My iPod #240: They Might Be Giants – Dark and Metric

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“Dark and Metric” is a track from the album “Long Tall Weekend” by They Might Be Giants.

Again, I’m left with little to say about this one. If only I actually knew more about music like modes, and steps etc. etc. I would be able to tell you a lot more. But there’s something about the way it sounds that didn’t feel right when I first listened to it. There’s no phasing, panning or any special effects, just the vocal, keyboard and the rhythm section which are then joined by a slide guitar nearing the end. It leaves the song sounding a bit empty, and quite uneasy. It grew on me eventually.

The melody’s perky but matched with lyrics about living in a town where nothing happens; the narrator puts on a brave face but inside knows that they will become miserable at some point.

See ya.

My iPod #239: Arctic Monkeys – Dangerous Animals

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So…… “Humbug”, the album where Arctic Monkeys started to change. Or at least embarked on a different direction in terms of sound. The majority of band members grew their hair longer, the recording process took place in California and was overlooked by Queens of the Stone Age frontman Josh Homme, all of which contributed to the moodiest* ten songs that the group have released.

It was 2009, and the Monkeys hadn’t released an album for two years. “Crying Lightning” came out as the first single; many people were impressed. I didn’t like it that much on first listen but it has grown on me since. Nevertheless, The Monkeys were back.

The album was released, and I thought I might as well hear it. It’s a new Arctic Monkeys album, you know? I downloaded the individual songs, listened to the whole thing throughout, and didn’t think a lot if it… but “Dangerous Animals” though. That got me.

“Dangerous Animals” is the third track, coming after “Crying Lightning”. Straight up, it is a song about sex. If you look at the lyrics, and the title you’ll probably understand why eventually.

It is a great track though. The stomping of the drums, the catchy guitar hook that never ceases and repeats until it’s embedded in your brain…. The title being spelt out during the chorus. Ah, man. It’s the only one from “Humbug” I have on my iPod. Just because it sounded like something that could have been on “FWN”.

A cool track on an alright album.

*Not moody as in depressing, but moody as in it covers a whole range of moods. If you get what I’m trying to say.

My iPod #238: Test Icicles – Dancing on Pegs

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Near the end of Test Icicles first and only album “For Screening Purposes Only” comes “Dancing on Pegs”, a track written by guitarist Rory Atwell.

Can’t say much about the song… It has no deep meaning to me, or in general. I just think it’s really cool. Atwell once claimed it is about a relationship, but you wouldn’t really tell from the gory imagery made by the lyrics. Chopping someone down at the knee and bloody raw hands aren’t really the things I would come up with if I was taken. It’s sinister in tone, but quite hilarious too.

It’s a very noisy track. Not like there’s a whole mesh of instruments smashed together so the lyrics are incomprehensible or anything. Everything’s a bit distorted, some cool riffs occur during the verses and it’s delivered at a very quick rate.

Listen to it if you’re interested.

My iPod #237: Blur – Dan Abnormal

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“Dan Abnormal” is a track from Blur’s fourth album “The Great Escape”.

I listened to the song way before actually listening to the rest of Blur’s discography. The band had performed in Hyde Park for the Summer 2012 Olympics closing ceremony, and decided to remaster all their albums for their 21st anniversary as a group. So I thought I would listen to “The Great Escape” out of all of them, even though it’s not Damon Albarn’s favourite nor is it the favourite of the majority of Blur fans.

Albarn once said that all the songs on the album are about him in one way or another. “Dan Abnormal” is probably the one that you could say is explicitly about him. Look at the title and then rearrange it. Does that mean it’s the centerpiece of the album? Naaaaaaaah.

Apart from obvious tracks (Country House, Charmless Man, The Universal, Stereotypes), Dan Abnormal was one that actually stayed in my head after listening to the album for the first time. Not really sure why. The chorus was quite memorable, a lot of “la-la-las” are involved and the overall melody wasn’t hard to forget.

It might not be very impressive for some, but I like it and that’s all that matters.

My iPod #236: They Might Be Giants – Damn Good Times

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When I started listening to They Might Be Giants properly in 2004, they had just released their latest album “The Spine“, and were due to release this album where each song was dedicated to various music venues located in states of the USA.

“Damn Good Times” can be found on “The Spine”, and its video above was able to be viewed on the band’s official website. It is animated, a bit weird and oddly similar to the plot of Twilight.

John Flansburgh normally writes the rockers in They Might Be Giants, and this song is no different. The rhythm section of Danny Weikauf and Marty Beller are really on point, there’s a lot of crash cymbal action during the verses and the bass slide during the chorus and accompanied with the lyrics about concerning a naturally talented lady, the tune is very uplifting.

The actual song finishes about a minute and a half in before transforming into this slow jam with a guitar solo which gradually builds pace before coming to an end. 58BPM to around 130 apparently.

Yep, TMBG never disappoint.