Archive | June, 2009

Lyric of the Day #23: “Talking Hard Work” by Woody Guthrie

21 Jun

              Woody Guthrie       I apologize for the tardiness of this post and for all those keeping track this post should technically have been posted yesterday. Yesterday though was quite a busy day filled with working hard for the money (I did not prostitute myself so do not worry).  So, in honor of the busy day due to working hard let us talk some hard work with the great folk pioneer Woody Guthrie. Guthrie did have it a wee bit harder. At fourteen he was left with his siblings in Oklahoma as his father worked to re-pay real estate debts in Texas and his mother sat dying of Huntington’s disease in an Oklahoma Hospital for the insane. Guthrie worked numerous odd jobs around his town until he realized his musical ability and began playing songs for coins or sandwiches. If anyone knows how to talk hard work it is Mr. Woody Guthrie. Enjoy the lyrics below:

While we are on the subject of hard work, I just wanted to tell you that I am a man who likes hard work.
I was born working and I worked my way up by hard work.
I aint ever got no where, but I got there byhard work.
Work of the hardest kind.
I been down and I been out
I been disgusted I been busted and I couldnt be trusted.
I worked my way up and I worked my way down

Song of the Day #23: “All Hail the Heartbreaker” by The Spill Canvas

21 Jun

Yeah, yeah I know now a days that these so called Emo bands get a bad rep for being “pussys” with whiny lyrics and no real talent.  But people that say that have not actually given it a chance and are probably lying, and that is apparent by such songs as this.  The Spill Canvas can really not be seen as anything but Emo. Their songs are pretty emotional but unlike other Emo bands these songs seem to have the emotional backing of the lead singer to make them legitimate especially since he was the sole performer on this entire debut album “Sunsets and Car Crashes”. They are even reminiscent of old songs from Nirvana where you could tell Kurt Cobain was going through the pain and angst he was singing about. Yes, it’s a bit of a cliche; a boy heartbroken over a girl and crying about it, but the lyrics are pretty intense and they are put to a great tune that creates a great 5 minutes and 8 seconds of song.  The song starts off as an acoustic with a little drum beat at the end and continues in that way with a little band play throughout until the end when the lead singer belts out the chorus to a great jam in the background ending with the title of the song uttered for what I consider to be one of the best uses of a song name in the song, having to wait until the last moment to hear it.  

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJYLDHNaWwg

Song of the Day #22: “Slow Motion,” by David Gray

19 Jun

                 

                   When I started the Song of the Day section my intention was to provide readers with some crafty selections with particular meaning to the day or post number. Yet, I also wanted to leave ample space for songs that were currently stuck in my head or songs that are simply amazing and do not get the publicity or respect. For today’s song of the day I would like to focus on a song that does not get enough credit by English singer-songwriter David Gray.

                    Much of Gray’s music has been featured on television shows and movies. They are catchy and melodically pleasant which makes for a great combination. “Slow Motion,” which appears on his 2005 release Life in Slow Motion encompasses elements of a “epic” song. The overused title of epic does not have to refer to a gigantic work with numerous parts, heavy guitar riffs, and an amazing voice. Epic, in this sense, is referring to every aspect of the song working together to create a hauntingly beautiful sound. The song is actually incredibly simple. Slow piano riff mixed with some simple drums. What really makes this song is Gray’s harmony. At the end of each verse the lyric culminates into Gray and his back-up singers stringing out a few words powerfully. You are immediately shocked by the emotion. The calmness of the song that builds up, like a brewing wave, and crashes on the surface to wash over your ears. It is a piece of art that one can stare at forever and still pick out new portions that they did not realize on first glance (listen). I cannot say much more about the song. It just strikes a chord and that is what real good music does.

Check it Out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUdFshNl4U4

Lyric of the Day #22: “The Boy Who Blocked His Own Shot” by Brand New

19 Jun

No matter what kind of music you listen to, if you grew up through the new Millennium you would have heard at least one Brand New song, most likely their 2001 hit single “Jude Law and a Semester Abroad” about a pissed off boy telling his girlfriend who’s away at England to remember that he is still around across the Atlantic.  Brand New is an ever changing band and that is apparent by the huge change their sound had between their debut 2001 album “Your Favorite Weapon” and their 2003 follow up album “Deja Entendu” (Already Heard).  The sound transitioned from basic pop punk to a more emotional and experimental sound not only with the instruments but also with lead singer Jesse Lacey’s lyrics.  One of my favorite songs off of “Deja Entendu” is “The Boy Who Blocked His Own Shot”.

If it makes you less sad, I will die by your hand, I hope you find out what you want, I already know what I am, And if it makes you less sad, We’ll start talking again, And you can tell me how vile, I already know that I am, I’ll grow old, And start acting my age
I’ll be a brand new day, In a life that you hate, A crown of gold, A heart that’s harder than stone, And it hurts a whole lot, But it’s missed when it’s gone, Call me a safe bet
I’m betting I’m not, I’m glad you that can forgive, Only hoping as time goes, You can forget, If it makes you less sad, I’ll move out of the state, You can keep to yourself
I’ll keep out of your way, And if it makes you less sad, I’ll take your pictures all down
Every picture you paint, I will paint myself out, It’s as cold as a tomb, And it’s dark in your room, When I sneak to your bed, To pour salt in your wounds, So call it quits, Or get a grip, Say you wanted a solution, You just wanted to be missed, Call me a safe bet
I’m betting I’m not, I’m glad that you can forgive, I’m only hoping as time goes, You can forget, So you can forget, You can forget, You are calm and reposed, Let your beauty unfold, Pale white like the skin, Stretched over your bones, Spring keeps you ever close, You are second hand smoke, You are so fragile and thin, Standing trial for your sins, Holding onto yourself the best you can, You are the smell before the rain, You are the blood in my veins, Call me a safe bet, I’m betting I’m not, I’m glad that you can forgive, I’m only hoping as time goes, You can forget

These lyrics are the epitome of a ballad and the vocals and melody back it up.  The song as far as I could tell is about a boy telling a girl he will leave her alone but he still can’t forget about her that he will always be reminded of her (You are the smell before rain).  There’s not much more to say about this song despite the fact that it is just an epic song especially
with the last verse where the whole band comes in and Jesse starts belting out the vocals in an epic crescendo.  
 

Lyric of the Day #21: “Slip-Sliding Away,” by Paul Simon

18 Jun

Slip Sliding Away                  While I sit here tonight with a few minutes left in the day before the clock strikes twelve and June 19th appears suddenly to run its annual course I am left thinking of a few words to focus on. A string of meaningful lyrics that can fully gather the holistic feeling of wrapping up one day and traveling to the next. As I think, Paul Simon serenades me and I am left wondering if he has these lyrics to bring my thoughts together. Yet, clearly, there are no words that can simply gather all of life’s meaning and gift wrap it with a neat bow, except, of course, “I’ll See You on the Dark Side of the Moon,” which can leave anyone simply staring confused wondering what they just heard. But, the inability for people to conquer this completely whole feeling is the subject of the lyric of the day. Paul Simon send us out of June 19th with some lyrics.

“Whoah God only knows, God makes his plan
The informations unavailable to the mortal man
Were workin our jobs collect our pay
Believe were gliding down the highway, when in fact were slip sliding away”

– “Slip-Sliding Away,” Paul Simon off of Still Crazy After All These Years (Bonus Track).

I do not know whether there is a higher being to guide us through each day. But, I do know what Paul Simon is saying is correct. This higher information is not avaliable to us. We do our jobs and (yes, quite an existential line) roll down the river and inevitably slip slide away. Enjoy slip sliding into your fridays and, if you are in New York, you will quite literally be slip sliding in the river outside of your respective houses. Good Night

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