Music to drink tea by
Posts tagged Pavement
So drunk, in the august sun..
65 years ago
in MP3s
Disclaimer: It’s not August, I’m not drunk, and it’s only a little bit sunny. There’s no real theme to the stuff I’m posting today, it’s just some random things that I’ve been meaning to mention.
It was way back in May that I first wrote about Keegan Dewitt, drawing comparisons between his work and that of Whiskeytown and yes, Dylan. I’m a big fan of the Americana sound, so his country tinged acoustic songs were right up my street. Keegan got in touch a few days ago to let me know that his new album is now finished. All of the songs have been mixed properly, giving them all a generally richer sound. The album is available to order via Keegan’s website, where you can also listen the album in it’s entirity.
MP3 Keegan DeWitt – Bed of Mercy
MP3 Keegan DeWitt – So High So Low
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The music elitist in me didn’t take Siobhan Donaghy seriously for a long time. I remember that when ‘Overrated’ was first released in 2003 I dismissed it pretty quickly, despite it actually being quite enjoyable. Sometime last year I grudgingly added it to my iPod after hearing it again, and then I realised that the whole exercise was a little absurd. A good song is a good song no matter who it comes from. Dismissing someone talented merely because of their past musical indiscretions is pretty dumb. Granted I don’t think I can name one other song of hers that I actually like, but that doesn’t change the fact that ‘Overrated’ is a fine piece of work. Apparently her new stuff is regarded as being rather good, but I can’t get on with it myself. You can make up your own mind over on her Myspace page.
MP3 Siobhan Donaghy – Overrated (expired)
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Last night I started putting together my first “mixtape” for the International Mixtape Project. It’s a pretty nice idea where each month you’re sent the name and address of someone from their list (currently over 700 people) and you make them a mixtape. Everyone in the group ends up making a mixtape for someone else, and everyone should then get a new mixtape in the mail every month. How well this all works in reality is something I’m about to find out, but I enjoy making mixes, and getting some entirely random ones should be interesting too. I don’t really have any overlaying theme for my first one, but I seem to be basing the whole thing around ‘Gold Soundz’ by Pavement. I have no actual reason for this other than the fact I’ve recently become addicted to it again. It’s one of Pavement’s many pitch perfect songs, and one of the few things that will actually make me think “they don’t make them like that anymore”. So someone is going to be getting a mix of songs that go nicely with this one. Lucky them.
MP3 Pavement – Gold Soundz (expired)
Los Campesinos! BBC Session: new song, Pavement cover, more
10
Starved for new Los Campesinos! material after playing their four available songs to death repeatedly? I know I certainly am, so you can imagine my joy to get hold of this BBC session that they recorded for Huw Stephens’ show at Maida Vale. Not only do you get two old favourites in ‘Death To Los Campesinos!’ and ‘You! Me! Dancing!’, you also get two brand new recordings.
‘We Throw Parties, You Throw Knives’ is a live staple, so if you’ve been lucky enough to see them live you’ll be somewhat familiar with it. It actually sounds better in it’s current form than when I saw them back in september though, although that might just be the voice of somewhat overjoyed to get new material talking. Secondly, and most interesting of all, we have a cover of ‘Frontwards’, a classic Pavement song from all the way back in 1992. It’s a great version of the song, adding a male-female duelling vocals thing, but I’ll be interested to hear how it goes down with the hardcore Pavement fans.
MP3 Los Campesinos! – Death To Los Campesinos! (expired)
MP3 Los Campesinos! – Frontwards (expired)
MP3 Los Campesinos! – We Throw Parties, You Throw Knives (expired)
MP3 Los Campesinos! – You! Me! Dancing! (expired)
Los Campesinos!: Myspace
Undercovers
2So yesterday I went to see United 93, which was a far better film than I imagined. I’m not sure what I expected it from it, but it wasn’t as depressing as it could have been, nor was it flag-wavingly patriotic, my other main fear for it. In it’s place was a well thought out character study of how people deal with a crisis. It’s incredibly brutal at times, particularly the final frames, but well worth the effort.
On the other end of the entertainment scale, I saw the finale to Everwood yesterday, which has been one of my favourite shows of the past few years. The show is the biggest casulty of the WB and UPN merger, meaning there wasn’t room on the schedule for it with such classics as Seventh Heaven and America’s Top Model needing a place. It’s a shame that it ended so suddenly, and the rewrites of the finale did lead to a happy ending overload, but it was a satisfying enough conclusion to a great series.
Oh, right, we’re here for music? Today is one of the fun covers posts I’m afraid, as I’ve got a bunch of other fun site related work to get done this afternoon.
MP3 Pavement – The Killing Moon (expired) (Echo & The Bunnymen)
‘The Killing Moon’ is a defining song to both music fans of the 80s and Donnie Darko fans, and this Pavement version does it justice. Recorded at a BBC session in 1997 and released as part of the ‘Major Leagues’ EP, it keeps the abstract feel of the original while still giving it a sound that is undeniably Pavement. Malkmus’ adds his typically lethargic vocals, and somehow manages to start singing about ‘cucumbers’ and ‘cabbage’ by the end of the song.
MP3 Ryan Adams – Wonderwall (expired) (Oasis)
Take one overrated song from a pretty crappy band, put it through the Ryan Adams depression process and the result isn’t actually as bad as you would think. It’s far from perfect, the computer trickery on Adams’ voice really does the song no favours at all, yet it still manages to hold one’s attention for it’s four minutes runtime. It doesn’t seem possible, but Adams also seems able to make the song seem even more self-important than it did before. Quite a feat given how crappy the words are when you actually pay attention to them.
MP3 The Decemberists – Up The Junction (live) (expired) (Squeeze)
‘Up The Junction’ is just about the only Squeeze song that I really like, although I haven’t really explored a great deal of their back catalog. The Decemberists version keeps the fun, upbeat feel of the song, even with the pretty miserable subject matter. It also manages to suit Colin Meloy’s voice perfectly, which is pretty weird as he’s about the last person to sound working class from Clapham, but there you go.
That’s all for now folks. I’d also advise that you check out Nothing But Green Lights, the new blog from Mike, who was behind the excellent Take Your Medicine. I’ll warn you now that it’ll take a little getting used to if you have an aversion to green though.
Five for Friday
15 years ago
in MP3s
When I wrote the first ‘Five for Friday’ post this time last week, I said I didn’t know whether or not it would be a recurring feature or not. Given how much I enjoyed it writing it though, getting to go into some detail about some of my favourite songs, I think it’s inevitable that it’s going to be, at least for a little while. As such, we now have part two in the series, where you get to read me rambling about some songs that I like, and as a reward, you get to listen to them. I think that’s how all this works anyway.
MP3 Semisonic – Closing Time (expired) (Feeling Strangely Fine, 1998)
It’s a shame that Semisonic will seemingly forever be lumbered with the “one hit wonder” tag as over the course of nearly a decade they put out several really great albums. They also hold a personal significance to me as they were the first real band I got seriously into after I purchased ‘Feeling Strangely Fine’ following some school exams when I was 16. Crazy times. Anyway, ‘Closing Time’ is probably their most definitive song, even if it isn’t their most complex. The words are pretty much self explanatory, putting across that feeling of being kicked out of a bar at the end of the night to a fantastic piece of guitar work. And the sadness from Dan Wilson’s voice when he points out that “every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end” is just perfect.
MP3 The Elected – It Was Love (expired) (Sun, Sun, Sun, 2006)
I’m still not a big fan of ‘Sun, Sun, Sun’, but this song is just about my favourite of any song that The Elected have put out. If there’s one thing Blake Sennett can do well, it’s sounding melancholy while doing his best Elliott Smith impression. An entirely depressing story about two people who stay together because they know no better (“I just put up with you / Kid, I stayed because you wouldn’t leave”). I don’t know if it’s supposed to be positive or not when Blake describes this time as “It was love / Or at least the closest I got”, but it certainly doesn’t seem that way even if it’s supposed to be.
MP3 Elliott Smith – Happiness (expired) (Figure 8, 2000)
A nice segueway here from a man who sounds like Elliott Smith to Smith himself. I don’t really know what ‘Happiness’ is actually about, and it’s far too easy to shout “suicide” or “broken relationships” or whatever at it. I guess it doesn’t really matter given the song itself, and it’s certainly not hard to believe how real the emotion behind “all I want now is happiness for you and me” when Elliott is the one singing.
MP3 The Rakes – Retreat (expired) (Capture/Release, 2005)
It’s easy to proclaim that The Rakes sound like every other British band of the past couple of years, but out of the recent batch of “common people” bands, they are the one that I enjoy the most. A song about trying to strike that balance between not wasting your life but also keeping a social life, we never do really know whether the narrator decides to “retreat” or “go out for the fifth night in a row”. I’d hazard a guess that he’s heading down to the club just once more though. It’s a theme that The Rakes often return to, particularly in their awesome “Work, Work, Work (Pub, Club, Sleep)”.
MP3 Pavement – Rattled By The Rush (expired) (Wowee Zowee, 1995)
We’ll conclude with a Pavement classic today, from their often overlooked ‘Wowee Zowee’ album. If I’m honest, it was probably the last Pavement album that I learnt to enjoy, but upon doing so, I discover a whole bunch of gems, including this one. It’s probably the most accessible song on the album while still remaining as unique as most of their recordings. I’m not going to try and assign reason to it, although Malkmus has implied that it’s about marriage in interviews, which kind of fits, so I’m not going to argue with that. Thinking about it, I’m coming to the conclusion that it’s the fun of songs like this that I find lacking in Malkmus’ solo material and why it doesn’t end up doing very much for me. Kind of a random tangent I know, but it’s something to consider.
That’s all for tonight. On an entirely non-musical related note, if you get a chance to see Sarah Silverman’s Jesus Is Magic, make sure that you do. It’s just about the funniest, most offensive thing that I’ve seen in a very long time.
Cover.. up?
1Boy am I running out of puns for these things.
Well it’s that time of the fortnight for one of these posts. As usual, we have an entirely random batch of coverings, including some excellent ones, and at least one that may actually be considered a crime against music.
MP3 Bright Eyes – Burn Rubber (expired) (Simon Joyner)
I should probably get this one out of the way first seeing as it’s the one here where I don’t actually know the original. I’ve looked around for it but can’t find it anywhere. If you happen to have it and would like to send it to me, that would be greatly appreciated. It’s a little more abstract than most Bright Eyes songs, although beyond that, you probably wouldn’t be able to tell that it wasn’t one of his. It appeared as a b-side on the ‘Take It Easy’ EP and does work rather well as one of the Digital Ash type songs.
MP3 Nickel Creek – Spit On A Stranger (expired) (Pavement)
So we come to this weeks “ear bleeding” entry, thanks to those nice folks at Nickel Creek. First of all, covering ‘Spit On A Stranger’, one of Pavement’s finest works, is a bad idea idea as it is, but to do this to it is just downright wrong. How exactly did anyone think that this might be a good idea? I’ve included it here as I think most cover songs are interesting, even ones like this. Hell, one of you might even enjoy it. I don’t know what it is about it that makes me dislike it so much, but it just seems horrible to me. I don’t know what Nickel Creek are like beyond this song, so they might be pretty good for all I know. Doing this to a classic is just awful though.
MP3 Paul Anka – Smells Like Teen Spirit (expired) (Nirvana)
I’m sure that some of you may consider this one to be a musical crime too, but showing how bizarre taste can be, I think it’s absolutely fantastic. This is made all the more intriguing by the fact I can’t stand Paul Anka on the most part at all. It takes a hell of a lot of skill to take a seminal song like ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ and turn it into something completely different that still works though. If you thought the Ukulele Orchestra version I posted the other day, wait until you hear this one. Somehow turning the song into a full on big band swing song without a hint of irony, it really is one of the best covers I’ve heard in quite sometime.
MP3 Snow Patrol – You Will. You? Will. You? Will. You? Will. (live) (expired) (Bright Eyes)
I’m no Snow Patrol beyond a handful of songs, but all credit to them for taking on this song and managing to pull it off. I think this was recorded as part of a BBC session a while ago, but I’m not entirely sure. It’s not perfect, and at times sounds like Lightbody is reading the lyrics from a piece of paper or something, but it still sounds pretty good. It’s a shame that it takes a cover song to hear that Snow Patrol can actually do more interesting things than release twelve different versions of ‘Run’ and ‘Spitting Games’.
Obligatory pimping time
Just a quick reminder that there is only just over a week left on the eMusic 50 free mp3s promotion so be sure to grab them while you still can.
Also don’t forget that Audiolunchbox are also offering 50 free mp3s. I know that you crazy kids can never get enough free music.
In the blogs..
There’s a fantastic post up over at Good Hodgkins where a bunch of music bloggers talk about the songs that are significant to them. Not only do you get a bunch of great songs, there is also some fascinating commentary alongside it.
I can’t believe I forgot to link to this earlier, but I Guess I’m Floating has an excellent piece called ‘Mommy, Where Do Blogs Come From?‘ that looks into the songs behind the names of the major music blogs. As well as being rather enlightening, it’s also an awful lot of fun.
Little Songs
06 years ago
in MP3s
I mentioned this idea the other day. It’s a pretty same one, but one that I think is worthwhile. I’m a big fan of short songs. Whether that’s a signal that I suffer from some form of ADD is up for debate, but I feel that the little songs on albums often get overlooked in favour of their meatier counterparts. As such, I’d like to welcome you to the first part in our 435 part series ‘Better Know A Little Song’. Each edition will feature a small collection of short songs, grouped together if I can be bothered, or entirely random if not. This evening’s collection is all made up of little songs that rock, where it’s hard to resist shouting out the words or jumping around to them. Well, that’s probably just me, but no matter.
MP3 The Futureheads – Stupid And Shallow (expired) (1:35)
There’s not a great deal to it than “you eat shit because you’re stupid and shallow”, so don’t expect any great intellectual insights here. God knows what it’s all supposed to mean beyond liking a shallow person, but who really cares? All of the things that make The Futureheads great are here, particularly the driving guitars and the duelling vocals.
MP3 Ikara Colt – How’s The World Gonna Take You Now? (expired) (1:54)
Ikara Colt are a band that disappeared long before their time. After releasing only two albums the band decided to call it a day. This is a great shame given how much those two albums rocked. A throwback to the sounds of bands like Joy Division and Sonic Youth, while still somehow sounding fresh, they could have been something really special. This song is typical of their sound, a shambolic, shouty rock song that doesn’t make a great deal of sense but sounds damn good in the process.
MP3 Ozma – Rocks (expired) (1:55)
Ozma have never seemingly been cool. I have no idea why, nor do I really care that much. I first found them a few years ago when looking for bands that resembled Weezer without the shitty songwriting. Ozma fitted that perfectly, crafting music that wouldn’t sound at all out of place on the Blue Album. Sadly the band broke up around the same time, but joyously, they seem to be back together again now. ‘Rocks’ is essentially an upbeat song about stalking someone (“to throw me off your trail you moved to Boulder, Colorado”), but it’s so frantic that you’d hardly even notice.
MP3 Weezer – Modern Dukes (expired) (1:52)
Ah, a Weezer song from before the aforementioned “shitty songwriting”. ‘Modern Dukes’ is one of the great lost Weezer songs, a group of around 30 absolutely fantastic songs that never saw the light of day other than on the internet. Like most of Rivers’ post-Pinkerton creations, it’s non-sensical, but has such a glorious sense of anarchy in both it’s words (“I’m an asshole, storm the castle / Burn the bridges, down to the ground / Take no prisoners, we’re just visitors / We don’t care about anything”) and it’s sound that it doesn’t really matter.
MP3 Pavement – Wanna Mess You Around (expired) (1:27)
Part of 1997′s ‘Shady Lane’ EP, ‘Wanna Mess You Around’ is entirely chaotic, recalling the sound of their earlier works like ‘No Life Singed Her’. It’s little more than just a shouting of “I wanna fuck around” for it’s second half, but they make it sound damn good. It’s not their greatest lyrical masterpiece, but it’s a fun song that lets rip from an era when most of their songs had unfortunately lost their bite.
I realise after writing this that there is one thing that seems to link all of these songs entirely: they are all pretty non-sensical lyrically. Which probably doesn’t really help my case about short songs being just as important as the standard length ones. I’ll try and put together a more meaningful collection next time or something, but I just wanted to go for some songs that rock tonight.
In other fun site related news, I might be having my first interview / Q&A type thing coming up soon. Not going to reveal who it is right now, but I will say that I’ve written about them before.
(It’s not William Shatner.)
Not quite covers, but..
36 years ago
in MP3s
Seeing as we’re not just here to hype artists in themselves, I thought I’d try something a little different today. We have a collection of song ‘reimaginings’ (if it’s good enough for Planet Of The Apes..) for your enjoyment. These aren’t covers in the strictest sense. While I suppose they technically are, I wouldn’t tend to count an artist covering their own material as a cover. Instead, these are songs where artists have taken an original song of theirs and changed it completely, whether in a lyrical sense or a musical one.
First up we have Belle and Sebastian, who first gave me the idea to do a post like this with their double bill across two EPs, A Century Of Elvis and A Century Of Fakers. Both songs are massively different from each other. A Century Of Elvis is a spoken word surrealist story, while A Century Of Fakers is a more traditional B&S song using the same backing track. Both songs are excellent in their own right, and you get to play the fun game of trying to work out who ‘Elvis’ is. The actual singer or just a cat?
MP3 Belle & Sebastian – A Century Of Elvis (expired) (from Lazy Line Painter Jane EP, 1997)
MP3 Belle & Sebastian – A Century Of Fakers (expired) (from 3.. 6.. 9 Seconds Of Light EP, 1997)
I have to confess that despite having Stability for years, I didn’t even notice that Stable Song on Death Cab’s 2005 Plans album was exactly the same song, just reduced considerably in length and with a re-recorded vocal track. Personally I prefer the Plans version all round as I find that at over twelve minutes, Stability just starts to grate with me, whereas Stable Song is far more concise and to the point.
MP3 Death Cab For Cutie – Stability (expired) (from Stability EP, 2002)
MP3 Death Cab For Cutie – Stable Song (expired) (from Plans, 2005)
Pavement took their epic, relaxed Type Slowly and turned it into an upbeat country ditty called Slowly Typed. Their new version isn’t entirely serious, the lyrics are mangled and it sounds pretty rough, but it’s entertaining nonetheless.
MP3 Pavement – Type Slowly (expired) (from Brighten The Corners, 1997)
MP3 Pavement – Slowly Typed (expired) (from Shady Lane EP, 1997)
Finally, we have The Rakes, who took their excellent cold war espionage number Strasbourg and turned it into a much simpler, but no less brilliant, song about meeting a girl in a kebab shop in Watford. The music remains the same, the lyrics give an entirely different story. Both are certainly worth your time.
MP3 The Rakes – Strasbourg (expired) (from Capture/Release, 2005)
MP3 The Rakes – Watford (expired) (from All Too Human single, 2006)
I had trouble coming up with examples of this kind of thing for this post, and I think these are the only four that I have. I’m sure other bands must have done a similar thing in the past, I just have no idea who they are. A ton more will probably come to me five minutes after I post this, but no matter.
“With this show, I wanted people to laugh and cry… and shit themselves all at the same time.” – Garth Marenghi
Lastly, I bring news that we finally have proof that there is a god. At least one of DVD releases anyway. After having given up all hope of it ever seeing the light of day, the awesomeness that was Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace is finally being released on DVD on June 12. If you never caught the masterwork when it first aired on Channel 4 in 2004, you’ve really been missing out, but now there really is no excuse. Darkplace is essentially a spoof of Stephen King, poorly made horror films and anything else that gets in it’s way. It’s also one of the funniest things that I have ever seen. Do yourself a favour and get hold of a copy of it. You won’t be disappointed. Unless you have no sense of humour.
