Today's song is...
C is for Conifers
This is an amusing if slightly dragging entry into the kids music field. But hey, it has a banjo! The line "pruned into that shape by someone" has always bugged me though. It just doesn't flow well. It breaks up the pseudo-rhyming pattern. At least in the previous verse house and about don't necessarily rhyme, but they kind of do and they sound similar enough that it works. Dog and someone just aren't even close and I find it jarring. I still like the song. It's just not super high on my list of favorites.
Friday, March 11, 2011
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Song of the Day - Day 115
Today's song is...
Love Is Eternity
Cue the chirping birds. This song is home to the lyric I find most profound in the catalog: "Remember love's a verb." I'm sure it's not an original idea but it is such a necessary and true sentiment. I feel like the songs pokes fun at itself being a sappy love song a little, what with the birds and the sing songy melody but as usual TMBG doesn't skimp on the musicality, even when writing a cute little song for a friend of a friend.
What I really want to know is what I have to do to get TMBG to write a song for my wedding? Because you know, it's not like I have fantasies about the band playing at my wedding or anything. No, not at all. But I would totally settle for a nice personalized song (wink, wink).
Love Is Eternity
Cue the chirping birds. This song is home to the lyric I find most profound in the catalog: "Remember love's a verb." I'm sure it's not an original idea but it is such a necessary and true sentiment. I feel like the songs pokes fun at itself being a sappy love song a little, what with the birds and the sing songy melody but as usual TMBG doesn't skimp on the musicality, even when writing a cute little song for a friend of a friend.
What I really want to know is what I have to do to get TMBG to write a song for my wedding? Because you know, it's not like I have fantasies about the band playing at my wedding or anything. No, not at all. But I would totally settle for a nice personalized song (wink, wink).
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
There's A Picture Opposite Me - 3/9/11
Saved once again from having to make an entry myself by John and his creative genius.
Please send submissions to theroommustlistentome@gmail.com
Please send submissions to theroommustlistentome@gmail.com
Song of the Day - Day 114
Today's song is...
Drink!
Does anyone else feel the need to yell "drink, drink" even when listening to this alone in your house or is that just me? I find my brain inserts it even if I don't say it out loud.
As drinking songs go this one really hits the mark. It's got the perfect melody for a bunch of drunk guys all with their arms around each others shoulders swaying back and forth as they slur through the words. The accordion really does wonders for providing that traditional drinking song feel.
These are some of my favorite Flansburghian lyrics. "You could be a float for the Fourth of July based on your theme of Wallflowers Grown Wild" might just be my all time favorite Flansburgh penned line but I wouldn't swear to it. I find when I really listen to the words the song is quite sad which I forget when I am shouting "drink, drink" in the crowd with my fist in the air and watching Flans wave his guitar around. I have some very good memories tied to live performances of this song. From being the only ones in the crowd shouting "drink" and leading those around us to follow suit, to a very humorous exchange in Chicago debating how to divide the crowd for the participation portion. My very earliest memory of it is from Portsmouth where the crowd was divided into floor and balcony for the shouting and the audience never quite did get the timing right.
Cheers.
Drink!
Does anyone else feel the need to yell "drink, drink" even when listening to this alone in your house or is that just me? I find my brain inserts it even if I don't say it out loud.
As drinking songs go this one really hits the mark. It's got the perfect melody for a bunch of drunk guys all with their arms around each others shoulders swaying back and forth as they slur through the words. The accordion really does wonders for providing that traditional drinking song feel.
These are some of my favorite Flansburghian lyrics. "You could be a float for the Fourth of July based on your theme of Wallflowers Grown Wild" might just be my all time favorite Flansburgh penned line but I wouldn't swear to it. I find when I really listen to the words the song is quite sad which I forget when I am shouting "drink, drink" in the crowd with my fist in the air and watching Flans wave his guitar around. I have some very good memories tied to live performances of this song. From being the only ones in the crowd shouting "drink" and leading those around us to follow suit, to a very humorous exchange in Chicago debating how to divide the crowd for the participation portion. My very earliest memory of it is from Portsmouth where the crowd was divided into floor and balcony for the shouting and the audience never quite did get the timing right.
Cheers.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Song of the Day - Day 113
Today's song is...
Whence That Wince
So much alliteration. So many singing dead animals. So very odd. But it's nice to see Linnell take a turn at creating the weird music videos for a change.
Whence That Wince
So much alliteration. So many singing dead animals. So very odd. But it's nice to see Linnell take a turn at creating the weird music videos for a change.
Say Your Cup Of Tea Is A Wall Of Trombones
We've talked about favorite songs in multiple different ways before, but today I am taking a new approach. A much more specific approach. There are plenty of songs I love for the whole song, as a product of all of it's parts. But there are others I find I love especially for one specific instrument. You know those moments in your favorite songs when you are just waiting for a specific guitar riff or drum pattern and you can't help rocking out all by yourself when it starts playing? Yup, those are what I'm talking about.
So I have compiled for you a list of my favorite songs featuring each of TMBG's primary instruments. I went with four. You can do more or less as you see fit. I picked out guitar, keyboard, accordion, bass, drums, and a general category for hornish things. You can of course add others if you really feel like have a sax list or melodica list or whatever other instrument you see fit. Also, you can totally have the same song on more than one list. That is definitely allowed.
Guitar - This may have actually been the hardest of the lists to compile because, except for some specific intros and solos, I don't really have favorite guitar songs.
-Fibber Island - Acoustic guitar. So pretty. The intro is the best.
-Letterbox - The super fast strumming pattern is one my favorite things about this song.
-Sensurround - I can not help bopping my head to this guitar riff. Doing it right now.
-The Guitar - They don't call it that for nothing. That guitar riff is iconic.
Keyboard
-Flying V - Beautiful intro and it just continues right through the whole song.
- Alphabet of Nations - Again with the intro. What is it with the album and awesome keyboard intros?
-Meet the Elements - This may have very well make this list just from the last couple of bars.
-Withered Hope - I have talked ad nauseum about the piano riff from this song. It is my very favorite thing in all of the TMBG catalog. It fills me with joy and glee every time I hear it.
Bass - If the guitar list was the hardest to fill, this one is the hardest to cut short. So many good bass songs.
-Take Out The Trash - Do you like the fuzz bass? Do you love the fuzz bass? Are you ready for the fuzz bass? Why yes I am!
-The Guitar - This song is just favorable to anything with guitar in it's name.
-Museum of Idiots - Wasn't I just talking about the bass in this song? I was wasn't I.
-Till My Head Falls Off - Oh my god, best bass. And that solo. Yum.
Accordion
-Drink! - The accordion really is the key to making this sound like a drinking song.
-Four of Two - I kind of picture the accordion here being performed by a street performer on the opposite corner from the guy waiting under the clock.
-The Famous Polka - Do I really need to explain this? Nope.
-Subliminal - The intro to this is maybe my second favorite thing after the Withered Hope riff.
Horns
-Cowtown - Clarinet for the win!
-The Guitar - (again) How many times have I said this song was meant to have horns? Because it needs the horns!
-Seven - Euphonium. Love that oompa oompa noise.
-Museum of Idiots - The only thing better than the bass in Museum of Idiots is the horns.
Drums - Here is the thing about the drums. I realized when I was compiling my list that all my favorite drum songs feature artificial drums and that just doesn't seem right. So I went hunting and found some tracks with live drums that I like too but now I have to make two separate lists.
Drum Machine/Loops
-Put Your Hand Inside The Puppet Head - I honestly believe this song would not be nearly as good with a different drum track.
-I'm Impressed - Killer rhythm track. Thank you Dust Brothers.
-Rhythm Section Want Ad - This would have been so lame with a crappy drum track.
-Birdhouse in Your Soul - It is the rhythm track in this song that starts you head banging in the beginning and keeps you hopping throughout. I love how it kind of rolls into each measure.
Live
-Road Movie to Berlin - Those crashing cymbals. I love me some cymbals. Also, props to the tambourine.
-Meet James Ensor - Have you ever really listened to the drums on this song? Because I hadn't and I just realized they are excellent. Why did I never notice that before?
-The Cap'm - Just a good old classic rocking drum beat.
-Damn Good Times - When searching for the best drum songs, look for the ones where the drummer has been given a writing credit first. And there you shall find salvation.
I have a very strong feeling that while I was writing this I forgot about half the songs I wanted to include. I was going to do five in each category but then I couldn't come up with five in every category and I am sure I am missing some doozies and I will smack myself when you remind me of them. I am also looking forward to someone pointing out at least one excellent instrument part in a song that I have never noticed before.
You may also be thinking that I have made a terribly glaring omission given how often I profess my undying love and admiration of the bass line in Ana Ng. But the thing is, the one I love does not exist on the recording. There is a mere shell of it. It doesn't even exist in older live recordings with other bass players. The part I love is entirely a product of Danny's creation. He took it and made it his own and made it into something truly special. Same goes with the bass on Withered Hope. It's good on the recording. It is nothing to what it is live. Maybe one of these days I'll do an entry on songs that are better live. Or just on the evolution of live performances of songs. The history of Istanbul in 62 recordings. Another time.
So I have compiled for you a list of my favorite songs featuring each of TMBG's primary instruments. I went with four. You can do more or less as you see fit. I picked out guitar, keyboard, accordion, bass, drums, and a general category for hornish things. You can of course add others if you really feel like have a sax list or melodica list or whatever other instrument you see fit. Also, you can totally have the same song on more than one list. That is definitely allowed.
Guitar - This may have actually been the hardest of the lists to compile because, except for some specific intros and solos, I don't really have favorite guitar songs.
-Fibber Island - Acoustic guitar. So pretty. The intro is the best.
-Letterbox - The super fast strumming pattern is one my favorite things about this song.
-Sensurround - I can not help bopping my head to this guitar riff. Doing it right now.
-The Guitar - They don't call it that for nothing. That guitar riff is iconic.
Keyboard
-Flying V - Beautiful intro and it just continues right through the whole song.
- Alphabet of Nations - Again with the intro. What is it with the album and awesome keyboard intros?
-Meet the Elements - This may have very well make this list just from the last couple of bars.
-Withered Hope - I have talked ad nauseum about the piano riff from this song. It is my very favorite thing in all of the TMBG catalog. It fills me with joy and glee every time I hear it.
Bass - If the guitar list was the hardest to fill, this one is the hardest to cut short. So many good bass songs.
-Take Out The Trash - Do you like the fuzz bass? Do you love the fuzz bass? Are you ready for the fuzz bass? Why yes I am!
-The Guitar - This song is just favorable to anything with guitar in it's name.
-Museum of Idiots - Wasn't I just talking about the bass in this song? I was wasn't I.
-Till My Head Falls Off - Oh my god, best bass. And that solo. Yum.
Accordion
-Drink! - The accordion really is the key to making this sound like a drinking song.
-Four of Two - I kind of picture the accordion here being performed by a street performer on the opposite corner from the guy waiting under the clock.
-The Famous Polka - Do I really need to explain this? Nope.
-Subliminal - The intro to this is maybe my second favorite thing after the Withered Hope riff.
Horns
-Cowtown - Clarinet for the win!
-The Guitar - (again) How many times have I said this song was meant to have horns? Because it needs the horns!
-Seven - Euphonium. Love that oompa oompa noise.
-Museum of Idiots - The only thing better than the bass in Museum of Idiots is the horns.
Drums - Here is the thing about the drums. I realized when I was compiling my list that all my favorite drum songs feature artificial drums and that just doesn't seem right. So I went hunting and found some tracks with live drums that I like too but now I have to make two separate lists.
Drum Machine/Loops
-Put Your Hand Inside The Puppet Head - I honestly believe this song would not be nearly as good with a different drum track.
-I'm Impressed - Killer rhythm track. Thank you Dust Brothers.
-Rhythm Section Want Ad - This would have been so lame with a crappy drum track.
-Birdhouse in Your Soul - It is the rhythm track in this song that starts you head banging in the beginning and keeps you hopping throughout. I love how it kind of rolls into each measure.
Live
-Road Movie to Berlin - Those crashing cymbals. I love me some cymbals. Also, props to the tambourine.
-Meet James Ensor - Have you ever really listened to the drums on this song? Because I hadn't and I just realized they are excellent. Why did I never notice that before?
-The Cap'm - Just a good old classic rocking drum beat.
-Damn Good Times - When searching for the best drum songs, look for the ones where the drummer has been given a writing credit first. And there you shall find salvation.
I have a very strong feeling that while I was writing this I forgot about half the songs I wanted to include. I was going to do five in each category but then I couldn't come up with five in every category and I am sure I am missing some doozies and I will smack myself when you remind me of them. I am also looking forward to someone pointing out at least one excellent instrument part in a song that I have never noticed before.
You may also be thinking that I have made a terribly glaring omission given how often I profess my undying love and admiration of the bass line in Ana Ng. But the thing is, the one I love does not exist on the recording. There is a mere shell of it. It doesn't even exist in older live recordings with other bass players. The part I love is entirely a product of Danny's creation. He took it and made it his own and made it into something truly special. Same goes with the bass on Withered Hope. It's good on the recording. It is nothing to what it is live. Maybe one of these days I'll do an entry on songs that are better live. Or just on the evolution of live performances of songs. The history of Istanbul in 62 recordings. Another time.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Song of the Day - Day 112
Today's song is...
Oranges
"Oranges, oranges, oranges and graphic design"
One of those silly short songs that I really love mostly because it's fun to sing along to. Oranges is a really fun word to say. Oranges, oranges, oranges. I also appreciate that really twangy guitar part.
Oranges
"Oranges, oranges, oranges and graphic design"
One of those silly short songs that I really love mostly because it's fun to sing along to. Oranges is a really fun word to say. Oranges, oranges, oranges. I also appreciate that really twangy guitar part.
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