Case File #38: "Trick For Treat"

Neon Neon
"Trick For Treat"
Stainless Style
(2008)




The need to know: An album based on the life and times of John Delorean (you know, the guy behind that crazy lookin' car from Back to the Future) shouldn't work. It shouldn't really even come up for consideration. But this album's mixture of 80s worship wrapped up in modern day criticisms make it an album that's not just fun, but surprisingly relevant. And that can only be due to the fellows in charge: Super Furry Animals frontman Gruff Rhys and DJ/electronic artist Boom Bip. A one-off collaboration, it nevertheless earned the band a nomination for the 2008 Mercury Music Prize, an annual award honoring the best album from the UK.

Why it's worthy: On an album that meanders through retro dream pop, nostalgic new wave and hard hip hop, "Trick For Treat" is the track that pulls it all together. Not as biographical as "Luxury Pool", a loose take on Delorean's life story, "Trick For Treat" is nevertheless laden with white powdery references and lifestyle excesses courtesy of guest spots by singer Har Mar Superstar and rap group Spank Rock.

Quotable lyric: "Got me dreaming like a Michigan boy/ In Hollywood/ Got me doing all I can"

Where you've heard it: The video for Neon Neon's "I Told Her on Alderaan" ends with the chorus from "Trick for Treat", complete with a cameo from Har Mar Superstar.

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Case File #28: "Half Asleep"

School of Seven Bells
"Half Asleep"
Alpinisms
(2008)




The need to know: Formed by Ben Curtis (formerly of Secret Machines) and twin-sisters Claudia and Alejandra Deheza, School of Seven Bells create near-perfect electronic dream pop that waves from danceable, worldly explorations to hazy moments of ethereal beauty. Following their debut, 2007 UK single "My Cabal," and their 2008 full-length Alpinisms, the band shared stages with Blonde Redhead, Bat for Lashes, and fellow electronic shoegazers, M83.

Why it's worthy: Sonically a perfect song for a visual montage of the indie film version of youthful love and life, the dreamy beauty of "Half Asleep" is almost enough to make you abandon your computer and desk in favor of springtime sunshine and the swaying trees taunting you through the window. Lyrically, it's an admission of and struggle against complacency and falling victim to the mundanity of our everyday lives. Beautiful, hopeful and tragic, Alejandra Deheza's voice fills each word with longing but never over embellishes the sentiment, which allows the accompanying music to speak volumes.

Quotable lyric: "Sometimes I go whole days listening, bored, half sleep/ I won't say anything that's worth a thing to me"

Where you've heard it: "Half Asleep" was included on the downloadable Urban Outfitters mixtape LSTN#2 back in 2008. An alternate version also appeared on the 2009 Alpinisms re-release as one of nine bonus tracks.

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Case File #25: "Oasis"

Amanda Palmer
"Oasis"
Who Killed Amanda Palmer?
(2008)




The need to know: If you aren't following @amandapalmer on Twitter, you should be. The Dresden Doll-turned-solo artist (and, most recently, half of Evelyn Evelyn) has often reconciled the realities of what it takes to succeed in the music biz with maintaining artistic integrity by reaching out to her ever-expanding worldwide fan base. Often garnering attention for her atypical methods, her music is just as worthy of the attention as her flamboyant personality. An odd triumph, she sent the blogosphere abuzz when she admitted last year that she made more money via Twitter than she had from her 2008, Ben Folds co-produced solo album, Who Killed Amanda Palmer?

Why it's worthy: Quite possibly the happiest song ever written about rape and abortion, "Oasis" was inspired by a similar experience Palmer went through at age 17. But despite the backdrop, this song is really a love letter to music and its ability to make things seem a-ok, even when life's at its worst. Anyone who's ever had their day turned around by a song, or worshiped a band in their teens, can hear themselves reflected in this two-minute, piano driven sing-along.

Quotable lyric: "And so now were not talking/ Except we have tickets/ To see Blur in October/ And I think were still going"

Where you've heard it: The awesomely tongue-in-cheek video for "Oasis" was banned for its subject matter by every music video outlet in the UK, but you can still watch it on YouTube. 

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