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Soundbytes

Written by Dan Callahan


You Don't know What You're Missing

Part 2: The Best Songs You Aren't Hearing

Typically, the way one discovers a band or album is through the singles that are played on the radio. There's only one problem: only so many singles are introduced from any album. Sometimes there aren't any singles at all, or there are but they aren't picked up. But often, I pick up an album and am simply amazed that I never heard some songs on the radio, especially when I find them to be better than the singles out there. So without further ado, I present the best songs you haven't heard on the radio, otherwise known as some of the best reasons to buy an album you didn't know about.

Less Than Jake

You gotta jump jive an' then you wail away

The Song: We Go Together

I heard it here: Greased

The Scoop: Hmmm...Let's see...First, take one all-time classic musicals. Infuse the songs with a bunch of raging punk. Then take the the finale song, tear it to shreds, and mock it at the same time as you're singing it. Voila! You have "We Go Together" from Grease redone by Less Than Jake. This song is an example of faboo punk with a great song, now infused with a sense of humor. Make sure to check it out. "Changity-chang-shu-bop? What the hell does that mean?"

Harvey Danger

They've gone to Bespin!

The Song: Carlotta Valdez

I heard it here: Where have all the Merrymakers Gone?

The Scoop: People can take all sorts of inspiration when writing a song. Sometimes, they even take...a trip to the video store. Harvey Danger's brilliant "Carlotta Valdez" is a great retelling of the plot of of Hitchcock's Vertigo, considered by many to be his finest work. Of course, the stuff that makes this song so incredible isn't the plot retelling (although it is a pretty cool concept). Nope, the thing that really does it for ya is that this song is just great rock 'n roll. The guitar work here was polished so much that it shines. Great hooks in the end make this song an excellent listen.

Reel Big Fish

Hmm...those are mighty large balls they're sporting there.  Baseballs, that is.

The Song: Take On Me

I heard it here: Baseketball Soundtrack

The Scoop: Starting off with some great drumwork, this song automatically catches the ear. Then you hear a classic Reel Big Fish countoff. Then the song kicks into high gear as the horns blast in. This is that classic 80s tune? Well, sort of. Only now it's better. Speed up the tempo, give it some ska actions, and almost any song done right can be a gem all over again. Save Ferris proved it last year with "Come On Eileen" and now Reel Big Fish has done it again. The beauty, of course, is in instant recognition of the original song, yet hearing it on a completely new light.

Ben Folds Five

Why Ben Folds Five?  Because Ben Folds Three sounds pretty dumb.

The Song: Steven's Last Night in Town

I heard it here: Whatever and Ever Amen

The Scoop: Ok, first, I'll admit it. The first thing that really got me on this song was the swing drum beat going on. Then I noticed the funky sounds I later discovered were done with a little help from the Klezmatics. Then I listened to the words, and started to crack up. What happens when somebody stays for a few days and never leaves? You write a song about it, hoping he gets the hint. All together, this song presents music at its most fun, while the boys of Ben Folds Five "kick that shit say."

Metro Stylee

All girls.  All ska.  Who could ask for anything more?

The Song: Destroy

I heard it here: Girls Go Ska compilation

The Scoop: This song, which kicks off a great compilation by the by, cathces you right away as it begins with perhaps the most unique hook line i have ever heard. "Yes you little charmer farmer of your karma." Besides being a great line to say with the New England accent, it also kicks off a great ska song. The fine female vocals leading this song pull mad tricks with this fun song about destroying everything. Pull in some fine horns and other instruments, and BAM! you're golden.

Weezer

Now isn't that pretty?

The Song: The Good Life

I heard it here: Pinkerton

The Scoop: Starting off with some simple but catchy guitar work, then having the rest of the action come in, this song is very simple sounding, yet powerful at the same time. First off, one of the great beauties of Weezer: you can understand the words. You can't say that for a lot of bands. And the lyrics are well-written, too, as you get to hear about wanting to reclaim the lost good life, which is simpler and more exciting. Then take into account the great band going behind the lyrics, and you have the best reason to buy the less well-known but more artistically-impressive Pinkerton.

Blue Plate Special

The Song: Night Out

I heard it here: Swing This Baby! compilation

The Scoop: I only heard of this band for the first time approximately two weeks ago when I bought the Swing This Baby! compilation. It was cheap, I could get another free CD if I bought it, and it had swing. I couldn't got wrong. Of all the new swing bands (as in the ones I've never heard of), Blue Plate Special produced the one song that really caught me. "Night Out" starts off with a typical sounding swing drum beat. Then the horns kick in. I mean really kick in. It's all horns pretty much for the first 40 seconds. With cool vocals singing about a night out (of course), complete with an incredible sounding non-chorus chorus (the music changes completely, signifying a chorus-style thing, but the lyrics are different each time), this song is the apotheosis of cool, and therefore, of swing as well.


Next month: Next month it's December! That means it's the end of the year! Which means, of course, that it's time for Dan to weigh in on what he thinks the best albums of 1998 are! Some old faves in this column might return, and some fresh stuff he hasn't even mentioned yet will probably pop up too! Be there or be square!

Dan Callahan, or Speak as he is better known to the JK community,
is the bearer of a jumbo-sized SPORK with mystic powers. So watch out.

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