the eyes have it

The theme for today is “eyes”. Ojos. Limpid pools. Vile jelly. My wife went in for a minor procedure on one of her eyelids yesterday that turned out to be far more complicated than advertised. She’s okay now, though sans peripheral vision for the next few days, but the experience-by-proxy has left its mark.

Comsat Angels – Eye of the Lens (from a 1981 single, collected on the reissue of Sleep No More, 2006) - Paranoiac post-punk that might sound formulaic to some, but it’s a formula that works perfectly where this song is concerned.

Faye Wong – Eyes On Me (Almighty Mix) (from Dancemania Deluxe V.4, 2000) – The theme to Final Fantasy VIII gets a makeover for the DDR set. FF8 is often pilloried by angry fanboys upset that the game isn’t FF7. Fanboy logic is unassailable. And stupid.

The Adverts – Gary Gilmore’s Eyes (from a 1977 single, collected on The Punk Singles Collection, 1997) – This unauthorized sci-fi sequel to The Executioner’s Song is a musical rollercoaster ride into the abyss. I wish there were more bands like the Adverts, one of the best acts to emerge from the first wave of British punk.

The Records – Starry Eyes (from Shades In Bed, 1979) – This track has been hailed as a powerpop masterpiece, although I think that’s laying it on a bit thick. It’s an enjoyable, well-crafted song that skews a little too close to “easy listening” territory to be hailed as a standard bearer for the powerpop genre.

Throwing Muses – Pools of Eyes (from The Fat Skier, 1988) – “Dying Rabbits: Deciphering the Lyrics of the Throwing Muses” -- there’s a master’s thesis just waiting to be written. Any takers? Belly fans take note: Tanya Donelly handles the vocals on this track.

Bauhaus – The Man With the X-Ray Eyes (from Mask, 1981) – Nuclear angst meets Roger Corman, with the customary dash of Bauhausian pretentiousness.