It’s not often, but sometimes a song hits you at the exact right moment in your life. As a fat, midwestern schlub writing music reviews on his Axl Rose-themed blog, Resistor’s “Vincent Van Gough” struck a nerve. I guess what I’m trying to say is: please take this review with a grain of (rock) salt, because this song got my number in a big, big way.
“Fame: Is it any wonder I reject you first?”
Resistor is synthpop band languishing in obscurity that is poised to release their first album…soon-ish. The album’s single/central thesis is “Vincent Van Gough.” The song is a tongue-in-cheek look at fame starvation in the Internet age. The song is an anthem for all those lonely Brony’s trying, and failing, to achieve fame online: like I said, it hit close to home for me.
Synthesizers have always fascinated me, so Resistor’s synth-chic rubbed me the right way. Lyrically the song has a very Ray Davies cheery-but-dark sensibility that plays well against the bouncy, upbeat synth accompaniment. The song gleefully name-checks a bunch of really talent people who didn’t achieve fame until after their death (hence the song’s title). I particularly loved the chorus, “I always heard, if you build it they’ll come, but if that doesn’t work, you can always try dying young.” Every time I hear those lines I smile but also involuntarily wince. Fame’s a bitch.
Go take a listen to “Vincent Van Gough” over at Resistor’s SoundCloud page.
Defending Axl Rose 
Hey there – welcome back! I’m so glad to see you’re posting regularly again, and I’m busy catching up on your latest musings.
This song is hitting me where I live, too, because I just released my first novel as an ebook on Amazon (more on that on my own blog, when I have time to write about it). As excited as I am to have achieved that lifetime milestone, it isn’t exactly the tickertape parade I had dreamed about.
Luckily, talent does win out – as your fine, fine blog proves with every post. Chat soon!
(P.S. Where do you find songs like this? What a loopy delight!)
How ironic that you kept blogging and have published a book and I stopped and HAVE NOTHING TO SHOW FOR IT. I didn’t make a very serious attempt at it…but still.
I’m back! The blog just wouldn’t die, even after I ignored it for a year I kept getting comments and likes. I decided to come back because I really missed it.
This song was actually emailed to me by the artist, but I’m always on the look out for loopy stuff. Thanks for remembering me.
Thanks very much for the kind words, Jason. It’s hard out there on the internet!
You’re telling me! Let me know when the album officially “drops.”
Let me know when it’s out there as well, Mr. Resistor!
Wow!!! You sure do not hear songs like this on the radio!!! But you really should!!! I love to listen to what message songs have to say and this one has a very strong one. I enjoyed this song and would like to hear more when the album comes out. Let me know bro.