Guest Post: Match the Indie Darling Hit Song with the Crappy Product that They are Shilling

Believe it or not, we are not the only ones who write about music. In fact, after doing a bit of research, it turns out that there are dozens (if not HUNDREDS) of blogs dedicated to music on the internets. And so, long live the guest post:

Today I’ve got commercials on the brain, so we’re going to play a little game called “Match the Indie Darling Hit Song with the Crappy Product that They are Shilling” I’m going to give you three songs and a hint. Answers and videos are after the jump.

First off we have a tune by Joe Purdy, who rose to semi-prominence after his song “Wash Away (Reprise)” was chosen by Cloverfield producer J.J. Abrams to be featured in a season 1 episode of Lost. I actually have become fond of this song (MP3: “Can’t Get It Right Today“) as of late. It makes a lot of sense with many of the situations I find myself in on a daily basis. Answer Hint: The name of the company who is represented in this ad means “to come up out of Asia”.

Next we have a tune from the Oakland based band Rogue Wave. Not only do they have the most terrifying band name ever but they don’t sound too shabby either. MP3: “Lake Michigan“ Answer Hint: The product in this commercial just sold its 2 millionth unit. Only 148 million to go to match its largest competitor.

Finally we have my favorite song of the three in our competition today. It is a little ditty by one of my favorite bands, The New Pornographers. For those unfamiliar they are a Canadian supergroup which features my favorite flame-haired chanteuse, Neko Case. I have been a fan of this song (MP3: “The Bleeding Heart Show“) for quite awhile but I won’t lie to you, I was very surprised it was used for this product. Answer Hint: The product this song is used for is not very tangible, though the organization behind it owns a football stadium.

Movin’ to the country, gonna listen to the new PUSA…

We all remember The Presidents of the United States of America, right?  Getting excited listening to the song “Kitty” at your friend’s house because of a certain curse word you hadn’t really heard much in music before?  The endearing hate song “Lump”?  And, of course, the classic “PEACHES”!!!

So you can imagine the 5th grader inside of me was excited when I saw PUSA released an album this year.  I did not realize that they were still together or that this album was released two months ago and did not touch my radar. So here is a track I pulled off of KEXP’s song-a-day podcast:

MP3: MORE BAD TIMES

Buy PUSA

The song is hardly revolutionary and won’t make any end-of-the-year lists, but it’s worth a listen, and the lyricists have definitely been at work:

“You never had rabies
You never gained weight
You never drank poison
You watched what you ate”

and

” You twisted your ankle
I carried you
You got a divorce
So I married you
You fell off a cliff
So I buried you”

and

” You never got mauled by a mad baboon
You never lost all the air in your balloon
You never got poked in the eye with a spork
You never got sick from all that leftover pork”

Who can throw “baboon” and “spork” into the same verse? The Presidents, that’s who.

MP

New Music: Nik Freitas

Via KCRW’s Top Tune podcast (you guys’ gotta subscribe to this), Mr. Freitas delivers a song I’m sure written for some girl he once dated in college, but unlike most guys con guitars, he has developed a sound that doesn’t make him sound like a complete douchebag.  In fact, the final product has a pleasant, soft rolling drum that carries throughout the tune.  Rounded out with Mr. Tambourine Man-esque guitar strolls and Simon and Garfunkel harmonies.  Toss in some of Wilco’s midwestern modesty and your package isn’t too shabby.

SUN DOWN

Buy Nik Freitas

He opened for Conor Oberst at those 400 Bar shows this past winter and is supporting both Rilo Kiley and Jonathan Rice this coming summer.  Keep an eye out for this kid.

MP