We hope that everyone’s holiday weekend is going swimmingly, and that you’re enjoying your time with family, friends, food and fun. Continuing with that alliteration, we have two identically named songs from two pretty disparate bands – “Fireworks” by Animal Collective and The Tragically Hip. And while I enjoy both songs pretty equally, I will have to put my personal weight behind The Hip’s track, if only because it’s been around longer, and has soundtracked a few more of my Fourth of Julys.
Stay safe today whatever you’re doing. Get out and enjoy the summer weather if it’s nice where you are. Watch some baseball, have a hot dog, go see a parade. And wash all of them down with good beer.
The Tragically Hip – Fireworks (mp3) from Phantom Power
Animal Collective – Fireworks (mp3) from Strawberry Jam
Written on
September 8, 2009 by
Andy in
Music
Welcome to the unofficial start of fall. My hours at work are extended by an hour starting today, so I’ll use that as a reason to keep the introduction to the latest installment of my 1000 Minutes project short. Let’s get into it:
61. The Tragically Hip – Escape Is At Hand For The Travellin’ Man (mp3) from Phantom Power (4:23) [Time Remaining: 700:21]
Now sixty songs in, I’m going to repeat a couple of my favorite bands – starting with the grossly under-appreciated Tragically Hip. Perhaps it’s that this album came out over a decade ago now, during my late teens when my world was much less in order that the music remains so intriguing to me. Musically haunting and lyrically vague, “Escape Is At Hand for the Travellin’ Man” tells the story of a missed connection – a cosmic “What if?” Eleven years later, the song’s taken on new meanings – not ones that are nearly so sad, but ultimately hopeful, thankful. And aren’t those songs – the ones that grow with us – the best ones anyway?
62. The Black Keys – Meet Me In the City (mp3) from the Chulahoma EP (3:38) [Time Remaining: 696:43]
As a recent convert to The Black Keys, I’ve been making my way through their back catalogue since discovering them with last year’s Attack & Release. Their Chulahoma EP – a collection of 6 Junior Kimbrough covers – is simply spectacular. It showcases the band’s blues influence in a different form than the straight-ahead rock that they most often employ. “Meet Me In the City” is a song that hearkens back to something simpler while The Black Keys make it undoubtedly modern in their take on it. It’s easy, comfortable – a testament to the song’s creator that it is still as fresh today as it would have been to the song’s intended target.
Written on
February 25, 2009 by
Andy in
Music
I’m tired this morning, so I have an Extra Large Coffee from Dunkin’ Donuts in front of me. (I think that the phrase “Extra Large Coffee” requires capitalization)
Dave and I are busy re-hashing our interview with Blitzen Trapper and their show from last night, so look for that either tomorrow or Friday depending on how quickly we can work on it. In the meantime, here are the next two tracks in my 1000 Minutes project:
3. The Tragically Hip – Bobcaygeon (mp3) from Phantom Power (4:55) [Time Remaining: 988:27]
When Phantom Power came out in 1998, The Tragically Hip were at the pinnacle of their popularity with me. Just about six months earlier, I had gotten my hands on a copy of their album Live Between Us, and fell head over heels for the group. I wore Phantom Power out, and saw them live twice that year, which I still would recommend to anyone who has the opportunity. It’s an experience.
“Bobcaygeon” is my favorite from an album I would still be able to sing along with every word. The song is comfortable and well-worn, even if you’re hearing it for the first time. Take it out for a drive and you’ll see.
4. Van Morrison – Sweet Thing (mp3) from Astral Weeks (4:25) [Time Remaining: 984:02] (removed by request)
Astral Weeks will at some point be written about for an Essential Album. Everything on that whole album sounds fresh whenever I hear it. “Sweet Thing” is a mix-tape staple of mine when I am forcing people to listen to good music, or when I’m trying to woo you. (Ask my girlfriend. I bet it’s on the first or second mix I made for her.) I forced this song on my brother, who plays it when he’s making his coffeehouse rounds. And it’s just so damn beautiful.
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