[Forge ahead for the lyrics to Barenaked Ladies' "One Week" and the
Verve's "Bittersweet Symphony"; or read straight through to get my
latest stream of reviews.]
Thanks again for inviting me out to see "Scent of the Roses" tonight.
I particularly liked this part of the Sidewalk review:
http://seattle.sidewalk.com/detail?EID=48498
> Scent of the Roses focuses entirely on the stresses emerging in a
> Johannesburg family. Aging, white matron Annalise Morant wants to live
> alone with her cherished possessions and memories, but her busybody
> daughter Imogen wants her to move out of the changing neighborhood. But
> the discovery that Annalise owns a valuable painting by a famous black
> painter inner natures of her three children: Imogen leaves nagging
> messages to sell on her mother's answering machine; son Nigel takes a
> plodding but insistent stance; and daughter Kate seems to empathize with
> her mother's attachment, no explanations needed. Her two niggling
> offspring and Annalise's failing health drive out her well-hidden
> secrets over the course of Ross' drama.
So whenever I'm stressing out and feel the weasels pushing down on me,
I'll remember that my stresses aren't nearly as bad as those others have
to deal with. And sure, I have my set of secrets and skeletons in my
closet, but who among us doesn't?
Secrets aside, let me share some music picks. The two CD's I
recommended tonight that you buy in the "angry young female" genre are
"Voices Carry" by Til Tuesday
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000002605/forkRecommendedr/
and "Strangest Places" by Abra Moore
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000002VR9/forkRecommendedr/
although I also recommend Heather Nova's "Siren" because it's a good new
artistic
and I'll probably also recommend that you buy Liz Phair's
"Whitechocolatespaceegg" when it comes out on Tuesday
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000009OGW/forkRecommendedr/
too. Other albums I'm currently enjoying are:
1. HIP HOP: The Beastie Boys' "Hello Nasty" is the 1998 version of
Beck's 1996 classic, "Odelay!" I bet Cobraboy would agree. "I'll stir
fry you in my wok!" Hey, even the local hip-hop station -- which lately
smells like the all Puff Daddy station -- has been spinning tracks from
it
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000007TE8/forkRecommendedr/
2. BIG BAND: Following the recent success of Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and
the Cherry Poppin' Daddies, Brian "Stray Cats" Setzer just came out with
a really strong set of music on "The Dirty Boogie", including an
energetic remake of "Jump Jive an' Wail" and an interesting big band
remake of the Stray Cats' "Rock this Town"
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000007SAV/forkRecommendedr/
3. ELECTRONICA/TECHNO/RAP: MTV's "Amp 2" just came out and it is MUCH
better than the first Amp compilation. Whether sporting jungle (the
Goldie, Jungle Brothers, and Propellerheads tracks rock!) or rap (the
tracks from Method Man and Chuck D of Public Enemy vs Ticc Tacc are
contagiously energetic) or "right about now" style house (although the
Fatboy Slim track is way overplayed on radio right now, the Pigeonhead,
Pitchshifter, and Adam F tracks are all decent), this album has very few
low points. I like it more than I like that interesting though
hard-to-listen-to "Small Soldiers" soundtrack featuring rapped up
versions of some classic rock tunes like "Another One Bites the Dust,"
"War," "Love is a Battlefield," and "Tom Sawyer." Stick with "Amp 2"
unless you're weird like me
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000006OWY/forkRecommendedr/
Note that I've also been listening to a lot of Stereolab lately, too,
but none of those albums came out this year so I'll stick with
endorsements of recent releases.
4. RHYTHM AND BLUES: I'm currently enjoying two R&B albums. For
variety, I like the soundtrack to Dr. Dolittle, featuring that cool new
baby-sampling track by Aaliyah, "Are You That Somebody?" but also with
decent new tracks from Montel Jordan, Ray J, Changing Faces, 69 Boyz,
Jody Watley, Ginuwine, All Saints, and a lost track from the Sugarhill
Gang (!)
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000006OB4/forkRecommendedr/
I also went to the store and listened to the two albums that spawned the
Monica/Brandy dueling single "The Boy is Mine," which with 2 million
copies sold to date (double platinum, baby!) and 11 weeks and counting
at number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 is currently the top single of the
year. My verdict: the Brandy CD, "Never S-A-Y Never" is flat and
unfocused, while Monica's album is full of nice surprises: a torchy
remake of "Misty Blue," the sexy "First Night" song whose racy lyrics
Rohit pointed out to me (this song debuts at #14 on the Billboard Hot
100 this week, no small feat), a decent rap with OutKast in "Gone Be
Fine," and a beautiful remake of "Right Here Waiting" with 112
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000008UUH/forkRecommendedr/
And I just want to rant for a second about the recent slew of bad
remakes ("Time After Time" and "Cruel Summer" come to mind). They're
so bad, they belong in detention. The only thing that could be worse is
a Puff Daddy autobiography... and I hear that's coming soon
http://www.billboard.com/daily/0807_01.html
> Sean "Puffy" Combs has signed a deal to write his autobiography. The
> 28-year-old producer, hip-hop artist, and owner of Bad Boy Entertainment
> has inked a contract with New York-based publisher Ballantine Books to
> pen the story of his life, touching upon his achievements, abilities,
> losses, and sense of responsibility to both the community and himself.
> The tome will be written in collaboration with Rolling Stone reporter
> Mikal Gilmore, who received the National Book Circle Award for his
> biography "A Shot In The Dark." Combs' as-yet-untitled work is
> scheduled for publication in the fall of 1999. Ballantine has acquired
> all world publishing rights to the book.
Okay, back to my reviews.
5. ROCK: Sadly, rock music has really been for the most part awful
this year. I am, however, enjoying the Dave Matthews Band's latest,
ever-experimental opus "Before these Crowded Streets"
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00000638Q/forkRecommendedr/
and I found one decent punk/ska album this year in Rancid's (IMHO)
second best album to date, "Life Won't Wait"
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000007OED/forkRecommendedr/
but neither of those are guitar-bass-and-drums rock n roll albums.
Probably the last guitar-bass-and-drums rock album that struck a nerve
with me was the same one that you really liked, the Verve album "Urban
Hymns"
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000000WF0/forkRecommendedr/
which we've discussed on FoRK before. I love those songs "Lucky Man"
and "Bittersweet Symphony," the latter of whose lyrics I looked up and
will include later in this post.
But for now, I want to direct you to the latest guitar-bass-and-drums
rock album that has struck a nerve with me: Barenaked Ladies' "Stunt."
Like the Verve, Barenaked Ladies is a band that has waited patiently for
many years and a half dozen albums to break through to the mainstream,
and "Stunt," like "Urban Hymns," does that breakthrough in fine fashion.
The first single, the ultrafast rap "One Week," is like the other songs
on the album in its fun lyrics and hummable tune, but the other songs on
the album are less rappy and more traditional. At least half the tunes
on this album are instant classics. Plus, Janie and Lisa have been
trying to persuade me to buy more Canadian music, and this album counts
toward that quota. Definitely worth buying
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000007NDA/forkRecommendedr/
and if you like this album, I think you might also enjoy their debut
album from 1992, "Gordon," which has similar tongue-in-cheek lyrics and
hummable tunes
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000002LU8/forkRecommendedr/
and speaking of tongue-in-cheek lyrics and hummable tunes, I'm looking
forward to the release this Tuesday of They Might Be Giants' first live
album, "Severe Tire Damage," with lots of hidden tracks and several
previously unreleased tunes
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000009NTL/forkRecommendedr/
Geez, I wonder if I'm singlehandedly keeping Amazon in business
sometimes. Then I remember that no, it's you and joebar who keep Amazon
in business. I'm just milk money.
Hey Dan, good luck with your skydive tomorrow. Hopefully you'll survive
to tell us about it.
Meanwhile, enjoy these lyrics I culled off the Web. We'll start with
Barenaked Ladies' "One Week" and then move on to the Verve's
"Bittersweet Symphony". Also, I'm going to annotate it a little.
The lyrics to "One Week" are from
http://www.gate.net/~holden/bnl.htm
and are annotated below.
> One Week - Barenaked Ladies
> From the album "Stunt"
> Words and music by Ed Robertson
>
> It's been one week since you looked at me
> cocked your head to one side and said I'm angry
> Five days since you laughed at me saying
> get that together come back and see me
> Three days since the living room,
> I realized it's my fault, but couldn't tell you
> Yesterday you'd forgiven me,
> but it'll still be two days till I say I'm sorry
>
> Hold it now and watch the hoodwink
> As I make you make you stop, think
> You'll think you're looking at Aquaman
Comic book swimming dude
http://www.eskimo.com/~tegan/ac/index.html
> I summon fish to the dish, although I like the Chalet Suisse
Aruba's Premier Steak and Chop House:
> And I like the sushi cause it's never touched a frying pan
> Hot like wasabe when I bust rhymes
wasabi; wasabe [WAH-sah-bee] This Japanese version of horseradish comes
from the root of an Asian plant. It's used to make into a green-colored
condiment that has a sharp, pungent, fiery flavor. Wasabi, which is also
called Japanese horseradish , is available in specialty and Asian
markets in both paste and powder form. The latter is mixed with water
much like dry mustard. Some specialty produce markets carry fresh
wasabi, which may be grated like horseradish. In Japan, sushi and
sashimi are served with a condiment of wasabi mixed with soy sauce.
> big like Leann Rimes
Teen country star with a recent propensity to reveal her navel
http://www.clipper.net/~richard/lar/
> Because I'm all about value
> Bert Kaempfert's got the mad hits
Swing musician
http://www.cddb.com/xm/cd/jazz/1c0e9813.html
Now, this next part the lead singer of Barenaked ladies sings REALLY
fast:
> You try to match wits, You try to hold me but I bust through
> There'll be a big sound from the pavement
> Gonna make a break and take a fake
> I'd like a stinkin achin shake
> I like vanilla, it's the finest of the flavors
Ice ice baby
http://www.manifest.com/~dopey/LTC/ice.html
> Gotta see the show, cause then you'll know
> The vertigo is gonna grow
> Cause it's dangerous, you'll have to sign a waiver
Vertigo, of course, is a Hitchcock classic even though it was a movie
not released between the magical years of 1980 to 1994
http://cinemania.msn.com/Cinemania/features/Vertigo/VertHome.htm
> How can I help it if I think you're funny when you're mad
> Trying hard not to smile though I feel bad
> I'm the kind of guy who laughs at a funeral
Do you Yahoo?
http://www.yahoo.com/Society_and_Culture/Death_and_Dying/End_of_Life_Issues/Funeral_Services/
BTW, Yahoo's list of cyberculture communities is pitifully small and
doesn't even include FoRK
http://www.yahoo.com/Society_and_Culture/Cultures_and_Groups/Cyberculture/Mailing_Lists/
I would suggest FoRK, but Yahoo's "suggest a site" feature hasn't worked
for me since 1995. Back to BN...
> Can't understand what I mean? Well, you soon will
> I have a tendency to wear my mind on my sleeve
> I have a history of taking off my shirt
>
> It's been one week since you looked at me
> Threw your arms in the air and said you're crazy
> Five days since you tackled me
> I've still got the rug burns on both my knees
> It's been three days since the afternoon
> You realized it's not my fault not a moment too soon
> Yesterday day you'd forgiven me
> And now I sit back and wait till you say you're sorry
>
> Chickity China the Chinese chicken
> You have a drumstick and your brain stops tickin'
> Watchin X-files with no lights on
For non X Philes
http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/8061/xfiles.html
> we're dans la maison
I think this means "in the house."
> I hope the Smoking Man's in this one
Gotta love the Smoking Man
http://thorung.eeng.dcu.ie/~stdcu/x-files/chars/smoking.html
> Like Harrison Ford I'm getting Frantic
Harrison Ford is God's gift to movies
http://www.mcs.net/~court/ford.html
although Frantic isn't even in his top 10 films
http://us.imdb.com/Title?Frantic+(1988)
> Like Sting, I'm tantric
Death, where is thy Sting?
I think Tantric refers to "any of several Hindu books of doctrine
regarding rituals, disciplines, meditation, etc..."
> Like Snickers, guaranteed to satisfy
I still can't believe there's a
> Like Kurosawa I make mad films
> Okay, I don't make films
> But if I did they'd have a Samurai
> Gonna get a set of better clubs
> Gonna find the kind with tiny nubs
> just so my irons aren't always flying off the back-swing
> gotta get in tune with the Sailor Moon
> Cause the cartoon has got the anime babes
> that make me think the wrong thing
Don't ask, don't tell
http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/7900/smsmovsp.htm
> How can I help it if I think you're funny when you're mad
> Trying hard not to feel bad
> I'm the kind of guy who laughs at a funeral
> Can't understand what I mean? Well, you soon will
> I have a tendency to wear my mind on my sleeve
> I have a tendency of taking of my shirt
>
> It's been one week since you looked at me
> dropped your arms to your sides and said "I'm sorry"
> Five days since I laughed at you and said
> "You just did just what I thought you were gonna do"
> Three days since the living room
> We realized we were both to blame, but what could we do?
> yesterday you just smiled at me
> Cause it'll still be two days till we say we're sorry.
> Birchmont Stadium, Home of the Robbie
I give up why they mention a soccer tournament at the end
http://www.metrodiv.com/robbie/sign.html
but there you have the lyrics. Next, I got the Verve's "Bittersweet
Symphony" from
http://gene.wins.uva.nl/~bonsee/lyrics/verve_1.html
and the lyrics we were trying to recite today were "No change, I can't
change, I can't change, I can't change, But I'm here in my mold, I am
here in my mold, But I'm a million different people from one day to the
next, I can't change my mold, No, no, no, no, no." Full lyrix below...
> The Verve - Bittersweet Symphony
> From the album "Urban Hymns"
>
> 'Cause it's a bittersweet symphony, this life
> Try to make ends meet
> You're a slave to money then you die
> I'll take you down the only road I've ever been down
> You know the one that takes you to the places
> where all the things meet yeah
>
> No change, I can't change
> I can't change, I can't change
> But I'm here in my mold
> I am here in my mold
> But I'm a million different people
> from one day to the next
> I can't change my mold
> No, no, no, no, no
>
> Well I never pray
> But tonight I'm on my knees yeah
> I need to hear some sounds that recognize the pain in me, yeah
> I let the melody shine, let it cleanse my mind, I feel free now
> But the airways are clean and there's nobody singing to me now
>
> No change, I can't change
> I can't change, I can't change
> But I'm here in my mold
> I am here in my mold
> And I'm a million different people
> from one day to the next
> I can't change my mold
> No, no, no, no, no
> I can't change
> I can't change
>
> 'Cause it's a bittersweet symphony, this life
> Try to make ends meet
> Try to find some money then you die
> I'll take you down the only road I've ever been down
> You know the one that takes you to the places
> where all the things meet yeah
>
> You know I can't change, I can't change
> I can't change, I can't change
> But I'm here in my mold
> I am here in my mold
> And I'm a million different people
> from one day to the next
> I can't change my mold
> No, no, no, no, no
>
> I can't change my mold
> no, no, no, no, no,
> I can't change
> Can't change my body,
> no, no, no
>
> I'll take you down the only road I've ever been down
> I'll take you down the only road I've ever been down
> Been down
> Ever been down
> Ever been down
> Ever been down
> Ever been down
> That you've ever been down
> That you've ever been down
Okay, that's enough for now. I still need to fix that I-D.
----
adam@cs.caltech.edu
I wish I had your idealism and optimism. I expect to die bitter and
penniless in a gutter, having hocked my last few CDs for a wicked
8ball concoction of heroin, valium, speed, crack, caffeine, nicotine,
percodan, mandrax, NyQuil, marijuana, dilaudid, methadone, blue label,
methamphetamine, tequila, and rum, with a pickax in one hand and a
nuclear warhead in the other. Compared to that, *anything* seems like
the good life.
-- http://xent.ics.uci.edu/FoRK-archive/jan98/0120.html