It may be hard to recall now, but once upon a time, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah were touted as one of the hottest bands in the indie scene. With their obscure lyrics, unconventional melodies, and their frontman’s, uh, unique voice, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah stood out from the pack and received a major amount of online buzz. Time did not look upon them fondly in terms of popularity, but 10 years later, their self-titled debut album remains a quirky, yet essential listen.
This is proven on the album’s best song, “The Skin of my Yellow Country Teeth”. The synths, guitar, bass, and drums all have their own distinct, rhythmic riffs, yet they all build on each other and fit together like a perfect puzzle. As the soundscape continues to rise, the lead singer wails a melancholy tune of letting go of the past and finding a new future elsewhere, even though he has no clue where that may be (“Now I need a change of scenery/Just listen to me/I won’t pretend to understand/The movement of the wind”).
A sort of daydream is painted here–you can see a sunnier place, maybe somewhere you hope to be as well. If you close your eyes and listen to the beautiful sounds present here, you may find yourself transported there.
Confusion with your current lifestyle and the desire for something new are things everybody feels in their lifetime, which makes this song all the more relatable. If you are looking for a song to forget everything else and just immerse yourself in, this is it right here.
