Category Archives: twilight

Damaged Spoons

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Today has been a strange one. After waking up to a fever, I fell back asleep and had just ridiculous dreams. I couldn’t tell you exactly what they were about, but we all have the ones that make us feel uneasy for the day when you have them. So it’s almost fitting that I chose the songs and/or artists I chose today for the post. Thom Yorke – for almost obvious reasons – and Spoon‘s song “Nobody Gets Me”.

Well, Thom Yorke, for anyone that has been under a rock for the last 15 years, is Radiohead’s frontman. He’s a strangely unwilling iconic figure in music. He does what he likes, and that attitude helps create very refreshing sounds in a world of banal egomania in music. Mashups? Very rarely work. Remixes? A good percentage of them are crap. Original work? Always is.

So Yorke released the album The Eraser to some pretty big fanfare. It honestly probably helped create the mood of Radiohead‘s In Rainbows, also, as at points you can see how Yorke evolved from his solo project and its effect on the band. Simply take the electronic mood and replace with instruments. It was one that left Radiohead fans wondering what exactly was going on with Yorke, but there is an excellent interview with NPR’s Terry Gross on Fresh Air if you folks feel like taking a listen. Well, he has a new song out, and as much as I hate to say this, it is one featured on the Twilight: New Moon soundtrack. I feel very dirty even saying that. This song, however, is rather brilliant. And the next song, by Spoon, could be just as much about Thom Yorke as it makes me feel about myself at times. This is “Hearing Damage” by Yorke. Enjoy!

Download Thom Yorke – Hearing Damage

Next is a track by Spoon that sort of jumped out at me. Partially because of the song title – “Nobody Gets Me But You” – but also because it made me initially think of Moodymann‘s “U Can Dance If U Want 2”, but only because that track heavily sampled Prince‘s “All The Critics Love U In New York”. Well, this Spoon track seems to sample one of the drum loops from this same Prince track, and we’ll have you guys decide. I’ve also asked a DJ friend of mine that happens to be a massive Prince nut about this one, too. I have yet to hear back from him, but he might be in agreement with me on this one. It doesn’t take away from how good this track is, however, so kick back and enjoy.

Download Spoon – Nobody Gets Me But You

And go buy some shit. Stop being selfish!

At least that means I have a soul left to lose

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“‘Bears don’t want to eat people. We don’t taste that good.’ He grinned at me in the dark cab. ‘Of course, you might be an exception. I bet you’d taste good.’
‘Thanks so much,’ I said, looking away. He wasn’t the first person to tell me that.”

Have you read New Moon yet? It’s the second book in the Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer. I read the whole series and it was a good experience; it touched me in a lot of ways… But I just kept hoping for better. More eloquent writing. Prose that would stick with me and paint a better picture. It was, alas, a Young Readers series. I shouldn’t have expected so much.

[Senses Fail – Wolves At the Door]

Like Senses Fail. I keep trying to like them.

I don’t know what it is. They make use of the double bass pedal. They scream a little but not too much. They layer their guitars. But Senses Fail just refuses to grab me and either rock my face off or move me with really strong lyrics.

Their lyrics are better than many others. Better than most that get airplay, that’s for sure. And the sound has gotten better over the last few years. Maybe I just expect more. They don’t sound better than most bands that have been formed this decade. They’re definitely not better than Four Year Strong.

“Life Is Not A Waiting Room” is the fourth album put out by this quartet lead by Buddy Nielsen, who is actually the son of some of my mom’s favorite soap stars. Remember Iva Snyder from As The World Turns? I digress. The songs Senses Fail has recorded over the years have always been inspired by deep writings and works of art, and even their name comes from a eastern spiritual beliefs. But they just don’t go far enough with it. If I was writing their report card I would say “you need to apply yourself more.” Just because it’s not pop-punk about a girl who left you doesn’t mean you can’t get deeper than you already are. You can do it.

I did find Blackout to be one of the stronger tracks. Check it out:

[Senses Fail – Blackout]

I will keep watching and waiting. I know they have something to say. But they can say it louder, I am sure of it. But hey, I know one music snob in particular who just LOVES them. You might find what I can’t. Check them out:


You know me better than I know myself…

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Maybe it’s because I miss being in smoky bars that blur my vision. Maybe it’s because I miss playing darts and the thrill of hitting a triple 17. Or it’s because 3 Doors Down is only good up to a point.

Listening to People in Planes is like being comfortable in your favorite bar. Finding out that they’re a band from Wales brings a universal understanding to this feeling, and an awe that people from a backwards country normally known for good punk pop can also produce this thick, mid-American variety of rock.

If you wanted to pick apart the lyrics, you might have fun challenging me over my “I Hate Kings of Leon” post. All I can say to that is, at least People in Planes stays on the beat.

If this song isn’t skillfully crafted to appeal to the masses, I don’t know what is. Enjoy Know By Now:

[People in Planes – Know By Now]

People in Planes have changed names twice already this decade. Also known as Robots in the Sky and Tetra Splendour, they’ve shuffled labels a few too many times in a short period but since their appearance at 2005’s South by Southwest festival, it seems that they are on a roll. They’ve toured with Blue October and had a video directed by Joaquin Phoenix! That’s progress in my eyes…

Today is November 21: the day that hordes of teenagers and desperate housewives alike have been breathlessly awaiting is finally here, so to celebrate Twilight’s premiere, I will share with you another track off 2008’s Beyond the Horizon album: Vampire. This is a messy departure from the rest of the album but it still comes off as a calculated and passionate disaster. Kind of like the books.

[People in Planes – Vampire]

It’s time to show some love to People in Planes.

Or join the teenage vampire craze, why not?