Category Archives: Music

My iPod #124: Maxïmo Park – Books from Boxes

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“Books from Boxes” was the comedown single from “Our Earthly Pleasures”, the second album by Maxïmo Park after the high that was set up by its predecessor “Our Velocity”.

I never really got into that song as many other people did. “Our Velocity” was the comeback, it was energetic and quick. After two years, the band was back with a bang. For me, it was catchy but there wasa something about it that didn’t capture me as much as songs from “A Certain Trigger”.

“Books from Boxes” had the complete opposite effect on me. You can tell why it wasn’t released as the first single if you listen to it. Out of all their singles, this is the one that really sinks into you. Especially if you listen to the lyrics and understand what it’s about.

Like yesterday, the subject of today’s song is one that details a relationship. Whereas the one in “Bones” by The Killers sees it being taken further, “Books from Boxes” is from the perspective of one in an relationship that is dead, and the couple involved know it. “Two bodies in motion/This is a matter of fact/It wasn’t built to last” says it all really.

All in all, the song is quite the downer. But one of my favourites by the band. If you like it, that’s cool too.

Until tomorrow.

Jamie.

My iPod #123: The Killers – Bones

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After “When You Were Young” became the new hot stuff and its chorus were sung from the mouths of many a Killers fanatic, people were wondering what was going to follow from the LA four-piece. The first single from the band’s second album “Sam’s Town” reached number two in the UK, and has risen to become one of the band’s most popular songs.

Could they match the former single’s success? With a music video directed by none other than Tim Burton, I think they really wanted to. It didn’t. It reached number fifteen over here. But don’t get me wrong, the last thing I’m trying to do is deter you from listening to this song.

“COME WITH MEEEEEEEE”

Why is that sung at the beginning? Is it supposed to be a link between the previous song on the album? Is it a tie-in to the album’s concept? Does “Sam’s Town” even have a concept? Why am I asking you all these questions?

After that short but triumphant opening, “Bones” actually begins with a lovely melody played on the keyboard with accompanying guitar, bass and drums before changing into the minor key as the verse begins. The song is about a relationship where the narrator really wants to ‘get to know’ the other person. Originally, “Bones” was called “It’s Only Natural” reinforcing the biological theme. The music video for the song takes it into creepy, yet comical levels.

Until tomorrow.

Jamie.

My iPod #122: Alexisonfire – Boiled Frogs

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“Boiled Frogs” was the second single released from Alexisonfire’s third album “Crisis”, which was released in 2006.

I didn’t know who Alexisonfire was until that year. One of their videos played regularly on MTV2, and I really dug the contrast between the screaming vocals by George Pettit, and the melodic vocals of Dallas Green with Wade MacNeil coming somewhere in the middle. It all worked really well. It took me quite a while to find out how to pronounce their name. It is “Alexis-on-fire”, and not “Alex-is-on-fire”. I thought the latter was quite funny. It doesn’t really matter anymore. The band broke up in 2011.

This song didn’t play so much on MTV2. It was like they threw out the first single, and then completely forgot about the band. I never saw another Alexisonfire video on MTV2 UK again. I had to see “Frogs” on YouTube. I didn’t really appreciate as much then though. I just thought the one song that was MTV2 was enough. I didn’t give it a chance.

I repeatedly listened to it later on when I got the album for my fourteenth birthday, and eventually started to like it more. The term “Boiled Frogs” is an analogy, which is to long to explain on here. For more information on it, you can click here to see what relevance it has to the song.

The only part I can really sing along to is the chorus. I actually do really like the song though.

Until tomorrow.

Jamie.

My iPod #121: The Dandy Warhols – Bohemian Like You

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WARNING: INCLUDES SCENES OF NUDITY. It’s only a few shots. But still.

I have heard more songs by The Dandy Warhols. Don’t worry. I’m not that kind of person who’s like “Ah, I listen to [insert band here] all the time” and only know the lyrics to their signature song. No, no. That’s not me. I have two more songs ony my iPod by the band, so :p.

I don’t need to prove anything. I don’t listen to The Dandy Warhols anyway. I didn’t know they were still together until I searched it up whilst typing this sentence. They are though, and that’s all right.

I think I’m correct in saying that The Dandy Warhols are much more popular in the US than here in the United Kingdom. I think the only reason people here know of them is due to the Vodafone advert this song was on in the early noughties. I can’t remember it at all, seeing as I was about six at the time. But thanks to that advert, the song reached number five on the charts. That wasn’t really significant to me either.

In general, “Bohemian Like You” is one of those songs that you know you’ve heard before. Somewhere in someplace at sometime. The problem is you can’t remember what the name of the artist was. Well, if you’re in that situation, here you go. Problem solved.

The nude scenes were censored when they played on MTV2, so being the eager beaver I searched up the uncensored version. I was just curious that’s all. Seeing the guy’s private parts wasn’t so great. That was years ago though. I’m much more mature now.

Until tomorrow.

Jamie.

My iPod #120: Sex Pistols – Bodies

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Hi guys.

I’ve been quite ill this week. It started with a sore throat two days ago, and then just escalated into a cold and now I’m sneezing all over the place with a headache, cough etc. etc. It’s not great. Still, I’ve got a song to get through. Let’s go.

Sex Pistols were the source of many a controversy during their original three year tenure in the seventies. The album’s name was at the centre of an obscenity case, and the songs included sparked up even more debate.

“Bodies” is one of my favourite songs from the album. Originally, I didn’t care for “Never Mind” so much. I only downloaded it in 2009 when I had my YouTube channel, where I uploaded albums so other people could listen to them. That was when whole albums couldn’t be uploaded too. I didn’t thing the songs were worth listening to, but I didn’t take the time to actually listen to them anyway. “Anarchy in the UK” and “God Save the Queen” were the two I had heard several times. I probably assumed that all the other songs would sound the same.

I was very wrong. “Bodies” is like nothing else on the album. It’s probably the most intense song out of the other eleven, not just because of the subject matter, but also musically. Johnny Rotten is very graphic in depicting a “screaming bloody mess” of an abortion, and also manages to utter the word ‘fuck’ in only a matter of seconds. Overall, the song’s major key gives of a positive vibe. If you were to hear this in a bar or something, you wouldn’t sit down to analyse the lyrics. You’d be more likely to be screaming them in the face of a random person who’s also singing along to it.

It’s a song that wouldn’t have a chance to be released whatsoever if it was released today. I guess that’s what made the band so notorious in its prime.

Until tomorrow.

Jamie.