Case File #36: "California"

Copeland
"California"  
Beneath Medicine Tree
(2003)




The need to know:  Formed in Lakeland, Florida in 2001, Copeland found some success as an indie rock band throughout the early aughts, touring frequently and releasing their first two full-length records via small time indie label The Militia Group. In 2006, as record labels scrambled to find the next Fall Out Boy, Copeland announced that they had been signed to the majors with a slot on Columbia's roster, but that relationship proved to be short lived. After losing bassist and founding member James Likeness in 2007, the band released a b-sides compilation and their final album, You Are My Sunshine, in 2008 via Tooth & Nail, before calling it quits in 2010.

Why it's worthy: "California" is the story of boy meets girl, boy falls for girl, girl moves as far away as one can possibly go and not leave the continental United States. Sure, the story is about as emo as you can get, but this song is hardly typcial of the genre. Far from being Fall Out Boy or Get Up Kids clones, Copeland's debut, which was primarily inspired by singer Aaron Marsh's girlfriend's battle with cancer, was filled to the brim with beautiful power pop that nudged sweetness about as far as it could go without turning saccharine. "California" is no exception. Perhaps the band's best and most loved song, what makes it truly obsess-worthy isn't the lyrical honesty, or Marsh's lithesome vocals: It's the guitar solo that closes out the song. For the final two minutes, the band explodes into a burst of incendiary guitar passion that failed to be matched on any of the group's subsequent albums (or songs).

Quotable lyric: "I miss the way you sing low/ So I can't hear your voice over the radio in my car"

Where you've heard it:  Copeland found a bit of notoriety, albeit brief, when they hijacked Fall Out Boy's viral marketing scheme for their album Folie à Deux in 2008, leading to many angry FOB fans...and not much else.

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Case File #35: "Rootless Tree"

Damien Rice
"Rootless Tree"
9
(2006)




The need to know: In the 90s, Damien Rice fronted the Irish rock band Juniper, but after becoming disillusioned with the music industry and disgruntled with the direction of the band, he quit and headed to Tuscany to farm, amongst other European travels. But eventually the music bug returned and Rice soon emerged as one of Ireland's premier singer/songwriters. His solo debut, O, beat out albums by Bright Eyes, Cat Power, Interpol, SIgur Ros and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs to take home the 2003 Shortlist Music Prize. The less-acclaimed 9 followed in 2006. 

Why it's worthy: "Rootless Tree" may begin as a typical Damien Rice ballad, but by the time the chorus kicks in, it's anything but. The shock value of hearing the typically reserved  Rice let loose into a chorus of angry Fuck Yous is only part of the appeal, however. One hell of a breakup song, "Rootless Tree" conveys the need to get the hell out of a trapping relationship while still asking for permission to leave. Because, sometimes, even when it's over, it's not really over.

Quotable lyric: "And if you hate me/ Then hate me so good that you can let me out"

Where you've heard it: Rice's songs have been used in numerous films and TV shows, most notably his song "The Blower's Daughter" was used in the 2004 film Closer. 

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Case File #34: "Anthems for a Seventeen Year-Old Girl"

Broken Social Scene
"Anthems for a Seventeen Year-Old Girl"
You Forgot It In People
(2002)



The need to know: For giving us Broken Social Scene, Canada gets a free pass for all other musical follies. Anchored by Kevin Drew and Brendan Canning, who both released albums under the "Broken Social Scene Presents..." banner, the BSS roster kinda reads like a who's who of Canadian indie rock, having included members of Stars, Metric, Feist, Do Make Say Think, k-os, The Weakerthans, Apostle of Hustle, and Jason Collett at one time or another. And, folks, those are just the ones I can remember off of the top of my head. A collective, rather than the dime-a-dozen "supergroup," the band pools its sound from the talents of its varied members, for a series of albums that don't quite sound like anything else out there these days. Their third official Broken Social Scene LP, Forgiveness Rock Record, is due out May 4th.

Why it's worthy: Perhaps I like this song so much because I've been a 17-year-old girl, and, although, far from the typical anthem stereotypes, "Anthems for a Seventeen Year-Old Girl" is still a kind of rallying cry...just more the kind that draws from building banjo/guitar lines and a snapshot of heartbroken teenage angst (or is that grown-up nostalgia?). A song that thrives on repetition, "Anthems" uses Emily Haines' distorted vocals (a grown-up voice manipulated to mimic that of a child) to perfection, repeating lines over-and-over until the building momentum crushes you with all the haunted beauty you could fit in a broken, teenage heart.

Quotable lyric: "Used to be one of the rotten ones/ And I liked you for that"

Where you've heard it: Broken Social Scene has lent songs and written scores for several films and television shows, and most recently their cover of Joy Division's "Love Will Tear Us Apart" appeared in the 2009 film The Time Traveler's Wife. 

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Case File #33: "I'm Not Calling You A Liar"

Florence + the Machine
"I'm Not Calling You A Liar"
Lungs
(2009)




The need to know: Florence is South London bred Florence Welch, and her machine is a rotating cast of characters who accompany her powerful, blues/rock pipes. Her debut album emerged in 2009, taking the British music scene by storm and scoring a nod for "Best British Album" at the 2010 Brit awards. The band is currently at work on a much-anticipated follow-up to be released next year. 

Why it's worthy: Scaled down from the danceable flair of equally obsess-worthy tunes like "Howl" and "Dog Days Are Over", "I'm Not Calling You A Liar" builds from Welch's bluesy voice and spirals into a less-exuberant but equally epic crescendo. Here, Welch's vocals get the spotlight, gently smooth over and shaping every word until you can swear they're almost tangible. If you hear this song and don't feel something, you must be made of stone.

Quotable lyric: "I'm not calling you a liar/ Just don't lie to me"

Where you've heard it: Another Florence + the Machine tune, "Kiss With A Fist", was featured in the 2009 Megan Fox disaster Jennifer's Body. 

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Case File #32: "Wake Up"

Arcade Fire
"Wake Up"
Funeral
(2004)




The need to know: Arcade Fire are a big band, boasting seven core members and a live army that swells into double digits. The large outfit, however, is anchored by the husband/wife duo of Win Butler and Regine Chassagne and together they create baroque pop of epic proportions. Their debut, 2004's Funeral landed the band some of the highest critical acclaim of the last decade and left fans frothing at the mouth for more. The Bruce Springsteen-indebted Neon Bible followed in 2007, and their third album is rumored to be released later this year (eek!). 

Why it's worthy: I'm not gonna lie. "Wake Up" is nearly my favorite song of all time and, quite frankly, I've surprised myself by making it 30+ entries in without tackling it. Pulsing guitar riffs anchor  soaring orchestral moments and a punchy breakdown make this song over-the-top in the best way possible. A chorus of "ohs" and a swelling string section only emphasize Butler's cries of nostalgia. It's gorgeous. It's epic. It's a song no Holden Caulfield of the world can resist.

Quotable lyric: "With my lightning bolts a'glowin/ I can see where I am going"

Where you've heard it: Both the original and a specially recorded acoustic version of "Wake Up" were used in various trailers and TV spots for Spike Jonze's film adaptation of Where The Wild Things Are. Additionally, the band allowed the song to be used in bumpers for the NFL during this past Super Bowl, with all proceeds going to help earthquake-ravaged Haiti.

EDIT: The band also performed "Wake Up" with David freaking Bowie at the 2006 VH1 Fashion Rocks benefit. (Thanks Jeremy!)

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