Tag Archives: my ipod

My iPod #386: Nine Black Alps – Forget My Name

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“Forget My Name” is one of my favourite songs from Nine Black Alps’ “Love/Hate” album. Though I’ve stated time and time again that it’s not my preferred album of the band’s, it does have this one. And it’s because of this track (and another one, but I won’t tell) that I think that I should really start to give it another try.

The track is about someone being fed up with people and life in general, that they wish to stop existing. Now there’s nothing about dying or committing suicide (there is that interpretation), but don’t get that idea. I think it’s more about wanting to disappear completely from the world and for it to exist like you were never born in the first place, because you feel like it’s the perfect place to be if you weren’t there at all.

“Love/Hate” was a lighter and softer approach the band had to their music after “Everything Is”, but “Forget My Name” brings a 90s indie rock feel to the album, with a sliding riff that repeats throughout (whether it be from the bass or the guitars) a snarling vocal performance topped off with a few growls near the end by Sam Forrest and a general crunchy and moody atmosphere purveyed by the group as a whole.

A small note, I also like how the song mirrors the guitar rundown introduction at the ending of the song, where instead the guitar notes slide up the neck climaxing with a few sparks of feedback. Think it’s quite cool.

My iPod #385: Feeder – Forget About Tomorrow

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“Forget About Tomorrow” is a song from Feeder’s album “Comfort in Sound”. I don’t have that album, though. It was thanks to the almighty “Singles” compilation from 2006 that I was able to hear the song and admire its beauty.

I always thought that “Tomorrow” was a sad track, only because of its album’s context (I think I went into depth about that already, either in the “Come Back Around” or title track entries, so have a read of those if you want). But in fact, it’s very uplifting. The rising, heavy string section drives the track onwards as Grant Nicholas sings about feeling content with everything surrounding him and generally seeing things a lot clearer than before; as a result he can’t think about tomorrow due to the elation.

Quite emotional to say the least. On “The Singles” this track is followed by “Tender” which is another track guaranteed to bring on some feels; hopefully, you feel better after listening to this one.

My iPod #384: The Magic Numbers – Forever Lost

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So The Magic Numbers apparently released their fourth album this year…. I didn’t even know. Whether the band were still together was a question that popped into my head, before I went onto Wikipedia and saw that they, in fact, are. The group might not have so much mainstream success now, but about ten years ago – when guitar music had a greater chance of chart success – The Magic Numbers put the work in.

“Forever Lost” was the first single released from the band’s debut self-titled album in 2005. I distinctly remember the track’s music video appearing almost every day on MTV2, and every time I saw that first frame of that cartoon clock I switched the television to another channel. I did this countless times. The video never seemed to go away. So I gave in. I gave in, and found out that the song wasn’t actually that bad after all. In fact, it was a very sweet and pleasant song to listen to. And I had to admit that the video was a bit cute too. I was ten, don’t judge.

This cheery, upbeat tune about someone who doesn’t know where they belong anymore got the band their first top twenty hit. And for good reason. If you don’t feel anything listening to those soft vocal harmonies, general calm vibes and the melodica usage then…. this clearly isn’t for you. Come back tomorrow, though.

My iPod #383: They Might Be Giants – For Science

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“For Science” is a small yet dramatic track, briefly about the sighting of a UFO and soldiers being sent to meet the aliens even though it will end with their inevitable deaths but mostly about a man who begins a relationship with a female alien, knowing that he will be a slave to her love all eternity. This is all done in the name of science.

A track that was created during the making of their first album, “For Science” was first released on the “(She Was a) Hotel Detective EP” in 1988, and then re-released on the groups B-Side compilation “Miscellaneous T” (which is the album I first heard the song on).

Linnell plays the announcer at the start of the track, Flansburgh takes the role of the love-struck man, and “Lt. Anne Moore” – as she is known as on the EP – provides the female vocals.

It’s a funny little track, one that has apparently only been played live by the band three times. They’ll have their reasons as to why that is.

My iPod #382: The Killers – For Reasons Unknown

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One time when I was in year seven, just starting life in secondary school, a friend of mine randomly started singing “there was an open chaaiiiiiiir” and kept on repeating that line again. This forced me to question what was wrong with him as I joking began to question him about his mental health.

It all made sense a few months later, when the video “For Reasons Unknown” started showing on MTV. The line makes up a funny second verse in the track where Brandon Flowers wails: “There was an open chaaaaaiiiir/We sat down iiiiiiiiiin/The open chaaaiiir”, before going into the pre-chorus again. Still, that track was played over and over again that I eventual began to start liking it. I had no choice to be honest; the lyrics were permanently etched into my brain to the video’s excessive air time.

The song was released as “Sam’s Town”‘s final single, before the band went away for a year or so preparing their third album. The track is different from many other Killers stuff, as Brandon Flowers actually takes bass duties while Mark Stoermer plays the second guitar (as is shown in the video). I did not know that the track was a narrative based on Flowers’ grandmother who suffers/ed from Alzheimer’s disease. Kind of brings me down thinking about it, actually. But it is a very bold and forward-moving track, with a very passionate vocal performance from Brandon. And an overall solid performance by the four guys.