Monthly Archives: July 2010

by

Song of the Day #715: ‘Iowa (Traveling III)’ – Dar Williams

One of the things I like about Dar Williams is that she’s a very good lyricist whose lyrics are almost always easily dissected. That’s in contrast to, say, Elvis Costello, who is also a fine lyricist but often writes whole songs that leave me baffled.

Now sure, I think there is something to be said for poetic imagery that can be interpreted a dozen different ways by a dozen different people, but sometimes I just want a song that speaks to me in words I understand about themes I can appreciate.

On that front, Williams delivers in spades.

Continue reading →

by

Song of the Day #714: ‘Man in the Long Black Coat’ – Bob Dylan

Oh Mercy was the first Bob Dylan album I heard as a new release. I had spent my 15th year soaking up all of his early material — the 60s albums — but I hadn’t really been aware of the new releases he was putting out at that time. Good thing, considering what they were.

But in my junior year of high school I suddenly became aware of a new Bob Dylan album that was receiving strong critical praise. My memory is a bit fuzzy on this matter now but I believe I might have received Oh Mercy as a gift from my older sister, in college at the time.

Continue reading →

by

Song of the Day #713: ‘Ring Them Bells’ – Bob Dylan

A year after his worst critical drubbing, for back-to-back stinkers Knocked Out Loaded and Down in the Groove (not to mention the throwaway live album Dylan & The Dead), Bob Dylan made a strong comeback with 1989’s Oh Mercy.

The 80s had been rough for Dylan — the decade certainly goes down as his most uneven and uninspired. Apart from Infidels and Empire Burlesque (two albums that themselves are far from unanimously praised), he released arguably his four weakest albums and threw in two lackluster live albums to boot.

Continue reading →

by

Song of the Day #712: ‘She Gets the Feeling’ – Jude

The musical landscape is littered with the bodies of artists who once kinda sorta almost broke through but wound up fading away into obscurity. Some of them probably even continue to make a living off of their music but that doesn’t keep them out of (to borrow a Spinal Tap reference) the “Where are they now?” file.

Michael Jude Christodal, who performs as Jude, is such an artist. His first studio album, 1998’s No One is Really Beautiful, is an excellent collection of smart, contemporary pop songs. Jude toured with Ben Folds Five to support the album (my wife and I saw one of those shows at the 9:30 Club in Washington, D.C.) and his music was a good complement to that of the trio.

Continue reading →

by

Song of the Day #711: ‘Give Judy My Notice’ – Ben Folds

After seeing Ben Folds in concert last year, my sister made a comment that I think sums him up pretty well. She said he’s split down the middle between a very sincere and sensitive soul on the one hand and an obnoxious frat boy on the other.

The former is responsible for such achingly profound songs as ‘Alice Childress,’ ‘Gracie,’ ‘Missing the War,’ and ‘Jesusland’ (among many many others). The latter plays to the drunk idiots with songs such as ‘Bitch Went Nuts,’ ‘Bitches Ain’t Shit,’ and ‘Errant Dog.’ He brings the same level of outstanding musicianship to all of the above, but you have to wonder why he’s reluctant to grow up. Or why he doesn’t trust his audience to grow up with him.

Continue reading →