Category Archives: Let’s Listen

Walking Blues

Let's listen to Bonnie Raitt!

When I first heard this album, in the late 80s, I was shocked that this was the same person who was doing all those poppy tunes on the radio.

Darts

Let's listen to Robert Fripp and the League Of Crafty Guitarists!

I love the guy in front who doesn't play at all. He just sits there.

Best YouTube comments:

  • "Everyone who has ever wanted to listen to that song is already in the room playing it. 100% market penetration."
  • "This is the national anthem from some dystopian apocalyptic future society."
  • "So this is what happens when you don’t hug children"
  • "a whole group of "that guy at work nobody likes" playing discordant polyrythms. great"
  • "The way they glance at each other with knowing rhythmic eroticism and a wry smile is magical. "Ooh Yau!" "
  • "I woke one night and saw them floating outside my bedroom window!"
  • "Music to accompany the thoughts of a spider ..."
  • "this is what happens when you don't do drugs"

I kinda dig it, in small doses.

5AM In Amsterdam

Let's listen to Michelle Shocked!

--

You're welcome.

Somehow, in 1989 or so, I found an album by Michelle Shocked called "The Texas Campfire Tapes". This was reportedly made on a handheld cassette recorder, and it's twelve songs of Michelle Shocked playing guitar and singing around a literal campfire at a campsite at a folk festival in Texas - you can hear crickets, and cars in the distance. It was recorded before she had a record deal and it became her first album.

It was nothing like anything else me or my friends were listening to at the time, and I don't think I shared this with anyone. It was my little folkie secret. And it was a favorite for many years. Then I mostly forgot about it, and her. I never bought another of her records.

But I gave it a spin last week and, BAM! It's a favorite again.

This was recorded in 1986, long before she became ... confusing.

For some reason (maybe the 'confusion'), the songs from this record are scarce on YouTube. And this particular version of this song is nowhere to be found anywhere. So, Imma break the law and put my own copy up.