Waking Ear

I had a professor in college who used to go off on tangents. To get back on point, he'd use this phrase: "And yet. And yet." And then he'd get back to whatever he was talking about. I have found this to be a useful device.

I love the Stills' "Still in Love Song." I just realized that the song title contains the name of the band. And yet. And yet.

The song will forever be etched in my brain thanks to that little part where the bass bumps up the scale just as the vocalist is trailing off. AMG tells me that that vocalists' name is Tim Fletcher, which is an extraordinarily bland name. Which fits.

Because I find myself not liking the Stills. Fletcher's voice is too sanguine -- Brit-pop Travis sanguine. The notes and beats hit a little too perfectly. That bass line in "Still in Love Song" should not be that expertly timed. It's unnerving. It's like when you talk to a Mormon and they're just too happy to be Mormon.

And yet. And yet. I can't help but like the Stills, even if they were late to the Interpol party and have an uncanny ability to write hooks that belong on one of the Clear Channel "Edge" stations. Here's why: every once in a while, a guitar plays out of tune. Affectionately, for the Cure. That's all I needed. Thank you, Stills.