x gonna give it to ya

I usually start out my posts with saying how long it has been since I last posted. I'm not gonna do that any more. Hopefully people know to expect about one post from me a month. Sorry, I am just lazy. Although it's now March, I thought about writing the best-of list from last year, and I still might.







So about a year and a half ago, I randomly got this song "Take Ecstasy With Me" by the Magnetic Fields. It became a favorite, and eventually led me to start getting into the band (although a year before that i had bought the album I and hated it, now I love it). I started to download random Magnetic Fields songs and was falling in love with this band. I finally bought the album Holiday (because it had my favorite song on it), and was shocked to realize the version on the album was not the one I had been enjoying. The mp3 I liked was sang by a girl, while the album version had Stephen Merritt (who could never be mistaken for a female).



The other day the Green Hornet asked me if I had heard the !!! version, and I assumed that the version I had was that one, so I said that I had. Today, upon further review I realized the version with the girl (Susan Anway) was the Magnetic Fields and they recorded it for a Merge Records 10th anniversary compilation. Today, I bought the !!! version on iTunes to make sure I had the correct one, and it's really good.

So what is the deal with this song? As usual a Stephen Merritt song, gay undertones ("we got beat up just for holding hands"), but basically a love song. All three versions have a great propulsive beat going, but !!! take it to another level.

Take Ecstasy with Me (album version) - Magnetic Fields
Take Ecstasy with Me (Susan Anway version) - Magnetic Fields
Take Ecstasy with Me - !!!

While we are on the topic of ecstasy (does it sound like I have an issue with this drug or what?), here's the awesome New Order song "Ecstasy"

Ecstasy - New Order

OK, one video then I'm gone. I have no idea of the origins of this video, but for some reason it is hilarious. I think this guy actually takes himself seriously. I kind of enjoy the beat.

Busy

I'm busy as hell this week rocking and trying to seal the deal on landing a new job, so look forward to a roundup in this Sunday, where we can review my week in ROCK. I found my CD book too which is awesome and means I can finally finish the countdown that by this point, no one remembers the beginning of. Anyway, since I don't like this place to go without fairly regular updates, I thought I'd quickly share ¡All-Time Quarterback!. It's a one man project by Ben Gibbard from Death Cab, with lots of differences, the main one being that I enjoy ¡All-Time Quarterback!. It's pretty lo-fi and there's lots of toy instruments on it. Plus, he covers the Magnetic fields.

"Untitled" by ¡All-Time Quarterback!

"Why I Cry" by ¡All-Time Quarterback!

(there's your Magnetic Fields cover)

"Empire State" by ¡All-Time Quarterback!

MC Abstract Douchipster's 10 Songs

I figured for my first post I would put up 10 songs for one reason or another. Mostly these are just the songs I am into right now. Some have sentimental reasons, some are just songs I decided I wanted others to hear.

Everybody's Gotta Learn Sometime - Beck

A song that means alot to me for certain reasons, but you might know it from the "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" soundtrack. Originally performed by a band called The Korgis, it's performed here by a scientologist named Beck Hansen. Try not to be moved by the vocal performance from Beck as he longs for lovin. Also, check the Jon Brion production (yes, that guy from the Kanye album) as he tries to do his best Nigel Godrich impersonation.

Peacocks - The Mountain Goats

I had alot of trouble picking just one song from this group as I have grown an obsession with John Darnielle's muppet-like voice. But the strength of his songs and lyrics make the voice endearing. Darnielle may not be a virtuoso on the guitar, but few people today are writing songs as personal and as craftful as he does on a regular basis.

I Would Hurt a Fly - Built to Spill

Built to Spill is one of the greatest bands of the 90s no doubt. Each song of thiers has more innovation, emotion, and kick ass sections than most bands out today have in thier entire catalogue. Also, singer/songwriter/guitarist Doug Martsch, is as close to an actual God as anyone in rock has ever been.

Get Set - Kano ft. Low Deep, Ghetto, Big Seac, and Demon

Time to change it up with one of the best MCs out of the truly blossoming UK hip-hop/grime scene. This song was featured on the compilation "Run the Road vol. 2" which was the sequel to one of the most important (and great) compilations to be released in the last 10 years. I originally heard this song from a guy named Mikey, and he liked it. I do too. The beat is sick, and the rhymes are too. This is the new age grime, indeed.

Little Derek - Sway

Sway is truly about to explode. He has more mainstream upside than any MC in England, he's got better rhymes than anyone out today, and he is a Newcastle United fan. All of this adds up to my favorite new artist and your future favorite new artist. I met him, too.

My Sentimental Melody - Magnetic Fields

Yes, the Magnetic Fields sing mostly love songs. Yes, the songs are written by Stephin Merritt, who is a homosexual. Yes, the love songs are mostly sung by a man about men. This should not stop anyone, straight or gay, from listening to this brilliant man. The melodies are perfect, the production is fantastic, and the lyrics are universal enough to appeal to anyone with a heart. HOLY SHIT, this guy can write the perfect love song.

Fog - Radiohead

Baby alligators, nuff said. I figured for my first post I had to put something by the greatest band in the world. This is probably my favorite Radiohead B-side because while it's too WIERD a song even for Radiohead to put on an album, it's also too GREAT a song to not love it. Radiohead gave experimentation a heart.

Death to Everyone - Bonnie 'Prince' Billy

Anyone who knows me could have guessed that there would be something by this guy here. This song is an acceptance of the most basic fact of life, that "it's gonna come". The production on this song (and on this whole album) makes you feel like you are sitting in a dark room with Bonnie (real name Will Oldham) as he sings this dark song to you, adding a creepy effect to an album with creepiness to spare. If you plan on listening to this guy alone at night, it is best to not be near any razors or ropes long enough to make a noose.

Bellona - Junior Boys

In a perfect world, this song would have OWNED dance floors when it came out. I can't really explain why I included this song here on my first post. I guess I just always thought these Canadians deserved more acclaim. Heart-felt vocals along with a glitchy dance beat all put into a pop song that owes as much to Daft Punk as it does to Timbaland.

R.A.G.U. - Ghostface Killah ft. Raekwon

Between me and the Green Hornet, this blog is definitely gonna have a strong predilection for the Wu-Tang clan and Wu associated projects. My favorite member of Wu recently put out arguably his best album and this is one of my favorite songs from it. This song could have fit in perfectly on Raekwon's album "Only Built 4 Cuban Linx". Raekwon's storytelling is as good as it has ever been, and no two MCs work together better than these two men. Fishscale is easily one of the best albums of 2006 and this song is a classic example of the genius of the Wu.