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June 26, 2007
Summer Six Pack Redux
Since I only trotted out this six pack format once about a year ago, I figure it's not too repetitive to give it another go. By comparing the two, you'll notice I'm much more zen than I was last year, which I attribute entirely to a lower '07 humidity level.
Hopefully I haven't jinxed our run of exemplary NYC weather too badly by acknowledging this fact.
Avril Lavigne f. Lil' Mama - "Girlfriend" (Remix)
I was shocked by how enjoyable this song was. I mean, the original is fairly bullshit. Even if you can get past the clunky lyrics and just average singing, Avril's main character is a total jerk. She's out to blatantly steal another girl's boyfriend on a whim. Perhaps not a new wrinkle in teen pop songwriting, but sure as shit not a sympathetic position. So it was an extremely smart move from Lavigne's management, roping in an accomplice far more likable for a wildly superior remix where she's given center stage. Lil' Mama is pretty great, if you weren't aware.
Mama's voice is the first you hear on the track, a cartoony "Lil' Mama and Avril Laveeeeeeen" already charming you as the stomping beat further wears you down. Then here comes the the chorus, still un-subtle, but punchier when held aloft by the relentless rhythm section and improved by the tacked on "Lil' Mama be you girlfriend, Lil' Mama be your girlfriend..." murmurs. When LM finally starts rapping, it's obvious who the song belongs to. At times her rapid fire flow and easy charisma makes it sound like pink suits and platinum wigs weren't outre enough fashion statements anymore, and Andre 3000 has now taken to disguising himself as a 17 year old Brooklyn girl.
Appropriate Corresponding Summer Activity: Shielding your iPod window from the voyeuristic hipster judgment parade that is the ice cold summer L train.
I should state for the record that Sissy's other jam "Float" is superior to this one, so if you're basking in ignorance of this Norweigan lass, do your self a favor and go here first.
O.K., now that we got rid of that square, let's dive into another treat from her latest album, Beauties Never Die. The production is busy and interesting, but the real selling point is how our girl backs up her own impossibly high pop vocal register with excited shouting, reminiscent of Scandi joy-punks Love is All, fleshing out the titular letters ("do what they say!"). Listening to the first half may lead to the conclusion that Sissy is much better when the music rises and the chorus takes off, and not so good on the down tempo. Then you get to the slow burn bridge, with its triumphant screaming climax, and you just don't know what to believe anymore.
Appropriate Corresponding Summer Activity: Just kickin' it. Possibly kickin' it live.
Junior Boys' Jeremy Greenspan pitched in on the composition of this track, though his golden throat and slick dance beats are mainly subliminal. It's all Dan Snaith's show, and the Caribou mastermind easily proves that he deserves such top notch stagehands. String swells, synth swells, by the seashore.
Appropriate Corresponding Summer Activity: Lying in a public park and playing "she loves me not" repeatedly until a daisy with a fortuitous number of pedals can be located.
I realize that it's a douche-y move to quote yourself, but I was really pleased with my final review line for this lovely electro-shoegaze hybrid;
"Don’t let this record falls into the hands of ecstasy soused teens, lest we be plagued by a series of tragic mass huggings."
Meant as a compliment, of course...
Appropriate Corresponding Summer Activity: Outside porch, dead of night, light breeze, if not stars then street lamps or a Manhattan skyline.
Liars new self-titled album will often be described as straightforward guitar pop, though only the folks who have completely submerged themselves in the band's warped aestheitc will probably think so. Drum hsn't kicked the bucket yet, cymbals thrashing to the last. Angus Andrew's constant chanting style stays intact as well. Rocking out on guitar seems to suit him better than he remembered. "Why does this feel so appealing? I am overwhelmed..." he states, kick pedal bomb clusters exploding around him. Tough to get into the head of an twelve foot tall Ocker wildman, but I'm guessing it has something to do with the validation one gets from completely chucking one beloved style (with a short shelf life), developing a new sound in the face of harsh criticism, having your original evolution impulse completely critically validated by a further refined follow up album, and then totally ditching that to just come back and write a ripping punk song or two.
Seems pretty appealing to the layman observer...
Appropriate Corresponding Summer Activity:Bashing a cold beer against your head repeatedly, figuring that either loose beer or lost blood will cool you down eventually.
On No Age's upcoming singles compilation, Weirdo Rippers they use an odd structural technique. Songs as short as 3 minutes are given extended preambles, behaving as if they had all the time in the world, before snapping to and attacking their unwasted minute with a manic furor. For 1:40 of this three and a half minute smolder, we get nothing but barely melodic fuzz. Then, when drums finally saunter in, they kill some more time, thirty seconds or so, before the vocal line enters. Though these words are slightly inaudible, they echo the very familiar (for 90's indie fans) nasal melody from Built to Spill's "Twin Falls." As sand slips further down the hips of the hour glass, the Los Angelinos suddenly wake up, and for the last thirty seconds hit like a freaked out mid 80's Lee Renaldo song.
You'd think a long wait for such little beef would be off putting, but you'd be wrong. Again.
Appropriate Corresponding Summer Activity: Coming to after a fainting spell, peering out through bleary eyes, beads of sweat pooling. Stomach tumbling, but ears sharp, ever sharp...
Posted by Jeff Klingman at June 26, 2007 04:30 PM
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Comments
I feel drunk with B.O.B.-era Stankiness from this Lil'Mama lady.
Posted by: Sebastian at June 27, 2007 02:56 AM
