This week is Shark Week on the Discovery Channel and, in case you didn't notice with our feature on Brooklyn shark-based bands, we at Music Times like sharks. One species in particular piques our interest: the Hammerhead.
Were you expecting the Great White? Sorry, too clichéd and overplayed in horror movies. It's time to give a new species a spot in the spotlight (and pay homage to our favorite Goosebumps cover). We found ten tracks named after this most awkwardly shaped shark and ranked them by how well they represent their namesakes.
10) "Hello Hammerheads" by Caribou (2005)
This is a great track from Canadian electronic musician Daniel "Caribou" Snaith...it just doesn't actually mention the term "hammerhead" within its lyrics. "Hammerhead" is often used as a nickname for someone who's hardheaded, which Snaith may be implying about himself here. "She told me to stay or away," he sings. "I made up my mind and left her." Perhaps reflecting on a relationship ruined because of his refusal to admit guilt?
09) "Hammerhead" by !!! (2001)
Again, this track off of !!!'s debut self-titled album isn't half-bad, but it also doesn't refer to the title fish in the lyrics. We're forced to assume that, again, the term is used to refer to someone thick-headed, based on the lyrics alone. This time vocalist Nic Offer is referring someone else aside from himself however. Nice instrumental outro for what it's worth.
08) "Hammerhead" by Jeff Beck (2010)
"Hammerhead," like many a Jeff Beck track, is completely instrumental so discovering a reference to a shark is a little tricky. We're going to guess that, based on the unusually heavy riffing in the song, that Beck is also going the "hardheaded" route. Fair enough. There's also a fair amount of shredding involved for those interested.
07) "Hammerhead" by The Offspring (2008)
The Offspring, needing to behave like a punk band despite its prominence, opted to write a single regarding the then-current war in Iraq. The "hammerhead" in question seems to be a headache or mental confusion suffered from the soldier protagonist, a reference to posttraumatic stress disorder. Although Offspring is usually annoying when it talks about politics, this is a fairly even-keeled track.
06) "Hammerhead" by A Brand (2006)
This track has neither sharks nor especially meaningful lyrics otherwise, but we have to hand it to Belgian band The A Brand for going all out on its album art. We warn you: It's not safe for work. It features a nude woman in heels sitting cross-legged in a chair, her head replaced by a hammer. Literally, a hammer-head. All we could do was chuckle at the bad pun and its R-rated setting. What did we expect from a band with songs such as "Beauty Booty Killerqueen"?
05) "Hammerheads" by Shriekback (1985)
Yet another track where the performers use the term "hammerhead" to describe individuals as thick. Only in this case the industrial-wavers narrate of the aforementioned populace rising up in an angry mob—inspired by nothing in particular except the urge to destroy—and laying waste to society. It's a bleak, bizarre song, but it gets bonus points for referencing the Hammerheads as "the Daleks of God," a very British reference by a wholly British band.
04) "Hammerhead" by The Surf Zombies (2008)
What would a shark-themed playlist be if it didn't feature a surf rock track? Like the best of surf rock before it, this tune from The Surf Zombies is both short and instrumental. Coming in at less than 1:30, the track doesn't fly Dick Dale-style, but casually rides the wave with dark resonance that may suggest a man-eater beneath the waves.
03) "Hammerhead" by Flotsam and Jetsam (1986)
Eventually someone had to make "hammerhead" a sexual innuendo, and why not Arizona thrash band Flotsam and Jetsam? The only reference to the shark comes in the hook's "Hammerhead baby tonight...all right!" Still, we can't help but feel that a species of shark with the name "Hammerhead" was inherently designed for use in heavy metal. And sure enough, this track is swimming in guitar solos. This song will be a good consolation for those who entered a shark-based list expecting to hear some Great White.
02) "Hammerhead" by James Reyne (1987)
We've already seen a couple tracks where the respective vocalist demeans a female by referring to them as a "hammerhead." As we've explained, this typically means the vocalist finds his victim dumb. James Reyne changes the formula entirely however, using the term to describe an evil woman, a metaphorical man-eater in this case. We totally salute this change in direction as we're tired of our other favorite animal, snakes, being used to describe shady women.
01) "Hammerhead Shark" by David Lee Roth
This song could have easily been a rehash of Flotsam and Jetsam's aforementioned track. Lord knows the Van Halen vocalist knows a thing or two about debauchery. However, only one verse suggests that Roth is referencing his unit. Unless of course that verse is implying a woman fell in love with an actual shark. Wouldn't be too far out of the question: Verse two is about a drunken man fist-fighting a shark (ironic, we know) and the first features God calling down to Noah to make room for "my hammerhead shark." And we would like to think the latter is not a sexual innuendo. Who knows? Only Roth.
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