Tag Archives: my ipod

My iPod #505: Wilco – Heavy Metal Drummer

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Both this track and “I Am the Man Who Loves You” jumped out to me as being the radio-friendly hits from Wilco’s well-respected album Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. Though the album did go through a ton executive meddling that pushed back its initial release and forced it to be distributed on a completely label altogether, all of which was pleasantly documented, it could have been commercially represented by singles which I think would have been very popular. But what do I know?

“Heavy Metal Drummer” is one of the brighter, and lighter sounding tracks on the album. Faking you out with a boom-box drum beat for the first few seconds, the song suddenly bursts with a delightful piano line and brisk acoustic guitars amidst a general perky beat provided by drummer Glenn Kotche. The mix is then filled with bubbly synthesizers for the majority of the track as Jeff Tweedy recounts memories of the past from the heavy metal bands to personally playing Kiss covers whilst high.

You can’t help but feel the melancholic undertone when Tweedy sings “I miss the innocence I’ve known”. He yearns for the times when life wasn’t so hard and everything was alright. But the music’s uplifting and sometimes child-like playfulness overtakes that lingering sadness.

My iPod #504: Nirvana – Heart-Shaped Box

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So this song may or may not be about Courtney Love’s vagina. Meh. If it is, it’s still a damn good song about one. A classic that doesn’t need much discussion. You must have heard it, that’s the only reason I say this.

“Heart-Shaped Box” was the first single released from Nirvana’s third and last album In Utero in 1993. Its music video was one of the main reasons why I immediately liked the track. Although it was mildly comedic watching Kurt Cobain going insane and lunging at the camera with the widest and bluest eyes with every “HEY” and “WAIT”, it was fascinating seeing the guy that bit more close and personal in one of their music videos. I can only imagine how people felt viewing it when it came out for the first time. The Ku-Klux-Clan child, the old man on the crucifix with the Santa hat, the fake fetuses hanging of the tree branches… the singing crows……. I am not making this up. It’s too much.

As for the music… well. It is rough. That is the one word I think sums up this, and the rest of the album, very well.

My iPod #503: be your own PET – Heart Throb

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“Heart Throb” is from be your own PET’s second album Get Awkward, released two years after the band had been on the radar for a while and unveiled their debut album to the masses. The second album exhibited a slicker production and precise style to the band’s music, but the change did not take away from their ecstatic performances and juvenile subject matter.

The third track “Heart Throb” is a fast-paced, in your face slammer about a girl who, despite having a boyfriend already, can’t help but get weak in the knees when she catches another boy – possibly the ‘heart throb’ the song is titled after – looking back at her when she tries to catch his glance. She has major feels for the guy, but realises that it’s probably for the best that nothing could happen between them, because she already has someone who will take of her.

It is an exciting listen. Over just after two minutes, but a balls-to-the-wall performance nevertheless.

My iPod #502: The Strokes – Heart in a Cage

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“Heart in a Cage” was the second single released from First Impressions of Earth, the third album by rock band The Strokes released on New Year’s Eve 2005, or New Year’s Day 2006 depending on where you lived.

It’s good to be able to recall the memories of a certain time when an album was about to be released and there was a certain hype around it. First Impressions was the comeback of the band who symbolised the return of indie rock in the 21st century, and whilst “Juicebox” was somewhat the wild ride – to put it lightly – with its action-flick sounding bassline and controversial music video, “Heart in a Cage” was the straight comedown with its black and white video and depressing subject matter.

Before being released officially, I had already heard the song when The Strokes performed it at an exclusive live show in London which was aired on MTV2 during December. Just a side note. Check it out if you want.

But the official video came out a few months later, and features the band members performing the track around various locations in New York City. Most notably, Julian Casablancas mimes to the track whilst lying on the ground and avoiding being trampled on at the same time. You can’t help but feel sorry for the guy as he sings about feeling abandoned, unmotivated, and restricted. He’s not allowed to feel free. His heart beats in its cage.

My iPod #501: Sum 41 – Heart Attack

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“Heart Attack” is the penultimate track on the album All Killer No Filler, Sum 41’s debut album from the Spring of 2001. The opening string plucks fade in as the ending of “All She’s Got” is in the process of fading out, but it isn’t long before the bass and some light strikes of the ride cymbal are brought to the forefront of the mix and essentially mark the start of the track.

The song is an ode to laziness and sleeping in; if there is nothing new to experience upon getting out of bed in the morning then what is the point of getting up at all? That is the point Deryck Whibley makes throughout, softly singing in the quiet verses before the gearing up and letting loose in the loud and defiant choruses, disregarding the importance of his alarm or any communication with the outside world.

Musically, it’s typical pop-punk stuff. Power chords everywhere. But it does play with the time signature at one point, and the track contains a notable performance on the bass by Jason ‘Cone’ McCaslin. Always hum along to it.

It really has nothing to do with a heart attack for first time listeners, that’s the joke. Somehow though the title still manages to fit.