Arcade Fire - The Woodlands Nation Anthem

Artist: Arcade Fire

Song: The Woodlands Nation Anthem

Album: Arcade Fire (EP 2005)

Montreal group the Arcade Fire are one of the biggest indie bands in the world, following two critically loved albums and a reputation for energetic live performances.

Debut release Funeral caught 2004 by surprise. Nobody in the Arcade Fire had suggested big talent before and it was not preceded by hit singles or hype. Upon release, however, it blew away music critics, who gushed about its operatic… Read more

Arcade Fire fans are an enthusiastic bunch, and they've been hungry for more music from their favorite group. But be forewarned, this EP was actually recorded and released by the band independently in 2003. The EP is an interesting view into the development of these musicians; decidedly less experienced at that point, the band didn't have quite as much oomph as they do now. When you compare these tracks with their first single, "Rebellion (Lies)" from Funeral, you can immediately feel a difference in confidence, from vocals on through to orchestration. That said, there is still plenty for fans to enjoy on this EP; for starters, none of these seven songs show up on their full-length, so that gives Fire fans an extra half hour of music to enjoy. Secondly, husband and wife team Win Butler and Régine Chassagne's vocals and songwriting still shine, most especially on the standout "No Cars Go" and the beautifully fragile "Headlights Look Like Diamonds." Funeral remains the best introduction to Arcade Fire, but this CD is still a great glimpse of a band with a bright future ahead. --Denise Sheppard

review

I guess we'll have to move
The neighborhood is on to us
Let's join the little babes
Throwing rocks in front of us

Riding on my bicycle
I pass my sister on a bus
Let's take the country road
Before our parents send for us

Trees keep falling at my feet
I guess it's time to build a boat
Make a raft of our bodies
Do you think that it'll float?
What I said was not a joke
But you just licked the envelope
I'm tired of dating, let's elope
But you just licked the envelope

Three cheers for my parents'
Lonely failed experiments!
Three cheers for my parents'
Lonely failed experiments!

Don't you dare blame my parents
I'm the only failed experiment
Don't you dare blame your parents
You're the only failed experiment
Don't you dare blame your grandparents
Mom's the only failed experiment
Don't you dare blame your grandparents
Dad's the only failed experiment
Don't blame God
Just blame God
Don't blame God

music

Various Artists - The Peek-A-Boo Bicycle Rodeo

Artist: Various Artists

Album: The Peek-A-Boo Bicycle Rodeo (1995)

Peek-A-Boo Records' first full-length release was this compilation of otherwise unavailable tracks by 16 Austin bands, unified thematically by a love of pedal-powered motion.

The record was only released on clear vinyl — a limited edition of 1000, each with a large, magazine-size 12-page insert with band photos and info — and included tracks by Teen Titans, The 1-4-5s, Spoon, Death Valley, Stretford, Lord High Fixers, Audrey, Poopiehead, The Paranoids, Powersnatch, Veronica, Falfurrias, Kiki Debris, Girl Robots, Wonder Whip and Drake Tungsten.

Track Listing

1.	Death Valley - Pedal to the Moon
2.	The 1-4-5s - Bicycle Rodeo
3.	The Paranoids - Go
4.	Teen Titans - Schwinn 24 (Kinky Friedman)
5.	Stretford - Not on the Wheel
6.	Powersnatch - Bicicleta Fiesta
7.	Veronica - Rhymes with Bike
8.	Lord High Fixers - Born Loser (Murphy & The Mob)
9.	Spoon - Idiot Driver (alternate mix)
10.	Falfurrias - Vuelo
11.	Poopiehead - Cycling is Fun (Shonen Knife)
12.	Kiki Debris - Wheelie King
13.	Wonder Whip - Nueces Street
14.	Girl Robots - The Crazy Bicycle Race
15.	Drake Tungsten - This is a Whipping
16.	Audrey - Banana Seat
17.	unlisted track - Bike (Syd Barrett)

This Bike Is A Pipe Bomb - Murder Bike

Artist: This Bike Is A Pipe Bomb

Song: Murder Bike

Album: Three Way Tie For A Fifth (2004)

About This Bike Is A Pipe Bomb (post)

I'm the only boy left in town today. it's time, I'm gonna leave my burdens down I'm on my way to heaven with the devil, he's on my side. bicycle, you're keeping me sane. I got murder murder murder murder murder swimming in my brain. I know with you I'm never gonna kill again and get the electric chair

Cockney Rejects - Where The Hell Is Babylon

Artist: Cockney Rejects

Song: Where The Hell Is Babylon

Album: Greatest Hits vol.4 (1997) or Back On The Street (2000)

Inspired by the critically reviled working-class punk of Sham 69, the Cockney Rejects helped give voice to the punk subgenre tagged Oi!, partly thanks to the group's 1980 song "Oi! Oi! Oi!" The Rejects' sound was loud, brash, and crudely performed, with an irreverent sense of humor and an inclination towards mindless anarchy that made them appealing to frustrated lower-class youth and,… more

WELL IT'S BEEN ALMOST 20 YEARS AND NOW THEIR BACK. THE COCKNEY REJECTS ARE ONE OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL OI BANDS EVER. HERE IS YOUR CHANCE TO GET A PIECE OF THAT HISTORY. 16 NEWELY RECORDED CLASSICS THAT ARE SURE TO MAKE YOU WANT TO SHAVE YOUR HEAD AND POLISH UP YOUR BOOTS. IF YOU MISSED IT THE FIRST TIME, THIS IS YOUR REDEMPTION...

I like to think of this as the Rejects' mocking answer to the Ruts' "Babylon's Burning". No time for poetic gibberish, we got a life to live, kind of.

music

Where the Hell is Babylon? I wanna go today
But before I leave the house, I've gotta know the way
Where the Hell is Babylon? I've heard it's lots of fun
Can I get there on me bike, or straight up the M1?

Video live

This Bike Is A Pipe Bomb - Better Off Dead

Artist: This Bike Is A Pipe Bomb

Song: Better Off Dead

Album: Three Way Tie For A Fifth (2004)

This Bike Is a Pipe Bomb is a folk-punk alternative, unsophisticated group whose lyrics are characterized by teen angst and anarchic views. Much of their music is politically oriented. This Bike Is a Pipe Bomb is staunchly opposed to war and is concerned with the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s and racial equality in general.

Interesting asides: Band members met while one was on bike tour of Florida Keys; other bought a bike, joined ride, and, later, band; peace marchers and student fans were at various times arrested after putting band stickers on their bicycles.

An explosive dance party good time rocker from Pensacola basement levelers TBIAPB. A hybrid jamboree of country-folk and indie rock, performed with guitars, harmonica, drums, bass, lotsa vocals, and a liberating spirit of abandon. Sweet, soulful and fun!

not supposed to live past 13, I know you thought I forgot
getting older condition worsening
not born dead, but born to die
fuck their system spitshine yer eye
I watched you learn to fly that night in gainesville
flew to the rooftops on our handlebars
will couldnt see past the top of yer head
gonna gonna fly forever on our handlebars
if we don't live like this then were better off dead
no way to hold on no place to sit
the furthest thing from a perfect fit
well take our chances well wear our scars
carrie nations first tour and we were there 13 days without a care
we can never go back there again

Irving Berlin - A Couple Of Swells

Artist: Irving Berlin

Song: A Couple Of Swells

Album: Easter Parade - OST (1947)

Irving Berlin (May 11, 1888 – September 22, 1989) was an American composer and lyricist widely considered one of the greatest songwriters in history.

This “buddy song” was 1st recorded by Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney for the musical Easter Parade, but covered many times. A stanza regrets not having a bicycle.

Easter Parade is a 1948 musical film starring Fred Astaire and Judy Garland. It features music by Irving Berlin, including some of Astaire and Garland's best-known songs, such as "Steppin' Out With My Baby" and "We're a Couple of Swells."
The film won the 1948 Academy Award for Best Scoring of a Musical Picture. It also received the Writers Guild of America Award for Best Written American Musical. It was the most successful picture of Astaire's career and it was the highest-grossing musical of the year.

We're a couple of swells
We stop at the best hotels
But we prefer the country far away from the city smells
We're a couple of sports
The pride of the tennis courts
In June, July and August we look cute when we're dressed in shorts
The Vanderbilts have asked us up for tea
We don't know how to get there, no siree
No, siree
We would drive up the Avenue, but we haven't got the price
We would skate up the Avenue, but there isn't any ice
We would ride on a bicycle, but we haven't got a bike
So we'll walk up the Avenue
Yes, we'll walk up the Avenue
And to walk up the Avenue's what we like

Wall Street bankers are we
With plenty of currency
We'd open up the safe but we forgot where we put the key
We're the favorite lads
Of girls in the picture ads
We'd like to tell you who we kissed last night but we can't be cads
The Vanderbilts are waiting at the club
But how are we to get there, that's the rub
That's the rub

We would sail up the Avenue, but we haven't got a yacht
We would drive up the Avenue, but the horse we had was shot
We would ride on a trolley car but we haven't got the fare
So we'll walk up the Avenue
Yes, we'll walk up the Avenue
Yes, we'll walk up the Avenue till we're there

We would swim up the Avenue but we haven't any lake
So we'll walk up the Avenue
Yes, we'll walk up the Avenue
Yes, a walk up the Avenue's what we'll take

Donovan - Ferris Wheel

Artist: Donovan

Song: Ferris Wheel

Album: Sunshine Superman (1966)

Upon his emergence during the mid-'60s, Donovan was anointed "Britain's answer to Bob Dylan," a facile but largely unfounded comparison which compromised the Scottish folk-pop troubadour's own unique vision. Where the thrust of Dylan's music remains its bleak introspection and bitter realism, Donovan fully embraced the wide-eyed optimism of the flower power movement, his ethereal, ornate songs radiating a mystical beauty and childlike wonder; for better or worse, his recordings remain quintessential artifacts of the psychedelic era, capturing the peace and love idealism of their time to perfection. more

Paced by the title track, one of Donovan's best singles, 1966's Sunshine Superman heralded the coming psychedelic age with a new world/old world bent: several ambitious psychedelic productions and a raft of wistful folk songs. review

Another song from Sunshine Superman

Walking in the seashore twilight,

It's then you spy carnival lights,

You slowly near the magic sight,

Tangerine sky minus one kite.

Take time an' tie your pretty hair

The gypsy driver doesn't care

If you catch your hair in the ferris wheel on top,

In the ferris wheel on top.

A silver bicycle you shall ride,

To bathe your mind in the quiet tide.

Far off as it seems your hair will mend

With a Samson's strength to begin again.

Take time an' dry your pretty eyes,

Watch the seagull fly far-off skies

To build its nest in the ferris wheel on top,

In the ferris wheel on top.

If ever I reach her.

And the moral here, if any, my friend:

Follow through your dream to the end.

Dig the seagull fly across the sky

To build its nest in the ferris wheel,

In the ferris wheel.