We send our wishes of peace to anyone involved in that new war getting started over in the Middle-East, this should bring a realization. In (much) lesser news, Weezer has finally called it quits and decided to split, like they should have after the Green album. Their first two albums were brilliant, but it was all downhill from there. I also hope Zidane doesn’t know what YouTube is. So, let’s tune into some good music…
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The Killers – When You Were Young
[audio:https://obscuresound.com/mp3/p7/kil-whe.mp3]Wait, I said good music, right? So why am I posting The Killers? Well, this happens to be their new single off of their new sophomore album. I am posting this half jokingly, as Brandon Flowers previously stated Bruce Springsteen as his biggest influence. There are points in this song where Flowers undeniably tries to mimic The Boss vocally (01:55), and his attempt to pull it off comes off horribly. So go ahead and laugh while The Killers continue to make music solely for the purpose to have brain-dead MySpace girls worship them. This is less annoying than anything on the first album though, I’ll give them that.
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[audio:https://obscuresound.com/mp3/p7/joy-nov.mp3]Now, here we go. ‘Novelty’ represents my favorite Joy Divison song out of many. They are such an influence to today’s popular music, though they are not acknowledged often. ‘Novelty’ is a perfect example of Ian Curtis’ brilliance before he took his own life. Most Joy Division covers suck, and that is simply because no vocalist will ever be able to capture the certain mood that Curtis did. Go and buy Substance, it’s difficult to find a bad song on it.
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Jackson Browne – Somebody’s Baby
[audio:https://obscuresound.com/mp3/p7/jac-som.mp3]I was watching Fast Times At Ridgemont High the other day, which has to be the best teen movie ever made. It is also Sean Penn’s best role, which is saying quite a bit. Jackson Browne’s ‘Somebody’s Baby’ is one of the songs of the very 80s soundtrack, and it’s just one of those feel good songs that everyone seems to have heard at one point or another. A pretty nice song for a Friday.
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[audio:https://obscuresound.com/mp3/p7/jap-gho.mp3]Back to the dark stuff, and this one is as dark as you can get. Off of the 1981 classic, Tin Drum, Japan was one of the first groups to manufacture a dark element in synth-pop. Though they were fashionably outdated, Japan were ahead of their time with this spooky classic. David Sylvian’s vocals are very nicely done here. He later went on to accomplish a fantastic solo career, which I recommend to check out if you enjoy this song.
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I really enjoyed Free the Bees from The Bees, as I thought it was a record very in tune with the summer. Gems such as ‘I Love You’ recalled 60s classics that are hard to manipulate. Though the whole album doesn’t sound like this, The Bees do a great job of diversifying themselves from the rest in this love ballad as sweet as honey (yeah, bad choice of words).
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[audio:https://obscuresound.com/mp3/p7/deu-7da.mp3]dEUS are possibly the best Belgian band to ever exist, but I only say that because I am not aware of the competition, even while being a quarter Belgian myself. They returned from a seven year hiatus with Pocket Revolution last year, which pleased their following and found a few new fans along the way. ‘7 Days, 7 Weeks’ is a beautifully done song with engaging harmonies over Tom Barman’s soothing vocals.
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Rogue Wave – Are You on My Side
[audio:https://obscuresound.com/mp3/p7/rog-are.mp3]Zach Rogue of Rogue Wave said in this interview that ‘Are You on My Side’ was his favorite song off of his band’s album, Descended Like Vultures. I have to agree with Mr. Rogue on that one. The song, though just over four minutes, has an epic feel to it and it fits nicely in the middle of the album. Rogue Wave came out of nowhere with their debut, and this song is a perfect example on the quality of the album and its production.
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“Descended Like Vultures” was not rouge wave’s debut album!
they should have pulled a “The Streets” and called it “When You Was Young”
then it might have been better. As it is, it’s yet another mediocre tune from a band calling their next release ‘the best album of the last 20 years.’
I call it one album closer to a Bands Reunited appearance in 2009. The guitar solo is way too close to U2’s Miracle Drug to be anywhere within farting distance of cool. And just to ice it they use the same background chimes as U2. So, so fucking weak.
The Killers song makes me want to crack open “The Best of Springsteen”. Maybe they mean that they are trying to be the best album in the last 20 years by trying to copy the one by the Boss that they think is the best in the last 20 years?
Fair warning: I received a cease-and-desist from the RIAA yesterday for simply having “When You Were Young” sitting on my server. My webhost shut down my site for almost a full day.
On another note, anyone hear the BIlly Joel flourishes in that Killers track as well? I did.
Yeah, this is a great song. It’s good to see that the Killers are there too keep the good music alive. A mix of The Boss, The Cure and U2. Good recepie for succes.
Can anyone tell me who sang the novelty song: “Oh, The Monkey Wrapped His Tail Around The Flagpole”
I am not talking about the ribald Shiiteman’s song: “Grandma’s Song”
I can not find anything at all on the net.
I am also looking for “Oh, The Monkey Wrapped His Tail Around The Flagpole” (Harold from 12/4/07). My husband remembers it from when he was boy but doesn’t remember all the words or how the song went. I am trying to find it for him as a surprise but can not find the novelty song anywhere.
Try looking up Gary LeMel. For the Monkey song. There are many versions out there. The music is EE Bagley’s National Emblem, NOT John Philip Sousa.