Oh my god. This is so amazing. Fuck Weird Al and Stephen Lynch, THIS is musical comedy. This song just makes me so happy. It's so CUTE.
I need to go listen to more Linkin Park. Maybe then I can try Good Charlotte or something. Anyone have any suggestions? Fuck, does anyone even know who the current annoying emo wangsty Hot Topical tween sensation is? (Yes, I realize the redundancy there.)
ATTN JPOP PEOPLE ON MY FLIST. I hold each and every one of you somewhat responsible for turning me into a bad person.
I just listened to <a href="http://www.sendspace.com/file/fnxk1v">TTMA - My Baby (English)</a> and didn't throw up in my mouth. I hadn't listened to it in roughly a year, since it's in a folder labeled "worst song in the world". Here's the thing. I really didn't mind it that much. I hoinestly thought "Oh, this isn't so bad, I've heard worse." I could just about tolerate this utter crap.
I BLAME JPOP.
JPop, and DDR sort of shit, and my lack of sleep, since it's finals week.
SO! POLL! Poll #981559MYUSIC SERVEY
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All
This song! (TTMA - My Baby (English)) Better than half of JPop? Y/Y?
So. Music. Namely, be your own PET, delightful bizarre indie with a female vocalist (from Nashville, apparently). Their self-titled album, which came out this year-ish, is pretty awesome. Uh, I'm at a loss for how to describe them. Well, okay, imagine a punk band that has 50 second songs with really long names, and the band leader gets up and says "Okay, this song is called 'The one time you and I went to mall, but Jocko forgot his keys in the car and we were abducted by aliens'." and then they start screaming and playing like a motherfucker for almost a minute, and start a new song. Sort of like The Locust. Now, imagine that the songs were written and performed by a half-crazy chick (but half-crazy like a fox), and you could make out the lyrics and it was more jump-around-y than mosh-y, and also the songs lasted for several minutes (but this is not to say that they are too long). And it's not actually much like that at all, but there's a sort of psychic kinship. At least for the song "We Will Vacation, You Will Be My Parasol".
Actually, I think I like what their myspace page says: "Sounds Like: A kick in the Ass". That is not inaccurate.
I recommend you listen to "Adventurers" and "We Will Vacation, You Will Be My Parasol". If you like either, listen to OUCH and feel free to ask me for more of the album (even if you don't like OUCH). If you don't like either, listen to OUCH. If you like "We Will Vacation..." check out "Bicycle Bicycle You Are My Bicycle" on their myspace page.
be your own PET - Adventure We are adventuring! We are adventurers! Seriously, this song is awesome. I keep listening to it over and over again. If you pay attention to nothing else, try this song, it will own your soul.
be your own PET - OUCH This is more melodic than either of the above. I vacillate on this one, but I think it represents a third way for their music pretty well.
So I uploaded a number of tracks from The Sounds for arisato and thought I'd share with you. And then it morphed into this whole lesson on english-language swedish rock'n'roll w/ female vocalists and whatnot. If you didn't check out The Sounds last time I posted about them, maybe you will this time now that they have the arisato stamp of approval. If you DID check them out, there's a shitload more now, so bonus. So here goes.
Swedes know how to fucking rock. I say this because both Sahara Hotnights and The Sounds come from there. And almost certainly sound of The Sounds owes a fair amount to Sahara Hotnights, but they really hone it and kick it up a notch or two. You may know the lead singer of The Sounds from "Snakes On A Plane (Bring It!)" [To be found below in this post] as the one who sings "Oh! I'm ready for it!" The Sounds have done well by themselves with their 2005 release Dying To Say This To You, and this song in particular. Aside from Golden Smog (they of the totally fucking annoying "Don't it blow your mind? Don't it blow your mind for the nth time?" (where n is some number between, like, 1 and 5. Oh god I despise that drivel) song), I don't know if there's a band I can identify as occuring more often on The Current when I am paying attention. This song bursts with energy, and it's pretty fucking sweet. Check it [out].
"Rockaway Beach" as covered by Sahara Hotnights I mentioned Sahara Hotnights already a couple times up above. So I figure it's only fair that I give you some examples. Now, I'm not a terribly big fan of the job the Ramones do with the song, but, this cover broke my glasses, it is so awesome.
One difference between The Sounds and Sahara Hotnights is that The Sounds are all dudes, except the lead singer. Sahara Hotnights is all chicks.
Sahara Hotnights - No Big Deal This is the locus classicus of their 2002 "Jennie Bomb" album. It sounds akin to their job on Rockaway Beach.
Now something from Sahara Hotnights' much different-sounding 1999 album, "C'mon Let's Pretend", less energetic, less punkish:
Sahara Hotnights - That's What They Do I think I fucked up my knee thanks to this song, a trampoline, the sun, a lack of water and heat exhaustion. It was fucking awesome. My advice: Travel the Southern Hemisphere (Australians & New Zealanders: Bonus!), acquire a trampoline and emotional issues, go without water for several hours, then, in the heat of midday, with the sun glowing like a big ball of hydrogen and helium plasma, listen to this song while jumping as hard as you can. Follow it up with "Staring At The Sun" by TV On The Radio (the band that, along with Bloc Party, puts the "almost" in the expression "Indie is almost all a bunch of pretentious white guys/chicks.")
Love Is All - Spinning And Scratching Love Is All is another female-fronted Swedish indie-pop group. Not so much my cup of tea as The Sounds or Sahara Hotnights, but I thought it'd keep with the theme. Their 2005 album, Nine Times That Same Song went over well with the music blog/Pitchfork Media set (they rated 8.7 on Pitchfork (and okay, Pitchfork, "prophylactic lo-fi glaze", WTF)). Speaking of pitchfork and music blogs and assorted sorts of media outlets. What the fuck is up with the fucking American Apparel Scoop Back? The ads do not make it look sexy/good/whatever. Is that the point? I it supposed to appeal to hipsters by virtue of sucking? Anyway, this song didn't suck too much, so I downloaded the whole album. I like of like "Aging Has Never Been His Friend". Also, there's a healthy amount of variability in this album, so they don't all sound like this song.
Oh. And speaking of Swedish Music! Chart-topping swedish eurodance about IRC bots! (mit English subtitles)
So I uploaded some songs last night for bluekivrin, and you guys should listen to them too. With one exception, these were all released this year or last.
Cyndi Lauper - She Bop (Acoustic) One of the best songs of 2005. You may know Cyndi Lauper as the 1980s model turned singer who did "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun", "Money Changes Everything" or "She Bop". I assure you, this version, off her 2005 album The Body Acoustic, is a work of genius, so many millions of miles beyond what she did in the 80s. I don't know if I've encountered anyone who hasn't liked the song. Well, okay, there's this girl at Reed who looked a bit like Cyndi Lauper last year and didn't want to listen to it, but that's because she had just been broken up with and was really not in the mood. But I bet she likes it now. It's awesome.
Rihanna - SOS One of the best songs of 2006. Yes, you may have heard this before, since, oh, everyone loves it. But there's a reason they love it: because it's awesome. Turn it up. Turn it WAY up.
Nada Surf - Always Love Best known for their 90's gimmicky song, "Popular", which happens to be very much unlike the rest of their sound, Nada Surf is actually really awesome. And this song is head and shoulders more awesome than... uh... everything. It's beautiful.
The Sounds - Painted By Numbers Swedes know how to fucking rock. I say this because both Sahara Hotnights and The Sounds come from there. And almost certainly sound of The Sounds owes a fair amount to Sahara Hotnights, but they really hone it and kick it up a notch or two. You may know the lead singer of The Sounds from "Snakes On A Plane (Bring It!)" as the one who sings "Oh! I'm ready for it!" The Sounds have done well by themselves with their 2005 release Dying To Say This To You, and this song in particular. Aside from Golden Smog (they of the totally fucking annoying "Don't it blow your mind? Don't it blow your mind for the nth time?" (where n is some number between, like, 1 and 5. Oh god I despise that drivel) song), I don't know if there's a band I can identify as occuring more often on The Current when I am paying attention. This song bursts with energy, and it's pretty fucking sweet. Check it.
The Thermals - A Stare Like Yours I'm biased. The Thermals are pretty fucking awesome in concert, and they're from Portland, OR. That makes them awesome in my book. They're also pretty awesome in a lot of other peoples' books too, since people are falling all over their latest release The Body, The Blood, The Machine, which this song is NOT off of. Which is not a bad thing, because I think Fucking A is a better album as far as singles go. (Making this, with a release date in 2004, the one song here not released in the last two years.) Listen to this then tell me if I'm totally crazy or if there's some sort of weird sort of connection between the lead singer's voice (which is... distinctive, and not in a crappy "this band is fronted by a comedian or actor who thinks they can sing, but really, sucks" way, but a cool way) and that of Colin Meloy (from The Decemberists). I may just be drawing geographic connections where none exist. What think you?
Lady Sovereign - Love Me Or Hate Me Lady Sovereign is rap. On Roc-a-feller. She's 19 and British. And you may have seen her music video on TV, since it's kind of ubiquitus.
Here's the thing. Just listen to this song. No music video. A couple times. Turn it up loud, and maybe knock back a beer or two, then listen again.
It's a REALLY GOOD song.
Oh. And if you haven't already downloaded those Regina Spektor tracks I previously posted about, they have the anjaliesque seal of awesomeness now, so you can go ahead and do that here. And if you did, and thought she was awesome (this is probably superfluous, since I find it hard to imagine you downloaded the songs, listened to them and didn't think she was awesome), there's another track in the comments.
If you like Kate Bush, may I suggest that you listen to Joanna Newsom. Joanna Newsom is Kate Bush reincarnated (though with a number of changes, as is common with reincarnation). Which, when you think about it, means there are two Kate Bushes running around out there. It's a frightening and awesome scenario.
(Warning: File is nearly 25 megs, and 16 minutes long. And yes, that's one track. Ys is fucked up, but full of good. And it's not a track that takes forever to get going (e.g. just about every fucking song on Frances The Mute).)
Do yourself a favor, download it. It's very good.
Speaking of things which you would do well to download, here's some Regina Spektor from her latest album, Begin To Hope. She's odd, but think Feist combined with Extraordinary Machine!Fiona Apple, plus a dose of fun and weird. See, this is why I'll never be on Pitchfork. Wait. Let me try this. Regina Spektor evokes a late-night dorm-room discussion about everything and nothing, a day picnicking in the park and none of the above. Nope. Still not feeling it, though on the plus side, it's far less informative than my previous attempt to give a feel for her (though still not sufficiently pretentious). Anyway, download these two songs. The second one is odd.
So I'm reading this article about country music stations and whether or not they're down with playing the latest Dixie Chicks single. (Via Crooks and Liars, which has related video.) A single which, actually, isn't that bad, the sound is less annoying country, more Sheryl Crow + violins, and I like the lyrics, though I'm not sure that it's actually all that musically inspired; you can, if you like, listen to it at their site. Why would they not play the Dixie Chicks, some of you (who are either not from the US or know just about nothing about anything in the news or popular culture) ask? Because the Dixie Chicks think the Iraq war was a bunch of shit and that Bush sucks, and when they said this to some people at some concert, mass CD burnings of the fire and combustion kind were held, and then, presumably, a bunch of kids developed lung disease BECAUSE THEY WERE BREATHING CD SMOKE. And then a whole bunch of country radio stations in this country decided to stop playing The Dixie Chicks (and start holding Dixie Chicks CD burning parties), because a whole bunch of country radio stations in this country have no balls.
Anyway, so, apparently in, like, St. Louis, the listener reaction has been so negative that they pulled them from their rotation. And I almost understand that. I mean, if a radio station I listened to (and, when I'm in Minnesota, I totally listen to non-NPR radio at times) were to put Bush Was Right, by The Lame, Incorrect, Myopic, Ripper-Offer Of Billy Joel BrothersRight Brothers on heavy rotation, and if I actually wrote letters or things to radio stations (I almost did, actually, either last summer or over winter break, to ask one (it was either Drive 105 or The Current) to PLEASE, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, STOP PLAYING THAT SHITTY-ASS DEPECHE MODE SONG ALL THE GODDAMN TIME!) I would probably tell them to stop doing it so much.
Because it is a sucky song. NOT because I hate their politics. I mean, I do, and I hate how inexepertly they have rendered those politics into musical form, but you don't see me boycotting, uh... there's gotta be some music that I like which has politics I don't like, but which would not also be considered to the left of me (also: not by Rush)... uh... MOZART! I bet Mozart didn't approve of gay marriage, universal health care, enviromental protections, progressive tax rates or the EFF! And I totally dig his music. Oh! Oh! And I like that song, "Bang Bang My Baby Shot Me Down", and Sonny Bono wrote that, and I TOTALLY hate HIM. (That tree? My hero. Not so much because Sonny Bono was a Republican -- though it surely doesn't help --, but because of the Sonny Bono Copyright Extension Act.)
Anyway. Point was. I encountered this. Also, note: I preface this by pointing out that, apart from this, I still fucking hate 102.1 FM and think their music is shit. BUT.
KEEY in Minneapolis, which has been playing the Chicks' music all along, took a different approach. Instead of running the song up the flagpole and eliciting listener opinion, the station quietly slipped it into rotation and has been playing it two or three times a day.
"Our thought was to do that instead of batting on the hornets nest," said music director Travis Moon, who estimated he's received fewer than 10 complaints. "We wanted to put the song out there on its own merits without the fanfare. If our listeners come back and hate it, we'll take it off. If they like it, we'll move it up in rotation."
Here's some files I've YSIed recently to people. And by recently I mean half a week ago, so grab before they're expired. Highly recommended offerings in bold.
This next song is the title track off "No Wow", a 2005 album from The Kills. This song has a completely amazing build up of nervous, anticipatory, painful energy along with a completely brilliant release. There's something almost sexual about it. Well, possibly not almost. Listen to it. Seriously. If not for the song itself (which is great), then for technical acheivement.
This is Dan Bern. He's got a sort of alt folky sound. He's hilarious, but his music sounds good too, and can be good even when not being hilarious. He's also a raving liberal, and wrote an album in 2004 titled something like "Songs To Beat Bush By". Didn't quite work out how he hoped, I expect. I really like him, but Cait does not so much. You can read her as-they-came thoughts here, but be warned: she listened to them out of order. But, Cait notwithstanding, people other than me like him too, including a person who I consider possibly the brightest person I've ever known (which, given that I go to school full of geniuses and near-geniuses, is saying something). Definitely give him a try if you like Jason Webley,
Oh man. It's amazing what happens when energy drinks, adrenaline and meds all give out at once and a body starts to realize that it's been running on steam, panic, momentum and artificial stimulants for god knows how long. I could fall over with my face in this half-eaten ice cream novelty and it would be all the same, it's that bad/amazing. (Which is why I refuse to let my shoulders touch my bed until I have set my alarm and disposed of said novelty. But, man, moving is so hard.)
Wow. Tonight was good. (Which is awesome, because today was pretty neat because A) I got pages done on my thesis that I don't think are total shit, and B) Pandora.com is totally awesome. Go there, you won't regret it. Unless you hate music, if you hate music, then you'll think it's a waste of time. Otherwise you'll think it's totally awesome. Also, apparently, if you're only into Classical, because they don't do Classical.) Met a German/Phil major who was gone the last three years (his name is David, which is also the name of the guitarist who isn't the vocalist of The Prids (though, in my heart, he will always be "Flash", or possibly "Wizkid".) Saw The Prids, who are totally awesome and live on 39th. They have a sound that reminds me of The New Pornographers (but is sufficiently distinct that if the New Pornographers released an album that consisted of Prids songs, I would be very surprised by sudden shift in their musical direction). They're also REALLY good. NOTE TO SELF: Check them out on MySpace when I wake up tomorrow. Also, had a conversation about Nietzsche with the singer from The Clearing. And a girl with a peed-on jacket hugged me (sans jacket) for talking with her about her pee-ed on jacket (SCORE!). Also, had a wonderful conversation with James (Ulric, you would know this guy as the continental asshole from Frankfurt School); it turns out he's not a continental asshole, but a reasonable person with a wide variety of interests who can converse on all sorts of things and holds not insane positions. Also, I think possibly I turn into a reasonable conciliatory person when I'm drunk. I think because I can get kicks out of agreement as a conversational thing when I'm drunk, but when I'm sober I need to supplement it with conflict or something. Also: I totally adore Canada Mist so much more than Sierra Mist. Because Canada Mist is whiskey, and not a lame Sprite rip-off (that was formerly known as lemon-lime Slice).
Plus, the performers of the various bands that were performing tonight were totally chill people. Also, the keyboardist for The Prids was named Erik or Eric. So (y). I'm just irritated that I didn't go down to the show earlier. It was also very low-key, as there was totally lame advertising for it (that is, none at all). PLUS: cold pizza when drunk is so good. Also, EARLIER in the evening, I beat Benjamin at chess twice. So GO ME.
But seriously, check out The Prids, they're totally cool. And the keyboardist's dad seems to enjoy their music enough to go to their shows, which makes one of their dads awesome.
Also good: Scandal - The Warrior. Men At Work - Down Under (which totally mentions Vegemite, the blight of mankind. Speaking of lands Down Under, David Lewis is totally fucking sweet, and wrote a paper where he talked about how he didn't eat vegemite). The 80s had a good amount of awesome, really.
Having good days is so neat! I totally should work on my thesis productively more often, I think it gives me good Karma.
Also funny: The Onion Radio News - "Unexpected Pregnancy Breaks Monotony Of Menstural Cycle".
WOW. All this time, I've been thinking that Haddaway, of "What is Love?" (as seen on the popular SNL skit with Will Farrell that was made into the movie Night At The Roxbury) was done by a deep-voiced woman.
Turns out, it's by a SCRAWNY BLACK MAN.
ETA: You know what Madonna circa "Hung Up"? We don't want to see your ass. Seriously. It is very old. You're very hot for being, like, 60, but nevertheless, you are no Pussycat Dolls. BY FAR. PLEASE. STOP IT.
I couldn't find my razor, so I used one from the one the hotel provided. It was a one-bladed safety razor. Now, my first razor was a Mach 3, I'm a product of the modern age of non-electric razors, and so I never understood the collosal importance of the Mach 3 razor. Bad Religion has a song, Fuck Armageddon... This Is Hell!, and it has a bunch of hard to make out lyrics in verses, but the refrain is: Fuck Armageddon, This Is Hell Fuck Armageddon, This Is Hell Fuck Armageddon, This Is Hell!
Now, I'm not willing to lay a claim to knowing the authorial intent, but if you told me that the song was about using a one-bladed safety razor to shave, I would not be surprised.
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