Mar
11
2006

Counting Infinity By One

Karma Covered Apple

Saturday, March 11, 2006 - 02:48:31 pm
(Posted Under: Tempe Music Scene Tempe Music Scene, Music Music)
Back in Feb, I finally broke into Karma Covered Apple, one of the few CD's left from the Zia Records assult that I was yet to open.

I've had Karma on cassette for years - since 1999 I believe, but haven't listened to it that much. Sure I had my favorites (Both Ways, Push Luck Shove, Hangin' Out With Ray, Seaseme), but I'd really hardly listened to it as an album. The reason probably being two fold. Firstly, the cassette factor. Second, the fact that for me 1001 has been the ultimate Dead Hot Workshop pinnicle, and Old Faves and Karma felt somewhat like a departure from 1001. And of course, are sans Steve Larson so...

Particular new highlights - Chorus. I don't remember listening to this one much in the past. In particular, it's the one from the record that reminds me the most of being in Tempe. I don't know why particularly, and I wouldn't have expected it, but from the whole album, the moment I hear it, I'm immediately transported to being sitting Mr. Burns, driving out of Meridian Corners with the desert sun beating down. Aside from that, such an awesome song, that I've previously so overlooked.

However, I can say I am so glad that I snaffled up the copy from the back shelves of Zia Records in Tempe, and that now I can't believe I have gone so long without the wonders of Karma Covered Apple. Listening to it now, it all clicks. In a large way, it's being it's a post Tempe thing. Have been in to Tempe, so many music things click so much more. Added to that, the memories of driving down the streets of Tempe, or through the Arizonian desert with Karma playing.

The second would be Seaseme - which has actually previously been a favorite, but looking up and learning the lyrics has breathed a completely new life into the song for me. I'd never picked up on the lyrics that much before, and - it was such a thing finding the dirt, grit and open highway feel of the song. Another thing I've noticed with it, is more of Brent Babb's vocal tapistry. In particularly the midway through the second verse ('Infinity counted by one / It'll drive a man insane / Let's go out having some fun / Well I'll sit down and start to complain / But I don't wanna hear it again / Blah blah blah), the odd phrases pushed out with passionate exhurtion, the even ones smoothly sung without effort. Such a Babb-ism. One of those really subtle things that is just amazing, that make Dead Hot Workshop (and Brent) one of a kind. Not to mention the simplest lyric being the coolest: "Blah blah blah". Putting that in a song is just brillant. Catching this is what actually prompted me to look up the lyrics, as to what the preceeding lines exactly are. I had noticed back in the day, but had completely forgotten that it was in the song. Also, "All the signs said push man, why'd you pull it?" reminded me of the Osco Incident in Iowa. I'm fairly certain that line was referenced in regards to that, but I can't be 100% sure. If you can confirm, please do. [wink]

The next being The Kids Are Alright. I don't think I was ever much of a fan of this, largely, or probably because of the pyschotic chorus parts. This was totally a conversationally topic between myself and KJ while driving down a desert highway last year - that the rest was okay, but that part kinda killed the song for me. Oversight! Oversight! Oversight! [smile] I can't believe how much I overlooked The Kids Are Alright. This is another which I looked up and learnt the lyrics to, and has been on constant rotation of late. Just brillance. I've also noticed, and I can't place exactly why I think this, that the leads throught the song remind me of Doug Hopkins. And that's always an enjoyable thing.

Furthermore, I used to always right off the tail end of the album - which I think was pretty much whatever was on the second cassette I had. Somewhere near Encyclepocalpse. Again, that might have been a cassette based bias. Now I am completely over that, and as it turns out, I've been giving the end of the album more spins that the start, which used to completely be the other way around.

I absolutely hate admiting to somewhat of a bias towards (or against) Karma Covered Apple in the past, it totally damages my Dead Hot Workshop fan demeaner, but I have certainly seen the light.
Now Playing: Oh Well - Dead Hot Workshop

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