WishListening

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Week 1: Songs and Stories (3/11)

Feeling Useless

Current track: Useless from the album Ultra (1997) -- Depeche Mode

There are so many strange and wonderful tidbits about this song. First of all, I have been fortunate enough to see DM a number of times--though I have no pictures to share, this time around. The only problem with this is that I have only seen DM once with anyone who actually listened to them before the show. (Thanks, Michael!) Every other time, it has been someone with a passing fancy, who happens to know Enjoy the Silence as "that song I heard once when I was 3." That said, I still have a lot to learn. Luckily, I have ample remixes in which to indulge, and I happen to know several attractive people who would be happy to play DM at the drop of a hat. Let's dance.

Useless was written by Martin Gore, but Dave Gahan was the voice behind it. Plenty of speculation surrounds the lyrics. Just prior to Ultra's release, Gahan was struggling with a heroin addiction, which landed him in rehab. Released from rehab in 1996, Gahan headed back into the studio to record Ultra and a handful of singles that were included on a later album. Fans over at Songmeanings.net offer the possibility that the song may have been about Alan Wilder's departure from the band in 1995. The lack of keyboard--Alan's instrument--seems to be an accusation...but not to me. The lyrics seem directly related to the effects of heroin addiction, and Gore's internal dialogue with the absent Gahan. Apparently, Gore dealt with some (alcohol-related) issues of his own, so I wouldn't be surprised if he used the song as a means to address addiction, in general.

Watch the clock on the wall
feel the slowing of time
hear a voice in the hall
echoing in my mind

All your stupid ideals
you've got your head in the clouds
you should see how it feels
with your feet on the ground

Frankly, I'm more attracted to the repeated ninths in the vocal line, and the dissonance in the lead guitar. Oh yeah, and Gahan is a complete freak on stage. It wasn't long before I expected him to be permanently shirtless and writhing. I have no complaints.

Okay, except this: (NOTE: a few of the linked videos are mildly NSFW, due to the nature of Victoria's Secret fashions.)

A remix of Useless was used in an ad campaign for Victoria's Secret...specifically, for a new bra. Now, I know that Depeche Mode has a tendency to conjure up bedroom fantasies, but the idea of using Useless to sell anything other than itself seems a bit counterproductive, no?

Or, ya know, I could just cover Personal Jesus instead. Oh wait, that's been done ~~before~~ again. (I'm sorry. The last linked video is just painful, if you haven't already seen/heard it.)

Labels: cover, Depeche Mode, lingerie

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9:09 PM

Saturday, April 3, 2010

Week 1: Songs & Stories (2/11)

Dancin' Like a Fool In Your Mom's Basement

Current track: Doctor Worm from the album Severe Tire Damage(1998) -- They Might Be Giants

I'm interested in things

It's true! Does anyone else remember ~~dancing~~ flailing wildly and spinning around in your parents' basement to TMBG videos on MTV? (Wait...I take that back. I'm NOT old, I swear! Back away slowly....) Okay then, how many of you have dated more than one drummer? Hands? (...and if you are a drummer, I'm betting that the number of bands you have been in is at least equivalent to any potential response to that question.) Doctor Worm sounds like every drummer I've ever liked. You know...the ones that I didn't ditch at the prom.

It is impossible for me to listen to this song without catapulting myself back in time. Even though TMBG played Doctor Worm for the first time in 1997, it reminds me of a lot of their earlier material. In my opinion, it could easy slide right into the track listing for Lincoln or Flood. Compare the following video to the one for Ana Ng and imagine adding a horn section to the latter; you'll see what I mean:

...and allow me to say that I approve of the liberal use of horn sections in alt-rock.

Without ~~caring~~ intending to sound too corny, TMBG has a special place in my heart. I have seen them live more than any other band, to date. Then again, the fact that They tour relentlessly might have something to do with that. As a result, you start getting used to the "regulars" that appear at all of the shows within a 300-mile radius.

Yesssss...embarrassing picture of boyfriend added to public blog: successful. Why yes, he IS a drummer!

Yesssss...embarrassing picture of boyfriend added to public blog: successful. Why yes, he IS a drummer!

...like this guy. No, not that one...the one leaning against the Coors Light sign like he knows something I don't know. I met him at the free show in D.C. a few years ago. I wish I could remember his name; he was a real stand up guy. Annoying Girl made a beeline for him to offer flattery in the hope of jumping in front of me to steal a front-row space. He gave up the spot that he had been holding for 4+ hours to accommodate both of us.

TMBG shows offer lots of memorable moments like the one above: I used to pass sketch/notebooks for people to sign while camping out in line. Linnell once yelled at my boyfriend for clapping along with Sleepwalkers; he had to start the entire song over again. (I don't think I've ever seen that happen before or since.) A careless roadie killed Flansburgh's custom Mojo guitar during a concert in Pittsburgh. I haven't seen him use it at a large venue since then. Something tells me that Borders is more secure than M(etropol). If you remember M, I'm proud of you. You get a cupcake, because I like them better than cookies.

Something tells me that Borders is more secure than M(etropol). If you remember M, I'm proud of you. You get a cupcake, because I like them better than cookies.

The confetti canons that have become a staple at TMBG shows failed during my birthday-present show, last year. They worked this time!

Bottom line: Listening to TMBG's Doctor Worm gives me yet another great excuse for acting like a ~~fool~~ kid in public, not that I really needed another excuse. This stuff is auditory sunshine, though. I dare you not to dance...or date ANOTHER drummer.

Labels: drummers, TMBG

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12:53 AM

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Week 1: Songs and Stories. (Part 1/11)

This week, I'll be sharing some memories and personal stories based on the songs in my current playlist. (This week is going to be a bit longer, to accommodate the holiday weekend and the number of songs on my playlist.) In future weeks, I plan to share one song or album per day, according to specific themes. As always, the focus here will be on personal reactions to and interaction with music, as well as reviews. Now, without further delay...

Elves and Ice Cream

Current track: The Book of Right-On from the album Ys1 -- Joanna Newsom

I'm not sure if I was more excited about the concert, or about the gelato. A few weekends ago, four of us trekked to Philly to see Joanna Newsom play an intimate show at the First Unitarian Church. After failing miserably at finding tickets through the traditional routes, I made a desperate plea on CraigsList. People were offering up tickets at a 600% mark-up from the original $20 price. Yeah, no. All I have to say is that I am ever-grateful to the person who responded with not two, but four tickets with my name on them. The best part? She only charged me face value. Those tickets sat on my coffee table for a month and a half, just so I could see them every day.

Joanna Newsom, 03/20/10; First Unitarian Church; Philadelphia, PA

I was introduced to Joanna Newsom in college, by my then-and-now boyfriend. I was a music major and a vocalist, and my initial reaction on the first listen was something like the face you might make when you taste something confusing. Pickled gooseberries will do that. So will rose gelato. Her voice was anomalous and for that reason, I was hooked. I spent a year buying copies of Ys for everyone but myself. Her timbre and pronunciation drew me in, but her musical style has garnered some interesting reactions from fans and haters.2 Honestly, I don't get it. People really don't know how to react to an indie-musician who happens to play the harp instead of the guitar. It is strange what timbre alone can do to people.

Joanna Newsom, 03/20/10...It's a shame that all of my other pictures were blurry!

The concert itself went off without a hitch. The crowd was equal parts hushed and excited, the weather was pristine, and we had enough time afterwards to hunt down the aforementioned gelato. Do not take me lightly when I mention gelato. I have been hunting for anything that came close to the real deal for the past 8 YEARS. I checked out Capogiro Gelato, and practically fell over. Go ahead. Look. I dare you not to drool all over your bad self.

...and if you ever do decide to taste, try something unlikely. It may surprise you.

Footnotes:

1Joanna Newsom's albums--including her most recent album, Have One On Me--can be purchased at Drag City. Support the musicians you love!

2A recent search for Facebook groups and the phrase "Joanna Newsome is" yielded the following results: a ridiculous fuckfest of blessedness/freakin' amazing/an angel/my savior/fit/lovely/a magical fairy-child/a beautiful creative fairy elf godlike angel creature.... There are some other truly weird results, like Joanna Newsom may sound like an aborted fetus but I love her anyway and Elfetish, whose group description reads: If you've ever been turned on by Lord of the Rings, the Dark Crystal, Joanna Newsom, fantasy novels geared toward 12-year-old boys so they decide to throw in elf sex while they're at it, or really anyone who's pale and has pointy ears and a penchant for archery.
Trust me, I only wish that I were making this up.

Also, for legal reasons, I can't cache or link to the article about Joanna Newsom on Vanity Fair's site, but a quick websearch should get you there quickly. There are some really intelligent--and pretentious--comments concerning the sexism and misogyny contained in many of the responses to her work.

Labels: elves, harp, Joanna Newsom, timbre, Week 1

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8:21 PM

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Watch the clock on the wall
feel the slowing of time
hear a voice in the hall
echoing in my mind

All your stupid ideals
you've got your head in the clouds
you should see how it feels
with your feet on the ground