I was going back lookng at my Perfect Song series and realized my first post only listed two songs while the rest include three. So today is the Perfect Song Vol. 1 bonus edition. You can catch up with the past editions here, here, here and here.
The indomitable spirit of The Rob Report remains. That's the way we work around here. While the first response was overwhelming, I must soldier on. So once again, the first three folks to merely respond in the comments get a free copy of The Rob Report's Perfect Songs Vol.1, which will include today's bonus song. C'mon, free goods, it's what the internet exists for.
The Samples' "Did You Ever Look So Nice": The Samples spent their entire career on the cusp of making it big. For some reason, complete commercial success always eluded them and they've since kind of faded off into semi-obscurity. But back in the '90's, they were constantly turning out material that shimmered and rang and stuck in your head for weeks on end. In a good way. One of the finest examples, and probably one of the simplest, purest pop songs out there, is their fourth track from "No Room," "Did You Ever Look So Nice." The song is pure Samples. It's upbeat and catchy and wonderfully melodic, almost shiny. Like a lot of the band's songs it hides a sense of nostalgia and longing behind this happy, bouncy ode to a beautiful girl. "Growing up was on our faces/I remember yours so sweet." In true Samples fashion, the lyrics don't completely make sense, "And if we make through these changes/To find that nothing was in store/But the plans of our exchanges/Did they ever look so nice/Did you ever you ever look so nice." But that just adds another layer . If this song doesn't make you smile by the end, you have a heart of stone.
And so, here, the complete track listing of Perfect Pop Songs, Vol. 1 (the links at the top of the post will take you to my praise-tastic write-ups of each song):
1. The Sample's "Did You Ever Look So Nice"
2. Wilco's "Red Eyed and Blue"
3. U2's "If You Wear That Velvet Dress"
4. The Connell's "'74-'75"
5. The Push Stars' "Opening Time"
6. Los Fabulosos Cadillacs' "El Matador"
7. U2's "Big Girls Are Best"
8. Midnight Oil's "The Dead Heart"
9. Franz Ferdinand's "Take Me Out"
10. Spoon's "Everything Hits at Once"
11. U2's "Pride (In the Name of Love)"
12. Jeff Buckley's "Hallelujah"
4 comments:
For me Samples is pure adolescent nostalgia. I can't listen without wondering what happened to empty Saturday mornings where i could simply lie on my bed, listen to tunes, and day dream. They always conjure up a time when new romance, new success, or new adventure was just over the horizon, just out of view but sure to come. Thanks for the little jog down memory lane.
"The only time I feel good sinking
is when I'm sinking fast and deep for you; you caught me as I was winking now I think my winking days are through"
I'm number 2 to comment. Send me a CD. If you need my address just call. I can't wait, I'll be waiting by the mailbox.
there was nothing quite like their concerts either. Ode to the days when anyone who was anyone could hang out with the band afterwards. There was none of this stuffy backstage passes thing! Just an open invitation to come and we will all hang together.
And we have winners. Since I'll be seeing all of you next week, I'll probably just bring the three discs out to Utah with me.
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