Lost in the Glistening Ocean of Victory Metal

By Stephen Mejias • Posted: Mar 7, 2007

Not too many people know this about him — not even his closest friends, not even his mother, not even his wife — but John Atkinson, editor of Stereophile, is a huge fan of The Fucking Champs. In fact, JA sent me this clip¹.

In it, you'll see "the Champs," as I so politically correctly like to call them, totally shred the fuck out of Henry Francis Lyte and William Henry Monk's 1847 megahit, "Abide With Me," before jumping headfirst into the glistening ocean of victory metal that is "Extra Man," my personal favorite Champs composition.

It's uncommon for the Champs to mix words with their metal. Perhaps that's why I love "Extra Man." Of course, it may also be the Champs' poppiest number, having a sort of verse chorus verse thing to it. In any case, here you go. Thanks, JA!

1. Lies! All lies! JA only mentions the Champs to pull my chain for liking them. He'll come around any say things like:

"The Fucking Champs. Hmm. Four albums and nobody's ever heard of them. I wonder why."

Then there's the fact that the Champs don't have a bass player...

Comments

Submitted by James W. Teacher III on March 7, 2007 - 2:44pm.

It's like, make up your mind, dude.Also, "Abide with Me" is one 'a those melodies that is like surgically engraved in my (and probably Fuzzy's) mind(s), thanks to years of The Psalter. Great music. We were the sons of a preached-to lady, after all.

Submitted by Jim Teacher on March 7, 2007 - 12:31pm.

The video game reference makes 'Extra Man' that much better. I was p.o.ed they didn't play that the one time we seen them. Truth be told, they were kinda underwhelming live--at least that one time. Still, IV is a triumph.

Submitted by The Additional Jim Teacher on March 7, 2007 - 12:41pm.

Douche Stage Right is both air-guitaring and headbanging. As much as I appreciate a terribly done air guitar, my own sense of propriety (and Jenn's threats of reprisal) makes sure that thing is confined to the apartment. Or select, drunken venues.

Submitted by Stephen Mejias on March 7, 2007 - 1:28pm.

>Douche Stage Right is both air-guitaring and headbanging. I was hoping you'd notice this, brother. I meant to mention it myself, but I couldn't have said it better.

Submitted by Stephen Mejias on March 7, 2007 - 4:32pm.

If you watch closely, you'll notice that the air-guitaring/headbanging dude just totally sleeps right through "Abide With Me." (No big deal, right? We've all been there.) It's not until the fourth chord of "Extra Man" that he suddenly rises from his beer coma, his fingers start wiggling uncontrollably, and his head begins to bang.

Submitted by Stepen Mejias on March 7, 2007 - 4:35pm.

No, wait. Upon re-examination, it appears that he's actually sending a text message. My bad.

Submitted by John Atkinson on March 8, 2007 - 11:58am.

You own up to the fact that the band doesn't have a bass player Stephen, but what about the fact that they have a _singing drummer_!!!! Did we learn _nothing_ from the Carpenters?!?! (But yes, good playing.)

Submitted by sdf on August 7, 2008 - 8:48am.

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