Shake Em Loose Tonight

The term Rumspringa comes from the Amish rite of passage where Amish teenagers go out into the world to decide if they want to be out there and return to the religion for the rest of their lives. The term was given more attention in the documentary Devil's Playground. This two-piece band from Los Angeles calls themselves Rumspringa and says their goal is to go past the conventional pop music of today and revive the roots of the spirit of early rock n' roll.

Song: Shake Em Loose Tonight
Artist: Rumspringa
Album: Rumspringa - EP

Oh well now, father said to son
You know you're growing
You've grown into a fair child
Oh well now, mother said to daughter
Girl, you're showing how to be a real wild child

Oh well I can't be satisfied, couldn't be more right
Blues is gonna move em, shake em loose tonight
I'm singing oooo....right, right, right

Brothers and sisters, won't you gather around
Don't need four tickets, we're all from the same town
Singing oooo...right, right, right
Why aren't you coming anymore?
Why aren't you coming anymore?

Here's Looking at you, Kid

The sound of the Jersey Shore was brought to life by Frankie Valli and made big by Bruce Springsteen. Here, we have The Gaslight Anthem, officially known as a punk band, but a different kind of band. The entire album this song comes from seems like an homage to old time rock. The title of the album (The '59 Sound) is a reference to "the day the music died". This song's title is in reference to the famous line from the 1942 movie, Casablanca. The lead singer's voice isn't quite like Springsteen's, but his cadence and lyrics definitely are. This is the highlight of a really fantastic album.

Song: Here's Looking at you, Kid
Artist: The Gaslight Anthem
Album: The '59 Sound (2008)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INFo3YDz-Ak

You can tell Gayle, if she calls,
That I'm famous now for all of these rock and roll songs.
And even if that's a lie, she should've given me a try.
When were kids on the field of the first day of school.
I would've been her fool.
And I would've sang out her name in those old high school halls.
You tell that to Gayle, if she calls.

And you can tell Jane, if she writes,
That I'm drunk off all these stars and all these crazy Hollywood nights.
That's total deceit, but she should've married me.
And tell her I spent every night of my youth on the floor,
Bleeding out from all these wounds.
I would've gotten her a ride out of that town she despised.
You tell that to Janey, if she writes.

But boys will be boys and girls have those eyes
That will cut you to ribbons sometimes.
And all you can do is just wait by the moon
And bleed if it's what she says you oughta do.

You remind Anna, if she asks why,
That a thief stole my heart while she was making up her mind.
I heard she lives in Brooklyn with the cool,
Goes crazy over that New York scene on 7th Avenue.
But I used to wait at the diner, a million nights without her,
Praying she won't cancel again tonight.
And the waiter served my coffee with a consolation sigh.
You remind Anna, if she asks why.
Tell her it's alright.

You know it's hard to tell you this.
Oh it's hard to tell you this.
Here's looking at you, Kid.

In the New Year

In honor of the arrival of 2010, here's a song called "In the New Year" by the Walkmen. Not the best song in the world, but interesting nonetheless. His voice sounds like a combination of Bob Dylan and Rod Stewart, and the music kind of sounds like something the Doors would play. And it's a pretty straight forward song, regarding the message.

Song: In the New Year
Artist: The Walkmen
Album: You & Me (2008)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXj0kE61YvI

Oh, I'm still living
At the old address
And I'm waiting on the weather
That I know will pass

I know that it's true
It's gonna be a good year
Out of the darkness
And into the fire
I tell you, I love you
And my heart's in the strangest place
That's how it started
And that's how it ends

Well I know you're with me
It's a point of pride
And it's louder than lightning
In this room of mine

Oh, I'm just like you
I never hear the bad news
And I never will
We won by a landslide
Our troubles are over
My sisters are married to all of my friends
Yeah, that's how it started

You took your sweet time
And I waited by without complaint
Til all the pipe dreams made me insane
So it's all over
It's all over anyhow
You took your sweet time
Finally, I opened my eyes

My friends and my family
They all ask me one thing
How long will you ramble
How long will you stay with me
The snow is still falling
I'm almost home
I'll see you in the new year

Gravity Rides Everything

This song by Modest Mouse says not to worry with all the little things because it will all eventually come together and fall into place. Gravity is used as a metaphor of this concept.

Song: Gravity Rides Everything
Artist: Modest Mouse
Album: The Moon & Antarctica
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22_l_AFXyuw

Oh, got to see, got to know right now
What's that riding on your everything?
It isn't anything at all

Oh, got to see, got to know right now
What's that writing on your shelf
In the bathrooms and the bad motels?
No one really cared for it at all
Not the gravity plan

Early, early in the morning
It pulls all on down my sore feet
I want to go back to sleep

In the motions and the things that you say
It all will fall, fall right into place
As fruit drops, flesh it sags
Everything will fall right into place

When we die, some sink and some lay
But at least I don't see you float away
And all the spilt milk, sex and weight
It all will fall, fall right into place

The Bucket

I return to this blog with a song from one of my favorite bands. It was last year that Kings of Leon became worldwide famous, but their best music comes from their earlier material like this. The quartet consisting of three brothers and a cousin from Nashville blend southern rock and garage rock elements. This song was written by lead singer Caleb Followill and directed toward his youngest brother Jared and how he coped with the band's early touring days. Ultimately, it's a song about brotherly love. The vocals aren't going to please everyone, but the music is sincere.

Song: The Bucket
Artist: Kings of Leon
Album: Aha Shake Heartbreak (2004)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWaFVvVoj4o

I'll be the one to show you the way
You'll be the one to always complain
Three in the morning, come-a bang bang bang
All out of fags and I just can't wait

Cancel the thing that I said I'd do
I don't feel comfortable talkin' to you
'Less you got the zipper fixed on my shoe
Then I'll be in the lobby drinking for two

Eighteen
Balding
Star

Golden
Falling
Heart

Look at the shakies
What's with the blush?
Fresh off the plane in my fuzzy rush
Everyone's gathered to idolize me
I hate the way you talk, your Japanese scream

It's been too long since I left the shed
You kick the bucket, and I'll swing my legs
Always remember the pact that we made
Too young to die, but old is the grave

Eighteen
Balding
Star

Golden
Falling
Heart

I'm-a gonna show the way
I'm-a gonna show the way
I'm-a gonna show the way
I'm-a gonna show the way

Eighteen
Balding
Star

The Freakin' FCC

Fans of Family Guy should appreciate this one. We all know how ridiculous the FCC can be when it comes to regulating material. So without getting into a political discussion, here is the classic FCC song by Peter, Brian and Stewie Griffin. And since it is the FCC song, be prepared for some language.

Song: The Freakin' FCC
Artist: Peter, Brian and Stewie Griffin from Family Guy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NDPT0Ph5rA

Peter: They will clean up all your talking in a menace such as this
Brian: They will make you take a tinkle when you want to take a piss
Stewie: And they'll make you call fellatio a trouser-friendly kiss
Peter, Brian, & Stewie: It's the plain situation! There's no negiotiation!
Peter: With the fellows at the freakin FCC!

Brian: They're as stuffy as the stuffiest of the special interest groups...
Peter: Make a joke about your bowels and they order in the troops
Stewie: Any baby with a brain could tell them everybody poops!
Peter, Brian, & Stewie: Take a tip, take a lesson! You'll never win by messin'
Peter: With the fellas at the freakin' FCC

Peter: And if you find yourself with some you sexy thing
You're gonna have to do her with your ding-a-ling
Cause you can't say penis!
So they sent this little warning they're prepared to do the worst

Brian: And they stuck it in your mailbox hoping you could be co-erced
Stewie: I can think of quite another place they should have stuck it first!
Peter, Brian, & Stewie: They may just be neurotic
Or possible psychotic
They're the fellas at the freakin FCC!

Valley of the Low Sun

This song off the Wallflowers lead singer Jakob Dylan's solo album is about a soldier off at war, most likely Iraq, based on the lyrics. It's acoustic with just Dylan and a guitar. One of the better songs of the decade.

Song: Valley of the Low Sun
Artist: Jakob Dylan
Album: Seeing Things
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPGufnx7N8E


We'd feel much better if we sunk this treasure
And laid our armor down
These precious metals and these captain's letters
They are no use to us now
In the day we struggle with fatigue much greater
Than any offer was
We bow down and worship these bandits and cowboys
Unable to hold their own guns

I know that soldiers are not paid to think
But something is making us sick
Onward and steady
Able and young
In the valley of the low low sun

In the shade we wander along a highway's shoulder
Into the back of beyond
Burning the daylight into a pastime
That's too wise to come more than once
It's boom boom thunder ain't no sleep coming
Out mining a slippery world
Of snow covered beaches and junkyards of diesel
And bombers named after girls

On bridges of black ice not built for the rush
There's a new kind of beast getting up
That's stranger than fiction
Speaking in tongue
In the valley of the low low sun

Hold on for the slow turning
Smoke if you've got 'em boys
This is bottom hiding out
Down under the stairs
Tomorrow has come
Like it's drunk on the blood
Of the men who have dared to be there

The earth's still climbing as it keeps on grinding
It's way up around the sun
As cool water crashes down to the masses bootlegged and bottled like rum
My dreams are humble lean as arrows
Streetwise ready and fair
As we bum rush the ages tied to the rails
On high seas not fit to be sailed

Whatever we've taken does feel like heaven
But baby we just look like hell
Act like you mean it where paradise was
In the valley of the low low sun
Act like you mean it where paradise was
In the valley of low low sun