December 30, 2008
The Poptometrist: The Greatest Songs About Utah, Ever
I have to admit that there have been very few (famous or good) songs written about Utah, and this is probably for the best. However, I was wracking my noggin the other day trying to think of songs about Utah and here is my list:
1. Salt Lake City: The Beach Boys
I used to think this song was some sound-alike beach boys group because, honestly, why would they write a song about Salt Lake? Still, it's catchy and showcases the beach boys in their later, just-about-to-turn-into-total-hacks phase. My favorite part is where they talk about Lagoon. Did the Beach Boys ever name drop your hometown in a song? Didn't think so.
2. The Beehive State: Randy Newman
I can't say I really understand the point of this song, (and I can't find any recordings of it by Newman himself) but the lyrics kind of sum up how I feel about my home state; Utah is forever burdened by a disastrous national image, always the butt of polygamy jokes, and always pathetically yearning for some positive blip of national recognition. Thanks for doing your part Randy.
3. Utah: The Osmonds
Yeah, the Osmonds had to show up here somewhere right? Anyways, "Utah" is a cheesetastic little country-rock number about good friends, good times, and Utah! Feel it!
4. Honk+Wave: Limbeck
This song is only tangentially related to Utah, but it does talk about driving down I-15 in the Beehive state so I'll include it.
That's about it. In my search for these songs I did come across the worst combination of music, video images, and words I have ever encountered. Take a gander below if you aren't the type to vomit easily.
1. Salt Lake City: The Beach Boys
I used to think this song was some sound-alike beach boys group because, honestly, why would they write a song about Salt Lake? Still, it's catchy and showcases the beach boys in their later, just-about-to-turn-into-total-hacks phase. My favorite part is where they talk about Lagoon. Did the Beach Boys ever name drop your hometown in a song? Didn't think so.
2. The Beehive State: Randy Newman
"Well, we got to irrigate our deserts
So we can get some things to grow
And we got to tell this country about Utah
`Cause nobody seems to know"
I can't say I really understand the point of this song, (and I can't find any recordings of it by Newman himself) but the lyrics kind of sum up how I feel about my home state; Utah is forever burdened by a disastrous national image, always the butt of polygamy jokes, and always pathetically yearning for some positive blip of national recognition. Thanks for doing your part Randy.
3. Utah: The Osmonds
Yeah, the Osmonds had to show up here somewhere right? Anyways, "Utah" is a cheesetastic little country-rock number about good friends, good times, and Utah! Feel it!
4. Honk+Wave: Limbeck
This song is only tangentially related to Utah, but it does talk about driving down I-15 in the Beehive state so I'll include it.
That's about it. In my search for these songs I did come across the worst combination of music, video images, and words I have ever encountered. Take a gander below if you aren't the type to vomit easily.
Labels: The Poptometrist
December 23, 2008
rolling like a distant thunder
It's time for some Christmas spirit, right? Here is the classic rendition of little drummer boy by Bing Crosby and David Bowie. It's a pretty amazing performance if you ask me (especially on Bing's part seeing that he was close to death at the time), but one You Tube commenter describes it thusly: "The legendary unmistakable voice of Bing, rolling like a distant thunder across mountains, and the great, soaring, eagle calling voice of Bowie gliding above him."
Merry Christmas. LOL.
Merry Christmas. LOL.
December 18, 2008
Some music to listen to while our global economy slowly crumbles
I'm ready to get through all these end of year album shenanigans so I can move on to posts that people will enjoy. Here are numbers 5-10. Take notes because I will not repeat myself.
5. Blitzen Trapper: Furr
I really like Blitzen Trapper's first album even though it was a wildly uneven romp through three or four desperate genres (folk, messy indie-rock, country ballads, backwoods vamping...) but with Furr, they have managed to craft a slightly more cohesive whole; their country inflected rock now comes with clever metaphors for coming of age (the title track) and 54% less cartoon-like southern accents.
4. The Avett Brothers: The Gleam EP (parts I & II)
Some of you know that I am a huge fan of the North Carolina-based Avett Brothers, and it's probably a given that I was going to put them on the list, especially when they release two EP's that add up to one of their finest full length efforts to date. The Avetts have two volumes: very loud, and very quiet, and these songs fall on the very quiet side. Have a listen and cry:
3. The Tallest Man on Earth: Shallow Grave
The Tallest Man on Earth is a Swedish guy who sounds vaguely like Bob Dylan and has a firm grasp of how to finger pick the hell out of a guitar (or banjo). I'm amazed at the depth of his songwriting. CHECK IT:
2. Bon Iver: For Emma, Forever Ago
It seems like this CD came out last year (it might have only been released officially in 2008) but it has been a huge part of my rotation since then. As the story goes, Justin Vernon absconded himself to a wintry cabin in Wisconsin and emerged months later with this album. Heartbreaking and intimate, Emma continually defies any attemps I make at labeling it.
1. Crystal Castles: S/T
I came to the conclusion that this was my favorite album of the year based on the amount of time I spent listening to it. Seriously, itunes tells me that I've listened to every single track an astonishing amount of times. Take my word for it, even if you don't really like electronic music (which I don't), you will love this album.
Crystal Castles are a male female duo that produce some extraordinarily intense music with the help of some deft vocal sampling and the unrestrained insanity of the female vocalist Alice Glass (who is at once terrifyingly repulsive and incredibly attractive):
I'll include two tracks from these guys so as to highlight their sheer amazingness. TAKE THIS:
5. Blitzen Trapper: Furr
I really like Blitzen Trapper's first album even though it was a wildly uneven romp through three or four desperate genres (folk, messy indie-rock, country ballads, backwoods vamping...) but with Furr, they have managed to craft a slightly more cohesive whole; their country inflected rock now comes with clever metaphors for coming of age (the title track) and 54% less cartoon-like southern accents.
4. The Avett Brothers: The Gleam EP (parts I & II)
Some of you know that I am a huge fan of the North Carolina-based Avett Brothers, and it's probably a given that I was going to put them on the list, especially when they release two EP's that add up to one of their finest full length efforts to date. The Avetts have two volumes: very loud, and very quiet, and these songs fall on the very quiet side. Have a listen and cry:
3. The Tallest Man on Earth: Shallow Grave
The Tallest Man on Earth is a Swedish guy who sounds vaguely like Bob Dylan and has a firm grasp of how to finger pick the hell out of a guitar (or banjo). I'm amazed at the depth of his songwriting. CHECK IT:
2. Bon Iver: For Emma, Forever Ago
It seems like this CD came out last year (it might have only been released officially in 2008) but it has been a huge part of my rotation since then. As the story goes, Justin Vernon absconded himself to a wintry cabin in Wisconsin and emerged months later with this album. Heartbreaking and intimate, Emma continually defies any attemps I make at labeling it.
1. Crystal Castles: S/T
I came to the conclusion that this was my favorite album of the year based on the amount of time I spent listening to it. Seriously, itunes tells me that I've listened to every single track an astonishing amount of times. Take my word for it, even if you don't really like electronic music (which I don't), you will love this album.
Crystal Castles are a male female duo that produce some extraordinarily intense music with the help of some deft vocal sampling and the unrestrained insanity of the female vocalist Alice Glass (who is at once terrifyingly repulsive and incredibly attractive):
I'll include two tracks from these guys so as to highlight their sheer amazingness. TAKE THIS:
Labels: year-end listening rock
December 7, 2008
6. Dodos: Visiter
Dodos are yet another folk/indie/cooler-than-you type band that has jumped on the pitchfork love train this year. The difference here is that: a) they are actually good, and b) their drummer is amazing. The theme for all the buzz bands this year seems to have been African sounding drums (see: Vampire Weekend) and Dodos do not disappoint given their unorthodox approach to rhythm. Check it:
Labels: year-end listening rock
December 4, 2008
The most ridiculous thing I did today
I decided to buy some Baked! Lay's Sour Cream & Onion chips out of the vending machine just now, (I'm kind of a fitness nut, LOL!) but unfortunately they got stuck on the turning metal coil thing. This angered me quite a bit considering the day I've had, so I tried dislodge the chips by banging on the plexiglass just hard enough to mildly dislocate my ring finger.
Now in a fit of rage and cursing the idiot vending machine guy under my breath, I decided that I would convert the ten dollar bill in my wallet into quarters so I could get those damn chips. Once this was done, however, I realized how many quarters make up a ten dollar bill. (Hint: It's a lot and they're very heavy and they fill up my pocket uncomfortably.)
Since I already had ten pounds of quarters in my pants I figured I pretty much had to buy the chips behind my original purchase, and therefore buy two bags of chips at once. Both bags tumbled down into the collecting trough and I sullenly retrieved them as the legion of quarters in my pocket made like jingle bells.
Ha ha, joke's on me: Baked! Lay's Sour Cream & Onion chips are shaped like retarded starfish and taste like the dried-up hopes and dreams of a spinster librarian. Good thing I bought two!
Labels: anger
December 3, 2008
7. Fleet Foxes: (self titled)
Hey, more indie folk! Brace yourselves though, because there are still a few more like this to come.
Anyways, what separates Fleet Foxes from the teeming hordes of Devendra Banhart listening, patchouli oil smelling, organic farmer's market visiting pseudo-hippies are their incredibly detailed vocal arrangements and tight harmonies. I had the chance to see them open for Wilco this summer and they sang like angels—dirty, unwashed angels.
The Foxes aren't just one trick ponies however; they mine the whole spectrum of Americana, from gospel to old-time music. The track I posted has a sort of "Beach Boys stranded in the Ozarks and forced to sing for their inbred hillbilly captors" vibe that I really enjoy.
Labels: year-end listening rock
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