listening to lots of good folksy stuff.
Elvis Perkins and drummer performing “Weeping Pilgrim” March 26, 2008 at the Cafe du Nord
I’ve been listening to lots of good folksy stuff lately. Some of it has appeared on these pages as song obsessions and other stuff has just been floating around in my head otherwise.
Johnny Flynn & the Sussex Wit – Wayne Rooney (mp3) (buy)
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I don’t know who George Best is but the dettail in the lyrics about the bartender looking like him and then transitioning into something about Best is just one example of he details that help make this song great (and got me obsessed). The melody and guitar part also have a wonderfully forlorn feel to them.
Johnny Flynn will be at the Cafe du Nord with Laura Marling on September 28.
J. Tillman – My Waking Days (mp3) (buy)
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J. Tillman can break my heart with surprising ease. His songs seem to be built to do that. This is another crushingly beautiful number from him.
Avett Brothers – Tear Down this House (mp3) (buy)
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I’ve been listening to this EP a lot and this song in particular. It’s got a timeless melody and some good lyrics. A nice lilt to the music, tasteful banjo and the descending bass note on the guitar part help nail this down as a song I want to keep listening to. (Another song obsession.)
Noah & the Whale – 2 Atoms in a Molecule (mp3) (pre-order)
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Some people are calling this part of the new folk movement in England. I hear this more as pop, but I thought I’d throw it in here. It’s such a fun song, from the quirky percussive elements, to the gradual build to the glockenspiel and the backup vocals near the end.
Noah and the Whale will be at Popscene and Amoeba both on October 2.
Elvis Perkins – Weeping Pilgrim (mp3) (available Oct. 14)
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I was just talking about Sacred Harp music when I found out that there is an upcoming release of artists doing Sacred Harp songs. I’ve heard Perkins do a rollicking version of this one live and liked it then and I’m happy that he finally put it to tape.
George Best was a footballing (soccer) genius who played for Manchester United in the 1960s and 70s and was also a chronic alcoholic who died a couple of years ago.
Wayne Rooney now plays for Manchester United.
Thanks, Richard. That helps fill in some of the missing details for me.
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