Only those who are monstrously intelligent, brave, and foreign could manage a song like this, and that is why ABBA are so good. They are Magnetic Fields' songwriter Stephin Merritt's favorite band, and don't even try to front like he just likes them ironically, because I can assure you he does not.
Check out this live performance of "Dum Dum Diddle" which is more Swedish than meatballs:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqjGYY-7rP0
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Monday, March 30, 2009
"Gamma Ray"-Beck
Is Beck a scientist or a Scientologist? Can we even tell which is which anymore? IS HE BLINDING US WITH SCIENCE
listen here
listen here
Sunday, March 29, 2009
"Crush"-David Archuleta
Unless you were an arthropod as an adolescent, you probably had the experience of feeling all stupid inside whenever a certain girl let you borrow a pencil during Social Studies. And then you took each pencil home and put it under your pillow, until your mom was like "Why the hell are all these holes in my pillowcases?" Or maybe you were supposedly in "the friend zone" with this guy you were in Camelot with, but all you could think about was whether he just liked you or like liked you. And also how good he looked in that King Arthur costume.
These, my friends, are the types of feelings that slip away from us as we enter into jaded young adulthood. And even though we might not miss the sensation of thinking we're going to barf all the time from nervousness and shame, there's just something about that kind of longing that was sweet. In both a "Sweet, dude!" and "a taste of honey" kind of way.
I'm probably going to raise some eyebrows if I say I like an eighteen year-old American Idol runner-up who could pass for twelve, but there it is. "Crush" has just the right balance of mopey angst and surging, innocent hope in it to remind me that there was a time when a playful punch on the arm could seem hotter than pants removal.
I know exactly what Neko Case means when she sings that she's "holding out for that teenage feeling" (refer to song: "That Teenage Feeling"). But Neko, honey, it's already here, and its name is David Archuleta.
listen here
These, my friends, are the types of feelings that slip away from us as we enter into jaded young adulthood. And even though we might not miss the sensation of thinking we're going to barf all the time from nervousness and shame, there's just something about that kind of longing that was sweet. In both a "Sweet, dude!" and "a taste of honey" kind of way.
I'm probably going to raise some eyebrows if I say I like an eighteen year-old American Idol runner-up who could pass for twelve, but there it is. "Crush" has just the right balance of mopey angst and surging, innocent hope in it to remind me that there was a time when a playful punch on the arm could seem hotter than pants removal.
I know exactly what Neko Case means when she sings that she's "holding out for that teenage feeling" (refer to song: "That Teenage Feeling"). But Neko, honey, it's already here, and its name is David Archuleta.
listen here
Saturday, March 28, 2009
"Tonight I'll Be Staying Here With You"-Bob Dylan
People like to talk a lot of shit about how Bob Dylan can't sing. It's an easy joke to make when you're making small talk (is it bad that my small talk is mostly about Dylan?), and many of us have probably made some sarcastic reference to it, as if it were common knowledge that the man can't help but sound like a wounded bear.
But if we really wanted to be accurate, we would have to admit that the wounded bear thing is on purpose, and it's not all he can do. It's not that he CAN'T hit notes. He just doesn't feel like it. Sometimes he's grumpy and he wants to growl (like on a lot of his earlier stuff) and sometimes he's upset about divorce and the only thing that will do is an atonal wail (like the heartbreaking "I can change, I swear / WOAHHHH" in "You're A Big Girl Now").
If you want to hear Bob Dylan actually singing (or if you just want to hear an album that is kickass) you should listen to Nashville Skyline. The first song is a duet and he totally sings the pants off Johnny Cash. The whole thing is great, but the closing track, "Tonight I'll Be Staying Here With You," is like Bob Dylan giving you a nice massage and then crooning to you while you fall asleep. I understand if this doesn't sound appealing, but just stick with me here. You cannot listen to this song and continue to say that he can't sing. It just doesn't compute. He's leaping between low and high parts like crazy and hitting everything right on. And he even puts in some tasteful little grace note flourishes.
So what I am suggesting is that we all work together to stop spreading these lies. It's just misinformation, and that's never good, like when you tell kids that masturbation will make them go blind. It's probably not as harmful as that, but whatever. Change starts small. Think globally, act locally.
For now, though, I think we can hold onto the rumor that Dylan's live shows in the last five years have sucked. I'd believe that.
listen here
But if we really wanted to be accurate, we would have to admit that the wounded bear thing is on purpose, and it's not all he can do. It's not that he CAN'T hit notes. He just doesn't feel like it. Sometimes he's grumpy and he wants to growl (like on a lot of his earlier stuff) and sometimes he's upset about divorce and the only thing that will do is an atonal wail (like the heartbreaking "I can change, I swear / WOAHHHH" in "You're A Big Girl Now").
If you want to hear Bob Dylan actually singing (or if you just want to hear an album that is kickass) you should listen to Nashville Skyline. The first song is a duet and he totally sings the pants off Johnny Cash. The whole thing is great, but the closing track, "Tonight I'll Be Staying Here With You," is like Bob Dylan giving you a nice massage and then crooning to you while you fall asleep. I understand if this doesn't sound appealing, but just stick with me here. You cannot listen to this song and continue to say that he can't sing. It just doesn't compute. He's leaping between low and high parts like crazy and hitting everything right on. And he even puts in some tasteful little grace note flourishes.
So what I am suggesting is that we all work together to stop spreading these lies. It's just misinformation, and that's never good, like when you tell kids that masturbation will make them go blind. It's probably not as harmful as that, but whatever. Change starts small. Think globally, act locally.
For now, though, I think we can hold onto the rumor that Dylan's live shows in the last five years have sucked. I'd believe that.
listen here
Friday, March 27, 2009
"Private Eyes"-Hall & Oates
"Private Eyes" is sort of like a sandwich with white bread, mayonnaise, individually-wrapped American cheese slices, and turkey that comes in the little plastic package. It's kind of slimy and ridiculous, and there's no real reason why the elements should combine in any decent way, but sometimes it's just what you want. And anyone that knows me knows that I want turkey sandwiches A LOT.
The music video (link below) shows that they are getting a real kick out of whatever it is they think they're doing. One thing that's fun for the listener at home is to make a whip-cracking motion and funny face every time the handclap part happens, but not on a first date. In fact, don't play "Private Eyes" on a first date at all.
www.youtube.com/watch?/v=anLfoy2XsFw
The music video (link below) shows that they are getting a real kick out of whatever it is they think they're doing. One thing that's fun for the listener at home is to make a whip-cracking motion and funny face every time the handclap part happens, but not on a first date. In fact, don't play "Private Eyes" on a first date at all.
www.youtube.com/watch?/v=anLfoy2XsFw
Thursday, March 26, 2009
"Let Her Go, God Bless Her"-The Louvin Brothers
Charlie and Ira Louvin, also known as The Louvin Brothers, played country music in the 50s and 60s. Despite some hard-living and mandolin-smashing (mostly on the part of Ira), they managed to pull off fairly angelic harmonies, which influenced The Everly Brothers. And The Everly Brothers, as everyone knows, kick ass.
What is interesting to me about this particular song is that the verses are kind of baffling. Here's the narrative: "I went to church last sunday; I saw my old true love there. And I knew that her mind was changing from the way that she'd done up her hair. I'm going to the races to see my pony run, and if I win any greenback, we're sure gonna have some fun. Sometimes I live in the country, sometimes I live in town. But sometimes I take a good notion to jump in the river and drown."
Now, if you think in any linear way, you might be saying "WTF?" And if you are a fourth grade English teacher, you might say, "I think one of my students wrote that essay last week. It was supposed to be about his summer vacation."
But looking at it more closely, I think it's a fairly accurate description of the stages of a typical grief/loss reaction. Here is a brief reenactment:
Step One: Hey, Sue. Your, uh, your hair looks different. Do you not love me anymore, or something?
Step Two: So, I think I'm going to the racetrack this weekend. Yeah, going to see my pony. Maybe win some cash. It'll be pretty sweet, I think. Sue? I don't know who that is. Yeah! I'm a wild and crazy guy.
Step Three: OH SHIT I THINK I AM GOING TO DIE
In my experience, that's kind of how it goes. Sometimes cycling repeatedly. So, Louvin Brothers: thanks for keeping it real.
I would guess that most people (that includes you, China) haven't heard this song. I have provided a link below and highly recommend giving it just one listen, even if you feel that country tastes like brussels sprouts. Remember: that is the taste of the tiny vitamins, and they are repairing your immune system.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N85ozmJB3zQ
What is interesting to me about this particular song is that the verses are kind of baffling. Here's the narrative: "I went to church last sunday; I saw my old true love there. And I knew that her mind was changing from the way that she'd done up her hair. I'm going to the races to see my pony run, and if I win any greenback, we're sure gonna have some fun. Sometimes I live in the country, sometimes I live in town. But sometimes I take a good notion to jump in the river and drown."
Now, if you think in any linear way, you might be saying "WTF?" And if you are a fourth grade English teacher, you might say, "I think one of my students wrote that essay last week. It was supposed to be about his summer vacation."
But looking at it more closely, I think it's a fairly accurate description of the stages of a typical grief/loss reaction. Here is a brief reenactment:
Step One: Hey, Sue. Your, uh, your hair looks different. Do you not love me anymore, or something?
Step Two: So, I think I'm going to the racetrack this weekend. Yeah, going to see my pony. Maybe win some cash. It'll be pretty sweet, I think. Sue? I don't know who that is. Yeah! I'm a wild and crazy guy.
Step Three: OH SHIT I THINK I AM GOING TO DIE
In my experience, that's kind of how it goes. Sometimes cycling repeatedly. So, Louvin Brothers: thanks for keeping it real.
I would guess that most people (that includes you, China) haven't heard this song. I have provided a link below and highly recommend giving it just one listen, even if you feel that country tastes like brussels sprouts. Remember: that is the taste of the tiny vitamins, and they are repairing your immune system.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N85ozmJB3zQ
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
"My Valuable Hunting Knife"-Guided By Voices
I'm convinced that this song is about songs. Good ones, at least. Here are some of the qualities, according to the lyrics, of the knife:
1. Will shine like a new girl
2. Will not rust through the tears
3. Will not lose its appeal over years
He's gonna start a new life with it! He's gonna shout out his love to the world!
Sounds about right to me.
Listen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1A8LyAqtaa0
1. Will shine like a new girl
2. Will not rust through the tears
3. Will not lose its appeal over years
He's gonna start a new life with it! He's gonna shout out his love to the world!
Sounds about right to me.
Listen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1A8LyAqtaa0
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