Tag Archives: is

#642: The Who – Is It in My Head?

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The ninth track on The Who’s 1973 rock opera Quadrophenia is just another introspective moment out of many on the album. Its protagonist has…. a lot on his plate – to keep it short and sweet – and is trying to figure out things he can do to try and make himself a better person without coming across as too eager or looking a fool in the process. By the end of the track, he gives up altogether and declares total apathy for anything in the following song ‘I’ve Had Enough’.

For the longest time I thought Pete Townshend sang the chorus. In actual fact, it’s bassist John Entwistle who takes the lead with Roger Daltrey singing the verses. Speaking on Daltrey, this album was definitely his vocal peak. He belts out every howl and bellow from the gut. I can only try and replicate the song’s ‘I feel I’m being followed’ bridge but would never be able to reach those notes with as much gusto.

Daltrey’s voice is really the focal point throughout. As the track is quite mid-tempo, there isn’t as much room for the rapid drum fills or inventive bass lines from the rhythm section. Townshend does add some guitar flourishes here and there, particularly to transition between verses and choruses. Still, it’s another emphatic and cathartic performance by all four members capped off with some warm synthesisers in the mix too.

My iPod #469: Fall Out Boy – Grand Theft Autumn/Where Is Your Boy

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I haven’t listened to this song in a long time. Doesn’t feel the same as it did when I was younger. Maybe because I’ve heard it too many times. The bite it used to have isn’t as sharp anymore. I can still write about it though, even if my heart won’t be into it so much.

So “Grand Theft Autumn/Where Is Your Boy” was Fall Out Boy’s second ever single, released in 2003 on the group’s first album Take This to Your Grave. It may as well just be called “Where Is Your Boy” because that’s the main line of the chorus. Not sure what the “Grand Theft Autumn” part means. Possibly the song was recorded during the season, or it’s inspired by the rapid guitar introduction. Whatever it is….. it just sounds good for some reason, even if it doesn’t relate to anything in the song.

A lot of people will know the track. For those of you who don’t, it’s about wanting to be in a relationship where you feel you would treat the girl better than the guy she’s already with. It is also possibly the poppiest-punk track the band have done to this day. Not that that’s bad. Its relatable subject matter in the lyrics matched with its upbeat tempo and nice melodies make it very accessible. Probably why it’s one of the band’s most popular songs. Just sounds a bit dated to me, I’m just saying.

My iPod #340: They Might Be Giants – Everything Right Is Wrong Again

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They Might Be Giants are known to be unorthodox when it comes to making music. The two Johns seem to be able to use any instrument or find some weird recording technique to produce a song. And they will never disappoint in giving you something different with each album they come out with. But most importantly every album of theirs is a fun and entertaining listen, and nothing sums up those two adjectives then They Might Be Giants’ debut album. Look at this album cover and tell me you don’t feel just a bit happier after looking at it.

It all began with this track. “Everything Right Is Wrong Again”, is about exactly what the song title tells you. Everything is going bad and the narrator only wants to know when things get better again. And while this may be a bit dire, this is all sung against some of the happiest music that’s been written. Sometimes it reminds me of that kind of music that would be a theme tune to a comedy show or something (there’s just something about that chord progression during the “all the dishes” part that makes me feel it should be in a cartoon). Or it may just be the reference to a comedy film that is made in the refrain.

I think if you were to ask me what track I thought really depicted what They Might Be Giants are all about, it would probably have to be this one. Most of the themes the group use are covered in the two-and-a-half minutes “Everything” lasts for and the track is cleverly written with humorous lyrics and busy rhythm. It slows down only for the middle section before resetting back to its original pace for the last chorus, where the keyboards rise in volume and perform the most joyous, almost-classical sounding piece of music bringing a triumphant end to a brilliant opening track. The fun carries on for eighteen more songs after.

The post is over now.

My iPod #335: Nine Black Alps – Everybody Is

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Here’s another one by Nine Black Alps. Just when you started to think they were never coming, you get two on the trot.

This time though, it’s the almost-title-track “Everybody Is” from the band’s debut album “Everything Is“. I believe that it is not available on some editions of the 2005 release, maybe it wasn’t on the American edition or something, but I was lucky enough to get the limited edition which did have it. It is also on the “Shot Down” single if anyone has that.

The track arrives near the back end of the album coming after you have experienced the pulsating energy that pours into your ears from listening to “Just Friends”. Looking back now, I don’t think it took me that long to get into “Everybody Is”. There’s something that’s very reassuring and comforting about it. Even though the song clearly states that people are liars and hypocrites, the track is the expression of someone’s acceptance of this situation. It’s probably one of the most happier songs on the album, actually.

Like every other song on “Everything Is” (bar two), it’s loud. Very big sounding guitars, and quite a busy bass line too.

If you have the version of the album that doesn’t have this, you’re missing out bruh.

My iPod #231: Arctic Monkeys – D Is for Dangerous

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It has been a year since I started doing this. Feels like it’s been a year too.

I did actually start posting on the 22nd February last year which I completely forgot about until I checked earlier on today, but it was two days later that I took on the challenge of writing about (almost) every song that I have on my iPod. Click on here to start all the way from the beginning.

Since I last posted, nothing much has gone on. Just living life and listening to a lot of music too.

So here is the return of ‘My iPod’ and the Ds. For how long, I don’t know. But I’ve seen the number of songs I have that begin with the letter ‘D’. There are many. A lot more than ‘C’ for sure.

But we begin with the third song from Arctic Monkeys’ second album “Favourite Worst Nightmare” – “D Is for Dangerous”.

I remember that this was the track when I first bought the album in 2007 that caught my ear straight away. “Brianstorm”- I had obviously heard many times before and “Teddy Picker” took me a few listens to get into, but it took me that first listen for “Dangerous” to sink in.

It probably isn’t even the best song on the album. It’s pretty short and quick, only 2 minutes and 20 seconds long if you round it up, but everything is delivered with such slick execution. Cool guitar playing, a great bass line by the then-new Monkey Nick O’Malley and vocals by both Alex Turner and Matt Helders. Pretty much all I can say.

Whether they thought of the name of the album before writing the song or vice versa, I’m not sure. But it is in there. Also watch out near the end, when it sounds like the track begins to skip. I thought something had gone wrong with my computer the first time that happened.

That album by the band is my favourite of theirs. It’s probably the last one they’ve released that I can listen to the whole way through and not become….. bored? I don’t think that’s the right word. Basically, I haven’t been as hyped for Arctic Monkey albums since then.

For many it just doesn’t compare to “Whatever” or possibly even “AM” now, knowing that a lot of people are liking that. But “Nightmare” is just really solid. Maybe it’s the production or something, but there’s something in all twelve tracks that makes we want to carry on listening to them. Can’t really say that for the albums that followed. Hate on me if you want.

Happy D-Day! The Offspring tomorrow.