Soundtrack of Your Life: Local H - "Eddie Vedder"

LOCAL H - "EDDIE VEDDER" (FROM THE 1996 ALBUM, "AS GOOD AS DEAD")

I cannot stop humming this song for some reason. Since I'm in a jangle-pop mood at the moment, I figured I'd talk about it.

Local H was, and continues to be, an interesting band. Starting life as a two-piece (Scott Lucas, the band's singer/guitarist and only permanent member, Joe Daniels on drums), their raison-d'etre was to ironically comment on the then-existent frenzy that ensued in the music scene in the wake of the insane popularity (and bankability) of Nirvana. In fact, they were often compared to Nirvana, and I'm sure it bothered these fellows quite a bit.

There were more than a few bands in the 90's that were in the business of ironic commentary on the music scene (see Smashing Pumpkins'"Cherub Rock," Pavement's "Range Life") or trends in popular culture at the time (Deadeye Dick's "New Age Girl"), but Local H's songs were particularly biting, and therefore, entertaining as hell.

"Eddie Vedder," as a song and a concept, is damn near perfect. It has a melody that swims in your head for days (I stop short at calling it an earworm since it's so good), jangly and crunchy guitar sounds for that caramel plus nougat quality, and lyrics that will make you laugh if you remember the rock supremacy of Pearl Jam back in the 90's. Like I said, perfect.

Here you go:



What was also pretty cool about this original Local H lineup was that the drummer was black. This could not be underestimated in the 1990's rock scene.