This song is pretty awesome. The National are starting to grow on me. At first I kept thinking that the Crash Test Dummies meets Joy Division sound was going to be something I couldn’t get past. But, as I explored a few tracks, I found them to be more Leonard Cohen or, gasp, Bruce Springsteen. Then I heard a few cuts from their last album, “Boxer,” and their most recent album, and I have to say, I’m feeling it.
The National’s new album, “High Violet,” came out yesterday. Go get it on the cheap… it’s like 8 bucks. You’re welcome.
When I was much younger, I (like everyone else in my generation) was introduced to They Might Be Giants quirky, “everybody-friendly” music by their cover of the song “Istanbul, Not Constantinople,” as featured in a Tiny Toon Adventures cartoon.
Man, I am getting old. I just used the phrase “like everyone else in my generation.”
At any rate, I soon acquired They Might Be Giants wildly popular album, “Flood,” and was hooked. It wasn’t “Istanbul” that had me, though, or the song “Particle Man” – which was also featured on Tiny Toons – but the song featured in the video above: “Birdhouse In Your Soul.”
I had no idea at the time what the song was about, and the video didn’t really clear it up… but I have now found out that the song is sung from the point of view of a night light, so there you go. This song is actually their highest charting single, and is, in my humble opinion, their best song. It perfectly captures their madness, their subtle genius, and their musical whimsy. It has obscure lyrics, interesting instrumentation, and a key change. It sums up everything about them in a tidy 3 minutes. If you like this song, you like them. And if you don’t like this song, there is probably something wrong with you.
I’m just sayin’, it’s a fun song. Don’t you like to have fun?
Another new M.I.A. track, and there is definitely a different feel from the previous post. This one is way more pop friendly; I don’t think that necessarily means this song is better, just different. I’m feeling it!
Here’s a fun little party starter from the always entertaining A-Trak. He seems to find a way to creatively combine all of the party elements I’m feeling… house beats, hip-hop and sing along choruses. This guy is amazing to see live, and you can sense the influence of his live performances in each of his remixes. Check him out:
