Song of week: terminal annex by Harvey Danger

 Song of week: terminal annex by Harvey Danger

“Here's something beautiful 

Now smash it to bits” 

For 90% of the people reading this… 90% of people at all, the first single off Harvey Danger’s 1997 debut record, “where have all the merrymakers gone” is the beginning, middle, and end of the conversation about the band. A snappy little power pop number about empty, headed toxic masculinity and corporate appropriation of punk rock music of the 90s. It’s a short conversation and usually ends up placing the band in a file cabinet labeled one hit wonders.

I guess this is fair, But if that’s all you’ve heard you’re missing out big time. Over the course of a few albums the band has a very musical catalog held together by the lyrics of a cynical leaning romantic named Sean Nelson.

For those not in the know both in brilliance and style Nelson fits comfortably amongst the pantheon of  tortured jesters like Craig Finn, Jenny Lewis, John Darnell, Amanda, Palmer, and John Flansburg (blessed be thy name) and while I’m aware, that is a lofty crew to be named, checked amongst one need only listen to the song “terminal annex” to see my point of view.

This song rides strongly on multiple planes, an incredible musical composition, and a great nuanced to performance.  A dear John letter disguised as a perfect pop song.

“Dreaming of the fistfight I never got into 

Thinking of the mean shit I wish I'd said to you 

Such a fancy lady, call her Secretina 

She didn't get all the good stuff 

But she looked like you”

Anger pours through every word.  simple, and concise, honest pissed off. No subtext no metaphor. Just a simple.. fuck you.  he wishes he stood up for himself. He’s confident he’s moved on.

As his confidence fails him He puts up a layer of  the artist, a shield of too clever, for its own good wordplay and whit. The Bravery short-lived.

“Twenty heavy hammers smashing down 

Here's a doorstep you can never darken 

You complain about an overflowing cup

Don't forget that I'm the one who filled that fucker up” 

It’s in the course that we start to get the picture. The story of self deprecation, and the reality of the Ever, morphine clarity and blur time puts on a relationship.

“Like a zero drowning in a sea of higher numbers 

I remain as ever intrigued but no more astounded 

Like a zero drowning in a sea of higher numbers 

I think that I like you better when you just ignore me”

The best part of this vocal acting performance, as is there is a another element to the words that is a bit more subtle a meek voice in the background, echoing the angry wordsmiths, tirade the hurt man child sitting under on a stool, glaring fluorescent spotlight  dunce cap resting uncomfortably, a top his head.. is this broken doppelgänger feels all the same pain as all the same words as you as a child, reiterating his parents politics in the schoolyard. They are probably right there possibly wrong but he’s not smart enough to actually believe anything he is saying. 

The chorus and then by asking and not so many words

“ don’t look at me my resolve will crumble” 

“So I sit and notice shadows growing 

I think of how the clocks are slowing 

Hoping hope's eternal flowing springs will do their thing and save me from myself”

It’s all falling apart. And the confident in the terrified skeleton begin to switch places. H hasn’t moved on. She’s moved and the best Hope he has now is hold on long enough to just not embarrass himself.

“Like a zero drowning in a sea of higher numbers 

I remain as ever intrigued but no more astounded 

Like a zero drowning in a sea of higher numbers 

You want ego I will show you ego 

I'm jealous now”

But he fails. 

Buried 3/4 of the way through the album this song is in under heard masterpiece. Every note is perfect. A simple snapshot of an anxiety ridden moment in time. Sooo good. Give it a spin!