Beirut - "The Bunker"
The Fiery Furnaces - "Spaniolated"
The Velvet Underground - "The Gift"
Today's set was a bit short on songs, mostly because this VU tune checks in at 8:21. And what a "song" it is. From 1968's White Light/White Heat, it's really a short story read by John Cale over a classic noisy VU jam. The story, written by Lou Reed in college, is about long-distance lovers Waldo Jeffers and Marsha Bronson (what great names!). Waldo, living in Pennsylvania misses his beloved, who's in Wisconsin. Worried she's being unfaithful, he desperately wants to see her, but doesn't have the money for the trip. His solution? He mails himself in a package. While Marsha is talking to her friend about, yes, a recent infidelity, she grabs a box cutter to open the package. She gives it to the friend who opens the box and inadvertently slices of Waldo's head. Yes, love hurts, people. Also, this makes two back-to-back "talky" songs this morning. Of course, a lot of The Fiery Furnaces' stuff has this quality. Honestly, some of it I like, some I don't. But what I really want to know is why everyone is so quick to compare their tonal shifts to The Who? Yes, The Who's "A Quick One While He's Away" is a long epic "mini-opera" that's all over the musical map. (And of course they later explored the rock opera much further.) But for me, when I think of what makes The Who Sound, it's really those early singles like "I Can't Explain" and "Happy Jack." As I think the band itself described it, short bursts of "maximum R&B." Just a thought.
Flying Burrito Brothers - "Farther Along"
The White Stripes - "Little Acorns"
Zumpano - "She's a Full-Blooded Sicilian"
The Divine Comedy - "Snowball In Negative"
Tom Waits - "Goodnight Irene"
The Cure - "Close To Me"
And then I got to work.
Today's Stats
Total songs listened to: 10
Total minutes of music (approx.): 44
Song with the most previous plays: "The Bunker" - 7
Miscellaneous factoid about my trip to work today: Even though I'm insanely tired, reading about the Mets 7-2 win against the Marlins on Opening Day put me in a great mood. If Auggie only knew how close he was to being named Johan...
Photo courtesy of The New York Times.
4 comments:
love that whole "white light, white heat" album. its quick and trippy. on the gift they reference the "Mummers" a philadelphia parade.
I have to say that I feel the same about Fiery Furnaces...I mean that I love some and hate some. There are very few bands that have that effect on me. I also get what people say about them and The Who, but I too prefer the short bursts of "Maximum R&B".
I thought I was the only one in the world who had Zumpano on my iPod. Did you add it after or before New Pornos hit it big?
I'm a proud early adopter of Zumpano...a sucker for good pop, ya know?
I too was a Zumpano fan from way back. I think it was a Sub Pop summer sampler that hooked me.
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