Alex Arrowsmith has self-released nine albums since 2001, with little assistance. He’s one of those guys that has to make music, whether it’s a bread-winning endeavor or not. Along the way, he’s learned to write a heck of a pop song, evidence of which can be found in “Nuke Song,” which Arrowsmith says he wrote the song while dogsitting for Mayhaw Hoons (of the Shaky Hands). “I probably watched too much CNN,” he says via email. “There wasn’t much else to do.”

“Nuke Song” is one of Arrowsmith’s less-goofy numbers, actually, when compared to tracks like “Engulf the Manatee” and “Coldplay Got Eaten by Piranhas.” The latter tracks bring Weird Paul (who wrote the timeless classic, “Piece of Meat in the Tang”) to mind. The production on this particular track reminds me of early REM (or They Might Be Giants—an influence?—on the casio-sounding drum track and vocal effects). Comparisons aside, you simply can’t deny Arrowsmith’s pop savvy. It’s the kind of thing that can make a guy a YouTube celebrity (see attached video below).

“Nuke Song” is set to appear on Alex’s next album, the working title of which is Missing Briefcase, due out later this year.

Download audio file (nukesong.mp3)

Links:
Alex Arrowsmith on the web
Alex Arrowspace
Weird Paul

Photo by “Alyssa” and taken from Arrowsmith’s ’space.

Here’s the YouTube video in question. It’s in response to John McCain’s controversial singing of these same opening bars at a campaign stop: