I can’t decide what I think of Sheryl Crow. At one point I really liked her music — particularly the Globe Sessions album, which I find strong start to finish — but later I soured on her.
I sometimes detect something inauthentic and sterile in her music, a safeness and blandness that turns me off. But at other times I buy her as the rootsy rock babe she’s always tried to be.
Here’s a song from TV On the Radio’s great album Dear Science that tends to get lost in the mix.
‘Stork & Owl’ doesn’t have an easy groove like many of its counterparts. While most of the album is avant garde poetry that passes for dance music, this is avant garde poetry that sounds like exactly that.
‘Stomach Vs. Heart’ is the bizarre first track of Barenaked Ladies’ bizarre third album, 1996’s Born On a Pirate Ship. This song is a perfect example of the offbeat musical and lyrical sensibility that makes BNL such a love-them-or-hate-them proposition.
Personally, I can’t imagine anybody hating them. But I guess if you are turned off by show-offy, self-aware lyrics and general quirkiness, then you will be turned off by Barenaked Ladies.
Today’s Random Weekend selection is similar to the Lucinda Williams track posted last Sunday — a raw, acoustic demo of an album cut.
In this case the performer is Elvis Costello and the song is ‘Tramp the Dirt Down’ from 1989’s Spike.
This is a song — in both its finished form and as a demo — with which I have lost patience over the years.
The rise of iTunes and the MP3 as the cheapest and easiest way to purchase music led to an increase in bonus material paired with physical CDs.
It might be expanded liner notes, including artwork or photos not otherwise available. A DVD of live performances of the album’s songs. A dorm room-ready wall poster. That sort of thing.
Meet Me In Montauk 