Once upon a time there was this perfect punk rock band and it was The Pixies. Then The Pixies broke up, partly because Kim Deal kept getting side-lined in the band and partly because Frank Black had ‘temperamental genius’ staked out, and when they broke up you could tell everyone assumed it was a man’s band because they all watched Frank Black for his next move instead of her. (I’m abbreviating some of the history here). And what happened then? Frank Black kind of didn’t do anything all that hot for a time but Kim Deal formed a band with her twin sister Kelley Deal and it was The Breeders. The name is a feminist reference to the way in which women are reduced to their reproductive capacity, and the band went on to make great rock music with catchy pop sentiments right in the heart of ‘alt rock’ boy world.

“Cannonball” is this entirely perfect little rock tune. And remember that the very perfect beginning of that perfect little song is apparently the result of a happy accident where Kim Deal was trying to teach her sister, Kelley the song’s introduction and she wasn’t quite getting it. The secret to The Breeders is that they never tried too hard. Also, the video clip for “Cannonball” was directed by Spike Jonze and Kim Gordon, so you know, 1990s ‘Alternative’ royalty. But I’m over listening to “Cannonball” so I chose “Saints” for this post. There’s nothing mind-blowing about the lyrics, although “summer is ready when you are” is quite lovely..  but in this song you can hear how well The Breeders do big, thumping guitar and drum sounds without getting carried away with themselves.

And actually, right now I like listening to “Do You Love Me Now?” (but it doesn’t have a video clip and I didn’t think a blank clip would exactly thrill you), and it is a much more reserved song for them. I like this one because it’s this wonderfully blasé song about lusting after an ex and then she tries to pull him/her back to her with a great bass line and anyway, do our exes still love us in a way?

Saints

I like all the different people
I like sticky everywhere
Look around, you bet I’ll be there!
Hot metal in the sun
Pony in the air
Sooey and saints at the fair

Saints alive you’re saying
Walk in … squares
The hid are out, out for the year
It’s a lot of face
A lot of crank air
Eroding around here

Summer’s ready
Summer is ready when you are

I like all the different people
I like every kind of fair
In the crowd, you bet I’ll be there!
Walkin’ around
Going nowhere
Seeing Sooey and saints at the fair

Summer is ready when you are [2x]
Summer’s ready
Summer is ready when you are
Summer’s ready
Summer is ready when you are

It’s a lot of face, crank air

Summer’s ready
Summer is ready when you are

Categories: arts & entertainment, Culture, fun & hobbies, gender & feminism, Life, Sociology