The Singles Guy 03.04.09: Tragically Canadian Edition

Posted by Jacob Crogie on 03.04.2009

This week we get some MCR, the latest from Kanye and some Carrie Underwood along with a great track from Canadian band State of Shock. The Kickass 5 examines the best band in the world...or at least in Canada, The Tragically Hip. Come in, you might just learn something about REAL music.

Now that the booze cruise is over its time to get back to work and what a week this is with Watchmen dropping this weekend! YAY NERDS UNITE! Anyways, lets get going with a song from that soundtrack and one of those novelty covers I am so fond of.


My Chemical Romance- "Desolation Row"

So...we take an eleven minute long masterpiece composed almost entirely of literary references and smash it into a 3 minute emo-punk jam? FUCKING RIGHT! Honestly, this is one of the best...and most unnecessary covers I have ever heard. Nice eerie organ intro which sets the stage for the forthcoming clusterfuck. Nice duelling guitars after the first verse, and the chorus is just epic...well...as much as their is a chorus in this song. Nice momentum built throughout and honestly suits the minutes to midnight kind of feel that Watchmen will hopefully maintain. Some nerds seem to think that it isn't a good choice but I beg to differ, besides...all those idiots know is what they have seen in trailers. Besides...its going over the end credits. If this is the feel Zack Snyder is going for, I'm even more stoked for the movie now!

The Epic Moment of Insane Awesomeness: It's Dylan...with duelling guitars...and a screaming chorus.

The Arbitrary Rating of Goodness: 3.5/5




Kanye West ft. Lil' Wayne- "See You In My Nightmares"

Well, here comes another track featuring Lil' Wayne...honestly...he's such a collaboration whore. The amount of autotune in this song may be enough to blow my head up. There is not much to be said about this track that hasn't already been said about Kanye's entire album. Electronica Kanye < Rap Kanye. That is painfully evident here, not that the song is bad, I actually find it tolerable. Kanye gets all emotional on the track and that is clearly a high point. Not much of a dance track though...Weezy is pretty good here, when his rap comes in he seems to ditch the heavy vocode for it which has to be considered a plus.

The Epic Moment of Insane Awesomeness: Nothing really stands out about this track, although, the cellos are pretty awesome?

The Arbitrary Rating of Goodness: 3/5




Melanie Fiona- "Give It To Me Right"

Amy Winehouse clone alert. This kind of retro pop always turns my crank though and the nice bass intro got me into this track right away. Also, this girl can really sing and instrumentally the background is solid with some nice organ work on top of a simple yet effective bass line. The song is incredibly well produced with a nice wall of sound effect going on with background noises that can't be picked out unless you are looking for them...but yet they contribute to an overall goodness. Thematically, its a pretty stock R & B track but is given a pretty signifigant boost due to solid instrumentation and vocal performance. SHIT! I have figured out why it sounds so retro...IT IS! The song is a direct sample of The Zombies smash "Time of The Season"! Well...that explains everything, still a good track though.

The Epic Moment of Insane Awesomeness: Retro awesomeness.

The Arbitrary Rating of Goodness:3/5




Madcon- "Beggin'"

More retro awesomeness, this time from a Norwegian(?!?!?) Hip-Hop band. This Four Seasons track was turned into a Global hit by these guys which means, that of course, very few people on this side of the pond have heard it at all. Which is a shame because this track is banging as hell. It's got the same kind of retro style as Melanie Fiona except with more of an interpretation style in comparison to her sampling. Honestly, give this one a listen its a catchy as hell cover by an extremely talented band...when the bass intro kicks in, be prepared to rock the hell out. Great track that will hopefully make some kind of impact on North American charts soon.

The Epic Moment of Insane Awesomeness: MORE retro awesomeness.

The Arbitrary Rating of Goodness:4/5




Sam Roberts- "Fixed To Ruin"

Time for some Canadian content from one of my personal favs, the ever awesome Sam Roberts. Sad to say it though, but this guy peaked with his first album which is too bad, but its not like this stuff is horrible. It's good, but not great, with rather stock instrumentation and vocal performance to anyone who has ever heard a Sam Roberts song before now. Still better than half of the other shit out there though. If you enjoy this one, look up more of his older stuff like my personal favorite "Don't Walk Away Eileen" or possibly "Dead End". To me, it just seems to be played out, for our American friends this will sound new and fresh no doubt.

The Epic Moment of Insane Awesomeness: Something so charmingly Canadian about this entire song.

The Arbitrary Rating of Goodness: 2.5/5




Ida Maria- "I Like You So Much Better When You're Naked"

Its Norwegian invasion week! RUN FOR THE HILLS, THE VIKINGS ARE COMING! Now that we have that out of the way, this track is an infectious pop-rock track. Her vocal stylings are very similar to another Scandanavian (kind of...does Iceland count?) the ever crazy Bjork. Honestly though, having listened to different versions, I find the remix version SO much better...the pop version is like The Hives...and I don't like the Hives... Let's talk about the remix shall we? There is a crazy amount of foreward momentum in this track and one seems to be riding the waves up and down. This is clearly a club banger, its almost impossible to listen to this song while remaining stationary. The pre-chorus is sing along material at its finest, this is an epic slice of dance-rock why have I never heard it until now?

The Epic Moment of Insane Awesomeness: Remix FTW

The Arbitrary Rating of Goodness: 2/5 rock version...4 for the remix!

Rock


AMAZING TECHNO DANCE PARTY REMIX



Rascal Flatts- "Here Comes Goodbye"

These guys will leave no stone unturned in their attempt to steal other people's songs to make huge sums of money. This time...from a 10th place American Idol reject...wow. Honestly though, this song isn't a total loss, although it is what is to be expected from these schlock fest testicle lacking douchebags. That was kind of harsh, but you get the idea. Stock pop instrumentation but well done, especially in the chorus where Gary sings what is left of his heart out. This one is much more tolerable then any of their other songs, and the guitar solo is actually good, like what the hell is going on here. They should steal more songs from American Idol rejects.

The Epic Moment of Insane Awesomeness: Meh...it's almost as good as "What Hurts The Most"...almost.

The Arbitrary Rating of Goodness: 2/5




Carrie Underwood- "I Told You So"

Well, my brother from another mother Jasper Jones loves this track...my god I hate it so.

You can read his review here--->>> Country Singles Jubilee

This just isn't my brand of country...there is almost too much feeling here, and the generic instrumentation and theme it feels like it could be right out of the 80s country scene...wait...it is. Carrie does Randy Travis on this one while putting a little (who the hell am I kidding...a lot) more bombast into it. It seems a tad too overstated for me...that's saying alot coming from a Meat Loaf fan. Is it sad that Keith Urban has the better "I Told You So"? Sorry to the future Mrs. Mike Fisher.

The Epic Moment of Insane Awesomeness: Ick.

The Arbitrary Rating of Goodness: 1/5




SONG OF THE WEEK!

State of Shock- "Money Honey"

This song has been out in the Canadian market since the summer of 2007 (?!) and made a HUGE impact, so much so that now it gets an American release. Hopefully this one actually does well, it would be nice to see someone other than Nickelback, Avril or Simple Plan representing Canada on the world stage. This song is just catchy as hell with a kind of plodding forward moving rhythm that crescendos into a sing along chorus that will get into your head...and never leave. They knew what they were doing when they crafted this track, its simple yet awesome in every way...almost Hinder-esque...except much, much, MUCH smarter and way better. Good luck in America...if the Hip couldn't make it...well...good luck anyways.

The Epic Moment of Insane Awesomeness: The amazing intro

The Arbitrary Rating of Goodness: 4.5/5 Let's go CANADA!



The Kickass Five Tragically Hip Songs!

Time for some awesome Canadian content... that you Americans have no idea exists! The Hip are THE Canadian band...and its time you gave them their due!

5."Fireworks"

There is hockey involved...what isn't Canadian about it? You guys are so sheltered.

The Epic Moment of Insane Awesomeness: Do you know who Bobby Orr is? Or what happened in 1972? I DO!




4."Courage (for Hugh MacLennan)"

A song about Gord's interpretation of a rather well known Canadian novel...what isn't to love?

The Epic Moment of Insane Awesomeness: I understand why they aren't as popular...you Americans just don't get it.



3."Bobcaygeon"

Small town near Toronto...I want to go...it sounds awesome.

The Epic Moment of Insane Awesomeness: Apparently in Bobcaygeon, everything becomes clear.



2."New Orleans is Sinking"

You must have heard this one...a bit too overplayed for me though.

The Epic Moment of Insane Awesomeness: Most amazing blues rock EVER.



1."38 Years Old"

Written about a mass breakout from Kingston's Millhaven Pen. not that you would know where Kingston is...or why it's important...

The Epic Moment of Insane Awesomeness: It's not autobiographical...but it sure seems to be, so much emotion.



So that's it for another week, be sure to tune in same time next week when we get all the latest and the greatest plus all the crap that everyone else likes...

SHAMELESS PLUG
The SuperHeroes In Training

Until next week, keep your pimphand strong and your rawkfist in the air!