Do it again!

March 14, 2010 7:01 AM

The Heavy performing on Late Night, with "an unprecedented encore by request from Dave." (second video courtesy CBS, including off-air encore)

Here's the official video. Ah, that's why it's so familiar.
Bored with them, but looking for more like it?
They're on the Ninja Tune label, formed by Coldcut (!) previously, home to many artists whose music may also sound familiar from video games or advertisements*.

A small sampling from some of the artists:
Amon Tobin - 4 ton mantis
Bonobo - Eyesdown feat. Andreya Triana
Coldcut - True Skool
Mr. Scruff - Music Takes Me Up
Roots Manuva - Witness
Spank Rock - N.A.S.A. "Whachadoin?" (feat. M.I.A., Spank Rock, Santogold, & Nick Zinner)
The Herbaliser - Goldrush
The Death Set - Negative Thinking
The Qemists - S.W.A.G.
Wagon Christ - Lovely

On second thought, maybe skip the youtubery and just check out the vimeo channel instead.

*here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here

posted by hypersloth (93 comments total)

rut ro. I meant "The Late Show"
apologies
posted by hypersloth at 7:10 AM on March 14, 2010

BoringPostcards brought The Heavy to my attention with a post over at MeCha. Great stuff!
posted by tommasz at 7:22 AM on March 14, 2010

Ooooh those guys (the Heavy) are good. Thanks for this.
posted by jimmythefish at 7:28 AM on March 14, 2010

"How You Like Me Now?" is basically "Gloria" by Them (Van Morrison) with horns. Not that that's a bad thing...
posted by Faze at 7:32 AM on March 14, 2010 [2 favorites]

The Heavy performing on Late Night

Performing a somewhat limp rip-off of There Was a Time -- preferably the Gene Chandler version rather than James Brown's
posted by PeterMcDermott at 7:32 AM on March 14, 2010 [7 favorites]

British band with charismatic lead singer and competent (they can blues riff!) rhythm section rocks America's world yet again. Via advertising. Perfect.

Having said that, I'm off to download their albums and listen to some Kid Koala (how could you leave him off the list?!) while I'm at it.
posted by carsonb at 7:38 AM on March 14, 2010 [2 favorites]

This is a rip off of a band that I listened to in my youth, the name of the band varying with when I grew up -- proof in this youtube clip.
posted by stavrogin at 7:47 AM on March 14, 2010 [9 favorites]

Kool Moe Dee: How Ya Like Me Now
posted by Mister Bijou at 7:49 AM on March 14, 2010

Hey, I'm sure TV's Craig would've been willing to give up a few minutes of his show to let them finish the encore live (on tape), but he was never asked...

What does it mean that the best music of these days is such an obvious throwback to 40-50 years ago? And if you wanna talk rip-offs, let's talk about the obnoxious 'homage' to Quentin Tarantino in that annoyingly long Lady Generic video? I've been enjoying pop music for all my 50+ years... until lately. Even repeated forced listenings and I can't even remember the hooks in "Telephone"... but that 40-year-old "Trolololo" song was instant earworm... thank you, The Heavy, for replacing that in my head when the best of America's starmaking machinery couldn't make a dent.
posted by oneswellfoop at 7:51 AM on March 14, 2010

It's telling me the unprecidented encore is "either unavailable or being blocked by an ad-blocker installed in your browser." This after I switched to MSIE for the occasion.
posted by Obscure Reference at 7:53 AM on March 14, 2010

Proof once again that the Rickenbacker basses are the backbone of awesome.
posted by drezdn at 8:05 AM on March 14, 2010 [19 favorites]

I immediately thought of Gene Chandler as well.

And I'll recommend the Budos Band.
posted by You Should See the Other Guy at 8:09 AM on March 14, 2010

appreciate the MeFi accountability, PeterMcDermott. a 40+ y.o. clip of JB smokes these limeys proper. Gene C.'s no slouch either. baby boomer amnesia sweeping the nation.
posted by electricsandwich138 at 8:11 AM on March 14, 2010 [4 favorites]

This is a rip off of a band that I listened to in my youth

It all is. What's your point?
posted by blucevalo at 8:13 AM on March 14, 2010 [11 favorites]

I feel a lot better now. I keep morning fluff-news shows running in the background when I'm getting ready for work, and for the last week I've been hearing this fucking great like ten seconds of music while I'm brushing my teeth or whatever, and I felt slightly duped when I realized it was evidently just developed for a commercial (for...sock monkeys, I think, which gives you perhaps some idea of the real power of advertising). I'm much relieved to find that this is indeed a real band.
posted by kittens for breakfast at 8:18 AM on March 14, 2010

Well, I really dig a three-piece horn section in a band -- one of my fave sounds.

And, with all due respect to the folks giving JB props, these guys were pretty good. The thing is, you /can't/ just do an R&B large band review anymore, or you are just reheating the past. These guys found a creative collision between travelling-show call-and-response R&B, groovy ska and a little Led Zeppelin (check out the rumble & crash drum and bass) and came up with their own damn thang.

All while giving mad props to their forebears.

So, yes. They hung onto that groove and wrung the sweat out of the bridge until you weren't sure if it was a song or a stopped clock (just like JB) but they gave it their own flavour, got the people up like it was Sunday morning at the church and left them feeling good.

They didn't just steal from JB, which would be derivative and sad. They stole from everybody, which in the context of music is just fine.
posted by clvrmnky at 8:20 AM on March 14, 2010 [16 favorites]

It all is. What's your point?

I was being sarcastic. You'll note that my link doesn't actually lead to a video.
posted by stavrogin at 8:26 AM on March 14, 2010 [2 favorites]

Hey, thank you for this -- Although I hear myriad 'echoes' with these guys, it doesn't feel at all copycut. They actually bring something original to the music. Plus, the lead singer is having fun! Really enjoyed it, yay, thanks.
posted by thinkpiece at 8:31 AM on March 14, 2010

They stole from everybody, which in the context of music is just fine.

You could pretty much trace the entire history of blues and rock music to ripping off the likes of Blind Lemon Jefferson, Mississippi John Hurt, Leadbelly, Robert Johnson etc. and yet I don't hear too many people bemoaning that fact whenever any new band gets posted here.

I agree with clvrmnky. Sure it's the same groove as previous songs - so what? This is about the performance, and they made it fresh and current. While the JB and GC versions are fast and focus on the horn lead, this is slower and more guitar-focused, and it changes the whole feel of the song.
posted by jimmythefish at 8:35 AM on March 14, 2010

It's kinda weird to see Letterman actually enjoy his own show.
posted by Omon Ra at 8:36 AM on March 14, 2010 [10 favorites]

That James Brown clip is hilarious.
posted by KokuRyu at 8:38 AM on March 14, 2010

I'd have to disagree with all of the snark about this song being a rip-off of this or that. To me it's all good because these guys actually know how to ROCK... which is way more than you can say about self-consciously "hip" indie bands like Vampire Weekend or Dirty Projectors or performance art bubble gum pop charlatans like Lady Googoo. All pop music feeds off the past and that is part of why it is pop. It's always the same but it just changes and evolves and develops and every now and then something really new comes along but it's still not actually so new.

This band may be using some really traditional riffs and old-school hooks (I mean c'mon, the beat is a sort of TANGO for crying out loud.. it's not like rock n' roll invented the tango).. but bless them for they are ROCKING OUT. People who are disturbed by this may continue to listen to "superior" independent music, which is all ripped off too, just from different sources.
posted by ReeMonster at 8:42 AM on March 14, 2010 [8 favorites]

"an unprecedented encore by request from Dave."

blocked outside the united states. world wide web, motherfucker.
posted by krautland at 8:55 AM on March 14, 2010

Wow these guys are good. For some reason this reminds me of some of the later Afghan Whigs stuff and the lead singer's voice has a Greg Dulli sound to it. Thanks!
posted by white_devil at 8:57 AM on March 14, 2010 [2 favorites]

blocked outside the united states. world wide web, motherfucker.

Hush now.
posted by kittens for breakfast at 9:02 AM on March 14, 2010

(Of course, if that's blocked, too...well, it shouldn't be! Sadly it cuts out in the middle of the encore, but it does come back, and well, anyway, there you go, with any luck.)
posted by kittens for breakfast at 9:04 AM on March 14, 2010

Not yet bored with The Heavy; they do some great stuff. Boring Postcards hooked me up, too.
posted by Doohickie at 9:09 AM on March 14, 2010

"How you like me now?"

I liked you better back then.
posted by markkraft at 9:13 AM on March 14, 2010

When I heard this I was like isn't "How ya like me now" a rap hook? Something from LL? I was close.
posted by Rubbstone at 9:15 AM on March 14, 2010

No Time is probably my favorite song on the album. This is a cookin' live version.
posted by Doohickie at 9:18 AM on March 14, 2010

If you like modern Motown sound, you can't do much better than Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings. Hell, they even put out 7"s.
posted by fungible at 9:28 AM on March 14, 2010 [2 favorites]

I now have an odd, inexplicable urge to go out and buy a small Korean SUV.
posted by AsYouKnow Bob at 10:14 AM on March 14, 2010 [2 favorites]

This is terrific. The Dirtbombs, "Ultraglide in Black", is also worth a listen if your soul revival a bit noisier.
posted by cazoo at 10:19 AM on March 14, 2010 [1 favorite]

4 posts in before the "your favorite band sucks" snarkfilter kicks in. i guess that's about par for the course. i acted like this when i was 18 or 19, when i still thought i had something to prove about my record collection. can't we just enjoy something now and then?
posted by TrialByMedia at 10:22 AM on March 14, 2010 [2 favorites]

I'd have to disagree with all of the snark about this song being a rip-off of this or that. To me it's all good because these guys actually know how to ROCK...

More rocking on Letterman.
posted by MarvinTheCat at 10:22 AM on March 14, 2010

and listen to some Kid Koala (how could you leave him off the list?!) while I'm at it.

OH MY FUCK HE MADE A HORN SOLO OUT OF A TURNTABLE!

/brain asplodes
posted by Horace Rumpole at 10:26 AM on March 14, 2010 [1 favorite]

I'm with White_Devil. Great stuff, that reminds me of the Afghan Whigs / Greg Dulli. Who I wish would tour, already.
posted by Skygazer at 10:55 AM on March 14, 2010

What does it mean that the best music of these days is such an obvious throwback to 40-50 years ago?

It means your taste is stuck in a rut.
posted by delmoi at 10:58 AM on March 14, 2010 [2 favorites]

Yeah Skygazer....miss the Whigs so much. Amazing live shows. Had the great fortune to catch them when I lived in New Orleans. Fantastic show at the Howlin Wolf that made it onto an EP.
posted by white_devil at 11:04 AM on March 14, 2010

What does it mean that the best music of these days is such an obvious throwback to 40-50 years ago?

Everything rips off either the Beatles, the Stones, or Led Zeppelin.

The Beatles ripped off Chuck Berry, and the Stones and Led Zeppelin ripped off Howlin' Wolf and Robert Johnson.

There hasn't been any really original music since the 1950s.
posted by KokuRyu at 11:06 AM on March 14, 2010 [1 favorite]

High energy frontman, horns, rocking bassist all remind me of The Urge.
posted by Emperor SnooKloze at 11:08 AM on March 14, 2010 [2 favorites]

Aw that was cool. As Dave might say, I liked that whole deal there.
posted by Kloryne at 11:09 AM on March 14, 2010

There hasn't been any really original music since the 1950s.
Unless you were hanging around the South Bronx in the late 70s/early 80s.
posted by TrialByMedia at 11:09 AM on March 14, 2010

Unless you were hanging around the South Bronx in the late 70s/early 80s.

Exactly. Most of modern pop music can be traced back to the Delta, and before that West Africa, where expressionism and psychoanalysis come from, too.
posted by KokuRyu at 11:11 AM on March 14, 2010 [1 favorite]

There's a cynical part of me that doesn't see this as an unprecedented encore, but as Dave running 1:20 short and needing to fill it. I wish I could excise the cynical part of me and just enjoy things.
posted by sharkfu at 11:14 AM on March 14, 2010

I present this without judgement or gile, as I really like THe Heavy song, but compare rhythm sections: Trampled Underfoot by Led Zep.

It's eerily, close. Again, I don't care, LEd Zep basically stole every single riff they ever used from blind American Bluesmen, so let the heavy steal it back(?)

White-devil: miss the Whigs so much. Amazing live shows.

Epic live shows. Everytime an AW songs shuffles onto my ipod (from their first three album's), it's pretty awesome.
posted by Skygazer at 11:17 AM on March 14, 2010 [1 favorite]

What does it mean that the best music of these days is such an obvious throwback to 40-50 years ago?

Which music is that, again? 95% of all the music you hear today is an obvious throwback to something from the 50s or 60s.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 11:24 AM on March 14, 2010

Damn. I liked that song on the commercial (in that I found myself singing it pretty regularly, it's an earworm - and a surprising amount of good music finds its way into commercials, especially car commercials), but damn. Those guys are so tight live and they mean that shit. Buying their albums now. They have the funk.
posted by biscotti at 11:34 AM on March 14, 2010 [2 favorites]

They came out cold for one song and reached down for second encore energy. That's pretty impressive.
posted by zzazazz at 11:34 AM on March 14, 2010

Maybe there was no encore this night because Dave had a guest host?
posted by Jaybo at 11:34 AM on March 14, 2010 [1 favorite]

Sharkfu: as Dave running 1:20 short and needing to fill it.

Looks like they had much longer than 1:20, because there's even a cut to commercial edited out of the YT clip, and also Letterman easily could've filled out any of the time by asking the band to come over and talk a bit and read off and thank the guests, announce tomorrow's guest...blah..blah etc. I think he genuinely wanted the Heavy to keep playing.

I wish I could excise the cynical part of me and just enjoy things.

I know the feeling well.
posted by Skygazer at 11:36 AM on March 14, 2010

The Dap Kings aren't doing Motown, even if Motown influenced everybody who ever did R&B post-1964 or so. But they're obviously much more into southern soul and James Brown.
posted by raysmj at 11:36 AM on March 14, 2010

There hasn't been any really original music since the 1950s.

lol
posted by infinitewindow at 11:40 AM on March 14, 2010

In response to the history of British bands appropriating the music of the American South, a Southern band recently recorded a free EP of Brit-pop, complete with horrible fake British accents:

Bamboo You by Vulture Whale (link goes to download page which requests an email address)

Good silly fun.

Full disclosure: band is friends of friends, I have no monetary or personal interest in promoting their stuff other than that I like them and would like more people to hear them.
posted by BitterOldPunk at 11:41 AM on March 14, 2010

which is way more than you can say about self-consciously "hip" indie bands like Vampire Weekend or Dirty Projectors

I really wonder where the perception that DPs don't/can't rock out comes from. (Not from people who've seen them perform, surely!)


4 posts in before the "your favorite band sucks" snarkfilter kicks in. i guess that's about par for the course. i acted like this when i was 18 or 19, when i still thought i had something to prove about my record collection. can't we just enjoy something now and then?

Hey, I liked the tune in the OP, and now I'm listening to Gene Chandler—of whom I'd not heard before—and this strikes me as a good thing. I am glad to have a band's precursors pointed out to me! And really, I'm surprised they're on Ninja Tune and not Daptone (not that there's anything wrong with the stuff on Daptone!).
posted by kenko at 11:50 AM on March 14, 2010

That was pretty good, but if you like authentic blues, you really gotta check out Blueshammer, they're so great.
posted by speicus at 11:56 AM on March 14, 2010 [2 favorites]

There hasn't been any really original music since the 1950s.

Like hell. If it ain't on a wax cylinder signed by Thomas Alva his damn self, it ain't original.
posted by gompa at 11:57 AM on March 14, 2010 [2 favorites]

What does it mean that the best music of these days is such an obvious throwback to 40-50 years ago?

We lack the musical education to like or appreciate anything new?
posted by ZeusHumms at 12:01 PM on March 14, 2010

Elsewhere along the Letterman-retro-Brit-band nexus, it was last October that of the best barefoot live appearances I've seen introduced me to The Noisettes.
posted by bicyclefish at 12:01 PM on March 14, 2010 [1 favorite]

Here's the post on Mecha by Boring Postcard, and I'll cross-post by referencing The Slew, Kid Koala's newest project. It's Kid Koala, Dylan J. Frombach (aka Dynomite D) and the former rhythm section of Australian rock band Wolfmother, covering drums, bass/keys and the DJs working across six (!) turntables. The album they made was available freely for 4 weeks online, then only at their tour stops, and is now distributed by Ninja Tune.

As for Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, The Budos Band, and that whole crew: Daptone Records is made of wonderful things. And Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings have another album coming out!

/fanboy
posted by filthy light thief at 12:10 PM on March 14, 2010 [4 favorites]

There hasn't been any really original music since the 1950s.

Anyone know how long it's been since the last original music criticism?
posted by The Hamms Bear at 12:16 PM on March 14, 2010 [2 favorites]

There hasn't been any really original music since the 1950s.

I really don't understand how people make statements like this now that we have the Internet
posted by cobra_high_tigers at 12:27 PM on March 14, 2010

There hasn't been any really original music since the 1950s.

What the hell is original music? Music is always influenced by something done previously; everyone has to have some foundation to build on. That's not to discount pioneers but even Louis Armstrong had influences and there are only a couple of genre defining artists like Armstrong in a generation; most musicians end up working some previously defined genre. I'm more interested in what they do with the influences they take from than yelling at them for not doing something completely new.
posted by octothorpe at 12:36 PM on March 14, 2010 [1 favorite]

There hasn't been any really original music since the 1950s.

Kraftwerk totally ripped off Robert Johnson!
posted by MegoSteve at 12:49 PM on March 14, 2010 [2 favorites]

sorry ... i can't take a mention of amon tobin without any reference to cujo.
posted by lester at 12:55 PM on March 14, 2010

That's the Dap Kings horn section in the Letterman clip. The Dap Kings also played with Amy Winehouse on the Back to Black album & tour.

If you get a chance to see Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings play live, go.
posted by and for no one at 1:24 PM on March 14, 2010

I was being sarcastic. You'll note that my link doesn't actually lead to a video.

I assumed that you were being sarcastic, which is the default for mefi discourse. And I did note that you had no video link, which added to the conclusion that you were, indeed, being sarcastic.

My point was, to what end?
posted by blucevalo at 1:37 PM on March 14, 2010

If you get a chance to see Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings play live, go.

Seconded a thousand times (a thousand seconds?) - seeing that little spitfire of a woman dance and sing like nobody's business for an hour or more, backed by that great band is fantastic. Plus she might serenade an ungainly tall white boy, who will look both awkward and happy, and that will make everything even better.
posted by filthy light thief at 1:47 PM on March 14, 2010

That's probably the most times Letterman has ever said "I love you" to anyone.
posted by the bricabrac man at 2:03 PM on March 14, 2010

Clearly you haven't been an intern on The Late Show.
posted by found missing at 2:16 PM on March 14, 2010 [7 favorites]

Before I clicked the links I was like : "Cool! Dave plays TF2?"
posted by The Bellman at 3:23 PM on March 14, 2010 [1 favorite]

This is going to have me burning and reimporting all my Afghan Whigs discs tonight as well. Man. Wow.
posted by MarvinTheCat at 4:19 PM on March 14, 2010

"How You Like Me Now?" is basically "Gloria" by Them (Van Morrison) with horns. Not that that's a bad thing...

I've been reading some Van Morrison interviews, and he says that the sound he likes best is an ensemble of bass, drums, guitar (in his case electro-acoustic nylon strings), and a three piece horn section. So maybe he would approve.

Trumpet, tenor and baritone sax.
posted by StickyCarpet at 5:13 PM on March 14, 2010

This is all the same shit the Beatles and Blind Lemon Jefferson were doing back in the days of Shakespeare, FDR, and Charles Darwin.
posted by dgaicun at 5:25 PM on March 14, 2010 [3 favorites]

What the hell is original music?

it's not lifting your tune and opening line from james brown and tweaking it a little - they do well with it, but you know, they're up against some pretty great stuff there and they just don't quite get to that level

they get somewhere but not there - and unfortunately, it's pretty hard to ignore it when the tune's that similar
posted by pyramid termite at 5:34 PM on March 14, 2010

Thank you for explaining to me why I shouldn't have liked what I liked. I will try to do better next time.
posted by found missing at 5:40 PM on March 14, 2010 [4 favorites]

I'm more interested in what they do with the influences they take from than yelling at them for not doing something completely new.

There's a difference between doing something completely new (which almost nobody ever does, as you point out) and doing nothing at all new. I'm not talking about this band. I'm talking in general.

I'm not going to the extreme of saying there's not been any original music since the 1950s (which in any case sounds more like sarcasm to me than a genuine opinion). What I am saying is that originality doesn't seem to be much of an aspiration anymore. Or, if it is, it's not a roadmap to success. Bands that get recording contracts generally don't do so by being defiantly original. And, in the end, so effing what?

"How You Like Me Now?" is a direct crib of "There Was a Time." The opening lyrics are "There was a time"! Why does that have to be an insult? The Beatles and the Stones openly acknowledged their debts to their forebears. I don't think anyone in The Heavy would deny that they're cribbing James Brown and the Famous Flames. And -- I don't think James Brown would give a shit, either. This song and its popularity are one way of continuing his immortality. As the original song says, "There was a time. Sometimes I dance. Sometimes I clown. But you can bet, you haven’t seen nothin' yet. Until you see me do the JAMES BROWN!"
posted by blucevalo at 5:41 PM on March 14, 2010

no one said you shouldn't like it - i liked it - but it ain't james brown
posted by pyramid termite at 5:42 PM on March 14, 2010 [1 favorite]

To me it's all good because these guys actually know how to ROCK... which is way more than you can say about self-consciously "hip" indie bands like Vampire Weekend or Dirty Projectors or performance art bubble gum pop charlatans like Lady Googoo.

They're no less self-conscious than Vampire Weekend or Lady Gaga because they RAWK.
posted by blucevalo at 5:44 PM on March 14, 2010

Thanks for all the recommendations everyone! I'll especially look into the Daptone stuff.
As for skipping Kid Koala, complete brainfart.
posted by hypersloth at 5:53 PM on March 14, 2010

This way better than that damn commercial with the fucking sock monkey.
posted by milarepa at 6:58 PM on March 14, 2010

Thanks for the suggestions - I hit itunes for some The Heavy.

Emperor SnooKloze: "High energy frontman, horns, rocking bassist all remind me of The Urge."

Ha! You are completely right. What's never been really explained to me is why the 1990's-era St. Louis music scene was dominated by ska/funk/rock bands with mixed-race band members (very forward thinking in St. Louis at the time) -- namely, the Urge and Sinister Dane. The Heavy would have fit right in at Mississippi Nights (though, to be honest, they are a lot better).

BTW, the Amon Tobin video linked in the OP is one of the weirdest things I've seen in a long time.
posted by Mid at 8:15 PM on March 14, 2010

Horace Rumpole: If you liked Kid Koala's horn solo, you should check this out too. I don't know who this kid is, but he's good.

I got to see Kid Koala open for Radiohead in Chicago almost a decade ago. That guy was incredible. He was rocking three turntables and started the show off with music from Monty Python's Holy Grail. They cut him off early because they also had The Beta Band to go before Radiohead. That was annoying because he was really fun to watch.
posted by nushustu at 8:27 PM on March 14, 2010

no one said you shouldn't like it - i liked it - but it ain't james brown

As Animal once said; "BEAT DRUMS! BEAT DRUMS"

I like this because it is the heart of rock and roll, and it moves me.
posted by nola at 8:56 PM on March 14, 2010

So disappointed it wasn't the Heavy from TF2. This is my sad face.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 10:58 PM on March 14, 2010

At any given moment in time in the history of popular music, there are musicians making music that's marketing friendly, being promoted through the usual channels and force-fed to us on a daily basis, and there are musicians making music that's compelling and interesting and unique and amazing and nobody hears it and nobody buys it and the same old massive talent dies broke and penniless once again.

Once in a while, though, for whatever reason someone who's making great music gets packaged as a marketable commodity, and everybody gets force-fed something wonderful, and it reinvigorates us all as consumers of music, and we throw scads of cash at it. Shortly after that, a lot of musicians start making that kind of music that's now marketing friendly, and it all turns into a cliche again.

If you wait long enough, though, the new musicians will rediscover what old musicians already know: that all the crap, cliched music of today came from those original, inspired sources, and so they dig down and find the core, the essence of that original inspiration. And once revived, the cycle begins again.
posted by davejay at 11:20 PM on March 14, 2010 [1 favorite]

Blah Blah Blah sell out this commercial that. I would way rather see these dudes live than 99% of the acts out there, because it would be a fun rock show. The great thing about these guys is, they like to play fun music, they play it well, and they enjoy it. I'm sure they don't take themselves too seriously, and perhaps the rest of us shouldn't either. I don't mean that as a dismissal, just don't decry every band that fails to live up to some idealized standard of perfection through originality. Because most of that shit you can't dance to.
posted by Mister_A at 7:08 AM on March 15, 2010

All I care about with this is that my ass liked it a helluva lot faster than my head did. Pity you if yours don't.
posted by Lipstick Thespian at 7:49 AM on March 15, 2010

There hasn't been any really original music since the 1950s.

Plus, my lawn, get off of it.


I love this move back towards live soul. And yeah, listen to Sharon Jones and the Dirtbombs. But hell, at least people are playing instruments again. And I love that I hear lots of motown and not a little of The Roots in these guys. Lots of Zep in the drums too.

Love it.
posted by lumpenprole at 10:55 AM on March 15, 2010

Oh man, I wish I could remember how I got into the Heavy, but I heard their song Colleen and went out and literally bought everything I could find. And it was worth it.

That said, this song didn't really go anywhere for me. Maybe it was the "compressed for TV" mix combined with the tinny speakers I have on my work computer, but to really appreciate what this band can do, I recommend checking out Colleen or Set Me Free.
posted by gern at 11:46 AM on March 15, 2010

I didn't like it.
posted by mrgrimm at 1:26 PM on March 15, 2010

Good song, good record.
posted by turgid dahlia at 1:59 PM on March 15, 2010

A. Ok, I admit it, I like it. B. I'll spare everyone various comparisons, influences, superior offshoot derivative niche bands/songwriters/concepts/duos/dj's that did this similar/better/or on a plane of nirvana. Ok? You're welcome.
posted by wallstreet1929 at 8:23 PM on March 15, 2010