Category Archives: Music

#874: They Might Be Giants – Mr. Me

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‘Mr. Me’ from TMBG’s Lincoln is a whole ball of fun. It has quite a cartoon-ey feel about it in its delivery. I read a comment somewhere that likened it to the music you’ll hear in a Mario Kart game; just from the knowledge I’ve gained from playing Mario Kart DS, the comparison isn’t too far off. Those high whistle-like noises and trumpet sounds are very reminiscent of the sounds from those games. And in general, the track is just propelled onwards by these crazy drum-machine rhythms which give an odd, but strangely addictive bounce to everything that’s going on.

But then you see the lyrics, and it’s clear that it’s about the titular character who may just be suffering from severe depression. Mr. Me’s been feeling this way for a while, depression is the track is symbolised as a ‘misty sea’ that ‘Me’ has been lost in for some time, and the track is something like a cry or a call for someone to help ‘Me’, but to also be careful that they don’t become depressed as well. So, you know… very polarising elements of a song are present here. Have to say though, a song about a really sad man never sounded so upbeat and cheerful before. It wouldn’t be the last time the band did something to this effect too. They always seem to do it so well.

To sum up, I enjoy it. This is a track that is over in under two minutes, so there’s not much else that I can think of to say. John Linnell sings it, he does a good job, John Flansburgh provides the catchy ‘yo yo-yo’ backing vocals which are very hard to forget. Just a short sweet burst of happy/sad music. And to close out, here’s a live performance of the song from 1987.

#873: King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard – Mr. Beat

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After furiously headbanging at a continuous tempo for the first four tracks of King Gizzard’s Nonagon Infinity, ‘Mr. Beat’ brings a much needed cool-down to the proceedings. Not that I don’t enjoy those four songs. When I heard the album for the first time, I was sure that I hadn’t heard music that propulsive and driving before. My face was constantly screwed up just from how nasty everything sounded. ‘Gamma Knife’ is fantastic, it’s 6/8 on top of 4/4 drumming – can’t get better. ‘People-Vultures’ is the same. But while those are more the soundtrack for a high-speed drive, ‘Mr. Beat’ is more the song for a casual stroll down the street.

‘Mr. Beat’ relies on the whole play on words in its title. You see, the track is 7/4 time, so in a way the band ‘missed a beat’ when performing the track. Pretty clever. I do really like the song for just how it sounds though. A lot of delicate chords played, the bass is really upfront but playing some really nice melodies that mirror the vocals. Those organ breaks that come in are quite nice too. Funnily, those organ breaks are replaced by Stu Mackenzie playing the flute when they play this one live. But overall, the song has a very light feel to it – like I’m gently ascending into a sunny sky on a cloud. That’s just what I imagine, okay? The lyrics I haven’t put that much thought about because I think the music sounds so great already, though I think it’s just another case where the words are meant to fit around the music rather than having any significant purpose. That doesn’t stop it from being worthy of your time.

I should probably catch up with King Gizzard’s discography. Completely went head over heels for Nonagon in 2017, but I could never keep up with the rest of their stuff because they release one album after the other so quickly. I believe the last one I listened to in full was Infest the Rats’ Nest from 2019. Since then, they’ve released three more albums. It never ends with those guys.

#872: The Wombats – Moving to New York

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The music video for this song isn’t that great. I thought that in 2007/8, and I still hold that opinion today. A lot of awkward staring and just a very low-budget tone to it. Song’s good though, always enjoy hearing it whenever it comes up on shuffle or something. ‘Moving to New York’ was a single from The Wombats’ first album, and its various appearances on MTV2 was how I came to know of its existence. It was also another reason for me to request that album as a present, birthday or Christmas, either/or, I can’t remember that well.

The track carries on a theme of self-deprecation and doubt that goes on throughout Love, Loss and Desperation. On here, the narrator generally seems to be down on their luck. They’ve had a bad week, they don’t know whether they’re coming or going, so they decide to move to New York in order to get some good sleep. Ah, but you see the joke here is that New York is known as the city that never sleeps, so it’s safe to assume that this person won’t have the greatest success with the decision they’ve made. It’s all a very sarcastic, ironic affair going on lyrically.

Despite the dismissive tone in its lyrics, it’s a thoroughly enjoyable track. Matthew Murphy sings it really well, and the thing to look out for the most is the bass guitar which really carries the melodic backbone. My favourite part is probably the outro, not because it means that the song is ending, but the chord progression during that part seems to come out of nowhere. Overall, the track’s pretty harmless. I think it’s one that reminds a lot people of the mid-00s where there were so many bands in the UK making music like this. Some of them were terrible, but I’ll always have a bit of a soft spot for the Wombats. Especially that first record.

#871: The Cribs – Moving Pictures

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‘Moving Pictures’ was released as the second single from the Cribs’ Men’s Need’s… album, back in 2007. I guess I was a fully formed human being by that point, so I have an almost clear recollection of the hype around the band at the time. It was the first album of theirs on a major-label, and its first single became a UK indie dancefloor classic almost immediately.

When the video for ‘Pictures’ started making its rounds on MTV, I’m very sure I preferred the track over its predecessor from the get-go. Being 12-years-old, or whatever my age was back then, I think felt that the track just sounded a lot nicer. Bassist Gary Jarman takes the lead vocal on the majority of the song, with twin brother Ryan on the guitar laying down this really cool guitar pattern that alternates between the higher-pitched strings and the lower ones. Always appreciated that guitar during the verses. Ross Jarman lays down the beat on the drums which are very predominant in the mix, but I don’t say that in a way to complain.

Though I’ve known this song for about 14 years, I’ve no clue what it’s about. That goes for a lot of many other songs that I came to knew when in my first few years of secondary school. Thinking about them now, it may just be another song about a relationship or something… one where both people involved may not even share the same interests but still appreciate the time they share together? Just a guess. If I haven’t thought about it that deeply up to now, there’s small chance that I will from this point on. But no matter how I feel about its subject matter shouldn’t deter you from listening to it for yourself.

#870: Supergrass – Moving

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Anyone remember hearing this song in a TV advert somewhere during the early 2000s? That question is mainly aimed to any British readers I may have. Because I’m sure that I’d heard ‘Moving’ somewhere before I properly listened to the song many, many years ago now. When it comes to a lot of Supergrass’ singles, I wouldn’t be able to exactly pinpoint when and where I was when I heard them for the first time. Their music videos occasionally popped up on various channels back in the day, and just through those I found that Supergrass were actually quite great. Seeing as singles receive the music video treatment, and ‘Moving’ was one of those from Supergrass’ self-titled album from 1999, the track falls into that category.

And what is ‘Moving’ about, you might ask? Why, it’s a good ol’ song about the strain of touring. Moving and moving until you barely know who you are anymore, and trying to keep your sanity by thinking of the people back home. Especially your loved ones. The band describe these feelings in two kind of sections. There are the wistful verses, led by acoustic guitars, what sounds like an organ and strings. Then there are the busier chugging choruses where the band come in together and lay down a bit of a funky rhythm. There’s a great dynamic between the two things. Makes for some attentive listening, when those verses are left lingering at their end, you can’t wait for those choruses to kick in.

When I recently read a YouTube comment somewhere saying that the track takes its intro from Pink Floyd’s ‘Dogs’, I have to say I did start listening to it just a bit differently. There is quite the similarity. And there’s another thing I’m starting to wonder. Is there a hint of– not Auto-Tune… well, maybe it is Auto-Tune… but I’ll say pitch correction on Gaz Coombes’ vocal? Because there are many live performances of Supergrass performing the track and he definitely doesn’t hit those notes as smoothly as he does on the album. Think there’s some studio trickery going on. Sounds so great though. Definitely one of those ones for a long train journey, watching the scenery pass you by. Always like a good travelling song.