The Score Magazine - Archive August 2009 Issue | Page 49

TURN OFF BEAT
their timing was perfect. Both Parikrama and TAAQ were quick
to realise that they were standing on the edge of what would
be the era of downloadable music on the worldwide web. Both
bands soon began putting up their compositions on their website
for downloads. And Potatoe Junkie, a number from TAAQ’s first
album, became an “anthem of a not-yet-Bangalored Bangalore,
reeking of the influence of cable television; the mass communi-
cation junkie.” Fans still sing along to songs from TAAQ, almost
a decade after its release. The band thoughtfully includes those
songs in their concerts.
Written from the sixth floor of Barton Centre on MG road (Ban-
galore), Jupiter Café, their second album (released 2002), took
another wry look at Bangaloreans. Their music ran beyond the
confines of the city and the country, and so did their themes,
with their third studio album – Plan B (released online in 2005),
that included hits like Paper Puli, Chainese Item and Motorbyckle.
RSJ’s prediction a year earlier, that TAAQ was the second biggest
band in India was pretty close to being a bulls-eye remark, as the
band became the first Indian band to be featured on the National
Public Radio, USA the same year they released their third album.
They opened for Jethro Tull the next year. “We never thought
that we’d have breakfast with Dave Weckl, a drink with Simon
Phillips or share pizza with Ian Anderson, but it’s all happening
now,” says TAAQ, whose fourth release, This Is It was mixed by
Grammy winner Jeff Peters in AR Rahman’s studio in Chennai,
and mastered at Joe Gastwirt’s in California. “There is a line in
Getting There that goes half the joy is half the way. That pretty
much explains it. The journey is the best part, and because we’re
only halfway there, there’s double fun left to come,” they say.
Coming to studio album number 5, what can we expect? Slated
for release in a few months’ time, the album will contain “juicier
work” is all they promise. In case you want more, the band has
been working overtime, and they have enough material for three
or four more studio albums.
5 ive Songs that you
didn’t know meant
THAT
You know when I was five I used to sing a nursery rhyme about
two kids who climbed a hill to fetch a pail of water. But it oc-
curred to me recently that if Jack and Jill were 5 then they never
would have been allowed up a hill in the first place.
Most natural sources of water come from the ground unless we
are talking about Mount Everest or a peak of that range. And if
Jack fell down, what made Jill come tumbling after?
Crown you say he broke? Maybe Jill had something to do with
it…
5 or 15. There are some songs that never get off your playlist.
But do they really mean what you THINK they do? Time for a
closer look:
Hard Day’s Night
The Beatles
So you thought that this was just another classic Beatles num-
ber with some sappy loving huh?
It’s been a hard day’s night, I should be sleeping like a log
But when I get home to you I find the things that you do
Will make me feel alright
In fact, look at the title. And you’ve got yourself a pun right
there…
Summer of 69
Bryan Adams
In the Summer of ‘69, Adams was all of 9 years old. The “69”
refers to, well, not the year but …uh you know. Now you think
about that.
Get Down
Backstreet Boys
Yeah them Boys weren’t talking about no dance floor in this
song, although….that would have been a fun way to start off the
evening’s events. Hey you don’t warm up just to strain a mu scle.
Rock You like a Hurricane
Scorpions
Get to know the band better on their official website
www.thermalandaquarter.com
We all love this number. The Scorpions reign in all their glory.
But have you ever listened to the lyrics apart from the chorus?
It’s early morning
The sun comes out
Last night was shaking
And pretty loud
And that happens to be just the beginning. The video paints
quite a wild night as well. Handcuffs anybody?
Smells Like Teen Spirit
Nirvana
The only scent that one can reflect upon on this track is sweat.
Innuendos all the way.