The second week of college football has passed—Penn State climbed to number twelve and their defense has yet to give up a touchdown in a game. PC’s OSU Buckeyes are ranked ten and will hopefully stay undefeated until Oct. 27, when PSU obliterates them at Beaver Stadium. The NFL caps off their first weekend with a Monday night double-header tonight. Yes, fall is in full swing in my mind, no matter the temperatures. It’s time for wood smoke to fog the air, time for leaves to fire over with the colors of autumn, time for baseball playoffs, and time for chilly evening breezes.
Continuing upon PC’s excellent fall-themed post from a few days ago, I’m presenting the first disc of a fall mix series. Two years ago, PC gave me a mix CD called “Longing for the Midwestern Autumn.” It remains one of my favorite mixes to this day and featured that great Kingsbury Manx song he posted. I’ve lifted a few off that mix, reused some from last year’s mix, and stole a few from others. No matter where I got them, let this mix be your soundtrack to fall.
Elysium Number Five – Sir Richard Bishop
If you’re not familiar with
Richard Bishop, do yourself a favor and buy everything you can. His solo work is supposedly largely improvisational, all the more impressive considering that he’s one of the very best guitarists alive today.
The Summer Is Over – Gisela and the SpiritsI wish that I knew something about this late-60s track but unfortunately, I can’t find a thing on it. It’s a sublime little song about the loss of summer. The guitar work sounds foreboding to me—maybe because it reminds me of the classic Don Knotts movie
The Ghost and Mr. Chicken.
The World Is Cold Without You – Nirvana (U.K.)No, not that Nirvana, but the late-60s British progressive rock band. Their chamber pop definitely takes a page from The Zombies, but never received the attention they deserved. This song is a small masterpiece that should be a staple on every oldies station.
Honey Dove – Lee Fields and the ExpressionsMaybe the best R&B song that wasn’t recorded in the 1960s? That grooving, slow burning guitar mixed with Fields’ passionate delivery sells this song. Throw in an organ and baby, you got yourself a stew!
I’ll Be Around – Bobby Bare Jr.
His dad’s a country legend, but Bobby Bare Jr. is a great artist in his own right. This comes from
his 2002 album, but he’s got a new one and I hear that PC loves it—maybe he’ll give us a little sample?
A Little More Time – John DoeI’ve been digging “A Year in the Wilderness” for about a month now. I’ve always loved John Doe—I’m not an X diehard, but once they went Americana on their later albums, I was hooked. This track features guest vocals but our next artist…
Summerlong – Kathleen Edwards
The voice, the lyrics, the music—Kathleen Edwards is pretty much perfect in my book. This is off “Back to Me,” surely one of my top three favorite albums released this decade. It’s a masterpiece straight through.
Downbound Train – Bruce SpringsteenThis was originally going to be on “Nebraska”—I’d love to hear how Bruce stripped it down for that album. Instead, he jacked it up for “Born in the U.S.A.” and it retains its darkness—that desperate run through the front door at the end is one of my favorite Springsteen moments.
The End of the Summer – Dar Williams
My love for this song is unhealthy. I first heard it about a year ago and have listened to it at least once a week since. The imagery is poetic—that’s a cheesy description, but there’s no other way I can say it. There are lines in here that take my breath away: “I passed the farms that made it through the last days of the century.” Williams perfectly captures the loneliness and desperation of youth and America in just over four minutes in what is her finest song.
Flowers in December – Mazzy StarDream pop at its very best, Mazzy Star always stops me in my tracks, largely because of Hope Sandoval’s dusty, haunting vocals.
I’m On Nights – Richard HawleyHere’s a guy who needs more attention. Hawley’s beautiful, acoustic songs are show-stoppers. “I’m On Nights” reminds me of that perfect fall evening, sitting on the porch, wearing a Covington.
I Wish I was the Moon – Neko CaseOh Neko… Her voice can cure all that ails you.
Crazy as a Loon – John PrineI was a late bloomer to John Prine—sure, I’d heard of him, but never really listened to him. This one is off his last album and it’s a doozey. He’s a master at the story song. By the time we up in the north woods at the end of the song, you’ll never want to be anywhere else. Relaxed and
smooth—exactly how I hope your fall goes.
Committed to Parkview – Porter WagonerAnother country legend, Wagoner has seen a spike this year with his album “Wagonmaster.” This song, supposedly based on real life experiences, is spare and haunting.
Lately I’ve Let Things Slide – Nick LoweLowe doesn’t get enough respect as an artist. The guy can craft a perfect pop song but damned if no one listens. I love the laid-back shuffle to this song, perfect juxtaposition to a guy who’s watching his life slide away.
Let It Ride – Ryan Adams and the CardinalsI’m going to see him on Friday and I’m hoping I get this song, among many others. This is a live version, taken from the Loft Sessions, and it’s slowed down from the album. Still, it remains on my favorite songs by him—there’s a restless, aimless draw to this narrative.
Make A Plan to Love Me – Bright Eyes
Yes, lots of people hate him—I’ve been trying to get PC to buy this album since it came out last spring. The strings, the background vocals—it’s like our girl group post all over again.
Hard Sun – Eddie Vedder with Corin TuckerA cover off the upcoming “Into the Wild” soundtrack which Vedder contributes many songs to. The original, by Indio, is quite good, but a bit too lo-fi for my tastes. I love how big this song sounds—I can imagine it fitting well against shots of traveling America.
Kaleidoscope of Life – John Morgan
Turn it up—the rip’s a bit quiet. But for a seven minute song, it’s well worth it.
Be back later in the week for the second and final disc. Happy fall-ing!
In my native Pennsylvania, an anonymous donor has given $100 million to the struggling city of Erie. (Read the AP story here.) Erie, like so much of Pennsylvania, has fallen upon hard times. Factories that once dominated the area either went out of business or outsourced their business overseas. The poverty rate climbed to a staggering 19 percent and the median household income is barely above $31,000. The generous donation will be split among several community charities. And thus far, the identity of the donor remains a mystery. But what a great chance to improve the city. And, as the Christmas season grows near, a true testament of goodwill. Hopefully this will encourage many to give whatever they can to the less fortunate this season. And oddly enough, though I had written this post last night, I woke this morning to find out my hometown newspaper features an article on the local economy. For an understaffed newspaper, this is the best piece of reporting they’ve done in years and something that might actually get the locals fired up. If I were to ever write another nonfiction book (buy Burn from Algonquin Books in early 2009!), I would write about this problem and just try to figure out what happened. This isn't a particularly well-balanced article—it would have been nice to have heard from an expert who believed a minimum wage increase had no bearing on vanishing jobs and some of the statistics are outdated. However, since I used to work for the newspaper, these shortcomings are no surprise to me. Nor is the dwindling population of my hometown. A wise said it best: “They’re closing down the textile mill across the railroad tracks. Woman says these jobs are going boys and they ain’t coming back.”
No other American songwriter has even tapped into the veins of the working class like Bruce Springsteen. I’ve been a fan of The Boss for years and have only come to love his music more. For me, nothing tops the stark Nebraska, though Darkness of the Edge of Town and The River are a close second and third. And of course Magic—my favorite album of the year—will also go down as one of the man’s classics. Sometimes people joke that too many of his songs are about topics too similar. But that’s an affront to the people he sings about. Even though I can be quite the music snob sometimes, I’ll always defend the earnest and true message of Springsteen’s music. He gives those who yearn to escape their rusted towns a voice—they race their cars down dark streets, fall in love, and struggle with their jobs. It’s the landscape where I grew up and one I’ll never forget.
Everyone’s heard Bruce do “Merry Christmas Baby” and “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town.” Both are great, to be sure. But here’s a few other amazing Christmas tunes from Bruce’s December 17, 2000 show at Asbury Park—and no, “For You” isn’t really a Christmas song. But it sure is good. Thanks to Tom for sending these my way.
