Are You Ready To Be Heartbroken?
May 18th, 2007 | by Scott |I love good “answer” songs. The battles between Lennon and McCartney post-Beatles are a classic example of that as is Lynryd Skynrd’s “Sweet Home Alabama” a great example of an answer to Neil Young’s “Southern Man.” (Although I hate the former song, I love most anything Neil does.)
One of my favorite eMusic downloads of the month so far is Camera Obscura. If you like the twee pop of Belle and Sebastian then this is a tremendous companion. This is pop candy in it’s sweetest most indulgent form. Pick up “Let’s Get Out of the Country” and you won’t be disappointed.
What I didn’t realize when I first began listening was that the opening track “Lloyd, I’m Ready To Be Heartbroken” is an answer song to the great 1984 Lloyd Cole and the Commotions track “Are You Ready To Be Heartbroken?”
Here is a snippet of the original Cole song:
Here is the Camera Obscura answer. And what a fun song it is (but no, Rachel Dratch is not the lead singer):
The great news is that not only is the Camera Obscura catalogue available on eMusic so is much of the later discography of Lloyd Cole.
If you are a fan of literate pop-rock then both of these artists are worth your while. Ah, because I like you here is another great cut from Belle and Sebastian:
I have 53 downloads left. Anyone have any suggestions?
And if anybody is looking for 25 free downloads on eMusic let me know.
10 Responses to “Are You Ready To Be Heartbroken?”
By Matt on May 18, 2007 | Reply
I agree with you wholeheartedly about the Camera Obscura album. I really like their beautful song “Dory Previn” from the same album.
As for what you might like to download next, here are few that I’ve gotten recently from emusic: I like Andrew Bird’s latest Armchair Apocrypha - his song “Scythian Empires” is great. Also, last month I downloaded Dwight Yoakam’s latest, Blame the Vein, and, if you like his style, it is superb. The Decemberists’ Picaresque is is a treat and I’m a huge fan of the Drive-By Truckers.
If you are interested in something outside of emusic, the new albums by Kings of Leon and Wilco are both first-class.
By Scott on May 18, 2007 | Reply
I’m trying to give lauded releases multiple listenings before I draw a conclusion. I need to give Bird another chance. I didn’t like it the first time I heard it.
I like Yoakam. I actually had that downloaded when I was on rhapsody.
I have most of the Decemberists.
I really have a hard time with Wilco. I like them but it’s always bugged me that they are the band out of the Uncle Tupelo divorce that gets the most pub. IMO, Jay Farrar is the superior song-smith
By Jonathan on May 18, 2007 | Reply
Iron & Wine - except greg said they’re not on emusic
Pedro the Lion - preferably “Control”, or if not then “Winners Never Quit” or “Achilles Heel”
or for something different, something by Explosions in the Sky
By Jonathan on May 18, 2007 | Reply
Neutral Milk Hotel’s “In the Aeroplane Over the Sea” !
By scott on May 18, 2007 | Reply
The Iron & Wine/Calexico is on emusic. I’ve thought about downloading it.
I’ve never been able to get into Pedro the Lion. I’ll keep trying.
I’ve heard good stuff about Neutral Milk Hotel. I’ll check them out.
By Jonathan on May 18, 2007 | Reply
I’ve saw I&W/Calexico on a late night show. It was OK, but it’s I&W that I love.
On Pedro’s Control, I love “Magazine”. (the emusic sample doesn’t do it justice)
Palace Brother’s “Days in the Wake”
Guided by Voices “Alien Lanes”
Smog “Knock Knock” or “Red Apple Falls”
The Mountain Goats, “Sweden” for example
PW Long “We Didn’t See You On Sunday”
My Dad is Dead “Out of Sight, Out of Mind”
Songs:Ohia “The Lioness” or “Impala”
I’m breaking out all the old classics. It may have to grow on you, but NMH’s “In the Aeroplane…” is amazingly beautiful
I’m impressed by emusic’s selection. I might as well give it a try…hook me up
By Scott on May 19, 2007 | Reply
I just sent you an invite. There is a ton of great stuff on there. And you get 50 free downloads to start. Can’t beat it.
By Jenny P on May 19, 2007 | Reply
There is a great blues/folk group from Austin that I have just been turned on to- Porter Davis. I’m not sure if they are on e-music or not though.
I’ve also been enjoying the mellow sound of The Weepies lately.
By justin on May 20, 2007 | Reply
Scott,
You should check out Homer Hiccolm and the Rocketboys. They are a band from Abilene/ACU. One of their guitarists was in my band in high school and they are absolutely stellar.
And as for answer songs… probably my favorite are from the bands “Brand New” and “Taking Back Sunday”. The lead singer of BN and the guitarist for TBS were best friends in school and at one time were in the same bands. The guitarist for TBS had always been jealous of the singer in BN (his friend) and when the opportunity presented itself, he ended up sleeping with his best friends gf. The singer for BN then penned these words
“Is that what you call a get away
Tell me what you got away with
cause I’ve seen more spine in jellyfish
I’ve seen more guts in eleven year old kids
have another drink and drive yourself home
I hope there’s ice on all the roads
and you can think of me when you forget your seatbelt
and again when your head goes through the windshield.
Is that what you call tact
you’re as subtle as a brick in the small of my back
so lets end this call and end this conversation
Is that what you call a getaway
tell me what you got away with
cause you left the frays with the ties you severed
when you said ‘best friends means friends forever’ ”
That song is called “Seventy Times Seven” by Brand New. After that cd was released, Taking Back Sunday wrote and added a song to their new release called “There’s No I in Team” which steals some of brand news lyrics.
Sorry I just left a ridiculously long comment, but I love those songs because they aren’t just little quips, they are amazingly emotional and you almost feel like you know the guys when you listen to these songs.
By Scott on May 22, 2007 | Reply
Jenny, Porter Davis is on emusic. I will check them out. And I love the Weepies.