I bought some second-hand music yesterday. 6 albums for 30 bucks. I’m like a kid in a candy store.
I found the old double-album Eagles Live that I used to have on cassette – and is my favorite Eagles album. It’s the one with Seven Bridges Road leading off the second side … and it also has a live version of Wasted Time that is as good as it gets. I am not a huge Eagles fan – but I’m an enormous fan of this particular album.
I bought There Goes Rhymin’ Simon – one of my favorite Paul Simon albums from when I was a kid. It starts off with “Kodachrome”, a song I have always loved. But for me, the highpoint of the album – is “One Man’s Ceiling Is Another Man’s Floor”. LOVE that song and I am so glad it is back in my life now.
I bought Hot – by Squirrel Nut Zippers. I just love that damn band. It makes me want to have an inappropriate love affair and smoke long cigarettes and stay out all night, clicking on my heels home through the dawn light, tripping over the cobblestones. Or maybe I’d take the elevated train home back to Brooklyn, wearing a little hat with a veil. I’m a spinsterish librarian having a hot sex affair with a raggedy jazz musician and I meet him at dingy clubs in the Village to listen to him play. I don’t know – a whole world suggests itself to me when I listen to Squirrel Nut Zippers. Wonderful stuff.
I bought “Welcome to the Drama Club” – by Everclear, one of my favorite bands. I guess I realized that I don’t have enough Everclear. Their lyrics!! And his voice just kills me – it’s a great one. Man, when he gets angry? God, it gives me goosebumps – he sings with such openness and passion.
I bought “So-Called Chaos” by the overanalytic sometimes-annoying yet enjoyable nonetheless Alanis Morissette. I find her phrasing ridiculous, it makes no sense – she’ll add syllables just to make the damn song scan – like you have to do with Shakespeare – you know, she’ll say “I have form-ED an attachment” or whatever. Form-ed, Alanis? Why don’t you find another word that fits the damn melody that YOU WROTE??? I am annoyed. Yet I also love. I find some of her stuff really exciting.
And lastly – I bought Rufus Wainwright’s album of his live concert at Carnegie Hall – where he recreated Judy Garland’s spectacular concert at the same venue … her album is one of the most successful live albums of all time. I blithered about Rufus’s project here. I love him so much already – and I love him just for the IDEA of the project. And now to hear it? I listened to it last night and at certain points found tears streaming down my face. I found myself crying during the overture, mkay? Just the concept of what Rufus did … his love and bizarre mix of self-confidence and humility … he wasn’t trying to imitate her … It was a tribute TO her. The biggest tribute a fanboy could make. And he wasn’t doing it alone in his room, lip synching to the album. He was on the same damn stage Judy had stood on, triumphantly. Singing the same songs in the same order. My God. The balls. His rendition of “The Man That Got Away” doesn’t QUITE give Judy run for her money … nothing can compare to what the hell she does when she sings that song … but still. I put my head in my hands last night as I listened to Rufus wail: “And where’s he goooooooooone toooooooooooo?” and cried. I just want to squeeze him so tight in thanks for doing such an album … I want to squeeze him until he cries out for mercy. Love love love. Pure love. Rufus singing “Zing! Went the Strings”? Have I died and gone to heaven?
Albums! Made of vinyl! That you play on a recod player! Squee!
I bought my dad the Eagles boxed set for Christmas because he is their hugest fan. (Boxed set, or box set? Huh. I don’t know.) I lurve every song on it, too, except for “New Kid in Town,” which is the nadir of the Eagles, in my opinion. I hate that song.
I read “Remains of the Day” and “Never Let Me Go” whilst on holiday. I liked the former more than the latter, but both were good.
Lisa – yeah, I don’t like New Kid in Town either. Yawn!!!
I’m psyched you read those books. Remains of the Day just killed me!!
I hope you had a great Christmas, Lisa – with hubby home, and family around, etc.
Oh – and I started The Egypt Room!! I hope to make it my 54th book of 2007. Yes, I am in a meaningless competition with myself over # of books read. But I am already addicted to Egypt Room – I want to be a character in the book, basically.
haha..i just told an 18yo friend of mine that i like the Eagles…who he hates..and i siad i loved New Kid in Town specifically…omg..im such a nerd!!!
Mitchell – HA!!!
Have you heard Rufus’ album yet??
When can we talk. I miss you desperately.
Lisa – ack – I mean The Egypt GAME. I’m reading too many books right now, I got confused.
hi sheil!
a few comments about alanis…i spent an inordinate amount of time ragging on her after she first came out. i just thought she was a bunch of hooey. but the song ‘thank you’ sort of hit me like a ton of bricks and i had to change my mind.
here’s the thing about her, though…LISTS. i can’t think of a song of hers that isn’t a list! it’s like she is writing down a ‘i’ve got to change my life/relationship/job/soul’ list and then goes, ‘ah, what the hell, i’ll just sing this shit!’
think about it…
you oughta know…87 things.
thank you…93 things.
isn’t it ironic that…102 things.
ever hear of NARRATIVE??? ever hear of MONOLOGUE??? good lord, alanis. just listen to a couple of your favorite artists and TAKE A HINT!!!
also, i saw rufus do this same concert in LA at the Hollywood Bowl. Amazing. the best part was the whole cadre of old school Judy Garland lovers who were appalled by the whole thing. they had no idea who he was and were probably expecting some virtuoso dingbat who took it way too seriously. they were leaving in droves angrily! hilarious!
Bren – hahahaha Then of course there is 21 Things I Want In a Lover by Alanis. You are so right about the lists!! hee hee
I liked her from the start but her weird phrasing still gets on my nerves. It’s like she’s taking journal entries and putting them into a song without adjusting the lyrics to fit the music or something.
I love Uninvited. I think that’s my favorite of hers.
I am so so jealous you saw Rufus at the Hollywood Bowl!!
Your comment about Alanis’ list songs makes me wonder if that’s why they chose her to sing “Let’s Do It” in that movie “De-Lovely.” Like, “Cole Porter wrote list songs…Alanis writes list songs…perfect!” But unfortunately, her voice is all wrong for the 1930s. (Some would say that it is all wrong for the 2000s as well but I shall be more charitable.)
Marissa – hahaha Yeah, that is definitely not a very successful remake.
the very idea of alanis interpreting anyone else’s material is ridiculous. y’know, like a slutty girl dressing up as marilyn monroe for halloween. you are missing the point.
If you like Squirrel Nut Zippers (I do too), permit me to suggest Paris Combo’s eponymous first release. You can have much the same affair, only on the Left Bank. ;-)
Ken – thanks for the recommendation – I will definitely check it out!
Bren – HA!!!
Yeah, it just doesn’t work. Actually, that is not across the boards true: she did cover Seal’s “Crazy” – a song I adore – and I almost prefer her version to his. ??? Weird! But Cole Porter? No.
i dont have rufus yet..i want the dvd..i saw him at ravinia this summer..magical night there btw..anyway..he did three Judy songs…loved it…as all who love me know…Judy at carnegie is the only record that i will never be without..always with me..jsut in case..in case of what i dont know..bit in case…and Bren..that is hilarious re: the old timey Judy-queens…all my old queen friends love him!!!..and he invited Lorna!!! u cant beat that!
Mitchell – and Lorna knocks that shit out of the park, on the CD! It’s old-freakin’-school, you know? Pretty awesome.
Heya!
I’m new to your blog, by way of Alexandra Billings.
I saw Rufus at the Hollywood Bowl. Both my partner and I became instant Rufus fans from then on. My partner introduced me to Judy, and is quite the Judy fan himself, and was just enthralled by the whole thing. Since then, we’ve heard the album (which was the Carnegie Hall show) and seen the DVD (which was the Palladium show). The Hollywood Bowl concert was the least of the virtuoso performances, since I think he was having teensy weensy bit of voice problems that night. However, minor quibbling there, it was GREAT! And so were all of his guests, including Lorna.
If you haven’t had the chance, pick up the DVD, and watch him perform these songs. He even does some Judy mannerisms that are quite endearing.
I’m glad to have found your blog, although you’re WAY smarter than me. :)
Travis
Travis – welcome!! Again, I am so jealous of anyone who saw this production live – you’re so lucky!
I saw Rufus very early on in his fame – at a small show at the Town Hall here in New York – it was in early 2002, Valentine’s Day, I believe. He had a couple albums out … and I had them both – and – like most of his shows – it was almost like an oldtime folk hootenanny – he had his sister perform, his mother … I love that whole family, and how involved they are with each other. The entier Wainwright clan was in the movie The Aviator (not sure if you knew that!) – have you seen it? Each scene at Coconut Grove featured a different band – as the time passed – swinging 20s, croony 30s and torchsong 40s – and Loudon, Rufus and Martha were the singers in different eras. So cool!! They’re all so talented.
Glad you stopped by my blog – hope you come back!
Oh and I am definitely going to get the DVD – I didn’t even know one existed!
“the overanalytic sometimes-annoying yet enjoyable nonetheless”
Possibly the most succinct and accurate summary of Alanis. Ever.
She’s one of those people who, when a song comes on the radio, I’ll be like, “Oh for God’s sake…” and reach for the dial. But then I don’t turn it.