The truest sign of its greatness is how easily "The Ice of Boston" could have devolved into little more than a novelty song, but didn't. It's basically the monologue of a very drunk and very heartsick young man detailing his lonesome yet defiant actions one New Year's Eve, interspersed with a rousing chorus. As the saying goes, from small things big things come.
Named for a throwaway line in Groundhog Day, The Dismemberment Plan formed in Washington, D.C. in 1993. They stayed together until 2003, reformed in 2011, released a comeback album in 2013, and along the way developed a devoted, though commercially small, following. Their live shows were considered high energy affairs, and they opened for Pearl Jam on a tour of Europe in 2000 (not a bad gig if you can get it) and co-toured with Death Cab for Cutie in 2002 (ditto).
Released on their The Dismemberment Plan Is Terrified album, "The Ice of Boston" is a tour de force of songwriting and performing. Lead singer Travis Morrison weaves the tale of a young man watching thousands of Bostonians celebrate New Year's Eve while he stays alone in his domicile while hinting at a love gone bad. Morrison speaks the lyrics with bravado and impudence over the quiet beat of a guitar, a bass, and some drums, before breaking into wailing the chorus, opening with an attention grabbing "Hey!" before telling us of the muddy ice of Boston. There are literally too many wondrous moments in the lyrics to pick out just one, but suffice it to say that they reference New Year's Eve, champagne, Boston, "Auld Lang Syne," his mother, Gladys Knight and the Pips, and their hit "Midnight Train to Georgia," and somehow it all melds into an opus of pathos and humor that you'll likely never forget.
Too easy this week: "Here's to another goddamn New Year...."
Enjoy (Part the first):
Bonus Video: For those of us who have spent an inordinate amount of our time devoting our lives to pop music, the following makes it all crystal clear why. I wasn't familiar with The Dismemberment Plan's live version before doing my usual half-ass weekly research for Jukebox, but apparently they do this regularly while performing "The Ice of Boston." Enjoy (Part the second):
Happy New Year,
emaycee
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