2000 Great Songs #1258: Everywhere That I'm Not

Early 80s (plus some later revivals) San Francisco band Translator were tough to pigeonhole. You can hear New York punk-era acts like Television, jangly indie pop bands like the dB's and the Plimsouls, and moody UK new wave/goth all tangled up in the mix. Single "Everywhere That I'm Not," off 1982 debut Heartbeats And Triggers, captures all of that captivating enigma. They play with the same blend of Velvet Underground darkness and college radio jangle as early R.E.M.; the minor-key verses are haunting, but then they make a pivot into a bouncy chorus; it's infectious, sure, but the song is just a tad too off-putting for MTV-friendly new wave pop. In a good way.

Live 2009:

2021 remake--a little cleaner, but still magical:

Cover by Hala: