My iPod #182: Blur - Chemical World

I undertook on a Blur marathon earlier this year. Putting my Premium Spotify account to good use, I decided to listen the band's discography. It was not a continuous action so marathon may not be the right word, but it took me a weekend to get from "Leisure" to "Think Tank". It was not just those original albums either; they included the bonus discs including B-Sides, demos and live material that accompanied each album as part of the "Blur 21" compilation. It was a lot of hours well spent. That 'event' also helped me to realise how much good music the band actually made. Before, I just had the Best Of compilation and thought that was fine, but the deep cuts are just as good. Buy albums. Compilations are useless. Blur is probably one of my favourite bands now, and it only took a weekend of their music to make me see the light.

That's enough of that.

"Chemical World" is a tune from the band's 'fuck you America' album "Modern Life Is Rubbish". It was also released as its second single in 1993.

Like many other songs I have on my iPod, this was one that I first heard/saw when its video played on MTV2. Then, I didn't think much of the song. That's how I feel with pretty much everything I listen to. But its chorus was quite memorable and embedded itself in my head, even though I had no idea what Damon was singing in the verses.

Fast forward a few years later and do what I describe in the opening paragraph, I couldn't wait for the song to start because it was the only song - apart from "For Tomorrow" that I would be familiar with. Well, that and "Sunday Sunday" but that's a different story.

Listening to the lyrics now, still not sure what it's about. I initially assumed it was a song about the environment seeing as it was called "Chemical World" and mentions of "putting the holes in". It may be about drugs - it's all very metaphorical.

My iPod #181: Tokyo Police Club - Cheer It On

When watching MTV2 in 2007, the video for "Cheer It On" played in a program showing all the brand new music that was coming out at the time. I heard it that one time and liked it a lot, but the video was barely played on the channel again. I saw the last few seconds of it by chance when I switched the TV using the remote, but then never saw it the channel again.

Thank goodness for YouTube, which at this point did exist, as I could watch it over and over again without having to wait for another music video to finish. The song is only two minutes long, is performed at a rapid rate and the video has no fancy concept so the track never got tiresome.

Essentially the tune is the band's theme song - being released on their first EP as the first track.

I was hoping the band would become one of my new favourites but it was not meant to be. I was very excited when "Your English Is Good" came out, that is a fine piece, but... I don't know. Maybe I should listen to "Elephant Shell" again. It is not too late.

My iPod #180: Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Cheated Hearts

It is 2006 again, and Yeah Yeah Yeahs release their new album "Show Your Bones". MTV2 were really happy that the band had returned. It was three years since YYYs released their debut, and the channel dedicated a day to the band by showing the video for "Gold Lion" every hour.

But this post isn't about that song. No. Obviously. It's about "Cheated Hearts". Fast forward a few months later after the album's release, and the video for the new single was being shown quite frequently.

The band appear in it for a few seconds, but it is mostly made up of clips of fans who are imitating them. They make a real effort of it too.

MTV2 censored a part when some dudes look like they are using an iron on someone's back, and when the same three people each show the 'fuck off' sign to the camera, even though they are meant to be symbolising the YYY sign. It was all very strange.

But yeah, the video would play on the channel and I eventually grew to like the song. I present it to you now.

My iPod #179: Supergrass - Cheapskate

This is one of my favourite songs by Supergrass. It is one of my favourites from "In It for the Money". The only problem I have with it is that compared to other songs on the album, it is too short. It is probably for the best though.

I am very sure that "Cheapskate" was in a holiday advert from years and years ago that was on the television. I know it has been used in a film or two, but I am certain I remember it being played for about 30 seconds somewhere else...

The music video was never shown in the United Kingdom. It was a US only single though and got into one of the many music charts that the country has. The band also chose not to release the video on their 'best of' DVD for reasons unknown.

The opportunity for me to see the 'lost' Cheapskate video was back when I was twelve or so. I randomly searched 'Supergrass - Cheapskate' into YouTube, and to my surprise it was there. The version here is what I watched, and is quite different to the one above. The speakers for the family computer were busted, so I had to make do with opening iTunes and playing the song along with the video. A minor inconvenience, yes, but it all worked out well in the end.

But why do I like "Cheapskate" so much? Well the song starts off with this funky groove, apparently influenced by Kool & the Gang according to the band themselves, which carries on through the verses before launching into an atmospheric chorus where the guitar blares out its chords and the overall volume of the song just rises. That along with its lyrics, "I need someone to be around 'cos I'm breaking into life/Somebody stop me, 'cos I'm looking for my high.", just makes me feel warm and very happy inside.

What is the song about? Haven't got a clue. Why is it called "Cheapskate"? The word isn't mentioned once in the lyrics, so your guess is as good as mine. What matters is, I like it, you should probably listen to it, and try and find that advert that I talked about because it is really bugging me just thinking about it.

My iPod #178: Blur - Charmless Man

"Charmless Man" was released as the final single from Blur's fourth album "The Great Escape", the album which (I am not afraid to say) I actually prefer to "Parklife". What are you going to do about it? I thought so.

I saw the music video on the TV when I was about 10 or so. I thought it was quite funny. The band stalks a man, he then runs over them, but he ends up in the room where they are playing the song. You probably have to watch it to become more enthused than when you just read my description of it.

Yeah, I think the song is okay. It is not my favourite from the album; the 'na-na-nas' hook can become a bit annoying, but I guess it reinforces the whole message behind the tune. And it reminds me of a time when I could just watch music television without feeling I had something more important to do.

My iPod #177: Kings of Leon - Charmer

After the seven minute epic that opens the third album by Kings of Leon comes one of the hardest rockers that the band have produced to this day.

"Because of the Times" was allowed to be streamed on the band's MySpace (remember that) before it was originally released. I couldn't begin to tell you what I thought of the song when I first heard it; I was just waiting for "On Call" to start. I just remember it being very loud. I can tell you more now though.

"Charmer" begins with a looming and ominous bass which repeats its pattern throughout most of the song, whilst the guitars play various riffs which make the overall sound quite dissonant and strange. Caleb Followill screams a lot in the track which was compared to those of Black Francis from Pixies by critics, if I remember correctly.

My favourite part? The breakdown when the rhythm section plays, then Caleb joins in on guitar which ultimately segues into a piercing solo before the song ends on its final chorus.

My iPod #176: 2Pac - Changes

"Changes" by 2Pac was posthumously released on his "Greatest Hits" compilation in 1998, two years after he had died due to wounds caused by a drive-by shooting.

I am not into 2Pac so much, but this song coincidentally played on the radio when I was being driven to my first tuition class for the 11+. The lyrics really got into my head; things were never going to be the same from that point on. Now I actually had to study at home for an actual valid reason. I would be going to secondary school in a year and a bit. The thought of it was daunting.

The actual song's message hits on more important topics though. They obviously weren't written for a ten year old who was too busy thinking about growing older. I realise that I have been using the word 'observational' in a few recent posts, but it is another one of those songs from the point of the rapper. He questions the possibility of a black President of the United States, the treatment of black people by the police amongst other things and makes the statement that we need to make changes, but is disappointed by the fact that these 'things will never change'.

A song with powerful meaning overall. If you haven't heard it, listen to it now.