You'd Be Surprised Vol. 1

"You'd Be Surprised" is a blog series where i write about songs (and maybe other things in the future) that i think would surprise many people that i truly love.

Volume 1: "Human" - The Killers



Some friends know how i feel about this song (mainly because i included it on one of my seasonal mixes), but i don't know if i've ever really expressed how much i really dig this song.

First, a little backstory: Like so many things in life, i first hated this song. I thought the chorus of "Are we human or are we dancer?" was ridiculous and dumb, not to mention the (seemingly) poor grammar, and i tend to instantly dismiss songs with such a dance-y beat (PS - i know that i'm stupid for doing this). But as i heard it more and more, it really started to grow on me.

And it continued to grow, like a weed. At this point, this ranks as one of my favorite songs of the last 5 years, and i still don't really know why besides the preposterously silly idea that it just is (in case you don't know me, i over-intellectualize everything). I mean, the melody is pretty great, and i've grown to absolutely love the lyrics. Apparently, the main lyric of the song was a twist on a Hunter S. Thompson quote about America raising a generation of dancers. That wins points in my book for an interesting place to begin writing a song. And from there, the song paints a picture of alienation/confusion that is sonically, somehow, set in a club. It is a great juxtaposition of an inner monologue and an outer dance party.

In addition to having interesting lyrics and a great melody, something about the song really moves me. Like, goosebumps and getting choked up, moves me. Why? No clue.

It isn't the music per se - there are songs that just from their sonics can make me cry (like "Sleepwalk" by Santo and Johnny or the opening/closing guitar sequence from Frank Black and the Catholics' "Dog in the Sand"), but this dance beat and synth swells aren't of that stripe. I don't think it is really the lyrics either - i mean, i've never pondered if i was human or dancer (because really, how would i know? I only know i'm human because i've always been told i am. Maybe i am dancer?), nor do i think any of the lyrics really were applicable to my life when i first heard "Human" in the Fall of 2008.

However, despite all the questions i posed here (Why do i like it? Why does it move me? How should i know if i'm human or dancer?), i do know one thing: i wish we had more pop music like this. I'm often envious of people who came of age in the 1980s - there was great indie rock AND great pop, and they weren't mutually exclusive genres. Take the Cure for example - "Friday I'm In Love" is one of many great pop songs that this interesting, brooding band put out that managed to bridge the gap between the Top 40 and the CMJ charts. "Human" strikes me as a type of song that could do that and, sorta did. I'm sure people called Robert Smith a sellout/poseur/etc many times over, but look at that white cake makeup and shitty hair - there is nothing corporate about that.

Tom Morello's pretty interesting cover:

5 Song Shuffle Vol. 15 - The "Look at My Bed Head" Edition

My iTunes library, as of November 14, 2010, has 21, 056 songs in it. Some are novelty downloads, some i have because i'm a completionist, some i rarely (if have ever) listened to. So, in this new blog segment, i will let shuffle pick out random songs (without personal editing to hide embarrasing and/or lame songs), and i will write about what i think of them, plus any details i an give about how it was procured. At current rate (and if my iTunes never repeats a song...) this will be the fifteenth in at least a 4,000 part series.

Song #1 - "Got Nuffin" - Spoon

Spoon is a band that, for me, got old pretty quick. I LOVED their Girls Can Tell and Kill the Moonlight records, then didn't like Gimme Fiction, then dug the better songwriting/arranging of Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga, and now this one, Transference, sounds like half-baked ideas performed exactly as you'd expect. It is still better than a lot of other music out there, but Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga showed that when they really try, they can be amazing. I mean, come on, "The Underdog?" Song of 2007. This is ok, but nothing special (in fact, this might be the best song on this record). I got this via eMusic. I once, with about 15 other people, saw Britt Daniel do a duet performance at the old Knitting Factory (the bottom room) with Spoon's then keyboard player. He ended with John Lennon's "Isolation" - just thinking of it gives me chills. More of that, Britt - less of the same drum pattern.

Song #2 - "Hello Morning" - Fugazi

The most ethical band on the planet. This is from the 3-song Furniture EP. The band, around this time, released The Argument, my favorite album of theirs, which was much moodier and not as in your face as their prior releases. And this EP is the accompanying piece to The Argument, where they rock just as hard as ever. I own this, specifically, because i once had a gift card to Sam Goody maybe (?) and needed to spend another 2-3 bucks, and there this was. Sung by Guy Piccolo, this song is pretty great - says all it needs to say in just over 2 minutes.

3. "Hackensack" - Pee Wee Russell

One of my favorite blogs is called Singer Saints, which posts obscure/out of print/rare records, many times of the jazz variety. I just got this a few weeks ago (the album is called Ask Me Now!), and haven't given it a good listen yet. However, this is really interesting - it is relatively straight forward jazz without a chordal instrument (like a guitar or piano) - this quartet is just Russell on clarinet, and then bass, drums and the fourth member alternating between bass trumpet and valve trombone (!). Russell was in his sixties when he made this - a rare Dixieland era guy who could still play and adapt his style 40 years later. A really catchy, fun tune - and hey, it is named after Hackensack, NJ. We all win!

4. "Live Wire" - Beastie Boys

A rare-ish track from their anthology The Sounds of Science. This has elements of sixties tremelo-guitar, nineties analog synths, and drone-y vocals. I like this a lot actually. I don't remember much about this song, but i've owned this compilation for ten + years. Wow. Got this album from my parents for Christmas one year.

5. "Say" - Thenewno2

This band is the brain child of Dhani Harrison, George Harrison's son. Dhani is a really talented singer and player, but this debut EP didn't really do it for me. I've heard bits of their album that seem much more in line with what he could do, but i still haven't picked that up yet. Not that this is bad - it just seems easy - not that these tunes are lazy, they just don't push far enough in my opinion. I did just pick up the album from Fistful of Mercy, Harrison's new band with Joseph Arthur and Ben Harper, and that seems a bit tossed off, unlike this. I think Harrison needs a producer with a vision (let's say, a Brian Salvatore type) to work with him and extract something unique and personal out of him. All you have to do is hear his work on his father's last album to know how talented he really is. I had special ordered this EP from the UK when it came out - it is self-titled.

'Til next time,
Brian

Volumes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14

Episode 10: The Funny Pages

Brian takes you on a tour of the New York Comic Con and chats with Peter Tomasi, Chip Kidd, and Nick Sutton Bell. Plus, comedy from Ken Beck, music from Spoiler Alert, and a check in from the South Pole.

Spoiler Alert: http://corporaterecords.co.uk/artists/Spoiler+Alert!/

Chip Kidd: goodisdead.com

Nick Bell: illustratednick.blogspot.com

Ken Beck is part of CSO Comedy: http://www.csocomedy.com

Our Blog: enthuseyourself.blogspot.com

Our Email: enthuseyourself@gmail.com

Our Hotline: 206-222-2033

Brian's Twitter: @BrianNeedsANap

5 Song Shuffle Vol. 14 - The "I Can't Sleep" Edition

My iTunes library, as of November 4, 2010, has 20,945 songs in it. Some are novelty downloads, some i have because i'm a completionist, some i rarely (if have ever) listened to. So, in this new blog segment, i will let shuffle pick out random songs (without personal editing to hide embarrasing and/or lame songs), and i will write about what i think of them, plus any details i an give about how it was procured. At current rate (and if my iTunes never repeats a song...) this will be the fourteenth in at least a 4,000 part series.

Song #1 - "Here She Comes Now" - The Velvet Underground

I'll probably be kicked out of the music snob club for this, but i'm not a huge fan of this song. Maybe my least favorite song on White Light White Heat? No, that's too harsh. A very same-y song of theirs. Meh. I got this as part of the Peel Slowly And See box i bought at Amoeba in Los Angeles.

Song #2 - "I'm An Animal" - Neko Case

This album, Middle Cyclone, has grown on me quite a bit. This track is very representative of what i didn't like about it at first - its slicker than her past stuff, but the songs are so strong (as are her vocals) that it makes up for the production - which, to be fair, isn't bad, i just like Neko rawer. Feel free to apply sexual innuendo to that last part.

Song #3 - "Take Care of My Children" - Tom Waits

From the "Bawlers" disc of his Orphans: Brawlers, Bawlers and Bastards three disc set. This is my least favorite disc of the set, but i love this song. Disc 2 (this one) is all ballads, so it doesn't work super great as a complete listen, but most of the tracks work well as part of a mix or a shuffle, so this is a delight. Nice horn on this - could it be my internet friend Ralph Carney? I'm too lazy to dig out the liner notes - let's say yes. This is one of the many Tom Waits songs that incorporates old spiritual elements.

Song #4 - "A World Away From This One" - Sean Watkins

From the Mark Mulcahy tribute disc, Ciao My Shining Star. Mark is a totally underrated songwriter, and this disc has some heavy hitters in the early tracks tackling his songs really nicely (Thom Yorke, Frank Black, Dinosaur Jr.), but as it goes on, the names get more and more unknown, and the performances start to sound a little same-y (second use of that tonight!). But this track makes really nice use of vocal harmonies and acoustic guitars, two things that if used improperly can shit-ify a song instantly. But this is really nice.

Song #5 - "Last Train to Clarksville" - The Monkees

I've said it before on this very blog - if you don't own The Best of the Monkees, you're a fool. This is a brilliant pop song. That is all.

'Til next time,
Brian

Volumes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13

Contrast Podcast...Again...

Just wanted to let you guys know that, again, i'm a contributor to the Contrast Podcast this week. The theme is "Your First Download," and on it i tell my tale of using Napster to track down Foo Fighters rarities. Check it out here.

New ERH tomorrow night...

-B

5 Song Shuffle Vol. 13

My iTunes library, as of November 2, 2010, has 20,937 songs in it. Some are novelty downloads, some i have because i'm a completionist, some i rarely (if have ever) listened to. So, in this new blog segment, i will let shuffle pick out random songs (without personal editing to hide embarrasing and/or lame songs), and i will write about what i think of them, plus any details i an give about how it was procured. At current rate (and if my iTunes never repeats a song...) this will be the thirteenth in at least a 4,000 part series.

Song #1 - "Call Back" - Morphine

This is from the posthumous collection At Your Service that i was given as a really nice surprise birthday gift from my cousin Beth this past June. Morphine is a band that i think you either totally get or think is obnoxious. I once played them for my Uncle Robert, who is a really open minded, musical dude, and he couldn't stand it. Me? I love 'em. Such a singular sound. Maybe it's a low-end register thing (as a guy who plays the bass, played the tuba and has a Bass 2 voice, i fall squarely in that category). I'm pretty sure i've written about them before here. This is one of the rare songs of theirs where you can really hear the slide bass - usually the bass doesn't sound particularly slide-y. Oh, Mark Sandman - why'd you have to have a bad heart?

Song #2 - "Christian For One Day" - Brian Ritchie

Ritchie is the former bass player for the Violent Femmes. The late, great blog The Blasting Concept (RIP) that posts lots of old SST/New Alliance records posted this a few years ago. I have never listened to it. This is not at all what i expected. The EP is called Sun Ra - Man From Outer Space, so i expected something free-jazzy. This is folky and quasi-preachy. I kind of dig it. It's about Christmas. This may go on this year's Christmas mix.

Song #3 - "Style" - The Lemonheads

"I don't wanna get stoned/But i don't wanna not get stoned" Oh, Evan Dando, you're the Wordsworth of the '90s. I tracked this album (Come on Feel the Lemonheads) down online a year or so ago - it's out of print (or at least was when i was looking for it), and i used to own it on cassette. The first two songs on the album are great, and it somewhat drags from there. I kind of dig this song. I prefer the later version on the album "Rick James Style" which is a slower, sadder version and, believe it or not, features Rick James on backing vocals.

Song #4 - "Three Mile Smile" - Aerosmith

I don't know if i've discussed it here, but i've been way into mid-late '70s Aerosmith lately. Post-"Dream On" - pre-80s reformation. This comes from Night in the Ruts (stay classy, Aerosmith), which is the album that Joe Perry quit half-way through. This song is a nice enough blues-rock number, but isn't one of the best tracks on the album. That being said, the guitar solo, by Perry-replacement Jimmy Crespo is pretty boss. I have a fantasy of starting a this-period Aerosmith cover band and being the Tom Hamilton of that band. Anyone want to be the Joey Kramer?

Song #5 - "High and Dry" - Radiohead

If you don't know this song, what the hell is wrong with you.

'Til next time,
Brian

PS - Congrats to my dad's favorite baseball team, the San Francisco Giants, on winning the World Series.

PPS - I'm back to doing this regularly, i hope.

Volumes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12

5 Song Shuffle Vol. 12

My iTunes library, as of October 13, 2010, has 20,784 songs in it. Some are novelty downloads, some i have because i'm a completionist, some i rarely (if have ever) listened to. So, in this new blog segment, i will let shuffle pick out random songs (without personal editing to hide embarrasing and/or lame songs), and i will write about what i think of them, plus any details i an give about how it was procured. At current rate (and if my iTunes never repeats a song...) this will be the twelfth in at least a 4,000 part series.


Song #1 - "Calvary Scars II/Aux. Out" - Deerhunter

From their Weird Era Cont. record, this is 10 minutes of trippy. Not entirely unpleasant, but not really a lot to write about. I'll sort of "live-blog" this.

:57 - Heavy affected vocals sound nice.
2:23 - Picking up a little, there are now drums.
3:27 - Starting to lose interest
4:22 - Tempo change! I'm back in!
6:19 - Ok, this is losing me again.
7:45 - Breakdown to a slow, keyboards heavy section - sounds like Space Mountain music.
8:57 - Shouldn't a just-post-Saved By the Bell Mario Lopez be telling me to get ready for my trip already?
9:51 - Glad this is almost over.
10:04 - Weird sound effects close it out.

Song #2 - "Sweethearts" - Camper Van Beethoven

Just recently picked up Key Lime Pie for the first time in an used record store. I'm pretty happy with the record so far, but i find it a little stream-lined for my tastes. I prefer the more all-over-the-place nature of their indie records. I wish i had more to say about this song...

Song #3 - "Papa Gene's Blues" - The Monkees

I recently re-bought the first record i ever owned - The Best of the Monkees - and just about every single song is a winner. This one is a grade A country-rock jam courtesy of (i think) Mike Nesmith (i was right, i fact-checked myself). Less than 2 minutes, but just as long as it needs to be. People need to really re-evaluate the Monkees - yes, they were pre-fab and yes, they were mainly an excuse to sell commercial time on television, but they have 2 dozen or so killer songs, and that's more than i can say for most bands.

Song #4 - "Candyman" - The Grateful Dead

I bought this on eMusic simply to try and get to know what my buddy John knows that i don't about the Dead. This record has a handful of nice songs, this being one of them. The Dead might be the most overrated and underrated band of all time; underrated by everyone who dismisses them as hippie burn out shit, and overrated by hippie burn outs everywhere. This reminds me of Sweetheart of the Rodeo-era Byrds with worse harmonies and longer guitar solos. From American Beauty.

Song #5 - "Jump and Shout Vol. 1" - T.B. & the Germs

Not the Pat Smear/Darby Crash Germs, but an R&B band from the '60s. I've talked about this compilation, Jump and Shout, before on the blog - this isn't one of my favorites from the comp, mainly because this is a poor recording, but the energy is infectious and there isn't much else to say.

'Til next time,
Brian

PS - Congrats Texas on making the ALCS - beat them Bronx Bombers!

Volumes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11