***The Following Article contains Crass Language***
The BP Gulf Disaster is at the forefront of our minds at the moment. It has been inspiring a multitude of thoughts and emotions, none of which are pleasant. Lurking amongst the despair, fear and uncertainty is a considerable amount of anger towards BP and their ilk: all-powerful corporations that don’t think twice about jeopardizing the global ecology in pursuit of wealth. Grrrr!! Well fuck them. Here are some songs that we feel capture that sentiment:
The Kinks – “Powerman”
Lyric Excerpt:
And he’s got my money
But I’ve got my faith
Powerman, Powerman
I’ll never be your slave
Super Furry Animals – “The Man Don’t Give a Fuck”
Lyric Excerpt:
You know they don’t give a fuck about anybody else
You know they don’t give a fuck about anybody else
You know they don’t give a fuck about anybody else
You know they don’t give a fuck about anybody else
There are as many opinions about Health Care Reform as there are strains of the flu. Like it or lump it, the legislators have legislated. Here at Pure Pop we only see one course of action when vastly complicated and controversial bills dominate the headlines; we listen to songs that are superficially connected to them. In that spirit, we proudly present 10 songs to Celebrate or Lament Health Care Reform By.
1. Gregory Isaacs “Night Nurse”
A classy start.
2. Phish “Down With Disease”
The local heroes take a stand against disease.
3. Alien Sex Fiend “Here Cum Germs”
Is being a sex fiend covered under the new plan?
4. Deltron 3030 “Virus”
Animated persons are low-risk for skin disease.
Read the rest of this entry »
Tanner, who since he was twelve spends most of his time planning an ever-more-elaborate, ever-less-likely-to-happen wedding for himself, came upon this dull website for what appears to be a collective of wedding dj’s. Amusingly, there’s a page of indie-rock themed wedding mixes, all of which look like rough drafts for the Garden State soundtrack. Being the bitter, dry husks of human beings that we are, the first thing we thought was, “What would the opposite of these mixes look like?”
In that spirit, we proudly offer you seven tracks to spoil the mood at a wedding.
1. The Big Pink – Dominos
“As soon as I love her it’s been too long.
And I really love breaking your heart”
2. The Mountain Goats – No Children
“And I hope when you think of me years down the line
You can’t find one good thing to say
And I’d hope that if I found the strength to walk out
You’d stay the hell out of my way
I am drowning
There is no sign of land
You are coming down with me
Hand in unlovable hand
And I hope you die
I hope we both die”
3. XTC – Your Dictionary
“Now your laughter has a hollow ring
But the hollow ring has no finger in
So lets close the book and let the day begin
And our marriage be undone”
4. Rolling Stones – Out of Time
“You’re out of touch, my baby
My poor discarded baby
I said, baby, baby, baby, you’re out of time”
5. Husker Du – Never Talking to You Again
“I’d put you down where you belong
But I’m never talking to you again
I’d show you everywhere you’re wrong
But I’m never talking to you again”
6. The Misfits – Last Caress
“Well, I got something to say
I killed your baby today
And it doesn’t matter much to me
As long as its dead”
7. Jarvis Cocker – Don’t Let Him Waste Your Time
” ’cause the years fly by in an instant
and you wonder what he’s waiting for
and then some skinny bitch walks by in some hotpants
and he’s running out the door”
It’s been a gloomy summer in Vermont, where rain has become an almost daily occurrence. Fortunately, with our brutal winters, we’re all used to staving off seasonal malaise. Join us as we embrace the transcendent nature of music with our sunny songs for a rainy summer.
The Kinks - Love Me Til the Sun Shines
Dave Davies was not as prolific as his brother Ray, but he rarely disappointed. This lovely little love song is no exception.
Velvet Underground – Here Comes the Sun
Although this song dismisses the uplifting nature of the sun, its bright melody and upbeat rhythm make it the catchiest song about heart break out there.
Husker Du – Celebrated Summer
A nostalgic paean to summers past. Husker Du in top form, as they often were.
Pavement – Summer Babe (Winter Version)
“I saw your girlfriend and she was her eating fingers like they’re just another meal”. Yep. That captures the ideal summer experience.
The Beach Boys - Warmth of the Sun
Probably the most appropriate song on this list. Any collection of early Beach Boys songs would make for a great summer soundtrack.
Loving Spoonful - Summer in the City
I have a theory that every person who’s ever heard this song loves it. Infectious!
Fleet Foxes – Sun Giant/Sun it Rises
A serene counterpoint to the previous entry. Let it wash over you with thoughts of warmth and tranquility.
Pogues – Sunny Side of the Street
This song evokes the Church Street experience, where half the street is usually shaded. Perhaps it would be more optimistic to say half basks in the sun.
Katrina & The Waves – Walking on Sunshine
Philip J Fry’s favorite song, as evidenced by his numerous renditions. Need I say more?
George Gershwin – Summertime (Sam Cooke version)
An American standard, this song has been covered countless times. This is one of many great versions of this wonderfully languid classic.
Jimmy Cliff – Hello Sunshine
Reggae and summer go together like peanut butter and fluf.
The Beatles – Rain
This song may call attention to what this list is meant to help us forget, but it’s a perfect endcap to this set, embracing the cleansing beauty of the rain, reminding us that it always precedes sunshine.
Every few weeks we like to compile a mix of tracks we’ve been loving lately – be it new tracks, old favorites, or the newly reissued. We compile them and link them to a sample through Thinkindie.com – the best (and only) place we know of to download legal, DRM-free MP3s. Get em while they’re hot.
