Who apparently is planning to just go ahead and become sexier and more talented with every passing year until I experience heart failure. Well, OK, if you insist. |
An entire album of songs played on the ukulele? And it's brilliant? Yes. And yes. |
And on an entirely unrelated note, happy 70th birthday, Keith. |
Not without its awesomeness, but still. |
"Hear the sirens...hear the sireeeeeeens..."
I turned it off after about 45 seconds. It didn't grab me. It was too slow, too languid, Eddie's vocal seemed mannered and uninspired. I felt let down. I felt the same way the next time I heard it, and the next. Each time, I gave the song about 45 seconds before I changed the station.
Sorry, PJ. Better luck next time.
Then, a few days later, I caught a great song on the radio. I picked it up in the middle, so I didn't know its name or who it was by. But I loved it. It was powerful and passionate and had great lyrics and a stunning vocal performance. And I thought to myself, "Damn, this is exactly what I wish Pearl Jam still sounded like."
I heard the song a few more times and loved it a little more each time. And each time, as luck would have it, I caught it about a minute in.
You know where I'm going with this.
Yeah, it finally occurred to me that this wonderful, anonymous song sounded a lot like Pearl Jam. And Pearl Jam had a new song out that I had only heard the beginning of.
Wait a minute, honey, I'm gonna add it up. |
Guess what? "Sirens" turns into a great, great song exactly 50 seconds in. And it proceeds in its greatness for nearly another five minutes.
But to my ears, those first 49 seconds are brutal.
Maybe I'll get used to them, especially now that I know that my patience will be rewarded. Maybe I'll compose a grocery list or hum the Muppets theme song until the song hits its stride. I don't know.
The moral of the story is: If something is terrible, you should stick with it on the off chance that it will turn out well.
That's a pretty freaking awful moral, actually. Forget I said that.
Here, listen to "Sirens." Pro tip: Slide the little button thingy to the right, about oh, 49 seconds' worth.
Like it or not the first 49 seconds of "Sirens" is IN NO WAY COMPARABLE TO LEONARD NIMOY SINGING ABOUT HOBBITS.
ReplyDelete"Sirens" eventually gets better and not even the first 49 seconds causes bleeding from the ears.
I did debate whether to include the video of "The Ballad of Bilbo Baggins." I decided to have mercy.
Delete