November 1, 2006

• A new month-man, it came quickly!
  Soon, we will see this:

  

  Winter is my least favorite season.  I would be happy if we only had it for Xmas, then it could effing disappear for the rest of the season!

  Test your reaction time
  Click here:

  http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/humanbody/sleep/sheep/reaction_version5.swf

  Click
  here: National Do Not Call Registry

   

  

  When I Said I Wanted to Be Your Dog Jens Lekman 2004

  Swedish songwriter-rocker Jens Lekman has seen a suitably
  ramshackle rise to fame, with his clear, clever, and heartfelt lyrics and
  deceptively lackadaisical but pitch-perfect singing. His songs charm and win
  through his guileless, earnest, self-effacing romantic persona, in a manner
  reminiscent of Jonathan Richman, Morrissey, and/or Stephen Merritt of the
  Magnetic Fields. Although Lekman is a native Swedish speaker, he sings in an
  English that is easier to understand than ours. What makes Lekman a hit with the
  Internet crowd is the stand-alone nature of his songs. The listener immediately
  feels comfortable with the starting chords of When I Said I Wanted to Be Your
  Dog as each song is notable on its own, yet the album melds together as a
  grand song-cycle of romantic failure, struggle, and eternal optimism.

  Culled from songs created as MySpace cuts, and including singles or live
  tunes played from 2000 to 2004, the album employs sounds from a brightly tacky
  synthesizer backing and orchestra samples to what appears to be a bootleg
  recording from the drunken Swedish cast party of Avenue Q. “We’re
  drinking cheap wine to bossa nova / You’re a supernova in disguise,” goes a
  typical lyric, from “Happy Birthday, Dear Friend Lisa,” about the happy period
  of first getting to know a special woman. This same woman subsequently wrecks
  Lekman’s life as the songs play out. In “Do You Remember the Riots?” he sings a
  moving a capella tale of losing the respect of his girlfriend at a public
  demonstration. In another song, he sadly offers to sing at her wedding to
  another man. Lekman comes off as a heroically misguided lad who continually
  risks his life and sanity to keep the interest of some obviously troubled and
  undoubtedly lovely young Swedish lass. In classic codependent fashion he pr!
  oclaims, “It’s so beautiful to be guided,” as the trumpets flare in an eruption
  of 1970s-tinged cheer. Later in the album, Lekman’s love life becomes even more
  complicated. In “Psychogirl,” an affair with a girl named Julie starts as a
  snowstorm-bound one night stand and ends with her stalking him.

  In
  addition to Lekman and his mandolins, samples, and guitars are some top-notch
  accompanists. The ex-girlfriend character with the lovely voice on “If You Ever
  Need a Stranger (to Sing at Your Wedding)” and a brilliantly mournful male
  harmonizer on “Julie” stand out. This simple, hilarious, and poignant record is
  one that many musicians wish they were able to make. Instead of looking to a
  deep or musically complex sound, it’s albums like this one, with its heavily
  Bacharach-influenced material, that the world needs now. Does Lekman ever find
  that love he’s been looking for? Suffice it to say that you will be riveted to
  the songs as if you were tuning in to an old radio drama. This is not just
  hilarious song craft; this is art, this is life. This is Jens Lekman.
  

  	Listen to all sound clips from this CD
  “Do You Remember the Riots?” “If You Ever Need a Stranger (to Sing at Your Wedding)” “Psychogirl”

  Buy this CD

  Today is
  TyneeGrannyB‘s

  
  Birthday
  Go there and wish her a Happy one!
  

  
  

  
  

  

  I love you!!

  
  

  • 11:01 am
  • 42 Comments