Monday, 10 April 2017

April #8 - Here's One You Won't Like


8. American Authors - Believer

I have a pretty good handle on what type of songs to write about if I want a positive response in the My Top Ten comments section. What genres, what eras, what countries of origin. That in mind, I have a pretty good idea that my latest charity shop gamble will leave 90% of my regular respondents ice cold. I apologise for that in advance, but I think this is a pretty cool pop song.

Taken from the band's 2014 debut album, this is apparently one of their best loved tunes. I've not listened to the rest of the album yet, I just picked this at random and burned it onto one of my in-car comps. It's a great driving song, complete with shouty chorus and Friends-theme-tune-style handclaps. (Ugh - I know!) It's over-produced as most American alt-rock is these days, but I can even forgive it that.

You're really not going to like it though. Honest. I know you by now. That's OK. You don't have to pretend for me. I'm a big boy. I can take it.






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13 comments:

  1. Deano11 April 2017 at 01:13

    Hmm...well I listened to it.

    There is a line in the song about take it or leave it, and that is probably where I sit. I don't dislike it at all, but I gotta say it didn't do that much for me.

    So yeah, maybe you do know your audience.

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    1. Rol11 April 2017 at 08:34

      The weird thing is, I might not have liked it myself if I hadn't randomly selected it for the CD. It didn't exactly grab me at first, but on repeated listens it grew. I have a friend who says if you listen to anything enough you start to like it. I'm not sure I believe that though: I've heard a hell of a lot of U2 on the radio over the years, and...

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  2. The Swede11 April 2017 at 09:20

    You know me better than I know myself Rol!

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  3. C11 April 2017 at 13:17

    As both Deano and The Swede say! But the singer looks a bit like that Jonas bloke from DNCE and then I thought about DNCE and how I rather like 'Cake By The Ocean' which isn't that dissimilar so you just never know... always worth a try...keeping ears and mind open!

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    1. Rol11 April 2017 at 13:47

      Hmm. I was unaware of the work of DNCE, or their Cake By The Ocean. Having just given it a try, I can see the appeal... but it's much poppier than American Authors... hence, I win the muso points on this one, surely? ;-)

      Delete
    2. C11 April 2017 at 14:42

      You do :-) I've been listening to too much Radio 1!

      Delete
    3. Rol11 April 2017 at 15:02

      Well, that's not been a good idea since about 2004.

      Delete
  4. Alyson11 April 2017 at 16:04

    I was expecting the worst but of course if you expect no-one to like it, probably means that I will. Feel-good pop and what's wrong with that in this not-feel-good world we are living in at the moment.

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    1. Rol11 April 2017 at 16:16

      You were always a strong contender for the 10%, Alyson.

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    2. Alyson11 April 2017 at 17:43

      I just popped back to delete my comment as I was in a hurry earlier and didn't word it right at all, but too late it seems - "Not-feel-good" is not a term but you probably knew what I meant. Yes I am the 10% and proud of it!

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  5. Anonymous21 April 2017 at 20:25

    I am very firmly 90% but I think you knew that>

    So interchangable with so much other pop-pap that pollutes the airwaves these days.

    JC

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