Song of the Week - April 13

By: Charbarred | in: Music |

France Gall

Every week each of our writers shares the song that made his week just a little bit brighter…

This week, we’re honored to have guest blogger Giovanna helping us out with our selections. If you too would like to guest here, forget about it, we like Giovanna better than you (OK, you can drop us a line).

We’re also introducing a new writer, Lior, who will hopefully share his insight into the weird and wacky world of the music industry. Welcome aboard man!

D Thompson
“Chick Habit” by April March
So I saw Grindhouse last Friday and then I bought the soundtrack (soundtracks actually) because right after Death Proof ended this really catchy, sorta swingin’ sixties girl pop song came on over the credits and I pay attention to that sort of thing. In my notes I scrawled “Spittin’ In Your Eye” and underlined it with a big ol’ squiggly line which is my secret code for “this is good”. It turns out the song is an English language remake of a 1964 song by France Gall, “The French Lolita” ooh la la! It’s called “Laisse Tomber Les Filles” (Forget the Girls) and is nice in of its own right. But, it’s in French, and I like the lyrics in this song, and I don’t speak French, so I’m gonna have to go with April March’s remake, “Chick Habit”.

RustyCat
“The Earth is in the Sky” by Tom Verlaine
Tom Verlaine is best known as the lead singer and guitarist of famous 70’s underground New York band, Television. After Television’s demise in the early 80’s, Tom began a solo career. Last year, a decade after his previous album, he released ‘Songs and Other Things‘.
Truth is, I’m still not very familiar with this album, but this song really caught my ear this week. For some reason, it reminds me of Tom Petty…

Charbarred
“Someday” by The Mighty Mighty Bosstones
Here goes…I was watching MTV. Fall Out Boy were presenting their favorite pop-punk videos, and Less than Jake came on. While their song “Gainsville Rock City” is a fine tune, I was thinking about something that sounds similar, only BETTER! So I remembered The Mighty Mighty Bosstones…It took me quite a while to track their album at the time, only to find out it doesn’t live up to this single. Still, with a voice so rough it makes Tom Waits sound like a little girl, and with such kick ass arrangements, this is still the best ska-punk tune ever. Take that Fall Out Boy!

Giovanna
“Northern Whale” by The Good, The Bad and The Queen
My first time here at The Plugg as a reviewer, thank you guys for the hospitality!
My pick for the week is one of those songs you would never choose as your favourite at first listen, and yet has something so charming about it you just can’t stop playing them over and over again till you’re hooked. As it usually happens to me, what strikes me the most about this track is its simplicity. No changing tempo, no atonal riffs but a laid-back soothing melody repeating throughout the song with Damon Albarn’s calm voice and a low-fi sound. Nothing more than a synthesiser - a revival of the good ole Rhodes with an 80s cold touch - joined by Simonon’s immortal bass guitar and light percussion woodblocks. The result is a mellow, nostalgic tune whose chorus brings back to mind forgotten echoes of some western movie: a smoky saloon, a man playing the piano in a dark corner, a cigarette stub on his lips and a half empty glass suggesting him the words “Another wave crashed over you, it pulled you in a spell”…Mesmerising.

Kendall
“Turn on Billie” by The Pierces
The Pierces are two Alabama-bred sisters. Their dreams of being ballerinas went up in smoke and they moved to NYC to become singers. They released two unimpressive albums, and then came out with 13 Tales of Love and revenge. “Turn On Billy” is a country flared pop track, with a little kiss orchestration. Is that a tuba in the background? The vocals are sweet and smooth, and reminiscent of a sweet Fiona Apple.

Lior
“Talk About Love” by The Emeralds
It’s been a balls-to-the-walls kinda week for me - you know, not enough sleep, too much work, stupid bureaucracy and junk food.. I needed a balls-to-the-walls track this Friday to top it all off! When things get insane, call in the Japanese punks, The Emeralds, to stop your head from spinning (or spin it even faster). This track is wacky, wild and psychotastic. Bring on the weekend Yokohama!

Alibastard
“Bros” by Panda Bear
When something psychedelic can be revelatory and not seem full of shit, well, that’s when I get on my knees and give thanks to the cosmic soup. Even tho this video is really just a frighteningly color-saturated spiritual jaunt through time and space via a really satisfying shower (and a cat), the song itself is a exhaultant round exploring tangential aspects of friendship.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4ywcGQvAF8

So what’s your song of the week?

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Posted on April 12, 2007

Comments

22 Responses to “Song of the Week - April 13”

HMTKSteve on April 13th, 2007 2:14 am

I’ve been so busy catching up on podcasts this week that I have not listened to much music. Shame on me!

Saskia on April 13th, 2007 2:53 am

I love ‘Turn on Billie’…

Giovanna on April 13th, 2007 4:14 am

Outstanding tracks!!! My favourite is “Turn on Billie”: The Pierces are amazing, so cheerful and relaxing…thank you Kendall!
Char’s pick is totally unexpected, I can’t believe my ears: ska? I thought you were the Nick Drake, Simon and Garfunkel kinda guy…Grrrreat:)
Rusty, you leave me speechless as usual..Television were such a great band and although this track is quite different from their style I really enjoyed it…
And Lior brought some krazy punk at last…this week couldn’t have been better, I guess! You guys put a smile on ym face after such a crappy week!

kenall on April 13th, 2007 4:20 am

Charbarred I have that CD sitting on my counter…if only I would have know. I’m a huge ska fan. AND I see we have new friends joining us! I better step it up or I’m going to get phased out.

Charbarred on April 13th, 2007 4:23 am

@Giovanna: Nick Drake and Simon & Garfunkel??? OK, I do like the folky stuff at times, but good old ska-core is always welcome, especially when the singer sounds like he’s singing from beyond the grave.

@Kendall: Yeah, I think I paid an insane amount of money for that CD. I sat for days making myself listen to it just to justify the cost

Rusty on April 13th, 2007 4:38 am

Great choices guys, especially Kendall, looks like you’re winning this weeks song of the week!

Rusty on April 13th, 2007 4:40 am

b.t.w. - CHECK OUT THE NEW COMMENT RATING THING. You can view the top comments on the box on the right. You can also see other Spotback users who voted on The Plugg, so sign up there…

Nice.

geekgasmic.com on April 13th, 2007 4:48 am

Song of the Week - April 13 - The Plugg

Every week each of our writers shares the song that made his week just a little bit brighter…

remixboy on April 13th, 2007 6:46 am

Its funny how the weather can effect your mood so much..its a lovely sunshine day here in suburbia..and im in a kind of singing at the top of your voice kind of mood!!!

So…..anyway, back to the point..lol Pick of the week goes to…“Chick Habit” by April March…makes me feel like dancin…!!

My track of the week is Countdown by Jupiter One…perfect for my mood..quirky synth new wave inspired pop with a soaring chorus..check them out here….

http://www.myspace.com/jupiterone

ps…bought Rainbowarriors by CocoRosie…tops!! reminds me of Thomas Dolby meets Salt N Pepa!

pixie on April 13th, 2007 6:58 am

I don’t think there has been anything better this week [on a week that saw From Autumn To Ashes release a stellar comeback] than the video of Carl Barat and Pete Doherty reunited, playing Libertines songs, last night.

This version of “Don’t Look Back Into the Sun” has to be one of the most beautiful and inspiring moments of the week, if not the year:

pixie on April 13th, 2007 7:03 am

…and because the forum at the embed code, here’s a link to the video I was referring to:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YliPEEvt8w

NeutralMilk on April 13th, 2007 7:08 am

Mmmmm “Bros” is the hot toddy. I’ve been getting into Blonde Redhead’s 23 in a major way this week.

“Silently” makes me feel warm inside:
http://4adsxsw.imeem.com/music/COUhSn2r/silently/

Kendall on April 13th, 2007 7:13 am

I love all of this link sharing! I love the Libertines.

mozzer on April 13th, 2007 7:41 am

Best SOTW entry to date! “Chick habit” and “Turn on Billie” are fantastic. I can’t tell you how much I love this weekly feature.

Here’s my entry: Radio Dept - Keen On Boys
Fuzzed out and etheral. The intro feels like being immersed in television static. The rest of the song is speaking to you through a lucid dream.

http://www.esnips.com/playlist/a151d932-911f-4049-b62f-dafc8bacf0fe

Charbarred on April 13th, 2007 7:53 am

mozzer, this Radio Dept song is really good!

DThompson on April 13th, 2007 10:20 am

- Alibastard, not only is that video some way cool eye candy trippin but the song that goes with it it is psychedelilicious even if you’re not looking at the screen! That is one fantastic choice you made this week.
- Lior, have you ever heard of Teengenerate? Their CD “Get Action” was my intro to Japanese punk. Great stuff.
- Pig pile on Kendall! Turn On Billie was really fun to listen to. Reminds me of when I lived in Arizona.
- Giovanna, it’s nice to get to praise your song for a change. I’d heard 2 songs by The Good The Bad And The Queen and I hated both of them, so, when I saw you’d picked a song by them I didn’t hold out ANY hope. Shows how wrong a guy can be, that’s a really good song. I’m still not buying the album.

Charbarred on April 13th, 2007 11:59 am

I like that D…hmmm…
- Alibastard - I’ve been making myself listen to Panda Bear for the past few days an am finally getting used to it, great track
- Mr. Thompson - As always the one with the coolest tune
- Lior - Great way to start things off
- Kendall - Sign me up for that pig pile! What a sweet song.
- Giovanna - A breath of cool English, well…cool, how nice…
(I feel like I’m grading term papers at this stage)
- Rusty (D notice how I don’t miss out on anyone) - That album is not the best thing since Marquee Moon, but that track is just awesome. Gets my vote for “best song of the week that I didn’t choose” (the obligatory smiley)

DThompson on April 13th, 2007 1:55 pm

Huh? Did I forget someone? Oh MAN! Oh, how TOTALLY embarrassing!
-Rusty, I am SO sorry! Has it really been TEN YEARS since Verlaine put out an album? Can I possibly be that old? You’re right, he does sound like Petty, but the music reminds me of Graham Parker.
-Mozzer, another winner! How many CD’s do Radio Department have out?
-remixboy, that Jupiter One song was like time travel to the mid-eighties! Both of those songs were excellent. Thanks for the tip.

DThompson on April 13th, 2007 2:00 pm

Oh, whoever posted the Bosstones, that was kinda good too, I guess

Keith on April 13th, 2007 2:29 pm

I liked ‘Chick Habit’ and ‘Turn on Billie’, both made me nostalgic for some reason.

I’ve really been liking Bohemian Like You by the Dandy Warhols.

Charbarred on April 13th, 2007 4:02 pm

Bohemian like me was a huge hit here in the UK because it was on some commercial. It’s a great tune, but it always reminds me of shopping for mobile phones…

Alibastard on April 13th, 2007 4:16 pm

I was gone all day and didn’t get to check the post till now, but if anyone’s out there f-ing great choices, f-ing great new writers (welcome) and f-ing substancial comments. “F” could stand for this f-ing “Friday” which has been f-ing awesome. (ps I was also very surprised by Bosstones. Ballsy. Used to play bass in a ska band in 8th grade. Shaved checkers into my head. Not the best idea. Big time nostalgia tho. Everybody skank now.)