First, I almost violently dislike harmonicas, and it’s the first thing I hear on the openingtrack of The King Is Dead, an album I haven’t listened to in years, not since its release way back in 2011, I’d guess.An early fan, I think I have nearly all of their firstalbums on CD. I liked thatContinue reading “#665: D is for The Decemberists”
Tag Archives: folk rock
#635: B is for Bright Eyes
In the fine tradition of great bad singers, here is Conor Oberst, otherwise known as the band leader of Bright Eyes. His singing is imprecise, full of vibrato, a tentativetenor, except for when he’s screaming, which he does sometimes, even in quiet songs. He often soundslike he’s on the verge of crying or throwing aContinue reading “#635: B is for Bright Eyes”
#622: B is for Black Country, New Road
I It’s 2021, pandemic winding down, civilization returning somewhat to normal, and two artists, right next to each other in the alphabet, breakout from jolly ol’ England, two experimental and unconventionalyoung bands bringing togethera regular smorgasbord of influencesfrom the progressive and art rockmovements of the last decades. The first of these, this band called BlackContinue reading “#622: B is for Black Country, New Road”
#620: B is for Bird, Andrew
I He’s a whistler. He does the whistlingfor Walter, the muppet, in one of the Muppet movies.More than a decadeago (maybe two!) an intern of mine turned me on to Bird.Back in the oughts of this 21st century, I usedto purchase records for download, before streamingwas a thing. For a shorttime I subscribed to aContinue reading “#620: B is for Bird, Andrew”
michael jarmer 