SOUNDTRACK: KEVIN DEVINE & THE GODDAMN BAND-“Nobel Prize” (2013).
I’d never heard of Kevin Devine before (he apparently has 7 solo albums out). This track is his first single with his new (radio friendly it seems) band called The Goddamn Band. Interestingly, the album is called “Bubblegum” and it’s that sentiment that sticks out with this song.
Over buzzy guitars and pounding drums, a screamed (but not unpleasant) voice comes piercing through the fuzz. And once the guitars come in, it’s all bubblegum pop (fuzzy and distorted absolutely, but pure bubblegum chord structures). The song (including the voice) remind me a lot of Cheap trick–simple, catchy melodies with vocals that are urgent and intense. Even the quieter spoken word section sounds like Cheap Trick. The very mellow bridge or chorus or whatever it is mixes things up when it brings in picked strings and a gentle vocal.
It’s catchy as hell and could fit into a lot of playlists of poppy rock. At only 2 and a half minutes it’s a pop gem. Too bad no DJ would ever say the band’s name.
You can hear it an NPR.
[READ: September 19, 2013] “The Way Things Are Going”
As the story opens we read the Gwen had insisted that “Ma and I” move to America (from South Africa). Gwen wanted them to move because “sooner or later…it would happen again.” The narrator says that what had happened was actually her fault. But really what difference did it make whose fault it was—once they were tying you up. She only let them in the first place because she was trying to be mannerly.
The story flashes back to what happened. The narrator had been struck across the head with a gun, praying that the men would leave her alone—just take their few valuables and go. And then she had to worry about her mother, who was upstairs by herself. It was only the phone call (and the answering machine) which saved them from further damage because a neighbor said she’d be right over. (more…)
I Just Read About That... 