CD Project Review: Post Academia Part 2

Artist or Band: Death Cab for Cutie

Album: Plans

Why (or how) did I get this: I have a vague memory of seeing the video late one night after I finished work for “I Will Follow You Into the Dark.” Ironically, I don’t recall thinking much of it at the time. Fast forward a few (maybe many) months and I stumbled upon the video again. This time, it’s like I kind of like this sound. Eventually, I was swayed to buying the album. I guess first impressions aren’t always right.

Songs included: Marching Bands of Manhattan, I Will Follow You Into the Dark, Your Heart is an Empty Room, What Sarah Said

Why is that: Snake may have mentioned this, but the songs from this group are all very similar in sound and have strong lyrics. I love the way that “Marching Bands of Manhattan” opens the album and catches my attention. “I Will Follow You Into the Dark,” is the single from the album and the one that convinced me to buy it. The last two could have been shuffled in and out with two or three others songs from the album and I would not have had an problem with that.

Others that just missed the cut: Like I said there is a group of six or seven songs after “Marching…” and “I Will Follow…” that are all pretty even. If I had to do it over again, I may have only included those two and tried to work in a couple songs from other groups. Of the remaining songs, it wouldn’t hurt to check out “Soul Meets Body,” “Summer Skin,” and “Crooked Teeth.”

The bad: I don’t know if I would call these songs bad, but they are sort of the weak sisters of this album (at least in my opinion). I’d put both “Someday You Will Be Loved,” and “Brothers on a Hotel Bed,” as the two tunes I like the least.

The verdict: I really like listening to this album. It’s mixed well, it has strong lyrics and it tends to mellow me out. I need that sometimes.


Artist or Band: The Wallflowers

Album: Rebel, Sweatheart

Why (or how) did I get this: The Wallflowers are really the only active band that I’ve made a concerted effort to buy their music when it comes out. I bought this without ever hearing a song or seeing a music video. I just connect with this band. I am not going to say they do anything more remarkable than your average band or that they are better than most bands going. I just like their music and that’s that.

Songs included: God Says Nothing Back, From the Bottom of My Heart, Nearly Beloved, Days of Wonder

Why is that: First, I put “God Says Nothing Back,” because it’s reached a pretty high level on my favorite song list. Will it slide back gradually in time, perhaps, but I think it will always hang on. I know Snake was hoping I’d leave “God Says Nothing Back,” and “Nearly Beloved” off simply because he had went out and already listened to them because of thing I wrote. I had considered that, but struggled to leave them off after making a big deal about them. “From the Bottom of My Heart” was actually the song that struck me the most when I first started listening to this. Musically, I just love the sound. Lyrically, I think if you listen to it closely, you’ll hear a fairly dark story shrouded in what seems like a love song. “Days of Wonder” is the throwback of the album. I wanted something a little more upbeat to show that it wasn’t all slower, ballad –type stuff.

Others that just missed the cut: This four stand out among the rest. I think songs like “We’re Already There,” “I Am A Building,” and “The Beautiful Side of Somewhere” are on that next tier of tunes, but not quite as good. There’s third tier of fine songs, but not one’s that jump out at me for any reason.

The bad: I really don’t like the tune “Here He Comes (Confessions of a Drunken Maionette)” for some reason. I think if it were on another album, it may not bother me. But this is sort of heavy, brooding album, which makes this silly tune kind of stand out too much.

The verdict: If you don’t have it, get it. I’d say that for all four Wallflowers’ albums that I have. This is a band that makes a living on the hidden gem rather than the big single.




Artist or Band: The Velvet Underground

Album: The Best of the Velvet Underground

Why (or how) did I get this: I always loved the sound of Lou Reed’s voice and finally decided I needed to see what this band was all about. So I used one of my free choices from BMG to get this one.

Songs included: Pale Blue Eyes, Sweet Jane, What Goes On

Why is that: I knew that Snake already had some of the Velvet Underground so I wanted to steer away from the things that he had and toward stuff that he didn’t know. While Snake recoiled at the pacing and sound of “Pale Blue Eyes,” I was drawn to it. I hear in it the pangs of reality closing in on a group living in a way that couldn’t last. The other to picks are similar in that encapsulate the sound of the band. Not heavy, but quick and driven by the steady voice and eclectic background of sound.

Others that just missed the cut: Most of what didn’t make it was due to Snake already knowing it. “Beginning to See the Light,” would have been the next to go on the album from those not on the banana album. Otherwise, if you’re looking for good Velvet Underground tunes check out “I’m Waiting for the Man,” “Heoin” and “White Light/White Heat.:

The bad: I am not a big fan of “Femme Fatale,” and there are few tunes that seem to get lost or unnoticed when going through.

The verdict: Right before we started doing these CDs, I started really listening to this album. It had slipped through the cracks when I bought and collected some dust. I am glad that I took another look.