“The Wait” – Built To Spill
From You In Reverse
My uncontrollable obsession for all things live bootleg has led me to have a different kind of musical appreciation. There were several years that went by in which I didn’t buy hardly any music at all. It always seemed a waste, when I could find so much great music from live concerts, for free.
By doing this, I learned a great deal about how a band performed in a live setting, but very little about how they sound with all the polish of a studio. There are many bands that I own several bootlegs of, but have absolutely nothing of their official releases. It’s also kind of skewed the types of artist I actually know. Gnarles Barkley? Fall Out Boy? Never heard of them. But mention the Hot Buttered Rum String Band or Railroad Earth and I’ll bring out some excellent bootlegs.
I have since moved away from that, and have now spent much of the last many months trying to catch up on all the studio work I missed out on.
Built To Spill is one of those bands I knew of from trading circles, and collected a few of their bootlegs, but never got around to purchasing an album…until now. In a very recent moment of music collecting, and after reading Mark Saleski’s excellent review I found myself scooping up several Built To Spill albums.
Mark pretty much said all there needs to be said about this album, but I’ll go out on a ledge and state that it’s pretty danged good. This is the last song on the album, and it has that drifting off to sea feel, like the song could go on forever, and I wouldn’t mind if it did (unfortunately it ends after a bout 4 ½ minutes, but that’s what repeat mode is for, right?).
“Lie In Our Graves” Dave Matthews Band
From Crash
I’ll probably get creamed from anti-Davers out there, but the dude has written some pretty catchy tunes over the years.
I caught the DMB during the Crash tour way back when in Birmingham, Alabama. It was the middle of summer in an outdoor venue where everything was just about perfect. I went with my friend, Scott, who is as big as a brick wall, and about as congenial. Funny, he reminds me of Paulie in Goodfellas where Ray Liotta says that the mobster didn’t move for no one, because he didn’t have to. Scott was like that, except nicer. He was a cool guy, but a very funny juxtaposition against all the crazy, grooving hippies at that show.
Article comments
1 - Holly Hughes
Yeah, Mat, marriage wreaks havoc with the old just-me-and-my-albums activity. Just because you love somebody doesn't necessarily mean you like all the same music, and there's nothing so irritating as having your life partner start singing in a snide falsetto just when you're about to weep to, for example, "Have A Little Faith In Me" (I happen to get VERY emotional about my John Hiatt songs.) And Ryan Adams does rip out the heartstrings when he gets going. I don't think you need to turn in the man card just yet.
2 - Mat Brewster
Thanks Holly. Marriage has messed up my ability to listen to music, watch movies and read. Not that I'm complaining (too much)for curling up with my wife is much better than curling up alone.
Adams has written a dozen or so songs that just knock my insides out.
3 - anka
i find myself better in films. i like films more.
4 - Mat Brewster
Different art, different ways to get inside. I love film too, and books, but music has a special way to effect me.
5 - Holly Hughes
That's true -- music bypasses all our left-brained filters and goes inside by a side door. I'll be listening to the lyrics, and suddenly the way the singer's voice catches on a certain word makes me shiver, or some organ riff in the background reminds me of being on a train heading west, or the horn section sounds like it's taunting the singer -- and suddenly my defenses are down and I'm seized by sorrow/despair/anger/whatever. Powerful stuff.
Also, I have to admit, half the reason for being a music fan for us girls is to have a thing for the musicians. I really don't expect I'll ever be able to share my, er, appreciation for Nick Lowe with my husband. Don't even get me started on Paul McCartney. I packed those albums away for 20 years rather than put them on the stereo while he was in the room. It just wouldn't be fair -- like making out with your old boyfriend in front of your new guy.
Then the iPod came along and changed my life...
6 - Mat Brewster
I came a little late to the iPod game, but yeah its like totally freaking awesome, dude. To be able to store that much music in one little device is absolutely brilliant.