I.
I have written recently about albums tied to places and times in my life. Mr. Lemons may well have become one of those albums for me.
I received an advance of Mr. Lemons in late February. I have listened to it several times since. I was not quite sure what to make of it at first. I did not fall in love with it right away. It seemed much more like Abulum (his first solo album) and Mutual Admiration Society (his collaboration with Nickel Creek) than Winter Pays for Summer (his previous solo album). Mr. Lemons began to reveal itself to me more and more with repeated listens. I had gone through a litany of comparisons and done my research. I thought knew which path my review was going to take.
Just as I was preparing to turn my scribbled listening notes into some sort of coherent review, The Wife to Whom I Am Married received one of those phone calls we fear and dread: Her grandfather's fight against Alzheimer's was nearing its end.
The decided upon review went out the window because Mr. Lemons was no longer an album from an artist I respect and whose work I enjoy nor was it the subject of a review I committed to write in exchange for receiving an advance copy. It was now my companion through one of those universal human experiences.
From the day of that call to receiving news of his passing through the wake and funeral, two songs stood out for me: "Blindsight" and "Last Sunset." My iPod tells me I have listened to these two songs combined more than 100 times — mostly within the past week. I believe it.
My listening notes for "Blindsight" use words like: bittersweet, delicate, lovely, and tender. At one point I wrote that it sounded "safe" and "like home" and that was just in trying to describe and respond to the music. Many of those same adjectives apply to the lyrics:
And I can't see you now But I still know you're here I can reach out And feel you near BlindsightedBe here with me
Let me hear you breathing
Feel your heart beating
Back when we were younger
Filled me up like water
It's different now but it's stronger
The softness of the song draws you in and before you realize it you are surrounded by the gentle acoustic guitar, plucked bass, warm string accents, and one of Phillips' most moving vocals. The quiet refrain of "Blow the candle out/quiet, quiet" gives the song an almost lullaby quality. "Blindsight" feels like a blanket. The song's final stanza might not have the same reassuring effect as the rest but the overall feeling is warm.
Article comments
1 - Connie Phillips
I'm so sorry for you loss. Music is an incredible thing, there to celebrate the good times, and an amazing source of comfort in the bad.
You make an excellent point about love songs. I only wonder if it's a reflection of our society which doesn't seem to value commit and marriage the way it once did.
2 - Mat Brewster
Excellent stuff, Mr DJ. My grandfather died of alzheimers a few months back so I know some of the emotions you're going through.
I remember the last time I saw him. He was literally half the man he used to be, cheecks caved in, t-shirt hanging off of his wire frame, and he had no idea who I was. His eyes were cold and blank, not a simmer of recognition behind them.
But good review, I'll have to check it out.
3 - DJRadiohead
Thanks, Connie. I don't think it's an accident that at weddings and funerals and other momumental life events that music is included. There's just something about it that I can never explain. As it is I am stammering while I type this. It can't be described or explained- just felt.
As for whether or not it is a reflection of society... I'd say probably a little. I think it has more to do with music mostly being aimed at the kids- at least the popular music is anyway. "Ima Stickwitu" makes all the sense in the world when you're 15 (incidentally, what a truly awful song). And Adult Contemporary- well, first its unlistenable and second they sound like they are trying to convince adults they can still act like teenagers. Maybe it comes down to a realism/escapism conversation. Either way, I wish there were more songs like "I Still Love You."
4 - DJRadiohead
Sir Brewster, thanks for checking this out and by all means do consider checking out the record. It was recorded just down the road from us (in Nashhogan). Having read a few of your pieces in Bootleg Nation, I think there is half a chance you might dig this one.
Obviously, for me, the days were mostly spent comforting TWTWIAM and observing as folks who knew him much better and longer. The last time she saw him there were still faint flickers or recognition burning slightly around the edges. Those didn't last much longer and he was gone.
I'm sorry for your loss, too, Sir Brewster.
5 - Mark Saleski
very nice dj. funny how music attaches itself to almost all of life's events.
ps. favorite Toad The Wet Sprocket song: their acoustic over of "Rock and Roll All Night" on that Kiss tribute cd.
6 - DJRadiohead
Sir Saleski, thanks for that. Maybe music doesn't attach itself for everyone like it does us but when it does it just fuckin' does.
The Kiss cover is balls funny. Talk about going your own direction with a thing. I like it.
7 - Matthew T. Sussman
Mr. Lemons. That's Chet and Meadowlark, correct? Nice to see this "Glen Phillips" is a Tigers and 'Trotters fan.
"Whether or not I hear the songs as he intended I did hear something- and it did touch me and it did move me and it did help me."
OK. If I took my vision of a song and made it into a story of music video, well, I'd have that job as long as Mike Price had the position of Alabama football coach, only I wouldn't have as good a time.
8 - EaTsLeEpAnDwAtChTv
You're right, Mr. Lemons, like Abulum takes a few listens to fully enjoy. He's very underrated... kinda sucks when I'm on business travel and forgot to pack quality music. I'm left to listening to commericially successful wannabe-punk bands and forever grateful to Gwen Stefani for horrible lyrics and her teaching me to spell B-A-N-A-N-A-S
9 - DJRadiohead
Thanks, Suss, for whatever that was.
Glen's from Santa Barbra, CA. I don't think he covets Tigers baseball.
10 - DJRadiohead
EaTsLeEpAnDwAt, Thanks for commenting. I am with you on the Gwen Stefani blast. That song is attrocious. Mr. Lemons is subtle and worth the repeated listens.
11 - Matthew T. Sussman
Hey, not every article gets a Chet Lemon reference. Consider yourself special.
12 - Swede
A great album that take a few listens to sink in. Be sure to check out his live disc "Live at Largo" for a taste of what he sounds like live. There is also a great live set "Live at the Jammin' Java" that can be downloaded.
And 'Mr. Lemons' is named after the studio it was recorded in (which is named after a deceased cat).
13 - DJRadiohead
Swede, thanks for checking out the review. I have Largo but haven't downloaded Java. I will have to look into that.
14 - Swede
DJ - check out archive.org
15 - David
overall the album is decent. a bit mediocre compared to what we all know he can do but he seems happy with how it turned out.
my main problems lie in the general mix of the album, and in "I Want A New Drug", which is useless to me, and "I Still Love You", which is horrid compared to the gorgeous version produced by John Fields for "Winter Pays For Summer"
so ultimately, it's got 9 pretty good tracks on it. if it had one more original song on it I'd feel like I got a full album of worthwhile listening