TMGTWS (TOAOBOUWLAOB)

I saw this the other day - a self-admittedly premature declaration of the 'Best Indie Album of 2010'. The winner of this dubious award? Yeasayer's Odd Blood. Have a listen. It's good:

Yeasayer : Ambling Alp

But it's not that good. It lacks a certain something. A je ne sais quoi. There are more languages out there, but you get my meaning - that which takes something from good to great. So, by reference to two of our favourite bands (The Hold Steady and Sunset Rubdown), I hereby present...

The MOTS guide to writing songs (that one and/or both of us will like and/or buy):

1) Write a belter of a chorus. 'Beltz' have three characteristics -
i) have a certain ambiguity that allows for a deep and varied philosophical reading;
ii) have no break between the end of the verse and the start of the chorus - get straight in there; and
iii) MOST IMPORTANTLY, they MUST have plenty of oh-oh-oh's, ooh's, ah's or la's. (They may contain NO 'Rubies'.)

Sunset Rubdown : Idiot Heart
The Hold Steady : Chips Ahoy

2) Don't rely on the chorus to carry the song.
3) Verses/breakdowns/intros/outros should all have hooks as well.
4) Songs should tell stories.
5) Repetition is very effective if (and only if) each repetition has slight variation.
6) I want to sing and cry and feel loved all at the same time.

Sunset Rubdown : The Men Are Called Horsemen There
The Hold Steady : Hostile, Mass.

Easy.

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And in the spirit of Wimbledon (and good music):

Tennis : Marathon
Tennis : South Carolina