Monthly Archives: July 2013

My iPod #96: They Might Be Giants – The Biggest One

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A short and sharp one by They Might Be Giants.

This song was originally released on the “(She Was a) Hotel Detective EP” from 1988, but it was released again on the compilation “Miscellaneous T” – a collection of B-Sides recorded between 1986 and 1989 – released in 1991 after the band’s success with “Flood”. Now I assume that B-Sides are those songs that bands consider to be sub-par to material released on commercial albums, but “Miscellaneous T” is a mighty fine album and no one should underestimate the songs on it.

I first listened to the album in 2011 when I was revising for my GCSEs, and “The Biggest One” was a track that stood out, just because it’s the most ‘hard rock’ song as it gets on the album, with blaring horns and a stomping drum pattern.

“The Biggest One” is sung by John Flansburgh, and is another track where he puts real gusto behind his voice. It’s got a real throaty approach to it. It’s described as an “unlikely song of self-pity” in the liner notes of “Then: The Earlier Years“, maybe because the band weren’t into writing a song about the subject matter. It is about a person who blames everything that happens around him on his ‘fat self’. That’s all there is to it, really. There’s also a small Gloria Gaynor reference thrown in there to for a bit of humour.

Until tomorrow.

Jamie.

My iPod #95: Foo Fighters – Big Me

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Amongst the loud, strong, and energetic songs by Foo Fighters is  “Big Me” found on the debut album from 1994, one of the most softest and almost poppy songs released by the band. Look at how much fun the guys are having in the video, Dave Grohl even has pigtails for goodness sake!

I can’t remember how I first came around the song, which is pretty crappy seeing as this is what this whole blog is about. I can only think that it was using the LAUNCHcast thing years ago that I’ve talked about many times in posts from before. It was probably the video that made me like it even more. It’s funny as hell, the band clearly didn’t give a shit about how they looked and they’re all having a good time. That’s what life is about isn’t it?

It was released as the final single in 1996 from the band’s first album, and by this time Dave had recruited a full band. He recorded the whole first album by himself, playing all instruments except for a lead guitar in one song.

What is the song about? Who knows? The video doesn’t clear it up, for sure. What does it matter anyway?

Until tomorrow.

Jamie.

My iPod #94: Jimmy Eat World – Big Casino

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Hey guys. I was at my friend’s house for about eight hours yesterday, and when I came back I was too tired to do anything. I couldn’t make a post, but I am awake enough today to make two.

I’m not a huge fan of Jimmy Eat World; I’ve never listened to any of their albums. Their singles are sufficient enough, they are very good. Songs like “Bleed American” aka “Salt Sweat Sugar”, “The Middle“, “Always Be” played on MTV2 when I was younger, and I liked those tracks but not enough to make me want to listen to more material the band made.

“Big Casino” was the first single from their sixth album “Chase This Light” in 2007, I was getting ready to start year 8 of secondary school. The music video was part of MTV2’s “New Singles” segment, and that was the first time I heard the song. It played a few times, and then it barely played again. “Always Be” was probably played more than “Big Casino”. I like the latter more, because it’s a much happier song. It’s got more oomph to it, the chorus is excellent too. I also like the triumphant guitar line that occurs at certain times during the song.

I’ve realised this ‘B’ series is going to be a long one. I’ve got almost 100 songs beginning with the letter. I am determined to get through this. Even if I may be in university still doing it.

Jamie.

My iPod #93: be your own PET – Bicycle, Bicycle, You Are My Bicycle

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Ah… the joys of riding a bicycle. Something I can’t relate to seeing as I’ve never owned one. However, it’s an activity that be your own PET profoundly express their fondness in this song, and in just over two minutes.

The band are a force that ought to be recognised according to the track. The sky will turn brown, they’ll change the eye colour of every lady (which could only suggest that some violence may occur), the sleepyheads will wake up due to their presence, they’ll fuck shit up too! All this because they are on their bicycles, because cars are for idiots.

I didn’t even make that paragraph up, those are all lyrics in the song. These are backed up with a very aggressively shouted vocal by lead singer Jemina Pearl and the rest of the band, and a rapid guitar riff capturing the urgency of theme. The instrumental break fools you for a bit, starting off slow like a train pulling out of a station but it then gradually becomes faster and faster before returning back to its normal velocity and in regards to the song, the final verse and chorus.

They’re on two wheels, baby.

Until tomorrow.

Jamie.

My iPod #92: Lostprophets – A Better Nothing

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This was originally going to be the fourth single from “The Betrayed”, but “For He’s a Jolly Good Felon” didn’t do very well commercially. That’s a shame; for me this song is a lot more satisfying and probably would have been a good single.

Unlike “Felon”, there’s no story to tell in “A Better Nothing”. It’s much more introspective, and sure to affect many a person who probably feel like Ian did when he wrote the song. I will take lyrics like “My chest tightens, it brightens the light of the stars, revealing the scars, all the times that were ours,” over “Mikey, where’d you get the Nikes?” any day.

I don’t what to make it a song vs. song post though. It’s all about what’s in the title. “A Better Nothing” is a highlight from “The Betrayed”. It’s not a happy song, and yet it’s not a sad song either. It’s one that’s about determination and finding yourself. I’m no lyrical analyst, so I can’t provide you with anything more than that and, like other songs on the album, the track is full with shrieking guitars and a vocal delivery to admire by Ian Watkins. Even the backing vocals, which I believe are done by him, are good too. Too bad he’s not so good when singing live. That’s always something that’s puzzled me.

The song also seems right into the next song on the album “Streets of Nowhere”, which is more of a Liberation Transmission outtake than anything. Too poppy and cheerful for this album.

Until tomorrow.

Jamie.

Ooh, and also congratulations to the Royal Family. Whatever the baby turns out to be.