... and talk about what they turn up?
(five songs, random, describe them)
- Radiohead - Motion Picture Soundtrack. It's one of those Radiohead songs that doesn't seem to do a lot. There's a funereal organ bit, and some electronic chimes breeze in and out. A choir Ooohs and Ahhhs in the background. Thom sings something I can't understand. Then there's a huge chunk of silence before the band comes back with a bit of sound collage, then the silence is back for a minute or so before the track officially ends. It's a pretty thing, but I don't know really what to do with it. The silences are inconvenient because they make me think my iPod has died. I suppose the structure would work as an actual motion picture soundtrack, but I don't know what the movie is. Oh Radiohead, why do you torment me so?
- Beastie Boys - Shadrach. Yeah, OK, three weeks in a row; it's time to get take some B.Boys off the iPod. Unlike the past two, this is not a live-band track. This is a classic (and fantastic) sample-n-beats hip-hop track with classic Beastie vocals over it - wise ass, nasal, etc.. It has a few good lines, but it's not one of my favorite Beastie tunes - I don't hate it, but it just doesn't stick to me.
- Shellac - Didn't We Deserve A Look At You The Way You Really Are. And this is a pretty standard long Shellac song: minimal drums and quiet bass play the same thing for two minutes (the bass does a little 2-bar fill about 2 minutes in! then it's back to the original two note pattern); Albini deadpans a couple of lines of lyrics over top then stops; guitar comes in for a couple of seconds at the 3:00 mark. Then it's back to bass and drums for another minute. Things get really crazy around the 4:00 mark, when the guitar plays a couple of quiet chords and the bass does another fill! Then it's back to the bass & drums for another minute. A little bit of some thin high vocals at 5:00, then, at 5:30, the volume kicks in! They're gonna bust out! But, no. By 6:00, they're back to the basic bass & drums. Just past 8:00, a couple more lines of deadpan vocals! At 9:30, Albini mutters the titular line! At 10:15, a guitar comes in, with real volume! Could this be where they let loose? 11:00, bass does another fill. 10:50, a drum fill! 11:00, Volume! Sigh. Then we're back to the basic bit again. 12:00, they abandon the basic pattern! Crescendo! Finale! Huzzah!
- Bauhaus - Telegram Sam. Bauhaus could really kick the hell out of a cover. I'd almost say they're better at covers than at their own songs. But really, I think it's just because they pick really good songs to cover. The T-Rex original is the standard T-Rex groove (ie. the music in the verses is completely indistinguishable from "Bang A Gong"), but Bauhaus speeds it up, replaces T-Rex's glam-pouting swing and swagger with a nervous and wiry anxiety; and instead of horns, we get Daniel Ash's screaming feedback. It sounds nothing like the original. Love it.
- Tokyo Police Club - Graves. One of their better tunes. It's got enough melody to be sweet and enough energy to be fun. It rushes by in a brisk 2:35, with guitars a-barking, background vox a-oooohh-ing, singer a-whining, drums a-pounding. This is what makes them one of my favorite new bands.
And now, you do it.
For future reference.
http://www.ateaseweb.com/songs/motionpicturesoundtrack.php
:)
There is an Ondes Martenot being played, possibly used in the original Star Trek theme (disputed).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ondes_Martenot
Bauhaus – Telegram Sam Awesome, awesome
I do love the Bauhaus Ziggy cover.
And, huh — Don’t think I’ve ever actually listened to the T Rex “Telegram Sam” before. I knew it existed; and it’s sounding kind of familiar so I must have heard it at some point… When I hear the words “Telegram Sam” what comes to mind is the Bauhaus take on it.
Here goes:
“Mr. Gator’s Swamp Jamboree” by the (not) Beatles, off of Everyday Chemistry — beautiful music though it does not particularly make me think of the Beatles.
“Stack A Lee” by Dylan, off of World Gone Wrong. I think I love Dylan’s folk music even more than I love Dylan’s Dylan music. Maybe I would not feel that way absent the latter, dunno.
“Dark Green Energy” by RH and the Egyptians. An alternate track from the Perspex Island sessions. I could totally see this song being on PI, which is my favorite album ever.
Kevin Z. Slick’s extraordinary countrified cover of “Brenda’s Iron Sledge”, from one of the Glass Flesh disks.
“It’s Alright Ma (I’m Only Bleeding)” by Dylan and the Band, from the Before the Flood concert tapes. This is the first Dylan song that I ever got into, the summer I was staying with family friend Jim Higgs and listening obsessively to his copy of Bringin it all Back Home. The version with The Band is very different and great.
This is not quite the shuffled list; it is skipping songs from the shuffle in m4a format, which the Windows Media Player on my new laptop says it does not know what to do with. Any ideas how I can set it straight.
Let’s get random.
Radiohead – Give Up The Ghost
Achingly gorgeous track from their brand new album ‘The King Of Limbs’. Simple acoustic strum and the tell-tale thud of hand against wooden guitar body. I heard a live version of this last year when Thom was touring with Atoms For Peace and they’ve nailed it. He samples himself singing ‘Don’t hurt me, don’t haunt me’ at the start and uses this in a loop throughout the rest of the song. The album version is embellished with bird-song and a haunting vocal echo. Thom sings about gathering up ‘the lost and sold … in your arms’ and having his fill. Love it. The video is for his live version.
Supergrass – You Can See Me
From their fab 1995 album ‘In It For The Money’, this Oxford trio have always been one of my favourite bands. They don’t take themselves too seriously and they know how to have fun, as this song shows. ‘You can buy me and take me home … you can’t see me, I’m not really there’. Spiky guitars ahoy!
Doves – Firesuite
Another band that pushes all of my buttons. This is a mellow instrumental tune from their first album ‘Lost Souls’. Spirally, trippy and sparse … a song for the end of a mashed-up night on the town.
The Presidents Of The United States Of America – Peaches
Crikey, I’d forgotten about this song until just now but it was bloody *everywhere* in 1996 (it came up on a 90’s compilation I have.) It’s … er .. spunky! and very much a Green Day vibe … and I assume it’s about the ladies. :) ‘Peaches come from a can, they were put there by a man, in a factory down-town.’ heh heh.
Lily Allen – Fuck You
OK, not quite sure about Ms Allen … the cod-ska thing is a little old but she knows how to draw attention to herself and her lyrics are really good. This song is no exception and seems to be about a small-minded, homophobic racist twat. Worth a listen when the kids have gone to bed. Love the chorus … ‘Fuck you, fuck you very much’ … the piano intro is very familiar though … Broadway? Streisand maybe?
Cleekazoids of the Interweb! Unite!
As usual, Monday is zany around here. The new Radiohead is terrific! And Rob, Doves: YES! Love, love, love them.
Here’s mine:
1. Doves (what are the odds??) – There Goes the Fear
I like the bells that start this song off and I really like how it builds into a kind of wall of sound thing, which is so Doves. I think this might be the first track I ever heard from them which made me go out and get everything. Doves have always reminded me of Tears for Fears for some reason.
2. Devo – Secret Agent Man
Speaking of covers…Devo always chose, in my opinion, odd and not always appropriate songs to cover. I mean, this is ok enough, but really not one of their best, and certainly not up to their cover of Satisfaction, which is nothing short of brilliant. My best friend in high school was a total Devo fanatic. I met Jerry Casale in Los Angeles at a record store (remember those?) where he was signing laser discs (remember those??) in the early 90’s. My CD of Total Devo is signed by him.
3. Mike Doughty – I Wrote a Song About Your Car
I loved Soul Coughing in the 90’s. I liked the music, the beat, the groove and I especially liked Doughty’s vocals. Surreal lyrics and there is something about his voice I just like. His solo career has been great as far as I am concerned. Even a little nothing ditty like this one somehow gives me a little bit of pleasure.
4. The Cure – The Lovecats
Happy Cure! I of course love morose, gothic Cure but I think they were a fantastic pop band at times. This one always just takes me back to high school.
5. Snow Patrol – Hands Open
Snow Patrol is one of those bands I feel like I shouldn’t like. They are too Grey’s Anatomy. Back when they first hit I mentioned on The Forvm that they were my wife’s favorite new band. I think it was Harley (the screenwriter) who said Snow Patrol are everyone’s wife’s favorite band. But dammit if I don’t tap my foot and want to sing along when I hear them. They are ridiculously catchy, in that way that Brits do so well. I feel the same about them as I do about Coldplay, I guess. This is a pretty great song.
heh … ‘There Goes The Fear’ was the NME’s single of the year 2002 and it made me buy ‘The Last Broadcast’ and I’ve never looked back. By all accounts it’s about a crushing drug come-down. Seen them live a few times and they are *really* tight.
Snow Patrol, yeh Coldplay Lite might be a bit harsh but probably on the money. A clutch of *great* tunes and a bit of a guilty pleasure (I can knock out a few passable tunes on the guitar), but they have a reputation for blandness that will be hard to shake. They’re a great singles band but the albums tend to come with a lot of filler. ‘ER’ used their song ‘Open Your Eyes’ once and that opened the floodgates. :)
Mind you, I have heard two National songs (both from ‘High Violet’) on Grey’s Anatomy this season (Mrs C is a big fan).
I got PJ Harvey’s new one ‘Let England Shake’ the other day and it’s bloody good. I wasn’t mad for ‘Uh-huh Her’ or ‘White Chalk’ but this new one really pushes my buttons.
I’m determined to buy more music in 2011. Turning 40 next month has nothing to do with it either. :)
turning 40 next month
One of us! One of us!
…I heard that Lily Allen song before as the soundtrack to a video by fixed-gear girl, riding fixed-gear bikes around Tai-pei and yelling at drivers who cut her off. Alas I cannot find the video anymore, it was fun.