Said the Gramophone: I Think Someone's Breaking In

I Think Someone's Breaking In

Please note: MP3s are only kept online for a short time, and if this entry is from more than a couple of weeks ago, the music probably won't be available to download any more.

Casiotone For The Painfully Alone - "Young Shields"

You are not safe from Casiotone. You both live in glass houses, we all do, and he is tired, sick, and he has many many rocks. It's like having the bomb, nobody's supposed to use it, but he doesn't care anymore; we're all going down (aside: this genre's sometimes called button-pushing). And what makes it even more distressing, unnerving, is that the highly-screamable lyrics (actually, a screamy cover might be nice, get on it, Bright Eyes) are left like an answering machine message, sedate and almost laboured (like coming down). Deeply angry, but a beat like a subway car.

[from Casiotone's livejournal: "YOUNG SHIELDS will not be available in shops or through mail order until the end of the year, so coming to a show & buying a copy off of the merch table is the only way you'll be able to get one of these for a while."]

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The McCoys - "Come On, Let's Go"

Karin played me "Hang On, Sloopy" the other night, over the phone, which is a lot like am radio, so it didn't differ much from my memory of the song. But in defining any band as a "one-hit wonder" it's an unfortunate cinching of the band's entire oeuvre into "not as good". I'll grant that this song is not a *wonder*, but it is a delight, and that's not too bad. I mean, it can't be that far from a wonder, it's almost the same song (they both approach "Twist and Shout" as asymptotes to an axis). So, if "one-hit wonder" actually means "the same great song many times in slightly different forms", sign me up.

[Buy]

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Faux Pas - "Cup of Wonder"

Also, this song needs lyrics more than I need to eat like a regular person (and I need that a lot). So, take the song, record some lyrics, send it to me. It's not a contest, but it is a hard task. suggestions: use a megaphone, or a lot of sliding notes, or maybe even speak-singing or rap or something.

[buy]

Posted by Dan at November 9, 2005 2:54 AM

Comments

I hope you're aware that "Come On Let's Go" is the McCoys covering Ritchie Valens original 1950's original. I also hope I don't seem like a snarky music geek in pointing out the fact, especially if you already knew it. I bet I'm only harping on this because I'm sitting no more than 5 miles from where the neighborhood of Pacoima, CA, where Valens grew up.

Posted by Gabe Hernandez at November 9, 2005 3:37 AM

Gabe - don't feel like a music geek! dan probably already knew that (he is the knower of all) but I didn't. and since the McCoys are my new favorite band, I'm interested. in fact, I'm going to go look them up on Wikipedia right now.

Posted by karin at November 9, 2005 11:10 AM

First of all, great work on the blog. I'm a fan.

Maybe I'm out of the loop, but you do realize that the track you posted is more or less a loop of a sample of "Cup of Wonder" by Jethro Tull, right? It's from "Songs from the Wood", easily the most criminally underrated Tull album in history. Ok, so listened to it recently and it sucks, but my point is, the song has lyrics, and Faux Pas went ahead and cut them out.

Posted by Mark at November 9, 2005 11:22 AM

Jesus, that CTFTPA song is great...as is most everything Owen lays his hands upon. So desperate sounding, but in a good way.

Posted by Chris at November 9, 2005 12:33 PM

Actually, Cup Of Wonder by Ian Anderson is a beautiful song. And I'm right, because I'm always right.

Cup of Wonder (Ian Anderson-Jethro Tull)
May I make my fond excuses for the late-ness of the hour;
But we accept your invitation, and would bring you Beltane's flower.
For the May Day is the great day, sung along the old straight track.
And those who ancient lines did ley will heed this song that calls them
back.

Pass the word and pass the lady and pass the plate to all who hunger.
And pass the wit of ancient wisdom, pass the Cup of Crimson Wonder.
And pass the Cup of Crimson Wonder.

Ask the Green Man where he comes from, ask the cup that fills with red.
Ask the old grey standing stones who show the sun his way to bed.
Question all as to their ways, and learn the secrets that they hold.
Walk the lines of Nature's palm, crossed with silver and with gold.

Pass the cup and pass the lady and pass the plate to all who hunger.
And pass the wit of ancient wisdom, pass the Cup of Crimson Wonder.
And pass the Cup of Crimson Wonder.

Posted by scott at November 9, 2005 2:30 PM

ladies, fellas - it's not important what I know and don't know. what's important is what YOU know. and you all know now that that's a richie valens cover (which doesn't score points for the McCoys) and a Jethro Tull remix. you can keep the Tull out of your version, or you could do the lyrics in a new way. I already have one *fantastic* submission {dance music needs more snarling curs}, and I have a feeling it might be all I'll get.

Posted by dan at November 9, 2005 4:13 PM

Wasn't The McCoys the band Rick Derringer was in?

Posted by Anonymous at November 9, 2005 5:07 PM

wikipedia says: yes.

Posted by karin at November 9, 2005 5:35 PM

YOU CANNOT BELIEVE WIKIPEDIA - ANYONE COULD HAVE EDITED THE PAGE! LOOK - IT SAYS SEAN MICHAELS PLAYED SAXOPHONE!

Posted by Sean at November 9, 2005 5:41 PM

wow, i can't believe people are actually doing this.

this one's good, way different than the other. sounds like Avalanches sandwiching.....shopping for sandwiches. Starts with a bang, ends with one, gets lost in the middle. this song is turning out to be quite an interesting canvas.

Posted by dan at November 10, 2005 6:48 PM

This is probably not news either, but the Los Lobos cover of "Come On, Let's Go" is also pretty nice.

Posted by Gary at November 11, 2005 9:36 AM

loving the new versions. heres one i prepared earlier.

ps. is sean michaels strong bad?

Posted by tim at November 13, 2005 4:59 AM

it is the day of hand claps

Posted by tim+ at November 14, 2005 5:24 PM