Neil Young – “Campaigner” from Decade (1977)
Forgive me if I return to Neil Young more often than you might like.
Neil wrote this song on the bus while touring with Stephen Stills and “The Stills-Young Band” in 1976. The tour was conceived as 30 dates but lasted only 8 before Young quit.
The lyrics for “Campaigner” [...]
Entries from February 2008
February 29, 2008
“Evening comes too early for a stroll”
February 25, 2008
“Nabokov wrote on index cards, at a lectern, in his socks”
Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds – “There She Goes, My Beautiful World” from Abattoir Blues/The Lyre of Orpheus (2004)
Sometime SWR scribe Bailey introduced me to this song when I stayed with him in NYC recently. Nick Cave never quite did it for me until I heard this song, an exhortation to make art by [...]
February 24, 2008
Cinematic
Rick Wakeman – “Merlin the Magician” from The Myths and Legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table (1975)
It’s been some time since my friend Ben introduced me to Rick Wakeman’s solo work. I recall fondly my whirlwind romance with Wakeman’s first three records: The Six Wives of Henry VIII, Journey [...]
February 22, 2008
“I sing evil, I sing good”
Matt Sweeney and Bonnie “Prince” Billy – “Only Someone Running” from Superwolf (2005)
What does it mean that, once upon a time, Glenn and I independently put this song on mixes for our girlfriends?
This was one of the best records (and best collaborations) of the last five years and so many overlooked it.
Buy it here
Posted by [...]
February 20, 2008
Total eclipse of the, uh…moon?
The Rolling Stones – “Moonlight Mile” from Sticky Fingers (1971)
To commemorate tonight’s total lunar eclipse, we offer this Stone-cold classic from Mick, Keith, & Co.’s best record. Enjoy it outside, in a lawn chair, with a beer, as you bask in the blood-red moon. That’s my plan, anyway.
Check out NASA’s Eclipse page
Like anyone here doesn’t [...]
February 16, 2008
“And all of a sudden I’m relatively sane”
Guided by Voices – “Echos Myron” from Bee Thousand (1994)
It feels like spring down here in the North Carolina Piedmont, and spring sounds to me like distorted lo-fi ’90s indie rock. Enjoy.
Guided by Amazon
Posted by Glenn
February 14, 2008
Hold Steady members talk baseball
The Hold Steady – “You Can Make Him Like You” from Boys and Girls in America (2006)
Check out The Spot Starters’ interview with Hold Steady members Tad Kubler and Franz Nicolay and producer (of their upcoming album) John Agnello. The gentlemen share their thoughts on the Great American Pastime.
Buy the Hold Steady here
Posted [...]
February 12, 2008
“Go consult your elders”
Vic Chesnutt – “Swelters” from About to Choke (1996)
I don’t know a whole lot about Vic Chesnutt, but this song, along with a few other of his fragile tunes, are the perfect way to slow down and appreciate the weird beauty of mid-week gloom.
Vic’s site
Buy Vic Chesnutt
Posted by Glenn
February 11, 2008
“Call me when you try to wake her”
R.E.M. – “The Sidewinder Sleeps Tonite” from Automatic for the People (1992)
I celebrate most of R.E.M.’s first decade but I have a special place for AftP. I admire its pop-punctuated darkness and find the lack of jangle quite refreshing (What’s so great about jangle anyway?)
This tune features the masterful string arrangements of Led Zeppelin’s [...]
February 6, 2008
“I took my shirt off in the yard”
Microphones – “Ice” from It Was Hot, We Stayed In The Water (2000) & “The Glow, Pt. 2” from The Glow, Pt. 2 (2001)
Blake asked for my opinions regarding Phil Elvrum’s Microphones, so here goes:
I’ve cherished the Microphones since a friend lent me their masterwork, The Glow, Pt. 2, in the summer of 2002. At [...]
February 5, 2008
Friends of Dean Martinez – “When You’re Gone” from A Place in the Sun (2000)
When it rains in the desert, it’s a very special time.
This composition from Tucson natives FoDM is one of the most gentle and beautiful tunes in my library.
Please enjoy it with your eyes closed.
Buy the Friends here
Posted by Jordy
February 1, 2008
“I’m not singing the song only for myself/I’m singing it for you too”
James Brown – “Lost Someone” from Live at the Apollo (1962)
This is one the most incredible performances of all time. I always thought that James Browns’ many nicknames were mere showmanship but now I realize that they were, indeed, deserved. That man was possessed and so were his audiences at times.
Buy one [...]
