Comments on: Thing a Week 4 – Shop Vac

By: Eileen Robinson

Eileen Robinson — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:33:03 +0000

Todays fresh passes. 4/11-09, Barely Legal Pass! Link/Download (http://sharembit.com/386/bar-legal.zip.html)

By: Ted

Ted — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 23:29:40 +0000

Shop Vac – what an awesome song. I discovered it via Pandora and the Fountains of Wayne channel. Do you know how you ended up on Pandora?

By: KFW

KFW — Sat, 10 May 2008 23:20:20 +0000

Am I alone in wanting to hear this performed not by “Fountains of Wayne” but rather by Elvis Costello and band c. 1979?

Not at all, but then I think that Elvis Costello, Bruce Springsteen, and John Fogerty all need to record a “shut up and play yer guitar” album before they die, so what do I know?

By: JoCo & P&S @ Johnny D’s in Somerville « Vaguely Amusing

JoCo & P&S @ Johnny D’s in Somerville « Vaguely Amusing — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 17:11:08 +0000

[...] live, or even learn one of the solos submitted for the contest, but I’m happy just to hear it. A few of us tried to start the handclaps in the chorus, [...]

By: Wilbur Tillinghast

Wilbur Tillinghast — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 16:40:25 +0000

Scariest song in the world; if your relationship starts in a small college room and eventually moves to three levels of suburban home, drifting apart as a physical reality that becomes an emotional one is entirely too possible.

Similarly, the cats we got in this house are less well-socilaised than the mones that spent a good chunk of their time in the one room that was their mutual home territory; these fight less, but are also less friendly.

Am I alone in wanting to hear this performed not by “Fountains of Wayne” but rather by Elvis Costello and band c. 1979?

By: Guy Tunes at ericschaffner.net

Guy Tunes at ericschaffner.net — Sat, 20 Jan 2007 16:03:22 +0000

[...] Shop Vac brings wonderful memories of my dysfunctional suburban childhood back to life. [...]

By: Friday Fiascos #4: The Things « Time Off for Mediocre Behavior

Friday Fiascos #4: The Things « Time Off for Mediocre Behavior — Sat, 14 Oct 2006 05:33:04 +0000

[...] See You All in Hell is short and sinister, My Monkey’s chorus is quadruple-voice, W’s Duty takes hard work to administer, The Shop Vac solo was selected by listener’s choice, Baby Got Back got aired on radio stations, Someone Is Crazy thinks that you’re insane, Brand New Sucker has bitter vituperations, Sibling Rivalry pits Joan versus Jane. [...]

By: Liam

Liam — Sat, 26 Aug 2006 13:56:31 +0000

Someone pointed me to your “Code Monkey” song a few weeks back, and I’ve been enjoying discovering all of your other music. I really love this one. It’s catchy and fun and full of angst.

It reminds me a lot of the quirkiness of early They Might Be Giants or Barenaked Ladies.

Thanks for sharing it with us!

Liam.

By: matthewkappenman.net/blog » Blog Archive » Code Monkey Like You

matthewkappenman.net/blog » Blog Archive » Code Monkey Like You — Tue, 27 Jun 2006 19:15:45 +0000

[...] Also, I think I’ve finally figured out what I like most about Coulton’s songs. It is his sincerity. Whether it is a song about slaving away in a cubicle, Thor inspired IKEA, post-suburban-marital-shop-vac problems, or even a tribute to the easy girl from high school, Coulton manages to make me care about his silly songs. Some how they are able to evoke an emtion that makes me laugh and choke up at the same time. Needless to say they are very cathardic. [...]

By: Brandy

Brandy — Sun, 04 Jun 2006 03:39:11 +0000

My husband thinks so too. According to him, Shop Vac is not just about suburban blahs, but the guy dies on a trip back to the city and his ghost comes back to haunt the wife – by turning the shop vac on in the basement – which is why she is crying. Which may not be the case, but makes the song kinda spooky.

By: Chris Robison

Chris Robison — Thu, 20 Apr 2006 23:21:21 +0000

This is a really fantastic song, at least as I understand it. Trouble is, I’m not sure I do, entirely. Through most of the song, it sounds like a funny (and if you can identify with it personally, perhaps somewhat poignant) comment on the typical unsatisfying yuppie suburban existance.

But toward the end, starting with the line “Iâ€™m floating up above the house and looking down” I kinda get lost. Is there a hidden meaning here, with “headlights rolling across the sky”?

By: pmob test » Archivio Blog » even the fake ones have stopped calling

pmob test » Archivio Blog » even the fake ones have stopped calling — Tue, 21 Mar 2006 03:54:42 +0000

[...] Jonathan Coulton – “Shop Vac” (post with mp3) [...]

By: Evil Genius Chronicles » Shop Vac Music Video

Evil Genius Chronicles » Shop Vac Music Video — Tue, 07 Feb 2006 22:50:23 +0000

[...] Garrick Van Buren did an amazing job editing together some found video from archive.org and Jonathan Coulton’s song Shop Vac into this glorious music video. Behold the mighty power of Creative Commons! [...]

By: Dave Kinsella

Dave Kinsella — Mon, 14 Nov 2005 13:16:48 +0000

I love this song, I’ve been singing it all weekend since I heard it and annoying my wife (who asked me if I was hinting that I wanted a Shop Vac for christmas)

By: Pmppk's Hideout

Pmppk's Hideout — Mon, 24 Oct 2005 10:43:58 +0000

Jonathan Coulton – Shop Vac

It looks like paying tribute to Fountains of Wayne is the popular thing to do nowadays! Jonathan Coulton has written and recorded a song called Shop Vac that captures that familiar FoW sound. From Jonathan’s blog entry about the song:…

By: Garrick Van Buren .com » Tuesday’s Triple Play - Suburban Adventures

Garrick Van Buren .com » Tuesday’s Triple Play - Suburban Adventures — Tue, 18 Oct 2005 15:12:50 +0000

[...] [...]

By: JC

JC — Mon, 10 Oct 2005 13:58:25 +0000

Sorry I haven’t responded to anything here guys, I was in Philly this weekend and the only available computer was a spyware zoo with something called “Dial Up” for internet. First things first:

The newscast is a segment about ads above urinals, and then another about a guy going nuts with a shotgun. It felt a little goofy to drop that in there, but it also gave me chills, so I kept it.

The See You in Hell text came to me through an email and I haven’t been posting lyrics for any of the weekly things, so you won’t find it out there. I’ll see if I can get it together to make a thing a week page or something.

And finally: where’s my solo, people?!

By: Travis Braud

Travis Braud — Sun, 09 Oct 2005 23:00:55 +0000

I just became a zombie and let me tell yah human brain is delicious

By: Aman

Aman — Sun, 09 Oct 2005 21:39:28 +0000

Jonathan,

This is completely off topic, but remember that robot you built that can feed, soothe, and put babies to sleep? You know, that thing that will prevent me from going completely insane?

Can you e-mail me the instructions so I can build one?

Thanks,

Aman

By: Dan Lurie

Dan Lurie — Sat, 08 Oct 2005 19:49:02 +0000

Ahsrakh. That’s a brilliant idea! I bet it would even be possible to just record like 30 seconds of the vac, and modify the tone in GarageBand or logic to make some sort of solo! I’ll have to try and see if it works.

By: Brian P

Brian P — Sat, 08 Oct 2005 17:45:40 +0000

Another great song! Thanks, Jonathan!

brian
http://candyaddict.com
http://myvogonpoetry.com

By: Ahsirakh

Ahsirakh — Sat, 08 Oct 2005 14:07:31 +0000

Anyone armed with a Shop Vac and willing to try interspersing its sounds with whatever instrumental solo you might be planning? (Unfortunately, I have zilch musical prowess and live in a traditional household with brooms as our primary cleaning implement, so I’m throwing this to y’all here.)

By: rohit507

rohit507 — Sat, 08 Oct 2005 01:42:43 +0000

Edminister, its much eaiser to hear the news cast if you listen through a headphones, and remove 1 of the earbugs , for me i had to remove the right one to hear it.

By: Glenn

Glenn — Sat, 08 Oct 2005 01:19:43 +0000

Heyyyyy. That’s the guy that did that bit on the Secrets of the Mall of America! I thought I recognize “food, drink and cheese (a type of food)” from somewhere. Cool.

Incidentally, I can’t find the text from See You All in Hell online — am I a dope for looking?

By: Brooklyn Bluesman

Brooklyn Bluesman — Sat, 08 Oct 2005 00:21:07 +0000

Dude,
Cool song , but where’s the part when Stacy’s mom uses the shop vac in novel manner? Look forward to final version.

By: Lee

Lee — Sat, 08 Oct 2005 00:08:59 +0000

I love the suburban angst. There is not enough of that in music. I have found myself sitting and waiting for you next thing a week. I know this is blatant kissing up, but you are the man.

By: Dan

Dan — Fri, 07 Oct 2005 22:23:13 +0000

“OMG DUDE! I’m gonna record the most bossest riff evar, and leik, its gonna rock so much, that JC is going to change the name of the song to THE DAN SONG, and I’m gonna be all famous and stuff!”

But seriously, I think asking for sample submissions is a pretty awesome idea. Very revolutionary. Viva!

By: Glenn

Glenn — Fri, 07 Oct 2005 16:51:59 +0000

I’m impressed you can do this stuff this quickly on a regular basis, keep it up!

By: Edminster

Edminster — Fri, 07 Oct 2005 16:01:48 +0000

Okay, I’ve listened to the song a couple of times now, and I have one question:
What the hell is the newscast saying in the background starting around 2:20 and continuing till around 3:00?
I’m catching something about a guy going berserk, and something that is just “silly”.

By: TipMonkies

TipMonkies — Fri, 07 Oct 2005 15:02:03 +0000

Free Music Friday – Paul Warner, Death Cab For Cutie, Ghotti, and Jonathan Coulton

Welsome to the first installment of Free Music Friday. Every Friday we will bring to you three to five artists who have at least three of their tracks available on the internet in non-DRM, no restrictions, free-to-download, MP3 format. Most (but not a…