Eric5776
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I was listening to a 9/30 edition of a WNYC Soundcheck podcast featuring a live performance by Damien Jurado playing songs from Caught in the Trees. Although he's a fantastic song-writer, the interview is what I found more intriguing (see link below). As the story goes Jurado, over the years has written primarily in character form; however, due to some tough and dark times over the past year or two, he wound up writing a semi-autobiographical record without even knowing it at first. Apparently, the song Dimes was written "in character" and while he was laying down the vocals in the studio he realized (without really putting it together prior) that the song was entirely about him! The rest of the songs soon revealed themselves and so comes a really personal record for him.
I bought the album on emusic but would like to get my hands on the lyrics to Caught in the Trees. The only problem is - i can't find them, anywhere. Not on his website. Not on those dumb azlyric sites. Not on the label's site. Can anyone find me the lyrics for the new record? I'd appreciate it.
If you have a second, the podcast is a good one.
http://www.wnyc.org/shows/soundcheck/episodes/2008/09/30/segments/111000
Earlier today, I hopped in my '96 Jeep Grand Cheroke to purchase some extra cans of spray-on popcorn ceiling texture paint (2 square feet costs $10!). The minute I opened the door, I knew something was wrong. My between-the-seat glove compartment was open. There was a roll of packing tape on the driver's seat. The sunglass compartment (is that what you call it?) was hanging open just overtop of the front seats. My checkbook (yes, I left my checkbook in my unlocked car) was in plain view, wedged underneath the emergency brake. I immediately knew someone had broken in - the 10 or so quarters in my storage tray were taken. Also missing - my iPod car cigarette lighter car charger but not the tape adapter or cell phone charger. Odd.
Maine is a safe place. The local news is usually litered w/ stories of petty crime and boring stories about the local town fair. It has the lowest cost for car insurance in the US. I think we pay something like $260/ year for the Jeep. Oh yeah and apparently people up here have average taste in music as you'll soon discover.
Back to the story. I panicked. What was stolen? Did they steal anything of value? My Jeep is always a mess. There is always a hodgepodge of "stuff" to rumage through on any given night. Bath Bath and Beyond 20% coupons, demolition gloves, an Angels & Airwaves hoodie, an LL Bean messenger bag (with still about $1.50 in change still in the pocket) containg my lesson plan book (who wouldn't want my lesson plans???). There were bags of returns to various chain stores in the back, untouched. My wife's check book was torn from it's case (yes, my wife also left her checkbook in the unlocked car), but her checks also were still in tact, soaking wet, lying outside the car door near the cover, drenched from last night's downpour. Then, I realized, - MY CDs!!!
How many horror stories have you heard, of people having tens and tens of CDs stolen from their car? If you haven't, I've heard of enough for the both of us. I have a CD visor (yes, I'm still stuck in 1994 apparently) w/ roughly 15 discs of authentic, non-burned full length albums. My factory model CD player is extremely tempermental in deciding what it wants to play w/o skipping. Regardless, I'm often a little to lazy to bring the iPod into the car, hook it up and choose something to play, hence why I have a stash of discs to play. Murray Street was in the player at the time. That was safe. I looked at my visor. Guess they didn't want? Johnny Marr & the Healers. Our theiving frined isn't a fan of Mogwai I guess. I'll agree Some Loud Thunder is sort of unlistenable. Suede Dog Man Star? Still there. I'll be able to play The Weakerthans again someday. J Mascis & The Fog must not be too popular north of the Boston city limits. I went through all of the CDs and they were all still hanging out. Not a single one touched. Even my Beyonce album was there. Relieved, I vowed to never again to think "Oh, I don't have to lock my car doors at my house, I'm in Maine for crying out loud." Never again.
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I have had my car broken into just one time, and the same thing happened to me. Not one cd was taken, and they were even cases to put them in. Everything else was gone through, yet my music tastes do not agree with the average car breaker inner
The economy has taken such a huge dive, that I don't believe that there's a 100% safe place to live in.
You have a Beyonce CD?! haha I keed, I keed :)
Another MOGger's house was broken into some time ago, and they didn't touch his CD collection either.
Thieves and with bad taste in music? Horrendous.
Anyway, here's to that being the last experience like that you'll ever get. And lock the car!!!
Yesterday I picked up The Standard Swimmer, TV on the Radio Dear Science, and James Hey Ma. I'm glad I purchased all of these albums but the one that will probably never get enough attention is The Standard. These guys have been around since the turn of the century (sound old don't they?) and they haven't been able to catch a break in that long either.
I'm impressed they're still making chilling, dark and filling music. They've left indie labels (Yep Rock being one) , put out records on their own and done touring duties in other bands such as The Pinehurst Kids (not to be confused w/ the Get Up Kids). I would have never heard their music if I didn't catch their opening set w/ Clinic & Apples in Stereo in '03 Not long afterwards, I saw them open for Idlewild at Mercury Lounge. They're hard to classify and describe to someone who hasn't heard of them. The singer's voice isn't quite disturbing but he sounds like he's always in genuine agony. The music has a soundscape the size of the San Fernando Valley and it sounds as if they've been revolutionizing indie music (for lack of a better term), since the hallowed sounds of J. Mascis. "Hotel" is one of the best cuts on the new record and it can be downloaded in the posting underneath this one on the band's profile page.
I hope someone enjoys them as much as I do.
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Good morning, Eric.
I gave a listen to Hotel and I'm really liking it. I think you nailed the description of the band, and especially of the singer's voice. Charismatic, to say the least. Anyway, I feel like there are myriads of images in this band's music awaiting to be discovered, and I cannot deny them.
Cheers for the introduction!
Thanks for checking them out. My day is complete. Anna introducing Eric to new music: Too many to count. Eric introducing Anna to new music: 1
You have another convert: Great song! I am at present checking to see if they're available on iTunes. Thanks!
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You know, as this album is new, the lyrics may not be out there. I just search my lyric search engines and came up empty. You might have to resort to what I did in the old days with my band: get the lyrics line by line off of the CD. He's got a pretty clear voice and annunciates well...then you can post the lyrics or others! Great tunes, by the way. I never heard this guy before--and this is good. Thanks.
Thanks for the suggestion. Back in the day, I guess if the lyrics weren't in the artwork, you'd have to listen to the music until you knew the lyrics (no outside help possible).
That's about it. BUT there was something about that process that meant you (me, the listener) had become THAT submerged in the music. Audience, rather than passing ear. You know what I mean?