This review is dedicated to Francis.
Lately, a debate has emerged between us regarding the comparison between the music of English artists and the music of American artists, about which one is better. There has been such an intensity that entire musical genres characteristic of one of the respective sides of the Atlantic have been condemned, with accusations of Yankee or British racism... Nevertheless, one must not think that this musical difference, and possibly cultural one, does not exist; it's just that, whereas with cinema the gap is considerable and proportional to the vastness of the two nations, when it comes to the music world, the small United Kingdom manages to hold its own against the immense United States, at times even completely surpassing its rival in rock history.
While acknowledging the English for this, we must assert that there is no qualitative difference between the two countries, and overall not even a quantitative one. The difference is cultural, between a country - the U.S. - with predominantly blues/country/folk roots, with such a recent history that it has experienced isolation from classical music, medieval traditional songs, madrigals, or the poetical-musical discoveries of troubadours. This leads the States to cling even more to their small mythology of pre-civil war black gospel, Buddy Holly and Presley in a thousand forms, Californian waves and chewing gum surf-style, and Kerouac's kin like Dylan or Springsteen. They themselves teach that beyond the musical background, the physical one is also determinant, made up of unique environments like Arizona, Nebraska, or the bay of San Francisco, vast and/or secret lands, mystical or chaotic, that only those who have seen them can understand. England (and to a modest extent, Ireland) has represented the beacon of Europe in an already English-dominated world; and it has gathered from the heights of its national pride all its traits of veiled irony, relative formal elegance, introverted yet dominant style, and snobbish aggressiveness far from the most obvious vulgarity.
I'll give a small example by taking a random year from the forty years since the first Beatles/Beach Boys duels: 1994. This year, in my opinion, can be exemplary for understanding the sweet divergences between the two superpowers in question: at that moment, both had their record of the year released by two bands that had spent the early '90s waiting for the big commercial-generational bang, respectively Green Day with “Dookie” in the USA and Blur with “Parklife” in the UK. Meanwhile, two debuts were released on the market that would equally decisively change the course of music in their countries for the remaining '90s: “Definitely Maybe” by Oasis and the self-titled first album by Weezer, later known to all as the Blue Album. While Gallagher draws heavily from the English past, invoking in style and cheekiness Beatles & Wham!, Sex Pistols & Smiths, the Los Angeles guys are cheerfully composing simple pop-folk pieces mixed into a resounding yet harmless punk. There is no tradition to respect or plagiarize, psychedelic jams like “Columbia”; here, there is the triumph of the sunniest and most innocent joy, 40 minutes of college jokes and “stupid songs with stupid words”. Even the cover is eloquent: no globes, alcohol, and Bacharach vinyls, just four cheerful lads posing against a simple blue background with a love for the immediate beauty of pop art. In the end, we are the luckiest: we've been able to enjoy these damn rock 'n' roll craftsmen both.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 My Name Is Jonas (03:24)
My name is Jonas
I'm carrying the wheel
Thanks for all you've shown us
But this is how we feel
Come sit next to me
Pour yourself some tea
Just like grandma made
When we couldn't find sleep
Things were better then
Once but never again
We've all left the den
Let me tell you 'bout it
The choo-choo train left right on time
A ticket cost only your mind
The driver said "Hey man, we go all the way"
Of course we were willing to pay.
My name is WEPEEL
I gotta box full of your toys
They're fresh out of batteries
But they're still makin' noise
Makin' noise . . .
Tell me what to do
Now the tank is dry
Now this wheel is flat
And you know what else?
Guess what I received in the mail today
Words of deep concern from my little brother
The building's not goin' as he planned
The foreman has injured his hand
The dozer will not clear a path
The driver swears he learned his math
The workers are goin' home!
The workers are goin' home!
The workers are goin' home!
The workers are goin' home!
Yeah!
The workers are goin' home
The workers are goin' home
The workers are goin' home
Yeah yeah yeah
My name is Jonas
02 No One Else (03:04)
My girl's got a big mouth, with which she blabbers a lot.
She laughs at most everything, whether its funny or not.
And if you see her, tell her its over now.
I want a girl who will laugh for no one else.
When I'm away she puts her makeup on the shelf.
When I'm away she never leaves the house.
I want a girl who laughs for no one else.
My girl's got eyeballs in the back of her head.
She looks around and around, you know it makes me sad to see her like
that.
Please don't believe her, she says that for anyone.
And if you watch her go...watch her, watch her, watch her.
I want a girl who will laugh for no one else.
When I'm away she puts her makeup on the shelf.
When I'm away she never leaves the house.
I want a girl who laughs for no one else.
And if you see her, tell her its over now!
[Boingy guitar solo.]
And if you see her, tell her its over now.
And if you watch a girl {Watch her girl}
Wucha Wucha Wucha Wucha!
I want a girl who will laugh for no one else.
When I'm away she puts her makeup on the shelf.
When I'm away she never leaves the house.
I want a girl who laughs for no one else.
No one else, yeah!
03 The World Has Turned and Left Me Here (04:19)
The world has turned and left me here
Just where I was before you appeared
And in your place an empty space
has filled the void behind my face
I just made love with your sweet memory
One thousand times in my head
You said you loved it more than ever
You said
You remain, turned away
Turning further every day
The world has turned and left me here
Just where I was before you appeared
And in your place an empty space
has filled the void behind my face
I talked for hours to your wallet photograph
And you just listened
You laughed enchanted by my intellect
Or maybe you didn't
You remain, turned away
Turning further every day
The world has turned and left me here
Just where I was before you appeared
And in your place an empty space
has filled the void behind my face
You remain, turned away
Turning further every day
The world has turned and left me here
Just where I was before you appeared
And in your place an empty space
has filled the void behind my face
The world has turned and left me here
Just where I was before you appeared
And in your place an empty space
has filled the void behind my face
Do you believe what I sing now?
Do you believe what I sing now?
Do you belie-eve?
04 Buddy Holly (02:39)
What's with these homies, dissin' my girl?
Why do they gotta front?
What did we ever do to these guys
That made them so violent?
Woo-hoo, but you know I'm yours
Woo-hoo, and I know you're mine
Woo-hoo, and that's for all time
Oo-ee-oo, I look just like Buddy Holly
Oh-oh, and you're Mary Tyler Moore
I don't care what they say about us anyway
I don't care 'bout that
Don't you ever fear, I'm always near
I know that you need help
Your tongue is twisted, your eyes are slit
You need a guardian
Woo-hoo, and you know I'm yours
Woo-hoo, and I know you're mine
Woo-hoo, and that's for all time
Oo-ee-oo, I look just like Buddy Holly
Oh-oh, and you're Mary Tyler Moore
I don't care what they say about us anyway
I don't care 'bout that
I don't care 'bout that
Bang, bang, a knock on the door
Another big bang and you're down on the floor
Oh no, what do we do?
Don't look now but I lost my shoe
I can't run and I can't kick
Wassa matter babe are you feelin' sick?
Wassa matter, wassa matter, wassa matter you?
Wassa matter babe, are you feelin' blue, and oh
And that's for all time (that's for all time)
Oo-ee-oo, I look just like Buddy Holly
Oh-oh, and you're Mary Tyler Moore
I don't care what they say about us anyway
I don't care 'bout that
I don't care 'bout that
I don't care 'bout that
I don't care 'bout that
05 Undone - The Sweater Song (05:05)
guy1: hey bro, how we doin man
guy2: alright
guy1: it's been a while man lifes so rad, this bands my favourite man don't u love em?
guy2: ya
guy1: ah man u want a beer?
guy2: alright
guy1: aw man hell bra this is the best man i'm so glad we're all back together 'n stuff, this is great man
guy2: ya
guy1: hey u no about the party after the show?
guy2: ya
guy1: aw man it's gunna be the best, i'm so stoked, take it easy bro
Ah me
Baby
Goddamn
I am
I can
Sing and
Hear me
Know me
If you want to destroy my sweater
Pull this thread as I walk away
girl:hey whats up
guy:not much
girl: umm did u hear about the party?
guy: ya
girl: i think i'm gunna go but my freinds don't really wanna go, could i get a ride?
Oh no
It go
It gone
Bye-Bye (Bye!)
Do I
I think
I sink
and I die
If you want to destroy my sweater
Pull this thread as I walk away (as I walk away)
Watch me unravel i'll soon be naked
Lying on the floor, lying on the floor
I've come undone
If you want to destroy my sweater
Pull this thread as I walk away
Watch me unravel i'll soon be naked
Lying on the floor, lying on the floor
Ive come undone
I don't want to destroy your tank-top
Let's be friends and just walk away
Hate to see you lyin' there in your Superman skivvies
Lying on the floor, I've come undone
06 Surf Wax America (03:06)
The Sea is foaming like a bottle of beer
The wave is comin' but I ain't got no fear
I'm waxin' down so that I'll go real fast
I'm waxin' down because it's really a blast
I'm goin' surfin' cuz I don't like your face
I'm bailin' out because I hate the race
of Ratts that run Round and Round in the maze
I'm goin' surfin', I'm goin' surfin'
You take your car to work
I'll take my board
And when you're out of fuel
I'm still afloat
My buddies and the hunnies all come along
They seem invincible as they surf along
The sea is rollin' like a thousand pound keg
We're goin' surfin', we're goin' surfin'
You take your car to work
I'll take my board
And when you're out of fuel
I'm still afloat
(repeat)
All along the undertow is strengthening its hold
I never thought it'd come to this
Now I can never go home
You take your car to work
I'll take my board
And when you're out a fuel
I'm still afloat
All along the undertow is stregthenng its hold
I never thought it'd come to this
Now I can never go home
You take your car to work
I'll take my board
And when you'r out of fuel
I'm still afloat
You take your car,
I'll take my board
2x
LET'S GO!!!!!!!
07 Say It Ain't So (04:18)
Oh yeah, all right
Somebody's Heine'
Is crowdin' my icebox
Somebody's cold one
Is givin' me chills
Guess I'll just close my eyes
Oh yeah,
All right,
Feels good
Inside
Flip on the telly,
Wrestle with Jimmy
Something is a-bubbling
Behind my back
The bottle is ready to blow...
Say it ain't so
Your drug is a heartbreaker
Say it ain't so
My love is a lifetaker
I can't confront you
I never could do
That which might hurt you
Just try and be cool
And I say - this way is a waterslide away from me
That takes you further every day (day)
So be cool
Say it ain't so
Your drug is a heartbreaker
Say it ain't so,
My love is a lifetaker
Dear Daddy,
I write you in spite of years of silence.
You've cleaned up, found Jesus, things are good or so I hear
This bottle of Steven's awakens ancient feelings
Like father, stepfather, the son is drowning in the flood
Yeah, yeah yeah, yeah yeah
Say it ain't so.
Your drug is a heartbreaker.
Say it ain't so
My love is a lifetaker
08 In the Garage (03:55)
I've got the dungeon Master's Guide
I've got a 12-sided die
I've got Kitty Pryde
and Nightcrawler too
Waiting there for me
yes I do, I do
I've got posters on the wall
My favorite rock group KISS
I've got Ace Frehley
I've got Peter Criss
Waiting there for me
yes I do, I do
In the garage
I feel safe
No one cares about my ways
In the garage
Where I belong
No one hears me sing this song
In the garage
I've got an electric guitar
I play my stupid songs
I write these stupid words
and I love every one
Waiting there for me
Yes I do, I do
In the garage
I feel safe
No one cares about my ways
In the garage
Where I belong
No one hears my sing this song
In the garage
In the garage
Yaaaaaaaaaak!
In the garage
I feel safe
No one cares about my ways
In the garage
Where I belong
No one hears my sing this song
In the garage
I feel safe
No one laughs about my ways
In the garage
Where I belong
No one hears me
No one hears me
No one hears me
No one hears me
No one hears me sing this song
09 Holiday (03:24)
Let's go away for a while
you and I
To a strange and distant land
Where they speak no word of truth
But they don't understand anyway
holiday
far away
to stay
on a Holiday
Far away
let's go today
in a Heartbeat!
Don't bother to pack your bags
Or your map
We won't need them where we're goin'
We're goin' where the wind is blowin'
Not knowin' where we're gonna stay
on a Holiday
far away
to stay
on a holiday
far away
let's go today
in a heartbeat.
We will write a postcard
To our friends and family
In free verse
On the road with Kerouac,
Sheltered in his Bivouac,
On this road we'll never die...
Let's go away!Let's go away for a while
you and I
To a strange and distant land
Where they speak no word of truth
But we don't understand anyway
holiday
far away
to stay
on a Holiday
Far away
let's go today
in a Heartbeat!
10 Only in Dreams (07:58)
You can't resist her
She's in your bones
She is your marrow
And your ride home
You can't avoid her
She's in the air
In between molecules
Of Oxygen and Carbon dioxide
[Chorus]
Only in dreams
We see what it means
Reach out our hands
Hold on to hers
But when we wake
It's all been erased
And so it seems
Only in dreams
You walk up to her
Ask her to dance
She says hey, baby
I just might take the chance
You say it's a good thing
That you float in the air
That way there's no way
I will crush your pretty toenails into a thousand pieces
[Chorus]
Only in dreams
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