Three Things Full Of Happy

I can't believe I haven't written about the Sylvan Esso show last Wednesday...because it was phenomenal.

I was wary of going to this show because - although I enjoy this kind of music - I despise paying money for shows just to watch someone play on a laptop. I just feel like it's not that hard to get a band to recreate the sounds.

But these two put on a hell of a show. The laptop was there along with a mixing board, but Nick Sanborn played those things like he was behind a guitar or a drumkit. There was a ton of passion there. And dancing.

Amelia Meath is a wonderful front woman with a killer voice. I first noticed her when as a part of the group Mountain Man. They sang backup for Feist on the tour I saw and she completely stood out - nearly stole the show with her enthusiasm. She's darling and I think it's great that she's getting this success with her own stuff.

They got First Avenue dancing. That just doesn't happen. Minnesotans don't do that at concerts, but the place was jumping. It was a fantastic show.

This is their video for their single "Play It Right":



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I had been craving margaritas. That's a weird thing to say. But really I think I was just craving sitting outside on a beautiful summer day with friends and having some fun drinks. So I arranged a get together at a place in town that serves margaritas and a bunch of us had fun drinks on the patio on what was probably the most perfectly gorgeous weather day of the summer. Then we all headed back to my place and had a fun just hanging out together. I have nothing more to add to that (or pictures to share) but it was just a really great day.

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Then on Sunday it was Dog Day at the MIA (Minneapolis Institute of Arts). They open the doors to dogs and their humans and host activities for dogs in the courtyard. They can contribute to a mural and make their own art. They have photo booths and a caricature artist. Placed around the lot are water bowls. It's really fun and dogs are everywhere and the cuteness is overwhelming. It was also another gorgeous weather day. We took Robbie last year and it was muggy and cool, but this year it was gorgeous and the place was packed with dogs and people. It was super fun. And Robbie made more art. He's so talented.

For Your Viewing And Listening Pleasure

Two of my favorite musicians, Haley Bonar and Tristen, released new music videos this week.

Great videos. Great songs.

Enjoy!

The Nomad Minneseries Night #1

This post is only 4 days late ; )

But I have excuses. Friday, post-show, I was unbelievably tired. Usually I do alright the day after a show when I have to work. But I just did not sleep at all Thursday night. Then Friday, I was in bed at 9:45 and slept until 11:30 the next day. 14 hours! I haven't done that in years. Saturday consisted of errands and raking and vocal practice with my new backing singers and then out to the 331 Club for the Bethany Larson and the Bee's Knees/Taj Raj show.

Then there was Sunday.

Now, I didn't drink a ton Saturday night. I drank a normal amount of beer. Nothing at all excessive. But holy shit, I was sick the next day. On the couch from 9am til 9pm (when I went to bed) and throwing up. I'm pretty sure it was due to something wrong I consumed at some point the day before. My husband was in the same boat, though he managed to power through. My problem is once I throw up once, it's all over. I can't stop.

Anyway...there's your TMI for the day.

As for last Thursday...

It was the first night of our residency or "Minneseries" at The Nomad. We were joined by Landspeeder, Weights & Measures, and Dolfish. It was a quiet night, but fun as usual. The Nomad staff was awesome. It's fun doing these residencies because you really get to know the people behind the scenes of these establishments.

Setlist for The Nomad 11/7/13

• Lens
• Where's the Fire
• Float
• Blind
• Good
• The Party
• Yesterday
• Salt
• Adore

We'll be back this Thursday with Rank Strangers, Space Camp, and Cjell Cruze. So excited! See you there! 

Lyric Of The Day

I put in my Cloud Cult mix for my commute in this morning. I should really just listen to them every morning. Such positivity in every song. It's an instant good mood.

This song struck me particularly...as it always does. And I think the whole song needs to be the Lyric of the Day:

"today is a good day to flex the muscles of the weary
a miracle is a miracle even when it's ordinary
we will walk on the water even though it seems scary
if someone will show us the way

i shook hands with the man who honestly thinks he's
the grandson of Jesus with the penchant for pinches
he served us communion of cola and twinkies
guess everyone has their own view

he stood on his soap box and told us a parable
of a man with eyeglasses so small they're unwearable
and the moral of the story is it all looks terrible
depending on what you look through, what you look through

he said "do unto yourself as you do unto your neighbour
it's not an eye for an eye it's a favor for a favor
and it's okay if this world had a billion saviors
'cause there's so many things to be saved

take my words with a boulder of salt
or blame it on your devil
always the scapegoats fault
we all point fingers when it comes to a halt
can somebody show us the way, show us the way..."

-from "The Story of the Grandson of Jesus" by Cloud Cult

Scout Niblett at Icehouse

I completely fell in love with Scout Niblett last night. She is amazing. I just haven't heard music like that in a long time. And it's not that there is anything insanely innovative about it. It's just good. And raw. And powerful.

She is a tiny little thing - which just seems to be the norm for female musicians. Always shocking to hear these big sounds on records and then you go see them in person and they are 5 feet tall. (At 5'9", I am a giant in the female musician world.) But she rocked it. That's such a lame way to say things, but I really can't think of any other descriptor.

Her guitar playing can sometimes come across as repetitive. She has certain things she does and repeats, but really, it's just her sound. It's never boring.

She didn't do much moving around and she barely spoke. She said two things: 1) Half way through the set, she asked if there were any questions, then giggled as they were asked. 2) At the end she announced they have merch.

But still there was so much energy and power coming from the stage...I have to say awesome things about her band because they were, in fact, awesome. She was accompanied by a lead guitarist and a drummer and her drummer...wow. I don't know what he does to make the drums sound that way but...wow. I think he just hits them really really hard. They are probably my favorite part of the new album  It's Up to Emma. I was sitting kind of behind him due to how he was positioned on station and I just kept watching him play. I love drums/percussion and I just find them fascinating because I just do not have anywhere near the ability to play them.

Her sound is reminiscent of early PJ Harvey and 90s grunge...it's fantastic. Nobody is making music like that anymore - and if you do come across someone who is, it's usually such an obvious throwback it just sounds dated. But she keeps it fresh.

Really, she's awesome. Go get It's Up to Emma.

Long Weekend

Wow. That was a weekend.

Seriously. I haven't had one like this in a long time. Maybe it's the weather finally letting up (although the forecast says snow and cold again later this week. ugh.) but I finally got out of the house. A lot.

I also am currently on the tail end of a 4 day weekend.  A little much needed breather after a very stressful winter.

Thursday night: I had a show. The first one in over a month. We played at The Nomad, kicking off The Broken Bicycles month long residency there. It was fun show. Full band. New song. Few mistakes (I'm getting better with that).

Setlist for The Nomad 4/4/2013

• Good
• Adore
• The Woods
• Lens
• Flavor
• Blind (first time played!)
• Float
• Beg, Borrow, or Steal
• Introvert

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Friday: I spent my first day of my mini vacation tired and slightly hung over from being out late at the show the night before. It wasn't ideal. There was a lot I wanted to get done. Instead, I'm pretty sure I sat on the internet all day. I think. I honestly don't remember.

I did spend part of the day with the new Rilo Kiley album, RKives. Although, calling it new seems weird since it's a collection of b-sides and rarities - most of which I've already heard. But it's nice to have official versions of them.

But Friday night was wonderful. One of those really great nights where you're just in that perfect mood and everything just goes exactly as it should. The Husband and I started out at Eli's (the NE Minneapolis location) for appetizers and drinks. We love Eli's. A really excellent menu, reasonably priced, with a great atmosphere. Then we headed over to The Local for dessert. We had the chocolate s'mores cake. OMG. So good. 

But the highlight of the evening was seeing the fantastic Bethany Larson and the Bee's Knees play a 2 hour set at the Dakota Jazz Club. These guys are the real deal. Bethany has one of my favorite voices and the Dakota was a perfect place to showcase it. We got a really great booth in the corner with a perfect view. Everybody was there to listen. Just a really wonderful venue. I highly recommend seeing some music there. (I'm also going to try to get myself a show there). 

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Saturday was another especially tired and groggy day after, once again, being out until 2 and then not sleeping. I was due to have a band practice/recording session, but it got cancelled at the last minute. This came as somewhat of a relief as I just was not feeling it. Sometimes when you're not feeling it, it's best to not force it. 

So The Husband and I took the dog for a walk around the lake and then I spent the day trying not to fall asleep. 

I also recorded a quick demo to my iPhone and put it up on Soundcloud. This is just a little new song that was bubbling up. It is nowhere near fully realized, but it's something.

We once again went out that night to a house party to celebrate the birthdays of two of my friends. And we brought Robbie. It was his first party and I was a bit nervous, but he is such a good dog. We are so lucky to have him. He was a little social butterfly soaking in the attention. He got to spend some time with the house dog and figure out the house cat. And the party was super fun. 

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And then Sunday. Once again, tired and hungover from being out until 2 and not sleeping. But, I had nothing to do all day, which was nice. And Shawn stopped by and dropped of a disc of all the songs we've been working on remixed with some added touches and it's so good and I am so excited about it and can't wait to share them. We have one more song to record and a few little things to fix, but the EP is almost finished. 

And then Sunday night I was watching YouTube videos from Amanda Palmer's show on Saturday night and she debuted a new song called "The Thing About Things" that is just gorgeous and has a killer line in it that, my god, must feel so amazing to have written: "the thing about things is that they can start meaning things nobody actually said" Love. It. Here's the song:

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Now it's Monday and my mini vacation is almost over. But I woke up this morning to find that The National have posted a new song from their upcoming album and, of course, it's fantastic. 

I heard that the new album features guest vocals from both Sharon Van Etten and Nona Marie (from Dark Dark Dark) so yeah, pretty sure this album is going to be making my Favorite Albums of 2013 list.

And so now it's time for lunch and back to songwriting. Working on some piano songs....

The 2013 Grammy Awards

Good morning. I hope it’s a good morning for you. Mine has been rather pitiful. Oddly it has nothing to do with being up late watching those Grammy awards. More along the lines of I have exactly 2 pairs of pants in my wardrobe and they are both falling apart and coming to the realization that I have absolutely nothing to wear to work the rest of the week. Like, for reals. Like, not even overreacting.

I’m also seriously hating this weather. I think I’m getting a little S.A.D. I just want to see grass again. So does Robbie. This is him sadly looking out the window as the snow fell yesterday:

But I did watch The Grammys last night. All of them. Every last performance and acceptance speech and awkward silences after LL Cool J said something.  I haven’t been invested in The Grammys since the grunge era, but I still feel I must watch.

And, I must be old, because I just don’t get it anymore.

Granted, The Grammys have never actually been about what’s really good in music right now. There are exceptions, though. I assume they get pop music right with Adele and Kelly Clarkson. But maybe I’m wrong. Maybe there are underground pop stars not getting their due. Of course then they woudn’t be pop stars.

I just think about my Favorite Albums of 2012 and am floored that Sharon Van Etten’s Tramp was not nominated for album of the year. It’s a stunning album. And it seems like it would be right up the Grammys’ alley.

Fiona Apple was nominated for Best Alternative Music Album, but lost to Gotye (who also won Record of the Year for that song where he does the Sting impersonation).

Frank Ocean did beat Chris Brown – which was maybe The Grammys way of apologizing for giving that awful human so much screen time last year. Then Frank Ocean went and screwed it all up by singing a song about Forrest Gump. For reals. Forrest Gump. What I thought was odd was everyone on the Twitter freaking out about it, too. But I guess I assumed the song was on his album that EVERYBODY claimed to have bought and LOVED and OMG IT IS THE GREATEST ALBUM EVER!!! And a quick Google search tells me that it is indeed on the album…so did anyone actually listen to this album or just did they just like the one single and assume he was the greatest thing to happen to the music scene?

The other nominee in that category was a guy named Miguel. I had never heard of him before, but he performed last night and it was the only performance of the night that I actually turned my TV up. So I might check him out.

I had to mute the TV for Mumford and Sons. 

 
That song – which shall go unnamed because saying it aloud automatically staples it to my brain – is pretty much the worst thing in my life right now – and that’s saying something. The Mumfords also won Album of the Year. So, maybe now they will take a break and get out of my life. They are inescapable….the definition of overplayed. It’s best for everyone involved if they take a break for a while. Maybe try to write a song that doesn’t start out quiet and then rapidly build to speed bluegrass. Speed bluegrass. That’s a thing now.

Sidenote: I have a banjo. I even wrote a song on it recently. But I am going to redo the song because Mumford and Sons have killed the banjo for me.

Wow. I sound pretty bitter, don’t I?

I didn’t hate it all. I’m so happy Kelly Clarkson won and we got to hear her sing. I just love her. She’s the best. And so adorable and honest. Her speech was just so earnest.

Beyonce and Ellen introducing Justin Timberlake were also adorable. And Justin put on an excellent performance – as he always does. And then Jay-Z joined him on stage and Jay-Z is The Coolest Person EVER, so that was good.

I was enjoying LL Cool J and Chuck D’s closing song, but then they through advertisements over it and that was just gross. Especially since they were attempting to pay tribute to MCA.

And the country singers were fine and unoffensive as usual.

Oh, and Jack White. Jack White was awesome. I need to put that album on my get list.

My Favorite Music of 2012

This year it seemed like ALL of my favorite ladies released new music. ALL of them. Well, all but one (I’m looking at you, Jenny Lewis). But really, so many of them did. Even I released an album this year. And although Haley Bonar didn’t release a full-length album this year, she did manage to squeeze in a 7” single. So that’s something.

And I don’t mean to separate music by gender – but I can’t deny that I highly enjoy the musicians of the female type and, back in January as I looked at the rumored releases for 2012, I couldn’t help but notice all of my favorite female musicians on the list of upcoming releases and, therefore, I knew it was going to be good year for music.

And though the likes of a few more of my favorites (PJ Harvey, Caroline Smith, and Lykke Li) were unable to release new music this year,  I will cut them some slack because they did all release awesome music in 2011. But, Jenny Lewis, what gives? Come on already! Or take your time and put out something amazing. Whatever. 

So here it is. My Favorite Music of 2012.

 Top 10 Albums of 2012

1. Sharon Van Etten: Tramp

I know she’s been around for some time now, but she didn’t catch my ears until I heard her song “Leonard” played nearly every hour on 89.3The Current here in Minnesota. It was enough to get my attention and have her on my radar for the next time I had some money and could pick up some new music. So when I did, I picked up Tramp and then became obsessed with “Leonard”. I had to listen to it all the time whenever I could, sometimes back to back to back. Then I decided to give the rest of the album a listen and it blew me away. Acoustically driven music that is just grand in its production with Sharon’s voice dripping like soft butter all over the heartbreaking lyrics that seep into your skin. “You’re the reason why I’ll move to the city and why I’ll need to leave” from my current most favorite track on the album, “Give Out”, is just one example of those outstanding lyrics. If baths were something I liked to soak in with candles and cigarettes, this is the album I’d play while doing so. It’s that kind of mood.

Top 3 Tracks: “Leonard”, “Serpents”, “Give Out” 

2. Fiona Apple: The Idler Wheel is Wise Than the Driver of the Screw and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do Yes, the album title is long. But once you get past that and just listen you can’t help but appreciate the amazing songwriting and arrangements that are happening on this album. Fiona has always been an amazing songwriter and these songs hold up right next to her best work of the past. But what makes them standout are the arrangements. Most of the time the music gets so quiet that you’re not sure if anything is actually playing in the background. Subtle piano keys punctuate her ever biting vocals that effortlessly roll from a whisper to a growl throughout the album. And just when you settle in to the quiet, she starts with a chant or rhythmic, pounding drums come out of nowhere. The percussion on this album is what stands out for me the most.  It takes center stage on a lot of these tracks and I love it.  The rhythms are unexpected and just…cool. This album immediately inspired me in my songwriting. Well done, Fiona.

Top 3 Tracks: “Hot Knife”, “Every Single Night”, “Anything We Want”

3. Zoo Animal: Departure 
From the opening note of remembrance sung by main Zoo Animal Holly Newsom to her ending request to dream on, this album will give you chills. It’s quiet, sparse arrangements only help to magnify both the strength and vulnerability in Newsom’s voice.  While listening, you feel like you're somewhere else – my brain just sort of drifts off and follows the melodies and chords. There is an eerie quality to the songs, yet they are steeped with sweetness and yearning. They are soft, yet strong. The music, though seemingly simple, is perfectly suited to the story and the vibe of the album. Holly has a special way of playing guitar that is hard to describe but great to listen to and even better to watch (catch them live if you can!) It’s almost as if she and her guitar are having a conversation amongst themselves. A riveting one that you just can’t help but eavesdrop on.  

Top 3 Tracks: "Laying and Lying", "Dream On", "Black and Charred" 

4. Amanda Palmer & the Grand Theft Orchestra: Theatre Is Evil

Theatre is Evil is big. It’s loud. It’s, well, grand. The album kicks off with a circus-type MC introducing the band and the album and then immediately jumps to a stomping kick drum that opens the first musical track of the record, “Smile (Pictures or It Didn’t Happen)”, which perfectly encapsulates the running theme of the whole album: That life is short, friends are important, moments are important, try to have a good fucking time and appreciate ALL of it – the good, the bad, the ugly, and the grand. Amanda sings with extreme passion. Every single word is put out there with every part of her being. She is a performer. It is rare when an artist who is so engaging and theatrical and vivid live can transfer that energy to an album, but she does it. Theatre is Evil is not just all about being huge and grand, though. There are quieter moments. “Trout Heart Replica”  is one of those songs that could mean a lot of different things (most likely a metaphor as humans as just meat and product), but I tend to take it pretty straightforward and apply it to my own thoughts on being a vegetarian and therefore, it makes me cry. Just her vocals, piano and a lovely string arrangement. “The Bed Song” is another one of those more simple tracks featuring the life of a couple that loses their meaning of husband and wife – the final verse being absolutely devastating. But the majority of the album is pretty rocking, layered in 80s synth, deep bass, and wordy lyrics. It will make you dance while it makes you think.   

Top 3 Tracks: “The Killing Type”, “Want It Back”, “Trout Heart Replica” and I have to throw in a fourth for "Olly Olly Oxen Free"

5.  Leonard Cohen: Old Ideas

I have to keep checking to make sure that this album did come out in 2012 because I feel like I've had it forever. I've been a fan of Leonard's ever since I saw Pump Up the Volume and Christian Slater's Happy Harry Hard-On played "Everybody Knows" while contemplating how messed up high school is. This album is another collection of super cool songs by Leonard Cohen. It's so relaxing to listen to him sing/speak through these poems/songs. From the first line of the first song "Going Home" ("I'd love to speak to Leonard/he's a Sportsman and a Shepherd/he's a lazy bastard living in a suit") you are immediately sucked into the stories that are about to unfold. Nobody writes lyrics like Leonard Cohen. And still, he has those awesome backing singers. Oh, how I wish I could sing back up for Leonard Cohen. How awesome is it that at 77 years old he put out one of the greatest albums of his career?

Top 3 Tracks: "Going Home", "Crazy to Love You", "Show Me the Place" 

6. Ani Difranco: Which Side Are You On?  

This is Ani’s 17^th studio album. Through the years her style has evolved and changed and that’s a good thing. This one is a little softer, yet not any less stronger, than her earlier work. The guitars are less plucky and fierce and are given an almost music box quality dancing around the words and support of her backing band. The album starts out quietly with a tale from the perspective of a homeless woman asking the world for acceptance and at the same time not really caring if she gets it in “Life Boat” and flows right into a song of Ani asking her new love to help her stop worrying in “Unworry”. These songs almost feel like intros or their own separate A and B side tracks before the album really kicks off with the title track “Which Side Are You On?”, an old protest song originally written by Pete Seeger but reworked lyrically and musically for the modern day by Ani. And not to discount those first two tracks completely (as “Life Boat” is a great song), but from here on, the album really feels like a solid piece of work. Almost evenly split between politics and love, Which Side Are You On? truly encompasses the best of what Ani Difranco is all about. Funny lyrics poking at monogamy in ”Promiscuity”, brutally honest and forthright political songs like “Amendment “ and the funky “J”, and heartbreakingly beautiful songs about love, like “Hearse”, the album's stand out track. And though it is her 17^th studio album, it’s a great album to give to the first time Ani listener.

 Top 3 Tracks: "Hearse", "Which Side Are You On?", "Mariachi"

7.  Lucy Michelle and the Velvet Lapelles: Heat

 Lucy Michelle and the Velvet Lapelles went rock n’ roll with their fourth album. Well, not entirely rock, but definitely amped up. The ukuleles, accordions, and cellos are all still there, but they are now backed up on many tracks by some crunchy electric guitar. Lucy’s sweet voice still shines through and her lyrics are ever thoughtful. There’s a definite maturity and more of a  pop sensibility to this album. Songs like “Just a Kid and “Undone” are radio ready yet still keep their indie-ness to keep them interesting.  Love was definitely in the air while making this album – there almost seems to be a story of a relationship unfolding with each track. The first meeting thoughts of “Just a Kid”, the lustful yearning of “Undone” the contemplation of “Million Things” and “Catacombs” and even a proposal in “Pugent Sound”. The album is aptly named as all of the songs have heavy feeling to them. You can almost feel the sun beating down and the sweat on your brow, which is even more of an accomplishment when you consider the album was written in Minnesota during one of its most brutal winters. But that kind of confinement can sometimes bring out massive amounts of creativity and that is certainly the case here.

 

Top 3 Tracks: "Undone", "Million Things", "Oh, Home"

 8. Anais Mitchell: Young Man in America

Anais is here to tell you stories and all of them are awesome. I don't think there's another storyteller in the music world out there quite like her right now. Her songs move so effortlessly. Her voice just lets it all out, each word falling after the next like there is no other place they'd rather be. The title track "Young Man in America" is an instant classic telling the story of, well, a young man in America with the lyrics "My mother gave a mighty shout/opened her legs and let me out" and "I come out like a cannonball/come of age of alcohol"...seriously I could just quote the whole song. And that's just one of the songs. The song "Shepherd" is based on a story her father wrote and is a heartbreaking tale (I also just learned he is the man on the cover of the album). The beautiful piano-driven "Coming Down" gained some recognition after being covered by Bon Iver. There's just a lot of beauty and brilliance in this album.

Top 3 Tracks: "Young Man in America", "Tailor", "Shepherd"

9. The xx: Coexist
If you want something to drink wine to in a dimly lit room, this is the album. Super chill yet still kind of danceable in that sort of head bobbing sway way. Terrific beats. Simply sweet lyrics, like the repeated ending of "Reunion": "Did I see you see me in a new light?". There's a lot of cool moments like the kind of guitar solo that comes out of nowhere in "Chained" (as well as the beats in this song that almost sound like they are off but they are not and it's super interesting to listen to). Oliver Sim and Romy Madley-Croft's vocals blend so perfectly. Boy and girls singing together. That's where it's at.


Top 3 Tracks: "Angels", "Chained", "Reunion"

10. Cat Power: Sun

Cat Power changed it up again with Sun. Her voice works well with this sort of dancey/electronic music. But, really, when doesn't her voice work well? The album feels a little standoffish. Like she doesn't want people to get too close anymore so she put herself behind all the bleeps and distorters and dance beats. But sometimes you gotta do that. There's a definite anger there. But, what might be the most interesting part (besides the 10+ minute epic aptly named "Nothing But Time") is that these songs really touch on humanity while sounding like the least humanly made songs of her career. Shout outs to how we should all just love and accept each other as we are. You gotta like that.  

Top 3 Tracks: "Manhattan", "3,6,9", "Peace and Love"

Album I Just Got Last Night That Is Awesome:

Prissy Clerks: Bruise or Be Bruised: Prissy Clerks debut album release show was last night and they are something else. Great live act. Great album.

Songs of the Year (in no particular order)

Sharon Van Etten: "Leonard"
Just beautiful.


Delta Spirit: "California"
I heard this song while just hanging out at home and it totally caught my ears. I went to go check out the album and it didn't do much for me. But this song is wonderful.


The Chalice: "Push It"
These ladies are the real deal.


Best Coast: "The Only Place"
This album is on my Christmas list. I just never got around to picking it up this year. But you can't deny this is a great pop song.


Ani Difranco: "Which Side Are You On?"
Ass kicking political anthem.


Anais Mitchell: "Young Man in America"
You won't be able to turn it off.


Zoo Animal: "Laying and Lying"
Another one that's just beautiful. Nothing more to say.

French Films About Trains: "Hope & You"

This song is Sunday mornings.

The Best of the Rest:

The Broken Bicycles: Minneapolis, Southside Desire: Songs to Love and Die To, Dark Dark Dark: Who Needs Who, Fairfax AK: Love Stories and Picture Shows

Favorite Songs Ever, Part 5: "Good Intentions Paving Company" - Joanna Newsom

I’ve been talking about this song a lot lately and I will more than likely continue talking about it because I am OBSESSED. It is almost impossible for me to listen to it just once in one sitting.

I picked up Joanna Newsom’s massive triple album Have One On Me about a year ago. It’s a very delicate album and very very long. Most of the songs easily break the 7 minute mark. And with the – mostly – same instrumentation throughout, it’s easy to get lost in which song is playing. They can be difficult to distinguish.

Still there are tracks that jump out. “On a Bad Day” and “Jackrabbits” are two that  come to mind.

And, of course, “Good Intentions Paving Company”:

This is one of those songs that crept into my ear via my iPod. I ended up just throwing the whole album onto the iPod and letting it shuffle in and out of my day with the rest of my music instead of just sitting down with the whole thing and digging it. It is a triple album after all. That task was too daunting.

At some point, this song just kept jumping out at me. In the beginning of the song, when all instruments are in and it’s just bopping along, I would find myself bopping along, too. I couldn’t understand what she was saying at first, but I just liked it.

Then each time it would come on, I found myself turning it up and really starting to listen. To listen to all of it. The words, the instruments weaving in and out. It’s just so cool.

The words and the story they tell – a couple on a road trip to a show having a discussion about their relationship that is going both good and bad – is just so simple yet she tells it so differently. And half way through, when the majority of the instruments drop out and it’s just her and her piano – just gives me chills. It’s like the whole world gets put on pause for that moment and I find myself just sinking into the song completely.

By far my favorite moment in this song is right after the line “and I know you meant to show the extent to which you gave a goddang”. At this point in the song it’s just been Joanna and the piano for a little bit, but right after this line, the drums come in – but only for a second – and it’s just perfect.

I wish I wrote this song.

I want to write this song.

This is the song Bruce Springsteen never wrote. It has that Bruce Springsteen quality: Sprawling road trip song with a breakdown somewhere towards the end.

This song has everything I love in music: female vocalist, good percussion, lyrics that seem to ramble and meander but yet make so much sense, lyrics that actually do rhyme but you don’t think about that as you are listening, surprises and new things to discover upon each listen, and it even has those unexpected horns that I love at the end.

And it’s fun to sing along to.

This song puts me in such a good mood.

Thanks for writing it, Joanna.

(I've posted the lyrics here because she can be hard to understand and the lyrics are so awesome)

Twenty miles left to the show
Hello, my old country, hello
Stars are just beginning to appear
And I have never in my life before been here

And it's my heart, not me, who cannot drive
At which conclusion you arrived
Watching me sit here bolt upright and cry
For no good reason at the Eastering sky

And the tilt of this strange nation
And the will to remain for the duration
Waving the flag
Feeling it drag

Like a bump on a bump on a log, baby
Like I'm in a fist fight with a fog, baby
Step-ball-change and a pirouette
And I regret, I regret

How I said to you, "honey, just open your heart"
When I've got trouble even opening a honey jar
And that right there is where we are...

And I been 'fessing double fast
Addressing questions nobody asked
I'll get this joy off of my chest at last
And I will love you 'til the noise has long since passed

And I did not mean to shout, just drive
Just get us out, dead or alive
A road too long to mention, lord, it's something to see!
Laid down by the good intentions paving company

All the way to the thing we've been playing at, darlin'
I can see that you're wearing your staying hat, darlin'
For the time being all is well
Won't you love me a spell?

This is blindness beyond all conceiving
Well, behind us the road is leaving, yeah, leaving
And falling back
Like a rope gone slack

Well, I saw straight away that the lay was steep
But I fell for you, honey, as easy as falling asleep
And that right there is the course I keep...

And no amount of talking
Is going to soften the fall
But, like after the rain, step out
Of the overhang, that's all

It had a nice a ring to it
When the ol' opry house rang
So with a solemn auld lang
Signed, sealed, delivered, I sang

And there is hesitation
And it always remains
Concerning you, me,
And the rest of the gang

And in our quiet hour
I feel I see everything
And am in love with the hook
Upon which everyone hangs

And I know you meant to show the extent
To which you gave a goddang
You ranged real hot and real cold but I'm sold
I am home on that range

And I do hate to fold
Right here at the top of my game
When I've been trying with my whole heart and soul
To stay right here in the right lane

But it can make you feel over and old
Lord, you know it's a shame
When I only want for you to pull over and hold me
'Til I can't remember my own name