I always took "time to end this siege together" as giving into sexual temptation. Perhaps I'm the one that is sordid.
Billy Wrote:Spycouple Wrote:never much cared for the song, but gotta say that when they played it in Vancouver in '99, there was a vacuum-like effect of all the sound being sucked out of the song just prior to the above lyric being delivered. it was the trippiest thing... then again, it was Vancouver (mind tricks sometimes happen in these parts)!
Ahh yes, the sweet smell, taste and feel of BC bud. That trip was the first time, and I guess only time, that I have experienced the shear joy and excitement of smoking up in a public place at the Amsterdam Cafe. Is it still open? I still remember almost shitting my pants when my buddy, who lives in Van, took me there, and the minute you walked into the joint you were hit in the face with the pugent odour. What a cool experience to sit on cushions on the floor, eat Lebanese food, and smoke freely on a joint, or two or three.
I have no idea what you're talking about.
I was merely suggesting that with the large number of Jedi that frequent the area, you never know what kind of antics they might be up to.
this is not the post you are looking for (phew! that was close)
:mrgreen:
The rules is a good song and it is well placed on the album because it sets the last 3 songs that come after it apart from the rest of the album...the album feels like it has two totally seperate "halves"...all the stuff from the rules onward is darker, more melancholy...and I think putting the rules right at the beginning of the group, since it is so different from the rest of the album, marks where one part of the album stops and where the next begins very effectively.
Thompson Girl is good but no better than The Rules. Both good, well crafted, lyrically splendid songs. Just for the record, I think Bobcaygeon ranks in the top 10 all time Hip songs easily and is the best song on Phantom Power. It's just a simple song, no complex music or anything but it's just got so much greatness!!!!! I don't know how else to say it!!!
simply put: the rules, rules! :thumb:
I have to throw in my 2ยข and say The Rules is one of the most peacefully listenable tunes ever written.
Could it be time for the readin' of the rules?
The Rules:
- Rule one........The Rules ROCKS!
Rule two........No member of the 'base is to maltreat the Abos in any way at all -- if there's anybody watching.
Rule three.....The Rules ROCKS!
Rule four....... Now this term, I don't want to catch anybody not drinking.
Rule five.......The Rules ROCKS!
Rule six.........There is NO ...rule 6.
Rule seven....The Rules ROCKS!
Note: The word "rocks" in this post isn't intended to mean "rocks" in the way that Gus or HotM "rocks" but "rocks" as in being somethhing beloved and very special like the tender kiss of a beautiful woman.
Disclaimer: Content of this post based upon "The Bruces" and is intended as humor with no intention to slur or slander anyone of Aboriginal descent.
Two theads for the price of one.
I always dug 'Thompson Girl,' but I really don't think it's 'sordid'---the song seems to concern a snowed-in couple. The end of the siege refers to the retreat of the snow ('springtime's coming...it's the end of rent-a-movie weather'). At least, that's the surface narrative. The winter of the song may itself be a metpahor for loneliness or sexual repression or whatever. But as straight, snowed-in-in-Manitoba story, it's a great bit of Canadiana with a groovy sound and nifty lyrics.
DIE BLASPHEMERS!
:lol:
Dissing Phantom Power songs?
The Rules is awesome.
Thompson Girl is awesome.
:thumb:
The Rules seems like it's meant to convey that there are always bigger fish, etc. "You can be the toughest kid in the third grade but there're kids in grade 8 who can mop the floor with ya." The first verse seems like this is the case. The second verse hangs on the edge between "the underdog takes the day" and "irrelevancies in the machine." And the last verse is like an apology for the first two like, "you know, even though rules are rules, there's the occasional rule that throws it all out."... I'd agree with what KWT said above as to Thompson Girl and the winter being the metaphor for sexual repression/loneliness. But I'd stretch as far as to just say it might be some rut that a couple manages to get out of, etc. Like some event caused a rip in their relationship, they got "snowed in" and sorta rode out the "winter" until it all thawed out. Still; both of them are solid songs, all of PP is solid. I can't understand how someone could dislike either one of them. Maybe not neccessarily a favourite to some (I don't really consider them favourites) but, they could be worse; they could be "Shadow" by Ashlee Simpson or "Welcome To My Life" by Simple Plan... lol. I must say hearing other songs on the radio like that only makes me appreciate the Hip even more. ANY Hip song is awesome when compared to the Paint-By-Numbers out there.
:music
If the rules is the worst song on phantom power, and i grant that might be possible, then Phantom Power is the best hip album..EVER.
I can't say I dislike The Rules, but I never thought about it much, it's always been just sort of there on PP for me, ya know?
But I really dig Thompson Girl, it's a rare song that is acoustic yet dynamic at the same time. It's also fun to try and hit those high notes with Gord too!
I too love The Rules. I really like the mix, and johnny's drums-- while not fast or complex, sound better than any other hip song. Plus, who else in pop music today sings about vacuum cleaners?....
sonofdad
sonofdad Wrote:who else in pop music today sings about vacuum cleaners?
Eminem - Bad Influence
I haven't posted In a while & have to come in with negativity. I'm a jerk...
However, The rules is one I've had trouble with. Lyrically I think it's fantastic, but musically it's trite & dull, but if it's going to come to that, What Is It that everyone seems to be digging about Escape is at Hand...?
To me that song is amongst the worst. It smacks of of effort. Hugely pretentious.
One on that album it took me a while on, but eventually fell madly in love with, is Save The Planet. It was after hearing a live disk where Gordie refers to it as "... the most pessimistic song we know" that the tumblers all fell into place.
Brilliant.
But can somebosy please tell me why the boys don't seem to ever play Leave in concert.
I think of Leave the way you think of Escape. I can't stand leave, I think it's one of the dumbest songs the band has ever done. Gord always mixes up complex metaphors but he keeps the bird thing going through an entire song and it really gets old...one verse is enough, but he just goes on and on about the birds saying things...really boring lyrically.
Escape, I think of excatly the opposite of you...I think it sounds tossed off which is why I really like it. It feels like a rambling story with no real point that an old guy might tell if you found yourself drinking on the stool beside him at your favourite pub. I don't think it's pretentious at all, it seems really...casual. I "get" the lyrics because they're so direct but unfocused, it's not like he's trying to hit you over the head with a specifc message.
I can see your point with the invocation of the old man at the bar. Good call. I'll have to relisten to it with that image in mind.