The Beach Boys//Wouldn't It Be Nice?

I am feeling a little bit out of it today. It seems like it’s taking me forever to wake up. The result of this is often that I say inappropriate things to people. Not inappropriate like NSFW, but inappropriate like WTF? Example:
Friend: “Hey, what’s up”
Me: “What? What is up? Oh. Yes. Hi. Hello.”

When I’m feeling particularly asleep on the subway, I often cook up ridiculous ideas that I think are awesome until I fully wake up. This morning, I was thinking about gay marriage, mostly because Gov. Paterson has been pushing so hard for it (say what you will about the guy, but he gets this for what it truly is—a civil rights issue). I was thinking about how I’ve seen a lot of tee shirts supporting gay marriage, but most of the ones I’ve seen have been kind of ugly (come on, gays—you are supposed to be fashionable!). Then, I was thinking about what kind of gay marriage shirt I would make for myself. I saw it clearly: dark green shirt, cursive-y writing that just read: “Marry me.” And then, somewhere else, maybe on the back, an addendum, “Oh wait, you can’t.” Anybody want to take a crack at this? Or was this just another of my harebrained N train schemes?

Rogue tee shirt design ideas aside, it seems to me that the universe is trying to make me examine some things today. Next, an acquaintance linked to this very interesting article about gay parenting on her Facebook.

Finally, as if personal anxiety about queer marriage and parenting obeys the famed and dreaded rule of threes (anybody see that 30 Rock from a few weeks ago?), my mom emailed me to let me know that yes, it was fine if my girlfriend and I spent the night before Thanksgiving at their house, but no, it was not fine for us to sleep in the same bed. I love my mom (hi, K) and much of the time I even love her quaint antiquated rules, but this kind of felt like the rainbow straw that broke the bisexual camel’s back. Why? Well, when is it ok for you to sleep in the same bed as your spouse in my parent’s house? When you’re married. And when will I get married? “Oh wait, I can’t.” I appreciate that straight children and queer children are subjected to the same old-timey standards when it comes to this matter, but it’s not exactly fair that it’s ILLEGAL for me to ever sleep in the same bed as the person I’m dating under these circumstances. And while A. and I aren’t exactly getting our civil union tomorrow, the whole thing still kinda bums me out.

Combine all this with the fact that I woke up with this perfectly poppy song of oppression in my head a few mornings ago and here's what you get: a weird rambley post about gay marriage and a 60s pop song to go with it.

I highly doubt that The Beach Boys knew how nicely this song, which is from the much-beloved and much-copied-of-late Pet Sounds album, would work for this situation when they wrote it. In fact, it’s well-documented that the song is about the restrictions and lack of independence that comes with childhood. From Wikipedia:

In the Endless Harmony documentary, Brian Wilson described the song as "what children everywhere go through… wouldn't it be nice if we were older, or could run away and get married"…In a 1996 interview, Wilson stated, "'Wouldn't It Be Nice' was not a real long song, but it's a very 'up' song. It expresses the frustrations of youth, what you can't have, what you really want and you have to wait for it."

Please, America…we’re tired of waiting.



Wouldn’t It Be Nice?.mp3

Wouldn't it be nice if we could wake up
In the morning when the day is new
And, after having spent the day together,
Hold each other close the whole night through?

The happy times together we've been spending,
I wish that every kiss was never ending.
Oh, wouldn't it be nice?

Maybe if we think and wish and hope and pray it might come true.
Baby, then there wouldn't be a single thing we couldn't do.
We could be married
And then we'd be happy.

Wouldn't it be nice?

You know it seems the more we talk about it,
It only makes it worse to live without it ,
But let’s talk about it.
Oh, wouldn't it be nice.

Animal Kingdom//Tin Man

New Mainstreamish Pop You Can Like (Of Course it’s from Europe): Monday Mail.
What is Monday Mail?

I am not surprised at all that this song and album were produced by Phil Ek. It sounds remarkably like the most recent release from Band of Horses (YET ANOTHER BAND WITH AN ANIMAL NAME). While I felt so-so about that record (some songs were amazing, some not so much), I think this sound, with its reverb-heavy mildly-warbled vox and its brash guitars, really works when it’s fighting for good and not evil. I’m also really really into that mild organ that’s mixed to the back. MMM like it. Ahem, yes…

Lauren from Sneak Attack says:

The album was recorded at Seattle’s Electrokitty Studios with Phil Ek (Fleet Foxes, The Shins, Band of Horses). And the band has shared the stage with bands as diverse as Vampire Weekend, Band of Horses, Camera Obscura, Snow Patrol and a UK tour with the Silversun Pickups.

For a band that’s trying to pick up press right now, there’s not really a whole lot of info about them on the web. They’re from South London, although, according to The Guardian, “One of the best things you can say about Animal Kingdom is that they don't sound British – rather they sound American, specifically from upstate New York.” I think that’s bullshit. They sound plenty British to me, as much as anything can “sound” anything anymore. However, they also said this: “They could be the first stadium-rock balladeers it's OK to like.” Yeah, ok Guardian, now we're getting somewhere.



Tin Man.mp3

Since you took my heart,
I got a missing part.

Dolly Parton//Jolene

I like only a very specific brand of country. I like old, tough, raw, awesome country. I like roots of American folk. I like alt country and cowpunk. I like the country music of other countries. I like Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline and Hank Williams. I like The Carter Family. I like Lucinda Williams and the Old 97s. I'm predictable. I'm a parody of myself.

Now that you know where I'm coming from, Dolly Parton fucking rules!

I went to Dollywood a few times as a kid with Karen, Deb and Dr. Bob, during our NC family vacations. It's everything you'd imagine from a theme park owned by a country music megastar. There, Karen made me eat a corndog for the first time ever. It made me vomit.

Another funny story: a family friend recently worked on the 9-5 musical. He reported back that, in addition to being a completely snappy dresser EVERYday, Dolly Parton is the best human being ever, personally thanking the firemen who inspected the theater and making her homemade fudge for the cast and crew.

Nice as she may be, I would not fuck around with her. From wikipedia:
Parton has said that the inspiration for the "Jolene" character was a tall, red-headed bank teller who Parton believed was flirting with her husband, and her husband's apparent vulnerability to the teller's charm as indicated by his sudden interest in making frequent trips to the bank. In her live performances of the song, Dolly often states she fought this woman tooth and nail for her husband. However, Parton has also stated that the name "Jolene" was taken from the name of a little red-headed girl with green eyes seeking an autograph after a concert.

"Jolene" hit number one when it was released, was #217 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time and has been covered by everyone from The White Stripes (who's version is awesome, live and recorded) to Paula Cole (where HAVE all the cowboys gone?).



Jolene.mp3

Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene,
Im begging of you please don't take my man.
Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene,
Please don't take him just because you can.
Your beauty is beyond compare,
With flaming locks of auburn hair.
With ivory skin and eyes of emerald green,
Your smile is like a breath of spring.
Your voice is soft like summer rain
And I cannot compete with you, Jolene.

The Rolling Stones//Sympathy for the Devil

Last night, Pat and I DJ'ed at Lucky's (after the Series ended, poorly). Aside: I yelled, "just fucking win already, Yankees--you're pissing me off!" I don't care about sports at all, but am a Phillies fan by blood. Also, the Yanks are obviously the spoiled rich kid cocky asses of the sport--not likable. I couldn't help but think of the parallels between their win (AGAIN) and Bloomberg's win (AGAIN). Money really can buy you happiness, huh?

I haven't DJ'ed that much and I am definitely still getting the hang of it with fades, transitions, etc. That said, there was a special glory that I felt when I put this song on and heard those signature intro drums blast around the bar. Within minutes, some rock 'n roll types at the end of the bar were bellowing out "hoo hooo!" along with The Stones. I joined them. So FUN.

There's something really amazing to me about the fact that I get to DJ with my dad's original copy of Beggar's Banquet (shhhhh). It felt like a sort of ruthless justice to put this on after having to play Sinatra's "New York, New York" for all the drunk assholes in the bar.

This is definitely my favorite Stones song...and probably one of my favorite songs ever. Songs like this one are what make me feel so crazy and passionate about music. A song like this makes you feel so much. It makes you dance. It makes you want to scream. Also, it's just so tough and we all know that's hot.

If anyone was gonna make you like the devil...right? In the mood to snarl? Here we go:



Sympathy for the Devil.mp3

Let me please introduce myself--
I'm a man of wealth and taste.
I laid traps for troubadours
Who get killed before they reached Bombay.

The Glands//Livin' Was Easy

Speaking of songs with which I have a strong memory association, this song reminds me of a sparkly late spring morning, just after my freshman year of college. I was living back at my parent's house, walking down to Montclair to get a cup of coffee. The day was beautiful and perfect and I kind of was asking myself (in a playful, non-serious way) why I had gone away from their home.

It's funny, but no one seems to know much about this band and no one seems to know where they are now. Someone even made a YouTube video about it--for real. What is known is that they were from Athens and they have a kind of off-putting name.

Epitonic.com says:
The Glands self-released their debut album in 1997. The band claims they called it Double Thriller because they used the same mixing console for it that Michael Jackson used for his Thriller album. Uh, sure. Well, anyway, Bar/None heard the record (which features "Welcome to New Jersey," by the way) and decided to give it a proper release

I've never heard Double Thriller, but I loved their self-titled when it came out. Like many, I wish they would release a new one! Glands, where you at?



Livin' Was Easy.mp3

Why did I go?
I had it so easy.
I had a room of my own
and the weather so warm.

Low//Sunflower

Sometimes the things you remember are really odd. For example, I remember that I bought this album (Low’s Things We Lost in the Fire) in 2001 shortly after moving to Ann Arbor, at Matt Braddish’s amazing record store (that I would come to work at in a few years), Underground Sounds. I was there with Ali (who would work at Underground--when it really WAS underground--first and actually help me get the job) and maybe one other person? Liz B.? Ali and I had had recently had a long conversation about Low and how seeing them live had changed her life. She showed me her ticket from the show, which was hand-designed and printed. I can still kind of remember how it looked. I was intrigued and decided to pick up this album, along with Get Lost by The Magnetic Fields (that one came on a year-old tip from a friend’s cousin).

I remember that when I got back to East Quad, I immediately put on the Fields disc and freaked out about it, particularly the opening track, “You and Me and the Moon.” I ran down the hallway to Liz’s room, where many friends were gathered, and insisted that they all “LISTEN TO THIS LIKE RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OH MY GOD IT’S SO GOOD.” We blasted it and danced.

Conversely, I can’t remember when I first listened to my other purchase from that day, but certainly when I did, I did not run out and demand to share it with everyone I knew. Low is a sad, troubled band that produces introspective, honest and haunting music best enjoyed in the company of oneself and one’s headphones. As the end of the summer turned to the dead of the winter, my life proceeded to descend into the gray haze of Michigan cold, much-too-drunken evenings and lesbian drama. Sweeping and dramatic, these songs were a lovely soundtrack to events that now appear to be some petty pratfalls of youth (but were then heavy, heartbreaking, tortured times…you get the picture).

I hadn’t thought of this band for a while, but David Martin happened to play this song (with the lovely harmonies and percussion contributions of The VE family) as a cover at The 50 last weekend. It made me want to break out this album again and appreciate that time period from a new vantage point. After all, the leaves are falling and the temperature is dropping. Luckily, I haven’t had a winter quite like that one in a great deal time.



Sunflower.mp3

When they found your body,
Giant Xs on your eyes.
With your half of the ransom,
You bought some sweet, sweet, sweet
Sweet sunflowers
And gave them to the night.

Omo//Teabreak

9-12 work; 12-1 lunch; 1-2:30 work; 2:30-3:30 tea; 3:30-5 work; 5-11 pub; now-now Monday Mail.
What is Monday Mail?

How was everyone’s Halloween? Mine was NUTS! It was filled with music, party-hoppin’ and cops. SUCCESS!

I thought maybe people would be interested in something a bit different this time around and the inbox was happy to oblige.

Brooke at Big Hassle writes:

Omo's The White Album is an album full of spiky little pop gems. A little like Laurie Anderson jamming with the Tom Tom Club, or a collaboration of Laurie Anderson and Young Marble Giants, mixed by Ricardo Villalobos, occasionally joined by Enoch Light on vibes and Raymond Scott on synthesizer. This is a surefire chart hit in a parallel universe where all TV programmes are made by David Lynch and every household owns a hover car. If you're looking for music with depth and character, that is fun and wants to get to know you, meet Omo.

It’s hard to find things that are really original and new in our very recycled age. Omo is certainly borrowing from places here, but I like that they’re taking a unique approach to it. I also like that it’s absurd, because, fuck, life is absurd.

Also, I’m fond of tea. I’m drinking some right now. Hell yeah, I am.



Teabreak.mp3

Another cup of tea?

That's Him! That's The Guy//Canst Thou Summon

BOO! Local Music Friday!
Tell me...what is this Local Music Fridays?

Oh my God, guys, tomorrow is Halloween!!! OOOOH, SPOOKY!

Last night, A. and I went to a Haunted House. It wasn't exactly that scary, but it was still a good time. Then, I bought some candy for tomorrow night's 50/50 show, which will feature David Martin of Michigan band That's Him! That's The Guy!

I never actually got to see TH!TTG! when I lived in Michigan, although my friend Travis told me they were awesome. Palmyra had the pleasure of playing a show with them before Joe moved out of town, which was quite enjoyable, even if it was at the worst venue in lower Manhattan.

I was really impressed with their beautiful harmonies and their pretty/melancholy (everyone knows that this is my favorite combo!) tunes. I hear that tomorrow David will be accompanied by some special guest singers. I'm totally geeked. Come out for music, the clanking of pipes in my basement, candy corn and cheep beer. Sure to please. Costumes optional.



Canst Thou Summon.mp3

The hook comes again.
Oh, Leviathan.

Bruce Springsteen//Johnny 99

When I was writing about Kurt Vile yesterday, I went to link to my Bruce Springsteen post...and then realized I didn't have a Bruce Springsteen post. WHAT?! How could this be true!? I'm from Jersey; I love Bruce Springsteen. It's, like, in my DNA.

Actually, maybe that's not exactly true because one of my best high school-era friends, Paige, didn't like The Boss. She didn't like him so much that she threatened to make a tee-shirt with the words "Not My Boss" set underneath a screen-printed picture of The Boss. How rude. Still, that's a funny idea for a tee-shirt. She never made it, but if she had, I would have worn it. Maybe I would have X'ed out the word "Not" with a sharpie, because that was how I rolled at the time--altering tee-shirts with scissors, sharpies and patches. Punk! And because that dude IS my Boss. Duh.

Nebraska is one of my favorite albums OF ALL TIME. It's moody and gritty and lofi and lonely. It was recorded on a four-track, meant initially to be demos for the next album with The E Street Band, but Springsteen was hellaciously depressed when he wrote it, so it just sounded weird and wrong with the band. It was decided that the album would be realized as it was...and each song is its own brilliant and dark portrait of America.

This song is especially relevant right now. It's about recession, poverty and what it does to people in America. Johnny lost his job at the auto plant (in Mahwah!) and ends up robbing a store and shooting a dude in process. Not to say that Johnny was in the right, but society also plays a role.

Well, new numbers are pointing to the fact that the recession might be over. I hope that's true, but it's not to say that plenty of Americans aren't already in some pretty desperate situations. I know there's been a lot of shitty violence in my hood lately. Fingers crossed that everyone can hold out until the positive change actually starts to get down to the ground level. This song is all about the stress of this situation--feeling powerless and trapped, on the wrong side of that great big beautiful American dream.



Johnny 99.mp3

Now judge, I had debts no honest man could pay.
The bank was holdin' my mortgage and they were gonna take my house away.
Now I ain't sayin' that makes me an innocent man,
But it was more than all this that put that gun in my hand.

Kurt Vile//Freeway

Kurt Vile, besides being recently signed to Matador and being really good at playing in awesomely named bands (when he plays with his backing band he becomes Kurt Vile and the Violators and he also plays in The War on Drugs), sounds something like one part lofi Springsteen circa Nebraska, one part Dylan and one part post-modern noisetime. Constant Hitmaker, which I've been listening to on repeat for a few weeks now, is a delightfully gritty compendium of songs, true the album's title.

Angelina gave me this to me on vinyl for my birthday this summer. Sadly, I only just got a working record player back in my life about a month ago, so I just got to start listening to it and it is a bit of an instant classic.

This morning I put it on while A. and I had breakfast (does it count as breakfast if you're eating it at 12:45pm?). It was delightful. I also have been walking around with the lines of this in my head for weeks now.

Unrelated: Kurt Vile is also from Philly, which is also where my parents are from. Though I care little for baseball, I am rooting for the team of my ancestral home to kick the ass of the team of my current home, because it just feels right. Y'all feel me?



Freeway.mp3

Got a freeway in mind.
Let go of my head.
Walk down my line.
Better be sure you'll be dead.
I got a trumpet,
I know where to dump it.
I'm glad that you came
If the sound is the same.

Thao Nguyen and the Get Down Stay Down//When We Swam

I know I’ve already written about Thao once here, but I think it’s worth it to share this awesome song from her very recently released new album, Know Better, Learn Faster.

The album’s definitely different from the debut and I don’t want to say better or worse; just different. Mostly, this is because it’s rooted so deeply in a what must be one particularly rough breakup…in fact the songs almost seem to be a chorological account, albeit a somewhat veiled one, of the rise and fall of drama. There’s “I don’t know if this is working”. There’s “don’t go”. There’s “come back”. There’s “goodbye”. There’s “really? Goodbye?” Then there’s “fuck yeah! Goodbye! And finally "yeah, I am still depressed but I’m going to go force myself to have fun to forget about this.”

Thao and her band really do have something special going on. The songs are well-written, the sound is cohesive and the one time I saw them live, they were stellar. Bonus: Andrew Bird contributes to the title track, which is predictably beautiful.

This song is, as Amy put it on Saturday night, really American and kind of Mo-Town. I love it. As exemplified in her previous featured song, girl knows how to make a great video. BEACH PARTY!!!

If this is really the effect that Lilith Fair has on the next generation of female singer-songwriters, then honestly, thanks Sarah McLachlan. I went to one of your events. Then I made fun of it as I got older. But this kind of rules! I want to hear more! Bring it on!



When We Swam.mp3

When we swam our love to pieces,
We washed up on messy beaches.

El Perro del Mar//Change of Heart

I’m goin’ for to buy me some Monday|Monday Mail
What is Monday Mail?

Another Gothemburg export (like Jens), I’ve really enjoyed what I’ve heard from El Perro del Mar (literally "The Dog from the Sea" in Spanish). My friend Kirstin introduced me a few years back (thanks, LastFM recommendations!). Honestly, my biggest issue has been that some of the music is slightly repetitive and…cutesy…cutesy/sad…? Is that the right word?

Naturally my ears (er eyes) perked up when I saw this email from Myles at Sneak Attack:

We're going to keep descriptions of the new El Perro Del Mar music video to a minimum and let the video speak for itself. What we can say is that we'd be surprised if you've ever seen a music video like this. And please note, the entire video was shot in ONE TAKE.

The video (see below) is REALLY amazing. Also amazing is the song and the sound. I see it as a vast departure for EPdM. This sadness isn’t cute. It seems more complex, with a darkness, melancholy and a sort of 70s groove. I’m excited to check out the album, Love is not Pop.

You can catch her here in NYC on 11/9 at Webster Hall.



Change of Heart.mp3

Your voice in my ear,
Carry me back home.

Delta 5//Mind Your Own Business

SO here I am with another post, since two people told me what they wanted to be when they grew up in the last post (not a grown-up and a studier of dinosaurs). Thanks, guys.

Today I did a little free association to get here. Here's a rough sketch: Talking Heads->Tom Tom Club->Covered by Chicks on Speed->who also covered this song.

From Wikipedia:

Combining feminist politics with a two-bass funk-punk sound (much in the style of another, more famous Leeds band, Gang of Four), they released in 1979 their debut single, "Mind Your Own Business"...Delta 5 were also important figures in the Rock Against Racism movement, and were the subject of a highly-publicized assault at the hands of a right-wing group affiliated with rival movement Rock Against Communism.

Rock Against Racism and Rock Against Communism? Seriously? Apparently these were two opposing 70s-era UK music coalitions about ending racism and white power, respectively.

This song is a good way to kick off the weekend after a particularly annoying week for me. Is "mind your own business" just a slightly more polite way to say "fuck off"? Yeah, I think so.

I actually saw CoS play this at the Majestic in Detroit, which was pretty amazing. For some reason, they were throwing colorful sponges into the audience. I should also note that this was the same show where Kot and I actually bashed our heads into a table through the entirety of Peaches set--but that is a story for another post--most likely the inevitable upcoming post featuring Tracy and the Plastics. While the live version was pretty incredible (kitchen cleaning accessories and all), I don't think they have anything on this amazing original version.



Mind Your Own Business.mp3

Can I have a taste of your ice cream?
Can I lick the crumbs from your table?
Can I interfere in your crisis?

No, mind your own business!

Talking Heads//Psycho Killer, Once in a Lifetime (Live)

I know what you’re thinking. You’re thinking, “Gina, you are a liar and a slacker.” Well, listen, I might be one. I didn’t deliver yesterday and honestly, there’s usually been about a day every week where I don’t lately. I’m not saying I don’t feel bad. I don’t want to let you guys down. That said, you barely ever answer me when I ask you questions. For example, a few days ago I asked everybody what they wanted to be when they grew up and no one responded. I was genuinely interested! C’mon guys! Shape up! I want to see some dedication!

While I might not actually be here every day, I will never leave you short on songs, because I really care about you guys! Let’s try to work it out!

So, listen: if you’re in NYC like me, you’re probably lovin’ lovin’ lovin’ this weird summery weather, especially after the week of intense dank doom we experienced last week. If you’re in NYC like me, you probably also went to the amazing free David Byrne show at the beginning of the summer in Prospect Park. Face it, I know you were there. EVERYONE was there. I think I saw 9/10ths of the people I know in the world that night. And Mr. Byrne looked like a the hazy light of Jesus in the distance across throngs of young hipsters, aging hipsters and Park Slope hipster parents. Someone gave you a sip of whiskey straight from the bottle. Someone in front of you was smoking a joint. The twilight fell on roaring applause and dancers in weird costumes. Remember?

While that time has passed, we can still think back on it fondly as we prepare to enter the cold hell of winter. We can also give thanks to David Byrne for his many cultural contributions to society: attractive custom bike racks (and a book about cycling), an incredible installation involving a hacked vintage organ, slightly crazy hair, Luaka Bop, the big suit, amazing work with Talking Heads, a tasteful solo career and a willingness to cover Talking Heads songs live in concert to this day. Mr. Byrne, we salute you.

Also, a random thought, I will always remember Jill’s sisters dancing to Psycho Killer, which Jill made them do in front of all her college friends, kind of against their will. Jill’s sisters, we salute you too.



Psycho Killer.mp3

Once in a Lifetime.mp3

You start a conversation, you can't even finish it.
You're talking a lot, but you're not saying anything.
When I have nothing to say, my lips are sealed.
Say something once, why say it again?

Atlas Sound//Walkabout

What did you want to be when you grew up? Coincidentally, this is a question I recently pondered while biking around Prospect Park on a gorgeous fall day last week. My early childhood answer alternated between “a fireman” and “a saxophone player.” I actually think this says a lot about me, but I’m not going to go into that right now.

I am slightly anti-CMJ, but still SO EXCITED to see Atlas Sound and Broadcast tonight at Le Poisson Rouge (sadly sold out). I’ve been quite into Deerhunter for a little while now, but decided to beef up on my Atlas Sound in preparation for tonight. Been listening to logos (which features Panda Bear on this track and Stereolab’s Laetitia Sadier on another) on repeat now all morning. It’s so good!

Bradford Cox might be one of the only true geniuses that I can see in music today. He’s got this incredible sense of melody and finds ways to recontextualize often simple lyrics, forcing the listener to re-examine meaning. Combining these major skills with a killer aesthetic for sound and a clawing, desperate, haunting, emotive and honest voice, well, each tune seems to emerge an instant classic. I actually hear real songwriting skill here, complete with hooks that beg you to return over and over again, like the best REM or JV albums.



Walkabout.mp3

What did you want to see?
What did you want to be when you grew up?

Feel free to answer. I’m curious. I’d like to know.