Hey, it's finals week. You know what that means... time to put this internet thing aside for a bit. Since I probably won't be returning for a week or so, here something that will more than make up for the lost time- a mix cd!
It's all either songs about the Spring, referencing the Spring or just songs with a Springy feel. Enjoy!
1. The Beach Boys - Their Hearts Were Full of Spring 2. Of Montreal - Springtime is the Season 3. Vashti Bunyan - Hebridean Sun 4. The Velvet Underground - Who Loves the Sun 5. Simon & Garfunkel - April Come She Will 6. The Olivia Tremor Control - Spring Succeeds 7. The Zombies - Walking in the Sun 8. Feist - Mushaboom 9. The Magnetic Fields - Love Goes Home to Paris in the Spring 10. Luna - Ride into the Sun 11. The Kinks - Where Did My Spring Go 12. The Beatles - Here Comes the Sun 13. Donovan - The Lullaby of Spring 14. The Field Mice - Willow 15. Joanna Newsom - Sprout and the Bean 16. Belle & Sebastian - Mayfly 17. Dean & Britta - The Sun is Still Sunny 18. Grizzly Bear - Knife 19. The Olivia Tremor Control - A Sunshine Fix 20. Ladybug Transistor - The Great British Spring
Here's a brand new Flaming Lips song from the upcoming Spiderman 3 soundtrack. It entitled "The Supreme Being Teaches Spider-Man How to Be in Love." Yep... though that title shouldn't come as such a surprise to those familiar with the Flaming Lips as well as their previous soundtrack contribution of "Spongebob & Patrick Confront The Psychic Wall Of Energy." I haven't seen the lyrics yet, but from what I can assume Muhammad Ali would be the supreme being.
"Honesty can kill the spider Muhammad Ali feels the same The audience can give you power And I hear them call my name (Here comes the spider)"
So a boxing match between Spiderman and Muhammad Ali. My- I really hope they make a video for this...
Until the day when we see Spiderman battle Muhammed Ali with Wayne Coyne as the referee, this making of "Spongebob & Patrick Confront The Psychic Wall Of Energy" will have to do.
Last night the Jesus and Mary Chain performed their first reunion show at a club in California. It's a prep for their huge performance tonight at Coachella, a place I would much rather be this weekend rather than at home studying for exams. Understatement of the year actually. Well, the JAMC have a NYC date coming up which puts me in an awkward postion. I'm about 2 and a half to three hours from there. What if they don't do anymore dates? I just wish they'd get to announcing more US shows...all these foreign festivals are killing me. They have to play more shows- they just do. There's a two month lapse in time between the 2nd NY show and a festival in Portugal. What's happening then, hmm?
They're working on a new album I heard, and they premiered a new song last night. In addition, according to a poster on the Some Candy Talking forums, this was the setlist (not in order): Never Understand Snakedriver Between Planets Head On Far Gone and Out Sidewalking Teenage Lust Blues From a Gun Cracking Up Just Like Honey (with Giant Drag) Reverence Happy When It Rains Some Candy Talking
Pretty solid. Though it doesn't contain my personal favorite JAMC song that I'm highlighting in this entry. So everybody loves Psychocandy, and rightfully so. It was a groundbreaking record, and being a pivital foundation in the transformation of post-punk into shoegaze. However, the JAMC are not just Psychocandy, as you can tell form the setlist. Actually, in my opinion the setlist could use some more tracks from that album, but that's besides the point. Darklands, their second record, while not quite the behemoth that is Psychocandy it's an excellent album that deserves more respect than it gets. The title track as of right now is my favorite song by the band.
"I'm going to the darklands to talk in rhyme with my chaotic soul As sure as life means nothing And all things end in nothing And heaven I think is too close to hell I want to move i want to go I want to go
Oh something won't let me go to the place where the darklands are And to awake from dreams to a scary world of screams And heaven I think is too close to hell I want to move I want to go I want to go
Take me to the dark Oh god I get down on my knees And I feel like I could die by the river of disease And I feel that I'm dying And I'm dying I'm down on my knees Oh I'm down I want to go I want to stay I want to stay "
Ah! Mission of Burma! The oldest band I saw last Saturday. It seems like what brings all three bands together is that all reached their prime way past when they should have. The Lips formed in 1983- taking them 16 years to record their masterpiece. Yo La Tengo formed a year later, recording their best album 13 years in the business. It's a little different with Mission of Burma. They were initially around from 1979 - 1983, in that time releasing only 1 album and an EP. However they reunited in 2002, and since have recorded two new albums, both of which are surprisingly as good as their initial material.
My introduction to this band was an opening slot for the Pixies during one of their 2004 reunion shows. I was just getting into post-punk during that period, so I instantly loved the band. One of the live highlights, "That's When I Reach for My Revolver" comes from their first EP Signals, Calls, and Marches. Though brief, it's one of my favorite post-punk records. The Burmanites in the crowd went crazy for this track, with a circle pit and fist pumping to the extent where it may just as well have been 1981. It felt as everyone was chanting along to the chorus...even those who were hearing the song for the first time.
"Once I had my heroes Once I had my dream But all of that is changed now They've turned things inside out The truth is not that comfortable, no
And mother taught us patience The virtues of restraint And father taught us boundaries Beyond which we must go To find the secrets promised us, yeah
That's when I reach for my revolver That's when it all gets blown away That's when I reach for my revolver The spirit fights to find its way
A friend of mine once told me His one and only aim To build a giant castle And live inside his name Cry and whispers sing in muted pain
That's when I reach for my revolver That's when it all gets blown away That's when I reach for my revolver The spirit fights to find its way
Tonight the sky is empty But that is nothing new Its dead eyes look upon us And they tell me We're nothing But slaves (That's when I reach for my revolver) Just slaves (That's when I reach for my revolver)"
Now I wouldn't go forgetting about Yo La Tengo, another band I saw last Saturday. I'm relatively new to Yo La Tengo, and as of now I've only heard two of their albums, I Can Hear the Heart Beating as One and I am Not Afraid of You and I Will Beat Your Ass, their newest album. I really like the new record, and think I Can Hear the Heart... is fantastic. I get the feeling they're going to be a band that I will be enjoying a lot more in the future.
Their set was great- a good mix between the two sides of Yo La Tengo, the straightforward pop side and the hypnotizing shoegazey one. A few times during their set they invited brass musicians from Brown to play onstage with them. That would have been an experience.
Today's song is definitely more representative of Yo La Tengo's poppier side. It reminds me a bit of the Velvet Underground's After Hours, both how it closes the record, the general longing theme, and the slightly apathetic sounding vocal delivery. It's also one of those happy, yet not really songs. Definitely one of my favorite songs of theirs...so far. Yo La Tengo - My Little Corner of the World
"Come along with me to my little corner of the world Dream a little dream in my little corner of the world You'll soon forget that there's any other place Tonight, my love we'll share a sweet embrace And if you care to stay in my little corner of the world We'll ride away in my little corner of the world I always knew that I'd find someone like you So hop o'er to my little corner of the world
And if you care to stay in our little corner of the world We could hide away in our little corner of the world We always knew that we'd find someone like you So hop o'er to our little corner of the world"
Wow. I saw the Flaming Lips over the weekend at Brown University, and like always it is one of the most exciting, elaborate, and flat out fun shows that anyone can see. I still hold them as the best live act I've ever seen. My first time seeing the Lips was about a half a year ago at the Bank of America Pavillion in Boston. That however was a night time show and due to venue restrictions, Wayne couldn't do the bubble bit. I was especially excited for that this show, as well as how their performance would be without the emphasizing ability of a light show (as this was a day event.) It worked out great, and with the giant ballons drifting their way through the audience, the gorgeous spring day made for a vastly superior setting compared to a covered venue. This was their setlist:
Ta Da! (w/ Wayne in Bubble) Race for the Prize Tapsmir Fight Test Free Radicals Yoshimi Pt. 1 (w/ Singalong) Yoshimi Pt. 2 Vein of Stars (w/ Firebird) The Yeah Song (w/ Singalong) Taps/Waitin' for a Superman Pompeii She Don't Use Jelly (w/ Singalong) Do You Realize?? ****************** A Spoonful Weighs a Ton
There were of course dancing aliens/ santas, confetti shotguns, confetti cannons, dozens of giant balloons, giant hands, a nun puppet...the list is endless. It's a blast, that's what it is. More pictures from the show
For this entry's song, I'm using a Flaming Lips' cover of Black Sabbath's War Pigs. They played this at first Flaming Lips show last year. However this version comes from Austin City limits and features Cat Power as a guest vocalist. The Flaming Lips feat. Cat Power - War Pigs
I also got to hang out with Wayne Coyne for a bit after the show. He seems to love meeting people, as he was incredibly gracious the whole time. I talked to him alone for a good three minutes, though for a good while the conversation was group based, with everyone having a say. Some of the topics brought up were the Yoshimi musical, the woman who died by drinking too much water, Grey's Anatomy, the Teletubbies (by me), Bonnaroo, and heads exploding. Man...what a night.
Now if it weren't for the Field Mice, there would be no Belle & Sebastian. Though I previously talked about the Field Mice in this entry, I'd be blasphemous to not include them during this here twee week. However if in the future I need to make another entry about them, I'll be running out of pictures. This band seriously avoided the promo shot.
"This is it, isn't it? This is the end For you and I For you and I
The end of the affair We no longer care For each other
Once I needed you so Once I needed you so Now I can't stand being in the same room as you I can't even stand the sight of you
This is it, isn't it? This is it, isn't it? This is it, isn't it? This is it, isn't it? This is it, isn't it? This is it, this is the end For you and I"
I think it's physically impossible to choose just one favorite Belle & Sebastian song. I feel the same way for the Magnetic Fields....there's just so many great songs. However I am certain that this song "We Rule the School," contains my favorite Belle and Sebastian moment. This would be the flute solo that enters around the 2:20 mark. It's so beautiful that I wouldn't mind if looped for 10 minutes straight. I wish I could play the flute... not enough bands take advantage of it. I blame Jethro Tull for this. They overkilled the flute, and then for decades all rock musicians were afraid to touch the thing. Playing the flute nowadays in an indie band can be a ballsy move. Bring the flute back I say, but we warned when the power of the flute is too much. It's a delicate balance, but when you pull it off right, it can be absolutely exquisite.
Though the flute section is wonderful, I can't downplay the other 3:00 of the song. "Do something pretty while you can." I love this line. The song begins with questioning a "____ Was Here" carving on a tree truck. While we often scoff at these, feeling it's a stupid act, you sometimes wonder how long ago this said person was here and what they were doing. What was so special, so momentous that they were moved to permanently record their presence on the environment? Maybe it was something truely special and amazing...or maybe they're just a destructive idiot. Still, do something pretty while you can- don't put things off until the future. Seize the day, aye?
"On a beech tree rudely carved NC loved me Why did she do it? Was she scared, was she pushed?
Do something pretty while you can Don't fall asleep Skating a pirouette on ice is cool
Do something pretty while you can Don't be a fool Reading the Gospel to yourself is fine
On a bus stop in the town "We Rule The School" Written for anyone to see and read
On a bus stop in the town "We Rule The School" Written for anyone with eyes in their head
Do something pretty while you can Don't fall asleep Driving from California to New York
Call me a prophet if you want It's no secret You know the world is made for men You know the world is made for men You know the world is made for men Not us"
For something different, here's a wonderful comic interpretation of the song. It comes from Put the Book Back on the Shelf, a graphic novel made up of various artist renderings of Belle & Sebastian songs. I highly recommend it.
Day three of Tweeness. This here is one of my favorite Architecture in Helsinki songs. This song sounds absurdly happy, with such a wide assortment of instruments and various clicks and whizzes (i love the "bubbling" effect) that the song will never lose your complete and utter attention. However it wasn't until recently when I closer looked at the lyrics, and they're far less pleasant and carefree than what you'd expect from the music itself. While some of the lyrics are a bit ambiguous, I caught on to a general theme of looking through objects collected over the years, things with significant sentimental meaning that many carelessly forget about. Additionally I think it may relate to childhood nostalgia and how much you cherish select objects from your past, as these things allow you to come closest to revisiting those times. I can personally relate to this song through a recent experience I had at my Grandmother's house. I blogged a little about it in a past entry, but to reiterate, I visiting the house for the last time before it would be sold off to another family, a place where I have shaped countless memories over the years. While flipping through old pictures I had the feeling as a period in my life was over, something that made me both sad and a bit scared to think of what will come next. The last stanza in the song reflects my feeling here perfectly.
"Don't hide the treasures you've found in a hole in the ground How 'bout the tree back your house where the owls go Or in between the attic and the basement Somewhere it's not dark, dark, dark, dark
Attic in a basement with a knife serrated, I'll protect you Don't hide the pleasures you've found in your rolling around Where all the leaves have been swept and the flowers grow And don't go finding a replacement, I promise I'll show you heart, heart, heart, heart
Finding replacement with a heart sedated, I'll forget you And you won't make a sound or be nervous around piles of pictures So old that that it feels like it is ending
(Four, three, two, one)
Attic in a basement with a knife serrated, I'll protect you
And you shout out loud And you're bursting with pride 'Cause they don't let you talk And your heart is finally mending
It's not too late now to change your mind The grass gets greener when you get to the finish line
An attic in a basement Attic in a basement
And you won't make a sound or be nervous around piles of pictures So old that it feels like it is ending It shouldn't feel like it is ending"
Never underestimate the lyrics of Twee it seems. As a bonus here's a music video to another one of my favorite AIH songs, "Like a Call." The video is wonderful...I'd put it among my top 10 videos ever for sure. I should make a set list of those one day. Again with this video AIH shows the reoccuring theme of happiness and feeling free yet not without imminent distress and sorrow. Well, that's life.
Both these songs are from their 2004 album "Fingers Crossed." It's quite different from their more popular sophmore album "In Case We Die" but I like it almost as much. It can be viewed in a way as In Case We Die's older brother who happens to be a bit more reserved and easygoing, yet is just as interesting of a person.
Oh and also related to the band, they recently were signed to Polyvinyl Records, which I feel is the perfect label for them. With this maybe we'll get an Of Montreal/ Architecture in Helsinki tour as they're now labelmates! What a time that would be.
No, this song was not written by Kurt Cobain. Nirvana has covered three Vaselines songs (Son of a Gun, Molly's Lips, and Jesus Don't Want Me For a Sunbeam) but still this band is relatively unknown. Like the three Meat Puppets songs the band did during the unplugged show, many people believe all these songs were written by Nirvana, which is quite sad. Kids nowadays.. They need to do their musical homework and look into influences. However back in the early 90's (when kids were more intellectually curious?) this really helped the band get exposure, and Sup Pop (Nirvana's first label) put out a compilation featuring every song the Vaselines ever put to tape. I just love those one shot compilations...there's no chance of confusion over what album to purchase first.
"Swing swing up and down, Turn turn turn around, Round round round and about and over again. Gun gun son of a gun, You are the only one, And no one else can take my place.
The sun shines in the bedroom when you play, And the raining always starts when you go away".
So much better than Nirvana's version....
Though the band broke up initally in 1990, from what it seems they recently reuinted for some UK shows. Here's one video of "Son of a Gun"
To think I entered this week thinking it would be a week of Twee. Today was awful... the worst school schooting in US history being far and away the most terrible incident today. With respect to that my day also wasn't so hot as I spent three hours in a group writing a research methods paper just to have windows to crash and lose the paper in the end. We don't understand how the paper can be nowhere to found upon restart as we did save it. A computer specialist is looking into it tomorrow. So with all these terrible events and weather that the world keeps running into, a twee week now seems more necessary than ever.
Today's track is an early Magnetic Fields song that I love so dearly. "100,000 Fireflies" one of those songs that when you listen to it you don't just get goosebumps, but shivers throughout your entire body. It's so breathtakingly beautiful. The title couldn't be any better. Just close your eyes and image 100,000 fireflies floating around you on a pitch black night. Isn't that incredibly comforting? That's exactly what this song does to you.
"I went out to the forest and caught 100,000 fireflies As they ricochet 'round the room They remind me of your starry eyes Someone else's might Not have made me so sad But this is the worst night I ever had"
Now there's two unoffical videos of this song. One animated one and one that uses footage from the firefly state of We Love Katamari. It's funny as one of the first things this song reminded me of was that game. Watching it as a video is a bit surreal.
So yes- listen, enjoy and love. This song is a gem.
Before I begin talking about this song I'd like to begin with Of Montreal's performance on Conan last night. It was amazing- everything I had hoped it would be. It was like a cliff notes version of an Of Montreal concert, so much crammed into the 4 minute performance time that seriously every second counted. As was expected they performed "Heimdalsgate Like a Promethean Curse." It was so strange seeing them live on network tv, but of course it was also joyous. It felt a bit like being a parent at your kid's biggest recital ever. I'll admit to clenching a bit when before the second chorus it seemed like the guitar wasn't going to reach Kevin's hands in time. Yet alas- it was there in the last possible second. Talk about style. Here's the vid.
Now for this entry's song. This song is reminiscent of the Velvet Underground's "The Gift" as it's recorded with music in the left channel and a narrator speaking in the right. Additionally both songs are very funny in a dark way. "Lecithin's Tale of a DNA Experiment That Went Horribly Awry" begins sounding like a typical Of Montreal song. This serves as and introduction to the following narrative. The lyrics are from the point of view of the scientist who sits planted in the mud, reflecting on his failed experiment. Then it suddenly transitions to the narrative, revealing that a species known as "hyena cicadas" were created, escaped and migrated to the village of Durschfuch where they found an elementary school. Though it is obvious that these creatures are a menance, it is the religious belief of that said village to not oflict harm on any living creature. They decide that the best option for them is to ignore the cicadas like they weren't even present?
Tonight I'm seeing Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. Fun! I'll be leaving within an hour or so since I'm taking a greyhound bus which takes about 3x as long as it would to go directly. This entry will feature a track that was subject to much confusion, the title track to CYHSY's newest album Some Loud Thunder. Two versions of the album leaked, the only difference being the first track. One had the same "Some Loud Thunder" recording that was on the tour EP with Architecture in Helsinki though there was some additional guitar overdubbing. The second was a version at a slower tempo and with so much vocal distortion it made the Knife's vocals sound unproduced. Once the cd hit stores it was clear that the second version was retail, but as far as I'm aware, it's still a mystery regarding the first version of the song. This version is much better in my opinion. I can barely listen to the album version honestly. With the horrendous production and general presentation, it's like tossing poop at a great painting. Live though- I'll be happy to hear it tonight.
To comment on the rest of the album, some of it is fantastic and on the quality of the first record, namely "Satan Said Dance" and "Yankee Go Home." However as a whole it isn't nearly as consistent as it's predecessor with some tracks that feel like just mere filler. Some people are loving this record. Some hate it with a fiery passion. I say it's okay, nothing more. Maybe a 7.6 out of 10 on the ridiculous pfork scale.
Now for a wonderfully crappy fan video featuring the album version:
Happy Easter! I searched all over my hard drive for relevant material for this entry, and I found a few things that may apply. First the only song on my computer with Easter in the title, "Easter Woman" by the Residents. In all honesty, in not a big Residents fan. While they're sometimes good, a lot of the time they were just Beefheart derivative, and diplayed a "weird for the sake of being weird" principle. That said, their discography makes the Fall's look brief, and I've only listened to their early material. I do find one of their albums to be pretty interesting, 1980's The Commercial Album. The story behind it is that they wrote 40 one minute songs, and then proceeded to buy out one minute slots of commercial air time on a local radio station to initally air them. That's pretty cool. "Easter Woman" is the first song from that album. The Residents - Easter Woman
Next comes one of my favorite bands, The Magnetic Fields. "Let's Pretend We're Bunny Rabbits" comes from the first disc of 69 Love Songs, an album that I frequently say is my favorite ever. Yes, ever. So much consistent pop goodness stuffed into one collection that i'm not sure how it doesn't kill it's listeners. Some say this song is a "furry" anthem. Maybe it is. But today let's just think hippity hoppity easter bunnies with baskets of eggs and assorted chocolates.
Here's a fan-made video for the song that does not imply that meaning
Lastly comes a bit of stand-up from Patton Oswalt, a very funny guy who additionally was incredibly nice when we met once. This bit is about easter egg coloring kits, specially Paas brand. You know the deal- the coloring tablets, the wire dippers, the ability to transform the box into a display shelf. Good stuff.
"I'll tell it as I best know how, And that's the way it was told to me: I Must have been a thief or a whore, Then surely was thrown overboard, Where, they say, I came this way from the deep blue sea.
It picked me up and tossed me round. I lost my shoes and tore my gown, I forgot my name, And drowned.
Then woke up with the surf a - pounding; It seemed I had been run aground.
Well they took me in and shod my feet And taught me prayers for chastity And said my name would be Colleen, and I was blessed among all women, To have forgotten everything.
And as the weeks and months ensued I tried to make myself of use. I tilled and planted, but could not produce - not root, nor leaf, nor flower, nor bean; Lord! It seemed I overwatered everything.
And I hate the sight of that empty air, like stepping for a missing stair and falling forth forever blindly: cannot grab hold of anything! No, Not I, most blessed among Colleens.
I dream some nights of a funny sea, as soft as a newly born baby.
It cries for me pitifully! And I dive for my child with a wildness in me, and am so sweetly there received.
But last night came a different dream; a gray and sloping-shouldered thing said "What's cinched 'round your waist, Colleen? is that my very own baleen? No! Have you forgotten everything?"
This morning, 'round the cape at dawn, some travellers sailed into town with scraps for sale and the saddest songs and a book of pictures, leather-bound, that showed a whale with a tusk a meter long.
Well, I asked the man who showed it me, "What is the name of that strange beast?" He said its name translated roughly to He-Who-Easily-Can-Curve-Himself-Against-The-Sky.
And I am without words. He said, "My lady looks perturbed. (the light is in your eyes, Colleen.)" I said, "Whatever can you mean?" He leaned in and said, "You ain't forgotten everything."
"You dare to speak a lady's name?" He said, "My lady is mistaken. I would not speak your name in this place; and if I were to try then the wind - I swear - would rise, to tear you clean from me without a trace."
"Have you come, then, to rescue me?" He laughed and said, "from what, 'Colleen'?" You dried and dressed most willingly. you corseted, and caught the dread disease by which one comes to know such peace."
Well, it's true that I came to know such things as the laws which govern property and herbs to feed the babes that wean, and the welting weight for every season; but still I don't know any goddamned "Colleen."
Then dive down there with the lights to lead that seem to shine from everything - down to the bottom of the deep blue sea; down where your heart beats so slow, and you never in your life have felt so free. Will you come down there with me? Down were our bodies start to seem like artifacts of some strange dream, which afterwards you can't decipher, and so, soon, have forgotten Everything. " The song comes from the forthcoming Joanna Newsom and the Ys Street Band EP which also features new recordings of "Clam, Crab, Cockle, Cowrie" and "Cosmia."
Yes, this is that Charles Manson. Many people are not aware of Charles Manson's music, something that until recently I was victim of. It's actually a significant part of his life story, as some people believe that the his record failing commercially is what caused him to snap and recruit "the family." Also people don't typically realize Manson's involvement with the Beach Boys as he wrote the Beach Boys' song "Never Learn Not to Love," which originally appeared on his LIE: The Love & Terror Cult album, but was called "Cease to Exist." On the Beach Boys album 20/20 they (for better or worse) attributed the song to Dennis Wilson. Dennis and Charles had been good friends, with Charles actually staying at his house for a year. When the Sharon Tate incident occured, it apparently frightened Dennis to an extent where it took years before he could function as his normal self.
Now with this entry I am by no means supporting Charles Manson as a person and I feel those who do so (and feel like his agenda was to make the world a better place) are misguided and flat out wrong. However the guy has written some great songs. In my opinion "Look at Your Game Girl" and "Home is Where You're Happy" are his two best. They're both on LIE: The Love & Terror Cult, an album that as a whole is surprisingly solid.
Now since videos of Manson performing are nonexistant I'm going to go for a Devendra Banhart cover of "Home is Where You're Happy" where he meshes the song with Lauryn Hill's "Doo Wop (That Thing)." But first here's Devendra on Manson (after Linday Lohaan tells him he looks like him): "Well, I'll tell you what. I don't agree so much with Charles Manson--he's a perfect example of the hippie movement gone bad. But I really do dig his music. There's a sleazy side to it. There's a dark side to it. There's a human side to it. He made some amazing music. "Home Is Where You're Happy" is one of the best songs ever, and it was a Charles Manson song".
I've had such a Deerhoof week. My last.fm tallied 96 plays for them on weekly chart. With that I feel like Deerhoof deserves two entries in a row. This will have a theme however, the 10 year + music involvement.
The first Deerhoof track comes from 1997 and their first album The Man, the King, the Girl. Though the rest of this album is generally overlooked in the scope of Deerhoof's discography, one track "Gore in Rut" remains a live staple for the band and a crowd favorite. This could be due to the absurd yet so cutesey it's irresistible lyrics as well as that it gives Satomi (the vocalist) the chance to act like a bunny on stage. It's amazing to see..trust me. The hopping and index finger bunny ears... Here's how it goes-
"Bunny bunny bunny bunny bunny bunny I can't get you, lalalala
I can't have it the monster rabbit"
I swear that the Wallace and Gromit movie completely stole its plot from this song.
10 years later. Deerhoof's popularity has grown immensely, as well as their competence as a band. Their overall tightness and technical ability has grown, yet they certainly haven't become more orthodox over the years. I feel that with their last two albums they finally achieved the right balance between noise and melody, experimentation and structure. I feel they share this organization with the Pixies, as both bands have wildly erratic aspects mixed with traditional ones. These two spectrums then play off of each other making music that's both accessible yet challenging enough that you don't tire of it over a few listens like a pop radio song. Additionally, while you can pin a few influences, both bands sound like no other band making music. The hoof have also been able to get opening spots for a fantastic roster of bands- Radiohead, The Flaming Lips, Sonic Youth, Wilco, and many tours with their best friend band the Fiery Furnaces. I saw them open for the Flaming Lips once and I hold it as the best show I've ever seen.
The second Deerhoof track, "The Perfect Me" opens the record they released this year Friend Opportunity. While it isn't as good as their previous album The Runners Four (a record that's a damn near masterpiece) it's still an excellent release. It'll certainly perform well on my year end list. The drums on this song are fantastic, and really showcase Greg Saunier's talent. The man's a beast. I can't ignore the other aspects though..to keep it simple, it's all good. Deerhoof - The Perfect Me
