Sunday, September 30, 2012

Jerry's Pick: "Fitzpleasure"

"FITZPLEASURE"-∆


And now for something completely different.

This alternative track isn't for everyone… but I have to admit that it's thoroughly bizarre and totally buzz worthy.

"Fitzpleasure" is a schizophrenic blend of bass-booming synthesizers, acoustic breaks and unhinged, falsetto, Gregorian-like vocals that seem to be sung in some made-up foreignish language.  But, upon further review, the lyrics are indeed English and a bit disturbing to boot.

Turns out "Fitzpleasure" is basically a literary reference to "Tralala," one of six chapters to the controversial 1964 novel "Last Exit to Brooklyn." In the book, Tralala is a prostitute who makes a living propositioning sailors and stealing their money. In the end, Tralala is gang-raped and culminates with a death by broom. Because Joe Newman's nasally vocals are a bit difficult to decipher, here's a look at the song's lyrics:

"Tralala, in your snatch fits pleasure, broom-shaped pleasure;
Deep greedy and Googling every corner.
Dead in the middle of the C-O-double-M-O-N,
Little did I know then that the Mandela Boys soon became Mandela Men.
Tall woman, pull the pylons down,
And wrap them around the necks of all the feckless men that queue to be next.
Steepled fingers, ring leaders, queue jumpers, rock fist paper scissors, lingered fluffers.
In your hoof lies the heartland
Where we tent for our treasure, pleasure, leisure, les yeux, it's all in your eyes.
In your snatch fits pleasure, broom-shaped pleasure,
Deep greedy and Googling every corner,
Blended by the lights."

By the way, the British foursome goes by the Greek symbol ∆, which in mathematics signifies uncertainty or change.  But instead of "Delta," they prefer to be called "Alt-J" which they claim is how you create ∆ on an Apple keyboard*.

(*Incidentally, on my iMac it's "Option-J…" but ∆ is still most definitely Alt.  Very Alt.)

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Jerry's Pick: "Anything Could Happen"

"ANYTHING COULD HAPPEN"-ELLIE GOULDING

Ellie Goulding burst onto the pop music scene earlier this year with "Lights," and while this folk-synth single is still bouncing around on the US pop charts, the English singer-songwriter didn't waste any time issuing a new track from her next album (Halcyon) which is set to be released in early October.

"Anything Can Happen" is still electro-pop, but a little bit poppier… even danceable.  The track begins almost Laurie Anderson-like with Ellie's stuttered, sampled vocals, then immediately launches into a booming marching backbeat behind her layered, almost trance-like quivering, innocent sounding voice.

Her lyrics seem to lament over a past relationship gone bad, but the overall message is definitely optimistic. The repetitive nature of the lines "Anything can happen" and especially "I know it's gonna be" both build up to an uplifting pay-off… a soaring, catchy chorus of electronic "Ooohs!"

And I love her poetry, especially the lines: "After the war we said we'd fight together; I guess we thought that's just what humans do." And then later: "Baby, I'll give you everything you need; But I don't think I need you."

Ellie explained to MTV News, "I suppose it's one of those songs where I sort of talk about bits of my childhood, but also about my friendship with this person, and, um, I suppose it's a song of realization." She added, "I hope it will provoke positivity, as opposed to make people really sad."

Friday, September 7, 2012

Jerry's Pick: "Breathing Underwater"

"BREATHING UNDERWATER"-METRIC


I've been a fan of Metric -- the Toronto alternative four-piece combo -- since I first heard "Gold Guns Girls" on the Zombieland soundtrack a couple of years ago.  Their fifth album, Synthetica, was released last June and features a track which recently caught my ear.

The song is "Breathing Underwater," an introspective yet inspiring single delivered via the angelic voice of lead crooner (and keyboard cutie) Emily Haines.  Emily handles the words effortlessly with pitch-perfect, flowing vocals… especially when she hits the chorus. Whenever she sings "It's my life," Emily emphasizes that last word with just a little bit of sass, and then her voice is delightfully double-tracked each time she gets to the song's two-word title making it virtually impossible not to sing along.

This uplifting track is layered beautifully with "Streets Have No Name"-styled guitar riffs and Emily's rolling synthetics, all of which are kept in time with Joules Scott-Key's march-like snare.

Although this indie-band has been around since 1998, I feel this is their best effort… so far. Click on the title above to sample the song for yourself. Enjoy!