She’s In Control ///////////////////////// Volume 3
Well if it isn’t… while Derek is having the “time of his fucking life” across the pond, I’m having an extremely classy time on these shores enjoying my last summer before I have “real world” worries. But enough about me, I’ve been teeming with things to tell you.
The first time I saw Holy Fuck was when they opened for Wolf Parade last April, and I left the venue a changed woman. They’re a Canadian experimental band based around the aesthetic of playing damn near anything they can get their hands on – like film editing equipment… obviously. Everything except computers, that is. This is really hard to believe once you hear them, because they achieve the same sound as many of their digital counterparts. There’s a spontaneous quality about their songs; I never thought I’d say this in a complimentary way, but it’s almost like listening to them jam because of their ensemble recordings, and because they’ve been known to tout their lack of rehearsal.
A few months ago, they played with my beloved Clinic – it was a lineup so perfect I almost thought the world was pulling my leg. But it wasn’t, and one of the last songs they played during their loud, outstanding set was “Lovely Allen” off their new EP. It’s not a “typical” song of theirs, however, it’s got a really striking, full sound. I liken it to the sound of climbing a really high mountain – literally or figuratively. Accomplishment, yeah?
MP3: “Lovely Allen” - Holy Fuck (ed.’s note: this song is very amazing)
Maybe I’m just a really big fan of “Tone Bank Jungle” because it’s the opener to the band’s 2005 self-titled debut, but I never grow tired of listening to it. I find a lot of “jams” and really drawn-out solos intolerable because like I’ve said before, I just haven’t got the patience for them. However, there are so many new, interesting sounds sporadically placed throughout that I can’t wait to hear what’s next. I suppose this is the sonic version of “shiny objects,” but I’ll have you hear for yourself.
MP3: “Tone Bank Jungle” - Holy Fuck
Like any good Jewish girl worth her weight in hair irons and leggings, I’m a natural at entertaining (in the sense that I like to have people over to eat cupcakes, not like, in a stand-up way). Thus, I know for a fact that any Eels album is the perfect soundtrack for your next get-together. “Friendly Ghost” of 2001’s Souljacker is one of my favorite songs by him. The first line of the song is “if you’re scared to die, you better not be scared to live.” If I were really edgy and thirstin’ to do something totally classy, I’d get that inked on my lower back (that was sarcasm… I don’t know if that translates well in cyberspace).
MP3: “Friendly Ghost” - Eels
Derek happens to be a fan of “Fresh Feeling,” also off Souljacker. While I won’t deny that I’m a big fan of this song, I once read or heard an interview with E where he talks about what inspired him to write the song. He was inspired by “feminine hygiene products.” At long last… a song (literally) about douchebags!
MP3: “Fresh Feeling” - Eels
The lead singer, E’s, voice is soothing and reminiscent of that teacher you had in grammar school who you thought was so cool at the time, but in retrospect you realize he was just a stoner who really did enjoy finger painting amongst five-year-olds. Last year, they released Eels With Strings: Live At Town Hall, recorded in my native land of Manhattan. One of my favorite songs on the album is their cover of The Left Banke’s “Pretty Ballerina.”
MP3: “Pretty Ballerina” - Eels
But who are The Left Banke?, you may inquire. Well, they were a 1960’s pop group that hasn’t got one fucking album in print (seriously, if Other Music doesn’t carry anything of theirs, then nobody does). However, because Derek is a precious stone amongst pebbles, he found their entire LP, Walk Away Renee/Pretty Ballerina. It’s a simple, perfect album with layered vocals and strings that inspired a myriad of artists in its wake (trivia: Noel Gallagher wants to record a tribute album). So, prepare to be the coolest person you know when you search “pretty” in your iTunes and this song pops up.
MP3: “Pretty Ballerina” - The Left Banke
Of course, when I search for the word “pretty” in my iTunes, another perfect, not so simple, song pops up: “Pretty Noose” by Soundgarden. You can make fun of me all you want, but this is my column, and if I get one more person to listen to this band, I’ve succeeded. This song takes me back to when I was like, 11 and Jim Carrey was hosting Saturday Night Live with Soundgarden as the musical guest. All my friends were so pumped to see the Cable Guy do that lame head-jerking sketch, but all I cared about was seeing the extremely foine Chris Cornell wail through “Pretty Noose” and “Burden In My Hand.” I guess it’s worth noting that Derek is not at all thrilled with me posting Soundgarden, but that’s his loss.
MP3: “Pretty Noose” - Soundgarden
This week’s video comes from a band with perhaps the worst name… ever. If I were that big an asshole and judged bands solely by what they call themselves (and at many times, I am that big an asshole), I’d completely disregard this British quad. Unfortunately – or fortunately – I can’t hate on this so easily for a lot of reasons; namely, my extremely sexy, extremely disease-free, extremely talented cousin, Lauren, worked on Shitdisco’s video for “OK.”
Video: “OK” - ShitDisco
Director: Price James
Watch: [YouTube]
Download: [Quicktime • 21 MB]
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a video with a concept even remotely similar to this before. Basically, the band is performing through a set of hands manipulating their faces in a pop-up book. A fucking pop-up book. Yeah, I’ll have what they’re having, too. In all honesty, the only part of the song I really like is the chorus because the lead singer’s voice sounds a little too much like David Gahan’s for my liking… and maybe it’s because I was raised in the fashion industry, but I’ve got a problem with some knockoffs. That said, Derek would like you to know (as in, Derek is typing this sentence) that he finds the band’s “Reactor Party” to be quite awesome and that those “dah-dah-dah-dah-dahs” have been known to get him all kinds of hot and bothered.
MP3s:
“OK” - ShitDisco
“Reactor Party” - ShitDisco
On the other hand, my filthy friend, Kramer, sent me this video. I guess you can say it’s a music video and therefore relevant enough to be in this column. If your, among other things, heart isn’t totally warmed at the sight of all two feet and nine inches of Weng Weng, you might want to do some re-evaluating. Trust me, I’m always the first person to brush off some YouTube clip as bullshit, but I kind of want to dedicate art to this.
Watch: [YouTube]
Alright, that’s enough out of me for now. Coming up next week: MY FIRST MIX! No, I’m not going to spoil the surprise and tell you the theme. In the meantime, keep it sophisticated.