Category Archives: music

The Meaning of Unrequited Love? On “Transatlanticism,” by Death Cab for Cutie

for Constance Turner Transatlanticism Death Cab for Cutie (song available here; lyrics from here) The Atlantic was born today and I’ll tell you how The clouds above opened up and let it out I was standing on the surface of a perforated sphere When the water filled every hole And thousands upon thousands made an …

December 5, 2008 – 11:52 pm | By ashok | Posted in music | Tagged , | Comments (3)

First Friday in Philadelphia, 11/7/2008: On Schubert’s Quintet D. 956, Op. Posth. 163

1. It’s been two weeks, but I felt I could wait for the sake of saying an appropriate thank you to the Poor Richard’s String Quartet – Michael Finckel, Thomas Kraines, Andrea Schultz, Beverly Shin and David Yang – who played in Christ Church that night. I’m no good at writing music criticism, so I …

November 19, 2008 – 4:51 am | By ashok | Posted in music, personal | Tagged , , | Comments (2)

Beyond Love: On The Weakerthans’ “Night Windows”

Night Windows The Weakerthans (song lyrics from here and here; song available here) In the stick-count for the song of knowing you’re gone Glancing up at where you lived when you lived here I see you suddenly alive and nearly smiling Stop and hold my breath and watch the way you used to be The …

November 3, 2008 – 3:43 pm | By ashok | Posted in music, weakerthans | Tagged | Comments (3)

Recommended: “The Spirit of Orthodoxy” Choir

The Spirit of Orthodoxy Choir Paul and I went and saw them Sunday night, and they were excellent. Their understanding of dynamics was very impressive, and it didn’t hurt that quite a few of them had good voices. They seemed to excel at pieces which demanded vigor and really got into the music, but they …

November 3, 2008 – 1:07 am | By ashok | Posted in music, personal | Tagged | Comments (0)

Noted Frustration

Those Bach Inventions and Sinfonias present a new challenge for me, the occasional pianist. I don’t care about the mistakes, but I do care that each voice is rich and vibrant and makes melodic sense. Moreover, I want a mature sound, a sound coming from a 28 year old at least. Trouble is that it …

October 28, 2008 – 5:24 pm | By ashok | Posted in music, personal | Tagged | Comments (0)

Beyond Adultery: On The Good Life’s “You Don’t Feel Like Home To Me”

“You Don’t Feel Like Home To Me” The Good Life (lyrics from songmeanings.net; song available at same link) He sees her face the highway signs the traffic lights and she’s turning red at a motel on a double bed He swears he feels her lying there And she whispers in his ear “You can’t run …

October 7, 2008 – 1:18 pm | By ashok | Posted in music | Tagged | Comments (0)

Two Notable Things from First Friday in Philadelphia, 10/3/08

Paul and I went into the city for First Friday and, as usual, it was noisy, crowded with teens and preteens trying to be 30 year olds; guys who epitomize “douchebag” dressed well with lady-friends (douchebagettes?); guys of the same sort but dressed badly and without lady-friends; kids and adults trying to be artsy but …

October 5, 2008 – 1:37 pm | By ashok | Posted in links, music | Tagged , | Comments (2)

Resolved: On Death Cab for Cutie’s “The New Year”

for Nancy The New Year Death Cab for Cutie (lyrics and song available at songmeanings.net/jango) So this is the new year And I don’t feel any different The clanking of crystal Explosions off in the distance in the distance So this is the new year And I have no resolutions For self-assigned penance For problems …

August 30, 2008 – 5:43 pm | By ashok | Posted in music | Tagged , | Comments (0)

I Don’t Get This Song: Regarding Why?’s "Sanddollars"

Lyrics below quoted directly from songmeanings.net (another copy of this commentary is on last.fm where it was originally published): Your illegal name in watercolor On a piss stained Frisco truck Hoping some camera’d catch your face And the rain came down And the fat worms show up like seared shut Half clotted blood vein sections …

February 3, 2008 – 3:28 am | By ashok | Posted in music | Tagged | Comments (3)

The New World: On "Virtute the Cat Explains Her Departure" by The Weakerthans

Virtute the Cat Explains Her Departure The Weakerthans (lyrics confirmed here, alternate discussion, lyrics and the song itself at songmeanings, The Weakerthans’ Myspace) It had something to do with the rain leaching loamy dirt And the way the back lane came alive half moon whispered “go” For a while I heard you missing steps in …

December 8, 2007 – 4:48 am | By ashok | Posted in music, weakerthans | Tagged , | Comments (1)