The Musicologists » Porkchop

Songs To Break Up To – Part One

Porkchop — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 14:52:18 +0000

Heartbreak – who doesn’t identify with it? Even though I’m approaching my thirties and I’m happily married, I still remember all the many times I had my heart smashed to pieces either by a boyfriend, or just by some jerk off I shouldn’t been expecting much from in the first place. Along with every heartache I ever experienced, there was typically a song, or many, that helped me through the pain. Sometimes the songs made me feel better, but more often than not, they just amplified the misery and allowed me to wallow. Those songs got me through some tough times and even now, as a happily married adult, I still hear them and get a little choked up, or angry, or both, thinking about how I felt during that time in my life. So here’s my list, in vaguely chronological order. I’m know I’m forgetting some, so I may have to do a part two at some point.

Bikini Kill – Outta Me

What can I say? I was 14 and I’d had my heart stomped on by someone much too old for me who also had a girlfriend. At that time I was discovering girl rock and was in love with Kathleen Hanna. So angsty! Favorite lyrics: “No, I don’t remember you ever loving me/I think that’s your fucking fantasy/I think you want everything…”

The Cure – Untitled

Of course it’s hard to narrow it down to one favorite Cure “break up” song. I mean who hasn’t just listened to Disintegration on repeat after being dumped? This one really sticks for me and I have a very distinct memory of sitting in my darkened bedroom, chainsmoking, and swearing off love forever. Favorite lyrics: “Feeling the monster/Climb deeper inside of me/Feeling him gnawing my heart away/Hungrily…”

The Smiths – Unhappy Birthday

As with The Cure, it’s difficult to pick one Smiths‘ song. There are many, many Smiths songs I have cried and cursed stupid dudes to but this one is fun because it’s so mean-spirited and bitter. Favorite lyrics: “And if you should die/I may feel slightly sad/(But I won’t cry)…”

Depeche Mode – Shake the Disease

This song has helped me through many angry times. Sometimes when you break up with someone you don’t get the satisfaction of letting them know how much you will not miss them. This song really speaks to that desire, from the very first line, which is also my favorite lyrics: “I’m not going down on my knees/Begging you to adore me…”

The Velvet Underground – Pale Blue Eyes

The number of times I’ve listened to this song and thought of the same person is embarrassing. Fifteen years after the heartbreak I still get a little choked up listening to this. Kind of pathetic. Favorite lyrics: “Thought of you as my mountain top/Thought of you as my peak/Thought of you as everything/I’ve had but couldn’t keep…”

Bob Dylan – Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right

Okay, so this song isn’t particularly sad or angry, but the lyrics are so perfect. I had broken up with someone that I knew wasn’t right for me and I wasn’t really too bummed out about it. This song captured my sentiments exactly. Plus, it’s on the soundtrack of my favorite love story of all time, Dogfight. If you haven’t seen it I order you to rent it immediately. Favorite lyric: “I ain’t sayin’ you treated me unkind/You coulda done better but I don’t mind/You just kinda wasted my precious time/But don’t think twice, it’s all right…”

Cat Stevens – Wild World

If you don’t like old Cat Stevens you might not have a heart. And if this song doesn’t tug on your heartstrings even a little bit, well then I just don’t know. You have problems. Favorite lyrics: “But if you wanna leave, take good care/I hope you make a lot of nice friends out there/But just remember there’s a lot of bad and beware…”

Cat Power – Good Woman

Who hasn’t been with someone who was totally bad for them? And who hasn’t wanted to make it work so hard even though you know you’re both beating a dead horse and you’d be better off without each other? Cat Power certainly has, because that’s what this song is all about. This song is so beautiful and heartfelt my eyes well up every time I hear it! Yes, I am a sap. Sue me. Favorite lyrics: “And this is why I am leaving/And this is why I can’t see you no more/This is why I am lying when I say/That I don’t love you no more…”

Sebadoh – Soul and Fire

This song is so bitter and it really stings. When I was coming out of a really long relationship I felt like this one was being sung about me and it felt terrible. Sadly, I felt like I deserved it. Favorite lyrics: “As you walk away, think of all the joy we shared/If you decide you need me, I’ll be wondering if I care…”

Crooked Fingers – When You Were Mine (Prince cover)

I seriously love all versions of this song, but this my favorite. It twings and twangs itself all over my little heart. I also love, love, love Eric Bachmann’s voice. And who hasn’t completely identified with these lyrics at one time or another? Even when you know your ex is all kinds of bad for you, you can’t help missing them. Favorite lyrics: “When you were mine/You were all I ever wanted to do…”

Yo La Tengo – Damage

There aren’t that many lyrics in this song but they are all about running into your ex after you’ve gotten over the whole ordeal of breaking up, but it still hurts and it’s strange to see them. It’s sort of a long, ethereal song that gives way for lots of sad nostalgia. Favorite lyrics: “I used to think about you all the time/I would think about you all the time/Now it just feels weird, that there you are…”

…that’s all I got for now. I’m interested in hearing what other people like to break up to so please post some comments!

Scout Niblett – It’s Time My Beloved 7″

Porkchop — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 05:16:02 +0000

Scout Niblett – It’s Time My Beloved 7″ (Drag City Records; released April 14th, 2009)

So I finally sat down to write a review of Scout Niblett’s new 7” and I realized that I have little to no experience reviewing music. Yes, I am a big fan of music and I have been buying records and forming opinions about them for the past twenty years or so. But have I ever actually tried to articulate on paper what those opinions are? No, not really. And as far as talking about musicality I don’t really know how qualified I am to do that. I feel like anything beyond saying “the guitars sound like ‘wah-wah’” and “the drums go ‘boom-duh-boom’” is just not possible.

For me music is about a feeling it evokes. I’d rather think about the emotions it can bring out than about how skillfully someone plays their instruments. I enjoy wondering what mindset the artist was in when they wrote the music and the lyrics. I suppose I’ll just stick to that when trying to review something.

I like Scout. I think she has a great voice and I think she rocks the guitar. I also really like that she seems so scrappy and weird. I went to see her once a few years ago when she opened for M. Ward and I saw her wandering around through the crowd before the show. Most people there that night were M. Ward fans so no one seemed to recognize her. She just stood around in this ugly wig, smoking cigarettes, being mousy. I thought it was pretty cool.

That all being said I like her latest release. It’s only two songs, but they are what I’ve come to enjoy about her music. The first track It’s Time is definitely the better of the two. She sings “See joy, hope, wishes and dreams, snuck out the back door, I didn’t see them leave” as the guitar and bass slowly build behind her voice. “My little bluebird, come land on my shoulder. Cuz I need help getting joy, hope, wishes and dreams to come back over” as the drums sneak in. The song fades out as eerily as it came in.

I found My Beloved to not be as satisfying. It’s kind of slow and heavy but not bad. Like most of Scout’s music, the songs are very moody. They kind of creep up on you, grab you, and take you on a spooky little journey through Scout’s world. It’s good stuff and I’m looking forward to the next full length album.

Antony and the Johnsons @ Nob Hill Masonic Auditorium – February 24, 2009

Porkchop — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 04:44:57 +0000

Antony & The Johnsons

with William Basinski

Nob Hill Masonic Auditorium, San Francisco, CA; February 24th, 2009

You know how I know I’m getting old? Because now when I go to shows I get really excited if it’s a seated event. I also, for the last couple of years, will show up extra early at certain venues that have limited seating so that I can claim my seat and sit my lazy ass down before the show even starts. So when I heard a while back that Antony and the Johnsons would be coming to SF for the Noise Pop Festival I was happy to hear they were playing at the Nob Hill Masonic Auditorium. Not only had I never been to a show there, but we got pretty decent seats in the balcony.

The first time I ever listened to Cripple and the Starfish I actually cried because it was so heartbreaking. Ever since I have been a huge fan and couldn’t wait to see them live. Opening for the band was William Basinski who Antony explained to the audience was a major influence to him when he was growing up. Basinski’s music was more of an ethereal soundscape playing in the background while the crowd got settled in their seats. He was making music using a laptop and two strange devices that I could not identify. The audience asked him to explain what he was using at the end of his set but he did not.

Antony and his band quietly took stage; he sat down at his piano and instantly commanded the attention of the audience with the beautiful intensity of his voice. The first half of the set consisted mostly of new material. I had listened to the new album The Crying Light a few times before that night, but hearing it live in a space with such great sound brought it completely alive. I think Antony has a voice that you either completely love or you completely hate. I happen to love it and got completely lost in it during every song. About half way through the set he began to sing a song that I vaguely recognized. After a few seconds I realized it was Beyonce’s Crazy In Love. I had seen a performance of this on YouTube, but the rendition he played at this show was way more haunting and lovely. I searched around on YouTube and found a video of him covering the song at another show in Toronto.

A few times throughout the show Antony chatted with the audience. He was very charming and witty. I think I would actually pay to just sit and listen to him talk and tell stories because he’s so adorable. At one point he told the crowd how much he hates it when audience members shout out song requests, saying it reminded him of children begging for candy. Just after his remark he went on to play what I imagine are crowd favorites. He also performed a two song encore that ended the night on a perfect note. I thought it was an incredible show. If you get the opportunity to see Antony and the Johnsons live do go see them, you will not be disappointed.

Setlist:

Where is my Power?
Her Eyes Are Underneath the Ground
Epilepsy Is Dancing
One Dove
For Today I Am a Boy
Kiss My Name
Everglade
Another World
Shake that Devil
Crazy in Love (Beyoncé cover)
Fistful of Love
You Are My Sister
Aeon
Encore:
Cripple and the Starfish
Hope There’s Someone