Randor's Song of the Week: 03.04.12

"I Made My Excuses and Left" by the Pet Shop Boys from the album Fundamental. 2006.
    I kinda always figured one day the Pet Shop Boys would get a feature. Not because of any favoritism, but rather their... unique blandness. How can they make the bland unique? Well, the way I see it, Mr. Lead Singer fronts the charge from his microphone easy-chair. He doesn't quite sing so much as talk in drawn out tones. And I don't mean that sing-talking/rapping dealio some pop artists like to call upon. No, he just tries to match the subdued, almost lazy feel of the track around him. I can't think of any edge-of-your-seat or edgy songs by the group, and even the hardest-hitting one that comes to mind kind of drones through the vocals. It's like a salt-free saltine cracker. Perhaps you can dip it into a soup or something, but you just have to chew through it.
    I do love my saltines though...

Randor's Song of the Week: 02.26.12

"Queen of the Lot" by the Spring Standards from the album Would Things Be Different. 2010.
    Okay, not much info or backstory on this one, folks. Band or song. Alls I can says is that these guys play for the sake of music. You can just hear it in the recording, perhaps not as heavily in this song as others like "The Hush". But still, you can tell these guys enjoy creating songs and playing their instruments. Even the music videos have this light-hearted aura, but clearly show the signs of extra effort. Plus, by comparing the two songs, you can see the group doesn't mind genre-jumping.

Randor's Song of the Week: 02.19.12

"Seven Little Girls Sitting in the Back Seat" by Paul Evans and the Curls from the album Seven Little Girls Sitting in the Back Seat / Worshipping an Idol. 1959.
    The ultimate song of cuckoldry. Not exactly the most desirable claim to fame. Perhaps most surprising is that a song from the 50s earns the title. I don't think any song recorded since comes close to the level of humiliation and emasculation described, though "Venus in Furs" (by the Velvet Underground, chump!) comes close with its springboard off the book (which would certainly win out the competition, if only 'twas in song form). Some would say I've gone too far with the claim, what with the tune's sugary sweet sound feigning some sort of innocence. Don't be fooled, I reply! The Velvet Underground may ace the proper ambiance, but I say Paul Evans went too far when he put not one- not two- but SEVEN little girls in the backseat, kissing and a-huggin' with Fred. Ignoring the 'little' descriptor for you literalists, keep in mind that minivans (not yet a family standard in the song's era) evoke the seven-passenger image-- with one up front! So basically, our sad narrator chauffeurs an orgy around the town in a wheeled sardine-can with every feeble attempt to quit or join rebuffed by the girls themselves. Not even Jon Arbuckle puts up with that kinda embarrassment!

Randor's Song of the Week: 02.12.12

"Harmour Love" by Syreeta from the album One to One. 1977.
    it's up it's up it's up!!

Randor's Song of the Week: 02.05.12

"Planet Texas" by Kenny Rogers from the album Something Inside So Strong. 1989.
    Speaking of corny country music... Who hasn't made fun of "The Gambler"? The Mr. Rogers of Country has a Wisconsin-sized slough of cheese-laced hits though, and I'd sooner pick something like "Lucille" or "Coward of the County" to knock on. Heck, even the Dolly Parton duet "Islands in the Stream" floats atop the fondue flood, and only the semi-tribute "Ghetto Supatar" could hope to match Witz crackers and cheese with it. ...That is, until you hear "Planet Texas", which takes the cheesecake. I don't think you can even technically call this a country song! Ignore the creepy headshot album cover, and imagine all the maize produced in the U.S. Midwest. Now squish it all into the world's largest cornball. If you've never traversed the corn-producing states, I can assure you: that would be one massive ball of corn. It's only fitting, though, for if the Moon is made of cheese, Planet Texas must be made of corn.

Randor's Song of the Week: 01.29.12

"Kick My Ass" by Big and Rich from the album Horse of a Different Color. 2004.
    Country music itself gets to sparking two camps of thought: the haters and the revelers. Wind the topic down to that certain inspired typecast, and the battle intensifies. You know which exact typecast I mean. The kind of country song that would be called an internet troll if magically personified into a forum. The artist seems to purposely pull out all the cheesy tricks of the "backwoods" style to either satire him/herself and the standards, fulfill the diehards' fantasy, or send the nonbelievers running (usually with flaming pitchforks). A few examples that everyone seems to know and make fun of, lovingly or otherwise, include "Honky Tonk Badonkadonk", "She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy", and "All My Ex's Live in Texas". And of course who could forget "Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy" by the featured Big and Rich? (Let's not get into that terrible music video's parade master, the county rap- or rather, uh.. "hick-hop" disciple Cowboy Troy, okay?) The way I see it: these songs are fun, so long as they they don't take themselves seriously. Just jokey sing-alongs lacking depth. Songs for the sake of songs. Not every tune in the music collection has to have personal meaning, or inspire internal dialogues on the human condition. Which is why you shouldn't kick my ass for picking "Kick My Ass" this week (har-dee-har-dee-har).

Randor's Song of the Week: 01.22.12

"Archaeologists" by Wintersleep from the album Welcome to the Night Sky. 2007.
    So far, everything I've heard from Wintersleep sounds very good. In fact, their probable most known tune, "Weighty Ghost", is my least favorite so far (though still in the "good" category!). I've only got a handful loaded in the rPod, but some quick sonic exploring tells me their presence will expand come next music dump.

Randor's Song of the Week: 01.15.12

"Damn These Vampires" by the Mountain Goats from the album All Eternals Deck. 2011.
    There's two ways to interpret this one. The literal vampires, with the blood-sucking and night-stalking. Or anything else, symbolically. The first tells a tale of ageless creatures trekking across the horses and trans-ams of time, trying to remember their humanity (or the evil demons attacking throughout history, however your take on sympathetics fall). The second option has bridged topics from drug addiction to fair-weather friends in its perceived fantastical metaphors. My take? The tactfully crafted lyrics, open-ended in annotative scope, blend so harmoniously with the music they must have been smithed in partnership at the forge.

Randor's Song of the Week: 01.08.12

"Pineapple Princess" by Annette Funicello from the album Hawaiianette. 1960.
    Anybody who knows my personal whatsits will likely see this as a fresh loaf of cornbread. Or maybe a bigger cop-out than the jailbreak at Comatose County Sheriff's Department prison. I'm sure you modern listeners don't have your head stuck in the 60s like me, and can thus-ly shake your head at this selection like a vertical horizon bobble-head. But level with me- I'll be your Pokemon trainer. That over-the-top old-school pop fully intends to capture your corny side. Through the almost-kiddie lyrics, the era-defining kitsch soars high and morphs a guilty embarrassment of, say, "Short Shorts" into a sing-along pleasure. Though Funicello's nearly-strained vocals may deflate the effect a notch, her status as a "Beach Icon" (quoted straight from das wiki) sponges the culture and humor effectively to music. Who knew cheese and pineapple went together so well?

Randor's Song of the Week: 01.01.12

"Walk You Home (Night Vision Binoculars)" by Passenger from the album Wicked Man's Rest. 2007.
    readmore

Randor's Song of the Week: 12.25.11

"In the Year 2525 (Exordium and Terminus)" by Zager and Evans from the album 2525. 1969.
    When this gets posted, I'll be on a business trip. The whole December month has been pre-scheduled to post, and hopefully will do so flawlessly. If I get some free time and internet though, I'll surely update with more details. For now, with my king-size time Crunch, I have at least a sentence of commentary when you

Randor's Song of the Week: 12.18.11

"Jump" by Paul Anka from the album Rock Swings. 2005.
    When this gets posted, I'll be on a business trip. The whole December month has been pre-scheduled to post, and hopefully will do so flawlessly. If I get some free time and internet though, I'll surely update with more details. For now, with my king-size time Crunch, I have at least a sentence of commentary when you

Randor's Song of the Week: 12.11.11

"Unkind" by Sloan from the album The Double Cross. 2011.
    When this gets posted, I'll be on a business trip. The whole December month has been pre-scheduled to post, and hopefully will do so flawlessly. If I get some free time and internet though, I'll surely update with more details. For now, with my king-size time Crunch, I have at least a sentence of commentary when you

Randor's Song of the Week: 12.04.11

"Another Day" by Pomplamoose from the album 3 New Songs Woot!. 2010.
    When this gets posted, I'll be on a business trip. The whole December month has been pre-scheduled to post, and hopefully will do so flawlessly. If I get some free time and internet though, I'll surely update with more details. For now, with my king-size time Crunch, I have at least a sentence of commentary when you

Randor's Song of the Week: 11.27.11

"Silently" by Blonde Redhead from the album 23. 2007.
    Commentary will be updated at first chance.

Randor's Song of the Week: 11.20.11

"Rock Bottom Riser" by Smog from the album A River Ain't Too Much to Love. 2005.
    Posting for timeliness, comments to follow later. Get a head start, why dontcha?

Randor's Song of the Week: 11.13.11

"Outsider" by the Daylights from the album The Shift and Blur. 2004.
    Let your ears do the legwork on this one, folks. Just a brief word from me if you

Randor's Song of the Week: 11.06.11

"Electric Boogie" by Marcia Griffiths from the album Electric Boogie. 1976.
    I know exactly what you're thinking. Well, lemme explain:
    Put aside the cheese; put aside the line dance. Put aside that this is likely the most well-known song featured since Jimi Hendrix's take on "All Along the Watchtower" back in March 2009 (before the blog existed!). Maybe you'll subdue your current askance impression of it and hear the carefree charm that originally catapulted it o'er the ramparts of success. If that siege fails, perhaps the unique history of a single released in '76 became popular almost 20 years later can airstrike your interest. If the whole shebang grates annoyingly for you regardless, then er.. I'd still say this fine whine has aged well.

Randor's Song of the Week: 10.30.11

"Whomp-a-saurus Sex" by Mochipet from the album Whomp-a-saurus Sex. 2011.
    I knew all week I wanted to feature a Halloween-y song, just like last year. You're no doubt sick of hearing the same ol' monster mash thriller that tends to pop up come October's end. Just based on the sheer magnitude of Christmas music and its radio-hijacking persistence in society, how come, then, the so-designed antithesis of the holly jolly season carries the musical weight consisting solely of classics on its Bach? (Ouch, forced pun). I've thus compiled a Halloween playlist that steps outside the usual bounds of tired tricks. Some mention of a Halloweeny trait qualifies a song (i.e. monsters and other spooky stuff), but an appropriate atmosphere can also let it past the bouncer. This makes anything from "All You Zombies" to "E.T." fair game in terms of scope. And while it would be fun to post the entire 10+ hour list here, well... that's not the purpose of these columns.
    This weekend I poked through the list and managed to get two worthwhile ditties stuck in my head. One of them now stands in the spotlight before you. The other you keen-eyed readers might have noticed among the TIME top 100 list bombarded by Djandor in her guest post: the 1977 political "Zombie" by Fela Kuti. Both the song and Kuti himself have spurned controversy, which I suggest you read on their respective Wikipedia articles for at least interest's sake. I suppose that's the reason why Mochipet gets the nod instead, though; Halloween has enough flak of its own without 40-year-old political embroilment. Yet, I wanted to second-place it officially for that jazzy, free-flowing style akin to the Return to Forever number I once featured. The societal meanings and undertones adds its own unique study, but again... save it for a heavier post. This one's about electronic dinosaurs.

Randor's Song of the Week: 10.23.11

"Internet Killed the Video Star" by the Limousines from the album Get Sharp. 2010.
    I really hope you see that obvious connection to the Buggles' 1979 New Wave song of the endtimes. If not, you should consider catching up on one-hit wonders of old. Nonetheless. the sheer popularity of "RADIO Killed the VIDEO Star" has no doubt inspired countless rip-offs similar to Limousines song I'm featuring this week. As easy as it would be to google the snowclone "X killed the Y star", the number of people jumping on the phrase is an irrelevant point to my amazement with this song. The Buggles' hit defined an era. "Internet Killed the Video Star" comes closer to any other song I know in achieving that same magnitude.