The Colors of Summer; the Many Splendid Shirts of Master Mixdorf – Volume 17
The Colors of Summer; the Many Splendid Shirts of Master Mixdorf – Volume 17
I understand about not committing to a theme until the eleventh hour, having done so myself on every single outing so far. I like the idea of “simple themes” and serves yet another opportunity for songs to be placed with “new neighbors,” as previously discussed. As far as the flow, I think the flow of the songs was really nice, however; I need to figure out how to play back smoothly on an iPod.
The graphics were nice and the collection of songs reveals a varied “multi-colored” friend – thus the “many splendid shirts.” He takes them off and puts them on while we all gasp like an audience viewing Karl Malone. There are people in the trees looking through telescopes hoping to catch a glimpse. Like all of us – there are versions of the same and the stretching makes it all the more interesting, even as we wrinkle.
And now…the songs…
1-Blue Caravan
I think your interpretation of this song is spot on. I like the gentleness and quiet intensity that builds and glides throughout. I would be surprised if anyone had actually thought the singer was anything but a female. Intimate voice and very effective instrumentation; almost a Peter Gabrielish type instrument adds nicely to the overall arrangement and feel.
The only thing I might add to your discussion regarding the meaning of the song relates to a conversation we had about “Pan’s Labyrinth”. It seems her journey is lonely and likely hopeless. She is either oppressed or experiencing a life event that she feels she can never escape and as a coping mechanism, has created her “ideal” lover. More or less your take on “Pan’s Labyrinth” – where I did not necessarily agree, but see it applying nicely here to the Vienna Teng “storyscape.” Moreover, the song may be addressing the imperfections of relationships in general. She boldly takes her caravan of comparisons down a lonely road, unpacking Lancelot and standing him next to Bob.
2-The Skin of My Yellow Country Teeth
Man I love this song. A definite candidate for BS from V. 17. The voice throws up at you and sustains an emotive quality amplified by the provocative lyrics. I love the guitars, drums, and bass. The harsh keyboard sound fills out this excellent tune from a band I cannot say I have ever heard of before. I may have heard the name, but have no recollection of ever hearing one of their songs.
I hear the Heads that you refer to, but I hear a ton of other stuff as well, Velvet Underground, U2, Imperial Teen (which I have gushed about before), and the best of Alt. Rock around 1993 and 1994. That it is from 2006 makes the song all the more unique and powerful. I really like how song one changes “color” into song two– a very effective transition. This is a song, that when I think of V. 17, is the one that pops into mind as the one that I would most like to listen to. Was this one of the early picks for this compilation? One that helped inspire you to proceed with this particular theme?
3-Red Oyster Cult
I have heard a few Guster songs including a couple from you, my brother-in-law, and a fellow Barnes and Noblian from the East Coast. A band that appears to be popular among classy people – a compliment to the Mix and hopefully all fans of Guster. I definitely love the skinned drums they utilize and was happy to hear them a bit in this song. I hardly ever say this, but I heard some “Who” elements in this song, melody and voices, which is fun, because I rarely hear what I would call “Who” influences in today’s popular music.
Very interesting lyrics. Are they digging at the claims of bands from the sixties who wanted to save the world but buried their attempts in a drug-induced haze? Are they suggesting that as the “Red Oyster Cult” – you make a buck singing about peace and love and then use that money to smoke yourself to oblivion? “You will never grow old, you will never grow up” – is it because you will die from an overdose. A bold song. A wild song. Somehow I think I am wrong though – just in hearing the other stuff by Guster, it doesn’t become them to sing about such an item – I cannot really call it an “issue.” It is a good song coming from a very talented band, I simply am not quite understanding it – this may be one of the rare instances when the meaning of the song baffles me to such a degree that it may be interfering with my enjoyment of the song as a whole.
4-Pink Triangle
I agree with your assessment of Weezer as a fun band with clever words. I would go further and state that they are an awesome band. Musically strong with great singing and with a comic edge, the kind that can only exist within the world of music. I have listened to one of their albums and have loved several of their songs. The album as a whole was not outstanding as it rested on the strength of the “hits,” however, I would be very interested in a greatest hits compilation. Awesome singles and maybe their other albums are not so bad… I hope that the whimsy in which they present themselves follow them to the core of the individual personalities. Probably not, but it is an ideal. In fact, had I been successful as a member in a band, I would have likened ourselves to a Weezer. Similar to the Bare Naked Ladies comparison we attempted to draw. There was always a Weezer/Bare Naked Lady component that failed to gel with our more fierce components. Perhaps. I wax. I wane. I whine. I wish. I cling?
I like the intro, a classic “amping” up to full Weezernish. Great harmonies and melody. The words are pretty good and I like the “slow-down” around 2:40. I also enjoyed the ending. This definitely gets me in the mood to hear other Weezer songs. I think the last new Weezer song I heard was from a movie.
5-Silver
Mixdorf! Work with me on this memory. When I saw that the Pixies were on Volume seventeen I again tried to visit that memory. What I would do for Dumbledore’s Pensieve! Anyway – this happened!! Possibly it was in a residential section of Ames…you and I were walking down a lane, along a stone wall. We were either headed to a friend of yours or happened along this friend of yours. Possibly Faith, possibly not. In any event, the Pixies were being enjoyed by this young woman and could easily be heard by us on the road. Mixdorf…..do you remember? A warm day, possibly spring, maybe fall. My country lane description may be enhanced due to the relative nature of a street with houses compared to the dorm life I had been enjoying.
I agree with the Spaghetti Western comparison, it definitely has a dusty, grimy, tumbleweed vibe to it. It is no “Havalina,” but I appreciate it for being included. I like the chord changes and the cascading guitar. The song is more interesting for being called “Silver” as opposed to the more obvious, “Gold,” but “Gold” could have worked on a few levels as well. As it is, does silver refer to bullets and guns?
6-White Girl
And I thought only my mom used the word, “discombobulated!”
A pet band of Mixdorf’s?” Maybe. Of all the bands he has known and I have not, this is perhaps the one that I would like to hear a bit more of most. I’ve liked what I have heard and enjoyed your summary of the band. They are pulling together some interesting musical elements and forming them into intriguing arrangements.
It may mean nothing, the song, but I am one to always believe that everything MEANS something, even if it cannot be explained. Inspiration and Motivation and Expression. The keys to art. I’ll take a stab. Meaning does not have to be complicated, often times not needing to go beyond LOVE. White Girl then, possibly a girl born as a “tabula erasa” and her journey of being imprinted upon by the world. Just growing up really. Or, maybe it’s a race theme. The “fading” of the white race. Or a white girl who feels plain and is desperately seeking an identity in an increasingly confusing world. This third possibility is the more likely of the three, at least some thoughts that I had when listening.
7-Gold to Me
A catchy blues number. A blues pop song in the vein of Tracy Chapman. Easy to swallow, smooth, and pleasant to the ear. Some excellent guitar playing, several VERY nice moments. One of the students (his name was actually Ben, and I wondered if he was in fact Ben Harper at times) at the bookstore used to play Ben Harper, I never knew what album or song I was listening to, but it sounded good and proved an able foil to the toil of long lines and financial aid issues. Ben Harper can also be surprisingly funky at times as well. I had no idea that he has been around that long, I wrongly thought he was primarily from the current century. Maybe he is like Buck Rogers.
8-Green Arrow
Yo La Tengo is fast becoming one of my favorite CMC bands – a band in which I have had no previous experience with. I love the beat of natural sounds; they get into your heartbeat. Extremely relaxing and pleasant mood enhancing. On a topic of summers and vacations, Steve recently wrote about that feeling of having no responsibility and I think this song conveys that feeling nicely. And I agree, the nature sounds do suggest a gentle night.
Nothing like the seemingly endless expanse of a summer opening up before you when school is finally let out. A feeling that I treasure and a feeling that sustains me. Before jobs take on an especially important importance and responsibilities become priorities. When the race is started for nowhere in particular – to borrow slightly from David Byrne. Am I offering this to my own child – I dearly hope so.
The title is interesting especially with how I feel about the song and Mixdorf’s comments. An arrow on one hand might suggest speed – maybe a peaceful stretch along the trajectory of our lives – passing one summer after another and another, a blur of occasional greens mixed with bleak realities – streaking by, faster and faster.
Or maybe a green turning arrow – telling us that we do not need to continue, we can turn off.
Or an arrow like a sign, guiding us to a feeling or a place or both.
9-Orange Colored Sky
Great great! Great song and great that you like it! There is something about the great voices that predate our births. NKC does have an amazing vocal quality. It is difficult to put your finger on it, but it transports you instantly into a fun, comfortable sense of contentedness. Some may say a song like this does not challenge your thinking, but I believe that a song like this poses the greatest challenge. Let songs like these challenge you to be THAT happy. Come on now – take the oldies challenge! Can you be that happy with yourself, others, and surroundings. The government. The environment. Was it simply a happier time for our whole country back then or just for the middle class?
As always, let the music transport you. Why not.
10-Olive
Oddly, Molly really liked this one. And – I kid you not – she said, “Is this Captain Kirk?”
Wow – since 1957 – I do not think I have ever heard of him. Certainly Shatner follows in the footsteps of such a “Word Jazz” artist.
My favorite line:
“By those with a nose for the new, by THE PASSIONATE FEW.” Hilarious.
Yes – the “sure does” is pretty remarkable. What a voice! Has he done cartoons?
Wrap:
Thank you – it did indeed make my life a bit more colorful!
We all knew you had many nice shirts and it is fun watching you change them for us. Fun to watch you stretch and share your Wardrobe.
BS: The Skin of My Yellow Country Teeth
SIWHI: “Purple Haze” by Hendrix
posted by Mighty Tom at 11:23 PM
|
1 comments
