The day of reackoning is at hand, my breatheren! I already voted, before I went into work.
Last chance for free music!
Because when else can you post a song about "Miss November Tuesday"? I have always been a fan of Duran Duran, willing to suffer the insults of my peers, and the derision of one particularly vile AP English teacher that finally got his comeuppance, years overdue. At the time, they were mocked for being a bunch of pretty boys, but what with the slick corporate pop of the last few years, the idea of a bunch of guys writing and playing their own stuff seems much less risible. Particularly since so much of their back catalog is so, well, good: I listen to their greatest hits album, and the songs are both good, and actually were hits. Pop at its best. You got a problem with that?
This song is from the album Notorious, and features the funkier, Niles Rodgers (late of the amazing band Chic)-influenced songs of this particular incarnation. It has the clean sound I associate with 60s soul; I hear Motown in the chorus -- 80s British Motown, like ABC's "When Smoky Sings". The lyrics aren't that bad, either.
"Something in the Air" is a Thunderclap Newman song that apparently appeared on the Easy Rider Soundtrack; "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" was (of course) by Gil-Scott Heron. The fact that the group had the nerve to cover these songs is notable enough; that they did it so well, and that the two songs work so well together, is simply astounding. It starts out slow, a nice groove, not unlike the Bowie song I posted earlier, and different from the more uptempo original of "SITA"; but them cranks it up to full-throttle for the Heron bit. The middle section's music sounds like the soundtrack to a Blaxploitation chase scene, which I guess is quite appropriate. The women deliver the lyrics with authority, because "Hooterville and Petticoat Junction will not be so god-damned relevant". (OK, so it's a bit dated; it makes up for it in providing you with 99% of the Recommended Daily Allowance for Soul.) Sing on, sisters.
A remake of a song from the Pet Shop Boys first album. A lovely song, and a subtle arrangement. Apolitical, but indicative of my mood as I wait for the other shoe to drop.
On the way home from work for the day (I have homework that needs doing) I saw three young men walking along the sidewalk. One was holding a boombox, the second was holding a videocamera and wearing what looked like a tri-corner hat, and he was apparently filming a thrid, who was holding a piece of posterboard with something written on it. The first two were walking backwards. I love it; this augers well.
Hail to the Chief, baby. Now more than ever.
UPDATE: I'm giving myself an ulcer, splitting my attention between PBS, NPR, and my own political songs. They keep talking about how moral issues are playing such a big part of the vote for Bush. You know what? I consider Iraq a moral issue; I just don't need to point to the Bible as justification. Although, you know, I could. Go Michigan! Do me proud! (Please? And you too, Ohio!)
"I'm Herkimer Puffinstuff, and I approved this message."
No comments:
Post a Comment