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 