Song of the Week - May 18

By: Rustycat | in: Music |

Mercury Rev

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

Lior
“Bolted Door” by Walter the Orange Ocean
I could not resist submitting yet another track by one of my favourite groups this week. I thought I had heard everything from them but, to my pleasant surprise, I discover a new gem. The production is rather uncharacteristic of their debut though beautifully consistent with their songwriting temperament and live show - a good pitch for Peter Gabriel fans. Yes, I’m biased. I love it. I love them and will take every opportunity to plugg anything they have to offer.

Charbarred
“Car Wash Hair” by Mercury Rev
Long before the beautiful “Deserter’s Songs” and even longer before they started started making weird show tunes, Mercury Rev was the craziest band in town. Car Wash Hair, a subdued effort for that era, encapsulates all that they had to offer. I so miss that flute and weird guitar “solos”.

Lee H
“Into Brooklyn, Early In The Morning” by The Innocence Mission
This song sounds like the closing song of a movie that I would really love to see. The moment in the movie when the protagonist finally comprehends that their life isn’t over just because things didn’t go as they planned and they realize that in order to live you have to pick up the broken pieces, try not to cut your hands and move on. I bet Zach Braff really likes this song.

D Thompson
“Road To Benares” by Thunderball
In keeping with the vaguely Mid Eastern theme I’ve got going from last week here’s a song by Thunderball. Any band named after a Bond film can’t be all bad was my thought as I picked the CD up off the rack and, of course, I was right. Though I’m not much into the whole techno/remix/DJ/house/jungle thing I do love Amon Tobin and I do love Asian Massive which has yet to make much of a headway here in the states. (Or maybe it did and I just missed it because Rob Zombie’s new CD was out or something). Anyway, this sounds pretty Asian Massivey to me. And, I promised myself I’d take a break from the 80’s spree I’ve been on.

RustyCat
“Pigeons” by Page France
Their third album, “Page France and the Family Telephone” was just released last week. The music is a cool mix of Bright Eyes/Mercury Rev/Lou Reed tunes, a great album, but this song in particular caught my attention.

Kendall
“Your Ex Lover is Dead” by Final Fantasy (Stars Cover)
This track is taken from the great Stars cover album ‘Do You Trust Your Friends’. The piano on this track is reminecent of a rag time bar, but flirts with classical. The strings trade blows with the keys and even harmonize with the vocals at times. Other subtleties hide in the background. Give this one a solid listen.

Alibastard
“Car Crash” by Tricky
One of the more breathy songs off of Tricky’s last, “Vulnerable”.
Miles above the experimental and strange record before it (Blowback),
Vulnerable found Tricky returning and rediscovering old trip-hop territory with fresh
enthusiasm. This song in particular cools summer.

So what’s your song of the week?

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Posted on May 18, 2007

Comments

8 Responses to “Song of the Week - May 18”

Rustycat on May 18th, 2007 1:53 am

Great choices guys.
Kendall I love the Stars song - wanna trade song of the week’s? Another blog just posted on the Stars - look.
Lior - Another cool one from Walter the Orange.
D - Nice track, not a big fan of electronic music, but it’s kinda weird so I like it.
Lee - Welcome aboard mate! Great song.
Ali - Nice tune, didn’t know it. I have to listen to the new album.
And last but not least, Char - I love Mercury Rev, especially the old guitar, flutes chaos.

It’s going to be a good weekend now.

mozzer on May 18th, 2007 8:14 am

My SOTW: Los Abandoned - Van Nuys (es very nice)

It’s simply upbeat and fun. The singer effortlessly switches between english and spanish lyrics. For those that are wondering, Van Nuys is a city in California.

Get it here!

mozzer on May 18th, 2007 11:13 am

Lior - lovely song, Walter is definitely worth looking into.

Char - never really followed Mercury Rev, but this seems like a pretty straighforward song for them. What’s that I hear? A melody? I like this one!

Lee - Great tune, reminds me of waking up late, with the sunlight peeking through the blinds. Definitely a keeper.

Dthompson - Now this sounds like it came from a movie soundtrack, I was hoping that the violin would get a little crazier with the solo. Still a cool tune.

Rusty - loved this one, very relaxing. but only 2 minutes long? I wouldn’t mind if it overstayed its welcome.

Kendall - I absolutely love the original. while it didn’t knock my socks off, this is a great cover. very subdued.

Alibastard - Another keeper. This is a song for that accompanies a night time drive, or making sweet love to your significant other.

Great selections, everyone. Cheers!

Giovanna on May 18th, 2007 3:00 pm

Ok, I know I am repeating myself but…I just can’t help it: D’s track is astonishing!!!! Plus, I am listening to a lot of Indian music lately so every song with sitar in it is welcome to my ears…

I also liked Ali’s choice a lot… I dig Tricky and that song has a very smooth sensual rhythm, I must agree with Mozzer.

Hi Lee! I hope all your tracks will be like the one you chose for this week!

geekgasmic.com on May 18th, 2007 6:53 pm

Song of the Week - May 18 - The Plugg

Some great picks from The Plugg staff.

DThompson on May 18th, 2007 10:43 pm

Lior - That song’s got interesting mid-70’s Todd Rundgren-esque production values on it. Very pleasing on the ear (and the soul as well I imagine).
Char - The only song I’ve ever heard by Mercury Rev is 1995’s “Young Man’s Stride” which is very bass heavy and all wailing guitars and seventies guitar hero excess. The song you chose is much longer.
Lee - I don’t know if Zach Braff likes that song but I do. If he does (like the song) he can hang at my place as long as he brings some sort of snack food.
Rusty - Do I hear a xylophone in that song? I love it when childhood instrumentation is used for evocative emotional ends. Very sweet. And only a bare hint of Neil in the opening piano.
Kendall - That song reminds me of sixties California pop, I think its the chorus in the background. There was never a happier sound on earth.
Alibastard - Breathy is right! That girl’s going to hyperventilate! (and I might too, just listening to her). I bought Tricky’s first CD ‘Maxinquaye’ back in ‘95 and was roundly sneered at by my friends. Now I am justified.
Mozz - headed to iTunes to locate your suggestion.
Giovanna - Thanks for your kind words. It does have that sitar thing going on, doesn’t it?

remixboy on May 19th, 2007 10:21 am

Firstly..apologies for the lateness of the comment!! I was here yesterday and I got sidetracked..lol

Well can I say I think this is the best selection for a while!!! Finding new music is a lot like the glimpse of a new potential love in my book..that first glimpse, the intro..the first verse , the second glance..and the Chorus..well heck im hooked!!!!

Bolted Door does indeed have that Gabriel flavour on the melody but as though he stopped off in Minneapolis for a slice of Apple Pie…!

For a while I thought Kendall’s choice by Final Fantasy was going to by choice for record of the week..reminding me of Virginia Astley and the Cardigans at the same time (prob the female vocals) its a slice of beauty and wouldn’t be out of place in the movie’s of Amelie and A Very Long Engagement.

Its Lee choice though that is my favourite this week and he hits the the nail on the head when he points out that this song is just calling to be used in the closing scene of a movie. The love lost main character steps out out as the city awakes and as he walks away from the hospital looking dishevelled. The love of his life dead he realises that far from being sad he should grab hold of the great times they had…and as he walks he starts to smile..as the words “beautiful life” burst forth..lol

Personally I still cant stop playing the Jeff Buckley/Elizabeth Fraser duet but for afters Wanderlust from the new Bjork album shows she hasn’t lost it…completely!!! but its the Klaxons infectious harmonies in Gravity’s Rainbows which makes it my track of the week!!!