All Songs Considered
1. Box Elder - LJ Booth
I don't feel overly inclined towards this song. I imagine it among the ranks of perhaps a thousand other similar 'folk' songs written every year that are good, worth acknowledging, but otherwise unremarkable. I appreciate it, to be sure, but I would not be drawn to it in a crowd of other songs. Good lyrics, pleasant music, but simply without spark for me.
2. Kathy's Song - Paul Simon
Definitely knew this song prior to this, though the version I know includes a round of applause at the beginning as the crowd recognizes the song. I think it's a fairly old 'live' version, though I'm not certain of it's origin. Not much to add relative to the greatness of Paul as both a musician and songwriter. Simply excellent. Actually, with some minimal research I realize that the version I know is on S&G Greatest Hits, the one with he and G on the cover, with Paul in the front wearing some sort of tam or beret.
3. Almost - Pale Boy
The picture that this song conjures in my minds' eye is a that of a stage, with a woman off to the side illuminated by spotlight, the rest of the set dark. The song she is singing comes about 3/4 of the way through a musical about love and relationships. Two things make me think this. Her delivery, one where every syllable is annunciated, every word ending crisply in a way that most pop singers do not; and the lyrics, very much with a 'musical' feel to me. Not a big fan of this song as it stands removed from the other songs that would make up the musical I imagine. Not a big fan of her singing, it seems so mechanical, so clinical, like she learned exactly how to sing and refuses to deviate from that and as a result has lost any emotional connection to the song. She seems too concerned about pronouncing every syllable too precisely.
4. Never Coming Back Back Again - Lindsey Buckingham
Great song by a great guitarist. I'm not really in a culture that defines who is a great guitarist, but were I to be, I would definitely push LB up the list. There is something very intricate about the way he plays, so delicate, particularly in this song. My only complaint about this song is that it's too short. I could listen to that guitar for an hour.
5. Such Great Heights - Iron and Wine
A really great find. Just a great confluence of beautiful lyrics and music, simply presented and wonderfully enjoyable. To comment on the 'soundtrack' dilemna, I generally avoid them as well but independent films like Garden State often have really great collections of songs and can be a launch pad for artists that you might not otherwise find out about.
6. Both Sides Now - Judy Collins
Think I knew this version as well as the 'original'. This one seems a little less loungy too me. It's a little brighter and uptempo. The Joni Mitchell version I imagine being sung in a dark smoky club filled with beatniks stoned or drunk on cheap bourbon. The harpsichord is a great instrument, very bright and crisp sounding - not for use in every song, but it definitely creates the lighter mood of this version, and successfully.
7. Cherry Tree Carol - CMH and BFP
I agree this song would be at home on PHC, but I am not a fan of it. This comes from a genre of 'Christian' songs that turn me off. The lyrics are simply too derivative and narrative. This happened and then this happened and then this happened. There's no attachment to what they're singing, they're simply relating an event. Crazy old Joseph marries virgin Mary and before he gets any action, the bitch is pregnant? It's not the cherries from the tree he wanted. The best religious music is evocative - this is not. I think this song would be happy on Peter Paul and Mommy.
8. The 4a - TIML
Another great find. Great lyrics and wonderful musical accompniament. Despite this one relating a series of experiences like the Cherry Tree Carol, it does it in a way that conveys feeling and connection to the events, which CTC does not. Excellent.
9. Guenivere - Lucy Kaplansky
I too am a regular listener to The Current on MPR, they simply have the best variety of music that I like on radio anywhere. Thank goodness for streaming internet radio. Not a huge fan of this song, though I appreciate the attempt to put the King Arthur experience into a musical context. It's good, the music is enjoyable, and her voice is intriguing, but it does come across as a sort of experiment to put that story in a new musical context, and like all similar endeavors (I'm thinking of Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner by Iron Maiden - which is far worse) it can only be so good, lacking the real personal connection that is found in the best music.
10. One Misty Moisty Morning - Steeleye Span
Funny, but Faith inherited several Steeleye Span albums on vinyl that were part of her parents music collection, but I haven't listened to them, for whatever reason. With this taste I will likely check out more. A fine song from that generation of musicians that were strongly influenced by Tolkein. Wonder how much of the rest of their music contains references to good old LOTR?
Generally good stuff, with a couple tracks I would consider duds, but to each his own. Couple great tracks that I would never have been exposed to, which really makes this whole endeavor worthwhile.
posted by Pat at 4:25 PM
7 Comments:
Box Elder-Well, I adore the song & it gives me goosebumps so I guess this is simply one of those impasses that you chalk up to the subjective nature of music.
Kathy's Song-This version almost certainly older than the version you have-but yes, excellent, huh? As you may know, I am in the midst of a Paul Simon renaissance.
Almost-I know what you mean about the singing, so I can see how you might have that take. Since it was her lone appearance on the disc and the group is completely obscure, I like to think of it as somebody's mother or wife who was brought in to sing and EXCEEDED expectations. I do love the theme. And I think the music is complex, subtle, and wonderful. Any thoughts on the backing music?
Such Great Heights-Good point on the "launchpad" thing, but I think I'll always have a distaste for soundtracks.
Cherry Tree Carol-Blast it, can no
amount of beautiful arrangement & wonderful harmony counter your religious cynicism? I totally know what you mean about the words, but surely there are some Christmas songs out there in which the music alone can do it for you...I think I used the example of "Ave Maria" & "Oh Holy Night" in my liner notes...
Guenivere-I don't share that opinion, that putting a 3rd person experience into a song can't be as good as putting a personal one in. Some of the most powerful personal feelings evoked in me can be in tales & so on. Gibbs, for example, wrote the poem "Two Long Ears" about Watership Down, and I would not suggest that the words in it carry any less weight than other poems of his. In fact, what a great common base of experience is a tale that others are familiar with! Anyway, beyond that, I love the words in the song.
One Misty Moisty Morning-Actually, beyond that single line (misty moisty morning), is there anything that gives you reason to think it contains other Tolkein references? For all I know, that's a common English phrase, so any other Tolkein connection is just pure speculation. The tone definitely brings to mind hobbits, though; or people in hobbit attire.
It's not religious cynicism that dooms Cherry Tree Carol in my eyes, it's the song's crappiness, or at best utter mediocrity. Good thing they only perform it once a year.
There are countless religious songs that I think are great, most related to Christmas.
O Holy Night IS a beautiful song, filled with emotion, awe and hope most profoundly. It rises to great heights and then returns to a hushed reverence that is simply great. It is not a simple retelling of events. CTC is just a stinker, 'beautiful arrangements' and harmony be damned.
3rd person songs CAN be good, without a doubt, and I think this song is good, just not great. I just think it was an experiment.
OK-Sorry if I touched a sore point on the religion thing, but I think we should refrain from pejoratives when discussing the songs people put on these collections. We're gonna be putting a lot of ourselves out on the line in making these collections, and I don't think anyone's selection should be reduced to "stinker" or "crappy" or "good thing they perform it only once a year." That sucks to hear about something I put a lot of time & care into. Makes me feel like we've invited a City Pages reviewer into the fold, rather than a member of the Coalescence.
"It's not doing it for me" or even "sorry, I really don't like this song" would be nicer to hear for us sensitive types.
I shall endeavor to be more sensitive in the future. I thought I was being that in my original post, discounting the tangent on Joseph and Mary.
FYI - Misty Moisty Morning seems to be a nursery rhyme dating to WAY before Tolkein or Steeleye Span.
http://www.rhymes.org.uk/a68-one-misty-moisty-morning.htm
And ol' Steeleye seems to have set it to music.
Interesting-there's a chance they even lifted the melody. Still wouldn't take much away from the very fun & rollicking arrangement, in my opinion.
Yeah - no harm done, just interesting.
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