Cut Off Your Hands
Back in March, I handed a little Baker's Dozen love to Cut Off Your Hands from New Zealand. Well, it's time to step that up a bit.
I remember about 15 years ago listening to one of my dad's many speeches about my being "obsessed" with music. I remember that he walked out (after yet another futile sermon), shook his head and said, "You'll get over it with age".
I'm fast approaching yet another "deep into my 30s" birthday this weekend and yet here I sit working away (yet again) and completely distracted by the absurdly hook-laden chorus of "Oh Girl". "Because you can if you just take my hand you know that it's true". It's simple, it's probably been done before, blah, blah, blah. It's so insanely good.
I'm not sure that I'll ever be able to walk away from a song like this. In 15 more years, will anything have changed? In 30 years, will I be pulling Medicare benefits whilst blasting out yet another generation of indie/powerpop gems? I dunno. I hope so. I'm not convinced that the alternative is anything worth aspiring to. (Yes, these are the cliche grumblings of an aging man. Go figure. But, dude, it's weird when the clock keeps telling you that you're "moving on" but things still seem the same.)
Cut Off Your Hands - "Oh Girl".
Cut Off Your Hands - "Still Fond".
Myspace
A Century Removed: The Popguns
(I've always made it a point to focus on posting new music here instead of digging into the past. Well, blogs aside, I've been digging into the past quite a bit lately. Consequently, I'm straying from my overly-purist, self-imposed must-be-new "rule" and offering you Episode 1 of a potential new series highlighting said past digs. It's not-so-cleverly titled "A Century Removed" to keep the ACR acronym fully in play.)
It's common knowledge that both of my brothers could care less about lyrics. I played with both of them in a band for 7+ years and it was never until we recorded something that they had even the slightest clue what any of the words were (in hindsight, perhaps a good thing). I, on the other hand, am a huge sucker for a good/catchy/clever/insightful line. Quality lyrics can't save a crap tune, but they can completely elevate a really good one.
A few weeks back I somehow ran across an old Popguns b-side called "I'm Spoiling Everything" which re-ignited my dormant love for this band. For those not in the know, we're talking early-90's here (bad fashion and all), when they cranked out 4 full-length albums, a grip of great singles, and an amazing compilation (thanks again to the mighty Cherry Red).
For me, the Popguns were the flipside of The Wedding Present, a feminine spin on the same endless stream of indie love songs. "You want to see her, I know you do, you want to laugh about the things that you went through...". And, like the "Weddoes", the words were always top notch.
The songs included here are utter classics for me. The bounce and jangle of "Every Dream". "I think too much and don't laugh enough...". The early-90s-indiepop-big-chorus rush of "Bye Bye Baby". "In the back of a taxi cab... as London whistled by...". And, finally, the "this tune has appeared on at LEAST 100 mix CDs that I've made over the years!" beauty of "Daybreak". "Does your heart still hesitate?".
I know this stuff sounds a bit dated; but, for whatever reason, it owns my stereo again lately. Enjoy.
The Popguns - "I'm Spoiling Everything".
The Popguns - "Every Dream".
The Popguns - "Bye Bye Baby".
The Popguns - "Daybreak".
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Friday Night Soulshakers
It's Friday Night and I need to get out. Yeah, big city, bright lights, action. I'm in the mood. Happy 7 months to the baby and all, but tonight mom and dad are leaving you behind (we love ya man, but someday you'll understand). And if my life were more like a movie wherein I drove fancy cars with good loud stereos, Winehouse would be on the soundtrack. Yet another corker of a new-school soul session here. Enjoy.
Mark Ronson featuring Amy Winehouse - "Valerie".
Martha Reeves and the Vandellas - "I'm Ready For Love". (included for the obvious similarities...)
