#1

Let the journey begin.

1. “Reindeer” – The Knife

I’ve always been a bit on the fence with The Knife. Some of their songs I absolutely love. Others, well, there’s a reason they don’t have a high play count on my ipod. If the songs “Heartbeats” or “Pass This On” don’t come on I usually skip to the next track. I know, it isn’t fair, but this is why I created this blog; to force myself to listen to music that I would normally skip over. I’m guilty of being a fair weather listener. I guess that’s the proper term?

Sometimes I only like a band or artist for their popular songs. Big deal, right? Wrong! If I wanted to be that kind of listener and purveyor of music I’d stick to listening to the radio for the rest of my life. That, in my opinion, is suicide, so I’m not going to allow that to happen. So with the inaugural post of this blog it’s quite fitting that a Knife song that I have never listened to before be played.

Right off the bat the thing that impresses me the most, as per usual with a Knife song, is the minimalist layering of instruments. Some electronic artists tend to overdo it by piling more and more sounds into their songs to the point of there being no point. It becomes a harsh blend of too much rhythm and too much atmosphere. Less is more, and that is something I have always admired about the Swedish siblings Karin Dreijer Andersson and Olof Dreijer who make up The Knife. They know how much instrumentation to program and then let Karin’s voice carry the rest of the song.

However, I’m not too keen on the lyrical content of “Reindeer.” Something about Santa Claus being faster…fatter? Hell, I don’t know, but the song does have the makings of making onto a Christmas mix. But honestly, if it came down to picking “Reindeer” or “Another Lonely Christmas” from Prince, I think The Knife would find themselves sitting on the bench.

2. “Never Tear Us Apart” – INXS

This song, under any circumstance, should never, ever, ever, ever, EV-ER be skipped over. It should be played at maximum volume wherever you might be at the time it comes on. If you’re in the car then roll down your windows and let the cars next to you hear it at the stop light. Yes, you may get some odd looks, but those are looks of jealousy because everyone else only wishes they could be as bad ass as you are blasting Michael Hutchins voice at peak volume.

You should also sing along. Hearing “Never Tear Us Apart” automatically gives you the right to turn your surroundings into a karaoke bar. I’m just waiting for the day that it comes on over the speaker in some random grocery or department store. I will, without fail, start singing. Yes, I will get those looks. No, I will not care. Though now that I think about it, how often does this song come on in a public place? I mean, it’s not like its 1987 anymore. But regardless, it’s a great song that deserves to be played every time it comes on. Again, do not skip it. Ever.


3. “Waiting For The Carnival” – The Rosebuds

So I promised myself when I decided to start this blog that I wouldn’t include anything personal on here. This song almost made me want to break my promise considering what has been on my mind lately. But it isn’t blog appropriate.

It talks about fireworks, waiting, hoping, love, and being there. That’s enough sentimentality for one blog I think.

I love The Rosebuds, more people should too. Every new person I meet that asks me for a new band to listen to I always suggest The Rosebuds. As far as husband and wife bands go, I would give them a higher rating than Mates of State. Now, far be it from me to want to step on the toes of those die hard Mates of State fans out there, but, you have to admit that sometimes they’re just a little too happy pop. Sometimes you need some sad pop thrown in the mix. I would suggest the entire Birds Make Good Neighbors album as your starting point then work backwards from there, and then forward again. “Waiting for the Carnival” is on The Rosebuds’ debut album Make Out, but again, start with Birds Make Good Neighbors. Your heart will thank you for it. And maybe, just maybe, that blue bird of yours will eventually find its way home.

4. “Atlantic City” – Bruce Springsteen

Ah, the boss. There’s no denying him and there’s no denying that this song, no, this album is incredible. Surprisingly a lot of Springsteen fans aren’t aware of the album entitled Nebraska. It’s a pity too because it’s one of the folk albums I believe everyone should own. In my opinion, it’s easier to swallow than any Dylan album. I know, I know…that’s a pretty bold statement, but not for us Springsteen fans. To be quite sincere the only Dylan album I can really tolerate is Blood on the Tracks.

Nebraska was forged in a barn with nothing but a 4-track, a guitar, a harmonica, and the usual Springsteen passion for singing about the trials and tribulations of the every man. It is the quintessential soundtrack to play to either ease your woes or fall further into depravity, or in my case, both at the same time. It makes you realize that yes; someone else feels the same way I do. Someone else has that annoying itch called life that can’t be scratched.

I don’t need or want to explain what this song is about. That would be taking away from the pure gut-wrenching honesty that it harbors within. You’ll just have to go find out on your own. Seriously, go listen right now, but I must warn you- The harmonica will, in my friend Jake’s words, “pierce your soul.”

5. “Gone Daddy Gone” – Gnarls Barkley

This song is a usual skip for me. Perhaps maybe it was the ridiculous video that went along with it. I despise fleas. But no, that’s not it.

It’s because I genuinely do not like the song. I didn’t like it when Violent Femmes originally did it. Still don’t like it now that Gnarls Barkley covered it.

I know this blog is all about weeding out the bad songs I don’t want on my ipod, but there is a rule I made for myself that I must follow. If I am to have an album on my ipod, in this case St. Elsewhere, I have to keep it whole. I can’t just delete tracks from it. It’s like a carnal sin to me. I would rather delete the entire album, but therein lies the problem; I like pretty much everything else on St. Elsewhere. So I suppose through this journey down the road of the music that’s on my ipod I just have to make a decision once I find a song I don’t like. Does the album go, or does it stay? More research is needed, and I am positive that during this journey into my music taste I will discover more songs I don’t like, which in turn will tell me more about myself.

Onward we go…