I have two main points to make in today’s Random Weekend selection.
The first is that Ben Folds is such a great songwriter that even his B-sides can be powerful and moving.
‘Wandering,’ released on Folds’ Speed Graphic EP, and later in demo version on his Best Imitation of Myself: A Retrospective (and I believe on a movie soundtrack originally), is a beautiful, sad portrait of a relationship — it could easily stand alongside the best of his album work.
Here’s a rare uptempo song from Elliott Smith — it’s downright hard rock by his standards. This isn’t a favorite of mine because I do prefer the pretty stuff (95% of his catalog) but it isn’t bad.
I came across an interview with Smith in which he explains the lyrics and reveals that even this seemingly upbeat track was colored by the depression that ultimately led to his suicide.
Sarah McLachlan kicked off Random Weekends 19 months (and 597 songs) ago, but she hasn’t shown up since until today. Fountains of Wayne don’t know how good they’ve got it.
This is actually the tenth Sarah McLachlan song to make the blog, though, which is more than I would have guessed for an artist who left my good graces two albums, and ten years, ago.
I know I don’t have a lot of fellow Morrissey and Smiths fans in these parts, but I was thrilled to have today’s Random Weekend SOTD pop into my headphones.
‘We’ll Let You Know,’ from Morrissey’s best solo album, Your Arsenal, is a tribute/takedown (depending on whom you ask) of British football hooligans, and an extraordinarily effective piece of work.
Bob Dylan must have felt his ears burning.
Last weekend he learned that Fountains of Wayne was besting him (on a percentage basis) in the Random Weekend horse race. The week before that he was pitted against Bruce Springsteen in a death match over who’s had the more extraordinary career.
Guess he decided to chime in.
Meet Me In Montauk 