7-31-11 - "Goodbye, Dear Friend" ~ Deer Tick

I don't believe I have ever listened to a Deer Tick song before today.  Not for any particular reason, just hadn't ever gotten around to it.  But today a friend posted this one on facebook, so I listened, and it gripped me immediately.  It's a pretty straightforward song, musically simple with just a piano and vocals.  The emotions of losing a dear friend are eloquently expressed in the lyrics and the way they are sung.  We may not all have lost a friend like this, but we can all empathize on some level...

"Some boys won't shed a tear
Oh, but I tell it like this here
It can break medown and get me where it hurts the most..."

7-30-11 - "Adelai" ~ Lohio

Still don't believe the Pittsburgh indie music scene is legit?  Here's further proof.  I haven't yet seen Lohio live, but songs like this assure me that I must do so in the near The instrumentation is delightful, the vocals ethereal, and the lyrics confounding yet simple.  Top it off with an amazing video featuring a cute kid's romp with a friendly monster (oddly reminiscent of another video I posted a while back), and you have yourselves some fine art:

Oh hey look this song just so happens to also be another of the excellent Echo Chamber series:

Once again, Draw Us Lines' dedication to promoting great music (especially local) comes up aces.


"are there wolves coming after me,

are there wolves coming after me…?"

7-29-11 - "Save Your Breath" ~ Big Hurry

Any day you have a chance to move a sofa with a pull-out mattress down a fire escape AND see Big Hurry in concert has to go down as one of the better days it is possible to have on this earth.  Turns out the other two bands were legit tonight, too (The Long Time Darlings and The Harlan Twins - we'll likely talk about each of them some time soon).  BH brought the energy tonight to a packed and sweaty house at Brillobox, and it was good to see their full electric set after they hit an acoustic home run a few weeks ago at the Draw Us Lines birthday bash.

(photo from the acoustic set 7-9-11)

I got to talk to a few of the band members, and they're pretty swell folks.  Additional evidence can be found here (a hilarious interview after a recent show they played in NYC).  I gotta say, I'm disappointed they weren't able to resurrect "Found Out" for me after I asked them about it at the last show, but I'm holding out hope that it will resurface at a future show.


It's hard to pick just one song to highlight when you love them all, but I'm going with Save Your Breath tonight.  


"Save Your Breath" (bandcamp)


Acoustic "Echo Chamber" version, courtesy of Draw Us Lines (you gotta love the way Dani does percussion for their acoustic stuff; I know my drummer friend Jake does!):

oh hey look a remix too: "Save Your Breath / Left of the Dial mix" (bandcamp)


three for one tonight, don't you feel special?


"we depicted awful scenes in bright red chalk..."

7-28-11 - "Bitter Sweet Symphony" ~ The Verve

While we're on the subject of vigor and spirit or enthusiasm in tubes, here's another oneder for you (don't know what a Oneder is?  We'll get to that one of these days...)  The Verve hit it big with this one in 1997, and never really matched that peak again.  But, as a wise man once said, "it's better to go down in a blaze of glory than to rot in a state penitentiary!"


I love the soaring strings in this one, and the way they set the tone of the song - hopeful, despite the sobering aspects of the lyrics.


The song's about, you guessed it, life in general.  Most of us spend most of our lives trying to "make ends meet" and being "slave(s) to money"... not exactly a spectacular fate.  Many people in the world don't even have it that good... and yet, pretty much everyone experiences the sweetness of life along with the bitter...

"Well I've never prayed,
but tonight I'm on my knees..."

7-27-11 - "The Freshmen" ~ The Verve Pipe

I heard this one on the radio on my commute home today; it's from the high school years but I think I listened to it a lot more during college...


It's a beautiful song, especially the way the emotions drip from the vocals.  It's not entirely clear exactly what happened, but it's pretty clear that someone died - either suicide or abortion, or perhaps both.  Tragedy often leads to powerful expression in art; we all have experienced some form of tragedy in life, and it's easy to relate when hearing someone lay their heart and soul bare like this.

"We've tried to wash our hands of all this
we never talk of our lacking relationships
and how we're guilt stricken sobbing with our heads on the floor 
we fell through the ice when we tried not to slip..."

7-26-11 - "Short Skirt/Long Jacket" ~ CAKE

Surprising that I haven't used Cake yet.  They're delightfully strange and unique... pretty much every Cake song you hear, you know it's them straightaway.  Both the vocals and the style in general give it away, but they still manage to write songs that don't all sound the same.

This one is fun and catchy, especially the "na, na" part with the trumpet.  But it's also pretty deep.  I'm not going to speculate too much, but it seems to be about seeking a girl who stands out from the crowd, who isn't afraid to be herself and live life to the fullest.  That, or the economy, if certain SongMeanings commenters are to be believed...

Music video is hilarious; they just wandered around with a portable CD player and filmed people's reactions to the song:

Oh yea and it's the theme song to Chuck which is just plain awesome.

"I want a girl with uninterrupted prosperity
who uses a machete to cut through red tape
with fingernails that shine like justice
and a voice that is dark like tinted glass..."

7-25-11 - "King Of Diamonds" ~ Motopony

So, here's a song about playing poker.  Or maybe it's a love song.  I never was too good with allegories... maybe he was gay but now "the queen will do" means he turned straight?  Hmm... but if that's true, what does "I've got the other three" mean...?  Maybe it's just best to not speculate so much and enjoy the tune:

For reals, though, it's a catchy track about not spending your life chasing after something when you may already have it.


"I've been looking for the king of diamonds
You know I've got the other three..."


PS - oh hey look free acoustic mp3 version in exchange for your e-mail address!

7-24-11 - "Sweetness" ~ Jimmy Eat World

Oh, just a sweet little track from around the time I headed to college by a little band from Arizona... 


Some might say the song is about drugs; some say it's about a broken heart and the girl who caused it.  I say it's about Mike&Ikes:

But seriously, I'm not sure, because the "little sweet and simple numbing me" could be a kiss, or it could be cocaine, or whatever.  I just like the song.  Perhaps the most interesting musical element for me is the chord selection, mostly in the verses where I keep expecting the guitars to hit with a major after each line but it's some kind of dissonant minor.  And yet the song still comes across with an upbeat sound, especially towards the end...

"So tell me what do I need,
when words lose their meaning?"

7-23-11 - "King of New York" ~ Newsies

We're going with a showtune tonight. Why?  Because the movie was on TV today, it's a fun film and great memory from childhood, and the song is just darn catchy.  If you haven't seen Newsies, I must recommend it - it's a chance to see Christian Bale in action long before Batman Begins, Patrick Bateman, or Pocahontas (yea, he was a voice in a Disney animated film!)  He even sings in the movie.  Of course, it was geared towards a fairly young audience, but it's a good story about poor working boys in 1899 New York who were forced to make a stand when the newspaper moguls raised prices on the "papes" which provided their livelihood.  Full disclosure, the movie didn't get great reviews, but I still like it and (most of) the songs are pretty good.


This song comes right after the newsboy union has taken a stand against the scabs who start selling papers during the strike, found themselves at a disadvantage until the Brooklyn newsies came to their aid, and have made the front page of their ally / reporter friend Denton's paper (an upstart rival to Pulitzer and Hearst's heavyweights New York World and New York Journal):

"I gotta be either dead or dreamin'
'Cause look at that pape with my face beamin'
Tomorrow they may wrap fishes in it
But I was a star for one whole minute!"

7-22-11 - "There Is A Light That Never Goes Out" ~ The Smiths

So tonight I finally watched (500) Days Of Summer.  It's a pretty good film, especially if you're into soundtracks (which I am, of course, being a guy who blogs about music...)  It's not just a romantic comedy; it has something to say about our culture, the idea of "love", and how we often allow reality to be shaded by our desires - sometimes to our own detriment.

This song is what brings the boy and the girl together in the early going, and it's got some pretty great lyrics.  It blends romantic feelings with morbid humor, and, well... just check out the song (and the movie, if you haven't already.)

"to die by your side is such a heavenly way to die "

7-21-11 - "Shadowlands" ~ Rebecca St. James

Rebecca St. James might have been my first crush.  Pretty face, pretty voice, doesn't take much more than that.  But seriously, this Aussie songstress may be off the market, but I still enjoy her music.  This one has a lilting Celtic feel in 6/8 time, and is all about hope and faith that although we go through dark times, there is light ahead.


The title stems from The Last Battle, seventh in C.S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia .  One of my favorite authors, and possibly my favorite book of the series.  The final chapter in the book, called "Farewell to Shadowlands" describes the end of the world of Narnia, and the journey of the main characters of the series "further up and further in" as the "shadowlands" of Narnia are destroyed and they discover that there is a bigger and better Narnia within and they are to stay there with Aslan.

"There was a real railway accident," said Aslan softly.  "Your father and mother and all of you are - as you used to call it in the Shadowlands - dead.  The term is over: the holidays have begun.  The dream is ended: this is the morning."

"The shadowlands surround me now
but You walk with me through the cloud
into the sun..."


* - (Shadowlands is also the title of a 1993 film about Lewis starring Anthony Hopkins)

7-20-11 - "Who Let The Dogs Out" ~ Baha Men

I know, it's a terribly cheesy song.  But our local minor-league soccer team, the Pittsburgh Riverhounds, uses it as a pump up song at their games, and that's where I was this evening, and you know you loved it when it came out back in 2000.  And it's been used in all kinds of movies and TV shows - catchy hook and lyrics which are easily applied to a plethora of situations... the Baha Men knew what they were doing.


So, in part due to my team spirit and in part due to my extreme tiredness, this is what you're getting tonight.  Bob your head and reminisce about the summer of 2000, and come back tomorrow for something a little more serious.

PS - Riverhounds 3 - Dayton Dutch Lions 1.  Woooo!

7-19-11 - "Place In This World" ~ Michael W. Smith

So we're going a bit sentimental tonight.  This song peaked at #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1991 (or so).  My elementary school choir sang it.  It's quintessential early-90s pop.  MWS was my favorite artist at the time (hmm, I already told you that, if you've been reading for a while).


The reason I'm using one of Smith's songs tonight is that I'm in his hometown of Kenova, WV (by the way, it's so named because it's at the juncture of KEN(tucky)-O(hio)-(West) V(irgini)A.  Slick, huh?  But anyway, my company has our manufacturing plant in Kenova, so I've been hanging out in a hot, humid warehouse near the Dreamland Pool, and eating lunch at Griffith & Feil Soda Fountain / Pharmacy.  We sat at a table with Smith's photo next to it:

So yeah, kinda cool for me to be in the hometown of a musical hero of mine.  Small town America at its finest.  And here's the song; it's kind of sappy, but it expresses the feelings of a young person with a whole life ahead, who's not quite sure what to do with it just yet, so it still rings true for me to this day.

"If there are millions
down on their knees;
among the many,
can you still hear me?
Hear me asking,
'Where do I belong?'
Is there a vision
that I can call my own?"

______________________________________

Top Secret BONUS FOOTAGE: 

Holy wow, thanks to the miracle of YouTube "related videos", I just discovered that MWS teamed up with the Jonas Brothers on this song at a concert in Nashville a couple years ago.  You know, if you're into that sort of thing...

(those JoBros play mean shakers, no?  lol... the internets are wonderful things!)

7-18-11 - "Turpentine" ~ Brandi Carlile

Brandi Carlile is an artist I've heard of, but not really heard until recently.  This one was on WYEP a few days ago and I thought it was pretty sweet.  Just a folksy song about how time distorts relationships...

"I watch you grow away from me in photographs
And memories like spies
And salt betrays my eyes again..."

7-17-11 - "Let's Win" ~ Alexander

Here's a super catchy track from Alexander Ebert (he of Edward Sharpe AND the Magnetic Zeros).  No, it's not about Charlie Sheen "winning".  Pretty much just a call for love and peace, perhaps with a little bit of tongue-in-cheek praise of the American Dream thrown in...

Live/Acoustic/Solo/Guitar:

"Do you know the way, the things to say,
the way to win the game of life?
I should know better..."

7-16-11 - "Pretty Girl From Annapolis" ~ The Avett Brothers

So we have a good buddy back in town this weekend, and hung out on the deck all evening.  Eventually the ol' six string was busted out, and we went through everything from The Head And The Heart to Brand New to some classic Avett Brothers.  I haven't posted TAB in a while, and this one was just sweet to sing with some good friends, so here you go.


It's a pretty simple song, about a pretty girl, from a place near Baltimore.  Sometimes love hits you fast and hard, and sometimes it's gone just as quickly.  Sometimes a relationship doesn't work out, sometimes it's a mistake, and sometimes you have to move on and learn from it, but that doesn't mean you can't look back fondly upon the good times you had...


"Pretty Girl From Annapolis" (grooveshark)


"And if I don't make it to the spring
May you catch the joy that a melody brings
From my dear brother's ragged six string...

...singin' the songs we're embarrassed to sing
may you never be embarrassed to sing..."

7-15-11 - "Kids" ~ MGMT

I loved this song without ever really considering the lyrics, but tonight I pondered them and it kind of hit me hard.  I'm still not sure exactly what it means, but it definitely is more than just a catchy tune, and some of the lines are quite good.


The music video is fairly disturbing, showing members of society as monsters as seen through the eyes of a small child.  No worries, though: "No children were harmed in the making of this video."  I think the video helps bring to light some of the meaning of the song.  Wikipedia says, "the music video seems to personify the corruption of an innocent child by society, society being the monster, or 'the abyss' as stated in the beginning of the music video."  As I said, disturbing, but poignant.

"The memories fade
like looking through a fogged mirror
decision to decisions are made and not bought
but I thought this wouldn't hurt a lot
I guess not..."

7-14-11 - "Dancing Machine" ~ The Jackson 5

Quickie tonight, because I'm on the road for work and have to get up super early.  This is a pretty obscure band, you've probably never heard of them.  But they rocked back in the day; just watch the moves and listen to the harmonies and enjoy the supafly coordinated outfits.

"Automatic systematic
full of color self contained
tuned and gentle to your vibes..."

7-13-11 - "Body" ~ Mother Mother

Wow, I went six months without posting a second song by Mother Mother.  Wrecking Ball is one of their more accessible and poppy songs; this one is not quite so much (but it's not their weirdest, either... I may post one of those one of these days...) 


The band frequently deals with issues of self image, self worth, societal flaws, mortality, etc.  There's room for interpretation here, but the gist is that the nature of our physical existence is fleeting, and our bodies are imperfect and prone to decay and fail.  I suppose they're making a statement about the true value of a person being the mind and soul, and/or looking forward to an afterlife... what do you think?

"I've grown tired of this body
cumbersome and heavy body..."

7-12-11 - "Need You Now" ~ Cut Copy

So on a whim, I decided to check out a band I'd never heard of because I saw they were playing a show in Pittsburgh last night.  I didn't go, but I did look them up, and this track is just an earworm.  I have probably listened to it (or one of several remixes on soundcloud*) about 50 times in the past day or two.  It's a trance-y, catchy tune that pretty much expresses desire for a lover.


Cut Copy hails from Melbourne, which is a pretty sweet place from what I've heard.  Definitely on my list of places to go someday.


The video is pretty ridiculous.  Check it out; let me know what you think:

"There's a beauty in the waking eye,
there's a memory in the waking eye,
But it's never gonna reach you..."


* - by the way, has anyone heard of / used SoundCloud?  I hadn't before this, and I'm not sure what to make of it, but it seems promising for getting music out there, just like BandCamp...

7-11-11 - "We Didn't Start The Fire" ~ Billy Joel

You may have preconceived notions about Billy Joel, or even about this song.  I challenge you to put them aside for a few minutes and give it a critical listen.  It's definitely vintage '80s style, and actually made someone's list of the "50 Worst Songs Ever".  In Joel's own words, "It's one of the worst melodies I've ever written. I kind of like the lyric though."  He's on track there - the lyrics are what make the song for me.  (to be fair, the music is catchy, in that awkward way of 80s tunes where if you're in the right mood you dig it, but if not you want to rip your ears off...)


I had a prof in college open a class session with this song.  It was an early class, and most of the kids were kind of dazed and confused and maybe didn't really get it, but I was jamming to it and knew we were in for a fun lesson.  But... you don't care about that.


Joel wrote the song when he turned 40 in 1989, and it's a three-minute rapid fire retrospective look at world history during those 40 years.  The gist of the song is that there's a lot wrong in the world; and "we" don't want to take the blame for problems which we didn't directly cause.  Humanity as a collective over the course of history has done a lot of damage, and yes, we all are responsible in some small part, but most of us are "trying to fight it..."  It plays out as a combination history lesson, morality play, and exhortation to do what you can to make the world a better place.


Surely you'll get some of the references, though if you're around my age you were just a little kid when the song came out so some of the stuff that happened before our time may not be immediately recognizable.  But if you're so inclined, wikipedia breaks down the entire song.


The video goes along with the theme, showing American families over the course of those years and some of the horrible events that occurred during that time frame.  And you have to love Joel sitting in front of a fire drumming on a table with his hands in the choruses:

"Pope Paul, Malcolm X, British Politician sex
J.F.K. blown away, what else do I have to say?

We didn't start the fire
It was always burning
Since the world's been turning
We didn't start the fire
No we didn't light it
But we tried to fight it..."

7-10-11 - "Under Streetlights" ~ Brooke Annibale

Here's another local artist who's pretty great, and one of eight artists featured on the new DrawUsLines Echo Chamber CD I picked up at their birthday concert last night. Brooke Annibale plays some refreshingly chill guitars and sings beautiful lyrics with breathy, soulful vocals.  I actually haven't seen her play live (she wasn't one of the performers last night), but I'll have to catch her one of these days.


This one is a wistful lament for a lover long gone.  Not sure whether there's a breakup involved, or just distance causing a rift, but either way Annibale is not merely mourning, but hopeful for reuniting and rekindling the romance...

"Under Streetlights" (Echo Chamber session)


"through the dark night,
two hours 'til sunrise
I can't forget your eyes..."

7-9-11 - "Oh, Will You Finally Go?" ~ Meeting Of Important People

Tonight was a pretty swell night.  DrawUsLines held their first birthday party at brillobox, and Big Hurry, The Slow Reel, and Meeting Of Important People were there to help them celebrate.  We'll talk later about the other two acts, but for now, here's a track I'm really digging from MOIP.  They played it at the Three Rivers Arts Festival last month, and tonight they said it will never be recorded, save for their Echo Chamber version they did with DrawUsLines.  So if you like it, you'll have to track down the CD full of Echo Chamber tracks - it's pretty flippin' sweet.


This one's acoustic nature makes it a bit more laid back than a lot of MOIP's tracks, but it's a pretty swell song.  I love the harmony and the lyrics, and of course everyone loves a whistle breakdown and a shaker lemon.  

EDIT (3-2-12): Here's a solo performance by Josh from a recent gig at AIR:

"oh, will you finally go?

will you finally reap,

what you finally sow?"

7-8-11 - "When We Were Young" ~ Turning violet Violet

I've been waiting almost two months for this.  DrawUsLines finally posted the Echo Chamber session of Turning violet Violet.  I fell in love with this band after hearing their acoustic versions of this song and Pink Sky on a Saturday afternoon back in May, and seeing their full set at Brillobox that evening.  Well, honestly, I was pretty much sold as soon as Jake told me the band's name - I love me a good Roald Dahl reference!

This song had better be on TvV's upcoming album, because it blows me away every time I listen.  This acoustic version features accordion and viola (NOT a violin, don't let Sarah P catch you calling it a violin), and drops some heavy lyrics, the meaning of which which I won't presume to interpret for you.


Click to watch on Vimeo, since blogger won't let me embed the vid here:


"When We Were Young" (acoustic Echo Chamber session)

"and well-dressed men remember the score

as we roll through the floor

my bed made of leaves, an old shot rings out..."

Be sure to check out their Bandcamp and blog; you can download a free track or three if you ask nicely!  You can also hear a few other tunes on myspace, like their facebook page, and follow them on twitter, if you're into that sort of thing.  Ain't the internets great?


(sorry if that many links seems like overkill, but hey, they're a sweet band and I really think you should check them out!  Just tryin to give you options.)

7-7-11 - "Breakfast At Tiffany's" ~ Deep Blue Something

I've been on a bit of a '90s kick lately, so here's another sweet song you probably heard on the radio back then.  Deep Blue Something might qualify as a one hit wonder, but man it was a good one.  Supremely catchy tune, and I never got sick of it.  Probably ought to watch the movie sometime...

"I see you, the only one who knew me
but now your eyes see through me
I guess I was wrong..."

7-6-11 - "Crash Into Me" ~ Dave Matthews Band

I read an intriguing article today.  Kind of talks about hipster trends, and how people shouldn't just like an artist because other people do... and when Dave Matthews speaks up, people need to listen.  Thus, since Dave is no longer into DMB, neither am I.  But I offer you this song in tribute to a band I'm sure you used to love, just as I once did...


This may have been the first DMB song I ever heard.  Just a chill melody about intoxicating love...

"If I've gone overboard, then I'm begging you
to forgive me in my haste..."

7-5-11 - "Giants" ~ Five Iron Frenzy

I have a love/hate relationship with the big corporations that dominate the landscape of America (and the world) these days.  On one hand, it's incredibly convenient to be able to pick up yard tools, car parts, a PlayStation, scented candles, LEGOs, milk, eggs, toothpaste and saline all in one trip to Wal-Mart.  On the other hand, where is my money going if I shop there, and what happens to the local hardware store, craftsmen/artists, grocer, farmers, etc. if I spend my money buying stuff from God knows where?  Not to mention the environmental cost of trucking in these products from across the country (or further)...


Here's a song dealing with these sorts of questions and moral dilemmas.  It might even hint at the potentially unsavory relationships between big businesses and politicians (hmm, where does that campaign funding come from, Mr. Senator?  And why, I wonder, did Company X want to contribute to your campaign?  Something in it for them?)


Five Iron Frenzy managed to blend a plethora of musical styles with some pretty deep stuff (when they weren't being totally off the wall).  This one kind of defies description musically, but I love it anyway:

Who's behind the curtain anyway,
Who pulls the levers and tells the lies?


Want to get some education while you listen?  Read up on Adam Smith, who is mentioned in the bridge, and his book The Wealth of Nations, which set forth some fundamental theories of modern economics.

7-4-11 - "Hound Dog" ~ Elvis Presley

In honor of the holiday, here's one from a real American hero.  OK, maybe not hero, but a pioneer, certainly...


I doubt I need to tell you who Elvis was, so just enjoy the tune:

"Well, they said you was high class;
well, that was just a lie..."


(a quarter to the first person who can tell me Elvis' middle name WITHOUT looking it up online...)

7-3-11 - "End Love" ~ OK Go

Here's a fun one, with a synthy, 80s-ish feel.  OK Go are just a fun band, good for when you want to just bob your head and enjoy life and music.  Here's another interesting and innovative music video by the band who built a following in that way, this time featuring stop-motion dance moves, a goose, and some other fun and random stuff.  Watch for the kid at the bottom right around the 3:30 mark...

"Cause no one's gonna save you if you don't swim for the boat, 
No one's gonna save you if you won't take the rope..." 

7-2-11 - "Love Is All" ~ The Tallest Man On Earth

Songs like this are why I love music.  Incredible, beautiful, and intricate musicianship (in this case, guitar); eloquent, thought-provoking lyrics; soul-wrenching emotion in the vocals singing those lyrics.


It's a lot more mellow and sobering than the other songs I've posted by The Tallest Man On Earth, but it's possibly an even stronger track on what is becoming one of my favorite albums (I listened to it twice today...)


I'm not going to speculate on the meaning behind this one, in part because I'm not sure and in part because it seems to be one of those songs that is particularly exemplary of how a song can mean different things to different people.  Check out songmeanings.net to see what I mean - vastly varying opinions, including one person who's convinced the entire song is about the failures of Obama's presidency, and a rebuttal stating "I find it highly implausible that Kristian Matsson, a Swedish singer, would write a song unjustly criticizing President Obama's actions." Music can be just as polarizing as politics... regardless of what you think of Obama and his policies, I do agree that it's unlikely this song is about that, especially given the nationality of the songwriter.  But there you have it - the meaning is in the ear of the beholder.  What do you behold?

I'm also including a sweet live performance from KEXP, a Seattle radio station.  It's a bit different than the album version - this one has a slightly fuzzy electric rather than the acoustic six-string, and both sounds work well for the song.  Also, keep your eyes peeled for some unexpected things (and stick around till the video ends!)

"Like a house made from spider webs and the clouds rolling in
I bet this mighty river's both my savior and my sin
Oh, my savior and my sin..."