God Help the Girl - Come Monday Night

God Help the Girl - Come Monday Night

I've been on a Belle and Sebastian kick lately so I thought I'd throw in a little diddy (P-Diddy's future name?)  from Murdoch's side project, God Help the Girl. Plus this girl, Catherine Ireton, is incredibly gorgeous and I want to make out with her voice for hours.

The opening "da da da da da dums" immediately melts you like the Sirens from Clash of the Titans. Whilst your're attempting to collect yourself after being turned into a pool of human-goo a sour piano chord resounds and the guitar, bass and orchestra kick in with a lone high hat keeping the beat. The temptresses continue to keep you in a state of soupy-ness until the end when you melt so much you evaporate into a flesh colored gas and float into the mesosphere when they harmonize the lyrics "Baby you would sleep much better, maybe you would sleep much better."

Come monday night the day of work is done
Tuesday morning lose the grey of ordinariness
Start by putting off your chores
And all the crushing bores
Say your morning prayers
Sing a rousing song
Then sing it on the long walk home

Come monday night we're in a state of praise
Twenty-million boys are caught up in a paper chase
If the weekend promised much
Then it failed to touch
On a single count what i was hoping for
What i was hoping for

Come monday night we turn the telly off
To listen to the silence
Light that comes in from outside
If you could catch it all
And pin it to your wall
Then you would sleep much better
Baby you would sleep much better
Maybe you would sleep much better
Baby you would sleep much better
Maybe you would sleep much better
Baby you would sleep much better
Maybe you would sleep much better
Baby you would sleep much better
Maybe you would sleep much better
Baby you would sleep much better
Maybe you would sleep much better
Baby you would sleep much better

Blind Pilot - The Story I Heard

Blind Pilot is an indie folk group of folks from the magical music land of Portland. Their unique sound is matched by their unique 2008 tour in which they bicycled to each venue, instruments in tow. The lead singer Israel Nebeker's voice is very smooth and relaxing and sometimes resembles, dare I say it, Michael Buble... but in a good way! I swear I dont like the Buble.

The song "The Story I Heard" is from their only full length, 3 Rounds and  a Sound (what a cool name). Its a perfect rainy morning drive song with its soft, mellow verses and nicely harmonized choruses. Every so often the full band jumps in unexpectedly adding nice little surprises.

hey JoJo
yeah, I know your name
I thought I saw you
jump the Utah train
but I could not say
I could not say

heard you tried to 
keep your hat on a shelf
marry the women
went off loved someone else
could be as well
I cannot tell
oh no i cannot tell!

hey JoJo
don't you forget your name
might try to keep you 
from the man you have been
so don't go that way
don't go that way

oh 'cause the story I heard
is the people are bored
and the measures you take
to wrestle with your lord
all the money you take
all the memories you spill
will he measure your tongue
will he measure your will
oh now

one of these mornings
we'll be the loudest you hear
you'll write a story with firecracker paper
and disappear
you disappear
and disappear
and you disappear

oh cause the story I heard
is the people are bored
and the measures you take
to wrestle with your lord
all the measures you fake
whether your dead or just still
will he measure your tongue
will he measure your will
oh now

one of these mornings
we'll be
we'll be
one of these mornings
we'll be
we'll be home

More lyrics: http://www.lyricsmania.com/the_story_i_heard_lyrics_blind_pilot.html
All about Blind Pilot: http://www.musictory.com/music/Blind+Pilot

Belle and Sebastian - We Are the Sleepyheads

Belle and Sebastian is one of the biggest front runners of the modern indie movement and have been for quite some time. Their twee pop vintage style has been hipstering it up since about 97 and they're still going strong. One of their defining albums is The Life Pursuit and personally my favorite by them.

The song "We Are the Sleepyheads" is an underrated track from said album and it immediately grabs your attention. Its rapid staccato guitar makes you tense up and then you immediately relax when the high-pitched "badapbadapbadaps" come in. The way the back up vocals lag behind Stuart Murdoch's croon in the verses is fantastic and the guitar solos are face melters, which is very unexpected for a band that contributes songs to Juno and 500 Days of Summer.

Tired like the beggar with the cold inside his bones
Looking for the pleasure that he knew was so far gone
So far gone
I took a turn to myself
And I was surprised, cause I saw everyone who ever I had loved
I felt a whole lot better after that

People look at us and they think were doing fine
People look at us cause they see us all the time
All the time
But they never take to us
We've been in this town so long we may as well be dead
So long as people turn their heads
And cross the street whenever we walk on by

Someone told the truth when it really mattered most
The beauty of the moment is the beauty sadly lost
Sadly lost
So I went around to your house
Over tea and gin we talked about the things we read
In Luke and John the things he said

And now it's morning, we are the sleepyheads

The Dear Hunter - Things That Hide Away

This is kind of a different entry. This song isn't released yet and I'm not really a huge fan of The Dear Hunter, but this concept is such a good idea. The upcoming concept album The Color Spectrum consists of nine EPs, each representing a different color of the spectrum. This idea is so cool to me, combining music with non-music is a very creative, intriguing accomplishment and I cant wait to hear the whole thing when it comes out on June 14th. Its very reminiscent of The Alchemy Index by Thrice.
I've heard a few clips of the songs, and this one was the only full version of any I could find. Its from the Green EP and has a very earthy feel to it with the gentle finger picked acoustic guitar and soulful vocals. The video is also very well done showing images that convey the concept of being human and existence in general. Very fitting with the color green if you ask me.

Sorry I don't have the lyrics and don't feel like typing them out so just give it a listen.

Elvis Costello - Less than Zero

Elvis Costello (Declan MacManus, international jewel thief) is a very influential musicians on many modern bands. He had a way with lyrics that were on par with Bob Dylan. The album My Aim is True demonstrated his talent and was also one of his most accessible and critically acclaimed albums.

The song "Less than Zero" shows Costello's lyrical ability and his characteristic rockabilly style. You'd never believe that this song came out in 1976 when you hear Costello's rough garage rock voice and the chugging low toned guitars. Then out of nowhere the verses sound like they should be in a reggae song. That's talent.

Calling Mister Oswald with the swastika tattoo,
there is a vacancy waiting in the English voodoo,
carving "v" for vandal on the guilty boy's head.
When he's had enough of that maybe you'll take him to bed
to teach him he's alive before he wishes he was dead.

[Chorus:]
Turn up the TV. No one listening will suspect,
even your mother won't detect it,
no your father won't know.
they think that I've got no respect
but everything means less than zero.
Hey, ooh hey, hey, ooh hey.

Oswald and his sister are doing it again.
They've got the finest home movies that you have ever seen.
They've got a thousand variations: every service with a smile.
They're gonna take a little break, and they'll be back after a while.
well I hear that South America is coming into style.

[Chorus]

A pistol was still smoking, a man lay on the floor.
Mister Oswald said he had an understanding with the law.
He said he heard about a couple living in the USA.
He said they traded in their baby for a Chevrolet.
Let's talk about the future now we've put the past away.

[Chorus]
   

Electric Light Orchestra - Wishing

ELO is probably the only example of disco that I can really get into. If you want to call them that anyway. They had a bit of everything splattered all over the place. Plus Jeff Lynne is just beyond cool. I went as him for Halloween last year and it took a lot of will power to get that afro wig off of my head.

This track, "Wishing" is from the album Discovery. It's a little cheesy lyrics-wise, but nevertheless its an awesome song. Like most ELO songs, this one is full of Mccartney style bass lines, their trademark orchestra accents and Lynne and company's harmonious falsettos. Something about their high pitched vox puts me in a good mood.

 Little darlin',don't you cry,
You know I'll try to be there with you by and by
When everything is going wrong now don't you cry.
I'm wishin'.
Little darlin',far away,
I see the world go rollin' by my window pane,
But I can only wish that I was there again.
I'm wishin'.

CHORUS

I wish that everything was gold,
I wish you were here to hold,I'm wishin'.

Little darlin',the night is long,
I thought I'd be back now I must have got it wrong
You and California call me in this song.
I'm wishin'.

Repeat Chorus

Little darlin' I see you,you're cryin' in the sun
I gotta be with you,
I'm gonna be with there soon I'll make it all come true.
I'm wishin'.

Repeat Chorus

The Vines - Factory

The Vines are an Australian band that reached its popularity in the early 2000s when all of those "The" rock revival bands began appearing. However this band had something different than bands like Jet, The Strokes,  and The Hives had. A touch of the 60s. Bands like the Beatles, the Kinks, the Sonics, and other brit rock seemed to be channeled through them.

The song "Factory" shows that side of them. Its a fun pop song with toned up guitars and call and response vocals. They had a way with blending this sixties feel with modern distortion and ska or reggae-like guitar strumming. The lyrics are rather ironic when paired with the happy saloon style piano that follows along with lines like "I put my head around every noose I see."

Days are long but the minds are strong 
In the factory 
Heads are down and all the people frown 
In the factory 
I'm so down I put my head around every noose I see 
Days are long but the minds are strong 
In the factory 

Eyes are mean but the walls are clean 
In the factory 
Patience now they're gonna string you out 
In the factory 
I'm so tired I never go outside every night I sleep 
Days are long but the minds are gone 
In the factory 

Genesis - Trick of the Tail

The album Trick of the Tail marks a pivotal point in Genesis history. This was the first album after Peter Gabriel left and the last really meaningful album. Phil Collins took over as lead creative force of the band and it seems like he was still trying to keep the band a progressive rock band rather than the pop band that it soon morphed into. Not that 80s Genesis is bad or anything, but its just not the same.

Anyway, the album Trick of the Tail is still a great album. Quite possibly my favorite because of the blend of prog rock and a slight slight touch of pop. At least more so than Gabriel had, these songs are by no means like "Hold on Your Heart" or "Follow you Follow Me." The title track of the album is a mystical song about a strange creature who is put on display in a freak show. The catchy piano melody follows along with the reluctant Collins singing the tale. The unexpected doo-wop back up vocals make this song all the more better. Plus the video is just ridiculous.

Bored of the life on the city of gold He'd left and let nobody know. Gone were the towers he had known from a child, Alone with the dream of a life He travelled the wide open road, the blinkered arcade, In search of another to share in his life. Nowhere. Everyone looked so strange to him. They've got no horns and they've got no tail They don't even know of our existence. Am I wrong to believe in a city of gold That lies in the deep distance, he cried And wept as they led him away to a cage Beast that can talk, read the sign. The creatures they pushed and they prodded his frame And questioned his story again. But soon they grew bored of their prey Beast that can talk? More like a freak or publicity stunt. Oh No, They've got no horns and they've got no tail They don't even know of our existence. Am I wrong to believe in a city of gold That lies in the deep distance, he cried And broke down the door of the cage and marched on out. He grabbed a creature by the scruff of his neck, puinting out: There, beyond the bounds of you weak imagination Lie the noble towers of my city, bright and gold. Let me take you there and show you a living story Let me show you others such as me Why did I ever leave? They've got no horns and they've got no tail They don't even know of our existence Am I wrong to believe in a city of gold That lies in the deep distance, he cried And wept. And so we set out with the best and his horns And his crazy description of home. After many days journey we came to a peak Where the beast gazed abroad and cried out. We followed his gaze and we thought maybe we saw A spire of gold - no, a trick of the eye that's all, But the beast was gone and a voice was heard: They've got no horns and they've got no tail They don't even know of our existence Am I wrong to believe in a city of gold That lies in the deep distance, he cried Hello friend, welcome home.

The Cure - Lovecats

The Cure. They were the first emos as the story goes, but every once and a while a poppy happy-go-lucky pops out of Robert Smith's mind and finds its way through the explosion of hair atop his cranium.

Exhibit A: "Lovecats"
"Lovecats" is a fun song about love....cats. The catchy piano riff and quick-fire lyrics are very different for the Cure, but it totally works for them. I listened to this song all the time in high school and for whatever reason forgot about it until a friend reminded me of it. Sorry about the video, it was really the best one i could find.
Check out the acoustic version too: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wl19YbSyc5U&feature=related
We move like cagey tigers 
We couldn't get closer than this 
The way we walk 
The way we talk 
The way we stalk 
The way we kiss 

We slip through the streets 
While everyone sleeps 
Getting bigger and sleeker 
And wider and brighter 
We bite and scratch and scream all night 
Let's go and 
Throw all the songs we know 

Into the sea 
You and me 
All these years and no one heard 
I'll show you in spring 
It's a treacherous thing 
We missed you hissed the lovecats 

(Ba ba-da...da da da da da...) 

We're so wonderfully wonderfully wonderfully 
Wonderfully pretty 
Oh you know that I'd do anything for you 
We should have each other to tea huh? 
We should have each other with cream 
Then curl up by the fire 
And sleep for awhile 
It's the grooviest thing 
It's the perfect dream 

Hand in hand 
Is the only way to land 
And always the right way round 
Not broken in pieces 
Like hated little meeces 
How could we miss 
Someone as dumb as this 

I love you ... let's go 
Oh ... solid gone ... 
How could we miss someone as dumb 
As this?