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Post by spencerm on Feb 16, 2016 2:12:27 GMT -5
I'm interested to hear the rest of this but a bit skeptical about the Pringles can interpretation. For one, Craig tells us twice that it's a pipe. Why should we decide that it's something else instead? And two, if you set the dates on a google search to the time-frame necessary to be inspiration for the writing of the first few THS albums, I don't see any results for a pringles can projector. It's entirely possible that people were doing this but it wasn't documented online, although it would be neat to find a contemporaneous source for this.
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Here goes
Jan 29, 2016 13:10:21 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by spencerm on Jan 29, 2016 13:10:21 GMT -5
Thanks for considering what I said. I'm not in nearly as deep as you but I've got a few other questions/thoughts. Sorry if these are obvious but there's a lot here and I'm having some trouble keeping it all straight.
1) your point against the UPC as a barcode is that Mary isn't for sale. But then you later cite her as being the source of the line "I do my business on the street". What is her business?
2) You also read three skaters and some hooray chick as the three guys and Mary, but if Mary is the pov character of curves and nerves, then who is she referring to as a hoodrat chick, herself? Ressurection also paints Holly as the hoodrat. But then you've also got Jesse identified as 'your little boldest friend'.
3) I'm not sure that the Rick Danko identification has to hinge on weight gain -- I had just put that out there but you could be right about the records skipping. I think your point about long slow decline also echoes danko, but probably not pivotal either way. Does Mary die by the end? You don't have to give this away but Stevie nix has the 'got high for the last time' lyric.
4) you asked about moving pictures. I'm not sure if its a Rush allusion or not. The one thing I can think of is that I read an interview with Geddy Lee once who remarked that at the time they started people thought they had named the band after rush, a cheap drug. The drug in question is alkyl nitrate or poppers (as in Pensacola parties hard [KP]. I can't say that the end of the swish feels particularly Rush like to me. I thought maybe the moving pictures line was a reference to hollys porn career but it doesn't seem to really line up -- that was in California, not city centre, unless she was still living on that money until September when she had to start doing favours? (But then how do we deal with the 'bloodsucking summer' line?) My other instinct is to link it back to 'seein lousy movies but only for the AC' from hostile, mass. In which case it gives a very literal sense of getting relief from the summer heat by going to the movies.
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Here goes
Jan 27, 2016 12:56:13 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by spencerm on Jan 27, 2016 12:56:13 GMT -5
A couple thoughts 're: the swish
I wonder if Rick Danko is chosen because it also reflects Mary's trajectory. From Wikipedia: "Danko died in his sleep at his home in Marbletown, New York, near Woodstock. The cause of death was heart failure, arising from years of alcoholism, drug addiction and weight gain". (The weight gain is consistent with the heavy steps that made the record skip).
Wonder also if members of the band are selected also as a sort of subtle reference to the 'bar band'. Also from Danko's Wikipedia: "billed as Levon and the Hawks. Playing a circuit that stretched in an arc from Ontario to Arkansas, they became known as "the best damn bar band in the land." Not to mention the Hold Steady lore that the band was the motivating factor for forming THS.
On a similar note, I wonder if members of journey are chosen to come up with a Journey/Trip kind of identification. Steve Perry also had a song called Strung Out which maybe ties in here although perhaps too much of a stretch.
I'm a bit less convinced about the UPC bit. Given the circuit city reference, I'm tempted to read it as the most common use of UPC, the barcodes that get scanned at stores. On this reading, it's simply just a continuation of the image like the 'drive around to the window' bit. Circuit city might be a reference to stereos etc as you've mentioned but I wonder if 'well connected' is just along the lines of what you've said earlier: "Holly, Charlemagne, and the Narrator all take the spotlight at different times, but the whole narrative revolves around Mary. Already in the "first night" party of Swish and Barfruit Blues, we see that she's the one who brings them all together".
Thinking of Still Alive Carl.
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Here goes
Dec 29, 2015 15:47:38 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by spencerm on Dec 29, 2015 15:47:38 GMT -5
These are really interesting to read. Keep em coming.
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Post by spencerm on Dec 19, 2015 11:32:36 GMT -5
Merry Christmas!
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Post by spencerm on Oct 2, 2015 11:28:13 GMT -5
Google says it was released on the Australian edition of AKM. Although it's not listed on their 2003 demo that craig posted here (which includes Milkcrate): http://instagram.com/p/6WKRDYAdwD So my guess is B-side from the actual AKM sessions?
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Post by spencerm on Sept 27, 2015 16:22:28 GMT -5
I also think "I was Doing Fine" is far and away my favourite. Least favourite is probably Sandra or Christine.
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Post by spencerm on Sept 14, 2015 17:14:39 GMT -5
Does anyone else get a 40 Bucks vibe on the melody in Roman Guitars? There's one bit in particular where it strikes me every time. Totally agree! Saint Peter Upside Down reminds me of another THS song too. Spectres maybe? 2-Handed handshake?
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Post by spencerm on Sept 5, 2015 13:32:36 GMT -5
I'm pretty much going to echo everyone else here. I liked CHFE but didn't revisit it often. I'm already really digging this album. With Craig's vocals and lyrics, it's familiar and comfortable but it's also definitely different. Like catching up with a friend you haven't seen in many years. This is going to be played frequently over here.
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Post by spencerm on Jul 23, 2015 14:58:14 GMT -5
Pretty sure it's just the chords above (Which are relative to the capo so really F Eb Bb). And then I think he's just letting the b string ring. I don't think anything changes, he just switches up the voicings.
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Post by spencerm on Jul 9, 2015 15:39:45 GMT -5
"22-year-olds have their own bands. They don’t need the Hold Steady."
Ok, I'm not 22, but I'm not far off and I still need THS.
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Post by spencerm on Jul 7, 2015 22:12:20 GMT -5
Just took a stab at three drinks. Maybe something like this will give you the main idea.
Capo 1
Verse F F C C Bb C Bb C
Chorus C F Bb C F G Bb F Bb C
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Post by spencerm on Jul 7, 2015 21:38:13 GMT -5
I've been playing Newmeyer's Roof as:
Capo 1
Verse D A D A
and at the 'doubting thomas' parts, it goes like this E D A
I think it's enough to play through, although there are the chords and noodling layered overtop as well.
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Post by spencerm on Jun 29, 2015 20:35:17 GMT -5
Yeah, that solo is excellent. Oh well.
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Post by spencerm on Jun 19, 2015 14:03:30 GMT -5
I'm digging the EP. I could listen to Extras all day. Dennis & Billy definitely has a great "Nebraska" vibe to it. I was definitely thinking the same... made me go listen to Highway Patrolman.
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Post by spencerm on May 4, 2015 18:34:01 GMT -5
Yeah, shipping to Canada from turntablelab is just silly. And how is priority shipping cheaper than economy? $30 or $40. for a $20 record. Yeah, I'm in Vancouver too (and also disappointed that none came in). The upside is that if you live here, there's a pretty decent chance that you know someone who has a post office box across the border (or you know someone who knows someone). So I had mine shipped domestic US and will get it next time the box holders go to the US. If the box was my own, I'd totally offer to let you use it.
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Post by spencerm on May 1, 2015 18:10:38 GMT -5
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Post by spencerm on Apr 27, 2015 11:48:31 GMT -5
Not in NYC but it looks like they might have a copy here if you'll get it shipped. I'm not sure if I trust the store's online stock so you might want to call before ordering: www.gotocdworld.com/and then scroll down to an orangey box that says 'login/signup' and put in your email and makeup a password. and click login/signup. Then go to 'new vinyl listing' on the left hand side, then click 'H' and scroll down to the Hold Steady and select boys and girls in america.
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Post by spencerm on Apr 11, 2015 11:06:22 GMT -5
I don't have a good answer to your question but I just wanted to get it on the record that "Jesus rolled his eyes as his dad made Jesus jokes" has always been one of my favourite THS lines.
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Post by spencerm on Mar 3, 2015 20:00:06 GMT -5
They also toss Rush's 'Tom Sawyer' into the middle of Party Pit. That's not a sentence that I ever thought I would write.
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Post by spencerm on Feb 24, 2015 20:04:58 GMT -5
Post on THS Facebook:
"Tad played his first acoustic solo set in support of Rick Springfield last weekend! Here's the setlist. Songs not familiar by name are new ones he's written.
2/21 - The Concert Hall - New York, NY
Better Days Shallow Tides Almost Everything Married With Children (Oasis cover) Growing Up Is Growing Old We Can Get Together There Is A Light That Never Goes Out (The Smiths cover)"
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Post by spencerm on Dec 26, 2014 1:21:13 GMT -5
I'm not sure what they're doing next year.
My suggestion: they put out an official B-Sides record and tour behind it. Or a Separation Sunday 10th anniversary tour. Or just a new record. Whatever... I'd just like to see them again!
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Post by spencerm on Dec 15, 2014 20:20:26 GMT -5
No one seems to have ordered them as I would so here's how I would put them:
Sep Sunday Almost Killed Me Boys and Girls Stay Positive Teeth Dreams Heaven is Whenever
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Post by spencerm on Dec 7, 2014 3:26:16 GMT -5
I'll give it a go:
Things got hot in the aughts, but we cooled on the bankers/ cancer killed some Kennedy and no one's making money In the tens we stayed home, staring into screens/ sharing every single thing, but we've forgotten what it means!
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Post by spencerm on Nov 24, 2014 11:33:57 GMT -5
Just saw this and they're all gone. It's a long shot but did anyone grab an extra? Saw they were going for $8 a pop -- that's a steal!
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