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:
Showing posts with label The Strokes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Strokes. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
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.
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, 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.
Friday, February 23, 2007
Is This It
Is This It by The Strokes:
Of the most important albums of my life, The Stroke's Is This It? would crack the top three. For me, it was the perfect album at the perfect time in my life. I first heard of the New York hipsters on Sept. 18, 2001, one week after 9/11. This song, along with a few other on the album, pretty much sum up those first months after 9/11... the urgency, uncertainty, and desire to do something since 9/11 had created those feelings and more inside of me (and I'm sure I'm not alone). The simple question, is this it, would ring true in those months following... is this all that life has to offer? There has to be more right? And I guess it still applies even today... maybe it's another way of saying cease the day. Is this... it?
Listen to it:
Of the most important albums of my life, The Stroke's Is This It? would crack the top three. For me, it was the perfect album at the perfect time in my life. I first heard of the New York hipsters on Sept. 18, 2001, one week after 9/11. This song, along with a few other on the album, pretty much sum up those first months after 9/11... the urgency, uncertainty, and desire to do something since 9/11 had created those feelings and more inside of me (and I'm sure I'm not alone). The simple question, is this it, would ring true in those months following... is this all that life has to offer? There has to be more right? And I guess it still applies even today... maybe it's another way of saying cease the day. Is this... it?
Listen to it:
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