I have a feeling that I won’t have a lot to write about today. There’s not much to say about this particular song. The band don’t like it very much either, and tend to not to play it live.
Arctic Monkeys have changed…. I know this change has been occurring since they released in “Humbug”, but this is ridiculous. Have you heard their new single? It’s quite good you know. But you listen to that, and then listen to “The Bad Thing” for a comparison. You would think it was a totally different band.
After “Whatever People Say I Am…” became the fastest selling debut album in the UK in 2006 and spouted two number one singles in the process, Arctic Monkeys became one of the biggest bands in the country.
“Favourite Worst Nightmare” was one of the most awaited albums in 2007. I bought it from Woolworths after a day of school and listened to it at home.
“The Bad Thing” is considered to be one of the more forgettable songs from the album. I’ve got to admit that I can remember listening to “If You Were There, Beware” and “D Is for Dangerous” more than this one, maybe it’s because it’s near the end of the album – I don’t know, but in recent years I have come to appreciate it a lot more.
This song uses the theme of relationships that is common throughout their debut album. This time, it is sung from the point of view from a guy who is hit on by women in relationships, and although he doesn’t want to be tempted he can’t help himself. Because he’s a guy. And that’s normal.
“Backfire at the Disco” was released as a single from The Wombats’ first album “A Guide to Love, Loss and Desperation” in 2007. It reached #67 in the charts.
At that time no one really knew who the band were, and so they re-released it in 2008. It reached #40 in the charts.
The band was another that played on MTV2 when they first came about on the scene, and so there wasn’t a day when this song wasn’t playing on the channel.
I didn’t really like the song back then. The song that really got me into them was “Kill the Director”, which will be coming up later many years from now.
The song includes a trademark vocal that the band used throughout their first album and then abandoned in their second. You know how on “Employment” by Kaiser Chiefs, almost every song (or single, I haven’t listened to all of that album) included a part where a build up in tension was signified by an “Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh *breath* oooooohhhhhhhhh woooooooahhhh ooooooooooooooh”?
Well, on “A Guide to Love” almost every song (I can say that this time as I own the album, and have listened to it) includes a “woo” or an “ooh” section, either as back up vocals or as a break between a verse and a chorus or something.
Both bands are similar in that when they both abandoned those vocals, their second albums didn’t do as well. I haven’t listened to “This Modern Glitch”, and probably won’t. I would stick to their first if I was you.
The song is about a person who goes out on a date, and it almost goes well until they go to the disco and everything goes wrong. I’m sure many people have been through this before. I guess.
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.
Today’s song is another one by those four guys from Liverpool. I don’t have access to my computer at the moment so I hastily type this up using my iPod Touch.
“Back in the U.S.S.R” is the opening track to the band’s double album “The Beatles” – also known as “The White Album” due to the album’s front cover. I prefer to call it “The Beatles” though because… that’s the name of the album.
1968 is known as the year when the members of the band started to get a bit annoyed with one another. You probably wouldn’t think that listening to this classic though. Upon first listen you might think, “Yeah, I can dig this! Paul sounds like he’s having a good time, they are all whooping and stuff in the middle. Ah, those guys.”
IT’S ALL LIES. Tension was building amongst the group, and for a number of different reasons. George felt under appreciated, as did Ringo and John had brought along a force that would totally break the harmony between the four for the rest of their years together.
For anyone who didn’t know, Ringo doesn’t play on this track. It is actually Paul on the drums. I’m sorry to break it to you if he’s your favourite or whatever.
In regards to “The Beatles”, it was a matter of ‘back to basics’ for the band. Their last full release was “Sgt. Pepper” which is known for its wide variety instrumentation and the colourful front cover and whatnot, and so after travelling to India for ‘spiritual enlightenment’ the band were ready to keep things simple.
“Back in the U.S.S.R.” is a great opener, I can’t imagine it anywhere else on an album. It’s got that sense of urgency and pace and gets you hyped up for what is to come.
That was meant to be the introduction to the song, by the way.
Hi everyone! I’m in a good mood. I am now a free man, exams are finished, nothing’s gonna change my clothes until results day. Until then, I should probably get started with this again. It is time… for the B SERIES. YES! YES! COME ON!
So System of a Down…. what can I say?
In 2005 it had been three years since the band released their third album. I didn’t follow the band so much, so I had no idea that this album was even out. However, “Chop Suey!” and “Toxicity” were two songs of the band that I saw on MTV2 and, although the former’s video was quite weird and I was quite confused by the actual song, the band really rocked and I guess I wanted to hear more from them.
“B.Y.O.B.”, acronym for ‘Bring Your Own Bombs’, was released as the first single from Mezmerize, the first half of a double album that would be out by the end of the year. It is considered to be yet another of System of a Down’s trademark songs due its fast pace, contrasts between quiet and loud in the verses and chorus, and lines that you are able to shout out at the top of your lungs.
This was also their first single where Daron Malakian had lead vocals in the part of the song. I remember seeing the video when it first came out, and again I was confused at how the song randomly changed in the middle. They were singing about “having a real good time” and “going to the party” and then it was “BLAST OFF IT’S PARTY TIME, WHERE THE FUCK ARE YOU!!!!!!”. It was crazy. But it makes it that much awesome.
This is another song out of the hundreds in the world that are anti-war. I think this song depicts the message quite clearly. It is about how the government chat shite most the time and how much they suck. George Bush had been re-elected as president the year before, which I guess no one understood back then. So people were pissed. I’m thinking Serj and Daron pretty much felt the same way.
Why do they always send the poor? Why? WHY.
That was alright. It’s good to be back.
Until next time.
Jamie.
P.S. I WAS LOOKING THROUGH MY POSTS YESTERDAY AND I REALISED I MISSED TWO BLOODY SONGS IN MY ‘A’ SERIES.
How did I do that? Yeezus. I might as well do them pretty quickly, and without focus.
George Harrison – Apple Scruffs
That is not the album version, but it’s pretty close.*
Another song from ‘All Things Must Pass’. Not much to say about the song. I listened to the album back in 2011, and this song was one that caught my ear. Great harmonies in the chorus by Harrison, and a delightful tribute to the ‘Scruffs’ who would hang outside Abbey Road when The Beatles were there.
Very nice.
11/06/2020* It is now the album version.
Nine Black Alps – Along for the Ride
OK, Nine Black Alps are one of my favourite bands ever.
They released their newest album “Sirens” last October, which you can listen to here.
“Locked Out from the Inside”, the album this song is on, was released in 2009 after the second album “Love/Hate”. I was dissappointed by the second album, because their first album was so good. So good. It’s one of my favourites. “Love/Hate” was just so mellow, and indie and using acoustic guitars. It was such a bore compared to “Everything Is”.
“Locked Out from the Inside” for me was a return to form. Their crunchy, rough Nirvana-esque sound was back, no acoustic guitars in sight. It just felt like everything was back to normal.
“Along for the Ride” is the penultimate song from the album. I think it’s about wanting a relationship, or being interested in someone. I don’t know, I don’t really look deep into lyrics. Even though I typed the lyrics up for every song and got them up on the Internet.
If you don’t know Nine Black Alps, listen to their stuff. Please.
The Music in My Ears 