One divine hammer

It’s 15 years too late, but I’d still like to fill that position, Kim. It’s funny how this song wasn’t even in my life and it fills me with warm, fuzzy 90s nostalgia. The only thing I remember is that one of my sisters had Last Splash. She and her friends were much hipper than I, so before I got into music, they were the reason I was remotely familiar with The Cure, indie-label Green Day, Toad the Wet Sprocket, The Smiths, Davíd Garza, or Operation Ivy. However, the Breeders is the exception in that I remember her having them, but it wasn’t until I started listening to Pixies (which I only have been the last couple of years, and only then because a crush of mine gave me “Gigantic” on a mix CD) that I became familiar with Ms. Deal, and only last year that I started listening to the Breeders. This is such a sweet song, whether or not you know what it’s about, that I can’t see how this wouldn’t make someone happy, or at least smitten. Hey, the same as girls can swoon over guys with instruments, I can swoon over Kim. (Girl, every time you say “bang, bang” and look in my eyes, I’m all yours.)

This is the same song, but a live performance that I just had to include because of the good sound quality, and because they’re all so adorable and seem to be genuinely having fun (excepting the bass player).

Finally, the alternate music video, featuring lots of Flying Nun Kim (there were glimpses in the official version). Looking at her when she’s in the white nun outfit well aware of how goofy this is just warms my heart.

In a teen pop song? Seriously?

I was walking to the grocery store a couple of days ago when something astounding came into my headphones: real-world truth in a bubblegum pop song. Back in 1999, Norwegian cuties M2M had a single “Don’t Say You Love Me”. Not only is it catchy as hell, but it effectively, and cheerfully, cuts through all the bullshit that people (men, mostly) say to their significant other in order to, um, get what they want, wink wink. (I think all women can attest to this.) A few lyrics are standard teen pop fare, but take a look at that chorus and tell me you knew teen bubblegum could be that mature, frank, and possessing of restraint, while still sassy (“it’s not like we’re gonna get married”– zing!). Note: the single version of the song has “you sitting there you said you love me, what’s that about?”

Got introduced to you by a friend
You were cute and all that, baby you set the trend
Yes, you did, oh
The next thing I know, we’re down at the cinema
You sitting there, you start kissing me

What’s that about?

You’re moving too fast, I don’t understand you
I’m not ready yet, baby, I can’t pretend
No, I can’t
The best I can do is tell you to talk to me
It’s possible, eventual
Love will find a way

Chorus:
Don’t say you love me, you don’t even know me
If you really want me, then give me some time
Don’t go there, baby, not before I’m ready
Don’t say your heart’s in a hurry
It’s not like we’re gonna get married
Give me, give me some time

Here’s how I play, here’s where you stand
Here’s what to prove to get any further than where it’s been
I’ll make it clear, not gonna tell you twice
Take it slow, keep pushing me
You’re pushing me away

(Chorus)

Oh hell, here’s an ultra-cute video circa 2000 backstage before a show. I don’t care what you think, there’s something about their innocence (i.e., they’re not precocious teenage sex symbols like most singers) and their pure joy of performance that I find irresistible and quite charming. Marit Larsen, my favorite, is the guitarist. The second video is her performing a solo countryfied version of it after the group split up. She’s one “famous” person I’d actually want to meet, and not just because she’s a babe. Sorry, I’ll gush about Ms. Marit some other time.

Stuck between albums

That’s a dumb play on the song I’m writing about, “Stuck Between Stations” by The Hold Steady, and the fact that they have another album coming in July. Get it? So, that song shuffled through my ipod at work earlier tonight, and I must say I wasn’t expecting a reminder of fucking phenomenal a song this is. Even with a soon-to-be-released fourth album next month, I have to say this will always be their absolute best song. Odd, since it doesn’t usually work that way with a band, that the first thing you hear is the pinnacle— it’s usually the gateway. (It’s the opening track on their last album, Boys and Girls in America. Nominee for best opening track of all time, my lord, those opening staccatos…) EVERYTHING about this video is so nerdy it hurts (the conceit/premise, the fact that all the members are in their mid-30s or so, not to mention they look, well, nerdy), but if you don’t find this awesome, then we have a problem. How does this song not rock your socks off? When the hot piano solo comes, and he starts “we drink and we dry up and now we crumble into dust”, if you don’t get energetic goosebumps from feeling the rock ‘n’ roll, you must be sterile and lifeless, or you’re trying too hard to be cool. As he is a great writer and storyteller in general, lyrics are included below. As before, don’t forget to crank the volume.

There are nights when I think that Sal Paradise was right
boys and girls in America, they have such a sad time together
sucking off each other at the demonstrations
making sure their make-up’s straight
crushing one another with colossal expectations
dependent, undisciplined, sleeping late

she was a really cool kisser and she wasn’t all that strict of a Christian
she was a damn good dancer, but she wasn’t all that great of a girlfriend
he likes the warm feeling but he’s tired of all the dehydration
most nights were crystal clear, but tonight it’s like it’s stuck between stations

on the radio

The Devil and John Berryman, they took a walk together
and they ended up on Washington talking to the river
he said “I surrounded myself with doctors and deep thinkers,
but big heads and soft bodies make for lousy lovers”
there was that night that we thought that John Berryman could fly
but he didn’t, so he died
she said, “you’re pretty good with words, but words won’t save your life”
and they didn’t, so he died

and he was drunk and exhausted but he was critically acclaimed and respected
he loved the Golden Gophers but he hated all the drawn-out winters
he likes the warm feeling but he’s tired of all the dehydration
most nights were kind of fuzzy but that last night he had total retention

and these twin city kisses
they sound like clicks and hisses
we all come down and drown in the Mississippi River

we drink and we dry up and now we crumble into dust
we get wet and we corrode and now we’re covered up in rust

Well, at least they have taste in music

Disclaimer, for any of you snobby purists and acolytes: the title is a joke. Honestly, I don’t even care enough about Radiohead to hate them, I just have little interest outside their earlier music. I haven’t even tried, or cared to try, to listen to them. So, due to the lack of a good quality clip featuring the original performers (understandably, since the song was released in 1981), here is New Order’s “Ceremony”, as covered by some band. It’s not the original, but they do pretty well by it, no kidding. It’s a fantastic song regardless.

(Look, Alli, another 80s song! )

“That dance-y shit slid through/we had to stay hood, ’cause that’s what we been through”

Songs/artists of the moment:

Wu-Tang Clan ft. Ron Isley- “Back in the Game”

Just a groovy-ass song, with an Isley Brother (an Isley Brother!) on the chorus. He started innocently enough, with “twist and shout”, though now his refrain is “caught me some weight now.” Laid-back tempo, but still hot, and though it’s only five of the nine MC’s, each verse is solid, and I’m not just being polite. The charisma and skill that put them on the map in ‘93 is on full display. (From the album Iron Flag)

I don’t know how to link to music, so I’ll link to a “video” of the song

Pixies- “Broken Face” and “Gigantic”

Included both because they’re tracks 4 and 5 on the album, and pair up perfectly. Start with less than 1:30 of melodic thrash and touches of goofy Frank Black, then you’re rewarded with a big, crunchy, messy, glorious pop song– the song perfectly embodies its title. My suggestion: crank ‘em! (From the album Surfer Rosa)

Movie of note: I re-watched Bergman’s Smultronstället (translated very roughly into English as Wild Strawberries) last week. I think I was too young to appreciate it the first time around. I know he’s known as a depressing, pensive director, but this film was very affecting– solemn and reflective, and yet uplifting, even. The story is small in scope, it’s very personal, but nonetheless rich and universal. Give the mundane a rest and take a look, if you have the mind for it. Besides, those rare moments of poetry and transcendence are what make life truly worth living. A very accessible and marvelous film, and it was only an hour and a half long! Honestly, as soon as it was over, I began to strongly considering purchasing it. (For those don’t who know me so well, I don’t take film-purchasing lightly– that’s why my library is so small.)