Welcome to another installment of What Are You Listening To?!
I ask a random person on the street what song they’re listening to on their iPod, Discman, Walkman, radio, etc., and then discuss it with them.
Today’s listener is Paul Willis.
Paul is a freelance graphic designer. Originally from Schaumburg, IL, he moved to New York after graduating from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 2001. Other than graphic design, Paul enjoys photography, football, [adult swim], and music, “lots and lots of music.” He currently resides in Greenpoint, Brooklyn.
What A Fool Believes: What are you listening to?
Paul Willis: “Playhouses” by TV on the Radio.
WAFB: Ooh! that’s a good one. Probably my favorite from Return to Cookie Mountain. That drum beat is unrelenting. It chases you down like the boulder in Raiders of the Lost Ark, but from a parallel universe where it’s gotten Indiana, the idol, tree limbs, stones, spears, and tribesmen all stuck to it now. It’s got some rattle to it.
Paul: Ha ha ha! I like how fast and funky it is. For some weird reason, I imagine James Brown dancing to it and his legs being a complete blur.
WAFB: Ha ha ha! Someone needs to make a video of that. Hyper-speed James Brown. You’re a graphic designer, how ‘bout it?
Paul: I don’t do video work.
WAFB: Too bad.
Paul: Yet, I should say. I’m thinking about learning it.
WAFB: Well, you’ve got your first project.
Paul: Ha ha ha! Totally.
WAFB: So why are you listening to this track?
Paul: They’ve got a new album coming out, so I’m…preparing.
WAFB: They do. Dear Science. It comes out in a couple of weeks.
Paul: Yeah. With the comma.
WAFB: Do they still have that comma in the title? Articles about it of late seem to be comma-less.
Paul: I hope not. I liked that aspect of it. The use of untapped punctuation
WAFB: Untapped punctuation?
Paul: Yeah. We’ve seen apostrophes, exclamation points, periods, and even asterisks. Now it’s time for some commas.
WAFB: Have you heard any of the new album?
Paul: Nothing more than the bits on their MySpace page.
WAFB: What did you think?
Paul: That’s the other reason I’m listening to this: I want to hear more. I like the dance-oriented direction.
WAFB: Yeah, me too.
Paul: Have you heard any of it yet?
WAFB: I have and so far I like what I hear. I’ve been very skeptical of them ever since Desperate Youths, Blood Thirsty Babes—-Comma!
Paul: You’re right.
WAFB: The new album could have untapped open-ended punctuation? …Does that even make sense? Ha ha ha! Anyway, there was so much promise after the Young Liars EP. Especially in “Satellite”. It sounded so cool and futuristic. And still does actually. Then Desperate Youths came out and it was all kind of boring. My cousin described it best when he said something to the effect of it being nice to have sex and fall asleep to.
Paul: Really? I didn’t think so. It’s more laid back and atmospheric, but I wouldn’t say boring.
WAFB: I like some of the songs on it, but, yeah, I find it boring. Cookie Mountain is much better but there are still too many weak spots for me.
Paul: I think it’s near perfect.
WAFB: Maybe that’s my problem. I demand perfection from this band. I truly believe that they are capable of becoming a great band. Their combinations of genres and influences, their sonics and vocals. They could become like Radiohead.
Paul: That’s quite the pedestal you’ve put them on: Radiohead-level.
WAFB: Yeah, I know. It’s not very fair. Before I let you go, let’s talk about Schaumburg.
Paul: Alright. Ha ha ha!
WAFB: I’ve been there quite a few times. Some of my family lives not to far away in Lake in the Hills.
Paul: I know that area. Crystal Lake. Algonquin. Elgin.
WAFB: Yeah. …That’s all I’ve got about that.
Paul: Ha ha ha!
WAFB: I suppose you’re a Bears fan.
Paul: Oh yes. Bears: 1 - 0! Beat the Colts on Sunday!
WAFB: I was really beginning to like you Paul.
Paul: What?
WAFB: The Packers, Paul, are the greatest team of all time.
Paul: Uh-oh. This could get ugly.
WAFB: True. Let’s keep it civil and steer clear of your shortcomings.
Paul: What?
WAFB: Just kidding! …Kind of.
Paul: Hey!
WAFB: Ok! Civil. Thank you, truly, for telling me what you’re listening to, Paul.
Paul: No problem. Go Bears!
