Monthly Archives: July 2019

#632: Sportfreunde Stiller – Independent

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FIFA 2003 was my first ever FIFA. I got it as a Christmas gift in 2002. My love for that series started there. It lost me at around FIFA 14. But until then every FIFA game had a killer soundtrack. Because of FIFA, I probably wouldn’t be listening to a quarter of the things I do today. I have fond memories of FIFA 2003. I was seven years old, and there were songs on the game that I more or less managed to learn the words to even if they were coming out of the smallest TV speakers.

‘Independent’ is a song on the game by German band Sportfreunde Stiller. I don’t know any other song by the band; I’ve never really been inclined to listen to any of their other stuff. This was one of my favourites in the game. If not my favourite overall. I don’t know how to speak German but I’m 100% sure that I sang along to this track pretty accurately, eventually. I just voiced what I heard and I think it came out pretty good. It must have been this track that first showed me that no matter what language it’s in, a good song is a good song.

It’s a punk song at heart. Starting off with it’s killer guitar riff – the rest of the track is just an onslaught of pummeling drums and a strong bassline. Translating the lyrics into English shows that the song concerns the singer’s thoughts about how his image is perceived by the public when the band is shown on TV or on magazine covers in stores. He wishes for better days when he was a kid and didn’t have to think about those kinds of things. I’m sure that stuff can wear you out. I wouldn’t know, honestly.

#631: Big Star – In the Street

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‘In the Street’ is the third song on Big Star’s first album #1 Record from 1972. Now I thought I had talked about a Big Star song before. I haven’t. I have, however, written about two songs by Chris Bell, who coincidentally takes the lead vocal on this track. I can’t recall if I talked about Big Star in them, but to put you up to speed – they were a band in the seventies who made all this great music which didn’t get heard by anyone at the time because of a lack in distribution. As time went on people discovered their albums and realised what they were missing.

Although Bell sings this ‘In the Street’, it was actually written by fellow songwriter in the band Alex Chilton which allowed the tracklisting to alternate between the two singers. I feel that Bell’s shrill vocals are best suited for it compared to Chilton’s calmer tones. Compare Bell here with Chilton on…. ‘Thirteen’, for example. Anyway, the track is more or less about having nothing to do in the neighbourhood but chill out with friends or your partner and smoke a joint every once in a while. It’s a song for everyone, really. This is done so with in a tightly packed two and a half minutes with punchy drums, swaggering production and glorious vocal harmonies.

It took a while for me to get into this song because I was so used to Cheap Trick’s version at the start of That 70s Show. While those 30 seconds are almost always the best parts of those episodes, Big Star is the OG.

#630: Weezer – In the Garage

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When Weezer signed to Geffen Records in 1993, frontman and singer-songwriter Rivers Cuomo was assumedly stoked about the whole situation. So much so that he wrote two songs about the ordeal. Whichever one he wrote first can be argued but alongside ‘Holiday’, ‘In the Garage’ was written. Both appeared on the band’s blue debut album a year later.

The two songs connect to each other so much (subject matter wise) that they are put right next to each other in the tracklist, although whilst ‘Holiday’ is a much more uptempo and jubilant affair, ‘In the Garage’ slows things down and takes more of an introspective look on Cuomo’s feelings about being signed. The garage is that of Amherst House in Los Angeles where the members of Weezer lived and would hold their early rehearsals; the track is a dedication to that place. Rivers Cuomo is a nerd and heavy metal fan and a bit of a recluse and he’s proud to declare it here. In the garage he’s able to geek out on Dungeons and Dragons and worship his KISS posters without being judged by his peers. It’s a wholesome track. Has a very warm sentiment.

Much like all of the other tracks on the album, the song is characterized by a wall of sleek guitars (all provided by Cuomo) although here, there is a touch of harmonica and a fuzz bass in the second verse to change things up a bit. It’s a fine listen. It’s a popular one amongst Weezer fans. It’s probably not my personal favourite on the album. The whole thing is a 10/10 so you can’t go wrong.

#629: Pink Floyd – In the Flesh

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There are two “In the Flesh”(es) on The Wall, a concept album by Pink Floyd that some of you who are reading may know inside out, may have heard something about it somewhere, or have no idea about. The first one, ‘In the Flesh?’, is right at the beginning of the album. It introduces the story’s main character. It sets the scene. The second one, with no question mark at the end, comes near the end where the main character is hallucinating and believes he’s a massive fascist dictator at a concert. You need to listen to it to properly understand. Or just read its Wikipedia page.

The two songs have the exact same guitar introduction. Though the straight ‘In the Flesh’ is lengthened out by a glorious vocal choir (featuring Beach Boy Bruce Johnston) that eventually segues into the first verse. What I’ve always liked about this version of ‘In the Flesh’ are the drums. Those pack a punch with each hit. Very militaristic in style. I’ve always enjoyed the long drawn out big-rock ending too. It was during this time that the band’s bassist Roger Waters was very much taking over everything the group did and if the other members didn’t like it they could leave. This did actually happen during the making of the record. When he’s singing about getting ‘queers up against the wall’ and shooting people who smoke pot and have spots, I can imagine him singing it with no hesitation. You see, all of this sounds bad out of context. You really have to hear the whole package. He doesn’t obviously believe in any of it in real life. It is just a plot point in a story, don’t worry about it too much.

#628: Queens of the Stone Age – In the Fade

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I believe it’s agreed amongst many a Queens of the Stone Age fan that ‘In the Fade’ is arguably the best track on Rated R. It’s one that the band have never been able to replicate in terms of style, mood or execution since its release almost 20 years ago, and I think that stands as a testimony to its uniqueness. Mark Lanegan sings it, not the first time as he appears on the album as he backs in both ‘Leg of Lamb’ and ‘Auto Pilot’. Coming after Nick Oliveri’s screeching on the previous track, Lanegan’s deep and gravelly vocals are like butter to the ears.

It takes a while for the song to kick in. There’s a lone buzzing tone that fades into some keyboard chords and an echoing sound that I can’t describe. Lanegan sings the first few lines and after an open hi-hat and cymbal crash the track gives way to a fantastic groove led by Oliveri’s tremendous bassline. There’s a perfect mellow feel the music captures without it being too lazy, it’s a definite head-nodder/toe-tapper so it’s a definie bonus when the harder guitars join in for the more forceful choruses.

Think I read somewhere that it’s about suffering from a hangover? It may also just be about having to leave someone and knowing that it’s what’s best for the both of them. I’m not sure I’ve never cared for its meaning that much, I’m just one of those people. When it comes down to it really, it’s just a brilliant song. Great guitar tones, bass grooves and vocal harmonies/melodies are on full display. And there’s a little reprise of ‘Feel Good Hit of the Summer’ at the end.