The Song Fight Bulletin Board

Hey Songfight.

Not much going on in Cleveland, unless you count 30mph winds. They actually made driving kinda difficult. We ran out to the pet store to get some bust bath and toys for our degus today. Probably want to avoid leaving the house again, given this weather. It's a shame, too, because if it weren't for the wind, it would be rather warm today.

Other than that, I'm just still debating finishing my solo entry. I know we don't like multiple entries, but I really don't feel like the song I played keyboard for last night is really "my" song. I didn't write it, and I don't sing. Oh well, if I do it, great, and if I don't, no big loss for anyone.

Question of the Day: Is there a musical artist/band who makes it look so easy that it inspires you? For me it used to be The Weakerthans, but lately, it's the Mountain Goats. I think "What would John Darnielle Do?" and suddenly there's a nearly-finished song floating around in my head. Weird, but I doubt I'm the only one who's had moments like this.

The Mountain Goats remind me of the John Benjamin Band for some reason. Maybe the realist story telling or something, not sure.

QOTD: Our own Melvin makes it look easy, which does in a way inspire me. Although not my kind of music, per say, he does it very well. Nothing flashy, but simple and solid. Plus he consistently does it week after week. I admire that.
Paco Del Stinko is at the same level of Melvin, but in a different ball park. In fact, his isn't even a ball park. It's more of a facility for the criminally insane. But consistently entertaining in an art-rock genre. I feel that Paco could score an entire Tim Burton movie with ease, or create a twisted Broadway musical based on his music with each song acted out.

I'm still sick and it's getting old. It really showed at band practice today too.

qotd: My favorite bands are Pink Floyd, The Beatles, and The Cure but none of these bands inspire me. I am more inspired by The Sex Pistols, NOFX, Cake, etc... than I am of my favorites. Its strange. So to answer the question... any good punk song is good for inspiration. I've been listening to A LOT of Against Me... I think part of it for me is that they are doing what I've been doing all along. Kind of like Green Day back in the day...they were successful at doing what I had been doing at the time. THAT is inspiration. I've been looping Against Me a lot lately. (I guess it doesn't hurt that they are a Florida band either)

Hoblit wrote:I've been looping Against Me a lot lately. (I guess it doesn't hurt that they are a Florida band either)

Ha, me too! I love Against Me, despite the fact that they are a Florida band, lol. What I like is that they are a more mature punk band and I like the singers vocal tone. I can't quite put my finger on it, but it has a comfortable sound. I'm so sick of hearing nasally late teen and early 20's guy vocals whining like they're begging their Dad's for the fucking car keys.

I'm feeling sick today.

I also finally got around to finishing a dumb ultra-short animation for a Channel Frederator thing, "48 Frames of Brrrilliance" (the idea being that a lot can happen in 2-5 seconds). It's the first animation I've ever made (at least in the traditional sense) and it completely sucks but you can see it at http://beesbuzz.biz/art/animation if you are so inclined.

Fluffy, that was funny. But can you shorten it up some? I found my mind wondering towards the last few milliseconds.

Billy's Little Trip wrote:Melvin...consistently does it week after week.

That's what I thought too, except this week a submitted a song called I Want To Get It On. Thanks to the FightMaster for pointing out my blunder. I hate to miss a fight, but I withdrew my entry. Balls!

ps. Thanks for the kind words, BLT.

I think the word swapping would be fine and dandy. You could turn the song into one about the mistake, like Octothorpe's "That's The Spirit" or something.

People have done instrumentals, songs that don't actually use the title in the lyrics, and occasionally even songs that have nothing to do at all with the title. I'm sure mixing up "I Want to Get On It" and "I Want to Get It On" wouldn't disqualify you... Oh well.

I've got a headache, but the medicine is keeping it at bay... for once. Hmm.

Octothorpe takes on the title:

Bean to China = Been to China
Al Right Al Right = Alright Alright
That's the Sprite = That's the Spirit
Death Plunger = Death Plunge

Is there any doubt that these songs were inspired by the posted title? Similarly, your song was obviously inspired by the posted title, Melvin, you just got it wrong. Let the reviewers be the judge.

You know, unless JB officially disqualified you or something. In which case "never mind".

Billy's Little Trip wrote:

Hoblit wrote:I've been looping Against Me a lot lately. (I guess it doesn't hurt that they are a Florida band either)

Ha, me too! I love Against Me, despite the fact that they are a Florida band, lol. What I like is that they are a more mature punk band and I like the singers vocal tone. I can't quite put my finger on it, but it has a comfortable sound. I'm so sick of hearing nasally late teen and early 20's guy vocals whining like they're begging their Dad's for the fucking car keys.

Whaddya got against Florida bands mister?

I agree.. their latest release is full of mature. Especially considering the growth that you can hear consistently from their earliest releases. They have come A LONG way.

<font size="1"> If you ever want to hear some of that earlier junk, lemme know</font>

Hoblit wrote:

Billy's Little Trip wrote:

Hoblit wrote:I've been looping Against Me a lot lately. (I guess it doesn't hurt that they are a Florida band either)

Ha, me too! I love Against Me, despite the fact that they are a Florida band, lol. What I like is that they are a more mature punk band and I like the singers vocal tone. I can't quite put my finger on it, but it has a comfortable sound. I'm so sick of hearing nasally late teen and early 20's guy vocals whining like they're begging their Dad's for the fucking car keys.

Whaddya got against Florida bands mister?

I agree.. their latest release is full of mature. Especially considering the growth that you can hear consistently from their earliest releases. They have come A LONG way.

<font size="1"> If you ever want to hear some of that earlier junk, lemme know</font>

Yeah, I don't know about their early years. I was given "Searching for a Former Clarity" which was the first I heard of them. Then I bought "New Wave" and I have two I D/Ld off of Thrash Unreal, which I love. I can't seem to find any more from Thrash Unreal.

Sick feeling update: I'm feeling a lot better now.

Spud wrote:Octothorpe takes on the title:

Bean to China = Been to China
Al Right Al Right = Alright Alright
That's the Sprite = That's the Spirit
Death Plunger = Death Plunge

Is there any doubt that these songs were inspired by the posted title? Similarly, your song was obviously inspired by the posted title, Melvin, you just got it wrong. Let the reviewers be the judge.

You know, unless JB officially disqualified you or something. In which case "never mind".

Yes - it is usually easy to tell what is "inspired" by the titled and where title shoehorning is happening.

Some of my takes on titles include:

Half A Stone(r)

Bioluminescence - a song for which the lyric was a list of latin names of bioluminescent sea-creatures

Clip Art - a song which involved repeated threats to give somebody called Arthur a "clip across the ear"

I Know My Rights - I Know My Right's

The Beatles make everything look so easy. They're definitely inspiring me these days.

The secret to The Beatles is that they didn't actually try to be perfect, they just had a lot of fun. By today's ultra-polished heavily-processed standards they were downright sloppy.

fluffy wrote:The secret to The Beatles is that they didn't actually try to be perfect, they just had a lot of fun. By today's ultra-polished heavily-processed standards they were downright sloppy.

Sure - they weren't as good as Nickleback - but I think downright sloppy is a bit harsh.

Caravan Ray wrote:Sure - they weren't as good as Nickleback

/me stabs Caravan Ray in the head

Billy's Little Trip wrote:

Hoblit wrote:

Billy's Little Trip wrote: Ha, me too! I love Against Me, despite the fact that they are a Florida band, lol. What I like is that they are a more mature punk band and I like the singers vocal tone. I can't quite put my finger on it, but it has a comfortable sound. I'm so sick of hearing nasally late teen and early 20's guy vocals whining like they're begging their Dad's for the fucking car keys.

Whaddya got against Florida bands mister?

I agree.. their latest release is full of mature. Especially considering the growth that you can hear consistently from their earliest releases. They have come A LONG way.

<font size="1"> If you ever want to hear some of that earlier junk, lemme know</font>

Yeah, I don't know about their early years. I was given "Searching for a Former Clarity" which was the first I heard of them. Then I bought "New Wave" and I have two I D/Ld off of Thrash Unreal, which I love. I can't seem to find any more from Thrash Unreal.

Thrash Unreal is a single off of New Wave and not an album from my understanding.

fluffy wrote:The secret to The Beatles is that they didn't actually try to be perfect, they just had a lot of fun. By today's ultra-polished heavily-processed standards they were downright sloppy.

Cool. I like how their fun sounds perfect to my ears.

ps - I've recently listened to Sgt. Peppers, Abbey Road and The White Album, and I've loved them all. What an incredible band - I wish I had been a kid during their heyday.

Hoblit wrote:

Billy's Little Trip wrote:

Hoblit wrote: Whaddya got against Florida bands mister?

I agree.. their latest release is full of mature. Especially considering the growth that you can hear consistently from their earliest releases. They have come A LONG way.

<font size="1"> If you ever want to hear some of that earlier junk, lemme know</font>

Yeah, I don't know about their early years. I was given "Searching for a Former Clarity" which was the first I heard of them. Then I bought "New Wave" and I have two I D/Ld off of Thrash Unreal, which I love. I can't seem to find any more from Thrash Unreal.

Thrash Unreal is a single off of New Wave and not an album from my understanding.

Well that would explain it then, lol. I was wondering why they would name an album after an older song. But I got it from limewire and it was labeled "Thrash Unreal - You Must Be Willing". Because I've never heard or seen the song before and it was labeled 2007, I thought it was a new CD. I said I had two, but I just looked and that is the only one tagged like that. I'll google it and see what's up.

edit: OK, you're right. It is a single that they released at the same time as New Wave, but they did it on 7" vinyl, so on the flip side, it looks like they put a couple songs, one of which isn't on New Wave. Also, now that I see their website, Butch Vig produced it. No wonder I love it.