NamelessJude182
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I tend to not want to agree with Jesse Lacey, but it's a known fact throughout the world (Well, the world that knows me...) that I am an acousticwhore.
It's a medical condition...I've been prescribed medication, but I chuck it down the toilet when no one's looking.
I just listen to these alternate versions of songs and find myself transfixed at how the meaning, the mood, the everything of a song.
One of my favorite examples of this is the Cold War Kids' song "We Used to Vacation." Funny, I happen to have a zipped folder of both songs, so that the class can make their own judgements. [hxxp://www.sendspace.com/file/s8new4]
[change the xx->tt]
First of all, I adore the Cold War Kids. Nathan Willett's voice has that indie "I'm not actually going to sing and yet sound superfantastic" thing that sucks you in. Plus there's this homemade quality about them that I am slightly obsessed with. But that's beside the point I'm trying to make. Pay attention.
In the original version, Nathan (I will refer to him as Nathan, because it makes me feel cool to think we're on a first name basis) has this slickness about him. He sings about making these promises of sobriety and as the words seem to drip out of him, you can almost feel the lies, the betrayal. You can see the gin and tonics being tossed back at the shithole bar that's about five seconds and two barfights away from collapsing. With this version I can't help but imagine him at this same bar, stumbling around the stage doing drunken karaoke with this band of crazy old men. [For the record, I don't have the actual ages of any of the guys in this band, but none of them look a day over 25.) It's beer soaked and tragic, but in a tongue-and-cheek sort of way. The last minute of the song almost seems to serve as a revelry of sorts. Celebrating their journey falling from grace.
The acoustic version feels lightyears away to me. Nathan cleans up the vocals. That slimy, slippery feel is gone, replaced with a cleaner, more forlorn sound. There are no fancy bells and whistles, pianos and parties to hind behind in this version--just this tale of hope and misery. He sings as if he's trying to convince himself that "things could be much worse"...but his voice, muffled and strained, emotes anything but hope. And I find myself there with him, wishing, hoping, praying that this will in fact, all blow over in time...but knowing, full well that it won't, and we will all once again seek solace in a glass.
So, now most people would ask the question: Well, which one is better?
And I answer you with....well, I don't know. And I would continue that I don't find this question valid or fair. Yes, this is a single piece of art portrayed in vastly different ways. It's like trying to compare Realist and Cubist paintings of a bowl of fruit done by the same artist. Yes, the average person will prefer one over the other, but can you really say that one is "better" than the other? On what grounds do you make this assumption? Well, I'm me...and I find that in the case of the original versus the acoustic of this particular song...I really cannot make up my mind. It varies day to day, mood to mood.
Honestly, I applaud both, for being fantastic pieces of art, for really, when we break it down, the only functionality of music (aside from accompanying iPod and FreeCreditReport.com commercials) is to inspire...something, anything. Images, emotions, actions. Both versions of this accomplish this, and then some.
[lyrics, for easy reference.]
I kissed the kids at noon
then stumbled out the room
I caught a cab
ran up a tab
on 7th and flower
best recital I had to ruin
missed my son's graduation
punched the Nickles boy
for taking his seat
gets all that anger from me
still things could be much worse
natural disasters on the evening news
still things could be much worse
we still got our health
my paycheck in the mail
I promised to my wife and children
I'd never touch another drink
as long as I live
but even then
it sounds so soothing
this will blow over in time
this will all blow over in time
I'm just an honest man
provide for me and mine
I give a check to tax deductable
charity organizations
two weks paid vacation won't heal the damage done
I need another one
still things could be much worse
natural disasters on the evening news
still things could be much worse
we still got our health
my paycheck in the mail
I promised to my wife and children
I'd never touch another drink
as long as I live
but even then
it sounds so soothing
to mix a drink
and sink into oblivion
I promised to my wife and children
that accident
left everyone a little shook up
but at the meetings
I felt so empty
this will blow over in time
this will all blow over in time
in the acoustic version [correct me if I'm wrong] but it sounds as if he changes "Drink" to "gin".
So, in my downloading obsession with Radiohead, I've come across several of these "string tribute albums." I know lots of other really random bands (hello, Simple Plan) have had their albums put through these silly "string machines," but to be honest, as easy as it is to make fun of these albums, I have a shady love for them.
But this is based solely on the fact that they are interpreting Radiohead....and that there's really no black and white, one simple way to go about it. Due to the complexity of Radiohead's genius, it has to be complicated to try and put every instrument, every sound effect, every waver in Thom's voice shoved into a cello solo. So, in listening to these albums, it makes me appreciate the real thing so much more...not because these are wasted efforts, but because it helps to place perspective on such strange endevors.
But if this sounds like your cup of tea, try True Love Waits or Hold Me To This, both by Christopher O'Riley. These are actually piano tributes, and are the most unique breakdown of Radiohead's work I've heard since...well, Radiohead.
Anyway. I was feeling nerdy and thought I would write a bit. But, I'm out for now. Deuces.
I had just kinda forgotten this thing existed.
but no longer!
[I need new ways of killing time over the interweb. So sue me.]
Let's see...where am I at musically?
Last winter, I was definitely influenced by a guy I dated and kinda went down a dark, moody, artsy path musically...which is so strange, considering I had always been this pop punk chipper pogoing rockstar. And well..while I may have moved on from him and a lot of this music, well...he made me realize how ridiculously amazing Radiohead really is, and gave a few new ways to look at the music we listen to.
A Winter Mix:hxxp://www.sendspace.com/file/pl72yw
Spring happened...and well, this was the beginning of things really changing for me. I was learning to deal with the depression and everything that had happened in October. [Ya know, the suicide attempts, basically getting kicked out of school, yadda yadda yadda] and well...the boy and I broke up over shady circumstances, and stopped speaking. I found solace in a few old friends, and a few old music habits. I was definitely in a music rut until I stumbled upon an album that really did change my life: Silverchair's newest album Young Modern.
If you haven't heard it, go out, buy it now. Tell them Burgy sent you. It won't get you a discount or anything, but tell them anyway. they'll appreciate it.
A spring mix (which is really just Silverchair):hxxp://www.sendspace.com/file/mmzpvg
Somewhere between spring and summer...I kinda relapsed on responsibility for an evening and paid dearly for it when I got fired from Starbucks. It was honestly for the best, mostly for my mental state of being. It was hard to work there, knowing everything that had happened. It was the last link between my old life and the new life I was trying to build. So...while it sucked, I survived.
Summer happened, randomly out of nowhere. And then all of a sudden...I had a new job working at Old Navy, a new set of friends I saw on the daily, and well..another semi-life changing album dropped. It sounds super scene, but Panic at the Disco's new album is one of the most groundbreaking albums I've heard this year...in the way that it's a total throwback to the beginnings of modern rock music. Yeah, blah blah blah, they wanna be the Beatles...fuck you. No one can BE the Beatles. I think honestly that more bands should take this approach...get rid of ridiculous production procedures and get back to our roots of the past 50 years.
A Summer Mix: hxxp://www.sendspace.com/file/rxslzn
Now, I'm enrolled in a school more suited for me (UMSL, which is also hella cheaper), I have a job I actually enjoy (yeah, Hot Topic is super cliche and shit, but I don't particularly care), and a small group of friends that are almost completely drama free. I've taken some major steps in removing stress from my life and getting my shit under control. I never did end up going to therapy or getting put on happy pills or ECT or whatever else everyone seemed to want from me, but honestly, I wouldn't change my path to get here. I still have my minor freak outs, but everyone does. I've also worked really hard to fix my relationship with my brother, and to sever the relationship with Bob. My biggest focus in life is to remove the ridiculous unneeded negative energy that so many people thrive on. I'm volunteering for Obama's campaign here in Missouri, so next event around and about the StL, look for a sassy little black and redheaded rocker running around.
I'm more focused than ever on getting what I want out of life...I'm going back to school for writing and journalism, in hopes of getting a job doing exactly what I love to do: writing about music. So I will be investing in this tool more often, promise. I know this post was mostly personal and not really music related, but I needed to catch up the world, and well...I don't know. I mean, I'm me. A close friend of mine told me once that I let my music define me. I'm not particularly sure this is true. I think I define my music. It's all in the messages that we search for.
So...I hope you find inspiring messages in this post, and ones to come. [And I promise not to be this hokey all the fucking time.]
-burgs.
[x->t]
Comments
it's too bad the links to the mixes don't work but this is such a genius idea! it's amazing how much happens and unfolds in your life and when you feel down in a rut you think it's going to last like that forever but it doesn't. change comes and it sounds like you're focused and clear-headed and know what you want outta life. i know i don't know you but it was pretty inspiring to read it all and watch it all unfold here. good luck. peace out!
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Comments
I always thought he said gin in the normal version, but I haven't heard the acoustic version yet.