Music Video Of The Week — 10: Rock on the Radio Edition
From lyrics like "She was a really cool kisser and she wasn't all that strict of a Christian" (which is awesome), to the Sprinsteenian grandeur and Sal Paradise references, The Hold Steady are doing their own bit to save rock and roll. For better or worse, this is the bar band all grown up, and it's damn catchy:
"Stuck Between Stations," by The Hold Steady.
Speaking of Springsteen-level pop-rock: Another great modern band looking to craft Gen Y's version of "Born to Run," and they come pretty close. I don't know if the Boss every played around with a hurdy gurdy, but this song manages to capture the whole screen-doors-in-the-infinite-summer-dusk thing anyway. Great song:
"Keep the Car Running," by Arcade Fire.
Because I'm a sucker, OK? Because sometimes I'm driving home from work at night, bouncing between KROQ and Indie, and the song comes on and gets in my head. OK? That's all:
"Hey There Delilah," by Plain White T's.
Comments: 5
This post is responsible for me buying the Hold Steady album today. Congratulations, you're influential!
I have that hold steady album but I'm still on the fence. Sometimes I like it, and other times I really don't.
but I love arcade fire.
After hearing this, I have only one question: Is anyone else out there dying for the Arcade Fire to cover "On the Dark Side" from Eddie and the Cruisers?
Yeah, I thought so.
Aw, man I was just begigin to like this blog and then I had to go back through the archives and stumble on "Springsteenian grandeur". Ick. That's like saying "Twinkian nutrition" and meaning it - except more hackneyed.
We're in the 21st century now - we don't need to keep recycling the already over-explored tropes of bone headed three chordianism. The rabid canonization of moderately talented rockers that manage to fake honesty in service of a musical conservatism that genuonely hampers exploration, innovation and actual creativity has stifled music for at least three decades now.
Time to let go and move on, okay?
I don't have television (I watch all my VMars & Heroes via sneaky YouTubers) but I was fortunate enough to actually catch that SNL and see Arcade Fire perform. I was blown away by their intensity and how good they seem to sound live. Also, I am unabashedly in love with Win Butler. His voice is magical, he's a vibrant performer and he's taller than me. I need the height since I'm sort of on the too tall side.
...And I know he's married in real life which is swell but it does not affect his fictional status in my life one bit.
May 9, 2007 6:22 PM