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My iPod #85: The Futureheads – The Beginning of the Twist

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Hi everyone.

I’m feeling good today. After about seven years, I have finally got around to taking my acoustic guitar to get fixed. I only need a new high e string, but it’s taken so long. I never thought this day would come. I listened to ‘Blow Away’ by George Harrison – one of the happiest songs that I only listened to last Friday or so, on repeat on the way to the shop and back.The weather is incredibly sunny and very hot. It’s a good time to be alive.

“This Is Not the World” is The Futureheads’ third album released in 2008. They also hadn’t released an album for quite a while. “The Beginning of the Twist” was the first single, and brought back that hard-hitting, punchy feeling that’s present throughout most of their songs.

It was also the first time the band had released material on their independent label Nul Records, after leaving 679 Recordings for undisclosed reasons. It is the first song on the album, but in its own way it is announcement of their change and a message that things will not be the same. I don’t think it’s in any way autobiographical, I just thought of that. It’s all up to interpretation.

Until tomorrow.

Jamie.

My iPod #81: They Might Be Giants – Bee of the Bird of the Moth

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Oh, hello again! Nice to see you.

“Bee of the Bird of the Moth” is a track from They Might Be Giants’ twelfth album “The Else” released in 2007. I didn’t listen to it until very recently, only because I wasn’t sure whether I wanted to listen to the album or not. It was released during the period when the band had developed their children’s music albums, with “Here Come the ABCs” preceding it, and the two other “Here Comes…” coming afterward, so I had my doubts on whether the sound of the ‘adult’ album would appeal to me.

I was wrong to doubt. “This Might Be a Wiki”, the information centre dedicated to the band allows its members to rate their songs out of 10, and out of 84 ratings it has an average of 8.83/10 which isn’t band considering it’s above songs like “You Probably Get That a Lot” and “Weep Day” which are just examples of two other songs that I like. I’m thinking that that’s the actual reason why I listened to the song in the first place. It has a high rating in the TMBW song list. That sounds quite bad 😦

I don’t regret it though. If I hadn’t done that, then there’s the possibility that I may not have given “The Else” a chance. “The Else” is a great album. I’m biased though ’cause They Might Be Giants are one of my favourite artists, but it’s proudly in my iTunes library where I can listen to the songs everyday.

In John Linnell’s words: “This is a song about a hummingbird moth, which imitates another creature, which imitates yet another creature. It’s completely fucked up and can only be explained in song!”

What more can you say?

Until tomorrow.

Jamie.

My iPod #74: Nine Black Alps – Bay of Angels

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Afternoon everyone.

Sorry there was no blog yesterday. I went to the cinema with my friends.

We also broke the law too. Originally, we were only meant to watch “This Is the End” (which is a hilarious movie, I recommend it) but we ended up watching “Now You See Me” too, for free. 😀

It was cool. I thought we would get caught. We didn’t. It was fine.

Don’t break the law guys.

Another blog will come up later today. This is the song that would have been posted yesterday.

“Bay of Angels” is the fifth song of Nine Black Alps’ third album “Locked Out from the Inside”. It’s one of the less heavier songs on the album, but is placed in between two of the more rocking tunes and therefore is a song to chill out to amongst the noise.

Although it may not be as fast and loud as the others, it is a great song creating an almost ethereal and dreamlike atmosphere with its slow pace, echoey vocals and soaring guitar work.

Until… later on.

Jamie.

My iPod #68: George Harrison – Ballad of Sir Frankie Crisp (Let It Roll)

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Another song from “All Things Must Pass”.

“Who is Sir Frankie Crisp?” You may ask.

Well, the video above is a black and white picture of George Harrison sitting in a huge garden with four, quite large, garden gnomes. This was the original artwork for his debut album in 1970, before it was colourated for its 2001 remaster release.

It turns out that garden is the main lawn of only one of the gardens at his home, Friar Park, which he bought in the winter of 1970. Friar Park was originally owned by Sir Crisp, and this song is a tribute to him and to the estate.

Did you know that the song contains part of the melody of an original song of his called “Everybody, Nobody”. That song was about motoring and travelling on the road, but Harrison rewrote the words to make “Let It Roll”.

This song is one of my favourites. It’s very descriptive. It’s almost like reading a movie script: ‘Let it roll across the floor/Through the hall and out the door/To the fountain of perpetual mirth/Let it roll for all it’s worth …’

This song is quite a whiplash in mood on the album; after listening to “Apple Scruffs” which is one of the happiest songs on there, this song comes up with quite a dark tone to it. The reverb on the snare drum and the repeats of “Oh, Sir Frankie Crisp” in the background reinforce the mysterious atmosphere. It’s not sad though, in fact he throws in a reference to a Monty Python in the midst of it.

Listen to it. You might like it too.

Until tomorrow.

Jamie.

My iPod #62: Paul & Linda McCartney – The Back Seat of My Car

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Right. I have some explaining to do.

Yesterday I went out with friends to watch “Man of Steel”, the new Superman movie. I was out for a long time, I couldn’t put out my post and for that, I apologise to the small number of people who actually view this blog.

To be honest the film wasn’t that good; I don’t see what all the fuss is about.

Today, I bring a special two-in-one post.* Only to make up for yesterday though, don’t be expecting anything more.

“Ram” is the second album released by Paul McCartney after The Beatles split in 1970. However, it was credited to both he and his wife Linda, and therefore doesn’t really count as a solo album.

“Ram” is one of the happiest albums I’ve listened to. Whereas “McCartney”, his first album, was more of a collection of old songs he had written whilst he was still in The Beatles, “Ram” on the other hand gave off a sense of freedom and also a sense of closure. Paul had ‘found his love awake and waiting to be’ and was ready to take things head on.

“The Back Seat of My Car” is the final track on the album, and probably the most emotional. Love is a theme that runs throughout, but this is when it reaches its peak.

The story in the song is pretty simple. The couple have dreams of getting away ‘along the highway’ to ‘Mexico City’ but prefer making out in the back seat of a car unbeknownst to the girl’s father who is always nagging at them. Awww. How romantic is that?

Sure, the story is short and sweet. The actual composition is beautifully performed, with calming and soothing vocals by Paul and slight changes in tempo here and there culminating in an audience participation section and a rocking outro make it perfect for the album closer.

Also, the song contains what is probably the best vocal delivered by McCartney. Ever.

I can’t describe it very well, just listen to it; you’ll get what I mean.

John Lennon thought this was one out of several songs on the album on “Ram” that was aimed at him and Yoko, it isn’t, but you can hear his thoughts about it if you search for it on YouTube.

*8/7/26 – There were originally two posts merged into one here, but I’ve decided it didn’t look nice and split them into two. If you want to see how this was originally laid out, here is is on the original site.