I Just Read About That…

SOUNDTRACK: PRETTY GIRLS MAKE GRAVES-Elan Vital (2006).

Every time I listen to this record I think I’m not going to like it, and that is because I really don’t like the first song. I’ve never had a record that rubbed me so badly off the bat and then turned out to be such a fulfilling record overall.

I first heard PGMG when they first came out. I knew their band name from the Smiths’ song, so I had to see what they were about. But I was surprised to hear how unSmithsy they were. Their first two albums were great and then they seemed to go away for a while. When Elan Vital came out I’d read a few mixed reviews of it and it took me ages to pick it up. And, then, as I said, that first song…. I’m not sure what it is about the song that rubs me the wrong way. In and of itself it’s a very generic sounding song, but after listening to the rest of the album I think I figured out what i don’t like about song one.

The rest of the album is very sparse, almost angular, and yet they maintain an incredibly catchy aspect. There’s always at least one interesting part of every song. “Pyrite Pedestal” reminds one of later Lush, but only in the vocals, because Lush has always been kind of smooth and, well, lush. This song keeps the attitude of Lush, but sticks in a very simple melody line and instruments. The simplicity really highlights all of the aspects of the song…nothing is lost. And this is true for the rest of the songs as well. Each instrument, each vocal line, everything is so crisp, it really stands out.

As I’m reliving the record I’m realizing why it’s so hard to describe. It’s because although every song sounds like PGMG, the vocals are very strong and consistent and there’s a punk edge to everything, the styles of the songs vary greatly within the record. “Domino” is practically disco (but angry disco). And yet overall they remind me of X-Ray Spex. Andrea Zollo’s voice is less shrieky and much prettier than Poly Styrene’s and they are clearly post-grunge in their sensibilities, but they hearken back to the 1970s punk scene quite clearly.

Two other things that have changed in the band since their first two great albums: they’d added a keyboardist, who contributes really nice touches, and even carries one of the songs…but the keyboards never “soften” the songs. And, they use horns from time to time. I don’t recall if they did before but it does stand out in the mix now. (They are used to their detriment on the last song however. The main body of the song is quite good, but then it degenerates into a weird 4 minute keyboard and horn jam session. It’s as lame as it sounds. I don’t know what they were thinking ending their album like that.)

Oh, and so why don’t I like the first song? The whole album is clear sounding and immediate. Each song, with its differing styles and sounds is so unique. However, the first song sounds like they threw all of these elements together. There’s so much going on that it turns the whole song into mush. It sounds like a generic 90’s alternative song with layers of noise. But, don’t let that fool you. Skip track one and enjoy the awesome songs of Elan Vital

[READ: February 2008] Comedy By the Numbers.

A sample chapter of this book came with McSweeney’s 23. It was pretty funny so I bought the book. This is one of those strange books that McSweeney’s excels at: It seems like a joke and yet it is quite serious, except when it’s funny. So the premise is that this is a list of 169 comedy tropes that, once you master, will make you funny.

The tone of the book is that of a very serious guidebook to comedy. It is an alphabetical list, and each item has a description, maybe an example and perhaps a “where you’ve seen it before” category.

Some examples include: #7 Big Words/Made Up Words; #23 Cross Eyes; #24 Cursing; # 79 Mistaken Identity; #150 The Rule of 4s.

#7: Exercise: Take a name of a professional sports team and a sexually transmitted disease–put it together and then tell people that you are applying for a job as a…”Yankee Genital Wart Salesman” –you won’t be able to count the laughs!

#23: Deadliest when conjoined with a #94 (Pain/Reaction to Pain).

#24: There are comedy snobs who believe that cursing is the lowest common denominator of humor and should be avoided at all costs.  We respectfully disagree.  As a matter of fact, we think that the introduction of a curse word into the middle of a word or phrase can not only achieve a welcome uncomfortable laugh, but may also express the seriousness of a situation.
Example: In a restaurant at a candlelit table we hear:  “I can’t in a shitmillion years believe how happy you make me.  Not in my wild-cocksucking-est dreams could I have imagined the J-O-pissingmyself-Y that I feel today!  Yes I’ll fucking marry you!  Yes!”

#150: Comedy comes in 3s.  There are absolutely no exceptions to this rule.  In fact nothing should ever be repeated 4 times, including “Help,” “I’m dying,” and “There’s a combine heading right for you.”

As you can see, it’s a very strange mix of serious comedy elements with crazy suggestions for uses, as well as perfect exmaples of the various numbers, and suggetsions for how you could use them, most of it couched in vaguely offensive language.

I enjoyed the book, as the examples were quite funny. And, indeed, a serious analysis of comedy leads to humorous reading. The authors have the tone down very well, and, as with the abortion clinic comment (you’ll have to buy the book for that one), they do strive to shock from time to time.

Who was this written for? I’ve no idea. But I did enjoy it. It is certainly an ideal dip-in book. Leave it in the bathroom (titter) and you’ll have something to browse.

When I first mentioned this with the McSweeney’s post, I thought that Bob Odenkirk had something to do with writing it. Indeed, he does not. Although he is thanked first and foremost in the credits.