My iPod #175: David Bowie - Changes

"Changes" is one of David Bowie's most recognisable tunes. It is the opener to his 1971 album "Hunky Dory".

The first time I heard the song was when it appeared in "Shrek 2", but it was not in its original form. That version was a cover sung by Butterfly Boucher.... with Mr. Bowie featuring on vocals too.

There is not much I can say about it. I do like it obviously, but I feel as if I cannot go into much depth as to why I do. Mostly because I really listened to Bowie's original version earlier this year. I will just say it's the subject matter. Songs about time and aging really get to me for some reason.

My iPod #174: Beastie Boys - Ch-Check It Out

"To the 5 Boroughs" was the Beastie Boys' long awaited release after a six year wait from 1998's "Hello Nasty". "Ch-Check It Out" was the first single to be released from it, and is probably the song that introduced me to the group.

There is nothing better than three old guys who could rap very well and act silly in their video when you are nine years old, and I watched it over and over again on the Windows Media Player. After a few more listens, and a look at its lyrics I was able to memorise the whole song. Something I can, just about, still do to this very day.

Very sad that we may never hear new material by the group due to the passing of "MCA" Adam Yauch, and if there unexpectedly is it definitely wouldn't be the same.

My iPod #173: They Might Be Giants - Certain People I Could Name

Today has been very unproductive. Had my breakfast about one, a shower at four.... apart from that I have just stayed in bed. All this because I was out last night for a very special event which I can barely remember going to now. What a shame.

That also meant I was could not type up my daily post. But it is all fine now, I am putting up another one later on.

It's They Might Be Giants again, this time with the song "Certain People I Could Name" from their 1999 album "Long Tall Weekend", the first full-length album to be released exclusively on the Internet if you didn't know.

It was originally recorded for the previous album "Factory Showroom" but was left out.

The band's website states this about the track: "A piano driven song with subtle charm from the Factory Showroom era. Don't really know how this got put aside, but I suspect it was probably more due to its mid-tempo than its high quality."

I cannot really add much to that. Listen for yourselves. :D

My iPod #172: They Might Be Giants - Celebration

Here is another celebration. This time by They Might Be Giants, for about the fourth time already in the 'C' series. The fun never ends.

"Celebration" is a Flansburgh penned 'They' song, and is an observational commentary of a night out in a club but filled with imagery and vocabulary use that only the two Johns could ever think of. That's about all there is to it, really. I make it sound very tame, but the disco beat of that chorus, Flansburgh's vocal manipulation and the catchy 'oh-oh-ohs' are only a few of things that make the tune one of the most enjoyable from "Join Us".

Listen out for a Phil Collins drum fill that occurs near the end.

My iPod #171: Kanye West - Celebration

While we all wonder on what Kanye was thinking when he was about to shoot the video for "Bound 2", it seems quite fitting that today's song is one of his most underrated from arguably his second best album.

"Celebration" from "Late Registration" is a track where Mr. West actually sounds like he is having fun, and not trying to prove a point about how awesome he is, or how people should gaze and bow at his presence whenever he walks into a room. He may not rap about that last part explicitly, but he might as well do.

No, "Celebration" is a good ol' mid-noughties hip-hop track about appreciating the good times we share with one another. It actually shows us that Kanye could be funny too; the line where he tells his 'child' that he was a mistake because he didn't use protection, but then saves it by calling it his 'favourite accident'? That's priceless.

My iPod #170: Supergrass - Caught by the Fuzz

Supergrass' first official single as a band. Sounding like it was recorded in a few minutes in cramped and compact room, "Caught by the Fuzz" is an autobiographical account of lead singer Gaz Coombe's first time of being arrested by the police when he was only 15.

The song is very quick. Quite punk-esque, with a semi-talking verse and a belter of a chorus which all end with the word 'tonight'. Well, it's not really a chorus. But if you listen to it, you will understand what I mean.

The film "Hot Fuzz" has this track playing during the credits, so if you wanted to know what that song was called.... here it is.

It is the second song on the band's first album "I Should Coco", a bit of Cockney rhyming slang for those of you who aren't familiar.

My iPod #169: Pavement - Carrot Rope

This song has been in the back of my mind since I started "My iPod". Ever since I started from 'A', the thought of doing the article for this track has been stirring in the brain. It is one of my favourites, by my other most liked band apart from They Might Be Giants. I could chat so much rubbish about it. This may be a long post.

I can remember watching the video for the first time like it was yesterday. But it was in June 2010, when my sister was preparing to come back from her first year of university. I could not be bothered to join my mum on the ride there; she went with my aunt instead. But I went onto YouTube to watch some Pavement videos, and I realised that I had never heard any other singles by the band that weren't "Cut Your Hair", "Shady Lane" and "Stereo". "Carrot Rope" appeared on the side, I clicked on it and the rest is history.

The video begins with a shot of the band in bright yellow raincoats, and then skips to the band dancing along to the song in front of blue tarpaulin. That is the whole video. But it is so enjoyable to watch them goofing off.

When watching it for the first time, I got the idea that this must have been their last single before they broke up in 1999. That is not just because Stephen Malkmus is joined by, not only Spiral Stairs, but the bassist Mark Ibold on vocals in the first verse, but the sound of the song itself gave off a real 'we've been Pavement, it has been fun' feeling. It is very heartwarming.

What is the song about? No one knows. The lyrics are quite surreal and confusing at times, but it is not to think over them so much.

"Carrot Rope" is the last song on the band's last album "Terror Twilight".

Jamie.

My iPod #168: The Futureheads - Carnival Kids

There is an official music video for this song somewhere. It's just not on the internet. I remember watching it on the television too. That's a shame.

"Carnival Kids" is a track on The Futureheads' debut album and is sung by rhythm/lead guitarist Ross Millard. It is fast-paced with a lot of vocal harmonies occurring during the verses and sudden stops and starts which make the song very hard to keep up with sometimes.

That's all fine though. It is the sheer force that all of this is delivered to your eardrums that make the song so infectious and sharp. Plus it has a coda that you will eventually find yourself singing randomly. It is one of those songs that you should really make most of the time of when listening to it, because it is finished before you know it.

Jamie.

My iPod #167: The Zombies - Care for Cell 44

When I should have been revising for my A2 exams, I found myself listening to random albums on Spotify. "Odessey and Oracle" was an album I stumbled across thanks to this site, and "Care for Cell 44" is the song that starts everything off.

"Care..." is one of the happiest songs I have ever listened to in my eighteen and a bit years of living. Following on from the dainty piano that plays in the opening seconds is an upbeat, bouncy rhythm helped along by a melodic bass-line and almost child-like vocals of Colin Blunstone.

For a band named "The Zombies" I was expecting their sound to be a lot more 'noisy', to put it in a weird way. But I was pleasantly surprised to hear such an uplifting track, especially one to begin such an enjoyable album.

Jamie.

My iPod #166: They Might Be Giants - The Cap'm

"The Cap'm" is the second most popular They Might Be Giants song from "The Else" according to TMBW, coming in at #40 on the overall song rating chart. Why is this? Well, I can't speak for all of the fans who rated it. What I can tell you is why I like it though. That is probably what you expect, as that is what I have done for every song on my iPod since February.

What is probably the most interesting aspect of the song is the incongruous relationship between the lyrics and everything about the music. The music itself sounds very uplifting, from the chord progressions to the vocals. But the lyrics are from the point of view of a pretentious and egoistic narrator. Almost like "And Your Bird Can Sing" by The Beatles.... That's another song I like. Maybe, more bands should go with that formula, because the two songs I know of that use it have done no wrong.

Jamie.

My iPod #165: They Might Be Giants - Canajoharie

"Canajoharie" was one of the first songs from "Join Us" to be performed live by the band. The first time being in September 2010, months before the album was actually released.

This performance at the Kennedy Center in Washington was the first time I'd ever heard the song. Not because I was there, but because it was the first option that came up when I searched "They Might Be Giants - Canajoharie" on YouTube. Thinking about it now, I remember not being to overwhelmed by it. The verses were carried along by a steady boom-boom-clap back-beat and Linnell started blaring out the song title in the chorus. But back then, the lyrics had still not been deciphered yet. So I didn't know what else to make of the song.

That all changed when the album actually came out in 2011. I was on holiday in the US after finishing my GCSEs, and listened to the album in full. There was just something about the studio version of "Canajoharie" that made me like it a lot more. Now I could understand what Linnell was singing about, and everything just sounded a lot tighter. "Canajoharie" is a real place too, which surprised me a bit. The band have a tendency to sing about weird things so I just thought it would be a made up word. It's not.

Jamie.

My iPod #164: Red Hot Chili Peppers - Can't Stop

I used to always become bored before the song started when I saw the video on Kerrang! After seconds of wondering and waiting to see what would be at the end of the yellow tube, just to see Anthony's face was very disappointing. I would change the channel just as the guitar began to play.

That changed when I finally gave in and decided to watch what followed. A lot of random, surrealistic events occur. Flea plays the bass whilst wearing a fake hippo head, Chad balances a huge container on his finger. It's all very fascinating. Watch it for yourselves.

"Can't Stop" was the third single from "By the Way". The combination of the funky, rap driven verses, reminiscent of the band's earlier work, and the melodic, sweet choruses which the band had been focusing on for their more recent albums of that time established the song as a favourite for many of their dedicated fans. Including me. I truly enjoy this song too.

Jamie

My iPod #163: The Libertines - Can't Stand Me Now

A "hate you but I love you" type of song at its very finest.

Pete Doherty and Carl Barât were not getting along with one another as they did in the years before 2004. Pete was doing drugs, Carl did not like it, they argued and the band split up later.

But what better way to express their feelings to one another than through song? With memorable call and response verses, the two lead vocalists express their feelings to each other. No metaphors or other literary devices are used which may try to place ambiguity on any lines... it's just pure emotion. Not like soppy emotion. But the truth. Straight from the heart.

The song is the lead track from the band's last album. It almost got to number one in the charts. It peaked at number two. It got beaten by this.

Jamie.

My iPod #162: The Offspring - Can't Repeat

The Offspring, again? Okay...

"Can't Repeat" was the new song recorded for the band's compilation released in 2005. The days were counting down to the end of my final year of primary school, and this song hit me hard during that time. Lots of references about time, and getting older and looking onwards to tomorrow did not help. I didn't want to go to secondary school.... but I had to. So this taught me to make the most of every minute of the present, something I still try and live by to this day.

The video also played on MTV2 a lot. It's a simple one. No concept. Just the band performing in a dimly lit room, which is fine. More videos should be like that, we never just see a performance video anymore. There is an alternate version of the video with actors looking at photographs and reflecting on memories. But I prefer the one above.

Jamie.

My iPod #161: They Might Be Giants - Can't Keep Johnny Down

Last post for today.

It was my sixteenth birthday when the details of They Might Be Giants' forthcoming fifteenth album "Join Us" were released to the public on Pitchfork. I was so excited. A new They Might Be Giants album? What could be better? Only a link to the brand new single!

Yes, "Can't Keep Johnny Down" was probably the first song in full that They Might Be Giants fans heard from "Join Us". The band had been releasing 'teaser' videos of work in the studio, but this was the the moment that they had all been waiting for in 2011.

Although it did take a few listens for me to get into the swing of things, "Can't Keep Johnny Down" was an appropriate choice of song for people to hear. Some may have been worried how the band would sound after they had released children's albums in 2008 and 2009 with "The Else" being their last 'adult' album in 2007. This song proved that there was no need to be worried at all.

I did assume that it was autobiographical, probably just because it has the name "Johnny" in the title. As in "Johnny" Linnell or "Johnny" Flansburgh. But that was until they said that it was from the point of view of an 'asshole'. Those are Linnell's words, not mine.

The band then commenced the biggest fan contest to have ever existed. That was to create their own video for the song, and whoever won it received a cash prize. The winner was the entry above.

Jamie.

My iPod #160: Supergrass - Can't Get Up

Sorry there was no post yesterday. I was out. But the place I went to was not very lively; there was no atmosphere. It was kind of a waste of time.

This is the first post out of two to make up for it.

My cousin bought me "Life on Other Planets" for my fourteenth birthday. I had been a fan of Supergrass for about three years at that time, and already owned "In It for the Money" and the self titled album. My new found liking for the song "Grace" also played a large role in me wanting the album.

When the chorus for "Can't Get Up" started, I found myself humming along to the melody even though I'd never really heard the full thing before. I was pretty sure that it was in advert that was on the television a long time ago. I have no recollection of what that advert is, but somehow the song managed to stay in my head.

I was also left unsure as to who the lead vocalist of the song was. For a while I did think it was bassist Mick Quinn, who sings lead on "Sometimes I Make You Sad" and "Beautiful People", but it is Gaz Coombes if you can tell the differences between their voices.

For me, this definitely could have been a single. But what do I know, I am not even a proper critic.

Jamie.

My iPod #159: The Offspring - (Can't Get My) Head Around You

There's not much I can say about "Head Around You". I remember trying to watch the video on Windows Media Player from the band's official website circa 2004. It was in terrible quality, which made the multi-camera concept much worse.

It's a short but sharp song - only two and a bit minutes long - but it always feels a lot longer when I listen to it. I don't know what it is about it that makes me feel that way. It's probably the riff, it virtually plays throughout the whole thing bar two times. It is a simple punk rock song, that's what it is.

I do also like the wah-wah effect during the instrumental break, that gets a special mention.

The song was released as the second single from the band's 2003 album "Splinter".

Jamie.

My iPod #158: The Beatles - Can't Buy Me Love

Another wonderful vocal performance by Paul McCartney. Sings it right from the gut. It was almost ear-piercing when I was always messing up the audio in Audacity and amplifying their tracks to ridiculous levels. I used to like my music very loud; I know now why audiophiles exist.

The first time I heard the song, The Beatles weren't singing it. It was a cover version that played in a Simpsons episode. From what I recall Bart and Lisa volunteer to work at the Retirement Castle and they persuade the old folk to have fun outside or whatever, which leads to a montage very similar to the original video by The Beatles which you can see above all of this.

That occurred when I was a child. I didn't see "A Hard Day's Night" until I was fourteen, so that whole montage was something that I thought was silly and comedic, rather than a parody.

"Can't Buy Me Love" is a joyful and bouncy song written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, but mostly by the latter. You cannot listen to this song and feel sad at the same time. When Paul sings money can't buy him love, he sings it like he believes it. You want to believe him when he sings it too. This is all very cliché, but it is true. Money's bad. Love is good. Money does help a bit.... but compared to love it's nothing. Love is all you need.

Jamie.

My iPod #157: Jamie T - Calm Down Dearest

Where are you Jamie T... Give us something new.

"Calm Down Dearest" was his third single and was released a week before Jamie T's debut album "Panic Prevention" dropped in early 2007.

The song describes the antics one gets up to on a night out, and details the advantages and disadvantages of getting wasted.

The video has nothing to do with the song's lyrics, as we see some paranormal activity taking place at Jamie's home. It's very funny. It's a good tune too. Listen to the album version all the way through, as we also get to hear Jamie's resentment of "fuckin' cunts doin' wheelies on bikes".

Jamie

My iPod #156: The Strokes - Call It Fate, Call It Karma

It's quite late, but what the hell.

"Comedown Machine" was The Strokes 'comeback' album released earlier this year in March. "One Way Trigger" was the first song to be released to the world to be given the reception of "Why the fuck is Julian singing so high?" and "Am I listening to "Take on Me" by A-ha, what's going on?" Then most people were very excited when "All the Time" was revealed as the first official single. A lot of talk on how the band had 'returned to form' erupted; a lot of people dismissed it as boring.

Then the album was actually released and received very mixed reviews. Though it was unfairly judged in comparison to "Is This It" and on how the band just didn't sound the same anymore. In an earlier post I merely dismissed it as an "Angles Part II", but I haven't even listened to that album in full anyway, so I didn't know what I was talking about.

That was when I had just heard the album when it was available on Pitchfork. After multiple listens I finally came to the conclusion that it is not as bad/disappointing as reviews made it out to be. Sure it's different, this song clearly shows one of the reasons why, but I see that it is wrong to assume that a band's sound will always stay the same. You've got to change things up a bit. Look at Arctic Monkeys. Look at Alex Turner! That's just the way it is; things will never be the same.

"Call It Fate..." is the last song on the album and is one that I did not like for quite some time. It's like the soundtrack to a silent 50s film. It did take a while for me to understand whether Julian was singing, or what instruments were being played. The falsetto was a bit too much too.

It's one of my favourites from it though. It's so mellow and quiet. Close your eyes as you sail away on a tropical breeze during the chorus and then be scared as your boat drifts the wrong way and you end up surrounded by a menacing jungle when the coda begins and Julian starts wailing "I neeeeeded someoonnnnnnne...." It's very creepy, and unnerving. It ends the album on quite a menacing note.

Jamie.

My iPod #155: Red Hot Chili Peppers - Californication

The title track from the band's seventh album in 1999. It is a very serious and observational song, detailing the 'dark side of Hollywood and the export of culture through the movie industry' according to Wikipedia. Its minor key does not make things sound better either. Especially when the Frusciante's guitar and Flea's bass play off one another in the breaks between the verses and the chorus. It sounds very lonely and bare.

With that being said, have you seen the video for this track? It is so amazing. The first time I saw it I did not take in the message of the song at all because I was so immersed in the animation. I want a game like this. I want to play as a Chili Pepper and swim through seas, fall through the earth and watch the world pass me by on a giant dragonfly. One can only dream.

Of course it may not seem as cool now, but I imagine that when the video first came out a lot of people were impressed. Kudos to Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris, who have directed many other videos by the band.

Bye.

Jamie.

P.S. Check out my radio show! I hosted a new one today.

My iPod #154: Interpol - C'mere

For a long time I was unsure on how to pronounce this song's name. I once thought it was the letter 'C' and then the word 'mere' which I knew didn't make any sense. I thought it was a french term or something. That was until my sister told me that it's simply "C'mere" as in "come here".

Hi everyone. My iPod is back. For the third series. The Cs. It's going to be a bumpy ride. But don't be scared. Join me on this journey.

I believe this is the first Interpol song that I have "reviewed", so let me just give you some details on how I started listening to them. You can find out about them for yourselves.

MTV2. That's about it. I was nine/ten, and "Slow Hands" was playing. I had never heard anything like it before. Not just because it was the first time I had heard an Interpol song, but it sounded so mysterious and conveyed quite an eerie atmosphere. I would go on about how much I like it, but this is the post for "C'mere"; let's talk about that.

"C'mere" was the last single to be released from Interpol's second album "Antics" in 2004. I've never actually listened to the in full which is probably a major boo-boo, but I've always had the opinion that I never really have to because I already like the singles released from it. I'm digressing again.

"C'mere" is from the perspective of a man who has feelings for a girl already in a relationship, and basically figuring out how to get her for himself (Hence the term, 'c'mere'). It's a great track. In comparison to those like "Slow Hands" and "Evil" which are quite haunting, "C'mere" is one that you can just casually listen to, courtesy of Carlos Dengler's wandering bass line and Paul Banks' relaxing vocals.

Listen to it.

Jamie.

POTENTIAL COMEBACK.

Oh, bloody hell. It feels good to see this again.

Hi everybody! It's me. I'm back. I hope you're all doing well. I didn't forget about my blog.

The last time I wrote I had just moved into my new home of Coventry to start university. It's been really great. My flatmates are cool dudes, I've met a lot of nice people, my course is going well so far. I've started drinking (which is not a good thing, so don't do it). I barely miss my family. Overall, uni life has been a life-changing experience. And I've only been here for a month and a bit.

Oh yeah, I have my own radio show too. Check it out. Wherever you see the title, "Sunday Mornings with Me" press on that.

That's the personal stuff over and done with. So when is "My iPod" going to start again?

The answer to that is... I am not sure. Hopefully very soon. I need to start 'writing' these things in my spare time. Just so I have something else to do. Apparently I should be getting paid thanks to AdSense, so I should probably start.

I've been listening to a lot of music. I downloaded Eminem's new album a few days ago. That's a bit of a hit and miss. I actually like "Berzerk" a lot more than when I first heard it. His flow on "Rap God" is awesome; the beat lets it down though. It doesn't sound like an album track though. It's more of a song that you would find on a mixtape. But, whatever. "The Monster" is too mainstream. Toooooo mainstream. It's unbelievable how much it screams 'obvious single' at you. Not just because it features Rihanna, but it just sounds so manufactured. I can't handle it.

Arcade Fire released their new album "Reflektor" which will probably be number one in an 'album of the year' chart in a magazine. Everyone seems to like Arcade Fire (including myself) so I wouldn't be surprised.

Sadly, Lou Reed died of liver disease. Which sucks. I only really started listening to The Velvet Underground around this time last year. I can't write a tribute to him. A lot of people have done that already. But I know that without him and that band, a lot of the artists that I listen to and who are around today would not exist. So I thank you Mr. Reed. Thank you very much.

That's just some of the most notable things that have happened recently in music that I can give my opinion on.

It's good to be back on here. I'll try and start the 'C' series.

Jamie.