fact there was a time in my life (about four years ago while in college) where I rewrote the lyrics to "It's just a feeling she keeps getting, and she thinks that they call it love." I like to call this playing it safe.
Listen:
I guess if you hit this link, it will take you to the song off of Wilco's website. Man, this band really is awesome, aren't they? All their songs on their website? You mean they're in it for the actual art and music and not the money? How great is Wilco? Seriously? Like Alan Alda great or only Gary Burghoff great?^
*We're sorry about taking a week off, but we needed it. We promise to be better at this with school over. Thanks for your coming back.
^We have never actually watched an entire episode of M*A*S*H.
It's not every day that great musicians write cheery songs about depressing topics. In fact, I think the list consists of two songs (at least to my knowledge): "Blue, Red, and Grey" by the Who (really Pete Townshend) and "Summerteeth" by Wilco!
Seriously, has suicide ever sounded so cheery? I know, M*A*S*H taught us that suicide was painless, but it wasn't cheery and peppy. This song is cheery and peppy. I like it, of course I pretend it isn't about suicide and I just like the lines "It's just a dream he keeps having, and it doesn't seem to mean anything". In fact there was a time in my life (about four years ago while in college) where I rewrote the lyrics to "It's just a feeling she keeps getting, and she thinks that they call it love." I like to call this playing it safe.
Listen:
I guess if you hit this link, it will take you to the song off of Wilco's website. Man, this band really is awesome, aren't they? All their songs on their website? You mean they're in it for the actual art and music and not the money? How great is Wilco? Seriously? Like Alan Alda great or only Gary Burghoff great?^
*We're sorry about taking a week off, but we needed it. We promise to be better at this with school over. Thanks for your coming back.
^We have never actually watched an entire episode of M*A*S*H.
Friday, June 1, 2007
Alone Together
Alone Together by The Strokes
This album, more than any other, captures those months and year that followed 9/11. I've touched on this before, but it was just so perfect. The urgency, the 'oh my God, I'm 20 and all I want is a fun and a girl'. Alone Together summed up those desires of lust. I love the line, "My life seems unreal, can we go back to your place" and desperately wanted to use it on a girl (sadly, or luckily, I never did or was able too). It seemed so perfect in January of 2002... we'd go out, have a few drinks, maybe dance in a punkisque way where she would more dance and I would stand there laughing, and then I'd say, "You know, life is just so unreal right now... wanta go?" It just made sense, it felt right, it was the way the world was at that moment. But in the end, I wasn't (and am not) that kind of guy. But man, oh man, it just seemed like the perfect way to fall in love back in 2001 and 2002.
Now, over five and half years after 9/11, these thoughts seem unreal. But there was a period of time when they were real. When life didn't seem real, when we were caught up in a mess of everything and not knowing what to do with it.
And the song peaks at the end:
The first time that I met your friends
And the second time I thought it would last
We all like it a little different
Watch:
This album, more than any other, captures those months and year that followed 9/11. I've touched on this before, but it was just so perfect. The urgency, the 'oh my God, I'm 20 and all I want is a fun and a girl'. Alone Together summed up those desires of lust. I love the line, "My life seems unreal, can we go back to your place" and desperately wanted to use it on a girl (sadly, or luckily, I never did or was able too). It seemed so perfect in January of 2002... we'd go out, have a few drinks, maybe dance in a punkisque way where she would more dance and I would stand there laughing, and then I'd say, "You know, life is just so unreal right now... wanta go?" It just made sense, it felt right, it was the way the world was at that moment. But in the end, I wasn't (and am not) that kind of guy. But man, oh man, it just seemed like the perfect way to fall in love back in 2001 and 2002.
Now, over five and half years after 9/11, these thoughts seem unreal. But there was a period of time when they were real. When life didn't seem real, when we were caught up in a mess of everything and not knowing what to do with it.
And the song peaks at the end:
The first time that I met your friends
And the second time I thought it would last
We all like it a little different
Watch:
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Angeles
Angeles by Elliott Smith
Another from Good Will Hunting, one of those movies that I still enjoy after all these years. Maybe it's because that even as I grow older, I can still take something away from the movie. ANYWAY, this is one of the prettier songs that I know. The arpeggio on the guitar, Smith's voice sounds soulful and honest, and the lyrics ring true. It's one of those songs that even if you're sitting around up to nothing, it makes you want to take a road trip (and not necessarily to LA), just because you know that there's something out there to search for... something in our souls that's worth searching for and finding.
I should also say, that this has been, so far, the most difficult song to articulate... it goes beyond words. It's just so... I don't know how to say it.
Watch:
Another from Good Will Hunting, one of those movies that I still enjoy after all these years. Maybe it's because that even as I grow older, I can still take something away from the movie. ANYWAY, this is one of the prettier songs that I know. The arpeggio on the guitar, Smith's voice sounds soulful and honest, and the lyrics ring true. It's one of those songs that even if you're sitting around up to nothing, it makes you want to take a road trip (and not necessarily to LA), just because you know that there's something out there to search for... something in our souls that's worth searching for and finding.
I should also say, that this has been, so far, the most difficult song to articulate... it goes beyond words. It's just so... I don't know how to say it.
Watch:
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want
Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want by The Smiths
People say the Smiths are kind of depressing, but I kind of like them. And they don't bum me out, I honestly think Morrissey is one of the more optimistic people in life. Sure, he seems so sad, but dreams are good. Hope is good. And this is a hopeful song. Maybe this is the day things change...
Haven't had a dream in a long time
See, the life I've had
Can make a good man bad
So for once in my life
Let me get what I want
Lord knows, it would be the first time
Lord knows, it would be the first time
Watch the Video (and I'm sure the images of may make you think differently than what I wrote...)
People say the Smiths are kind of depressing, but I kind of like them. And they don't bum me out, I honestly think Morrissey is one of the more optimistic people in life. Sure, he seems so sad, but dreams are good. Hope is good. And this is a hopeful song. Maybe this is the day things change...
Haven't had a dream in a long time
See, the life I've had
Can make a good man bad
So for once in my life
Let me get what I want
Lord knows, it would be the first time
Lord knows, it would be the first time
Watch the Video (and I'm sure the images of may make you think differently than what I wrote...)
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Australia
Australia by The Shins
When ever I'm in a bad mood or feeling sorry for myself (which, I must brag, doesn't happen too often); I find the right songs to play to pull me out of my bad mood. It's more like taking two Advil's for a really, really bad hangover in which you got really, really drunk and mixed the Trinity of booze, but it makes me feel better for a little while.
I'm not in a bad mood right now, but I am a bit overwhelmed. I'm sure work can be stressful, but in my short work experience (two years plus summer jobs), I've never been as overwhelmed as the amount of pressure, stress, and work school can deal at times. Usually with work, you can pass the buck, or attempt to pass the buck; maybe even reason with your boss. But with school? There's none of that; you've just got to do what you have to do AND do it well. I think this is the big difference between work and school... there are no grades in work. Maybe an annual evaluation, but that's really about it. With school, the hits just keep on coming.
So what does this have to do with Australia? Well it's such a cheery song that my mood can't helped to be lifted a bit. "Dare to be one of us, girl,/Facing the android's conundrum" come on, that's pretty great. And this song pretty much has everything a cheery song needs:
1) Background vocals that go "lalala"
2) A chorus that builds and builds, reaching higher and higher from the verse AND each previous chorus.
3) A banjo. How great is the banjo? In fact, let's make this the second rule of the Blog: Any pop song that features a banjo is great.
Watch:
When ever I'm in a bad mood or feeling sorry for myself (which, I must brag, doesn't happen too often); I find the right songs to play to pull me out of my bad mood. It's more like taking two Advil's for a really, really bad hangover in which you got really, really drunk and mixed the Trinity of booze, but it makes me feel better for a little while.
I'm not in a bad mood right now, but I am a bit overwhelmed. I'm sure work can be stressful, but in my short work experience (two years plus summer jobs), I've never been as overwhelmed as the amount of pressure, stress, and work school can deal at times. Usually with work, you can pass the buck, or attempt to pass the buck; maybe even reason with your boss. But with school? There's none of that; you've just got to do what you have to do AND do it well. I think this is the big difference between work and school... there are no grades in work. Maybe an annual evaluation, but that's really about it. With school, the hits just keep on coming.
So what does this have to do with Australia? Well it's such a cheery song that my mood can't helped to be lifted a bit. "Dare to be one of us, girl,/Facing the android's conundrum" come on, that's pretty great. And this song pretty much has everything a cheery song needs:
1) Background vocals that go "lalala"
2) A chorus that builds and builds, reaching higher and higher from the verse AND each previous chorus.
3) A banjo. How great is the banjo? In fact, let's make this the second rule of the Blog: Any pop song that features a banjo is great.
Watch:
Monday, May 28, 2007
In An Aeroplane Over the Sea
In An Aeroplane Over the Sea by Neutral Milk Hotel
Like pretty much every song on "In An Aeroplane Over the Sea" this song just has it. It's pretty, honest, and melancholy... something that sounds pleasant to listen to. Maybe it's the hit of sadness or the honestly of Jeff Mangum's voice.
I don't know much about Jeff Mangum. But I do know that he wrote one really amazing album and another very good album... then it seems like he's disappeared. I like to think of him as the J. D. Salinger of music.
Maybe the most interesting thing about this album (and this song) is that much of the subject manner is Anne Frank. When you listen to the album, Anne Frank enters time and time again. She's sort of like Holly from the Hold Steady... but it is Frank's 'beautiful face' that gives the album's sense of sadness... and hope... all at the same time.
Listen/Watch:
Like pretty much every song on "In An Aeroplane Over the Sea" this song just has it. It's pretty, honest, and melancholy... something that sounds pleasant to listen to. Maybe it's the hit of sadness or the honestly of Jeff Mangum's voice.
I don't know much about Jeff Mangum. But I do know that he wrote one really amazing album and another very good album... then it seems like he's disappeared. I like to think of him as the J. D. Salinger of music.
Maybe the most interesting thing about this album (and this song) is that much of the subject manner is Anne Frank. When you listen to the album, Anne Frank enters time and time again. She's sort of like Holly from the Hold Steady... but it is Frank's 'beautiful face' that gives the album's sense of sadness... and hope... all at the same time.
Listen/Watch:
Sunday, May 27, 2007
Dirty Jobs
Dirty Jobs by The Who
Wow... first Who entry. Crazy, especially considering that the Who are one of my favorite all time bands AND I loved these guys in high school AND I wrote a college essay about Pete Townshend. No joke.
Anyway, Dirty Jobs is a fine song off of the fantastic "Quadrophenia" - one of my all time favorite albums. I like this song. I listened to it a lot in high school but nothing is coming to mind... and that's all I've got. Sorry.
Listen!
The Who – The Dirty Jobs
*Sorry, I'm not sure why I've been really bad at this over the past week or ten days, but I have been.
Wow... first Who entry. Crazy, especially considering that the Who are one of my favorite all time bands AND I loved these guys in high school AND I wrote a college essay about Pete Townshend. No joke.
Anyway, Dirty Jobs is a fine song off of the fantastic "Quadrophenia" - one of my all time favorite albums. I like this song. I listened to it a lot in high school but nothing is coming to mind... and that's all I've got. Sorry.
Listen!
The Who – The Dirty Jobs
*Sorry, I'm not sure why I've been really bad at this over the past week or ten days, but I have been.
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Banging Camp
Banging Camp by the Hold Steady (90/365)
"There's strings attached to every single lover..." how true. I love this song, the banging guitar, the background vocals of "ooooo-la-la-la-laala", and Craig Finn's vocals. Oh so great. I think over the course of this album, I fall for Holly a bit, "Holly wore a cross to ward them off." What a great summer song... I could totally go for a beer and a burger when I hear this song.
I should also add that two and a half years ago D and I decided to only use bang when referring to sex. I'm not sure why other than it was funny. It's gotten to the point where I don't even realize that I use it pretty much all the time in conversation with peers. I guess it's cool and funny. Whatever.
Listen to a bit:
The Hold Steady – Banging Camp<
Watch:
"There's strings attached to every single lover..." how true. I love this song, the banging guitar, the background vocals of "ooooo-la-la-la-laala", and Craig Finn's vocals. Oh so great. I think over the course of this album, I fall for Holly a bit, "Holly wore a cross to ward them off." What a great summer song... I could totally go for a beer and a burger when I hear this song.
I should also add that two and a half years ago D and I decided to only use bang when referring to sex. I'm not sure why other than it was funny. It's gotten to the point where I don't even realize that I use it pretty much all the time in conversation with peers. I guess it's cool and funny. Whatever.
Listen to a bit:
The Hold Steady – Banging Camp<
Watch:
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
How To Save A Life
How To Save A Life by The Fray
At some time in January I had this song stuck in my head, and this forced me to download it from iTunes just to prevent me from going insane. I don't watch Grey's Anatomy so I have nothing else to add to this song. I will say this about Grey's... I've seen it twice and both times they had about ten minutes of plot material for an hour long show. Needless to say, I didn't watch again.
Watch:
At some time in January I had this song stuck in my head, and this forced me to download it from iTunes just to prevent me from going insane. I don't watch Grey's Anatomy so I have nothing else to add to this song. I will say this about Grey's... I've seen it twice and both times they had about ten minutes of plot material for an hour long show. Needless to say, I didn't watch again.
Watch:
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Tables and Chairs
Tables and Chairs by Andrew Bird
Bird's Mysterious Production of Eggs is one of my favorite albums of all time... just song after song of great music. This offering comes near the end of the album. It's pretty, his voice soars and it has this nice little beat. But what I really love, is in the middle of the song when Bird lyrically, let's it fly. Some how he makes the end of the world sound so romantic. I know I wouldn't mind falling for someone in financial ruin... it'd be sort of fun. An adventure, me an a love, traveling though the world with dancing bears, bands, and no money.
I know we're gonna meet someday in the crumbled financial institutions of this land
There will be tables and chairs
Pony rides and dancing bears
There'll even be a band
'cause listen after the fall there'll be no more countries
No currencies at all
We're gonna live on our wits
Throw away survival kits
Trade butterfly knives for adderal
And that's not all
Woah!
There will be snacks, there will
There will be snacks!
Listen Live!
And a small studio clip:
Andrew Bird – Tables and Chairs
Bird's Mysterious Production of Eggs is one of my favorite albums of all time... just song after song of great music. This offering comes near the end of the album. It's pretty, his voice soars and it has this nice little beat. But what I really love, is in the middle of the song when Bird lyrically, let's it fly. Some how he makes the end of the world sound so romantic. I know I wouldn't mind falling for someone in financial ruin... it'd be sort of fun. An adventure, me an a love, traveling though the world with dancing bears, bands, and no money.
I know we're gonna meet someday in the crumbled financial institutions of this land
There will be tables and chairs
Pony rides and dancing bears
There'll even be a band
'cause listen after the fall there'll be no more countries
No currencies at all
We're gonna live on our wits
Throw away survival kits
Trade butterfly knives for adderal
And that's not all
Woah!
There will be snacks, there will
There will be snacks!
Listen Live!
And a small studio clip:
Andrew Bird – Tables and Chairs
Friday, May 18, 2007
Cigarettes And Chocolate Milk
Cigarettes And Chocolate Milk by Rufus Wainwright
Rufus writes pretty songs... he's probably one of the most unique artists out there right now, imo. His songs swoon and soar, they're passionate, funny yet glib, sarcastic, intelligent, and subtle all at once. As a singer-song-writer, Rufus is pretty effin' good.
A few years back some magazine did a whole, "overrated/underrated" thing. And one of the overrated items they had was "The Singer-Song-Writer". At first I thought this was sort of insane. The singer-song-writer is so pure, authentic, and cool. Bob Dylan, Jeff Tweedy, Paul Simon, Neil Young... these guys are singer-song-writers. They're great. They aren't phonies, they're real live people writing really good songs.
But as I mulled this over in the next weeks, months, and even years, I came to the conclusion that the singer-song-writer IS overrated. There are not that many good singer song writers; they come few and far between. And so many of the best songs weren't written by the same people who preformed them. Motown with Barry Gordie, Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder, Phil Spector et all wrote kick ass songs for other people. Should I think differently of or like the Jackson Five, Diana Ross, or anyone else less because they didn't write the song? Of course not.
The fact is, most singer-song-writers are whiny boring little, pardon my French, bitches. I don't care if she broke your heart and it feels like someone is kicked you in the gut. That's a bad analogy... in fact it's an analogy that everyone in the world can/could/has thought up. If you want to be a singer-song-writer, at the very least, be as good as Mason Jennings. And if you are the next Dylan or Simon, then by all means, write your own material. But if you've got a pretty voice but can't writer a fresh hook and only think of bland lyrics... then by all means, find the next Phil Spector and sing whatever he puts in front of you.
Watch:
Rufus writes pretty songs... he's probably one of the most unique artists out there right now, imo. His songs swoon and soar, they're passionate, funny yet glib, sarcastic, intelligent, and subtle all at once. As a singer-song-writer, Rufus is pretty effin' good.
A few years back some magazine did a whole, "overrated/underrated" thing. And one of the overrated items they had was "The Singer-Song-Writer". At first I thought this was sort of insane. The singer-song-writer is so pure, authentic, and cool. Bob Dylan, Jeff Tweedy, Paul Simon, Neil Young... these guys are singer-song-writers. They're great. They aren't phonies, they're real live people writing really good songs.
But as I mulled this over in the next weeks, months, and even years, I came to the conclusion that the singer-song-writer IS overrated. There are not that many good singer song writers; they come few and far between. And so many of the best songs weren't written by the same people who preformed them. Motown with Barry Gordie, Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder, Phil Spector et all wrote kick ass songs for other people. Should I think differently of or like the Jackson Five, Diana Ross, or anyone else less because they didn't write the song? Of course not.
The fact is, most singer-song-writers are whiny boring little, pardon my French, bitches. I don't care if she broke your heart and it feels like someone is kicked you in the gut. That's a bad analogy... in fact it's an analogy that everyone in the world can/could/has thought up. If you want to be a singer-song-writer, at the very least, be as good as Mason Jennings. And if you are the next Dylan or Simon, then by all means, write your own material. But if you've got a pretty voice but can't writer a fresh hook and only think of bland lyrics... then by all means, find the next Phil Spector and sing whatever he puts in front of you.
Watch:
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Firecracker
Firecracker by Ryan Adams
Ugh... Ryan Adams... I honestly have little opinion on him. He makes too much bland music if you ask me. If he slowed down and choose the 12 best songs he wrote in a year rather than releasing all 53 songs he writes in a year, we'd all be better off.
That said, this song is really pretty good. After 9/11 his "New York, New York" song caught the eye of some radio guys, I liked it enough to go buy "Gold" and this easily became my favorite song on the album. It's got a good chorus and a kick ass bridge (one of the best bridges in pop music now that I think about it), and the line "Well, everybody wants to go on forever/I just wanna burn up hard and bright" sure he's channeling his inner Neil Young, but it's a nice reminder. What a great pop song.
Watch:
Ugh... Ryan Adams... I honestly have little opinion on him. He makes too much bland music if you ask me. If he slowed down and choose the 12 best songs he wrote in a year rather than releasing all 53 songs he writes in a year, we'd all be better off.
That said, this song is really pretty good. After 9/11 his "New York, New York" song caught the eye of some radio guys, I liked it enough to go buy "Gold" and this easily became my favorite song on the album. It's got a good chorus and a kick ass bridge (one of the best bridges in pop music now that I think about it), and the line "Well, everybody wants to go on forever/I just wanna burn up hard and bright" sure he's channeling his inner Neil Young, but it's a nice reminder. What a great pop song.
Watch:
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Fix You
Fix You by Coldplay
Classic Coldplay... a good song, it builds and builds and then explodes near the end.
When I lived in Alexandria, travel to and from DC was a hike. Often times when I went out on the weekends in DC, I'd bring my iPod with me to distract me during my trip to and from the King Street Metro. Sometimes when I would had a bit too much to drink, I would turn this song as I walked home... and like in the video, when the guitar kicks in around the 2:30 mark, I'd take off running down the street.
It was a lot of fun.
Watch:
Classic Coldplay... a good song, it builds and builds and then explodes near the end.
When I lived in Alexandria, travel to and from DC was a hike. Often times when I went out on the weekends in DC, I'd bring my iPod with me to distract me during my trip to and from the King Street Metro. Sometimes when I would had a bit too much to drink, I would turn this song as I walked home... and like in the video, when the guitar kicks in around the 2:30 mark, I'd take off running down the street.
It was a lot of fun.
Watch:
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Mr. Bojangles
Mr. Bojangles by David Bromberg
I can't think of a song that tells a better story than "Mr. Bojangles". I love Bromberg's version, so subtle and melancholy. This is one of those songs that when I hear it, I just sort of stop, sit down, stay quiet and listen. After a few minutes it's over, and reality sets back in, but for those six minutes, there is nothing. Life doesn't usually let us take breaks, but this song allows me to do so.
I can't find Bromberg's version of the song, but I did find author, Jerry Jeff Walker, of the song preforming "Mr. Bojangles" on youtube:
I can't think of a song that tells a better story than "Mr. Bojangles". I love Bromberg's version, so subtle and melancholy. This is one of those songs that when I hear it, I just sort of stop, sit down, stay quiet and listen. After a few minutes it's over, and reality sets back in, but for those six minutes, there is nothing. Life doesn't usually let us take breaks, but this song allows me to do so.
I can't find Bromberg's version of the song, but I did find author, Jerry Jeff Walker, of the song preforming "Mr. Bojangles" on youtube:
Monday, May 14, 2007
1 2 3 4
1 2 3 4 by Feist
According to iTunes I've listened to this song 47 times in the last 13 days. That's a lot of plays of a single track, but you know what... this song is awesome. And it has horns too. I mean, when I hear this I feel like gliding down the street and all those guys from the Verizon commercial are following me... that's a little crazy but whatever.
It's spring, and hope springs eternal. And every spring needs an anthem. Summer has a bunch of fluff pop songs and classic rock; fall has pretty music that lingers, and winter has songs that call upon reflection. But spring, spring has A single song. This song will change every year - for me personally, two years ago it was "Letter from an Occupant" and last year it was Jenny Lewis' "The Big Guns". This spring, Feist's "1 2 3 4" is the Spring Anthem of 2007.
The Spring Anthem has to be cheery, lovely, and hopeful. It has to inspire and be the type of song one is willing to fall in love to - one must be willing to take the Kierkegaard Leap of Faith for this song and into this song. This is your song for the Spring and it will carry you into summer. It shall never be forgotten and who ever you have a crush on/love during this spring must be associated to this song... for ever.
And oh yeah, this music video is fun:
According to iTunes I've listened to this song 47 times in the last 13 days. That's a lot of plays of a single track, but you know what... this song is awesome. And it has horns too. I mean, when I hear this I feel like gliding down the street and all those guys from the Verizon commercial are following me... that's a little crazy but whatever.
It's spring, and hope springs eternal. And every spring needs an anthem. Summer has a bunch of fluff pop songs and classic rock; fall has pretty music that lingers, and winter has songs that call upon reflection. But spring, spring has A single song. This song will change every year - for me personally, two years ago it was "Letter from an Occupant" and last year it was Jenny Lewis' "The Big Guns". This spring, Feist's "1 2 3 4" is the Spring Anthem of 2007.
The Spring Anthem has to be cheery, lovely, and hopeful. It has to inspire and be the type of song one is willing to fall in love to - one must be willing to take the Kierkegaard Leap of Faith for this song and into this song. This is your song for the Spring and it will carry you into summer. It shall never be forgotten and who ever you have a crush on/love during this spring must be associated to this song... for ever.
And oh yeah, this music video is fun:
Saturday, May 12, 2007
Not My War
Not My War by Slings & Arrows
Since I'm going to see these guys tonight, I thought I might as well give them a shout out. Anyways, I said the other day that there has been a lack of protest songs about the entire mess in Iraq, but this song proves to be the exception to the rule. It's a pretty kick ass song, and honestly, I'm waiting for the moment when it sort of becomes one of THE protest songs of the war.
I never bought the Iraq war, not in 2002, 2003,2004, or today. It didn't make sense in my eyes. But politics aside, the war did present sort of a challenge... what could I do about it? I've marched in a few protests, written some shit on blogs, got in arguments with friends and foes alike, but that's about it. This song sums up my feelings pretty well. This is not my war, I don't support this war, and honestly, I don't feel the least bit unpatriotic about it. It's a bullshit war that I wish would never have happened. It pisses me off to read about or even think about. Yeah, I'd love for there to be success, I'm not rooting against the war, but this isn't my war.
And if you're not mad, then you've got to get mad.
Listen!
Since I'm going to see these guys tonight, I thought I might as well give them a shout out. Anyways, I said the other day that there has been a lack of protest songs about the entire mess in Iraq, but this song proves to be the exception to the rule. It's a pretty kick ass song, and honestly, I'm waiting for the moment when it sort of becomes one of THE protest songs of the war.
I never bought the Iraq war, not in 2002, 2003,2004, or today. It didn't make sense in my eyes. But politics aside, the war did present sort of a challenge... what could I do about it? I've marched in a few protests, written some shit on blogs, got in arguments with friends and foes alike, but that's about it. This song sums up my feelings pretty well. This is not my war, I don't support this war, and honestly, I don't feel the least bit unpatriotic about it. It's a bullshit war that I wish would never have happened. It pisses me off to read about or even think about. Yeah, I'd love for there to be success, I'm not rooting against the war, but this isn't my war.
And if you're not mad, then you've got to get mad.
Listen!
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Flathead
Flathead by the Fratellis
Editor's Note:
This week we're looking at "Songs Commercials Made Me Love". Sometimes the song is really good and placed perfectly in the commercials. Sometimes the commercial is so good that the song freerides into its greatness. And sometimes, like oh the next two days, I just couldn't think of any other songs that I've ever bought because of a commercial. Sorry for these last two somewhat uninspired choices.
Oh the iPod, you great little invention that has, sadly, made my life so much better. I guess that's not a bad thing, that a little object that costs $300 bucks brings me joy since if I'm happy then maybe I'm more likely to bring joy to other people and do good things. But I am, alas, not a psychologist so I really have no clue. I guess this is one of the newer iPod commercials and I liked it, so I downloaded it, and it's okay. It's fun. But the name of the band sort of ticks me off, Fratellis which brings images of Frat houses and girls to my head (Frat/ellis, and yes I know it's elle, not ellis, but whatever). I'm not a big fan of frat houses or 21st century frat boys... in fact, I really don't like the 21st century, upper to middle class white male, with his button down shirts, cheesy pick up lines, job security with some big financial firm, and negative creativity. My generational peer, do you care about the world or anyone else in besides the little "hotties" that you attempted to pick up and lame bars? Are you more selfish that previous generations? Or are you just more rational? And what are you bringing to the table twenty years from now? But whatever. I have no articulate, clear point today, sort of like this song.
Watch it:
Editor's Note:
This week we're looking at "Songs Commercials Made Me Love". Sometimes the song is really good and placed perfectly in the commercials. Sometimes the commercial is so good that the song freerides into its greatness. And sometimes, like oh the next two days, I just couldn't think of any other songs that I've ever bought because of a commercial. Sorry for these last two somewhat uninspired choices.
Oh the iPod, you great little invention that has, sadly, made my life so much better. I guess that's not a bad thing, that a little object that costs $300 bucks brings me joy since if I'm happy then maybe I'm more likely to bring joy to other people and do good things. But I am, alas, not a psychologist so I really have no clue. I guess this is one of the newer iPod commercials and I liked it, so I downloaded it, and it's okay. It's fun. But the name of the band sort of ticks me off, Fratellis which brings images of Frat houses and girls to my head (Frat/ellis, and yes I know it's elle, not ellis, but whatever). I'm not a big fan of frat houses or 21st century frat boys... in fact, I really don't like the 21st century, upper to middle class white male, with his button down shirts, cheesy pick up lines, job security with some big financial firm, and negative creativity. My generational peer, do you care about the world or anyone else in besides the little "hotties" that you attempted to pick up and lame bars? Are you more selfish that previous generations? Or are you just more rational? And what are you bringing to the table twenty years from now? But whatever. I have no articulate, clear point today, sort of like this song.
Watch it:
Wednesday, May 9, 2007
One Million Miles Away
One Million Miles Away by J. Ralph
Editor's Note:
This week we're looking at "Songs Commercials Made Me Love". Sometimes the song is really good and placed perfectly in the commercials. Sometimes the commercial is so good that the song freerides into its greatness.
When I hear this song, on its own, I can't help but notice the anxiety that the hook has and then there are those daunting strings. The bell, tolling throughout the song, almost announcing someones death like Thomas Gray's "Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard." And then the voice, almost creepy, yet beautiful, as if she is in an old church some where in England or France that was built in the 13th century, but now is nearly forgotten by members and tour books alike.
But I don't hear the urgency. The song itself isn't urgent... but the commercial? It's about as urgent as one can get. I remember my buddies and I being memorized by this commercial back in our college days. We would stop what we were doing or talking about and watch. It was such a fantastic commercial. One that I feel that males identified with more so than females... losing that love of ones life. Can he make it to the church in time? What the hell does the bride do? And if this ever happened in real life, how great or horrible of a moment would that be? I guess it all depends on what side of the alter and aisle one sits. This commercial, while not my personal favorite, might just be the best commercial I've ever seen.
Now that I think about this song and ad a little more, maybe it's so tied to my freshman and sophomore year of college that it's taken on so many emotions and ideas I had at the time. I was reading Thomas Gray for class around this time, I had a core group of guys and we did everything together, we all had loves or at least dreamed of having loves who we would drive across the country for just to prevent her from getting married. It was one of the better times in my life... and this commercial ties a lot of those memories together.
Editor's Note:
This week we're looking at "Songs Commercials Made Me Love". Sometimes the song is really good and placed perfectly in the commercials. Sometimes the commercial is so good that the song freerides into its greatness.
When I hear this song, on its own, I can't help but notice the anxiety that the hook has and then there are those daunting strings. The bell, tolling throughout the song, almost announcing someones death like Thomas Gray's "Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard." And then the voice, almost creepy, yet beautiful, as if she is in an old church some where in England or France that was built in the 13th century, but now is nearly forgotten by members and tour books alike.
But I don't hear the urgency. The song itself isn't urgent... but the commercial? It's about as urgent as one can get. I remember my buddies and I being memorized by this commercial back in our college days. We would stop what we were doing or talking about and watch. It was such a fantastic commercial. One that I feel that males identified with more so than females... losing that love of ones life. Can he make it to the church in time? What the hell does the bride do? And if this ever happened in real life, how great or horrible of a moment would that be? I guess it all depends on what side of the alter and aisle one sits. This commercial, while not my personal favorite, might just be the best commercial I've ever seen.
Now that I think about this song and ad a little more, maybe it's so tied to my freshman and sophomore year of college that it's taken on so many emotions and ideas I had at the time. I was reading Thomas Gray for class around this time, I had a core group of guys and we did everything together, we all had loves or at least dreamed of having loves who we would drive across the country for just to prevent her from getting married. It was one of the better times in my life... and this commercial ties a lot of those memories together.
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
Don't Wait Too Long
Don't Wait Too Long by Madeleine Peyroux
Editor's Note:
This week we're looking at "Songs Commercials Made Me Love". Sometimes the song is really good and placed perfectly in the commercials. Sometimes the commercial is so good that the song freerides into its greatness.
His View:
I'm not sure I would love this song as much as I do if it wasn't for the Docker's commercial that uses this song, which is sort of weird how that all works. The song itself is good, but I probably wouldn't think twice about it if it wasn't for the ad. Two people, see each other in different cars, and they take a chance... and just when it looks like things aren't going to work out for them... it does. I'm not sure about the guy, but that's also one of the prettier girls I've seen. I love the fact that she gets off the trolly too, I think that's really what puts this ad over the top. You don't get that message too often from the media/Hollywood, about the girl taking the chance. It's a shame. Anyway, this ad is so hopeful, that I can't help but love it. Because hope is a good thing. I wonder if we, as humans, are more attracted to hope than love. Or maybe they're interchangeable. Anyway, the song has a good message. Don't wait too long.
Her View:
(Yes, there is a chance that I'm in love with that girl... it's a drag I snag, I'm always in love).
Editor's Note:
This week we're looking at "Songs Commercials Made Me Love". Sometimes the song is really good and placed perfectly in the commercials. Sometimes the commercial is so good that the song freerides into its greatness.
His View:
I'm not sure I would love this song as much as I do if it wasn't for the Docker's commercial that uses this song, which is sort of weird how that all works. The song itself is good, but I probably wouldn't think twice about it if it wasn't for the ad. Two people, see each other in different cars, and they take a chance... and just when it looks like things aren't going to work out for them... it does. I'm not sure about the guy, but that's also one of the prettier girls I've seen. I love the fact that she gets off the trolly too, I think that's really what puts this ad over the top. You don't get that message too often from the media/Hollywood, about the girl taking the chance. It's a shame. Anyway, this ad is so hopeful, that I can't help but love it. Because hope is a good thing. I wonder if we, as humans, are more attracted to hope than love. Or maybe they're interchangeable. Anyway, the song has a good message. Don't wait too long.
Her View:
(Yes, there is a chance that I'm in love with that girl... it's a drag I snag, I'm always in love).
Monday, May 7, 2007
Enine Meany
Enine Meany by Jim Noir
Editor's Note:
This week we're looking at "Songs Commercials Made Me Love". Sometimes the song is really good and placed perfectly in the commercials. Sometimes the commercial is so good that the song freerides into its greatness.
In it's own right, this is a pretty fantastic song. It's fun, it's innocent, and I love the harmonies though out the song. But the commercial tied to this song probably puts it over the top… and frankly it's my favorite commercial of all time. With this song (ditty?) playing in the back ground, two kids from Latin America play a soccer game with the games great, both past and present. It's a fun commercial... it's an amazing commercial. I love it, two kids pretending to be playing with Beckham, Zidane, Kahn, Lampard, and others... what male hasn't done that at some point in their life? And was it a goal? I say yes. And how about the mom telling him to come in, and the kids has the biggest smile on his face... I love. I could watch this all day. I wish it was longer.
As for Jim Noir, this ad inspired me to check out Noir, and his album, "Tower of Love" is really pretty good. "Eanie meany, run away/Eanie, run away"... come on it's in your head and you love it. Childhood was so great.
BTW, this was a two part commercial, here's part one where they pick the players:
Editor's Note:
This week we're looking at "Songs Commercials Made Me Love". Sometimes the song is really good and placed perfectly in the commercials. Sometimes the commercial is so good that the song freerides into its greatness.
In it's own right, this is a pretty fantastic song. It's fun, it's innocent, and I love the harmonies though out the song. But the commercial tied to this song probably puts it over the top… and frankly it's my favorite commercial of all time. With this song (ditty?) playing in the back ground, two kids from Latin America play a soccer game with the games great, both past and present. It's a fun commercial... it's an amazing commercial. I love it, two kids pretending to be playing with Beckham, Zidane, Kahn, Lampard, and others... what male hasn't done that at some point in their life? And was it a goal? I say yes. And how about the mom telling him to come in, and the kids has the biggest smile on his face... I love. I could watch this all day. I wish it was longer.
As for Jim Noir, this ad inspired me to check out Noir, and his album, "Tower of Love" is really pretty good. "Eanie meany, run away/Eanie, run away"... come on it's in your head and you love it. Childhood was so great.
BTW, this was a two part commercial, here's part one where they pick the players:
Sunday, May 6, 2007
Temptation
Temptation by New Order
I am sitting in a college dorm in the spring of 2001, it's about midnight, and I'm sitting in this dorm room at Georgetown with my friend from high school and two girls that he's in school with. We are not doing much of anything, it's more cool than cold outside. We're talking about going to a party, but no one is really sure where it is or if they want to go. We are just being college kids. Temptation is playing in the back ground... and it sums up those cool late nights of late winter and early spring. The air and the music floats though the night sky. The feelings of crushes hang in the air. I'm attracted to this one girl, Zsófia, whose father is Hungarian, but she was born and raised in the States. She has these clear, blue eyes, and a warm welcoming face. "And I've never seen anyone quite like you before/No, I've never met anyone quite like you before."
I love this song, and I love the feelings it gives me. The excitement of someone new, someone fresh and different. And this song holds a special place for those women who are interesting, mysterious, but not impossible; yet in the end probably unattainable. But the night is young, and she's around, the possibilities are endless... the world is ours to do what we please. This is a song of youth and hope. A song that the sky's not the limit... anything can happen on a night like this. And these nights don't happen often, but you never forget them when they come around.
Up, down, turn around
Please don't let me hit the ground
Tonight I think I'll walk alone
I'll find my soul as I go home.
Watch:
I am sitting in a college dorm in the spring of 2001, it's about midnight, and I'm sitting in this dorm room at Georgetown with my friend from high school and two girls that he's in school with. We are not doing much of anything, it's more cool than cold outside. We're talking about going to a party, but no one is really sure where it is or if they want to go. We are just being college kids. Temptation is playing in the back ground... and it sums up those cool late nights of late winter and early spring. The air and the music floats though the night sky. The feelings of crushes hang in the air. I'm attracted to this one girl, Zsófia, whose father is Hungarian, but she was born and raised in the States. She has these clear, blue eyes, and a warm welcoming face. "And I've never seen anyone quite like you before/No, I've never met anyone quite like you before."
I love this song, and I love the feelings it gives me. The excitement of someone new, someone fresh and different. And this song holds a special place for those women who are interesting, mysterious, but not impossible; yet in the end probably unattainable. But the night is young, and she's around, the possibilities are endless... the world is ours to do what we please. This is a song of youth and hope. A song that the sky's not the limit... anything can happen on a night like this. And these nights don't happen often, but you never forget them when they come around.
Up, down, turn around
Please don't let me hit the ground
Tonight I think I'll walk alone
I'll find my soul as I go home.
Watch:
Saturday, May 5, 2007
Jo Jo's Jacket
Jo Jo's Jacket by Stephen Malkmus
In the time of Napster I would download just about anything. 'So and so is good?... okay I'll give 'em a spin'. If I liked them, cool. Maybe I'd buy the album. If not, whatever didn't cost me a penny. And this is how I started listening to Stephen Malkmus.
Of course it took a few years for me to finally actually listen to him. I probably download a few songs in 2000/2001. But it wasn't until 2004 when I finally was hooked. The iPod was on shuffle, I was in the backseat of the car, and this song came on... it's just so much fun. And I love fun songs. The lyrics are fun. The opening part is cool, and the guitar is addicting. I could see Malkmus and friends having a ton of fun in the studio recording this song... "electronic carcass"... "psycho-disco!" ... "Stay inside on Christmas Day/And make believe that you are my candy cane" and these weird ending lines where he talks about Dylan, but I'm not sure what he's getting at: "Bob Dylan sang in/"Its alright mama im only bleeding",/Everything from toy guns that spark to flesh colored Christs that glow in the dark/Its easy to see we got in too far and not much is really sacred."
BTW, Psycho-Disco sounds like a lame club or band... I don't have a clue.
Watch It (Who Doesn't love Cats on Drums?):
In the time of Napster I would download just about anything. 'So and so is good?... okay I'll give 'em a spin'. If I liked them, cool. Maybe I'd buy the album. If not, whatever didn't cost me a penny. And this is how I started listening to Stephen Malkmus.
Of course it took a few years for me to finally actually listen to him. I probably download a few songs in 2000/2001. But it wasn't until 2004 when I finally was hooked. The iPod was on shuffle, I was in the backseat of the car, and this song came on... it's just so much fun. And I love fun songs. The lyrics are fun. The opening part is cool, and the guitar is addicting. I could see Malkmus and friends having a ton of fun in the studio recording this song... "electronic carcass"... "psycho-disco!" ... "Stay inside on Christmas Day/And make believe that you are my candy cane" and these weird ending lines where he talks about Dylan, but I'm not sure what he's getting at: "Bob Dylan sang in/"Its alright mama im only bleeding",/Everything from toy guns that spark to flesh colored Christs that glow in the dark/Its easy to see we got in too far and not much is really sacred."
BTW, Psycho-Disco sounds like a lame club or band... I don't have a clue.
Watch It (Who Doesn't love Cats on Drums?):
Friday, May 4, 2007
Mas Que Nada
Mas Que Nada by Jorge Ben and many others
I have always loved this song. And I 'discovered' the artist by accident a year or so ago while trying to get into Brazilian music. I should say, I'm still trying to get into Brazilian music because every time I hear it, I love it, but I don't know it. So pretty much for the last two years I've been looking for someone who can guide me into this venture know as Brazilian music - samba, bossa Nova, and everything else. So if you know anything, like a good starting off point other than The Girl from Ipanema and Jorge Ben... that would be great.
Listen:
I have always loved this song. And I 'discovered' the artist by accident a year or so ago while trying to get into Brazilian music. I should say, I'm still trying to get into Brazilian music because every time I hear it, I love it, but I don't know it. So pretty much for the last two years I've been looking for someone who can guide me into this venture know as Brazilian music - samba, bossa Nova, and everything else. So if you know anything, like a good starting off point other than The Girl from Ipanema and Jorge Ben... that would be great.
Listen:
Thursday, May 3, 2007
Jeremy
Jeremy by Pearl Jam
This isn't the place, but I honestly can't tell you what was a more important song in 1991/1992 - Pearl Jam's "Jeremy" or Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit". I was 10 or 11 when these events acutally took place, but looking back on this historically, Nirvana has been glorified (pretty much because Cobain blew his brains out) while Pearl Jam has continued on giving us a few quality ablums and a handful of songs since the late 90s. To hear it today, Nirvana is more important in the history of music, but I'm not sold on this. This is pretty much because Cobain died and we 'glorfied' his music, which was good don't get me wrong... but how good was it? What impact did Cobain's sucide have on our understanding of Nirvana, grunge, Seattle, and the early 90s? If Vedder had pulled the trigger, instead of Cobain, would we look at Peral Jam and Nirvana and the 90s differently? Of course. Anyway, if you want to debate this and more, check out Chuck Klosterman's Killing Yourself to Live.
Watch (btw, this is probably one of the most important videos of all time):
This isn't the place, but I honestly can't tell you what was a more important song in 1991/1992 - Pearl Jam's "Jeremy" or Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit". I was 10 or 11 when these events acutally took place, but looking back on this historically, Nirvana has been glorified (pretty much because Cobain blew his brains out) while Pearl Jam has continued on giving us a few quality ablums and a handful of songs since the late 90s. To hear it today, Nirvana is more important in the history of music, but I'm not sold on this. This is pretty much because Cobain died and we 'glorfied' his music, which was good don't get me wrong... but how good was it? What impact did Cobain's sucide have on our understanding of Nirvana, grunge, Seattle, and the early 90s? If Vedder had pulled the trigger, instead of Cobain, would we look at Peral Jam and Nirvana and the 90s differently? Of course. Anyway, if you want to debate this and more, check out Chuck Klosterman's Killing Yourself to Live.
Watch (btw, this is probably one of the most important videos of all time):
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
The Corner
The Corner by Common
My knowledge of hip-hop is limited. I appreciate it, but I don't think I've ever gone out and bought a hip-hop album, usually I'll just download a song or two or rip a CD that someone else already owns. No matter, white America, and specifically the media, seems not to understand hip-hop. I'm not sure if this because of ignorance, racism, or some sort of social-economic gap. But it seems to me that a lot of hip-hop has a message, and the best has a powerful message. Hip-hop isn't all about violence, degrading women, and lack of respect - this song, for example, is the EXACT OPPOSITE of what the media frames hip-hop as. This song is about the past, respect, and how life used to be - life on the corner. This misrepresentation is problematic.
Don Imus comments a few weeks go, brought hip-hop culture front and center. Most of it was negative, saying what I said above, that hip-hop is about disrespect, degrading women, and violence. But that would be like saying that every song written between 1966-1978 was about sex, drugs, and more sex. Is there truth to that? Yes, but it's completely wrong to say it as fact. The same holds true for hip-hop... when Jay-Z says "I've got 99 problems but a bitch ain't one" is he really degrading women? No, and one is missing the point to think otherwise. Yes, bitch ain't the greatest word in the English language, but you know what... white males use this word all the time (and buy/bought the song as it is). And Jay-Z isn't talking about women, he's talking about police injustice (among other things). But people see the title and flip out. How sad. Maybe if white America started listening to what hip-hop was saying (as an extension of part of black America), then maybe we'd have a better understanding of everyone.
Anyway, this song has a nice beat and good flow... and I love the Lost Prophets' "rap" in the song.
Listen to the mp3
My knowledge of hip-hop is limited. I appreciate it, but I don't think I've ever gone out and bought a hip-hop album, usually I'll just download a song or two or rip a CD that someone else already owns. No matter, white America, and specifically the media, seems not to understand hip-hop. I'm not sure if this because of ignorance, racism, or some sort of social-economic gap. But it seems to me that a lot of hip-hop has a message, and the best has a powerful message. Hip-hop isn't all about violence, degrading women, and lack of respect - this song, for example, is the EXACT OPPOSITE of what the media frames hip-hop as. This song is about the past, respect, and how life used to be - life on the corner. This misrepresentation is problematic.
Don Imus comments a few weeks go, brought hip-hop culture front and center. Most of it was negative, saying what I said above, that hip-hop is about disrespect, degrading women, and violence. But that would be like saying that every song written between 1966-1978 was about sex, drugs, and more sex. Is there truth to that? Yes, but it's completely wrong to say it as fact. The same holds true for hip-hop... when Jay-Z says "I've got 99 problems but a bitch ain't one" is he really degrading women? No, and one is missing the point to think otherwise. Yes, bitch ain't the greatest word in the English language, but you know what... white males use this word all the time (and buy/bought the song as it is). And Jay-Z isn't talking about women, he's talking about police injustice (among other things). But people see the title and flip out. How sad. Maybe if white America started listening to what hip-hop was saying (as an extension of part of black America), then maybe we'd have a better understanding of everyone.
Anyway, this song has a nice beat and good flow... and I love the Lost Prophets' "rap" in the song.
Listen to the mp3
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
The Power is On
The Power Is On by The Go! Team
I prefer music with words, even if I actually don't listen to the words. This might sound odd, but I prefer the voice as an instrument; this is why I usually can't stand Dave Matthews, but love Lou Reed (and thus Julian Casablancas). This is why, on the hold, I love female rockers. Their voice usually complements the music much better than a males (of course there are exceptions, Eddie Vedder is great despite having a 'bad' voice and Grace Slick makes me turn the radio station faster than you can say Jack Robinson). What am I getting at here? I like sound and how those sounds work together. And I'm not sure there is a better group out that at making 'sound' than The Go! Team. Making good sound is very difficult, most people or groups that attempt this, imo, fail (see pretty much any jam band). But the Go! Team are really effing good at making kick ass sound, and thus music.
Listen, this is the best I could do, but you'll get the point:
I prefer music with words, even if I actually don't listen to the words. This might sound odd, but I prefer the voice as an instrument; this is why I usually can't stand Dave Matthews, but love Lou Reed (and thus Julian Casablancas). This is why, on the hold, I love female rockers. Their voice usually complements the music much better than a males (of course there are exceptions, Eddie Vedder is great despite having a 'bad' voice and Grace Slick makes me turn the radio station faster than you can say Jack Robinson). What am I getting at here? I like sound and how those sounds work together. And I'm not sure there is a better group out that at making 'sound' than The Go! Team. Making good sound is very difficult, most people or groups that attempt this, imo, fail (see pretty much any jam band). But the Go! Team are really effing good at making kick ass sound, and thus music.
Listen, this is the best I could do, but you'll get the point:
Monday, April 30, 2007
Sweet Thing
Sweet Thing by Van Morrison
Last weekend I was at a wedding and the bride and groom danced to a country song that I had never heard. It was a nice song, but mos def one I never would choose. So as I sat there, watching this 'romantic'* event, I started going over songs that I would pick for my first dance with my wife. A few songs popped into my head: "God Only Knows" but that's already been done by a friend of mine. I decided "Something" was a bit too negative. To be honest, the song I kept coming back to was "Do You Wanta Dance" by the Ramones. If I found a woman would would dance to "Do You Wanta Dance" I think I have found a winner, but my mother would KILL me if I choose this song. I think it would be fantastic. Anyway, what does this have to do with "Sweet Thing"? Nothing, this would be a nice first dance song. I may even end up dancing to it for all I know. I like it, it's nice, I like the flute... and I'm sure a lot of people have chosen this as their first dance. It's a good song, what can I say.
*Apparently sarcasm is free today.
Watch it:
Last weekend I was at a wedding and the bride and groom danced to a country song that I had never heard. It was a nice song, but mos def one I never would choose. So as I sat there, watching this 'romantic'* event, I started going over songs that I would pick for my first dance with my wife. A few songs popped into my head: "God Only Knows" but that's already been done by a friend of mine. I decided "Something" was a bit too negative. To be honest, the song I kept coming back to was "Do You Wanta Dance" by the Ramones. If I found a woman would would dance to "Do You Wanta Dance" I think I have found a winner, but my mother would KILL me if I choose this song. I think it would be fantastic. Anyway, what does this have to do with "Sweet Thing"? Nothing, this would be a nice first dance song. I may even end up dancing to it for all I know. I like it, it's nice, I like the flute... and I'm sure a lot of people have chosen this as their first dance. It's a good song, what can I say.
*Apparently sarcasm is free today.
Watch it:
Sunday, April 29, 2007
The Orchids
The Orchids by Califone (70/365)
It is a pretty spring day this morning, and this song probably isn't a very good spring song… it's more of an early morning, it just snowed, and it's so pretty song. Like snow it's quiet and beautiful, gracefully blanketing a lazy January morning. This song is sort of like that, gracefully waning and carefully plucking itself along. A pretty song.
Listen to the mp3
It is a pretty spring day this morning, and this song probably isn't a very good spring song… it's more of an early morning, it just snowed, and it's so pretty song. Like snow it's quiet and beautiful, gracefully blanketing a lazy January morning. This song is sort of like that, gracefully waning and carefully plucking itself along. A pretty song.
Listen to the mp3
Saturday, April 28, 2007
And Your Bird Can Sing
And Your Bird Can Sing by The Beatles
Why do I love this song? I haven't a clue… but I love it. I like the big electric guitar, Lennon's vocals, the hand claps don't hurt, and there is this totally unBeatles kick ass bass line. I have no clue where that come from, since it's the only time you'll hear anything like it by the Beatles, but it rocks. Least I forget the perfectly harmonized, “You tell me that you’ve heard every sound there is” part which I adore. This is a fun song.
Watch it (sorry about the Sound quality):
Why do I love this song? I haven't a clue… but I love it. I like the big electric guitar, Lennon's vocals, the hand claps don't hurt, and there is this totally unBeatles kick ass bass line. I have no clue where that come from, since it's the only time you'll hear anything like it by the Beatles, but it rocks. Least I forget the perfectly harmonized, “You tell me that you’ve heard every sound there is” part which I adore. This is a fun song.
Watch it (sorry about the Sound quality):
Friday, April 27, 2007
Sunday, Bloody Sunday
Sunday, Bloody Sunday by U2
Personally, I've got to go with the live version off of "Under a Blood Red Sky". I just love the energy on the live version. Let me just make note of the militaristic drumbeat which U2 doesn't even attempt to hide. And yes, let's not forget The Edge's riff that attempts to force itself upon us. And, in case you didn't know, it's a song about the Troubles in Ireland and takes it's name from Bloody Sunday, when British troops open fire on a group of protesters. And I've always loved the line, "The real battle yet begun/To claim the victory Jesus won" It's a goodie.
Watch It:
I do think one of the more interesting things about this song is how it has become the protest song of the age. The late 60s and 70s had their fair share, and a long list, of protest songs because of Vietnam. But we haven't seen the same with Iraq. Sure there are songs out there (Bright Eyes, Rilo Keily, Greenday, and Pearl Jam have all knocked Bush or Iraq; and here is a list of other songs), but these songs have had limited or no cultural impact. I guess Greenday sold some albums and Pearl Jam probably sold their fair share... but there is no "For What It's Worth" or Country Joe & The Fish. So what we're left with is this song as a protest against the War in Iraq. I'm not sure if it takes away from U2's original meaning, Bono would probably argue that it was a song that protested violence everywhere, not just in Ireland. But I'm not so sure... but at the same time there is a void and this song appears to be filling this void.
George Bush "singing" Sunday, Bloody Sunday" which is one of the more powerful things I've seen in a while:
Lisa Bresnan singing to clips of the Iraq Ward:
Personally, I've got to go with the live version off of "Under a Blood Red Sky". I just love the energy on the live version. Let me just make note of the militaristic drumbeat which U2 doesn't even attempt to hide. And yes, let's not forget The Edge's riff that attempts to force itself upon us. And, in case you didn't know, it's a song about the Troubles in Ireland and takes it's name from Bloody Sunday, when British troops open fire on a group of protesters. And I've always loved the line, "The real battle yet begun/To claim the victory Jesus won" It's a goodie.
Watch It:
I do think one of the more interesting things about this song is how it has become the protest song of the age. The late 60s and 70s had their fair share, and a long list, of protest songs because of Vietnam. But we haven't seen the same with Iraq. Sure there are songs out there (Bright Eyes, Rilo Keily, Greenday, and Pearl Jam have all knocked Bush or Iraq; and here is a list of other songs), but these songs have had limited or no cultural impact. I guess Greenday sold some albums and Pearl Jam probably sold their fair share... but there is no "For What It's Worth" or Country Joe & The Fish. So what we're left with is this song as a protest against the War in Iraq. I'm not sure if it takes away from U2's original meaning, Bono would probably argue that it was a song that protested violence everywhere, not just in Ireland. But I'm not so sure... but at the same time there is a void and this song appears to be filling this void.
George Bush "singing" Sunday, Bloody Sunday" which is one of the more powerful things I've seen in a while:
Lisa Bresnan singing to clips of the Iraq Ward:
Thursday, April 26, 2007
The Best Of What's Around
The Best Of What's Around by Dave Matthews Band
There isn't a tone of love for Dave here on this blog… but he does have a few good songs and this is the best of his few goodies. It's a fun song, uplifting, 'good times being had by all' type song. It's catchy, Dave's voice doesn't totally kill it, and the band isn't trying to hard to sound like something you've never heard before (aka covering up for the fact that they're just Phish for frat boys). In other words, this song works. But you want to know why I love this song? Because in my life, I've come across my fair share of DaveLovers - the types that will tell you that Dave is the greatest musician of our age, how his lyrics mean so much, and how he's just effin' amazing. These people also tend to pretty much only listen to Dave, which is cool, but just don't go around telling me his the best of our age when you couldn't tell me the difference between Stephen Malkmus and Jeff Tweedy. WHERE WAS I? Oh yes, why I love this song. At the very end of the song, between the ho-ho hey-la's Dave sings out, just barely, "Oh, to be alive! Oh, to be alive!" (this happens at the 3:47 mark of the song). I love this. Absolutely love this. In fact, this is one of my favorite moments in all of music. I'm not sure why... maybe it's just a great reminder... maybe it's just a great line. It's joyful, but also some what somber. "Oh, to be alive!" And you know what? Two of my better friends in life, both of whom are huge Dave fans, never noticed this before. And they love it too.
Listen:
There isn't a tone of love for Dave here on this blog… but he does have a few good songs and this is the best of his few goodies. It's a fun song, uplifting, 'good times being had by all' type song. It's catchy, Dave's voice doesn't totally kill it, and the band isn't trying to hard to sound like something you've never heard before (aka covering up for the fact that they're just Phish for frat boys). In other words, this song works. But you want to know why I love this song? Because in my life, I've come across my fair share of DaveLovers - the types that will tell you that Dave is the greatest musician of our age, how his lyrics mean so much, and how he's just effin' amazing. These people also tend to pretty much only listen to Dave, which is cool, but just don't go around telling me his the best of our age when you couldn't tell me the difference between Stephen Malkmus and Jeff Tweedy. WHERE WAS I? Oh yes, why I love this song. At the very end of the song, between the ho-ho hey-la's Dave sings out, just barely, "Oh, to be alive! Oh, to be alive!" (this happens at the 3:47 mark of the song). I love this. Absolutely love this. In fact, this is one of my favorite moments in all of music. I'm not sure why... maybe it's just a great reminder... maybe it's just a great line. It's joyful, but also some what somber. "Oh, to be alive!" And you know what? Two of my better friends in life, both of whom are huge Dave fans, never noticed this before. And they love it too.
Listen:
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Something
Something by The Beatles
THE BEST SONG EVER
I could probably write about this song while listening to it for hours upon hours. This is, imo, the greatest love song of all time. It’s so unassuming… something - there is just ‘something’ about her. I’m not sure what it is, but it’s something. And at the end of the day, isn’t that what love is? It’s something that we can’t really describe and we can list all these things trying to explain what that something is… but we can never fully describe it. It’s just something. But the song also throws a little Sonnet 116 in here:
If this be error and upon me proved,
I never writ, nor no man ever loved.
George doubts his love, he is unsure about his love. He just doesn’t know. But the easy bass line, beautiful strings, and aspiring chords make this song so beautiful in how it sounds, what it says, and honesty.
Listen to the mp3
Watch (warning, John and Yoko are in this video):
THE BEST SONG EVER
I could probably write about this song while listening to it for hours upon hours. This is, imo, the greatest love song of all time. It’s so unassuming… something - there is just ‘something’ about her. I’m not sure what it is, but it’s something. And at the end of the day, isn’t that what love is? It’s something that we can’t really describe and we can list all these things trying to explain what that something is… but we can never fully describe it. It’s just something. But the song also throws a little Sonnet 116 in here:
If this be error and upon me proved,
I never writ, nor no man ever loved.
George doubts his love, he is unsure about his love. He just doesn’t know. But the easy bass line, beautiful strings, and aspiring chords make this song so beautiful in how it sounds, what it says, and honesty.
Listen to the mp3
Watch (warning, John and Yoko are in this video):
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher
(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher by Jackie Wilson
The Second Best Song
Random Programing Note: So this week we are featuring our top eight songs, in order, of all time. These are songs that we consider to be the best of all time.
Maybe it's the bass line… maybe it's the subtle drums... maybe it's the tambourine… maybe it's the guitar… maybe it's Jackie's voice… maybe it's the background vocals… maybe it's the strings… maybe it's the horns… or maybe this might just be as damn close as anyone will come to writing and preforming a perfect pop song. This song is just flat out amazing... it honestly could be #1.
Listen to the MP3:
Watch:
The Second Best Song
Random Programing Note: So this week we are featuring our top eight songs, in order, of all time. These are songs that we consider to be the best of all time.
Maybe it's the bass line… maybe it's the subtle drums... maybe it's the tambourine… maybe it's the guitar… maybe it's Jackie's voice… maybe it's the background vocals… maybe it's the strings… maybe it's the horns… or maybe this might just be as damn close as anyone will come to writing and preforming a perfect pop song. This song is just flat out amazing... it honestly could be #1.
Listen to the MP3:
Watch:
Monday, April 23, 2007
Maps
Maps by Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Third Best Song
Most of the time, less is more. "Wait, they don't love you like I love you" proves that point. Why did we wait so long to write this into a rock song? And why can't we have more songs with that urgent guitar in the opening and throughout the song along with the rolling wave like drums? This song is so pretty, moving, and, I feel, desperate all at the same time. It's a very moving song. And when Karen O starts lyrically waxing “Wait, they don’t love you like a love you” over and over, but never singing it the same way twice, nothing truer rings true.
Watch it:
Third Best Song
Most of the time, less is more. "Wait, they don't love you like I love you" proves that point. Why did we wait so long to write this into a rock song? And why can't we have more songs with that urgent guitar in the opening and throughout the song along with the rolling wave like drums? This song is so pretty, moving, and, I feel, desperate all at the same time. It's a very moving song. And when Karen O starts lyrically waxing “Wait, they don’t love you like a love you” over and over, but never singing it the same way twice, nothing truer rings true.
Watch it:
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Misunderstood
Misunderstood by Wilco
Fourth Best Song
Random Programing Note: So this week we are featuring our top eight songs, in order, of all time. These are songs that we consider to be the best of all time.
I will never understand this song, but I will always take lines from this song and treasure them because it captures exact moments in time, usually either during a blah Wednesday afternoon or late on a Friday or Saturday night:
Back in the old neighborhood… You're hurt but you don't know why You love her but you don't know why Short on long term goals There's a party there that we oughtta go to Do you still love rock and roll? Do you still love rock and roll?... You're staring at a picture of me... All you touch turns to lead... I'd like to thank you all for nothin' at all
I don't know who Jeff Tweedy is talking about, I'm pretty sure this song is brutally honest and auto-biographical. And this is why I love it. The brutal honestly. The simplicity of the song, a piano, a guitar, and a man with his thoughts and past. It's heartbreaking... you feel his pain when he's singing this song. It's a Rip-My-Heart-Out-Classic, a master piece of sound, words, thoughts, and composition.
In December of 2005, I was lucky enough to go to Buenos Aires. We were staying in PuertoMadero and along the water of these old docks was this old silo. For some reason I didn't take a picture of this silo, but for me it was some sort of liberalizing structure. I was pretty stuck in early January of 2006, and that silo and this song sort of pulled me out of the
muck. This silo reminded me of the old abandoned silo that's next to the Chicago River on Damen - we would drive past that silo every time I went to her place or she dropped me off at mine. And there I was in Buenos Aires, hung up on the same girl, looking at a old, abandoned silo... this song and that silo came to represent that relationship. Girls are nasty like that... but I remember being alone a few times on the trip, walking around the old docks, looking at that silo, while listening to this song on my iPod. And in the mist of it all (well actually, the line "You love her but you don't know why"), I was being freed. It was that line that knocked some sense in me. One, I wasn't in love. Two, since I couldn't explain it, why was I hung up on it? I let her go and haven't looked back.
* Sorry, we were in Boston the past few days and weren't able to post... boo to us, I know. But Boston WAS nice.
Listen:
Listen Live:
Fourth Best Song
Random Programing Note: So this week we are featuring our top eight songs, in order, of all time. These are songs that we consider to be the best of all time.
I will never understand this song, but I will always take lines from this song and treasure them because it captures exact moments in time, usually either during a blah Wednesday afternoon or late on a Friday or Saturday night:
Back in the old neighborhood… You're hurt but you don't know why You love her but you don't know why Short on long term goals There's a party there that we oughtta go to Do you still love rock and roll? Do you still love rock and roll?... You're staring at a picture of me... All you touch turns to lead... I'd like to thank you all for nothin' at all
I don't know who Jeff Tweedy is talking about, I'm pretty sure this song is brutally honest and auto-biographical. And this is why I love it. The brutal honestly. The simplicity of the song, a piano, a guitar, and a man with his thoughts and past. It's heartbreaking... you feel his pain when he's singing this song. It's a Rip-My-Heart-Out-Classic, a master piece of sound, words, thoughts, and composition.
In December of 2005, I was lucky enough to go to Buenos Aires. We were staying in PuertoMadero and along the water of these old docks was this old silo. For some reason I didn't take a picture of this silo, but for me it was some sort of liberalizing structure. I was pretty stuck in early January of 2006, and that silo and this song sort of pulled me out of the
muck. This silo reminded me of the old abandoned silo that's next to the Chicago River on Damen - we would drive past that silo every time I went to her place or she dropped me off at mine. And there I was in Buenos Aires, hung up on the same girl, looking at a old, abandoned silo... this song and that silo came to represent that relationship. Girls are nasty like that... but I remember being alone a few times on the trip, walking around the old docks, looking at that silo, while listening to this song on my iPod. And in the mist of it all (well actually, the line "You love her but you don't know why"), I was being freed. It was that line that knocked some sense in me. One, I wasn't in love. Two, since I couldn't explain it, why was I hung up on it? I let her go and haven't looked back.* Sorry, we were in Boston the past few days and weren't able to post... boo to us, I know. But Boston WAS nice.
Listen:
Listen Live:
Thursday, April 19, 2007
What Ever Happened?
What Ever Happened? by The Strokes
Fifth Best Song
"What?!?!" you say! "The Strokes wrote one of the best songs! That's impossible!" And you may have a point. For all I know the Strokes wrote this song on accident. But I think it's mind blowing amazing. In literature there is this little device they like to call ring composition: a technique which places the meaning of a text in the middle, framed by a beginning and ending in parallel. The Iliad, The Temptist, and Beowolf all use it in telling their story. In a five act play, the fist and fifth act will mirror each other: the same characters, structure, and themes will be found, the second and fourth parts will mirror each other... and the third? This is the most important part of the play/story. And guess what "Whatever Happens" does? It's a song in ring composition. The song is in seven parts: the verses align near perfectly and are fine but not great, they even nearly match up almost word for word*. The middle features a pretty dope chorus with this pounding and thumping guitar and kick ass drums and then we get to the middle of the song: Julian's voice drops a bit and sounds painful when he sings, "You don't miss me... I know." In other words, if I'm right and Julian and the boys actually wrote this song as a ring composition, then this line is hands down the most important part of this song. Seriously, listen to this song and you'll see what I mean. Everything after those brutal, heartbreaking words seem not to matter, because all you're thinking is "You don't miss me, I know." Could there be anything worse?
Watch (when I first saw this trailer on TV, I was all pumped. I have yet to see the movie, but I'd like to):
*If the first verus was song last, as in the seventh part, instead of the sixth, I would argue that this is the greatest song of all time.
Fifth Best Song
"What?!?!" you say! "The Strokes wrote one of the best songs! That's impossible!" And you may have a point. For all I know the Strokes wrote this song on accident. But I think it's mind blowing amazing. In literature there is this little device they like to call ring composition: a technique which places the meaning of a text in the middle, framed by a beginning and ending in parallel. The Iliad, The Temptist, and Beowolf all use it in telling their story. In a five act play, the fist and fifth act will mirror each other: the same characters, structure, and themes will be found, the second and fourth parts will mirror each other... and the third? This is the most important part of the play/story. And guess what "Whatever Happens" does? It's a song in ring composition. The song is in seven parts: the verses align near perfectly and are fine but not great, they even nearly match up almost word for word*. The middle features a pretty dope chorus with this pounding and thumping guitar and kick ass drums and then we get to the middle of the song: Julian's voice drops a bit and sounds painful when he sings, "You don't miss me... I know." In other words, if I'm right and Julian and the boys actually wrote this song as a ring composition, then this line is hands down the most important part of this song. Seriously, listen to this song and you'll see what I mean. Everything after those brutal, heartbreaking words seem not to matter, because all you're thinking is "You don't miss me, I know." Could there be anything worse?
Watch (when I first saw this trailer on TV, I was all pumped. I have yet to see the movie, but I'd like to):
*If the first verus was song last, as in the seventh part, instead of the sixth, I would argue that this is the greatest song of all time.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Star Witness
Star Witness by Neko Case
The Sixth Best Song
Random Programing Note: So this week we are featuring our top eight songs, in order, of all time. These are songs that we consider to be the best of all time.
I named this the best song of 2006… and like fine wine, or left overs, it's getting better with age (I say left overs because it hasn't been a long time). As I wrote at the time:
Listen!
Watch:
The Sixth Best Song
Random Programing Note: So this week we are featuring our top eight songs, in order, of all time. These are songs that we consider to be the best of all time.
I named this the best song of 2006… and like fine wine, or left overs, it's getting better with age (I say left overs because it hasn't been a long time). As I wrote at the time:
"Star Witness is about lost teenage love... the poor girl's boyfriend just crashed and is all but dead. And during these five beautiful minutes, the narrator is recounting the last minutes of her loves life. The imagery is fantastic: "Trees break the sidewalk/And the sidewalk skins my knees/There's glass in my thermos/And blood on my jeans/Nickels and dimes of the fourth of july". It's a sad song and like 2006 there is a sliver lining... Neko Case's voice. Oh that voice... Micheal Jackson, Edith Paif, Billie Holiday, and Neko Case all have/had voices that were the voice of God. That's how amazing her voice is. And as the song begins to rap up, she sings, "please... don't let him die/oh how I forgot". You think it's over... but then maybe the saddest and most beautiful piano lick I've heard begins. You have to listen to it. It breaks my heart every time I hear it. And I don't think there's anything else I would rather listen to at 11:59pm on Dec. 31, 2006. What a fitting end to a sad year. Hopefully 2007 will be better."
I can't stress how amazing the ending of this song is, those pitiful, mellow, bittersweet pianocords ring out like a last gasp... a lost love... fading and dying in the clear night sky... alone.Listen!
Watch:
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Pocahontas
Pocahontas by Neil Young
The Seventh Best Song
I don't know if this song is bittersweet, sad, or just beautifully written. The subject manner, the genocide of the Native Americans/Indians of the 18th and 19th century is a bit of a downer (a subject that most history books seem to forget). But there's a bit of lust in this song, lusting for Pocahontas. And the clean, crisp guitar is eerily pretty while also sounding somewhat vicious. No matter, there is something about this song that is so perfect. Maybe it is the mysteriousness of the song, the fact that I can't say, 'Oh listen to this part' which makes it so great. No matter, it's one of the best songs I've ever heard and I don't listen to it nearly enough, if for no other reason than the lyrics. The lyrics are interesting, I love the guitar, and I love the imagery at the end of the song - in fact I'm sure most writers would kill to write something like this:
And maybe Marlon Brando
Will be there by the fire
We'll sit and talk of Hollywood
And the good things there for hire
And the Astrodome
and the first tepee
Marlon Brando, Pocahontas and me
I love it.
Watch it (it starts about 2 and a half minutes in):
The Seventh Best Song
I don't know if this song is bittersweet, sad, or just beautifully written. The subject manner, the genocide of the Native Americans/Indians of the 18th and 19th century is a bit of a downer (a subject that most history books seem to forget). But there's a bit of lust in this song, lusting for Pocahontas. And the clean, crisp guitar is eerily pretty while also sounding somewhat vicious. No matter, there is something about this song that is so perfect. Maybe it is the mysteriousness of the song, the fact that I can't say, 'Oh listen to this part' which makes it so great. No matter, it's one of the best songs I've ever heard and I don't listen to it nearly enough, if for no other reason than the lyrics. The lyrics are interesting, I love the guitar, and I love the imagery at the end of the song - in fact I'm sure most writers would kill to write something like this:
And maybe Marlon Brando
Will be there by the fire
We'll sit and talk of Hollywood
And the good things there for hire
And the Astrodome
and the first tepee
Marlon Brando, Pocahontas and me
I love it.
Watch it (it starts about 2 and a half minutes in):
Monday, April 16, 2007
End of a Century
Random Programing Note: Since we've started doing this, we've just been using our top rated tracks on iTunes, hit the random button and whatever comes down the pipeline, we write about. It's worked thus far. But when End of a Century came down the pipeline, we started thinking about the best songs that we've ever heard... and concluded that End of a Century was on that list. So this week we'll feature our top eight songs, in order, of all time. These are songs that we consider to be the best of all time. Why eight? Because we realized after we started this that End of a Century was actually in eight place, not seventh. And yes, this was very difficult to do.
End of a Century by Blur
The Eight Greatest Song of All Time
If you were to ask me to make a list of the ten greatest songs of all time, this would make the list. I know this sounds sort of crazy, 'Blur,' you'd say, 'Blur is so British, I mean, who in America listens to Blur other than that one song?' And you might have a point. But listening to this song, I'll tell you what, this tune has pretty much everything that I'VE ever wanted in a song - horns, a kick ass hook, pleasant vocals, an awesome chours, and lyrics that don't bash you over the head in a "LISTEN TO ME I AM IMPORTANT" sort of way... yet still have meaning. From the opening with the guitar solo, to the steady rhythm guitar, Damon's voice, the horns... so the bridge isn't mind blowing, but it's pretty effin' good for a bridge. Gosh, what a great song.
We all say, don't want to be alone
We wear the same clothes cos we feel the same
And kiss with dry lips when we say goodnight
End of a century
Oh, its nothing special
Listen:
End of a Century by Blur
The Eight Greatest Song of All Time
If you were to ask me to make a list of the ten greatest songs of all time, this would make the list. I know this sounds sort of crazy, 'Blur,' you'd say, 'Blur is so British, I mean, who in America listens to Blur other than that one song?' And you might have a point. But listening to this song, I'll tell you what, this tune has pretty much everything that I'VE ever wanted in a song - horns, a kick ass hook, pleasant vocals, an awesome chours, and lyrics that don't bash you over the head in a "LISTEN TO ME I AM IMPORTANT" sort of way... yet still have meaning. From the opening with the guitar solo, to the steady rhythm guitar, Damon's voice, the horns... so the bridge isn't mind blowing, but it's pretty effin' good for a bridge. Gosh, what a great song.
We all say, don't want to be alone
We wear the same clothes cos we feel the same
And kiss with dry lips when we say goodnight
End of a century
Oh, its nothing special
Listen:
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Rebecca Deville
Rebecca Deville by Mason Jennings
As I said, Mason is a good story teller. This song is no different. Poor Rebecca… I was going to skip this song. It's nice but it didn't mean anything to me. But how soon I forget. When I was living in London, it was difficult to listen to music that I enjoyed. I didn't own a laptop which housed all my music and I couldn't bring my CD collection across the Atlantic... so I was SOL. I did have my fathers a laptop for my months in London, but that only had the 20 CDs that I could import in the hour or so I had before leaving the USA (Don't ask me what my Desert Island 20 albums were at that time... I honestly don't remember besides The Strokes "Is This It", Graceland, a few Beatles, and Pete Yorn). So there I was in London stuck with the same 15 or 20 CDs for months upon months. I bought a few CDs while I was there (The Smiths, Blur, a Beulah EP), but CDs in London are really expensive. This left me bored with what I had after six weeks. But then came my ray of hope... EBS was coming to visit. I asked her ever so kindly to make me a CD of a few artists I liked. I gave her a list, I think U2 was on it and I forget the rest... but I know Mason Jennings was on that list. This was the days of Napster, so EBS DLed a few songs by Mason for me, burned them on to a CD, and came to London. I had never heard "Rebecca Devile" when EBS gave me that CD. I listened to it a bunch of times over the next five weeks, but then, when I returned to the USA, the song was gone. Lost... until Mason put out some sort of something on iTunes about a year ago. And wouldn't you know, Rebecca Devile was there and I downloaded it. Thanks E.
As I said, Mason is a good story teller. This song is no different. Poor Rebecca… I was going to skip this song. It's nice but it didn't mean anything to me. But how soon I forget. When I was living in London, it was difficult to listen to music that I enjoyed. I didn't own a laptop which housed all my music and I couldn't bring my CD collection across the Atlantic... so I was SOL. I did have my fathers a laptop for my months in London, but that only had the 20 CDs that I could import in the hour or so I had before leaving the USA (Don't ask me what my Desert Island 20 albums were at that time... I honestly don't remember besides The Strokes "Is This It", Graceland, a few Beatles, and Pete Yorn). So there I was in London stuck with the same 15 or 20 CDs for months upon months. I bought a few CDs while I was there (The Smiths, Blur, a Beulah EP), but CDs in London are really expensive. This left me bored with what I had after six weeks. But then came my ray of hope... EBS was coming to visit. I asked her ever so kindly to make me a CD of a few artists I liked. I gave her a list, I think U2 was on it and I forget the rest... but I know Mason Jennings was on that list. This was the days of Napster, so EBS DLed a few songs by Mason for me, burned them on to a CD, and came to London. I had never heard "Rebecca Devile" when EBS gave me that CD. I listened to it a bunch of times over the next five weeks, but then, when I returned to the USA, the song was gone. Lost... until Mason put out some sort of something on iTunes about a year ago. And wouldn't you know, Rebecca Devile was there and I downloaded it. Thanks E.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
