“Sum bitch has always bored me”

Guy Clark – “L.A. Freeway” from Old No. 1 (1975)
T’other day, Glenn mentioned that he was playing this song with his sometime band.  I first heard it a few years ago and found it to be one the best ramblin’ tunes I’d ever heard.  I still feel that way (I also dig the spare Wurlitzer [...]

“We get no second chance in this life”

There are some songs that, when I listen to them on my headphones while walking around in public, I start to feel really, really cool – like I know something that no one else does.  This song has such groove.  Try it out.
Songs: Ohia – “Captain Badass” from Axxess & Ace (1999)
Buy it here
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“and then my mind split open”

The Velvet Underground – “I Heard Her Call My Name” from White Light/White Heat (1968)
Last night, after drinking a wonderful Sazerac cocktail, I heard Yo La Tengo play Durham NC. The cavernous acoustics of the Carolina Theater didn’t help the sound, but the show still split my mind. One of YLT’s encores was a noisy [...]

“My eyes filled with tears, and I must have aged ten years”

Willie Nelson – “I Couldn’t Believe It Was True” from Red Headed Stranger (1975)
What a beautiful song. Deceptively simple — or is that deceptively complex?
Has anyone seen the Red Headed Stranger movie? According to IMDB, Levon Helm was slated to appear, but literally shot himself in the foot prior to filming.
Anyway, let me know if [...]

Obama, Dylan, and Audience Confrontation

Hearing Rep. Joe Wilson (R – SC) shout out “You lie!” at the President last night reminded me of a similar confrontation between Bob Dylan and a hostile audience at the Free Trade Hall in Manchester, England recorded on May 17, 1966.
Often mis-billed as the “Royal Albert Hall” Concert, the bootleg documents Dylan a week [...]

Beatles Blitz

As most of the world knows, the entire Beatles catalog will be re-released next week Wednesday to coincide with the release of the Beatles Rock Band vidya game. The game, I must admit, looks pretty fucking sweet especially for those of us who like to sing harmonies:

Check out the full song [...]

Poll: Original versus Cover

New Order – “Love Vigilantes” from Low-Life [1985]
Iron & Wine – “Love Vigilantes” from Around the Well [2009]
Submitted for your approval:  two versions of the same song.  The original, by New Order, and the cover, by Iron & Wine.  Both have their merits, but this is a fight to the finish (is there any other [...]