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Fountains of Wayne is one of those quirky bands that enjoy their quirkiness. Denise is a nice example of that. It’s almost a very sweet pop song, but what the listener really comes away with is an undercurrent of despair that the singer will not be able to hold on to his golden girl.

Personally, I love it because it’s a great tune, it’s very catchy and listenable, plus I find myself singing snatches from it all the time. I don’t mind a song like this that gets into your system, at least not when it’s a good song (one of these days I’ll vent about Kelis’ Milkshake, but the less said about that, the better).

Here’s a link to the video

And of course, the lyrics:

I know this girl named Denise
She makes me weak at the knees
She drives a lavender Lexus
She lives in Queens but her dad lives in Texas

[sha la la la la la la]
She controls me
[sha la la la la la la]
She can’t help herself
[sha la la la la la la]
Won’t you tell me
Do you love me Denise?
Whoa-oh
Do you love me Denise?
Oh baby tell me please
[do ya do ya ah-oh do ya do ya]

Los Angeles is one of those songs that makes you want to both bang your head and shake your ass at the same time. I love the way it slips from an easygoing folksy tune to a balls out rocker. Also, it’s a great tune, easy to sing along with, easy to enjoy on many levels.

The song itself really is about Los Angeles, from the one in South Patagonia to the one from Bladerunner and each one in between.

Here’s a link to the video

And of course, the lyrics:

I met a man
He was a good man
Sailing and shoring
Dancing the beta can-can
Making me foreign
Oh yeah

I’ll wait in Los Angeles
I’ll wait in the pouring sun
No way
For not anyone
No way

Alec Eiffel has long been my favorite Pixies song. I love the driving beat and the kick ass guitar solo, as well as the closing parts.
Regarding the song’s meaning, from Wikipedia:

The song references the French engineer Alexandre Gustave Eiffel, who designed the Eiffel Tower; (Black) Francis thought it was a “fascinating subject” to compose a song about. Francis also mentioned another meaning of the song: “Because of Alexandre Gustave Eiffel, but also because it’s funny: in the USA and in Australia, you often say ‘It’s a smart Alec’ for [sic] a guy who’s nice but not very bright.

Here’s a link to the video

And of course, the lyrics:

Pioneer of aerodynamics
(little Eiffel, little Eiffel)
They thought he was real smart alec
(little Eiffel, little Eiffel)
He thought big they called it a phallic
(little Eiffel, little Eiffel)
They didn’t know he was panoramic
Little Eiffel stands in the archway
(little Eiffel, little Eiffel)
Keeping low doesn’t make no sense
Sometimes people can be oh so dense
They didn’t want it but he built it anyway
(little Eiffel, little Eiffel)
Little Eiffel stands in the archway
(little Eiffel, little Eiffel)
k\Keeping low don’t make sense
Keeping low doesn’t make no-sense
(little Eiffel, little Eiffel)
Little Eiffel stands in the archway
Oh alexander I see you beneath
The archway of aerodynamics.

This song has one of those melodies that sort of worms it’s way into your brain sideways and lurks just under the surface, surfacing every now and then to remind you, “this is a kick-ass song.”

It does have a great guitar melody, and better than average lyrics as well. Despite the metaphors, the song’s meaning is fairly easy to discern, most likely about someone who has been burned by a fickle partner. Plus, it’s a fun rocking song. There’s not much going wrong with this one.

Here’s a link to the video

And of course, the lyrics:

Got a set of wings that I couldn’t use
Bought them in a store on the avenue
Didn’t mean to spend all the cash I had
The second that I saw them, I wanted them bad

Climbed up the mountain, observed the view
But angel wouldn’t say what I had to do
Then angel flew away and left me standing there
I knew I couldn’t fly, but I didn’t care

—————-
Now playing: Cypress Hill - When the Shit Goes Down
via FoxyTunes

Could You Be The One? is a great pop song. A fairly simple chord progression, a simple vocal, a subject that pretty much anyone can sympathize with (the fear of falling in love), and it just plain sounds good. It’s a really nice, really catchy song, which sneaks in a nice melody under it’s veneer of punk.

Here’s a link to the video

And of course, the lyrics:

Could you be the one they talk about?
Hiding inside, behind another door?
Is it only happiness you want?
Does wanting a feeling matter any more?

Don’t even know what I’m hiding for
Don’t even know what I’m crying for
Don’t even know, could you be the only
Broken hearted one

—————-
Now playing: Atari Teenage Riot - No Success
via FoxyTunes

I am in love with that song.

Alex Chilton is one of those songs that tends to elevate my mood whenever I hear it. It’s an exceptionally well-crafted song for all of its seeming rough edges.

The song is, of course, a tribute to former Box Tops member and power pop pioneer Alex Chilton. Some of the lyrics refer to Paul Westerberg’s meetings with Chilton, and Chilton was at one time going to produce one of their records.

Anyway, it’s just a gorgeous song.

Here’s a link to a fan video

And of course, the lyrics:

If he was from Venus, would he feed us with a spoon?
If he was from Mars, wouldn’t that be cool?
Standing right on campus, would he stamp us in a file?
Hangin’ down in Memphis all the while.

(chorus)

This is a great song, even though it’s seemingly about nothing. What I’ve always enjoyed about it–besides the cool beat–are the multi-layered vocals. Very cool and very fun.

Here’s a link to the video

And of course, the lyrics:

Ah yoo-hoo
Ah yoo-hoo
Ah yoo-hoo
Ah yoo-hoo
Ah yoo-hoo
Ah yoo-hoo
Ah yoo-hoo (She said yoo-hoo)
Ah yoo-hoo
Ah yoo-hoo
Ah yoo-hoo (She said yoo-hoo)
Ah yoo-hoo
Ah yoo-hoo
Ah yoo-hoo (She said yoo-hoo)
Ah yoo-hoo
Ah yoo-hoo

She said yoo-hoo
Ah yoo-hoo
Ah yoo-hoo
Ah yoo-hoo (She said yoo-hoo)
Ah yoo-hoo
Ah yoo-hoo
Ah yoo-hoo (She said yoo-hoo)
Ah yoo-hoo
Ah yoo-hoo
Ah yoo-hoo (She said yoo-hoo)
Ah yoo-hoo
Ah yoo-hoo
Ah yoo-hoo (She said yoo-hoo) (Hello, Steve. Are you there?)
Ah yoo-hoo
Ah yoo-hoo
Ah yoo-hoo (She said yoo-hoo) (Hello, Steve. I know you’re there!)
Ah yoo-hoo
Ah yoo-hoo
Ah yoo-hoo (She said yoo-hoo) (Come on, pick up! I know you’re there!)
Ah yoo-hoo
Ah yoo-hoo
Ah yoo-hoo (She said yoo-hoo) (I can hear you!)
Ah yoo-hoo
Ah yoo-hoo

—————-
Now playing: LEVEL 42 - Something About You
via FoxyTunes

This is a great, anthemic rock song. Best as I can tell, it’s about stoicism, and the tendency to over analyze things to the point of stagnation and a loss of humanity. Oh, did I mention that it rocks?

And of course, the lyrics:

Barren lands and barren minds
In another place and time
I feel I’ve never known myself
Frozen in the sand again

We sit and pray together that they might change the weather
My love for you will never die
If I sound distant, that’s because
You shouldn’t see me crying ice cold ice

I think this is just a cool, rocking tune. I love Stephen Malkmus’ sing-song deadpan vocals, the staccato rhythms, the little spoken interludes, the squealing guitar, it’s all good.

I have no idea what the song is about. It may not be about anything. There’s a number of folks at SongMeanings who claim to have some idea.

Here’s a link to the video

And of course, the lyrics:

Pigs, they tend to wiggle when they walk
The infrastructure rots
And the owners hate the jocks
With their agents and their dates

But high-ho silver ride
High-ho silver ride
Takes another ride to make me
Oh, get off the air
Im on the stereo stereo
Oh my baby baby baby baby baby babe
Gave me malaria hysteria

I honestly don’t know much about this band, although I did buy their CD Surgery For Zebra years ago. I believe they are Swedish or Danish or from some Scandinavian country.

This song isn’t really for everyone, I don’t think. It took a little time for it to grow on me, but now I love it. I like the herky-jerky guitar sounds, the likely meaningless lyrics, and the steady beat. It’s just cool.

Here’s a link to the video

And of course, the lyrics:

Orange can be hard, sometimes she knows
Transty can also love alone
Orange can be hard, orange can be smart
Orange is the way the summer blows