Artist: Grandaddy
Song: Hand Crank Transmitter
Album: Signal To The Snow Ratio (EP, 1999)
The four songs on Signal to Snow Ratio make a beautiful progression from Under the Western Freeway, Grandaddy's last full-length release -- the band takes a large step away from its more straightforward pop and rock constructions, choosing instead to toy with the vintage electronics which added texture to the LP, and to work with more roundabout and inventive pop structures which come off perfectly. Far from the typical Pavement and Weezer references which hovered around the LP, the best aesthetic reference for Signal to Snow Ratio would be more along the lines of Mercury Rev -- the sounds might be completely different, but the intelligent and imaginative approach to rethinking pop music is very much the same. This is a very promising note from an ever-more-promising band.
Well, Grandaddy have the hooks to back up the beards. "Hand Crank Transmitter" rambles along like a folky Flaming Lips, complete with psychedelic speed- strum solos and twinkling keys. Read more
…but all is not shadows, there is also light here, in the fuzzed out guitar and synthesized bleeps and blips of "Hand-Crank Transmitter"…
take that hand crank transmitter
turn it upside down
and ride it like a bike
you best reserve your strength
it might just show tonight
it could go cold and slow
they might show tonight
wake that anemometer
ask it what it dreamt
and write the details down
you better stay awake
it might just come around
it could go cold and slow
and they might come around
you best reserve your strength
for the handshakes
you best reserve your strength
for the luncheons
you best reserve your strength
for the telethons
you best reserve your strength
for the world's fair
you best reserve your strength
smash that hand crank transmitter
and head for higher ground
and watch the red search lights
and please reserve your strength
it might just show tonight
it could go cold and slow
and they might show tonight
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