DAILY DOSE: "Tell You All the Times that I Failed"

If I were ever to learn how to write a song, it would start with a solitary piano playing a repeating, clocklike verse before being supplemented first with violins, then with lyrics.

And this is exactly how Yellowcard, my greatest "guilty pleasure band" starts its new album "Lights and Sounds".  In fact, I've never heard any song that actually sounded like the tune I've had in my head for the better part of a decade.  Needless to say, I was hooked immediately.   I read a Rolling Stone review today that talked about how they're far less 'emo' this time out, and a little more grown-up and sophisticated, and I wholeheartedly agree. I can't give a firm take on my feelings about the album yet, though.  I've only listened to it once through, and though there are some truly captivating stand-out moments, I don't feel like I've been hit in the jaw with any stand-out songs quite yet.

That is, except for "How I Go."  Your Song of the Day.  I'll sum up:  acoustic guitar, piano, violin, plus 25-piece orchestra, plus a duet with Natalie of the Dixie Chicks plus lyrics that unabashedly tell the story of Big Fish.  It's fantastic to the point that they should re-release the movie on DVD with this song running over the end credits.  It's truly beautiful, and it's got everything I love about a good song and captures the spirit of one of my hands-down favorite movies. And to top it all off, it's track no. 13, and I'm listening to it for the first time on Day 90.  When I opened the package today, I didn't expect to get punched in the gut by a trainload of memories and feelings that came screaming straight out of onlywhere, but it happened…

…and to be honest, it felt pretty nice.

Not that I haven't been wrapped up in those memories and feelings a lot lately, it's just that I actually reflected on things and smiled today.  I looked up at Orion, stalking me as usual from high above my apartment, and said hello.  It's a start, I suppose.  Maybe I'm starting to realize that "This isn't how I go."  We can only hope…

Anyway, do yourself a favor and drop a buck or two on iTunes and pick out a little Yellowcard. I'd like to think you won't be disappointed.  I'm a little bummed that the electric violin has been significantly ratcheted back from Ocean Avenue levels, but to paraphrase Rolling Stone, when you're making music this good, I guess you don't need gimmicks anymore.

"How I Go" is, as I said, pretty great, as is "Waiting Game," which feels like a sequel to "Only One," in a lot of ways.  But we'll get to that next time.

Good night all, be good to each other.
Post-up and say hello, and tell your friends that I'm more or less back.
-apk

ps: this time tomorrow, I could be a member in a private d'ahn t'ahn athletic/dining club. Let the transformation into Bruce Wayne begin. Keep your fingers crossed for me.