Take This Track For A Ride: Surf Wax America

Weezer has gone down as one the defining bands of modern music. There is an argument to be made (not today) that they pioneered the transition between the grunge of Nirvana and the alternative of Foo Fighters. Their pioneering career began with their debut self-titled album in 1994. It is saturated with fun tracks that show the full spectrum of Weezer's ability as a band. The songs sound differently and Rivers Cuomo sings about a variety of subject matters, both serious and light-hearted. One song of the latter description is "Surf Wax America".

What seems like a displaced early 60's Beach Boys song fits nice on this early 90's album between the more famous singles of Undone (The Sweater Song)  and "Say It Ain't So". It is 3 minutes and 6 seconds of crashing drums and striking cords. The music maintains a balance of urgency and calmness. There is room for the listener to enter, relax, and tap his or her foot along to the song. Cuomo announces that he is hitting the seas as if he is in a hurry. He is practically running across the sands as he sings and makes a statement about his preferred means of transportation. He plainly states at the onset of the song "the wave is coming but I ain't got no fear" and later declares "you take your car to work, I'll take my board. And when you're out of fuel, I'm still afloat."

For me, what is truly enjoyable about this song is the subject matter and how it places Weezer in a tradition. They are an American band led by a young aspiring song writer with an ear to the world he lives in and in this song he is singing about the piece of Americana known as surfing. Now I am not comparing Rivers Cuomom to Brian Wilson but it is should be noted that at least for one song he put on Wilson's flowery button down shirt and made a track worth listening to.

Quick Song Review: If I Ever Get Around To Living, John Mayer

On his latest release, John Mayer channels his inner Neil Young and creates an album that sounds as much a part of the musical landscape from the early 70's as it does from the early 2010's. Mayer, a guitar giant in modern music, draws from the past to create music that will last. Every track speaks to this looking back in order to see what will come. The lead single "Shadow Days" declares "I'm a good man with a good heart, had a tough time, got a rough start. But I finally learned to let it go." "Queen of California" name drops Young and opens with "Goodbye cold, goodbye rain, goodbye sorrow, and goodbye shame." On "If I Ever Get Around To Living", Mayer speaks to the next step in the emotional process embedded in this album.

The song starts with simply strumming reminiscent of Young's "Old Man" from his album Harvest. In fact, both songs are very similar in music and lyrics. Acoustic strumming takes center stage to a backing band of drums, bass, electric guitar, and slide guitar. Both artist sing with backing vocals that not only echo their sound but their message as well. Both Young and Mayer are on the cusp of a new stage in their life and they are reflecting on it. Young addresses an elder who lived on the ranch he bought. Mayer speaks to us, the audience, and lets us into his head space for five minutes and twenty two seconds.

I highly recommend accepting Mayer's invitation and stepping in. It is a song you can tap your foot along to while you think about if you will ever get around to living.