The College Crowd Digs Me

"All we do is argue like  two people  who are through." ~ Loudon Wainwright III ~ North Carolinian... Loudon Wainwright III ...may bring to mind his novelty song... "Dead Skunk" (1972) or his bit part playing Captain Spalding on TV's "Mash "(1975). But this singer/songwriter has been crafting songs forever. I haven't followed this tongue-wagging troubadour too closely over the seasons...however, 1992 saw him release "History" .  Considered his masterpiece...he purges the past very close to the bone... never soft-soaping the ugly parts . "History" is a absolutely must-own! Lost Gem:-->   "Hitting You" ...is as honest a confession as you'll likely to hear.  Painful and heartbreaking in the understanding...that there are seldom, if ever, any take-backs or do-overs ......................not really. Have you heard this gem? (start at 2:28) Long ago i hit you we were in the car you were crazy in...

"And I'll climb the hill in my own way." ~ Pink Floyd~  Pink Floyd's ... "Meddle" (1971) ...was released two years prior to their masterpiece... "Dark Side Of The Moon" . But elements of that classic recording can be heard throughout this underrated album. In fact, at least one song left on the cutting floor for this album...would later appear on "DSOTM" . Despite a ridiculously bad album cover...(looks like an elephant's snout to me)... "Meddle" is filled with plenty to like and should be in your collection. Also, this is where we find guitarist David Gilmour stepping up his game a bit. Lost Gem:-->   "Fearless" ...is a brilliant exercise in songwriting with Gilmour throwing down an amazing guitar riff that sounds as fresh today as it did 40 years ago.  Roger Waters has nice lyrics (as always) and the surprising addition of a football crowd...well...I liked it. Have you heard this gem? You say t...

"So let's close the book and let the day begin and our marriage be undone." ~ XTC ~ Seven years had disappeared before XTC went back into the studio to record... "Apple Venus Volume 1" (1999) ...and it was jaw-dropping brilliant . Unfortunately, numerous management problems and personal differences were causing friction at around the same time this record dropped...and history has proven this is rarely a good thing. Andy Partridge, Colin Moulding, Dave Gregory Critics loved XTC's alternative-psych-rock sound, but lack of solid promo in the states buried this nugget in the racks. Lost Gem:-->   "Your Dictionary" ...is a bitter acoustic kiss-off to the ghosts of a broken relationship.   So bitter...yet Partridge   pulls it off. The surprising Beatlesque arrangement near the end offers 'hope' that closure will be found for all of us. Have you heard this Gem? H-A-T-E Is that how you spell love in your dictionary ...

"...and hear those bottles ringing... you know where you are." ~ Lyle Lovett ~ Texas troubadour, Lyle Lovett , released his debut in 1986 and was later included in Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Albums of the 80's. Lyle's been labeled a country artist, but is truly a singer-songwriter renegade who sings whatever feels good... labels be damned . There is a sweet, almost bashful, aura that surrounds him. He just doesn't take himself too seriously...which is very refreshing. And, much like his hair...you can't control him. His walk is his own.  It's up to the listener to get in step. Lost Gem:-->   "Closing Time" ...is a beautiful song about the dive bar monotony a performer goes through on his journey to reaching his dream.   Dig the weary acceptance in his voice. Have you heard this gem? The night she is a true companion They shuffle in They hear the sound But by night's end It's night's abandon You look ac...

"Like some tacky little pamphlet  in your daddy's bottom drawer." ~ Frank Zappa ~ Frank Zappa is an acquired taste. I understand that. But as you begin digging through the man's extensive league of work, you might soon find yourself being drawn into his magic. Or maybe not. You see... FZ serves NO master .  His genius ranges from rock & jazz to electronic & classical music. He is a bad ass renegade  whose tower of prolific power is well worth exploring. And what you dig or won't dig is all on Frank because he is responsible for every note, word and sound on his records. Frank composes arrangements for every instrument you hear. Few could do this and fewer still could do it as well. So, yea, Frank Zappa (may he rest in peace) could always get down with his bad self. Lost Gem:-->   "Dirty Love" ...is part of any Frank Zappa 101 curriculum.  In 3-minutes, we get... 1. tasty guitar riffing from the 'Peach' himself. 2. ...

"And things don't always... things don't always go the way we plan." ~ Randy Newman ~ Randy Newman is a singer/songwriter who, when not focusing on his many film scoring project s ...takes pleasure in revealing the darker shades of ourselves. Taking on all comers with a surgeons eye and a Shakespeare's sarcasm...striking a little closer to home than some would like. His job is to shock...sometimes offend...and hopefully cause the listener to look a little deeper inside themselves. I'm guessing this makes Randy very happy. Lost Gem:-->   "I Want You to Hurt Like I Do" ...is a ballad of "anthemic" proportion about media-grabbing grand-standers. The... "We Are The World" types... who take on a cause...simply for the sole purpose of drawing attention... to themselves .  The self-righteous bleating about all the pain, their particular cause...causes . Unforgettable! If the words were changed, this song could easily...

"We believe... that we can't be wrong." ~ Paul McCartney ~ "Ram" (1971) was Paul McCartney 's 2nd post Beatles album and it's loaded with more hooks than a Peter Pan pirate .  A must own on so many levels. Many of the song ideas were surely spinning through Paul 's mind before the breakup.  And I can easily see The Beatles harmonizing and jamming to half the songs in Jerry's Bizarro world. I'm a John Lennon man myself, but I'm totally onboard with the McCartney magic.  And "The Back Seat Of My Car" is one of this Beatles ' finest card tricks. Paul and Linda Lost Gem:-->   "The Back Seat Of My Car" ...is a brilliant mini-suite that captures the beautiful naive urgency and self-importance only young lovers enjoy. Filled with surprising rhythms and melodies ... it slowly swells to an unbelievable climax that is both touching and chilling. Don't be fooled by the simplicity. This is tri...