probabilityfields

I first heard this song when Jeff James and I watched the video for it on MTV2’s new show Subterranean. The show is not as good as 120 Minutes, for those of you who remember, but what the hell is these days? I don’t even think I have MTV2 at my house, but lord knows I only watch HBO, PBS, and the Food Network here.

The video was for The Mountain Goats “This Year”. It’s one of the better videos I’ve ever seen, doesn’t distract from the song. I get annoyed by most videos; I think what little thought I put into them is slighty more than most music video directors put in to them, ha!

One example is Nada Surf’s new video for “Always Love”. I love this song, but not always, i.e. when it’s from their video, which sucks. The band just plays their instruments without any feeling, barely moving their lips. When I hear the song I picture them playing live to an enthusiastic crowd (or maybe I picture myself playing…anyway). This video ruins the song for me. But I’ll just have to forget about the damn video.

“This Year” on the other hand is a great song and a great video. Its theme is underplayed and interesting if you want it to be. The most surprising element is the band’s singer whose acting carries across the song just as well as his voice.

Of course the video is but a mere advertisment for the song, which is a Springsteen-esque anthem, rife with automotive metaphors and expressions like “A girl named Cathy wants a little of my time.” The music is simple, driving acoustic guitar, piano, bass, light drums, vocals that sound like the guy from Flogging Molly without the accent. I recommend a listen/view, here’s the video.

My favorite part:
“And then Cathy showed up and we hung out.
Trading swigs from the bottle all bitter and clean
locking eyes, holding hands,
twin high-maintenance machines.
I am going to make it through this year if it kills me.”