Markie caught in GBV Shocker!

[kosmo vinyl]

From CMJ New Music Monthly August 2003
 
 The High Strung
 These Are Good Times - Tee Pee
 
 File Under:
 '60s retro pop with a caffeine kick
 
  R.I.Y.L.
 Guided by Voices, the Kinks, Bob Pollard
 
 
 
 Like a bull's eye T-shirt or skinny black pants, the High Strung's "These Are Good Times"  will appeal to the retro-loving Anglophile in anyone.  With a sound that's as hopped up on nervous, self-conscious energy as their name, the Brooklyn band's British Invasion flavored rock proudly takes its cues from the Beatles and the Who("Show A Sign of Life" has transitions that recall "A Quick One While He's Away"), instead of the usual post-punk influences that the other "the" bands seem to favor these days.  In this way, they're reminiscent of Guided by Voices, but with cryptic lyrics and a more youthful swagger.  While there's no shortage of infectious guitar pop on "These Are Good Times", the band's biggest hooks is its bratty vulnerability.  They rasp about everyday junk like unemployment and sibling rivalry ("Wretched Boy"); what happens when a relationship reaches the do-or-die point("It's On");  picking up girls at the Port Authority bus terminal ("Real Nice Boy") and using sarcasm as a coping mechanism ("The World's Smallest Violin").   "These Are Good Times" proves that angsty rebellion and sweaty sex appeal never get tired.  Any girl should be thrilled to take these "real nice boys" home and give them a spin.  (Michelle Kleinsak)
 
 
 r.i.y.l  recommended if you like

[ggw]

So the High Strung are Guided By Voices for the retro-loving Anglophile?

[markie]

Well I find it difficult to be entirely objective about the high strung, after meeting them and them being so nice.
 
 But from what I have heard of GBV and the high strung, there is no way you could confuse a song from one band with that of a song from the other band.
 
 I cant work out why I dont really like GBV, perhaps the live setting I saw them in was not the best, but I just dont think I like Bobs voice. Somehow as well, like interpol, the music  feels a little cold and detached.

[ggw]

Originally posted by Anton Newcombe:
  I cant work out why I dont really like GBV

Probably because you hate The Who.

[markie]

Originally posted by ggwâ?¢:
   

Originally posted by Anton Newcombe:
  I cant work out why I dont really like GBV

Probably because you hate The Who. [/b]

I am not a who expert, but I love the singles collection.
 
 I think Tommy is shit
 
 Quadrophenia, the full version with james brown and the cascades is one of my favourite albums. Although I havent listened to it in a while as it only seems available on vinyl.
 
 Whos nexts' swirling keyboards really annoy me after a while.
 
 Oh and Odds and Sods, had this great song  called me and the farmer...... ever heard it? I think I might waste a $1 on itunes music store for it.

[thirsty moore]

Odds and Sods also has "I'm the Face" which is a great song.

[markie]

Originally posted by thirsty moore:
  Odds and Sods also has "I'm the Face" which is a great song.

cant say I remember, do you remember me and the farmer?

[mankie]

Originally posted by Anton Newcombe:
 

do you remember me and the farmer? [/b]

Housemartins..
 
 Me and the farmer get on fine
 Through stormy weather and bottles of wine
 If I pull my weight he'll treat me well
 But if I'm late he'll give me hell
 And thought it's all hard work no play
 Farmer is a happy crook
 Jesus hates him everyday
 'Cause jesus gave and farmer took
 
 {Won't he let you go?} Probably no
 {Won't he let you go?} Probably no
 {Why does he treat you so?} I just don't know
 {Why does he treat you so?} I just don't know
 Me and the farmer like brother, like sister
 Getting on like hand and blister
 Me and the farmer
 
 He's chpped down shppe, planted trees
 And helped the countryside to breathe
 Ripped up fields, bullied flocks
 And workded his workers right around the clock
 
 It may seem strange but he'd admit
 Intentions aren't exactlly true
 and through God loves his wife a bit
 He hates the farmer through and through
 
 {Won't he let you go?} Probably no
 {Won't he let you go?} Probably no
 {Why does he treat you so?} I just don't know
 {Why does he treat you so?} I just don't know
 Me and the farmer like brother, like sister
 Getting on like hand and blister
 Me and the farmer
 
 All things bright and beautiful
 All creatures gr3eat and small
 All we've got is London Zoo
 'Cause farmer owns them all

[Venerable Bede]

Originally posted by ggwâ?¢:
  So the High Strung are Guided By Voices for the retro-loving Anglophile?

i always thought guided by voices was band made up of retro-loving anglophiles?

[Venerable Bede]

Originally posted by Anton Newcombe:
 
 Somehow as well, like interpol, the music  feels a little cold and detached.

i can't see that.  very few bands are as attached to their fans as gbv. . .on a fun level, only andrew w.k. and luna (the salad days with justin on bass) have come close to the fun i have a gbv show.

[markie]

How many farmer songs are there?
 
 
 Now I'm a Farmer  
 
 Â   
 
 I've got a spade and a pick-axe  
 
 And a hundred miles square of land to churn about  
 
 My old horse is weary but sincerely  
 
 I believe that he can pull a plough  
 
 Well I've moved into the jungle of the agriculture rumble,  
 
 To grow my own food  
 
 And I'll dig and plough and scrape the weeds  
 
 Till I succeed in seeing cabbage growing through  
 
 Â   
 
 Now I'm a farmer, and I'm digging, digging, digging, digging, digging  
 
 Now I'm a farmer, and I'm digging, digging, digging, digging, digging  
 
 It's alarming how charming it is to be a-farming  
 
 How calming and balming the effect of the air  
 
 Â   
 
 Well, I farmed for a year and grew a crop of corn  
 
 That stretched as far as the eye can see  
 
 That's a whole lot of cornflakes,  
 
 Near enough to feed New York till 1973  
 
 Cultivation is my station and the nation  
 
 Buys my corn from me immediately  
 
 And holding sixty thousand bucks, I watch as dumper trucks  
 
 Tip New York's corn flakes in the sea  
 
 Â   
 
 Now I'm a farmer, and I'm digging, digging, digging, digging, digging  
 
 Now I'm a farmer, and I'm digging, digging, digging, digging, digging  
 
 It's alarming how charming it is to be a-farming  
 
 How calming and balming the effect of the air  
 
 Â   
 
 Now look here son  
 
 The right thing to say  
 
 Isn't necessarily what you want to say  
 
 The right thing to do  
 
 Isn't necessarily what you want to do  
 
 The right things to grow  
 
 Ain't necessarily what you want to grow  
 
 Your own happiness  
 
 Doesn't necessarily teach you what you want to know  
 
 Â   
 
 Well I'm suntanned and deep, so's the horse  
 
 And my hands are deeply grained  
 
 Old horse is a-grazing, it's amazing  
 
 Just how lazily he took the strain  
 
 Well my pick and spade are rusty,  
 
 Because I'm paid on trust to leave my square of cornfield bare  
 
 Â   
 
 It's alarming how charming it is to be a-farming  
 
 How calming and balming the effect of the air  
 
 Â   
 
 When you grow what I grow  
 
 Tomatoes, potatoes, stew, eggplants ...  
 
 Potatoes, tomatoes ... gourds

[markie]

Originally posted by Venerable Bede:
   

Originally posted by Anton Newcombe:
 
 Somehow as well, like interpol, the music  feels a little cold and detached.

on a fun level [/b]

I meant on record.
 
 The recordings do not do a lot for me.

[Venerable Bede]

Originally posted by Anton Newcombe:
 I meant on record.
 
 The recordings do not do a lot for me.

ok. . .still, i don't know how i could of survived college without "bee thousand" and "under the bushes under the stars". . .although pavement helped alot too.  

[markie]

I had the smiths, the cure, lloyd cole, the stone roses, the breeders and the house of love.

[Bags]

I like the High Strung.  In allmusicguide their
  category is "bluegrass," which is nuts.  Has to be a mistake.
 
 Not that it sounds like GBV, but has the same flavor, I think....