Monday , November 16, 2009
Heavy Rotation: Smog, Indian Jewelry, Marianne Faithfull + More
Yeah, Heavy Rotation's a little late these days. It's all good, because good songs are timeless, right? Anyway, the fun can be had on the jukebox on the homepage as per usual -- although you should bet your money on that changing soon. To what? Stay tuned...
Smog, "Bathysphere"
Bill Callahan must be an Aquarius. He's weird and detached and incredibly clever and wry, and I find this all rather oddly appealing from a distance. "From a distance" is perhaps a good way to describe the way Smog's music works upon you. It's like that weird mirage in the desert that tantalizes with strange visions and mystery, but once you're within it, you realize that it's this bizarre miasma. In Smog's case, the miasma is filled with alienation, horses, ships, bodies of water, strange pleasures and genuine eccentricity. I really want this song to pop up in one of Gus Van Sant's more experimental movies, during some bizarre drug montage or something. It would make complete sense. (Kat)
Mary J. Blige, "Time"
I unabashedly, unironically LOVE Mary J. Blige. I've loved her ever since the "What's the 411?" days with her platinum blond braids and hoop earrings, when she performed on "In Living Color" in sunglasses and totes attitude and Rosie Perez dancing behind her. I love that she's gritty yet still incredibly glamorous. She is pretty much the only person who could ever talk about themselves in the third person and have it make sense because she's fucking Mary J. Blige and she's lived, which is way more than you and I ever will. This song is Mary J. at her most philosophical, and guess what? It's still hot. How does she do it? Because she's Mary J., that's why. (Kat)
Green Apple Quick Step, "Los Vargos"
Here's proof that I'm PSYCHIC ABOUT RADIO: A couple hours ago I was writing my "Los Vargos" blurb in my head, and the crux of it had something to do with my secret wish of getting tapped to curate a "post-grunge" compilation for, like, Rhino Records or some shit. And I was pretend-writing a line about how the compilation would include - along with "Los Vargos" - songs like "Believe" by Dig, "All Sideways" by Scarce, and "Santa Monica" by Everclear. And then I pretend-added a little comment about how, even though Everclear is kind of lame, the second verse of "Santa Monica" is just gold and the perfect thing to hear when you've just had your heart smothered by someone stupid. And then, 1.5 seconds after I'd finished pretend-composing said impossibly astute comment, I pushed the power button on my stereo exactly as the second verse of "Santa Monica" started playing on 100.3. The weirdest part is, this kind of thing happens to me all the time. So, if any of you can think of any way I might be able to cash in on my superhuman radio-mind-control powers, do let me know. I will give you 10 percent of the profits, at least. (Liz)
Indian Jewelry, "Too Much Honkytonking"
For some reason, I never remember that Indian Jewelry exists till their songs pop up on my iTunes shuffle. And every time "Too Much Honkytonking" comes on, I go "Whoa, what's this?!!!", completely blown away by its creepy awesomeness yet entirely incapable of identifying the band responsible. Anyway, this morning "Too Much Honkytonking" turned up on my iTunes at the exact moment I was gazing adoringly at these brand-new Pussy Willow earrings by Stephanie Simek, which was kind of magic. Because if I weren't afraid of earrings, I'd so get my hands on these and put them on for some big dead-of-night drive out to the desert and play "Too Much Honkytonking" over and over till I totally freaked myself out and turned around and drove back home to watch Gossip Girl or something. Yeah. (Liz)
The Rolling Stones, "The Singer Not The Song"
I hate the "Beatles vs. Stones" debate. I think it's stupid and irrelevant. I know I've written about this on nogoodforme.com before; how could I not? I've spent about 60% of my entire life getting inwardly pissed-off about its existence. The Rolling Stones and The Beatles have very little to do with one another, but are in no way diametrically opposed. They're just two rock bands; it would be equally valid for it to be "Beatles vs. Kinks" or "Beatles vs. Beach Boys" or even "Beatles vs. Peter, Paul and Mary" (okay, maybe not). "The Singer Not The Song" is the Rolling Stones song that most calls to mind the sonic nuances that make The Beatles Beatlesy; it's the Rolling Stones' equivalent of "I'll Follow the Sun": short, sweet and a tiny bit sad (somber? sullen? either/or). It's also one of my favorite songs in the world to sing. I made up a new verse for it that goes: I'm a cuckoo clock and you're a bird/just pull my feather and I'll say the word/You could eat a worm/And it gives me that feeling inside.... You should probably imagine Mick Jagger singing, because it's funny. Mick Jagger would never be caught dead saying the word "worm". (Laura)
Marianne Faithfull, "Is This What I Get For Loving You?"
Can you imagine being Marianne Faithfull's psychotherapist? It's totally my dream job-, almost worth screwing up my entire life's plan in the name of. If it could guarantee me the real dirt on Mick Jagger, Heroin Era, what it feels like to be that angelically gorgeous, and how a human being transforms so rapidly from delicate little bird to gruff, potty-tongued old broad, ten years of medical school would be a beyond-worthy investment. I never listen to Marianne Faithfull's new albums- I rarely like listening to music made by old people (Sorry! I don't! It doesn't speak to me! I'm 23 years old!), but there are a handful of singles from her mid-sixties run as folky sprite-canary Marianne that nail dream babe girl pop with the ease and grace we've all come to expect from her. This song is a chameleon. Sometimes it sounds like buoyant, bouncy bubblegum; other times, it's almost stunningly heartbreaking. Is Marianne Faithfull a Gemini? She should be. (Laura)
Tags: Indian Jewelry, Laura loves The Beatles, Liz is psychic and looking for part-time work, Marianne Faithfull, Mick Jagger, post-grunge, radio, Stephanie Simek, The Rolling Stones, worms
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Posted by Kat, Liz and Laura in Heavy Rotation |
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