Hump Day Helper -- Overlooked Edition

The Von Bondies, "C'mon C'mon"
Geüpload door elsifo. - Ontdek andere muziek video's.

Because it's Wednesday, and we all need a pick-me-up to make it through the rest of the week in our respective hells, WDR is providing some fun.

As the year 2009 has moved past the halfway point, I realized that we're probably going to be hearing a lot about "best of the decade" lists in the near future. Even though I'm one of those guys who thinks that we should reserve these things for something at the end of 2010 (you know, I'm one of those guys who can count), it still made me think I better begin to consider forming my own list. I also want to put this in the heads of the other masterminds of WDR, so that they can begin to devise their own lists as well.

One album that will most certainly be on the list is Pawn Shoppe Heart. It basically was a showcase for the best that the Garage Rock Revival had to offer, from biting sarcastic lyrics to propulsive edgy guitars to Keith Moon drumfills. But even though the band had a good amount of publicity due to their lead singer getting the shit kicked out of him by Jack White, who was close to his peak at that point, it still wasn't enough for the album to break through. And it's a damn shame.

It was tough to track down this video, so if it doesn't play, leave a comment. The moving pictures themselves are nothing special, but the song is one catchy bastard, and you'll probably recognize it. But you probably wouldn't realize how morbid the lyrics were.

And now this day these deepened wounds
Don't heal so fast, can't hear me croon
Of a million lies that speak no truth
Of a time gone by that now is through...

Hump Day Helper -- Genetic Manipulation Edition

Because it's Wednesday, and we all need a pick-me-up to make it through the rest of the week in our respective hells, WDR is providing some fun.

The Eels are known by the masses for pretty much just one song, their first and only hit: "Novocaine for the Soul". Sure, it's a great song, but if that's all you know of the band, you're missing out on one of the best and most consistent bands out there.

The video pick is one of my favorites, because of its incredibly goofy charm. Crazy carrot robots? I'm in. Especially if they have spinny heads. The song itself is also great, one of the more ostensibly bright spots on the downbeat album Electro-Shock Blues. Though if you want to look for something to uplift you in times of need, look no further than this album--for an album recorded in such dire circumstances (a sister's suicide and a mother's battle with cancer), it doesn't get much more uplifting (and beautiful) than this.

Why don't we take a ride away up high through the neighborhood
Up over the billboards and the factories and smoke...

Hump Day Helper -- Apropos February Edition

Because it's Wednesday, and we all need a pick-me-up to make it through the rest of the week in our respective hells, WDR is providing some fun.

You didn't think I'd make it through the month without something fitting, like this week's choice, did you?

This week's video is from a band that I count as one of my favorites; unfortunately, Death From Above 1979 only made one official album, but what a hell of an album it was. You're A Woman, I'm A Machine is not only a brilliant title, but one of the most inventive and most fun records that has come out this decade. So I hope you enjoy this track, which while doesn't show the balls-out energy that's in a lot of their work, gives some clue to the uniqueness of their sound in their tale of white flight.

Oh yeah, your quizzes on Black History should have arrived in your mailbox last week; Von Bookman will be expecting your answers by Friday.

Hold on, hold on children
Your best friend's parents are leaving...

Hump Day Helper -- You Listen to Too Much Heavy Metal Edition

Because it's Wednesday, and we all need a pick-me-up to make it through the rest of the week in our respective hells, WDR is providing some fun.

I was all set to give you guys a very chill, very inspirational Hump Day Helper this week, which would be a stark contrast to the ENERGY! approach we had been going with lately. But then Joe Reefer had to go ahead and fuck things up, sending me the leak to the new Mars Volta album, effectively putting my previous plans in the shitter. As it is, I think you shall be quite satisfied with the result.

While The Mars Volta continue venturing into the bizarre, one should take the time to look back to the previous band, At The Drive-In, and appreciate the fantastic work that they did. While they had solid output throughout their career, they really hit their stride with the landmark album Relationship Of Command, which is easily one of the top ten albums of the decade (and an enormous favorite of the entire WDR crew). We could have gone with the serious video or the video of the song everyone knows, but what the hell, let's pick the one that just gets you amped up.

It takes the weight out of living!...