The Best Songs in Dallas Music, 2009: Fergus & Geronimo's "Tell It In My Ear" Whispers Sweet Nothings All The Way To No. 11

[Editor's Note: Over the next couple of weeks, I'll be presenting my favorite local songs of the year, counting down from No. 25 to No. 1, one track a day. Right now, we take an in-depth look at song No. 11 on the list--feel free to click after the jump...

By Pete Freedman

December 21, 2009

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[Editor's Note: Over the next couple of weeks, I'll be presenting my favorite local songs of the year, counting down from No. 25 to No. 1, one track a day. Right now, we take an in-depth look at song No. 11 on the list--feel free to click after the jump for a free download of the track. Lastly, keep checking back to see how the list pans out, and, also after the jump, check out songs No. 40-26 in the Top 40 list that will update as it grows...]

No. 11: Fergus & Geronimo -- "Tell It In My Ear"

It's not like they needed to do this. Not at all: Fergus & Geronimo's founding members, Andrew Savage and Jason Kelly, already stay plenty busy with each of their Denton-based punk outfits (Teenage Cool Kids and The Wax Museums, respectively). And both acts have songs that have or soon will appears on this list.

So, really, why start another band? What's the point?

Well, mostly, it seems, because they came up with an idea for another aesthetic worth looking into, worth trying out, worth writing around.

And, just like that, Savage and Kelly established themselves as the progenitors of lo-fi Motown punk.

Bonus mp3:

Fergus & Geronimo -- ""Tell It In My Ear"

Sonically, Fergus & Geronimo's music comes off as a sort of hybrid of The Kingsmen and The Four Tops. And "Tell It My Ear," the group's finest lo-fi punk-meets-foray, finds the act channeling those entities quite capably for a "Louie Louie"-meets-"I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey)" blend.

It makes for an alluring mix--and not just because it's a new one. Combining a dirty, basement-party rock aesthetic with a near-sentimental, almost romantic one, "Tell It In My Ear" acts like the slow song that isn't slow, the soundtrack to a moment of fleeting eye contact made over a near-kicked keg.

Just as exciting as this song, though, is the promise this act holds as it moves forward. 2009 saw Savage's Teenage Cool Kids stay plenty busy on tour. Meanwhile, Kelly's schedule was almost as full as a go-to producer for other Denton acts looking for a similar lo-fi aesthetic. As these talented Dentonites find more time to focus on Fergus & Geronimo down the road, who knows where this intoxicating sonic blend may take them? Tough to say for sure. But we'll be listening...

The Top 40 Local Songs of 2009 (Links to music videos and free song downloads available where applicable; links to streams where neither a download nor video exists.)
40. The Wax Museums -- "Safety in Numbers"
39. Macon Greyson -- "Pushing Strings"
38. The Burning Hotels -- "Austin's Birthday" (video)
37. The Riverboat Gamblers -- "DissDissDissKissKissKiss" (video)
36. Salim Nourallah -- "Endless Dream Days"
35. The Phuss -- "Preacher, Preacher"
34. The Southern Sea -- "These Things Always End Badly"
33. Fungi Girls -- "Pacifica Nostalgia"
32. Giggle Party -- "Jason Bought a Hatchet" (video)
31. Carter Albrecht -- "Country Living" (stream)
30. This Old House -- "At Risk"
29. Occult Detective Club -- "You'll Follow Me"
28. Bad Sports -- "Nothing But Agitation"
27. Darktown Strutters -- "Quakertown"
26. The Crash That Took Me -- "Patricia Lynn" (stream)
25. Red Monroe -- "Pat Mayse Lake"
24. Danny Balis -- "Tethered"
23. Sleep Whale -- "Cotton Curls"
22. PVC Street Gang -- "Cutlass" (video)
21. Air Review -- "Jura"
20. Xrabit & Damaged Good$ -- "Follow the Leader" (video)
19. Doug Burr -- "The Righteous Will Rejoice"
18. Seryn -- "We Will All Be Changed"
17. galleryCat -- "Say Say Say"
16. Sunnybrook -- "Waving Hands"
15. The O's -- "You've Got Your Heart"
14. Ishi -- "Pastel Lights"
13. Binary Sunrise -- "Five Minutes"
12. The Paper Chase -- "What Should We Do With Your Body? (The Lightning)"
11. Fergus & Geronimo -- "Tell It In My Ear"
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...and be sure to keep checking back, as this list will update daily

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