The Weekly Awesome! #7
Silly Music Notes
I'm not usually one for the comedic flavor of Jamie Kennedy; yes, he was good in the Scream movies but otherwise he's a bit like that kid who sat in the back of Math class and made fart noises with his armpit. So, me, in other words. Anyway, his stuff usually doesn't do it for me, however his new music video (he's a rapper now, apparently, albeit a jokey one) "Rollin' With Saget" is undeniably funny. Shot as a perfect mimic of shitty rap videos and all about, well, rollin' with Bob Saget (who also raps, quite well actually, in the video). It's a bit one-note, but it's a funny note, so worth a look:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5I0U4P9Imis&search=rollin%27%20with%20saget
And, yes, that really is George Lucas making a cameo. How they managed to get him in this thing is beyond me, but it adds a delicious undertone of What the Fuck to the proceedings, whatever the answer may be.
Songs of our Week
1. "Whiskey Lullaby" by Brad Paisley w/ Allison Krause
Yes, more country. Embrace it; pull it over you like an unabashedly emotional blanket and snuggle down. Actually, do that, but not with this song because if you get too cozy with "Whiskey Lullaby," you'll end up killing yourself. This is, hands down, no question, science can prove it, the most depressing song ever written. It's about two people who's relationship ends messily and, rather than seeking couples therapy or simply moving on with their lives by joining a singles group and taking Chinese cooking classes, they decide instead to drink themselves to death. It includes one of my favorite lyrics of all time... "He put the bottle to his head and pulled the trigger." Awesome. For reals, don't listen to this song while driving because you'll run your car off the road. And for fuck's sake don't listen to this song after a break-up... that's the dropped cigarette that ignites a forest fire and your friends will all abandon you because you won't stop sobbing.
2. "Blue Bayou" by Roy Orbison
When Stephen King picks a song to use as a touchstone in a book because of it's inherent creeptacular qualities, you know you're talking about a song that has terrifying and mysterious powers. Okay, maybe it's not going to throw open the doors between dimensions or summon the Cthulhu, but Orbison's haunted tenor and the vaguely ominous lyrics do inspire a tiny icicle of dread to slip down your back. So few songs are actually spooky; this is one of the best. Note: Avoid at all costs the Linda Rondstat version!!! It's like listening to Edgar Allen Poe read by Olivia Newton-John.
3. "Long Distance Call" by Phoenix
I hadn't ever considered French guitar-pop before I happened across this amicable band's album It's Never Been Like That but now that I have... eh, well I'll probably continue my lack of consideration. I mean, have you heard what passes for French pop music these day? Frightening. This is the nation, remember, that brought us Jordy, the 4-year-old singing sensation/future rehab frequent-flyer who sang about bedtimes and wanting candy. Truly, truly disturbing. Anyway, these guys, Phoenix, are good. They sound a bit too-hip, like they'd fit real well in Williamsburg, but this song's got a great mellow drive and needs to be on your stereo at night when you've just gotten in from the bars.
4. "Prom Night at Hater High" by The Long Winters
I would have included this song here for its title alone, but it happens be worthy of inclusion based on its musical merits as well, so that's a happy cowinky-dink. These guys kind of sound like The Shins and Counting Crows formed a band and listened to a lot of Three Dog Night before discovering irony and recording an album. An odd mix, but one that makes sense in a crazy world such as this.
5. "Beautiful Girl" by INXS
My friend Lisa turned me on to INXS; before, I'd always thought they were a bit of a joke. Michael Hutchence always struck me as a guy doing a bad Jim Morrison impression and they sounded, at least on their hits, like a Depeche Mode cover band. The thing is, all of their big hits... "New Sensation" and "What You Need" in particular... are some of their worst music. This song, "Beautiful Girl," is quite a different thing. Hutchence finds a smooth, Lou Reed-ish voice and the 80's drum machines and synths get toned way down; you can hear actual instruments on this track. Seriously, this song should live on mix CDs that you give to someone you'd like to see naked.
I'm not usually one for the comedic flavor of Jamie Kennedy; yes, he was good in the Scream movies but otherwise he's a bit like that kid who sat in the back of Math class and made fart noises with his armpit. So, me, in other words. Anyway, his stuff usually doesn't do it for me, however his new music video (he's a rapper now, apparently, albeit a jokey one) "Rollin' With Saget" is undeniably funny. Shot as a perfect mimic of shitty rap videos and all about, well, rollin' with Bob Saget (who also raps, quite well actually, in the video). It's a bit one-note, but it's a funny note, so worth a look:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5I0U4P9Imis&search=rollin%27%20with%20saget
And, yes, that really is George Lucas making a cameo. How they managed to get him in this thing is beyond me, but it adds a delicious undertone of What the Fuck to the proceedings, whatever the answer may be.
Songs of our Week
1. "Whiskey Lullaby" by Brad Paisley w/ Allison Krause
Yes, more country. Embrace it; pull it over you like an unabashedly emotional blanket and snuggle down. Actually, do that, but not with this song because if you get too cozy with "Whiskey Lullaby," you'll end up killing yourself. This is, hands down, no question, science can prove it, the most depressing song ever written. It's about two people who's relationship ends messily and, rather than seeking couples therapy or simply moving on with their lives by joining a singles group and taking Chinese cooking classes, they decide instead to drink themselves to death. It includes one of my favorite lyrics of all time... "He put the bottle to his head and pulled the trigger." Awesome. For reals, don't listen to this song while driving because you'll run your car off the road. And for fuck's sake don't listen to this song after a break-up... that's the dropped cigarette that ignites a forest fire and your friends will all abandon you because you won't stop sobbing.
2. "Blue Bayou" by Roy Orbison
When Stephen King picks a song to use as a touchstone in a book because of it's inherent creeptacular qualities, you know you're talking about a song that has terrifying and mysterious powers. Okay, maybe it's not going to throw open the doors between dimensions or summon the Cthulhu, but Orbison's haunted tenor and the vaguely ominous lyrics do inspire a tiny icicle of dread to slip down your back. So few songs are actually spooky; this is one of the best. Note: Avoid at all costs the Linda Rondstat version!!! It's like listening to Edgar Allen Poe read by Olivia Newton-John.
3. "Long Distance Call" by Phoenix
I hadn't ever considered French guitar-pop before I happened across this amicable band's album It's Never Been Like That but now that I have... eh, well I'll probably continue my lack of consideration. I mean, have you heard what passes for French pop music these day? Frightening. This is the nation, remember, that brought us Jordy, the 4-year-old singing sensation/future rehab frequent-flyer who sang about bedtimes and wanting candy. Truly, truly disturbing. Anyway, these guys, Phoenix, are good. They sound a bit too-hip, like they'd fit real well in Williamsburg, but this song's got a great mellow drive and needs to be on your stereo at night when you've just gotten in from the bars.
4. "Prom Night at Hater High" by The Long Winters
I would have included this song here for its title alone, but it happens be worthy of inclusion based on its musical merits as well, so that's a happy cowinky-dink. These guys kind of sound like The Shins and Counting Crows formed a band and listened to a lot of Three Dog Night before discovering irony and recording an album. An odd mix, but one that makes sense in a crazy world such as this.
5. "Beautiful Girl" by INXS
My friend Lisa turned me on to INXS; before, I'd always thought they were a bit of a joke. Michael Hutchence always struck me as a guy doing a bad Jim Morrison impression and they sounded, at least on their hits, like a Depeche Mode cover band. The thing is, all of their big hits... "New Sensation" and "What You Need" in particular... are some of their worst music. This song, "Beautiful Girl," is quite a different thing. Hutchence finds a smooth, Lou Reed-ish voice and the 80's drum machines and synths get toned way down; you can hear actual instruments on this track. Seriously, this song should live on mix CDs that you give to someone you'd like to see naked.
posted by Clinton at 9:35 AM
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