If you’ve ever felt protective of a child or a lover, this might be your anthem.
If the sound of clean, textured guitars appeals to you (or indeed zestful 90’s rock distortion), the underrated Tonic is a band you should dig into deeper than their scant radio hits.
If you’re susceptible to earworms of any kind, listen at your own risk: I’ve woke with this one in my head for three successive mornings.
I wish I’d seen you as a little girl Without your armor to fend off the world I would have kept you underneath my wing I would protect you from everything
Make way for the lemon parade Make way for my girl Make way for the lemon parade Make way for my girl
Did the boys all tease you when they had the chance Always left standing when it came time do dance Did you hide behind your books girl Did you find your secret friends Always I’ll want you Always ’till the end
Make way for the lemon parade Make way for my girl Make way for the lemon parade Make way for my girl
At the time of the Pet Shop Boys’ Release album’s uh…release in 2002, critics couldn’t agree whether it was the band’s death-throes or their brilliant reinvention they were hearing.
Although this album saw the band move a bit from their typical electronic disco template to a more band-focused, guitar-infused pop sound (former Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr appears on several songs) there’s a depth and maturity to the songwriting that marks the record as more than a mere staving off of stagnation. Yes, it’s a change. But it feels like growth, not desperation.
“Home and Dry” charted at #14 in the UK, where the band’s singles success extended well beyond the 80’s. Needless to say, it did not trouble the US charts.
Julian Lennon had his brief moment of pop stardom, then seemed to disappear.
But in truth he never went away but has continued in relative obscurity, crafting the kind of music that evokes his father’s work, both solo and with a certain foursome.
Check out the gorgeous lament “Saltwater” for proof that Johnny’s son was and is a valid artist in his own “write”.
Guster have gone for an 80’s nostalgia feel on their 2019 Look Alive album, and “Overexcited”, presented here in it’s non-LP extended version, evokes that British cheek and spirit of bands like Madness.
The lyric video will fill you in on the hilarious bantery bits.
Though dubbed Auckland, New Zealand’s smartass retort to Sum 41 by Allmusic, Steriogram are so much more. On their second album, the David Kahne-produced Schmack, the band combine pop punk with Beastie Boys-style white boy rap, Nirvanaesque riffage, Weezer’s gawky sense of humor, and classic rock reference all to glorious effect.
Tyson Kennedy’s snark rap vocals play against Brad Carter, who carries the chorus melody on “Walkie Talkie Man”, and it’s all pinned on a mighty Kinks-inspired riff and an exuberance that schmacks of too many energy drinks.
I recommend reading along to this one.
Well you’re walkin and a talkin And a movin and a groovin And a hippin and a hoppin And a pickin and a boppin Those bods are being bad You better take a stand You gonna wake up that thing in your hand You’re looking all around There is trouble to be found Make sure when you find it you get to say it loud Gotta code three Need back up Bring me my bright pink fluro jacket
He’s fat and he don’t run too fast (Well you’re walkin and a talkin) But he’s faster than me (You’re my walkie talkie man) Last night at the show we saw him (Well you’re walkin and a talkin) Going out of his tree (Go Go Go Go)
Well you’re walkin and a talkin And a freakin and a yellin And a bossin and a speakin And a lookin and a pointin Always tell us what to do With your high top shoes And you wave your torch With your black short shorts Don’t let em get away Don’t think they can play Nail ’em to the wall Cause you really need to say Gotta code three Need back up Bring me My bright pink fluro jacket
He’s fat and he don’t run too fast (Well you’re walkin and a talkin) But he’s faster than me (You’re my walkie talkie man) Last night at the show we saw him (Well you’re walkin and a talkin) Going out of his tree (just the drums!)
He’s fat and he don’t run too fast But he’s faster than me Last night at the show we saw him Going out of his tree
He’s fat and he don’t run too fast But he’s faster than me Last night at the show we saw him Going out of his tree He’s a walkie talkie man!
Well you’re walkin and a talkin And a movin and a groovin And a hippin and a hoppin And a pickin and a boppin Those bods are being bad You better take a stand You gonna wake up that thing in your hand You’re looking all around There is trouble to be found Make sure when you find it you get to say it loud Gotta code three Need back up Bring me My bright pink fluro jacket
The Grammy-nominated video is pretty yarn good, too:
Every Moment Has A Song 