17 - Hello My Treacherous Friends

By OK GO, from album OK GO.

This is a song about heartache, from a wonderful album about heartbreak. I bought OK GO right before their newer album OH NO hit the airwaves. I had no idea who OK GO was, but after sampling a song or two, and enticed by the album cover (i know, you're not supposed to care about that...), I bought OK GO and was immediately delighted.

If you've somehow missed the hubbub about their self-choreographed music videos, which OK GO are noted for, look'em up on youtube; they're cool. More significantly, they rock. They can write slow but energetic songs about sad topics without being lame. That's so cool! And if you care, Ok Go (the band) is from Chicago.

Ok, so specifically this song. Why HELLO MY TREACHEROUS FRIENDS? 1) The lyrics. 2) The music. 3) The whole album.

The lyrics. Are. Wicked. They are very poetic, easy to hear and understand, and THE CHORUS DISSES HIS FRIENDS WHILE BEING THE MOST CATCHY PART OF THE SONG. There is a story being told about this guy, his evil ex, and what he should do with the kids he has. And his friends told him it was a good idea. Thanks, guys.

The music is awesome. Just listen to it. It's got treble, it's got bass, it's got a beat, and it's got vocals.

The whole album is wicked sick. If I had a friend, I would buy this album for them. ...

the song's good.  See for yourself!  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqOqx-540aM

16 - Drama*

12 of 10
Chris Krawall - Drama
Hamburg, Germany
From the musician's myspace page.

This little song belongs in an extended James Bond chase scene. It starts out harsh with a siren as the main noise, is swallowed by a church organ, starts flying with a harpsichord solo, then brings back the siren with bass and strings. You can't help but get energized. I haven't known of Krawall for long, and I've never met the guy, but if I did I'd have to tell him that he's got some impressive talent built into the design of this song. Chris Krawall is interesting... I really like most of the single songs the guy's posted on his myspace, but when I downloaded his mixtapes a while ago they just struck me as mediocre. So basically check out this guy's stuff and maybe he'll come out with an EP or LP sometime soon. I'll be waiting!

*The song this review is for is 4:14 long; on Krawall's myspace the song Drama is now 6:35 long. The cut of it that I reviewed starts about 1:03 and is a bit different at points but overall the long version is the same with a different intro.