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:
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
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:
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