092911

What's It Called?

Girl Talk - Oh No

What's The Story?

Girl Talk is the stage name of Gregg Gillis, who (I love this) famously gave up on his degree/work in biomedical engineering to work fulltime on his music mashups. His latest album, All Day, contains hundreds of samples from just about every genre you can imagine. Oh No is the first track on that album, although the whole thing really plays like a mixtape.

Who's To Blame?

A Nova Scotian who looks a little like Girl Talk, and conversely, looks very unlikely to listen to (let alone enjoy) Girl Talk.

Why ♥ It?

Perfect example of the genre blurring you'll catch here: Oh No gets its name from a verse in Ludacris' Move Bitch, and is paired with Black Sabbath's War Pigs for the intro to the track. Hearing Luda rap over that ever-famous power-chord part from when War Pigs' tempo picks up is sheer novelty, but doesn't lose its lustre like some novelty tends to.

From there, through a convoluted sample segue, Dorrough's Ice Cream Paint Job is on display alongside The Brothers' Johnson's Strawberry Letter 23, which is a sick beat that really brings the rap to life. I didn't know either track prior to this mashup, but they're both solid library additions.

Finally, nearing the end, The Ramones' Blitzkrieg Bop is used both musically and lyrically: they have the vocals over Slick Rick's La Di Da Di, and then swap to the upbeat guitar paired with Missy Elliott's Get Your Freak On.

The above is by no means an exhaustive list of samples used, but they're the main and memorable ones in the track, and All Day continues with more of the same for an hour or so. If you like mashups, novelty, and hearing either familiar tunes in a new light, or new tunes in a compressed format, Girl Talk is perfect. It's great party music too; even the heaviest ADD will be satisfied.

092811

What's It Called?

Neon Trees - Animal

What's The Story?

This tune was in a tourism commercial for Vegas last week, and when asked if I knew it, I insisted that it was Two Door Cinema Club for like five minutes before I got contrary enough to jfgi. Neon Trees are a four piece from Utah, and Animal was the lead single from their first & only album to date, Habits.

Who's To Blame?

His beard is probably what a playoff beard would've looked like on an Oilers fan in the 80s.

Why ♥ It?

As stated above, despite its radio appeal and generally maligned teen/young adult audience, Animal is a tune that could easily be by a band your hipster friend was telling you about last week. Neon Trees nail the genre rudiments of singable chorus and a clean vocal line, laid over some power chords and a happy, upbeat chord progression.

But don't think that it's entirely boring.

Having the bass guitar turned up to 11 or so can always give a track an added voice, and this is true of Animal as well. See also from 1:25 until the second chorus for a great quirk in the vocals. For a song called Animal, it mostly wears kitten mittens, but at this point the vocals have a sandpaper moment that'll make you feel better about listening to such a pseudo teeny-bopper song.

You know that 14-year old cousin you have with the jet-black dyed hair, skinny jeans and goofy superfluous glasses? They like this song, but so will you.

092711

What's It Called?

Dire Straits - Sultans of Swing

What's The Story?

Dire Straits are a fixture on classic rock radio, best known for their hit Money For Nothing, which, alongside being one of the biggest hits of the 80s, caused a stir in Newfoundland (& later, Canada) due to its use of the word "faggot". On the other hand, Sultans of Swing is the song that launched their career while touring with the Talking Heads in the late 70s; it's from their eponymous first album.

Who's To Blame?

The only stonecutter I deal with on a daily basis.

Why ♥ It?

I don't need to explain why this is a great song, but I noticed while listening to it this morning that my favorite part far & away is actually the post-chorus. Most songs have their catchy hooks in the chorus; occasionally, in the pre-chorus, and sometimes even the verse. However, that lovable guitar lick comes most commonly and most prominently after the chorus they play so often. The structure was one that I took time to ponder, and realized I couldn't think of another song that had its best to offer immediately following the refrain. Blogosphere, what are some other songs where the most famous & catchiest part come after the chorus, but before the verse?

Oh, and if you haven't heard this song at all, listen to it right. now. (I probably should've said that first)

092611

What's It Called?

Rodrigo y Gabriela - Buster Voodoo

What's The Story?

These guys are nifty. A fella and a lady from Mexico who grew up loving heavy metal, they moved to Ireland and started a career in flamenco guitar. The album this tune comes from, 11:11 features 11 songs, each inspired by a different rock/metal artist. This one's for Hendrix.

Who's To Blame?

An old friend who's probably a hipster, but has the right attitude about it.

Why ♥ It?

Flamenco guitar in general is wonderful and flexible music. There aren't too many situations where it's inappropriate. What Rodrigo y Gabriela bring to the table is a style that, like both themselves and myself, grew up on the hard stuff.

Buster Voodoo features a wonderfully catchy rhythm refrain that's paired with a catchier lead, plenty of blinding & technical solos, and hand-slapping percussion on the guitars that makes you forget that there isn't actually a percussionist.

As long as you're okay with not having something to sing along to, this song is as good as it gets.

092511

What's It Called?

Pretty Lights - World of Illusion

What's The Story?

Pretty Lights is Derek Vincent Smith, a DJ/producer from Colorado. Known for his intense all-nighter live shows featuring big sounds and (what else) pretty lights, he actually releases all his material for free with a suggested donation because of his extensive sampling habits. This one's from his most recent 2009 full album, Passing By Behind Your Eyes.

Who's To Blame?

Fuck it, he'll have a root beer.

Why ♥ It?

World of Illusion kicks off the album, and it's in the ideal slot as an opener. The beat glitches itself into reality; thirty-five seconds of stutter-step groove before a horn sample that Mike Tyson could enter the ring to. The beat tapers again for another few seconds, before re-entering with a solid groove that's not dubstep, but still pretty dirty. It doesn't have the hooks of a Daft Punk or a Justice, but it'll still hold attention for 3 minutes plus without issue.

One of the shortest tunes by Pretty Lights, World of Illusion acts as a perfect intro: to an album, to an artist, to a genre, whatever. This song is the start of something, and it's up to you to determine what.

092411

What's It Called?

Florence + The Machine - Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up)

What's The Story?

Florence + The Machine are a soulful pop rock group from London. Rabbit Heart is from their critically acclaimed first album, Lungs. Also, they're a rock group with a freakin' harp player.

Who's To Blame?

The biggest mess in the education faculty of 09-10.

(Trust me, that's an achievement)

Why ♥ It?

Two reasons, mainly.

First, the all-encompassing vocals of the song. Florence is no doubt the centerpiece of the group, and the verses traverse from her singing with one powerful voice, to giant choral-effect moments and back again. It's sort of a call-and-answer style (see: live performances of the song), but more importantly, it creates an energy flow.

...Which brings me to point number two, the chorus. The verse bottoms out into a building pre-chorus, and that explodes into a chorus that's really, really loud for this type of music. The drums that were sorta-interesting during the verse are now getting pounded, and it's all about layer after layer of cold-shiver, soul-piercing vocals. It absolutely radiates energy.

The probably-bigot in me would call Florence + The Machine sort of a chick-rock band, but make no mistake: they can blow you away just as well as any bearded, testosterone-laden group, and this song is an ideal example of that.

092311

What's It Called?

Portugal. The Man - All My People

What's The Story?

Portugal. The Man are perhaps the best reason that the rest of America hasn't set Wasilla, Alaska on fire yet. They play an indie rock style that acts as a neat bridge between classic psychedelic rock, and more modern & upbeat indie sounds. All My People is (probably) the best known song from their 2010 release American Ghetto.

Who's To Blame?

He went as trollface.jpg for Hallowe'en last year. Needless to say, I don't trust 'em.

Why ♥ It?

There are so many elements of this song that remind me of something else that I like.

First, the electronic, hip-hop beat intro makes me mumble-sing Snoop Dog-gy Doggggg every time. The verse is trippy, like a less muted Kyuss. The chorus has the vocal style of MGMT with one of those guitar lines that mimics the notes of the vocals, causing the perfect storm of about-to-be-stuck-in-your-head. The post-chorus has a feel good guitar part that sounds like 90s radio rock, before descending back into the hip hop vibe. All of these elements come together to make a track that's hard to pin down, but definitely both likable and memorable.

092211

What's It Called?

Eliot Lipp - One Knot

What's The Story?

Eliot Lipp is an electronic musician from Los Angeles, now based in Brooklyn. One Knot is from his first, self-titled 2004 release.

Who's To Blame?

Pandora is a great timekiller when work is slow.

Why ♥ It?

This song is a downbeat and relaxed number that sounds like some of the more mellow moments of Holy Fuck. The clumsy organ, busy guitar, and I-only-need-two-freakin'-notes bass work well together to create music that's as good in the background as it is the foreground.

092111

What's It Called?

Boston - Foreplay / Long Time

What's The Story?

The only album that sold better in the US than the source of this gem was Guns 'n' Roses' Appetite For Destruction. Boston first hit the selves in 1976, and literally every song from it is still all over classic rock radio today.

Who's To Blame?

An adoptive father in California who I've never met in real life (or IRL, as the kids say)

Why ♥ It?

The reason for the slashed title is because this is actually two separate songs, more or less.

The first couple minutes are full of classic rock wankery. It's an awesome explosion of power chords, cymbals, and an organ solo. It's a headbanger, through and through.

The second part, Long Time, contains exactly the same fare that made Boston among the greatest selling acts of the 70s: Brad Delp with honest vocals & great harmonies, and Tom Scholz with a mixture of acoustic and electric sounds that gel wonderfully. Also, another trademark Boston chorus that the entire Western world had in their head for a decade.

Foreplay / Long Time is like taking the Battle of Helm's Deep from the Lord of The Rings trilogy, and appending the entirety of Pulp Fiction afterwards; it starts by blowing you away, and then gives you what you know to expect from one of the world's best.

092011

What's It Called?

Panic At The Disco - Hurricane

What's The Story?

Well, you've heard Panic. They famously had a great, punk-poppy first album, and then like countless others, had a sophomore flop. Then, 2 members left the band in 2009, and they're now a two-piece. Hurricane is from their third album & first with the new lineup, Vices & Virtues.

Who's To Blame?

...It's something about a pond in my bathroom?

Why ♥ It?

One of the things that appealed to me most about Panic's first album was how often they'd borrow a snippet of another genre into their own music. Lots of string sections, occasional electronic bursts, etc. Hurricane does this in the form of a disco-ball bass that demands center stage. The whole track is lit up by this sound, and by the many crowd sounding vocals. It feels like being in a particularly wild nightclub.

Fans of Panic's radio-ready choruses will find a home here, also. Although that happening bass is still busy funking it up, the rest of the chorus could be any other pop-punk song, as well as the you'll dance to anything hook-bridges that pop up a few times.

I still haven't figured out what it is about two-piece rock groups in the last few years that make them so excellent, but Panic At The Disco are a more-than-welcome addition to the bandwagon.

091911

What's It Called?

Nicole Atkins - Cry Cry Cry

What's The Story?

Nicole Atkins is a singer who has the heavy title of frequently being compared to Roy Orbison, says Wikipedia. Cry Cry Cry is from her newest offering, 2011's Mondo Amore.

Who's To Blame?

He's a Finn, but he ain't Scandanavian.

Why ♥ It?

Nicole Atkins is perhaps a little less known than Grace Potter, so that could give a good idea what to expect.

The vocals in this tune are impressive, as are the lyrics. Lots of held notes & vibrato--it's hard to cite a virtuoso performance in a track like this, but her talent definitely enhances the sound.

However, if you somehow never noticed that Nicole was there, this song still has a ton to offer. Specifically, although the song follows a pretty rudimentary progression, listening to the guitar is extremely rewarding. Like a Hendrix tune, the guitar plays around within the progression in a fashion that's both catchy and interesting; playing the notes you want to hear while never doing the same thing twice.

Cry Cry Cry is one of those songs you can play for anyone who'll listen, and probably get a thumbs up regardless of the audience.

091811

What's It Called?

Mindless Self Indulgence - Shut Me Up

What's The Story?

Mindless Self Indulgence are an interesting four-piece intersection of electronica and rock that comes out sounding crass, but I assure you that's what they're going for. Shut Me Up is the first track from the third of five studio albums, You'll Rebel To Anything.

Who's To Blame?

His nickname comes from the name of the one-blank domino.

Why ♥ It?

This song has a four-chord hook, foolish lyrics, a cheesy synth in the chorus, and all kinds of high notes on vocals. Separated piecewise in this way, you can compare MSI to one thing or another, but the gestalt result is difficult to compare anything to. It's worth hearing.

091711

What's It Called?

disasterPEACE - Jump Error

What's The Story?

disasterPEACE is the musical pseu-diddly-eudonym of Rich Vreeland, one of the better known artists in the chiptune scene. Much of his music can be found on his site. It's from an e-release album entitled Rise of The Obsidian Interstellar.

Who's To Blame?

A chill guy who instructed me in the ways of the day burn.

Why ♥ It?

Not having the advantage of a built in novelty from being from a previously played game, the track has to do something to catch the ear. Maybe it's the album title, and maybe it's a general tendency of chiptune; but this song really sounds like a blastoff into space from your favorite 8-bit game. It's an interesting soundscape, and the song is definitely built around this theme.

The main line (which also acts as an intro) is perfectly catchy. There are a number of cool and different movements which may not last more than a dozen seconds at a time, but they're united and made relevant by having that one riff run as a thread throughout much of the tune. In this way, Jump Error listens like a catchy overture, making it a nice stepping stone into chiptune.

091611

What's It Called?

Noah & The Whale - 2 Atoms In A Molecule

What's The Story?

Sometimes folk, sometimes indie, sometimes bluegrass. Noah & The Whale are another excellent rock offering from London; a great contemporary of Mumford & Sons. 2 Atoms In A Molecule is the first track from their first commercial release, Peaceful The World Lays Me Down.

Who's To Blame?

Perhaps ironically, a good buddy's girlfriend.

Why ♥ It?

A high-tempo acoustic guitar-driven song about anti-love. Something about a tune like this always exudes fun, and this one is no exception.

The percussion in this song is so lovable. It's never loud or busy, but the right beat is always lightly tapping away with the addition of a glock and some tinny-hitting sounds here and there, and it's ideal. Also, as always with Noah & The Whale, the backup vocals add a great element to the tune. Both of these parts are best heard in the bars with breaks from the verses, and the outro.

2 Atoms In A Molecule is at once short & sweet musically, as well as short & bitter lyrically. In one word, it's fun. Check it out.

091511

What's It Called?

Sebastien Grainger & The Mountains - Ways To Come Home

What's The Story?

For those who aren't heavy fans, Sebastien Grainger is the voice behind Death From Above 1979. Ways to Come Home is from his band's EP American Names.

Who's To Blame?

Charlie Bravo Charlie Radio Three.

Why ♥ It?

I won't lie, I sought out Grainger's post-DFA work looking for more of that pure energy dance punk with his signature wailing vocals. What I found, however, was some low-key alt/folk rock with vocals like the tamer parts of Black History Month.

The song leads in with a couple seconds of a clean vocal note from Grainger, which kicks in the genuine, unprocessed guitar and percussion. Soon, a fuzzy synth sound enters. That's about it, and this laid back mood pervades the entire song. Aside from the occasional high-energy cathartic outburst (used nearer to the end), the whole thing is absolutely chill.

Especially noteworthy are some of the bridges (see 1:17), where there are a few bars of background vocals and catchy leads outside the main body of the song. These don't disrupt the serene mood, just refresh from it to switch it up and keep things novel.

There are ways to come home, as Grainger proved by reuniting with Jesse Keeler to bring back their high octane dance punk magic earlier this year. However, when you need a come-down from all that testosterone, this track will be waiting.

091411

What's It Called?

Mumford & Sons - The Cave

What's The Story?

Mumford & Sons are a large folk rock outfit from London. They create soundscapes that are at once as grand as their numbers and as quiet as their genre. The Cave is from their debut & only major release Sigh No More, and they share the honor with Biebs as having lost the "best new artist" category at the Grammys to Esperanza Spalding.

Who's To Blame?

Eddie Vedder's #1 fan.

Why ♥ It?

This tune does a great job of showcasing both the big and the small found within Mumford & Sons.

Take first the first couple of verses. The song starts with an honest, blue-collar voice and a guitar. That's it. This quickly begins to accumulate other sounds, with piano, banjo, percussion and backup vocals all being a part of the fun by chorus 1.

Speaking of the chorus, it's an excellent anthem for the self; to sing along to those words and mean it feels great. And it's not hard to want to do.

Take also the latter half of the song. By 2:45 there are multiple horns, multiple guitars, and an epic and triumphant feel develops to close out the tune. The song has blossomed into one of those rare tunes where you can pound your fist in the air to a banjo and a trumpet.

The Cave is feel-good folk rock that's written with the present in mind, but I have no doubt that it'll age wonderfully as well.

091311

What's It Called?

Lady Gaga - Disco Heaven

What's The Story?

Lady... Gaga? Goodness, I had no idea! For you see, I have been on Mars for the last decade, in a cave, with my eyes shut and my fingers in my ears.

This tune comes as a bonus track on The Fame.

Who's To Blame?

They're known for their bagels and their cramped space.

Why ♥ It?

From start to finish, this song captures some of the most admirable parts of the 70s, except that it's on one of the best-sellers of the 00s.

The bass guitar shines aggressively throughout this track: it moves fast, and it hits hard. The vocals are Lady Gaga's standard smooth mindvirus pop-style. In the verses especially, they're brainwashing, with lots of vibrato in the voice and choral/overlaid backup vocals making it sail by almost too fast to appreciate.

The bad news: the chorus to this song won't be staying in your head for weeks on end like, say, Bad Romance.

The good news: The song stands on its own outside of just a catchy main line. It's perfect for playing for friends only to tell them afterwards that they just really enjoyed a Lady Gaga song, or (if you prefer) got Gagarolled.

The really good news: Gagarolling isn't actually a thing.

091211

What's It Called?

The Lost Fingers - Billie Jean

What's The Story?

The Lost Fingers are a pleasant burst of novelty from Quebec. They play well-arranged gypsy jazz covers of popular songs. Billie Jean (originally by Michael Jackson on Thriller) appears on their first commercial release, 2008's Lost In The 80's.

Who's To Blame?

A connoisseur of domestic goats.

Why ♥ It?

Take a pop-rock classic, and reimagine it with a stand up bass and two vocalists who can all sing. It probably doesn't matter what pop-rock classic, it gets serious points for novelty, and bonus points for being able to bridge from a more common taste to a seriously great genre that's a little harder to appreciate.

With that said, when I say "gypsy jazz cover of Billie Jean", knowing what both of those things entail probably gives a good mental image of what to expect in this track. I have to give props to the group for the post-breakdown part at around 3:00; they keep playing their instruments, but emulate the style of the original tune almost perfectly before smoothly transitioning back into their own take.

I wanted my closing statement to reiterate the band intro and say something about "pure novelty", but there's a lot more to this (and other Lost Fingers) tunes than just the initial delight of hearing these tunes in this format, and to dismiss it as pure novelty would be shaming the excellent performance found in this track.

091111

What's It Called?

Paul Simon - You Can Call Me Al

What's The Story?

Paul Simon is the man. There's your story.

You Can Call Me Al is one of an array of well-known tunes from his solo album Graceland.

Who's To Blame?

A guy who famously offered to sacrifice his sister in exchange for the dismissal of hallucinations of monkeys in gyrocopters.

Why ♥ It?

The bassline and horn parts are enough, really. Add Paul Simon's clever lyric-writing, awesome background vocals, and one of the most timeless music videos ever, and the result is gold in them thar hills.

091011

What's It Called?

Matt & Kim - Daylight

What's The Story?

Matt & Kim are yet another band that showcase how grand a sound can be had with just two members. Daylight is from their second album, Grand.

Who's To Blame?

Neither a Matt nor a Kim.

Why ♥ It?

This is the kind of song that some will hear and say that it hardly changes at all. Though I tend to disagree, if anything it's a compliment that the song can run almost 3 minutes carried on the same thought and entertain all the while.

The intro is a piano piece that will become very familiar, it lasts for the duration. It's all about subtle changes; I won't point any out, but it's worth listening for when the piano deviates just slightly from the already established progression that's really cool.

The percussion is a great shuffle. I don't know enough about drums to explain exactly what Kim's doing, but the sorta-sounds-like-hitting-the-side-of-the-drum beat meshed with the occasional attention-grabbing snare hit helps the piano to make the song feel like it's walking along on a sunny afternoon in a busy crowd.

Songs that bring in an overpowering fuzzy bass to complement a repeating main line are allllll right. See 2:10 onward.

Daylight is reflective of the title: always happy, always moving, always refreshing.

090911

What's It Called?

Boysetsfire - Rocketman

What's The Story?

Boysetsfire are a generally hardcore punk band from Delaware. (Did anyone else think nothing was hardcore in Delaware?)

If you're wondering, it is indeed an Elton John cover. It's from their 7" EP Suckerpunch Training from 2001. It originally surfaced in 1972 on Elton John's Honky Château.

Who's To Blame?

Dude gives me gamerscore envy.

Why ♥ It?

Although this is a cover by a hardcore punk band, I want to differentiate it from the more well-known Me First & The Gimme Gimmes cover version. Whereas theirs picks up the pace of the song (which ruins the mood entirely in my mind), Boysetsfire keep the slow & introspective style intact for great results.

The guitar tone they use during those slow sections (the intro, for example) is absolutely to die for. It's just raw enough to give those sections an added emotion. This tone turns bright, tight and polished for the more upbeat sections, which fits that mold ideally as well.

Nathan Gray's honest and effortless vocals aren't much like Elton John, but they don't disrespect his legacy either. The background vocals on the chorus would often be out of place in this genre, but are allowed because it's fucking Rocketman, in case you hadn't noticed.

Some will still call a punk cover of this song blasphemy, but it's a novel take on a great tune that isn't afraid to be different while still respecting the song we all know and love.

090811

What's It Called?

Ailsean - Uematsu-San Just Wanna Have Fun (From his website)

What's The Story?

Sean Stone (AKA Ailsean) is a guitarist who lays out some neat remixes & covers of old video game music tracks. Somewhere between most and all of his music is available for free on his site.

Who's To Blame?

Ever hear of Lubos Motl, the physicist/blogger?

Not him. But close.

Why ♥ It?

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun.

The prelude from the Final Fantasy series.

These gel incredibly, and are neatly put together, with bubblegum synth and swanky guitar doing Cyndi justice while delay and distortion effected guitar bring Uematsu into the picture.

Really, this one is worth a listen on title & concept alone, but don't be surprised if it sneaks into your library. Did I mention it's free?

090711

What's It Called?

Phoenix - 1901

What's The Story?

Phoenix won the Grammy in 2010 for best alternative music album. First, France makes the best electronic, and now they're threatening one of the genres North Americans are usually the kings of. (Or at least Brits.) 1901 is a #1 Billboard Hit Alternative single from that award winning album, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix.

Who's To Blame?

You haven't heard Electric Feel until you've heard her sing the solo.

Why ♥ It?

A high-swelling synth base, high notes on guitar all over the place, varied high vocals. Everything about this song is high and lovable. (Also, while high)

At the risk of ruining this feel-good gem, try and hear the chorus without hearing him repeat the word ballin' over and over again. I bought the album, I've read the lyrics, I know that he's saying "fold it". That's irrelevant. The great feel of this song combined with a small quirk in the accent has entirely changed the lyrics to turn the tune into into an anthem to a slang word I love a lil' too much.

090611

What's It Called?

Justice - Audio, Video, Disco (Dailymotion video link)

What's The Story?

Justice are the heirs apparent to Daft Punk, or at least another spin at the same great format. They're a French electronic duo whose first album, †, was an absolute smash full of great anthems. Audio, Video, Disco is the name of their upcoming sophomore album due out October 25th, and this was the second single released from it.

Who's To Blame?

That little alien with all the viral links and pictures of cats.

Why ♥ It?

Justice were quoted recently as describing their new album as "a progressive rock record, played by guys that don’t know how to play".

...Sure.

Actually, this song seems to be one of the ones that they were referring to. The high pitched synth and strings sounds layered throughout echo something you might catch in the background of a Spock's Beard or Flower Kings song. The title (and only lyric) is repeated and processed sort of like a Yes track.

But don't let that discourage the hopes of electronic gold. Though layered, the percussion and beat echo of other Justice-style songs. Further to that, the droning piano is something that can be heard in other Justice tunes, as well as in contemporaries (Bloody Beetroots, etc.)

It's not the absolute banger I'm awaiting from the new Justice album, but not every song can be DVNO. Audio, Video, Disco is a solid (if varied) addition to an electronic library and has a good catchy factor, to boot.

090511

What's It Called?

Talking Heads - Once In A Lifetime

What's The Story?

Talking Heads were at the front of the new wave movement in the late 70s and into the early 80s, with big names like David Byrne & Brian Eno on board as performing and producing, respectively. It's from their fourth album Remain In Light, released in 1980.

Who's To Blame?

A straightedge, tattoo-laden amateur triathlete.

(I bet you know seven of those, too.)

Why ♥ It?

Steely Dan's Reelin' In The Years often gets flack from detractors for the bizarre meter (or lack thereof) during the verses. This song isn't for those folks either.

Learning to like this song was sort of like an induction: the instant reaction is sort of a double you tee eff. However, that letting the days go by chorus is catchy, uplifting, and feels great to listen to. So you put up with that strangeness in the verses for that excellent chorus. Then slowly, surely; the droning same as it ever was part starts to catch the ear lyrically, either as a sordid reminder or solemn reassurance. Then you notice the subtle "doo doo" background vocals during the verse that sort of follow the bass around. Those are neat. Suddenly it happens: led by the strength of that chorus, you can sing word-for-word during the frenetic verses and love every minute of it. What remains is simply the task of explaining to your pals exactly why you like such an inane song.

Or at least that's how it happened for me. A song so oddly constructed is probably required to be experienced personally, and that's an essential part of its beauty.

090411

What's It Called?

Paramore - Fences

What's The Story?

Paramore are a band from Tennessee, known for both their catchy pop-punk style and for Hayley Williams' ventures outside the band. Fences is from their second release Riot!, also known as the Paramore album with all their hits.

Who's To Blame?

A forum troll with better taste in music than in humor.

Why ♥ It?

Pop-punk is, as a genre, oft-maligned for its generic factory-produced sound. However, there are a number of bands that, once you get past the stereotypes and the labels, create some pretty neat tunes. Fences is one such example of a gem in the genre.

There's just something about Hayley Williams' voice, and that's probably why she gets so much work as a feature outside of Paramore, this song being as good an example as any. The bass line is a classic walk which is rare for Paramore and bands like them, but a walking bass line is never unwelcome. The guitar in the chorus is great, and combined with the rest of the song's atmosphere, comes off awfully heavy for a song like this. The chord progression in the solo section (2:10) is awesome, and sounds like a briefer Don't Make Me A Target (Spoon).

Is it pop? Is it punk? Don't be fooled by the label, this song rocks either way.

090311

What's It Called?

Thee Internet - Babe (Soundcloud link)

What's The Story?

Thee Internet feature some of the same crew as Repartee, focused primarily around their bassist Tyler Lovell. I have to admit that I haven't had a chance to get out and see them yet, but I love what I hear on Soundcloud. It's from the Identity Crisis EP.

Who's To Blame?

Women are better at the glam rock look, anyways.

Why ♥ It?

This vocally curious song is worth it just for the surf rock guitar riff. It's one of those hooks (see also: Rebel Rebel) where it can comprise the backdrop for much of the song and it's acceptable because it just doesn't get old.

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What's It Called?

Idlers - Jiggerman

What's The Story?

The Idlers are the sort of band that get away with charging $15 cover to one of their shows downtown and still fill the place. They're a reggae outfit with a large cast to keep things interesting and outside of the usual it's-all-the-same-damn-song stereotype about reggae. Jiggerman is from their first full-length album Corner, and you can grab their tunes from their website.

Who's To Blame?

The cooking network's biggest fan?

Why ♥ It?

Like I said above, it's got the grooving feel of a reggae tune with some funked up percussion and an active horn session. Catchy vocal harmonies and great stoned energy. The lyrics offer a small slice of home. If you've ever heard a reggae tune and liked it, this is worth the listen.

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What's It Called?

Surgeon - Spectrum (Direct download, posted on their facebook wall)

What's The Story?

Anyone under the age of 30 in St. John's has probably seen Hey Rosetta! more times than they care to count; this is a side project that involves their drummer and bass player. They have a CD offering of some sort that's been in the works for a while, but is yet to have a release date proper.

Trying to pigeonhole the genre that Surgeon fits into is best related through story; at their last show, they were covering King Crimson's Red, and it was then that someone told me it was actually a cover and not one of their songs. It fit in so seamlessly with their instrumental post-rock style that they fooled me.

Who's To Blame?

A bass player whose name is routinely, affectionately and drunkenly shouted at bands he plays in, and occasionally at bands he doesn't.

Why ♥ It?

The song starts mysterious and busy, with the drums sounding like seconds ticking away and the guitar fidgeting in ambiance. This is quickly replaced by a dark, heavy movement reminiscent of Russian Circles or Tool. They play within this framework for a minute or so before a chord at 1:36 that sounds so hateful and cool that it's worth its own sentence. The busy guitar returns, but is now accompanied by an effect-laden bell sound.

The best part of the song is probably the reinduction into heavy at around 2:30, that brings tempo and soaring lead guitar with it. The dynamic between slow/moody and fast/heavy is done impeccably.

The sad thing about a band like Surgeon, though, is that it's hard to capture just how impressive the music is as a recording. What you hear in the track is played effortlessly live, with the only deviations being by design for flair. It's always great to be able to see a band of that quality live so frequently because they're local.