Song #449 of 9999 - A Sky For Shoeing Horses Under by Why?

Song #449 of 9999

Title: A Sky For Shoeing Horses Under
Artist: Why?
Year: 2008
Album: Alopecia

I'm not sure what to make of Why?, the band formed in Oakland by Yoni Wolf, who performed under the name "Why?" as a solo artist prior to launching the band. They seem to be fully dedicated to being an indie-rock band at this point, but shades of Yoni's hip-hop past with the group cLOUDDEAD sneak into their music from time to time. 

Nowhere is this more pronounced than in the song "A Sky For Shoeing Horses Under," whose cryptic lyrics refer to his past with his former band, name-dropping DJ Odd Nosdam in the first line. The rest of the song appears to be self-referential and perhaps full of regret but it's hard to tell. The lyrics are as obtuse as they are vivid and the title alone is full of intrigue.

If I remember correctly, I first heard Why? on The Stephen Colbert Show (he's really good at showcasing lesser known talent) and was impressed with the performance, which utilizes real mallet instruments to create the Steve Reich-inspired foundation of the song. It's rare that I hear a song that leaves me wanting more but "A Sky For Shoeing Horses Under" seems at least one verse too short. It seems a shame to limit that hypnotic kaleidoscope of sound to just two-and-a-half minutes.