She’s In Control ///////////////////////// Volume 2
I’m currently having the time of my fucking life at the Great Escape in Brighton (and yes, I have found a place to stay), so to tide you over until I’m able to post my full recap of my weekend, here’s the latest installment of She’s In Control from the ever-lovely Rya Backer.
Hello again, my fair doyens and doyennes of cyberspace! I hope you’ve been well this past week as I’ve been just itching for your digital company once more.
I’m crazy for Queens Of The Stone Age. When I lived in Boston, they played a “guerilla” show at Newbury Comics and even though doors didn’t open until 8:00 pm, I started waiting for a wristband at 3:30 that afternoon! It was so worth it; all 19 feet of Josh Homme passed his bottle of rum for the cramped audience to share, and I got to hear relatively acoustic versions of nearly all my favorite songs while pretending to make eye contact with the ginger-headed singer himself. When Derek sent me leaked songs from QOTSA’s new album, “Era Vulgaris,” I damn near slipped into a happiness-induced coma. Once again, it was worth the wait.
Derek’s not the biggest fan of QOTSA, and I’m well aware that they’re an acquired taste. Because you’re wondering, I think they’re a great band that consistently puts out great albums (usually with several fancy cameos) that are meant to play really loudly, and put on an even fancier live show. I’d rather not ruminate over all the songs (seriously, it could be a while), but here are my two cents on the tracks:
I played “3’s & 7’s” for my niece and nephew, because their ears are relatively virginal to all things loud and rocking. My four-year-old niece explained that the song made her want to “do splits and cartwheels,” and my seven-year-old nephew screamed that the song was making him “go crazy!!!” (in a good way). So, there you have it: may the splits, cartwheels, and craziness ensue… But seriously, I predict it will be the “Go With The Flow” of this album as there isn’t one element of this song that isn’t catchy.
MP3: “3’s & 7’s” - Queens of the Stone Age
“Sick, Sick, Sick” is the first single off the album. It features a fancy cameo by Julian Casablancas, however, it’s pretty blink (close your ears?) and you’ll miss it. I’m crazy about this song because QOTSA always speed up their songs live, and I can’t even imagine how much faster this can go… oh, but how I salivate at the very notion.
MP3: “Sick, Sick, Sick” - Queens of the Stone Age
My favorite QOTSA song ever is a B-side called “Infinity”, which can be found on the soundtrack for “Heavy Metal 2000″ (the edgiest title ever) and on the Japan-only release of Lullabies To Paralyze. This is my go-to song whenever I need to get totally fucking pumped. Just listen to those drums! The guitar at the end! There’s something very sexy about this song, but what do I know?
MP3: “Infinity” - Queens of the Stone Age
Mark Lanegan is the former lead singer of Screaming Trees and pretty much an honorary member of QOTSA. He’s quite a legend in his own right (trivia: he inspired Kurt Cobain to cover “Where Did You Sleep Last Night?” on Nirvana’s episode of “Unplugged”), and has this very Tom Waits-esque, gravelly voice. One of my favorite songs of his is “Methamphetamine Blues” off 2004’s Bubblegum. Josh Homme plays guitar on this track.
MP3: “Methamphetamine Blues” - Mark Lanegan Band
Speaking of amazing live bands, seeing LCD Soundsystem in the flesh is… in a word: religious. I’ve yet to see the new lineup featuring Hot Chip’s very own Al Doyle, but I digress… I’m here to talk about his new single, “All My Friends,” off his new album that’s so good I needn’t fast-forward through any of the tracks, “Sound Of Silver.” I really like this song because it’s like a seven-ish-minute-long coming-of-age-fest (“I wouldn’t trade one stupid decision for another five years of life”… deep!). Meaning, yeah? Unfortunately, I’ve been afflicted with the attention span of a fetus, so I have trouble sitting through the song’s first four-and-a-half minutes, which are pretty morose in comparison to how into-it James Murphy gets by the song’s end. Thus, I present to you the radio edit; consider it the “Cliffs Notes” version of the real deal.
MP3: “All My Friends” (Radio Edit) - LCD Soundsystem
Also, one of my favorite guilty pleasures, Franz Ferdinand has recorded an abbreviated version of the song (as has the Velvet Underground’s John Cale). Theirs sounds exactly like how you’d expect for it to sound: Alex Kapranos’s extremely sexy voice with guitar-driven danceable instrumentals. That’s not to say it’s a bad listen, in fact, if any of you are gym-goers, this track will probably end up on your like, “Treadmill Mix Vol. 29” or something. The ending is nothing like that of the original (ooooh, spoiler!), and I feel like it’s something you can be either be totally nuts about or detest … I’m siding with the former.
MP3: “All My Friends” - Franz Ferdinand
I’ve been reminded several times in the comments that I am, indeed, of the female persuasion (more nudes on the way, you fleshthirsty gents!). So, the least I can do is recommend a song for the female readers – an estrogen-rich track that’s just perfect for hair braiding and getting stoned (uhm… I mean, watching “Saved By The Bell” re-runs!) with the gals.
“Don’t Let Him Waste Your Time,” from Jarvis Cocker’s new album, Jarvis, is a sonic kick in the pants. It’s like Jarvis himself is reminding me how much of my life I’ve pissed away on totally shortsighted douchebags. But that’s for another blog.
MP3: “Don’t Let Him Waste Your Time” - Jarvis
He’d initially written the song for Nancy Sinatra, and I quite like this version as well… pending on what time of the month it is (oooh! Lady humor! I went there!).
MP3: “Don’t Let Him Waste Your Time” - Nancy Sinatra
One of my favorite things in the world is a good music video. Derek and I have been known to talk about and watch these promotional vehicles for extremely long spans of time. So it’d be only right for me to include a video review on the weekly.
Sometimes, I cry out for Chappelle’s Show in the middle of the night. I don’t think I’ll ever get over the fact that there will never be a new episode ever again, and I double don’t think I’ll ever get over the fact that one of the greatest phrases ever said on that show went completely overlooked. In the classic “Racial Draft” sketch, when my beloved Wu-Tang Clan was taken under the wing of the Asians, Gza declared, “Konichiwa, bitches!” as a salutation to his new brethren. Be still my beating heart, for that was an epic line. At long last, Robyn has immortalized the saying in her song of the same name. I was totally obsessed with this song like two years ago, namely because it’s got some of the filthiest lyrics this side of Lil’ Kim. Basically, the track is an extremely danceable big-up to herself. But again, I’m not here to talk about that. I’m here to talk about the 10-gallon mindfuck that is the new video for the song.
MP3s:
“Konichiwa Bitches” - Robyn
“Close To Konichiwa” - The Cure vs Robyn
Here’s a brief rundown of the video, in which Robyn:
- Talks to a monkey about a beat she wants.
- Boxes a man in a kangaroo suit.
- Turns into a silver microphone.
- Toilet papers aforementioned man in monkey suit and stuffs him in her trunk.
Okay, please watch it already. Robyn, I wish I’d “shown you love” sooner.
Video: “Konichiwa Bitches”
Artist: Robyn
Director: Fredrik Skogkvist
Watch: [YouTube]
Download: [Quicktime • 52 MB]
So, I hope that holds you over for another week. I miss you all already, and let’s go Mets.