Try to save a world that doesn't want to be saved

Another gem from Quasi today, this one from 1999's Field Studies. More roxichord driven goodness, extremely cogent lyrics, and even a string quartet which enters at 2:22. Sam Coomes' former Heatmiser bandmate Elliott Smith plays the bass. This was the my introduction to Quasi from when I was living in Seattle, and I have been hooked ever since. Little did I know then that I would be moving to their base in Portland, Oregon three years later.

Sam moves beyond the heart-tugging relationship struggles from their previous release. As the lead off track All The Same expounds a world-weary attitude.

"frayed at the edges, busted at the seams
i can walk with a song, sleep with my dreams"

When he does touch on relationship troubles his take is much more adult than in previous lyrics. The decision of whether to suffer or move on is now within his grasp.

"you can get out with it clean or prolong the agony
which ever you prefer, it's all the same to me"

And perhaps my favorite bit of lyric from Quasi is a poke at starry eyed do-gooders. I count myself in that group from time to time. But as an environmentalist and realist I know the chips are stacked against us.

"you worship the future like it's some kind of saint
but it's just like the past with a new coat of paint
try to save a world that doesn't want to be saved
stolen like a child, the one you think is misbehaved"

We purchase pleasure, and pay for it with hurt

I have to admit that I have found the perfect CD to represent the break up of my long term relationship. It has been here right under my nose for years. If I promise not to continue down this road, then please indulge me this one time with a dose of super melodic pop that is juxtaposed with the most downright bleak and pissed off lyrics ever. My hometown band Quasi just released an awesome new CD, but today's post goes way back to their 1998 release Featuring "Birds".

The CD is chock full of bright roxichord-driven pop songs with broken hearts sprinkled liberally throughout the lyrics. There will be no tragic 19th century romantic subjects here. The sentiments expressed come from deep inside a wounded heart for sure, but there is no gothic vision nor tragic barely missed opportunities. Long time fans like myself have always wondered if Sam Coomes was writing about his failed marriage to drummer Janet Weiss. Only the two of them know for sure, but in a wicked twist of fate they journey on in the band now entering its seventeenth year. If she is indeed the antagonist of these tunes, it is an amazing resolution that they continue to make great music together.

So for your listening please here is I Never Want To See You Again.

Fuzzy wuzzy lovin' cup explosion

Ok, happy music today. The Guess Who might seem an odd choice, but I love that Canuck bunch of beer-chugging prairie hosers. And today's song-o-the-day is none other than Hand Me Down World. From their hippy aesthetics period, it is a little environmental ode with all of the hit single accoutrements necessary to make me quite happy. At about 1:32 Kurt Winter lays down a very fine solo, followed by a Beatle-ish "la la la la" reintro to the next verse. A fine listening experience to be had by all!

Letting Go

OK, so maybe this isn't the happy song I promised to post next. But Who Am Us Anyway had a post up today about the Hollie's exquisite rendition of Chip Taylor's I Can't Let Go. And that reminded me that it was originally written for Evie Sands. Her slower, blue hot soulful version is one of those "should have been a hit" situations that was not meant to be. A situation echoed in the lyrics, for as uplifting as the music may be, the words describe a passionate love which is just a bit too desperate for its own good.

Goon Squad

Seems that Mr. Costello / MacManus and I share some sentiments. As with the last posting there is a subtext here that will remain private, but the song title rings so true I could not resist. The Attractions have to be one of the tightest, most dexterous bands ever, and this live performance of I Don't Want To Go To Chelsea gives a glimpse at the mighty power they wielded in their heyday.

No Valentine's Day This Year

Not much to say - it is a sad day around Pleasant Valley Sunday. I am not going to write about it here. But Elvis Costello pretty much hits the nail on the head with High Fidelity. Great to see the rarely broadcast promo video.

Even though you're nowhere near me
And I know you kiss him so sincerely now
Even though the signal's indistinct
And you worry what silly people think

Who just can't wait to feel frozen out
I bet he thinks that he was chosen out of millions
I suppose he will never know about... High Fidelity

Sixty More

As I mentioned in the comments in the previous post, several singles were omitted from my top 100 list due to my negligence/ forgetfulness. Definitely Photograph should have been there, along with at least a couple of Jeff Beck-era Yardbird's singles. The opening chords to Evil Hearted You remain as shocking today as upon first listen in 1965, and Shapes of Things blows a hole in the atmosphere at 1:35 with Beck's psychedelic interlude.

Here is an unordered list of sixty songs that were all contenders, and if I could fit 164 into 100(+4) entries I would. Maybe a year from now I will revisit and refine the original list, but for now I think these 164 entries are a fine collection of the lost art of the 45rpm single.

A-Side	B-Side	Artist	Year	Link
Carpet Man	The Magic Garden	The 5th Dimension	1968	Video
Earn Enough For Us(Australia only)	The Man Who Sailed around His Soul	XTC	1986	Video
Grass	Extrovert; Dear God	XTC	1986	Video
O, My Soul	Morpha too-I'm in Love With a Girl	Big Star	1974	Video
September Gurls	Mod Lang	Big Star	1974	Video
Say Goodbye	Yeah Yeah	Cheap Trick	1997	Video
Stop This Game	Who D'King	Cheap Trick	1980	Video
Surrender	Auf Wiedersehen	Cheap Trick	1978	Video
Homburg	Good Captain Clack	Procol Harum	1967	Video
Heroes	V-2 Schneider	David Bowie	1977	Video
Golden Years	Can You Hear Me	David Bowie	1975	Video
Changes	Andy Warhol	David Bowie	1972	Video
#9 Dream	What You Got	John Lennon	1974	Video
Mind Games	Meat City	John Lennon	1973	Video
Stand by Me	Move Over Ms L	John Lennon	1975	Video
Photograph	Down and Out	Ringo Starr	1973	Video
It Dont' Come Easy	Early 1970	Ringo Starr	1971	Video
Back Off Boogaloo	Blindman	Ringo Starr	1972	Video
When We Was Fab	Zig Zag	George Harrison	1988	Video
Blow Away	Soft Touch	George Harrison	1979	Video
Hi, Hi, Hi	C Moon	Wings	1972	Video
The Back Seat of My Car	Heart of the Country	Paul McCartney	1971	Video
Shangri-La	This Man He Weeps Tonight	The Kinks	1969	Video
See My Friends	Never Met a Girl Like You Before	The Kinks	1965	Video
Wonderboy	Polly	The Kinks	1968	Video
Days	She's Got Everything	The Kinks	1968	Video
Sleepwalker	Full Moon	The Kinks	1977	Video
Dead End Street	Big Black Smoke	The Kinks	1966	Video
Nutbush City Limits	Help Him	Ike and Tina Turner	1973	Video
Help Me	Just Like This Train	Joni Mitchell	1974	Video
Killer Queen	Flick of the Wrist	Queen	1974	Video
Past, Present and Future	Paradise	The Shangri-Las	1966	Video
Remember (Walking in the Sand)	It's Easier to Cry	The Shangri-Las	1964	Video
Anarchy in the U.K.	I Wanna Be Me	Sex Pistols	1976	Video
God Save The Queen	No Feeling	Sex Pistols	1977	Video
See Emily Play	Scarecrow	Pink Floyd	1967	Video
Arnold Layne	Candy and a Currant Bun	Pink Floyd	1967	Video
Laughing	Undun	The Guess Who	1969	Video
No Time	Proper Stranger	The Guess Who	1969	Video
These Eyes	Lightfoot	The Guess Who	1969
Turn! Turn! Turn!	She Don't Care About Time	The Byrds	1965	Video
So You Want To Be A Rock 'n' Roll Star	Everybody's Been Burned	The Byrds	1967	Video
Chestnut Mare	Just a Season	The Byrds	1970
Walk Away Renee	I Haven't Got the Nerve	The Left Banke	1966	Video
The Little Girl I Once Knew	There's No Other (Like My Baby)	Beach Boys	1965	Video
Wild Honey	Wind Chimes	Beach Boys	1967	Video
White Rabbit	Plastic Fantastic Lover	Jefferson Airplane	1967	Video
Little Games	Puzzles	Yardbirds	1967	Video
Evil Hearted You	Still I'm Sad	Yardbirds	1965	Video
For Your Love	Got To Hurry	Yardbirds	1965	Video
Shapes of Things	You're a Better Man Than I	Yardbirds	1966	Video
Happenings Ten Years Time Ago	Psycho Daisies	Yardbirds	1966	Video
Over Under Sideways Down	Jeff's Boogie	Yardbirds	1966	Video
It's My Life	I'm Going to Change the World	The Animals	1965	Video
We've Gotta Get Out of This Place	I Can't Believe It	The Animals	1965	Video
Stand!	I Want to Take You Higher	Sly and the Family Stone	1969	Video
Hot Fun in the Summertime	Fun	Sly and the Family Stone	1969	Video
I'm Free	We're Not Going to Take It	The Who	1969