11-13-12 - "We Are 1980" ~ Said The Whale

Friends, I'm incredibly excited.  One of my favorite bands (OF ALL TIME), Said The Whale, are coming back to Pittsburgh tomorrow!  As in Wednesday, November 14, at Howler's.  You should probably be there, unless you have a really good excuse, because it's going to be a blast.

My pals over at Draw Us Lines were kind enough to post my big wet sloppy kiss of an article raving about the band; have a read if you like.

It's always tough to pick just one song to feature when I like a band this much, but since it seems I've gone with STW's more folksy / sentimental tunes (like such as The Light Is You, Black Day In December, and False Creek Change) in the past, and they've released a brand new album this year that I've yet to mention here, I'd go with one of the pop/rock leaning new tunes, and the leadoff from April's "Little Mountain" fits the bill:

(by the way, the band made music videos - and not weak, lame ones - for all 15 tracks from the album.  You can find them on saidthewhale.com)

Methinks you'll find some intriguing and thought-provoking social commentary here...

"We’ve got Mandarax and loveless sex 

And information passing right through our skin and bones..."

2-21-12 - "Millenium" ~ Robbie Williams

So this one is somewhat tongue-in-cheek (I mean, late '90s pop, amirite?)  But despite the cheesiness of the song, it still has one of my favorite lyrics of all time, and on Fat Tuesday, I thought it was appropriate.

Ponder, if you would, the depth of this statement in light of today's first world societies and the shallowness of the religious "sacrifices" made during the upcoming season:

"Overdose at Christmas, give it up for Lent..."

12-14-11 - "Cathedrals" ~ Jump, Little Children

Here's a beautiful track from a group who are no longer together.  The subdued string section is woven together with the guitar for a tapestry to backdrop the powerful lyrics. The intensity of the longing to find meaning in life, and find "home", is staggering.  Probably you've had times when you felt that way; I know I have.  There's a lot about the world that is depressing, and even the masterpieces (man-made, like cathedrals, or natural) are prone to decay into entropy.  Yet, the beauty of these things gives us hope, and a desire to preserve the existing wonders of the world, and perhaps to create some new ones.


There are probably ties to human relationships here as well - home doesn't have to be a a physical location; sometimes it's finding the right group of people who make you feel comfortable and loved.


This unofficial fan-made video has some starkly contrasting visuals:

"In the shadows of tall buildings

Of open arches endlessly kneeling

Sonic landscapes echoing vistas

Someone is listening from a safe distance..."

12-11-11 - "Roosevelt Room" ~ Conor Oberst & The Mystic Valley Band

Do you ever get fed up and frustrated with the world?  Happens to me on a fairly regular basis, and it's probably no surprise that it often happens at this time of year.  November means elections, and then Thanksgiving, and then of course comes Christmas (although given that the TV commercials and department stores start on Christmas in October these days, maybe I have the order wrong.)  These annual events bring to a focus the things that make me sick to my stomach - corruption in politics, gluttonous consumerism, and the disparity between the American populace and that of numerous other countries.


This year, Occupy Wall Street has added fuel to that fire.  Do I agree 100% with the OWS movement?  Probably not, although to be honest I haven't read up enough to know all the details.  But do they have a point that the government and big corporations have been pulling a fast one on the "99%"...?  Conversely, if you take the American "99%" and compare their wealth to that of the rest of the world's population... who's the 1% now?  I'm not going into more detail because this blog is ultimately about the music, but these are things that grind my gears, when I let my mind ponder them.


This song is pretty clearly the result of Conor Oberst ruminating on the state of the world today.  Again - I'm not trying to promote any political views, and I probably don't agree with everything Oberst thinks about the government, but clearly there are things broken in the system and if people don't stand for their beliefs, nothing's going to change.


You'll certainly feel the emotion behind the lyrics and the angry guitar riffs in the song, and hopefully it will inspire you to evaluate your life and the world around you, decide what's important, and make sure you're fighting for it.


Live at Battery Park, Manhattan, Independence Day 2009:

Studio Recording:

"You give death as a consolation

you know only hate and rage

you paid a dowry for your child's rights

now she's living like a slave..."

11-8-11 - "Machine" ~ Regina Spektor

Been a while since I posted some Regina Spektor.  This one falls somewhere near the middle of the Spektor Weirdness Scale - it has some odd vocal utterances and disturbing imagery, but isn't nearly as strange as certain other tracks ("Oedipus", "Aching to Pupate", I'm looking at you.)  I think my favorite thing about Spektor is she's absolutely unafraid to try new things, be herself, and just have fun with her songs.


The song starts with a driving piano rhythm, explodes with mechanical sounds, and features a sick string breakdown for the bridge.  The subject matter here is pretty heavy; I'll leave the details for you to work out on your own but the gist seems to be an homage to / railing against the technological age, or maybe some kind of futuristic dystopian world...

Several clutch live performances are online; here's one from House of Blues (Boston) to start you off:

(look for "Live in London", "Live Paris Bataclan", and "Bonnaroo 2010" for some other sweet ones - better video than this version but this one has that intimate venue feel)

And here's the album version, coupled with one of the most fitting fan videos I've ever seen.  The scenes are from Joss Whedon's "Firefly" and "Dollhouse" shows, and although I haven't watched Dollhouse, Firefly was great.

"I collect my moments

into a correspondence

with a mightier power

who just lacks my perspective

and who lacks my organics

and who covets my defects

and I'm downloaded daily

I am part of a composite..."

11-3-11 - "Marionettes" ~ The Zolas

So I haven't posted any tracks from The Zolas in quite a while.  Here's a track of theirs which weaves allegorical themes of life and relationships crumbling from apathetic indifference.  It would seem the message is to not take the good parts of life for granted, and not take what's being imposed upon you lying down... break free from the puppeteer's strings, if you will, and fight for your life, your love, your liberty.


Or something like that.

Also check the stripped version complete with piano breakdown:

"Sometimes an empire doesn't fall

As masked invaders climb the walls

Or spreading fires or rising floods

Sometimes it dies within..."

9-17-11 - "Poke" ~ Frightened Rabbit

Here's an exquisite take on a relationship which is self-destructing.  Taken from "The Midnight Organ Fight", this track is one part of the tale of fierce love gone awry, falling shortly after "Keep Yourself Warm" on the album's tracklist.  Songs like this caused Frightened Rabbit to wind their way into my heart - the emotional wounds cut to the bone, and their freshness is evident in Scott Hutchison's voice on every song, but particularly this one... it's just the voice and subdued strumming on his guitar.

Live performance:

"Why won't our love keel over as it chokes on a bone?

We can mourn its passing and then bury it in snow..."

9-11-11 - "The Sound Of Silence" ~ Simon & Garfunkel

I debated whether to post any 9/11 related comments on the internets today.  Wasn't going to do it, but then I saw the video of Paul Simon performing this song at the WTC site, and well, I'm a sucker for S&G, even if Garfunkel wasn't there and Simon is not quite what he used to be.  Here's today's performance, along with tons of pretty emphatic comments that range from "Paul Simon is an inspiration to all Americans today" to "the time to be 'silent' is behind me. I want to hear big bombs blowing up our enemies"... apparently the song and/or Paul Simon are quite divisive.

I won't get into the dirty details of whether Simon is a liberal/pacifist/commie lover, and whether such folk are evil, and whether it was a great or terrible choice for the memorial service.  However, I will say that I think this song has a valid and relevant meaning, perhaps not directly related to the events of 9/11 but indirectly.  The song speaks of a world where the populace are complacent and subdued ("people hearing without listening"), willing to be led like sheep wherever the powers that be would have them go.  The "neon light that split the night" conjures the image of cheap entertainment, which draws my mind to the television - the "opiate of the masses", according to the great Bill Watterson.  The singer tries to rally said masses out of their stupor, to no avail.

The events of that Tuesday morning ten years ago were tragic, and they caused most Americans (and many other folks) to get angry, get excited, and get behind putting a stop to the people responsible.  I wonder, though, how long that spike of emotion and drive lasted for most of us.  It's all too easy to fall back into the routine, to let the monotony of daily life and the opiates of entertainment take over.  I won't even get into the loss of liberties that has been a result of the counter-terrorism measures taken by the US government - if you've flown in the past decade you know what I mean.  Suffice to say, whether it be in politics, foreign affairs, or any other aspect of life, don't just sit back and let the currents take you.  Don't blindly follow, don't let your precious time on earth be consumed by meaningless entertainment.  Decide what you believe, what you stand for, what's worth fighting for, and live your life accordingly.

Here's footage from a performance back when S&G were in their prime:

And here's the album version:

"And the people bowed and prayed 

To the neon god they made
And the sign flashed out its warning
In the words that it was forming
And the signs said the words of the prophets
Are written on the subway walls
And tenement halls
And whispered in the sounds of silence...."

8-23-11 - "Repatriated" ~ Handsome Furs

Sometimes a song just grabs your ear and won't let go.  I heard this on my commute home today, and fortunately caught the name so I could look it up when I got home.  It's catchy musically and thought-provoking lyrically, which if you've been paying attention you'll know is one of my favorite combinations.


I'll leave to your interpretation the precise meaning of the lyrics, but I think they're certainly a rally cry against apathy...

"The frozen land
I'm never going back there
It was a lie, a lie believing itself..."

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.

7-2-11 - "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..."

5-16-11 - "1979" ~ Smashing Pumpkins

This one was on the radio today; brings back memories.  Probably one of the first songs I really liked when I first started listening to the radio back in the day... just a good cruising song, lyrics a bit vague but some meaning to be derived, methinks.

"And we don't know
just where our bones will
rest; to dust,
I guess, forgotten and absorbed 
into the earth below..."

3-22-11 - "Smells Like Teen Spirit" ~ Nirvana

Maybe it's because I did a harder song yesterday, or maybe just because I heard it this afternoon on my drive home, but you're getting some classic Nirvana tonight.  Some people think this song is the best song ever; some think it's a "sellout" song or simply not Nirvana's best work (read the comments on songmeanings.net to see what I mean).  I think it's a pretty good song, particularly for a couple of specific lines, and the message that sometimes the "cool" thing to do isn't the right thing to do.  The memorable line (below) is a pretty telling social commentary...

"Here we are now, entertain us..."

3-14-11 - "About Love" ~ Timothy Seth Avett as "Darling"

Seth Avett is my favorite member of the Avett Brothers.  Well, except for Scott, who's pretty awesome, but no, Seth really is my favorite... barely.  I don't know what it is exactly, but something about his lyrics and his stage presence and even his off-stage presence just clicks with me... probably the vibe of slightly shy, slightly socially awkward... the brothers are great at foot-stomping romps, but both are also skilled at mellow, introspective tunes, and Seth's writing in particular resonates for me.


Darling is a side project of Seth's, where for his first two albums, he basically sat in his kitchen with a 4-track cassette recorder and did everything himself.  This recording method made for a very raw, imperfect sound, but for me that just serves to accentuate the lyrics which delve into the frailty of the human condition.  This particular track, however, is from his third album, which is a lot more polished.


The sharp and cynical lyrics evoke a recent breakup, where the wounds are still open, and the singer is convinced that love is a farce.  Yet, the last verse still rings with a glimmer of hope...


(live performance on youtube:)

(gotta respect a man that can sing and play guitar whilst walking backwards, eh?  additional symbolism...?)


(album version on grooveshark)


"I'm laughing so hard my sides start to split
well I cannot be told and I will not admit
that no one else thinks it's a joke...
well, at least I'm right about love..."

3-9-11 - "Give It Away" ~ Michael W. Smith

Michael W. Smith was my first favorite artist.  I grew up playing piano, and (at least after the realization that my dreams of making it big in pro sports were highly unlikely at best) I wanted to be a musician, and MWS was a master.  If you listen to his catalogue over the years, you'll hear songs which were relevant lyrically and musically, and smart pop/rock tunes all the way through.  Didn't hurt that he worked with a great lyricist in Wayne Kirkpatrick (the Bernie Taupin to Smith's Elton John...)


This song was from his "Change Your World" album in 1992, just about the time I started getting into his music, and music in general.  It fit the mold for early-90s pop from a musical standpoint, but I think it holds up ok today, too.  He threw in some jazzy chords to make things more interesting, and the message is a pretty important one - we all need to give away our love, to our family and friends, but to others as well.  Take or leave the Christian theme in the third verse, anyone on the planet should be able to agree that the world would be a better place if we all learned to sacrifice our selfish desires, even just a little bit and/or a little more often, to make someone else's life a little better.

"We can entertain compassion
for a world in need of care,
but the road of good intentions
doesn't lead to anywhere,
'cause love isn't love
'til you give it away...


There was a man who walked on water,
he came to set the people free,
he was the ultimate example
of what love can truly be,
'cause his love was his life,and he gave it away..."

2-13-11 - "Head Full Of Doubt/Road Full Of Promise" ~ The Avett Brothers

In light of one of my favorite bands making their Grammy debut tonight, I can't resist posting this song.  When I first heard of The Avett Brothers, in 2008, they were doing 200+ shows a year, in bars and small venues across the country, busting their tails and leaving everything they had on the stage every night.  They'd already been at it since 2000, and were on the cusp of breaking through with their latest album, Emotionalism, which combined their punk/folk madness with just enough pop to draw in a new demographic of listeners.  I saw them at the Three Rivers Arts Festival in Pittsburgh in June of 2008, and fell in love within the first minute of their electrifying performance (which ended nearly two hours later with thunderstorms chasing the crowd away.)  By late 2009, with the release of "I and Love and You", produced by Rick Rubin, TAB was in the process of exploding into the consciousness of legions of new people.  And now, just over a year later, they're sharing a stage with some of the biggest names in the history of music, and some of the biggest stars of today.  It couldn't have happened to a better group of guys.


The song they performed tonight is one of my favorites of all time.  It's very simple, yet very poignant, and if you look up the lyrics on songmeanings.net, you can see in the comments that different people draw different meanings from it.  My take is that the author is struggling with the constraints of society, with years of going along with the crowd, not living according to what he knows to be true.  He's had big dreams, but been scared to take the leap and chase them.  He's decided not to live life as a mindless drone, just going with the flow, doing as he's told... but hey, give it a listen and come to your own conclusions.

"There's a darkness upon you that's flooded in light,
in the fine print they tell you what's wrong and what's right;
and it flies by day and it flies by night,
and I'm frightened by those who don't see it...
...decide what to be and go be it..."

2-9-11 - "Don't Fight It" ~ The Panics

Here's one from an Aussie band.  It's been in my head all day.  A simple, keyboard-driven verse/chorus with some horns dropped in for the tail end, it's just a catchy groove.  But there's more to it than that... the singer grapples with apathy, with giving in to the path of least resistance, going with the flow, joining the rat race, being overcome by the brainwashing of society and allowing himself to become just another zombie, going through the motions of life and believing the illusion that happiness is found in being just like everyone else.  He knows he's contributed to the problem, but he struggles to find the willpower to break free.  Yet he hasn't given up hope; the bridge shows he's still searching for answers and escape from the apathy...

"Where has my light gone?
Where has my fight gone?
What keeps us burning
when the fire is long gone?
When I can't relate 
to that voice without a face,
should I be afraid or
is it just a voice I did create?"

1-29-11 - "Until We Burn" ~ Bedouin Soundclash

This one may be a little tricky to comprehend lyrically, but the music is just plain catchy.  They're probably talking about global warming ("polar bears on American bandstand") or something... or maybe it's about the apathy evident in so many of us these days...

"City punkrocker rocking like he doesn't try,
with a roots reggae rocker like lucy in the sky;
we all fall down when the water runs dry,
we all say hello when we all meant goodbye..."