Time to get in shape. That is not to say that I’m massive. That is not to say I have a completely unhealthy lifestyle. But there is scope for improvement, hence this week has seen the start of a health kick. Read the rest of this entry »
Another lazy video/music post. Mark Lanegan is releasing a covers album in September, rather appropriately called Imitations. He has always been one of those artists I’ve admired more than loved, but I think this cover of John Cale’s I’m Not The Loving Kind is all kinds of wonderful.
It is pretty faithful to the original, yet Lanegan’s voice adds the necessary gravel and gravitas. Sometimes I’ve thought he’s been playing at the whole grizzled veteran act – some of his work with Isobel Campbell was fun enough but more Lee and Nancy pastiche than anything deeper – but he hits something truer somehow here.
What makes this song great to me is the rhythm of the refrain. “I’m not the loving kind” is written/sung in an almost rushed, pretty much throwaway fashion. It is perfect for the song and adds a necessary ambiguity. Does the protagonist care so little that he is happy to throw the line away, or does he not believe himself, so is unable to sing it with conviction?
And for comparison, here is the John Cale original:
By no popular demand whatsoever, a return of one of those posts with links to things I’ve been reading, or planning to read, with little or no context whatsoever. Hopefully you’ll find something here worth reading. Read the rest of this entry »
Lonely Son comes from the 1972 album Wasted, by Vernon Wray. Wray was the brother of Link Wray (of Rumble fame) but headed down more of a country road. Wasted is pretty much impossible to get hold of, as there was only 400 copies printed, and a fairly recent reissue seems to have been rather limited in terms of pressings too. So, it is one of those rarities vinyl fetishists can fuss over. I’d suggest making a quick Google search and downloading the album as it deserves to be heard rather than hoarded. Lonely Son is the highlight, such a beautiful song, reminiscent of Townes Van Zandt in places. It is really cleverly arranged, yet sounds entirely heartfelt. Well worth a listen.
It seems like every year I fall for it. I read about the ‘must-read’ book of the year. The newspaper reviews are gushing. The bloggers and the tweeters talk the book up as thought-provoking, eye-opening, life-changing. Amazon is a sea of five-star reviews. A critical mass builds up where coverage is overwhelmingly positive – This Is A Great Book. And the book, from the blurb alone, sounds good, the kind of book I’d like to read. So, I buy the book. I read it. And I’m disappointed. Angry even. Read the rest of this entry »
Wait until next year 