Song Of The Day - 3/9/09

Vampire Weekend

"A-Punk"

Vampire Weekend

Released 2008

From a band nearly swallowed up by their own hype came this infectious slice of poppy perfection. One critic mentioned that it sounded like an English Beat B-Side, and while there are some similarities, these guys bring a unique quality to the song.

Clearly inspiried by the World music styling of Graceland-era Paul Simon (the band themselves describe their sound as "Upper West Side Soweto") on the rest of the debut album, "A-Punk" stands out as it veers into more ska flavored territory. Clocking in at just 2:17, it leaves the listener wanting more, and I defy anyone to not have this song in their head for the rest of the day after one listen. This is one song that pretty much denmands you hit the repeat button on whatever device it's being played.

Don't take my word for it, listen and see for yourself.

Song Of The Day - 2/27/09

The Jam

"Circus"

The Gift

1982

Never a big hit in the States, UK legends The Jam released their final studio album, The Gift, in the summer of 1982. Frontman and leader Paul Weller made some headlines at the time, mentioning he was pulling the plug on the group so they didn't end up as tired, obsolete parodies of themselves like "the rest of them". The implication that he was speaking primarily of The Who, who were about to embark on the first of several Farewell Tours, was hard to miss.

The Gift's best known track was clearly "Town Called Malice", but for some reason the instrumental "Circus", written by bassist Bruce Foxton, immediately captured me. Clocking in at a quick 2:11, the features blaring horns, whistles, aggressive drums and an unforgettable guitar riff.

Some years later I heard this song, believe it or not, as background music during an intro for a New York Mets telecast, which was bizarre. This is a song, to me, which is begging to be used in a movie during a chase scene or a montage, and it would not at all surprise if that in fact had already happened.

The Jam left us too soon, but also left behind a great catalog. This forgotten gem is one you won't find on any of the Greatest Hits collections, but is worth looking for and checking out.

The Jam (Allmusic)

Song of the Day - 2/19/09

3rd Bass

"Derelicts Of Dialect"

Derelicts Of Dialect

1991

I know, I know, a "Song Of The Day" feature is launched in mid-January, and as of February 19 only three entries have been posted. Kinda sad, isn't it? Let's just chalk it up to some unforseen events which took priority and forced me to neglect my musical duties over the past few weeks. Rest assured, I'll make every attempt to get back to semi-regular entries here, particularly regarding this endeavor. On to today's entry...

The second album from white rap duo 3rd Bass, Derelicts Of Dialect, dropped (see, I can use the hip lingo the kids today!) in 1991, and was notable for the inclusion of what would become the group's best known song, the scathing anti Vanilla Ice (mostly) classic "Pop Goes The Weasel". The title track, which for all intents and purposes kicks off the album, has come up on several occasions recently during random shuffling on my iPod, and is today's Song of the Day.

A flute(!) kicks off the track, with a solid beat thumping behind, while a narrator voice matter-of-factly intones, presumably talking of the group, "The great will always soar, above the mediocre/they create, while others destroy". From there, we quickly settle into a clear example of 3rd Bass' style, alternating verses between Prime Minister Pete Nice and MC Serch, each of whom display vastly different vocal styles. The theme, which was repeated several times throughout the album, solidified how 3rd Bass considered themselves to be "authentic" rap, while the sudden commercial success of other acts like the aforementioned Vanilla Ice was nothing more than crass cashing in by less talented phonies. One favorite lyrical example is when MC Serch laments his uniqueness as a "white boy in New York who can't get a cab, G", a reference to the then rare site of a caucasian dressed in hip hop gear experiencing a problem of which other black males were well aware. A solid opening track to what would, sadly, be the last album from the group. (See below for the lyrics.)

The song closes with the narrator voice once more, providing what one can only assume is another assertion of 3rd Bass' cred, and further underscores that, to them, the credibility of their peers, as opposed to widespread commercial success, was paramount.

Check out the entire album, which contains many more hits than misses. Highly recommended.

The lyrics:
The great will always soar, above, the mediocre They create, while others destroy

[Pete Nice] Never had a wasted mind, had the time

Erectin rhyme I cause gifted lines

The flows I knows puts the papers in pockets

Swings of things, observed in my sockets

In ten spot I got stacks of LP wax

Couderoy slacks, loops and sales tax

On the racks but my label is Derelict

Spic-n-Span I slam, it's balls you lick

Ill missions, but doin us ain't even simple Stereotype the rhymer as a criminal

Subliminal I put a noose on the necks The sinister signs of my rhymes is sex ..

[MC Serch] Smooth, set-up so slick as I set to move, all the great masses

Asses bounce to track that is all in I'm droppin my quarter, I'm placin my call in

to my crew that's down with the street trends Play around and you'll fall off the deep end

I heard your hooker she likes to do knee-bends But I got a girl, so I called up three friends

And they called three friends (and I called three friends) And so on, and so on, and so on..

So go on my path, and try to follow but not step for step, cause I like to sidestep

You'll get swept like a broom and you'll make room for daddy

White boy in New York and I can't get a cab G

So take me to my rest so I guess I'll get wrecked cause I'm a derelict of dialect ..

[Pete Nice] Dialect spoken, in sectional lesson The less you know, the more you gotta guess on

I press on point, some sweat my jizznoint Playin themselves with the fingers the point

I speak slow, I carry a fat stick Get your kneepads and reapply your chapstick

Step to this, as the Derelict reanimates No jim hat as my mouth ejaculates

I stays mumble, I speaks jumble Phonetics on phonograph'll prime your petrol

Retroactive, my knot scale is tipped off I rip the head off, the Derelict stepped off

and left to show this, to those who typecast Ill the rhyme-ass trickster or outcast of intellect,

I wreck shit with my own sect The ace in the hole, I'm the Derelict of Dialect ..

[MC Serch] 3rd Bass, but not a bass for slidin

Foundation, for a nation who's mind is in motion, goin in fluid

Who did you just distrust? It's Serch and I crush this mental need for oppression

Oppressed and all vexed and just placed a suggestion

Lesson or loss enforce those in a spot who got your head frozen

Defrost the eye and spy on the serpent On act two, he tried to close curtain

But intermission I glimpsed and I clock more Derelicts watch act three and the encore ..

Individuals who are never satisfied with the static standards set by the masses -- the masses have always been lethargic They have always opposed greatness for it is beyond them to even.. comprehend greatness

3rd Bass page on Allmusic

Song Of The Day - 1/23/09

Devo
"Beautiful World"
New Traditionalists

Released 1981

Devo had already hit it as big as they ever would by 1981, with the success of "Whip It", which became the Akron based band's biggest hit a year earlier. Bands like Devo didn't exist to feed the pop music machine, though, and it was not at all surprising to see them never sniff that level of success again.

This song, taken from the follow-up album New Traditionalists, could have easily been a hit. It's catchy, synth driven beat, highlighted by a surf guitar break, could have easily found chart success at a time when songs like "Bette Davis Eyes" and "Kiss On My List" were spending weeks atop the Billboard lists. A look at the video provides the likely explanation as to why it didn't:

[video to be posted shortly]

What I love about this song is the way the upbeat sounds and lyrics lull one into thinking it's simply an updated version of a "What A Wonderful World"-like sappy anthem, until you get to the chrous reply line at the end which snaps you to attention:

(chorus)
It's a beautiful world (for you)
It's a beautiful world (for you)
It's a beautiful world (for you)
It's a beautiful world (Not Me)

Ah, the lovely smell of irony in the morning! Another reason to love the band, whose cynical view (recall that the name, Devo, is shorthand for de-evolution, the idea that instead of evolving, mankind has actually regressed, as evidenced by the dysfunction and herd mentality of American society.) of culture managed to surface once again. This is a highlight from their catalog, and one worth revisiting.

all music link

Song Of The Day - 1/20/09

The National
"Mistaken For Strangers"
from the album Boxer
Released 2007

Just as the previous entry, "Time To Pretend" was my pick for 2008 Song of the Year, this haunting three minutes and eleven seconds of awesomeness was easily the selection for 2007.

Quick personal note: iTunes tracks the numebr of times each track is played, and provides a list of your individual Top 25 Most Played. When I checked after my latest synch, this song was so far at the top it had doubled the next closest song.

About the song, what stands out to me is the drumming of Bryan Devendorf. The rhythmic pounding which punctuates each measure will stick in your head, while the clanging echoey guitars create an amazing mood in what turns out to be a brooding tone. Check this lyric for an example:

You get mistaken for strangers by your own friends
when you pass them at night under the silvery, silvery citibank
lights
arm in arm in arm and eyes and eyes glazing under
oh you wouldn’t want an angel watching over
surprise, surprise they wouldn’t wannna watch
another uninnocent, elegant fall into the unmagnificent lives of
adults

Wow. Not exactly "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go", huh?

The above, when sung in the droning, Leonard Cohen-ish voice of Mark Berninger, makes for a highly memorable track which to this listener, stands out on a very good album.

Americanmary (band site)

Mistaken For Strangers (YouTube)

Another New Feature - Song Of The Day

It's a new year, and it's time for some new resolutions. First, I resolve to post more frequently - posting more frequently means more things which will turn up in Google searches, which mean more hits and traffic to the site, and more...profit?

Anyway, I thought it would be cool to introduce a Song of the Day, kinda like NPR does but different, because it's, well, me. And I won't hit you up for any donations, although you're welcome to send any cash my way.

The goal is to briefly touch on a song heard during the course of the day, be it something from my collection or the radio. Hopefully over time we'll explore an eclectic batch of songs, and I will accept any and all recommendations from you guys as well.

Up first......

MGMT - "Time To Pretend"
from the album Oracular Spectacular
Released 2008

Had I published a Best Of list for 2008, this gem would have won the top spot as Song Of The Year. It is at once a wistful, dreamy and depressing song , disguised with happy sounding synth bursts and a updated psychedelic fuzzy backbeat. It has become a song I've yet to be tired of, and you won't either.

Sample Lyric:

This is our decision to live fast and die young.
We've got the vision, now let's have some fun.
Yeah it's overwhelming, but what else can we do?
Get jobs in offices and wake up for the morning commute?

Listen and see the video on MGMT's Official Site