Monday, July 26, 2010

Halfway Point 2010: 31-35

So it's the first full week after the Arcade Fire album leaked. Do you feel different?

This week, we're starting to get into a bunch of songs I've blogged about previously. This leads to conflicting emotions in me.

On the one hand, I know there's no way you want me to write even more about these songs ... so I won't.

On the other hand, I also assume you'll want an invitation to go back and review the brilliant things I wrote about these songs the first time around. So there are links.

31. Wolf Parade – “Little Golden Age”

We've been talking about the value and place of lyrics on Strong's Facebook page, and the consensus over there is that some songwriters are trying too hard to be abstract poets. I guess my counterpoint would be that this song, right here, is, for me, the perfect lyrical description of my college experience. The line "This place was the machine that put the iron in your heart" is wonderfully profound and meaningless at the same time.

You lived in a place long, long ago
Where nothing moved and time went slow
And someone sang about a Golden Age
In Cenetaph Park, drinking in the dark
This place was the machine that put the iron in your heart

So we hung around and we hung around
and we hung around for days
In the parking lot stoned, stars shone out of phase
And the rain came down, cassettes wore out, Oh No!
Then you left town feeling pretty down
With your headphones and your coat and
your dirty graduation gown you were
In the bedroom singing radio songs
Sing them loud
Sing them all night, Emily
You need something to help you along
Freeze, freeze, freeze Little Golden Age

I don’t miss my Little Golden Age
‘Cause the body takes the heart, takes the heart
around from place to place
And this place still stands, this place remains unchanged
And you can’t go back
Oh, who would want to anyway

32. Gorillaz – “Superfast Jellyfish”

Previously discussed here.

33. Teenage Fanclub – “Baby Lee”

Previously discussed here.

34. Caribou – “Odessa”

Previously discussed here.

35. Big Boi – "Shutterbugg"

Every year, my highest-ranking hip hop song shows up later in the countdown. I am probably getting older and whiter.

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