at first listen, Death Cab for Cutie's 'marching bands of manhattan' wasn't particularly distinctive. there was a definite pop-sheen to it, perhaps courtesy of the major-label debut, but the chorus seemed a little too direct, banal even. the simplicity of the lyrics however, turns out to be perfectly mirrored in the music. each repetition of 'it slowly rises, your love is gonna drown' is accompanied by a greater swell of music until the final 'drown' is choked off. the music stops; you're completely submerged.

also check out DCfC's Ben Gibbard's side project, Postal Service. more specifically, their perfect single 'such great heights.'

current song that i can't get out of my head, beyonce's 'check on it.' don't really care what she's singing and as it turns out, the lyrics are suitably generic. it's all about the rhythm, the beat, the music, and the boobs and ass video.

it's the music i notice first. good lyrics wrapped in lousy music would be better off as poetry. but there's also the start that u sometimes get when u realise that the words aren't quite up to the music (eg, james blunt's 'you're beautiful.' not.) it can be more fun figuring out what u think Kings of Leon are singing about (try 'the bucket') than the actual lyrics themselves. the perfect marriage of music and lyrics is rare, and all the more satisfying for it. travis' driftwood in which the circular structure of the song brings to mind the swirling eddies of the river is one such song for me.