Monday Music Roundup
Dear lord, this site is the funniest thing I’ve seen in a loooong time.
I was laughing out loud (like, rest-your-head-on-the-desk, hope-no-one-hears-your-stifled-guffaws laughing). It was a thing of beauty. ThingsMyBoyfriendSays.com was new to me, and exactly what it sounds like, a gal documenting random funny things that her boyfriend says — no more, no less. Choice cuts:
“I think I’ll ask the dentist to install tusks in my face so I can fully embrace my orcish heritage.”
or
(When I finally made him shave his damn beard:)
“See, this is why I won’t let you have nice things. Because you won’t let me grow majestic facial hair.”
It’s voyeurism perfected in hilarious fashion.
Now for your recommended weekly musical allowance:
Big Chair
Travis
Here’s a radio rip from the BBC of the new one from Scottish rockers Travis – a driving bass line combines with some chattery electronic effects and the smooth vocal delivery of Fran Healy. This’ll be on their fifth studio album, Open, due in the Spring. Ben Stiller is rumored to have laid down some cowbell for one of the tracks; if I ever got to do that for a band, I think I’d die happy. Travis is also headed for the scenic Indio desert of Coachella in April, if you’re lucky enough to catch that fantastic line-up.
Rhythm & Soul (live)
Spoon
I’ve been listening a lot to uber-talented Austin indie/punk/rock/etc band Spoon lately, digging the eclectic combo of often-acoustic guitar, thumping beats, and funky confident vocals. I think this new track (performed live this past August at the lovely Greek Theatre in Berkeley) will sound divine with the full studio treatment. Hooray! [thx Matt]
All My Loving (Beatles cover)
The Smithereens
I am still a little unsure as to why this album was actually necessary; it’s a complete cover of the seminal Beatles’ album Meet The Beatles (1964) by New Jersey rock band The Smithereens. Overall it is interesting to listen to, as the band walks through a series of covers that are largely faithful to the arrangments of the originals but with an edge of their own; The NY Times says, “The album manages to scream Beatles 1964 and Smithereens 2007 all at once.” See what you think of this tune — for all the hype, I don’t exactly know why anyone would listen to this when the original is available.
Rocking Chair (The Band cover)
Death Cab For Cutie
DCFC covers familiar ground lyrically (“Oh, to be home again . . .”) in their reinterpretation of The Band‘s
grizzled soulful ballad, from the diverse new album of covers Endless Highway: The Music Of The Band (out mañana) which has some good stuff on it. Jakob Dylan’s contribution is interesting to me because The Band first came to prominence in ’65-’66 as the backing band for his pops, donchaknow.
Chasing Heather Crazy
Guided by Voices
I make myself a mix CD for the car every month. This is the first song on the next one. Just to entertain myself.
From GBV‘s Isolation Drills
Name: Heather Browne
yeaaaah!!
Anonymous — January 29, 2007 @ 12:41 pm
just to be the first.kisses from portugal
Anonymous — January 29, 2007 @ 12:42 pm
That is some of the funniest stuff I’ve read in a while!! Thanks for the forward.
And hooray for Travis!
Greg — January 29, 2007 @ 1:19 pm
If you are looking for another song for your mix CD, you should check out the new Dolorean track – Heather Remind Me How This Ends.
It’s beautiful.
ack — January 29, 2007 @ 2:30 pm
I swear, I used to know a guy who’d say things like that in the Boyfriend website…
Alas, I can offer no Heather songs. Can’t think of anything off the top of my head…
Onestar — January 29, 2007 @ 3:05 pm
but for all the hype, I don’t exactly know why anyone would listen to this when the original is available.
-Because The Smithereens are my Beatles! Lol…But in all seriousness…
I even wrote about it a few days ago…
-Keep Rockin’
-SINEDDIE
SINEDDIE — January 29, 2007 @ 3:24 pm
Because the Smithereens covering the Beatles makes perfect sense. Between Cheap Trick and the Smithereens, you have the American Beatles.
Two Smithereens albums highly recommended — 11 and Blow Up.
Jeff — January 29, 2007 @ 10:05 pm
Speaking of Endless Highway, My Morning Jacket’s cover of It Makes No Difference is one of the best covers I’ve heard in a long time.
JR — January 29, 2007 @ 10:10 pm
Jeff, I totally think I could appreciate seeking out a little Smithereens and will take a look for those two albums you mentioned. I love power pop, just don’t necessarily see the point of aping a complete album in less-effective fashion. I’d love to hear more of their originals – I missed ‘em up to this point.
heather — January 30, 2007 @ 8:04 am
oh…word of advice. dont drink coffee while reading that site. you send up with it all over you.
thank you.
shawn s. — January 30, 2007 @ 8:43 am
My contention is that The Smithereens were pre-grunge grunge and should have been swept up with the grunge hype of the early 90s. No one has argued against this. But no one has agreed either. So …. there it is.
Dan — January 30, 2007 @ 1:23 pm
I think I am going to sue Blogger for causing carpal tunnel due to their huge Word Verification “words.”
Regarding The Smithereens, they really inject some rock into that great pop album.
And now for Word Verification:
pktylkeylqzu
Dan — January 30, 2007 @ 1:27 pm
Love the Death Cab for Cutie Track!
J — February 15, 2007 @ 2:30 pm