Violent Femmes

Strangely contrary to the rest of the stuff I was listening to in high school, the Violent Femmes first and self titled album was very important to me and constantly playing in the background. Recorded for less than $10,000 it's really one of the first great indie/alternative albums I was ever exposed to.

I can remember me and my buddy P (who now lives in Japan at the base of Mt Fuji, how cool is that) borrowing his folk's car and driving around just so we could crank it up and listen to it without having people call us weird. Yea, it's cool to say you like "Blister In The Sun" today, but in the 80's when it came out NO ONE liked it. Don't fuckin shit me... you didn't like it in 1982.

While Poison, Crue and Whitesnake where getting flashier, with bigger hair, more makeup than our moms and tons of spandex, the Femmes were 3 average guys playing acoustic instruments (acoustic guitar, acoustic bass and a small drum kit) and writing about teenage life. The top 40 and popular music was about stuff we really knew nothing about, the Femmes were about our everyday life- rejection, drugs, trying to figure out girls and teenage depression. But not only that, there was always a little comedy in the mix and some AMAZING bass playing.

How about a couple of songs that always meant something to me... Find them and listen to them to really get the feel of them.

KISS OFF

I need someone
a person to talk to
someone who'd care
to love
could it be you
could it be you
the situation gets rough,
and i start to panic
its not enough
its just a habit
and, kid, you're sick
darling this is it
well you can all just kiss off into to the air
behind my back i can see that stare
they'll hurt me bad but i won't mind
they'll hurt me bad they do it all the time
I hope you know that this will go down on your permanent record
oh yea, well don't get so distressed
did i happen to mention that I'm impressed
i take one one one cause you left me and
two two two for my family and
three three three for my heartache and
four four four for my headaches and
five five five for my lonely and
six six six for my sorrow and
seven seven n-no tomorrow and
eight eight i forget what eight was for and
nine nine nine for a lost god
ten ten ten ten for everything everything everything
well you can all just kiss off into to the air
behind my back i can see that stare
they'll hurt me bad but i won't mind
they'll hurt me bad they do it all the time
do it all the time

ADD IT UP

Day after day
I will walk and I will play
but the day after today I will stop
and I will start
why can't I get just one kiss
why can't I get just one kiss
there may be somethings that I wouldn't miss
but I look at your pants and I need a kiss
why can't I get just one screw
why can't I get just one screw
believe me I know what to do
but something won't let me make love to you
why can't I get just one fuck
why can't I get just one fuck
I guess it's got something to do with luck
but I waited my whole life for just one
day after day
I get angry
and I will say
that the day is in my sight
when I’ll take a bow
and say goodnight
going down the kitchen at the top of the stairs
can I mix in with your affairs
share a smoke, make a joke
grasp and reach for a leg of hope
words to memorize, words hypnotize
words make my mouth exercise
words all failed the magic prize
nothing I can say when I’m in your thighs
I would love to love you lover
the city is restless, it’s ready to pounce
here in your bedroom, ounce for ounce
I’ve given you, decision to make
things to lose, things to take
just as she’s about ready to cut it up
she says wait a minute honey, I’m gonna add it up
add it up…add it up…add it up…
day after day
I get angry
and I will say
that the day is in my sight
when I’ll take a bow
and say goodnight

Hey, if you're reading this P, dig through your tapes and find that copy we used to listen to all the time and take another listen. (If you haven't lately). The stuff seems to stand up even after all these years and the bass playing still blows my mind!

Gratuitous Hot Chick