Friday, May 26, 2006

#45

"Show Box"
Barenaked Ladies
Friends-Music From The TV Show

Nmber of listens: |
Stars (out of 5): 1



Ugh...this song is wretchedly bad. I only own it because it is on the Friends sountrack. I'm not a big Barenaked Ladies fan and this one is just so bouncy and annoying. And the lyrics? HORRIBLE. I don't even want to listen to this.


A key in the door, a step on the floor,
A note on the table, and a meal in the micro
Note says "I'm in bed, please make sure you're fed
If you're taking a shower, you can borrow my bathrobe
And when I'm asleep I dream you move in next week"
I crumple the note and save it to put inside

Chorus:
My shoe box
Shoe box of lies
Shoe box
Shoe box of lies

It's under my bed, it's never been read
It's in with my school stuff and my mom never cleans there
From the first little fib, when I still wore a bib
To my latest attempt at pretending at someone
Who's not seventeen and doesn't know what you mean
When talk turns to single malts, or stilton, or

Did somebody tell you
This is how it's supposed to be?
Or did you just find it
And you don't want any more from me?

Was it something I said, or was it something you read
That's making me think that I should never have come here
I can offer you lies, I can tell you good-bye,
I can tell you I'm sorry, but I can't tell the truth, dear
And if I could - would it do any good?
You'll still never get to see the contents of



You're so nineteen-ninety
And it's nineteen-ninety-four

Leave this world behind me
'Cause you don't want me anymore

Monday, May 22, 2006

#44

"Take You On A Cruise"
Interpol
Antics

Nmber of listens: |
Stars (out of 5): 4

I don't understand not loving Interpol. I think a lot of it is the singer's voice because it is so unique yet not in an annoying way and also not in a way that will ever get annoying or old. I can listen to Interpol endlessly and never tire of it.

They often use simple guitar chords strummed in time I've noticed. Then they layer upon it to create great energy in the song.I think Interpol uses their instruments in a very smart way, if that makes any sense. Careful thought goes into the beat and the chords and what is playing when. All of that really adds to a songs level of greatness.


I'm timeless like a broken watch
I make money like Fred Astaire
I see that you've come to resist me
I'm a pitbull in time
The pretense is not what restricts me
It's the circles inside

The anatomy of kisses and a teacher who tries

Who knows how we'll disappear?
Would you like to be my Misses and in future with child?
You know we can't get back from here
But we can get away


Baby don't you try to find me
Baby don't you try to fight
Baby don't you try to find me
Lady it will be alright

Along the way
Tears drown in the wake of delight
There's nothing like this built today
You'll never see a finer ship in your life
We sail today
Tears drown in the wake of delight
There's nothing like this built today
You'll never see a finer ship or receive a better tip in your life

I am the scavenger between the sheets of union
Lately I can't tell for sure whether machines turn anyone
(The anatomy of kisses and a teacher who tries...would you like to be my Misses and in future with child...)

Baby don't you try to find me
Lady there is no need to fight
Lady don't you try to find me
Baby it will be alright

We sail today
Tears will drown in the wake of delight
There's nothing like this built today
You'll never see a finer ship in your life
Along the way
The sea will crowd us with lovers at night
There's nothing like this built today
You'll never see a finer ship or receive a better tip in your life

I see that you've come to resist me
I'm a pitbull in time

White goddess, red goddess, black temptress of the sea
You treat me right
Black goddess, red goddess, white temptress of the sea
You treat me right
White goddess, black goddess, red temptress of the sea
You treat me right
(Oh my love, we are sailing to Norway

#43

"One"
Sunny Day Real Estate
Rising Tide

Nmber of listens: |
Stars (out of 5): 4

Sunny Day Real Estate (SDRE) has such a unique sound: layered instruments, well placed drums, unmistakable vocals. It all comes together to create mini epic songs. I have no idea what he is singing most of the time but still, the songs are powerful and lush.

This song is one of SDRE's best songs. I love how dramatic it is. I can't find the words to describe it otherwise though. It's just one of those that is just good because it is.


And it's strange
How we're wasting our lives
Novacaine
When the pain helps us rise
Here we stay

Though it's only a clever game
Running from our lives
And we linger on
But if we try
To lift up our eyes
Replacing the lies
We own this moment

Everything and everyone and in the end we all are one

The truth will not be denied
Everything and everyone and in the end we all are one
The truth will not be denied

And it's strange
How we're selling our time
And we wait

We are lost in a clever game
Running from our lives
And they lead us on
But if we try
To lift up our eyes
Replacing the lies
We own this moment

Everything and everyone and in the end we all are one
The truth will not be denied
Everything and everyone and in the end we all are one
The truth will not be denied

Everything and everyone and in the end we all are one
The truth will not be denied
Everything and everyone and in the end we all are one
The truth will not be denied

Everything and everyone and in the end we all are one
The truth will not be denied
Everything and everyone and in the end we all are one
The truth will not be denied

#42

"Kristinar"
Howie Day
Australia

Nmber of listens: ||
Stars (out of 5): 3

Howie Day cannot have experienced the things he writes/sings about. If so, he has led the most romantic yet tragic young life ever. That said, this song just goes in his long line of sweet and heartbreaking songs that I love.

It is very simple, just guitar and voice. No big melody or hook that jumps out, I think it is more about his voice in this one. I know that this song is a favorite of many Howie Day fans and I can totally see why. If a song could be described as "naked" then I would use it now. I'm only giving it 3 stars though because I think it is a "live" song that would really come alive then. Ironically, I don't think he often plays this live. Go figure!



On the phone to saturday
where did you go?
’cause the tequila from your kiss is still around
and you’re down
to remind me
i know that you’re away
but you’re not gone

reeling inside
she wants to call
she can spin my motivation
like a record off the wall
don’t you try
for anyone but yourself?
you do for me - don’t you

i can feel it in your mind
kristina falls down to the floor
she is fine and it’s alright
she said you’re broken drowned and drunk
no one had ever felt like she did before
before you

did you know
that if you go
down to planeside
i will be there waiting for you
at the top of the stairs
and you will be so beautiful


kristina said
let’s have your party december
i don’t know why she trys to be so real
kristina said
let’s have your baby in september
i don’t know why you try to be so real

Saturday, May 20, 2006

#41

"From Now To Never"
Sparta
Porcelain

Nmber of listens: |
Stars (out of 5): 2

I'll be honest with you: I didn't listen to this CD much when I got it. I bought it because I was a wicked loyal Sparta fan for so long that I felt like it HAD to be a part of my collection. I still like the idea of Sparta and I have a ton of good memories from seeing them live and listening to them constantly but I don't find myself anyone wanting to put their albums on.

This song is over eight minutes long. It is very political-just check out the lyrics. I don't remember their other songs having messages like this but then again, I admit to not learning the correct lyrics until after many, many listens. The last five or so minutes lost the melody from the beginning and turn into mostly just piano and voice. Personally, I get bored. I can't do the long jam-like, songs often. I start wondering when it's going to end.


So don't forget
In these times try to remember
The time will come
To use your voice and push your views
So don't forget
Sometime between now and never
The time will come
You bite your tongue, they'll bury you
And it seems far enough away

It's a calling card, your expiration date
When that day comes
Be ready
To remember what happened
And have the pride to back down
Let's not repeat and everyone can move on
But don't forget
Get ready
To remember what happened
And have the pride to back down

Scars are for a reason
Remind us of what happened

Stay away from harm
Be ready
We're tired of fiction
And occupied stations
Your motives look like
A portrait wealthy, Burning Wells
Get ready
We're tired of fiction
And occupied stations

So don't forget
The time will come

And I'm not sure
What you'll be like

What will eyes say when I see them
Wonder what you'll grow up to see

If we have torn the map to pieces, you'll find your way home
Cause home is where you believe

#40

"No Other Way"
Jack Johnson
In Between Dreams

Nmber of listens: |
Stars (out of 5): 4


Part of me really hates Jack Johnson. It's that singer-songwriter aspect of him that makes me want to not like him. He just seems so cliche, like saying Daves Matthews Band is your favorite. It's liking what is safe and easy.

But sometimes safe and easy is still really good. That is how I feel about Jack Johnson and this song. It starts off with the frat-boy band guitar that reminds me of Hawaiian luau parties I went to in college. But his voice comes in just shy of a minute in and it's so unique. It's clear and rough and full all at the same time. He makes the song feel "easy" and sometimes, it's so fitting. Just read the lyrics and wonder how any song about so many feelings, so many sleep isn't possible, could come across as easy.


when your mind is a mess
so is mine
i can't sleep
cause it hurts when i think
my thoughts aren't at peace

with the plans that we make
chances we take
they're not yours and not mine
there's waves that can break
all the words that we said
and the words that we mean
words can fall short
can't see the unseen
cause the world is awake
for somebody's sake now
please close your eyes woman
please get some sleep

and know that if i knew
all of the answers i would
not hold them from you

know all the things that i'd know
cause we told each other
there is no other way

well too much silence can be misleading
you're drifting, i can hear it
in the way that your breathing

we don't really need to find reason
cause out the same door
that it came, well it's leaving
leaving like a day that's done
and part of a season
resolve is just a concept
that's as dead as the leaves
but at least we can sleep
its all that we need
when we wake we will find
our minds will be free to go to sleep

#39

"Long Distance Drunk"
Modest Mouse
The Lonesome Crowded West

Nmber of listens: ||
Stars (out of 5): 3

Someone gave me this CD. I took it because back then (circa 2001), Modest Mouse was the cool band to be into. I never really liked and still don't. Sure, I find some of their stuff catchy and different in an okay, inventive way but I have yet to ever think, "Gee, I really want to hear some Modest Mouse right now!"

This song is all about the constant beat in the background and the repeating lyrics at almost equal volume with everything else. The beat is very soothing so I have this song a 3 out of 5 rating. It kind of captures that depressed feeling that comes sometimes after drinking. The song soothes and drones at the same time.


Hang it up now or never
Hang it up again
(Hang it up now or never)
Hang it up now or never
Hang it up again
Hang it up now or never
Hang it up again
Doesn't seem like anything you're saying or doing or doing
Is making any sense
Long distance drunk
Long distance drunk
Long distance drunk
Oh yeah oh yeah
(8 AM and someone calls you on the telephone)
Long distance drunk
(You want to be by yourself and all alone)
Long distance drunk

Friday, May 19, 2006

#38

"#1"
Garbage
Romeo + Juliet soundtrack

Nmber of listens: |
Stars (out of 5): 4

This song, every time I hear it, takes me back to 9th grade when I saw Romeo and Juliet starring Leonardo Dicaprio and Claire Dances in the theatre. I was immediately obsessed with that movie and still love it so much. I must have watched the VHS copy my brother gave me until it wore out and now I own the special edition on DVD. But this isn't a movie review site so, the music:

I think this song works because it sounds like there is obsessive passion being held back but is just about to break free. It does break free about a third of the way through the song and you can hear it in Shirley Manson's voice. She get's that slight tone of desparation and emotive wailing and it takes what was, at first, an almost pledge of allegiance, and turns into complete passion and desparation.

It's totally hott. (And so is Leonardo Dicaprio!)


I would die for you
I would die for you
I've been dying just to feel you by my side
To know that you're mine

I will cry for you
I will cry for you
I will wash away your pain with all my tears
And drown your fear

I will pray for you
I will pray for you
I will sell my soul for something pure and true
Someone like you

See your face every place that I walk in
Hear your voice every time I am talking
You will believe in me
And I will never be ignored

I will burn for you
Feel pain for you
I will twist the knife and bleed my aching heart

I'll tear it apart

I will lie for you
Beg and steal for you
I will crawl on hands and knees until you see
You're just like me

Violate all my love that I'm missing
Throw away all the pain that I'm living
You will believe in me
And I can never be ignored

I would die for you
I would kill for you
I will steal for you
I'd do time for you
I would wait for you
I'd make room for you
I'd sail ships for you
To be close to you
To be a part of you
'Cause I believe in you
I believe in you
I would die for you

#37

"Carbon Scoring"
Jimmy Eat World
Singles

Nmber of listens: |
Stars (out of 5): 3

Okay, based on the first moment of this song there is no way it can be Jimmy Eat World. This is the fastest I have ever head a JEW song, very punk-like. I haven't listened to any punk in awhile so of course I can't think of the band this is reminding me of. Actually, it sounds like it could have come form the Descendents! If Jim Ward took over for Milo!

Now that I have realized the sound similarities, I am really liking this song. If you are looking for something like "The Middle" then this song is so not for you.

Here we go.
(My only cold I fought.)
Here I am, frozen in time I find a way from you, pave the way.
And cause I can't stand still they'll leave you down and out.
And when your face gets here I'll stab you in the back.
Tell me now, I need to know how long.
Clear the way.
Don't make me wait all day.

With you, from you, pave my way.
And cause I can't stand still, they'll leave you down and out.
And when your face gets here I'll stab you in the back.
It's a long way home.
Can't you find your way?
I'm a trampoline.
Lift me up over farenheit.
I'm a trampoline.
I...

Monday, May 15, 2006

#36

"Clumsy"
Our Lady Peace
I Know What You Did Last Summer soundtrack

Nmber of listens: ||
Stars (out of 5): 3

I remember the first time I ever heard Our Lady Peace. Jon Ballard on DC101 introduced them as "Canada's answer to the Smashing Pumpkins" and I, being a huge SP fan, ran right out and bought their album. I don't think I agree with Ballard's comparison but I like OLP regardless.

This isn't my favorite of theirs but it's a good single has definitely stuck around since they released it. It's kind of long but it changes tempos and dynamics often so it's not boring at all.



Throw away the radio
Suitcase...Keeps you awake
Hide the telephone, the telephone
Telephone in case...You realize that
Sometimes your just not OK
You level out, level out, level out
It's not alright now...You need to understand
There's nothing strange out this
You need to know your friends...You need to know that

I'll be waving my hand
Watching you drown, watching you scream, quiet or loud
And maybe you should sleep
And maybe you just need...A friend
As clumsy as you've been there's no one laughing
You will be safe in here, you will be safe in here

Throw away this very old...shoe lace
Tripped you again
Try to shrug it off, shrug it off, shrug it off
Sow the skin now
You need to understand...there's nothing fake about this
You need to let me in...watching you and

I'll be waving my hand
Watching you drown, watching you scream, no one's around
And maybe you should sleep
And maybe you just need...A friend
As clumsy has you've been, there's no one laughing
You will be safe in here, you will be safe in...

I'll be wavin my hand...Watching you drown...
Watching you scream...Quiet or loud...
And maybe you should sleep
And maybe you just need...A friend

As clumsy as you've been, there's no one laughing
You will be safe in here, you will be safe in here...Yeah
You will be safe in here...in here...Yeah
in here...Yeah...in here...Yeah...in here...Yeah
in here...Yeah....in here...Yeah

#35

"Crackity Jones"
Pixies
Doolittle

Nmber of listens: |
Stars (out of 5): 2


I have no idea what this song is about. Hmm, I just googled it and saw something that said Frank Black wrote this song about a scary roommate he had in Puerto Rico. This song has never really "hit" me as one of my favorite but it definitely has energy and that can always make up for other things lacking. This is one of those songs where only a Pixies fan will be really excited to hear it, I think. I can imagine them singing it live or something just the different feel to it would be cool.

Fast (!) guitars, kind of choppy, yelping singing....It's neat though, I guess. I start liking it a lot more as it goes on.


jose jones
told me alone
his story
he got friends
like paco picopiedra
la muneca
he receives on his set
crack crack crackity jones

please forgive me
jose jones
you need these walls
for your own
i'm moving out of this hopedaje
i'm afraid you'll cut me boy

thirty miles by
hundred miles by
stinking island
por goofiar
en crushing automovil
chasing voices
he receives in his head
crack crack crackity jones

Sunday, May 14, 2006

#34

"Ballad Of A Paralysed Citizen"
The Faint
Danse Macabre

Nmber of listens: |
Stars (out of 5): 2

OOoooh, creepy, depressing start. A cello, I think. Very eery way to begin this song but I guess for the subject matter it is fitting. His voice comes in and is very restrained, as well. I like the effect but seem to quickly just want the song to get going and it just doesn't.

Halfway through and it's still not doing anything for me. I'm just not feeling this one...


I'm paralysed and things could change for you as well
you're not so bad off now, you can move anything you need.
I'm not this way because of an emergency I caused
at seventeen a guard perched above the chlorine floor
when I saw a hand raise up from just beneath the air,
a frantic move for help, I made an instant judgment call.
dive- I arced my feet to dive, I broke the elemental line
to save a child. dive- into the shallow floor
the bottom scraped my palms and compressed my spine.
now i'm paralysed while they just hope to make amends
the family and the kid who faked the drowning incident,
i've felt the hand of god and that's the last thing that I felt
at all below my back, i've lost the faith I thought I had.

#33

"Life's A Long Song"
Jethro Tull
Original Masters


Nmber of listens: ||
Stars (out of 5): 2

I don't know...This song doesn't do much for me. Well, now that I say that, the song is moving along and getting much more interesting. The beginning reminds me of horrible singer songwriters playing guitar in a desolate bar. But then those added instruments come in and of course, the flute. Jethro Tull always reminds me of my dad and not because he plays the flute while on one leg but because he gave me the CD.


When you're falling awake and you take stock of the new
day,

and you hear your voice croak as you choke on what you need to
say,

well, don't you fret, don't you fear,

I will give you good cheer.



Life's a long song.

Life's a long song.

Life's a long song.



If you wait then your plate I will fill.



As the verses unfold and your soul suffers the long day,

and the twelve o'clock gloom spins the room,

you struggle on your way.

Well, don't you sigh, don't you cry,

lick the dust from your eye.



Life's a long song.

Life's a long song.

Life's a long song.



We will meet in the sweet light of dawn.



As the Baker Street train spills your pain all over your new
dress,

and the symphony sounds underground put you under duress,

well don't you squeal as the heel grinds you under the
wheel.



Life's a long song.

Life's a long song.

Life's a long song.



But the tune ends too soon for us all.