Archives for November 2017

Certain Songs #1058: Lyle Lovett – “It Ought to Be Easier”

November 30, 2017 by Jim Connelly

Album: The Road to Ensenada
Year: 1996

Nobody knew it at the time, but The Road to Ensenada marked the end of the first phase of Lyle Lovett’s career.

He’d put out six albums of original material in a decade, but after that, it seemed like the well kinda dried up, as he followed it with a covers album, a live album, a movie soundtrack, and two compilations before putting out another record of new material in 2003.

But meanwhile, back in 1996, we were just enjoying songs like the brutal breakup tune, “It Ought To Be Easier.”

Certain Songs #1057: Lyle Lovett – “Private Conversation”

November 29, 2017 by Jim Connelly

Album: The Road to Ensenada
Year: 1996

Does anybody remember the Sony Car Discman?

It was basically a version of their regular Discman, but it had two key differences: first off, it had technology that (mostly) kept CDs from skipping because of the random stops, starts, bumps and swerves that were an inevitable result from driving, and secondly, it had technology that allowed you to play your CDs through your car’s speaker.

Now, I know what you’re thinking. That there was a 3.5MM adapter cable that you’d plug into the AUX input, just like you do with your iPods and iPhones. But you’d be wrong, dead wrong.

Certain Songs #1056: Lyle Lovett – “She’s Already Made Up Her Mind”

November 28, 2017 by Jim Connelly

Album: Joshua Judges Ruth
Year: 1992

A nearly five-minute look at the despair of inevitability, “She’s Already Made Up Her Mind” could come across as a dirge, just too damn sad for words, but instead, it kinda reminds me of something from Big Star’s Third.

At first, it’s just Lyle telling his story to bass guitar, with a dab of piano here, a tinkle of a cymbal there, maybe an acoustic guitar strum, all of which just contribute to the dark mood he’s creating.

Certain Songs #1055: Lyle Lovett – “Church”

November 27, 2017 by Jim Connelly

Album: Joshua Judges Ruth
Year: 1992

The one thing about the Catholic services that I went to before I had a choice was that they were like a well-oiled machine: we were in and out in about a hour, every single time.

So I can’t fully relate to the dilemma that Lyle Lovett describes in the weird, hilarious honky-tonk gospel song “Church,” but most certainly can appreciate it: a long-winded preacher is essentially holding his entire congregation hostage, with predictable results.

Certain Songs #1054: Lyle Lovett – “L.A. County”

November 26, 2017 by Jim Connelly

Album: Pontiac
Year: 1987

On the short list of Prettiest Songs Ever Recorded, Murder Ballad Division, “L.A. County” is an absolutely towering masterwork, and — I’ve come to realize — the best song that Lyle Lovett ever wrote.

That’s a whole lot to unpack, of course, so let’s just start with the chorus, which rings in my head anytime I’m driving into Los Angeles on a cold clear night.

Certain Songs #1053: Lyle Lovett – “If I Had A Boat”

November 25, 2017 by Jim Connelly

Album: Pontiac
Year: 1987

If Lyle Lovett’s debut album proposed an artist who wasn’t going to be fully bound by his particular genre designation — in this case, “Country”, then the follow-up, Pontiac, doubled down on that proposition.

Of course there were straight-out country songs, but there were also folk songs, R&B songs (which he would explore more deeply on the follow-up), and whatever in the hell “If I Had a Boat” was.

Certain Songs #1052: Lyle Lovett – “God Will”

November 24, 2017 by Jim Connelly

Album: Lyle Lovett
Year: 1986

Lyle Lovett is a goddamned national treasure.

Of course, you probably already know that. Because at some point over the past 30 years, you’ve stumbled across at least one of his songs — maybe on the TV, maybe on the radio, maybe in a film — and his unique combination of insane melody, mordantly witty lyrics and a voice as pure as a mountain stream has completely blown you away.

Certain Songs #1051: Lydia Loveless – “Somewhere Else”

November 21, 2017 by Jim Connelly

Album: Somewhere Else
Year: 2014

One of the worst things for any creative person is to get a really great idea in the middle of the night. Because, naturally, the dilemma is whether or not to fully wake yourself up and make sure you scribble it down or sketch or record it in order not to forget it in the morning.

Such was the dilemma Lydia Loveless had when “Somewhere Else” came to her in a hotel room in Austin during SXSW. In her case, she got out of bed and made a demo, and just like that her second album had not just the title track, but the best song, to boot.

Certain Songs #1050: Lydia Loveless – “Boy Crazy”

November 20, 2017 by Jim Connelly

Album: Boy Crazy EP
Year: 2013

With records that straddle the line between alt-country and alt-rock — featuring her big soaring voice and big soaring guitars — Lydia Loveless has developed a pretty rabid fanbase over the past few years. One of the things that makes her so special is the emotional directness of her music, as typified by 2013’s “Boy Crazy.”

“Boy Crazy,” the title track to a 2013 EP which was just reissued a few weeks ago, starts off with Bill Lamb’s rumbling bass over Todd May’s squealing feedbacky guitar, joined at the hip by a jangly guitar, and has your attention before she even opens her mouth. But even more so afterwards . . .

Certain Songs #1049: Luna – “Black Postcards”

November 19, 2017 by Jim Connelly

Album: Romantica
Year: 2002

Iceman
Iceman
Candyman
Sandman

I’ve always been utterly enthralled with that almost nursery rhyme chant that starts the utterly lovely “Black Postcards,” the highlight of Luna’s early 2000s output.

By that time, bassist Britta Phillips, Wareham’s eventual musical and life partner, had joined the band, replacing Justin Harewood, and you can hear her circling around the pinwheeling main riff and drum machine that opens “Black Postcards.”