Category Archives: Music

My iPod #119: They Might Be Giants – Boat of Car

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Probably not the most popular TMBG song, but it just has something that attracts me to it. I honestly can’t say much about it – it’s only 1 minute and a few seconds long. That’s not a bad thing, but it’s more of a transitional thing that sets you up for the next track.

It’s very easy to memorise, the Johnny Cash sample fits in very well (however oddly placed it may sound). It sends off a very mysterious vibe. What is the ‘boat of car’? Why is the narrator following the ‘traces of the fingernails’?

Who am I kidding, it’s nothing to get philosophical about. It probably doesn’t mean anything at all.

Vocals are done by John Flansburgh’s old girlfriend by the way.

Until tomorrow.

Jamie.

My iPod #118: Wheatus – BMX Bandits

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You would think that after result success, I wouldn’t be here for quite some time. I would be out with friends. At the cinema, at their houses, anywhere. Nope. It appears that no one is doing anything. I guess they are with their families, which is understandable. It’s a good time for a lot of us. The weather wasn’t very good anyway. Who would want to go out now?

When you see the word “Wheatus”, what do you think of? A lot of people, especially in the society we live in now, would probably have no idea. But you and I remember “that band who had that song…. Teenage Dirtbag! Yeah!” That was released thirteen years ago. The band had another hit with a cover. After that they seemingly dissappeared from the face of the earth.

However, they actually released a few more albums afterwards. But did anyone care? Not so much. Except for Wheatus fans. To be honest I was just content with the two aforementioned tracks. That was until some time in 2005 when “BMX Bandits” came up on Scuzz.

How did I feel when the video appeared? Well I thought the song was great. The animation present in the video was a bit much, but I really liked the melody of the chorus and the quiet-loud-quiet dynamic it had when alternating between that and the verses. Then when “WHEATUS – BMX BANDITS” came up near the end, I was shocked to see that A) It was Wheatus B) A video of theirs that wasn’t “Teenage Dirtbag” was on the TV and C) The song was actually worth listening to.

I took ages for me to finally listen to the song in full on the Internet. What matters is that I eventually found it and saved it on my computer.

The track was the first single from the band’s 2005 release “TooSoonMonsoon”, which went barely noticed by anyone. I haven’t listened to that album, but I’m just going to assume that this is definitely a highlight from it.

Until tomorrow.

Jamie.

My iPod #117: George Harrison – Blow Away

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A very recent addition to my iPod. I only put it on there for a few weeks ago. And with good reason.

From the posts I’ve done so far, it may seem that my favourite Beatle is George Harrison. I don’t know how many I’ve done, but I know I’ve covered far more songs by him compared to the other three. Don’t worry, other songs will come soon. There’s no denying that George Harrison was a pretty cool guy.

I was searching around for George Harrison songs on YouTube, and I saw “George Harrison – Blow Away” which has more than a million views. So I thought it must be good if it has that many views.

I listened to it, and like the many other times when I hear something for the first time… I didn’t think it was anything much. Then the chorus got into my head. Then I saw the lyrics, started to sing along to it, and realised that this may be the happiest song I’ve ever heard in my life. What is it about this song that made me repeat it on the way to the instrument shop to get my guitar fixed, and back home again? The song arrangement is simple with a verse-chorus-verse etc. thing going. I think it’s the melody – it’s just so lovely. This song is so good. It makes me cheer up so hard.

At first I thought the song was about the weather. The video only reinforced that idea. The whole weather imagery is just a metaphor for Harrison’s feelings. He was feeling down, and so he wrote the song to remind himself to be more optimistic.

“Blow Away” can be found on George Harrison’s self-titled album from 1979, the year in which he became a father.

Until tomorrow.

Jamie.

My iPod #116: Green Day – Blood, Sex and Booze + GREAT NEWS

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I HAVE A UNI TO GO TO!

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY.

I’m so happy.

I don’t know if I can write enough for today’s song. I might not be able to concentrate. Let’s do it.

 

Well, well, well. It’s Green Day.

It’s the year 2000. I am five years old. I have no clue who Green Day are at this point. The band on the other hand have their fair share of fans after gaining a lot of success during the nineties.

Then comes the twenty first century, and the rise of boybands. Everyone begins to love boy bands again. What can Green Day do to regain their status? Nothing much to be honest. They release their sixth album “Warning” which – however bleak the album cover may be – captures the band at their most sophisticated point, mixing their original punk style with more accessible melodies and a wider use of instruments.

That’s not apparent in “Blood, Sex and Booze”, which is probably the band’s sleaziest song to date. Well, the song’s not sleazy. The narrator describes their love for being dominated in the bed. That’s all. It’s not my favourite from the album, but it rocks pretty hard. It deserves its place on my iPod.

I can’t write any more. I can’t think of anything to say.

If I have any British followers who also got their results today and got their places… CONGRATULATIONS. I’m happy for you.

Celebrate good times.

Until tomorrow.

Jamie.

My iPod #115: Hope of the States – Blood Meridian

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This song has an actual music video, but it appears to have been banished from the Internet. At least in my country, anyway.

The single was an exclusive on MTV2. I remember, the video would come on and then a banner at the top had a message along the lines of: ‘Hope of the States are back with their brand new song “Blood Meridian”. Watch this exclusive new video.’ Something like that. It made them sound like this really important band that had been gone for ages. I had never heard of them though.

The music video is weird too. It’s made to be set in a Russian-esque type factory, and a lady lip-syncs over the words. That’s about it. So I still didn’t know what the band looked like. That was until they released the next single, “Sing It Out”, which shows the band being electrocuted whilst playing their instruments. I like that song too.

The lyrics to “Blood Meridian” remind me of a film that I’ve seen, or a book. Lyrics like “emergency, emergency, someone acted honestly, we should beat ’em up, lock ’em up and throw away the key’ seem really familiar. Almost like it’s happened in real life. I can’t quite put my finger on it.

Listen to the song. See if you like it.

What’s happened to Hope of the States? They released their last single, and then split up. All in 2006.

It’s exam results day tomorrow, so good luck me.

Until tomorrow.

Jamie.