Monthly Archives: July 2015

My iPod #537: Weezer – Holiday

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It is time to talk about another holiday. This one appears as the ninth and penultimate song on Weezer’s classic debut album. The Blue Album is one that I have owned and cherished for almost ten years now. Knew it was something I would take to the first time I heard the strident opening power chords of “My Name Is Jonas”; the bar is high on every track, and it is one of those albums that I can play from front to back without becoming tired of it.

Like yesterday’s “Holiday”, the one by Weezer also celebrates a new-found freedom. But whilst Green Day’s celebrates freedom from leaving one world, Rivers Cuomo sings about the joy of entering a new one. Along with “In the Garage“, “Holiday” was written in a sudden burst of excitement after Weezer had been signed by major record company Geffen Records. It differs from the former in that that feeling of excitement can be sensed by the song’s tempo, rhythm, atmosphere and execution.

Cuomo invites the narrator to ‘go away for a while’ somewhere. Not even to a specific location because that’s how much his sense has gone out the window because of this ecstasy. All four members feature on vocals too, with Brian Bell, Matt Sharp, and Patrick Wilson performing the Beach Boys influenced vocals for the bridge. If you listen carefully during the feedback that the song ends with you can hear someone in the back let out a huge scream. If it’s because of the realisation that what they had just performed was the perfect take then it’s for a good reason.

My iPod #536: Green Day – Holiday

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Green Day’s “Holiday” is the third song on their 2004 ‘punk rock opera’ American Idiot, released in 2004. Having no idea who Green Day were at the time, I didn’t know why such a big deal was being made about their so called ‘return’. After years of avid listening I know now that it was their first album since pretty much disappearing after 2000’s Warning, so the hype was understandable. Still, I wasn’t that great a fan of the title track. Nor did I pay that much attention to “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” when it was out as the next single. My whole attitude toward Green Day changed upon the unveiling of “Holiday”; I liked it that much that ended up watching all of the band’s older videos. “Holiday” is the reason why I started listening to Green Day. And I have no regrets.

In terms of the album’s storyline “Holiday” arrives at the point where the main character “Jimmy” AKA “The Jesus of Suburbia” has left his shitty home and is enjoying his freedom in the big city.  Out of the album’s story, the lyrics were written by Billie Joe Armstrong as a ‘fuck you’ to George W. Bush and Republican politicians. The song has a swinging rhythm that aids the sense of swagger and reckless abandon displayed in the lyrics. What I really loved about the track way back when were the vocals of the track. Billie Joe’s yelling/singing at the top of his lungs, along with the chanting backing vocals (AMEN), gave me a feeling that I was on top of the world and nothing could touch me. It was good being ten years old.

The rest of 2005 was made up of me listening to Green Day and watching Homestar Runner. Don’t think I would have done the former if it wasn’t for “Holiday”. It has been a good ten years listening to their music.

My iPod #535: The Raconteurs – Hold Up

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As every year passes I feel that the chances of The Raconteurs releasing another album become slimmer. Though I wouldn’t be sad if Consolers of the Lonely was the last album the band released. For me it seemed like such a step up from Broken Boy Soldiers; the production gives the band a bigger sound working hand in hand with the memorable hooks, melodies and brilliant guitar playing that is delivered on almost every track. This is a rock album and there hasn’t really been one of the same calibre released since 2008. The band are currently on hiatus, but I’m in no rush for new material anytime soon.

I would categorise “Hold Up” as being the ‘party track’ of the album. The title phrase is repeated twenty-two times during the whole song; the majority of the time it is yelled out for the song’s choruses. Though it is repetitive, it doesn’t suffer from becoming boring or less thrilling the more times you listen to it. The song’s narrative sees Jack White fed up with ‘these modern times’ and he succeeds in getting with a lady that will help him get through them. I do guarantee that it will take you a couple of listens to gather what he is singing about though, just because the chorus has already embedded itself into your mind.

My iPod #534: John Lennon – Hold On

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John Lennon’s solo album John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band opens with “Mother”, a five and a half minute track that ends with him screaming his vocals to shreds as he pleads for his parents to come back into his life. For the first song of what was his first album since leaving The Beatles, it is heavy to say the least. “Hold On” follows it to make the listener feel a bit happier about themselves for a short time with Lennon singing about how everything is going to be alright for him, his wife and the whole world.

Featuring only Lennon on tremolo-filtered guitar, Klaus Voormann on bass and Ringo Starr on drums, the song is a relaxing listen – perfect to chill out to on those warm sunny days when everything is in its right place. The laid-back vibes underpin the track’s message of optimism and reassurance. John randomly imitates the Cookie Monster from Sesame Street in it too.

These good feelings only lasts for less than two minutes. John doesn’t get much positive than this for the rest of the album. You have to enjoy it while it lasts.

My iPod #533: The Rutles – Hold My Hand

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“Hold My Hand” is a song written by Neil Innes which featured in the mockumentary All You Need Is Cash, a television film that traces the career of the fictitious rock band The Rutles. The music and events depicted within parallel those of The Beatles, and as “I Want to Hold Your Hand” was the track that propelled the group to stardom so was “Hold My Hand” for Ron Nasty, Stig McQuickly, Stig O’Hara and Barry Wom. The film is a hilarious watch, recommended for any Beatles fan. Or Monty Python for that matter.

A love song about a man who feels the woman he has feelings for isn’t right for the guy she’s going out with, it is arranged using the styles of a few of The Beatles’ early numbers. One can hear similarities to “Eight Days a Week“, “All My Loving“, “I Want to Hold Your Hand” and “She Loves You“, just to name a few. Though Innes brilliantly fuses all the elements together to make a number just as playful, catchy and ironically original. Very nice.