1) American Music Club, "Blue and Grey Shirt". To be honest, I don't know whether I really like AMC. It's always the case that on reflection, I think to myself that no one component of the music itself particularly stands out. But I seem to be oddly attached to Eitzel's lyrics, because of the uniformly pessimistic worldview they espouse, without falling into an overt sense of gloom. Eitzel's style is more of a matter-of-fact analysis of the successions of defeats and disappointments that he's dealt with. That these are occasionally melodramatic is likely an objective flaw, but it goes down just fine with me. Anyhow, this early song is an example of my dilemma: it's a pretty nondescript song, really. I think it succeeds because of the unusual details, like the favourite shirt of a particular style, which make it seem like something that might've actually happened. Plus the delivery is fittingly weary, to say nothing of the resignation in accepting that all he's got left is to wait around for people that are gone. He also says he's tired of speaking for every tired thing, but I'm not sure that I believe him.

2) American Music Club, "Now You're Defeated". Apparently the first line ends with "dream", not "drink" as I am convinced it was intended. But as if that changes the message. Which is, I think, take defeat square in the face, so that you may stand up stronger. Or because it's easier.