Friday Night Jukebox, Vol. XCII--Translator: Everywhere That I'm Not

Every now and again, a band has one big commercial hit and makes a career out of it (Edison Lighthouse, "Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)", Marcy Playground, "Sex and Candy").  In somewhat of an oddity, Translator managed to make a career out of this week's featured tune, and the song had no commercial success whatsoever (though it did do well on college radio).  But, as one critic I read while doing my weekly half-assed research noted, "this is one of music's most glaring should-be-classics."

To steal a line from Frank McCourt, "'Tis."

Translator formed in 1979 in Los Angeles, but because they wanted to be a lot cooler than they already were, decided to move to San Francisco soon thereafter (says the born and bred San Francisco boy).  They released their first album in 1982, and would release three more albums in the next three years.  They officially broke up in 1986, but as (Kinda/Sorta) One Hit Wonder Bands are wont to do, they have reunited several times through the years, and released their fifth album just last year.  Translator has a long history on college radio, and appeals to those with underground/indie/hipster leanings in their musical taste.

Released on their debut album, Heartbeats and Triggers in 1982, "Everywhere That I'm Not" is a shot of anger/bitterness/catharsis from its bass line bum-bum-bum/jangly guitar opening to its vocal cord shredding vocals at the song's close.  Along the way we're told a tale of a man who sees a former flame walking down the street, feels her presence in his car, but knows that's impossible because she's everywhere that he's not.  There's a killer chorus that opens with a staccato repetition of the word impossible ("That's impossible, that's im-/that's impossible, that im-poss-/that's impossible, that's im-poss-i-ble!") that I've never heard the likes of before (and adds mega points to the song's coolness quotient) which works its way into the places he's not ("You're in New York, but I'm not!"), and (emaycee fave!) which is repeated numerous times throughout.  In short, it's one of the best singles the 80's had to offer, hasn't lost any of its oomph in the years since it's release, and is a delightful reminder of the tricks a broken heart can play on the mind.

Liner notes:  "I though I saw you/Out on the avenue/But I guess it was just someone/Who looked a lot like I remember you do..."

Enjoy:

Fuck Donald Trump,
emaycee