And now it's back to that "Fight The Power" thing. I've had a lot of 'concert conversion' experiences. And while I haven't seen these guys live, I've heard from several sources that they do put on quite a show. So here's a meta-concert conversion experience. I don't know what they do to "Fight The Power" live, but there's just something appealing and subversive about a Canadian pop band covering Public Enemy.
So, in summary, I guess I love it...and I hate it.
(First posted on Mark Is Cranky)
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Article comments
1 - Tom Johnson
I actually quite like the album. Aside from "Another Postcard," I think it's easily their strongest album, and even don't mind "Shopping" (I don't love it, either, however, and would have rather seen it as a b-side,) which I've found is being received by most people the same way you did. But "Another Postcard" - God, did we really need another Chumbawumba-inspired song from them? Did the world need another Chumbawumba-inspired song, period? It puts a dent in what I see as a very strong, mature album. Will it survive the test of time for me? No telling yet - but I think it'll survive at least longer than their others have.
2 - Mac Diva
I think both the title and the mixed content are a kind of self-mockery for the group, Mark. And, they are right. BNL is one of the few groups I know my young rap-influenced friends, rock enthusiasts, indie fans, blues heads and even two pals who are composers of classical music like. I think they are celebrating the irony.
In regard to songs you don't like at first, don't you find that if you listen to them along with the rest, instead of interrupting the album, they grow on you? Not to the point of loving them, but to the extent you can tolerate them at least.
3 - Mark Saleski
MD, it's really a rare thing for me to skip a song on a recording....but there's just something about those particular tunes that really gets on my nerves.]
they remind me of all They Might Be Giants songs (none of which i can stand).
4 - visualsimplicity
Nice review. You're actually tempting me to give these guys a listen, but... Nah. I can't stand these guys. They were the writers of one of the worst lyric I have ever heard in a song. I think it went something like... "I don't make movies, but if I did, I'd have a samurai." Like, yeah...
5 - Craig
For an MP3 of the (very rarely played) Fight The Power, try http://kingjeff.bnluk.net/boston.html.
6 - Eric Olsen
Their verson of "Fight the Power" (that I got on some label sampler at least ten years ago) was the only song I liked by then for a long time. Now I like them pretty well. Even people who don't like them say they are great live.
And they blog.
7 - Natalie Davis
I really like the Ladies. Then again, I like TMBG too. And Moxy Fruvous too.
8 - Taloran
Every tune on Super Session by Michael Bloomfield, Al Kooper and Stephen Stills sends me to another planet, except Man's Temptation, which I absolutely cannot stomach and skip past every time. So I understand completely what Mark is saying in the post and in comment 3.
9 - Mac Diva
Tal, you know what psychologists do to cure people who fear heights or are afraid to fly, right? Maybe if you listen to the songs you don't like and work up to hearing that one 1000 times. . . .-:)
10 - Taloran
Good grief, MD, I'd rather be thrown out of an airplane. ;-)
11 - Antoinette
WHAT? Another Postcard is hilarious! The point here in humor. So the song isn't a style you like, but just listen to the lyrics, it is meant to be funny.
12 - Tom Johnson
There's funny, and there's stupid. "Another Postcard" is stupid, plain and simple. Regardless of style, the lyrics are bad and dumb. It sounds like a desperate attempt to come up with another "One Week." I couldn't stand that song either, but it was catchy and at least it wasn't as just-plain-bad as "Another Postcard."