(Don't) Take it Out on Me
by @scottmcb
Liner Notes
This has just not been my year at all for FAWMing. But, oh well...we all have busy lives.
My go to at karaoke is "With or Without You" because I love having everyone shout along when Bono lets loose on those "whoa"s. This was my attempt to create the same type thing. Stick around for the sing along and then request this song the next time you're at karaoke!
Big thanks to my wife for her vocal talents.
Lyrics
Fancy meeting you here again The scene of the crime Just as we left it No need to swab or dust for prints
Your honor, I will now point at the culprit Sitting over there Or in the mirror right here? Couldn't quite make it out Before they fled and disappeared
You can take it out on me But don't take it out on me Don't Take it out on me Take it out on me
They're gonna throw the book at us Locked up and key thrown away We ask each other to lay it on And forget we're not the enemy
I wanna enter a plea Go easy on me Somewhere with outside time In the sunshine And minimum security
You can take it out on me But don't take it out on me Don't take it out on me Take it out on me
Don't take it Don't take it Don't take it out on me
Comments
That transition from claps to snares is perfect. Great melodic arc, cool riffery, love the ringing strings, love the falsetto. This is super cool power pop! I hear bits of everything of Cars to Third Eye Blind in here. One of the more fun tunes I've heard this year!
Wow let’s get this on karaoke right now . The most joyous upbeat piece of melodic rock I have heard this year . I love your harmonies and but oh boy is it catchy as hell . Let’s get this on the duke boxes (if they still exist 😂. Mega tune
You got a big smile right from the start with the claps and clamped down with the awesome power-pop (one of my all-time favorite genre). I love the picture the lyric delivers and the song is one big delicious hook. If this is what a downer FAWM sounds like for you, I'd take it! Awesome song! I had a silly grin during the whole song. Success on your goal!
Clever use of the courtroom-ish language as a metaphor for conflict in a relationship. I like that a lot. The arrangement is pure power pop, and definitely a singalong song.
The feel-good jam of the year!
That was an absolute blast to listen to. Perfect power pop production, great vocals, excellent production with plenty of fun touches, and a catchy as hell chorus. Phenomenal job!
Clever lyric, and a surefire singalong winner. Love the half-time part, though it needs even more guitar, I think :)
Yes, the clap intro is great, the production brings to mind early Brendan Benson - which I love! The 'don't take it out on me/take it out on me' refrain is a lovely call and response line, always good to find them! I wonder if the half time section could have more instruments removed so it can explode back in? Love the whoops and yelps too. Really cool!
The clapping in the intro gives it a fun Bay City Rollers vibe, and the whole track has that big, hooky power pop energy—feels like something Butch Walker would crank out in the best way. The chorus is massive, and the singalong at the end is killer.
Local construction crew just called and asked if they could borrow your chorus because they need a bigger hook for their crane, and this is the biggest one we could find.
Slowing the cadence for the singalong at ~2:15 is just unfair. Like the crocodile got Captain Hook's other hand, too, and now he's Admiral Hook.
Whoa, this is a ginormous portion of powerpop fun. Very satisfying. You’ve kind of channelled some brilliant 80s rock bands (thinking Journey, for example) with the massive shout along chorus and then that epic outro. The guitar playing is insanely good throughout, so many lovely flourishes. Wonderful BVs from Mrs MCB, and a well-deserved round of applause at the end. Definitely one of my favourites for the month :)
Ric Ocasek produced this right? Because GYATDAMN SON!! Big props to your wife for the sing along vocal awesomeness. That chorus is chef's kiss perfection.
Also the part screaming at the end is epic! I wish I could be at the show where this moment happens.
godDAMN that's a killer riff to open! Power pop perfection. This is absolutely great - the chorus is a great singalong, it's ludicrously catchy and it's expertly produced. I have to admit that after the description I was hoping for some big "whoa"s at the end but it rules regardless.
This has such a classic feel. Everything is done to perfection. Truly great track, one of my favs of the year.