Tag Archives: my ipod

My iPod #346: They Might Be Giants – Exquisite Dead Guy

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“Exquisite Dead Guy” is a weird song. It’s weirdly mysterious and dramatic at the same time even though not a lot happens in it. The only overdubs present are those on Linnell’s voice, and apart from that there some cellos, a bass and drums for most of its duration. As a result the track sounds a bit empty, always feeling like something additional needs to be added. But I like it like that. Maybe that’s what attracted me to it.

There are some thories about the ‘exquisite dead guy’ in question being Jesus Christ, and the ascending ‘ba-da-ba’ vocal line is meant to represent Morse code. Those things go way over my head. The song is one ‘of admiration of a departed hero‘, so that’s what I’ll go ahead and see it as.

It’s quite the unconventional track. If the aforementioned ‘ba-da-ba’ scat vocals are the chorus, then those make up the majority of the two minutes the song lasts for. And when those stop Linnell, in a low register, sings about seeing this dead man wherever he goes. Things become surprisingly introspective during the middle part, but the song then returns to repeat the vocal line twice more before coming to an abrupt end.

On a side note, the ‘E’ section finishes tomorrow. Time has flown. What song is next? Wait and see.

My iPod #345: They Might Be Giants – Experimental Film

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During all the years you are at primary school, you are free to do whatever you want. No exams, or pressures of having to go and work bothered you. Nothing matters. You have all the time in the world. I used that time to watch the television, and go on the Internet. It was on the latter that I found Homestar Runner one day when I was nine. I visited that website for the next five years until production died and the creators went on a hiatus from it. But I was always entertained by its hilarious characters, Strong Bad ‘SBEmails’ and toooons. Good times. I hear activity on the website is gonna start again soon. Can’t wait. Bring it on.

At that point, I didn’t know who They Might Be Giants were. So I pretty much watched the “Experimental Film” without thinking too much about it. It was an alright track, but I thought ‘They’ were just a random band who were friends with The Brother Chaps who asked them to do a video. It wasn’t until later on when it really hit me that my favourite Internet cartoon had collaborated with one of my favourite bands. Pretty weird. But I’m glad it happened.

Away from all the back story, “Experimental Film” starts off They Might Be Giants album “The Spine“. Written by John Linnell, the track is about a guy who is working on an experimental film. Quite obvious. He’s got it all planned out, and nobody knows about it. But during the chorus he reveals that everyone (friends, family, listeners?) will be involved in the making of this film alongside celebratory “YEAH” backing vocals, and is very ambitious about it’s outcome even if the film is beyond his own understanding.

Great way to begin an album. A standard three minute track with a very welcoming and happy tone about it. Homestar Runner has good taste.

My iPod #344: Billy Talent – The Ex

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In the middle of Billy Talent’s first album (at least their first under that name) from 2003 comes “The Ex”, a very angry song – possibly written from personal experience by lead singer Ben Kowalewicz – about suddenly being dumped by a girlfriend and being left alone again after putting so much effort into keep that relationship going. Ben is not happy, and makes it very clear in this track.

If you’ve listened to “Billy Talent” fully, you will know how much a heel turn this track is after listening to “Lies” which is much lighter in comparison. D’Sa’s busy guitar introduction begins the song, the rhythm section kicks in a few seconds later and Ben sings about the sky turning grey and other melancholy things, before shouting the chorus wondering why he has to suffer through the shit.

This song rocks, yeah! Think I heard it when its video was available on Billy Talent’s official website, years ago when it had the yellow and red design. Those were good times. That’s where I heard “Try Honesty” and other songs from the first album for the first time too. But that’s for another time.

My iPod #343: Franz Ferdinand – Evil Eye

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This video may disturb some. Even though everything that happens in it is clearly fake. It’s nasty. Alex Kapranos dons a fake moustache that makes him look like a pornstar, but that’s not the worst of it.

“Evil Eye” was the third single to come from Franz Ferdinand’s most recent album “Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action“, which was released almost a year ago now. It’s from the perspective of a person who is able to see things that other normal people can’t see. As a result, the narrator finds that people react to him in different ways. Some annoy him to the point that they bring a disturbing reaction out of him, some think he’s alright because they have this power themselves, some want to really analyse what’s going on in his head, and some are simply suspicious of his character. And that’s all in the order that the chorus lists it.

I think there’s something funny about this song. And not ‘funny’ as in strange, but actually humorous. Why? I think it is just because it’s so funky and catchy for a track that’s supposed to give somebody the creeps. Those falsetto backing vocals in the chorus, extravagant keyboards and Alex Kapranos manipulated vocals all mix up to result in a song that sounds like it could be the theme tune to a weird detective crime series.

Track is good though. Probably one of my favourites from the album. Franz Ferdinand may not get the hype that used to come their way, but if they can still produce quality such as this then it’s all good.

My iPod #342: Interpol – Evil

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 You know what I miss about Interpol? Carlos Dengler. You have to admit that man’s bass playing was so essential to Interpol’s sound, and the band have suffered just a tad since his departure. His melodic bass lines were perfect at establishing the tone of many tracks and the instrument itself was the one you most wanted to hear when listening to an Interpol track. “Evil” is a track where both those statements are very much true.

The first thing you hear when the song starts playing? Dengler on the bass. And though I wouldn’t say that memorable riff is evil, it definitely sets off a very moody and ominous atmosphere. No, I think the ‘evil’ is represented by the subject matter, the track may be about Rosemary Wet, the serial killer who tortures and killed teenage girls along with her husband Fred. Thinking about it now, the song may be from the perspective of the husband, dead after committing suicide before going on trial. But that’s just my suggestion.

“Evil” is a worrying track. And if you think listening to it’s bad, just look at the music video. I can’t remember when I first watched it but when I did I didn’t know whether to be scared, concerned or amused by the puppet. Its facial expressions are frightening at times, but its movements are pretty hilarious.