"Clementine"Elliot Smith
Elliot Smith
If Virginia Woolf wins the award for Best Literary Suicide of All-Time (packed her pockets full of rocks and drowned herself in a river), then Smith wins the award for Best Musical Suicide of All-Time (stabbed himself in the heart). Of course, that's assuming you don't believe the reports that it may actually have been a homicide, but that's a whole other can of worms...
As for this specific track, it's really good. Whenever this album comes up in conversation, I've noticed most people -- or at least, most people I know -- always tend to mention "The Biggest Lie," "Alphabet Town," and "Needle in the Hay" (mostly because of its inclusion in The Royal Tennenbaums, but I think it gets real repetitive, real fast) as the standout songs, but I personally think "Clementine" deserves to be mentioned right alongside them.
"Jump"Van Halen
1984
I barely have any post-David Lee Roth Van Halen on my iPod, and I'm sure it's gonna stay that way for the foreseeable future.
I always thought it was funny how the use of synthesizers was reportedly a big sticking point that eventually played a big part in the break up of the band (Van Halen wanted to use them, Roth vehemently did not). But ironically, it became the most instantaneously recognizable element to this song, their biggest hit. Heh, go figure.
And it's interesting how listening to this really does make you want to physically jump up and down.
"Yankee Bayonet (I Will Be Home By Then)"The Decemberists
The Crane Wife
I'm hardly ever in the mood to listen to the Decemberists, but I really do like this song.
And I'm gonna have to get around to checking out Colin Meloy's newest solo album. I don't know if I'll like it much, but I'll give it a fair shot.
"There There"Radiohead
Hail to the Thief
Here's what's so crazy about this album: most Radiohead fans I know (and I don't necessarily know a lot of people, but I don't think that should detract from the strong point I'm about to make) will generally agree that this ranks at about #5 in their all-time discography -- OK Computer, The Bends, Kid A, Amnesiac...and then maybe even as low as #6 with the release of In Rainbows.
And Hail to the Thief is an awesome album!
That's really impressive, that something so good isn't even good enough to be near the top. I think that speaks incredible volumes; Radiohead produces both quality and quantity.
And the video for this song is so creepy and offputting. I love it.
"Mambo Italiano"Rosemary Clooney
16 Biggest Hits
I like Rosemary Clooney infinitely more than I like George Clooney.
Although I'm pretty sure I heard this playing over an Olive Garden commercial one time, and that made me like this song less. I don't know why that'd be, because I actually do like eating at the Olive Garden, but it just did.
"Just a Ride"Jem
Finally Woken
I like this song a lot and I always wondered why she never really caught on. I don't know, maybe it has to do with her stage name. Considering the cult following of the 80's cartoon show, she probably should've picked something a little less famous. It'd be like me naming my band "Michael Jordan;" no matter how good we are or how much notoriety we gain, we're still only gonna be, at best, the 2nd most famous "Michael Jordan" in the world. Same deal here.
"Say Hey There"Atmosphere
You Can't Imagine How Much Fun We're Having
This reminds me, I've gotta get their new album. I can't wait.
"The Panties"Mos Def
The New Danger
Like most other music snobs who want to prove how transcendent and eclectic their taste in music is, I adore this album. It's an incredible and expansive blend of genres and styles, really worth the wait. So I don't think it's necessary for me to wax poetic any further on how great it is.
As for this particular track, it's not one of my favorites off the album (I'd say it's about middle of the pack, not one of the best and not one of the worst), but I like its rich soulfulness. And for the hip-hop heads out there that are still complaining about the singing on this album, get over it already. Mos Def doesn't mass produce empty-calorie party rap.
"Styrofoam"Fugazi
Repeater
I don't listen to as much Fugazi and Minor Threat as I used to when I was younger, but Ian MacKaye still imposes a huge influence on my day-to-day life.
As for this track, I like it because it's almost exactly 2 1/2 minutes long. Just how long a good song should be.
"The Killing Moon"Echo & the Bunnymen
Ocean Rain
Wow, haven't heard this song in forever.
I got excited when I heard him sing the line "Though I know it must be the killing time / Unwillingly mine." And it's not like there's anything especially extraordinary about that one line, it's just that it's delivered incredibly well.
"Roll Over Beethoven"The Beatles
With the Beatles
"Roll over Beethoven / And tell Tchaikovsky the news"
Chuck Berry was probably just talking about music here, but I always applied to life in its entirety. Time is constantly moving forward, so it's out with the old and the dead and the dusty; in with the new and the fresh and the young. I'm very ambitious in my interests and confident in my talent. I'm convinced I'm gonna do everything bigger and better than what came before, so this line has always meant a lot to me personally.
And as a kid, I always got super pumped over George Harrison's guitar solo. One of my favorite Beatles covers ever.
"True Blue"Bright Eyes
Motion Sickness
I love this song, but I love the studio version a thousand times better. And that's because, for the most part, I'm not crazy about live albums anyway.
"Come See About Me"Diana Ross and the Supremes
The Ultimate Collection
I wish I had the cover version by Jr. Walker and the All-Stars because they added a saxophone solo to the song.
"Hoodie"Lady Sovereign
Public Warning
I'm not as high on the S-O-V as I was a short time ago (I don't know if she has longtime staying power), but this song is irresistibly fun and catchy.
"Combat Baby"Metric
Old World Underground
I'm getting to the end of this blog entry and I'm really getting tired and running out of steam, so I'll make this last one quick and easy:
1) This song -- like the rest of the album -- is a lot fun.
2) "No one wants to fight me" is a good line.
3) Emily Haines is very good-looking.
No comments:
Post a Comment