Tag Archives: singer/songwriter

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Julien Baker – Funeral Pyre

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Surprised we could only manage one week of "Best Of" posts from the citizenry this year. Even Phil got one up there, you guys ( 😉 ). Looks like DK and I will have to take it from here. I might be stealing one from him right now, actually...

Finally got to getting her debut. It's fantastic. At least in that "I feel a compulsion to listen to something pretty depressing" way.

I didn't really mention it, but the layout of this year's Summer Mix was supposed to resemble a summer day (as in a full 24 hour period, from daytime to late night). Specifically was channeling the summer days of a more youthful time, which were.... well, yeah. Anyway, JB's track from this year's mix really caught my attention. I placed towards the end as it helped symbolize the empty feeling at the end of some of those nights.

I was going to play this version specifically, but then I saw that Pepper had gotten to it. Went to find another song, and each one I found was better than the one before it (perhaps a Millions of Cats kind of thing). Anyway, I decided on this one, which isn't on her new album, but I'm guessing it will be on her next one though.

First time I've actually seen her. She can play. Might be lowkey in love.

6 votes, average: 8.67 out of 106 votes, average: 8.67 out of 106 votes, average: 8.67 out of 106 votes, average: 8.67 out of 106 votes, average: 8.67 out of 106 votes, average: 8.67 out of 106 votes, average: 8.67 out of 106 votes, average: 8.67 out of 106 votes, average: 8.67 out of 106 votes, average: 8.67 out of 10 (6 votes, average: 8.67 out of 10)
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Sufjan Stevens – Eugene

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Carrie and Lowell is on many (if not most) Best Of lists this year (though no Grammy nods), and with amazingly good reason. This album is one of the most heartfelt, wonderful, awful records I've ever heard. More or less written about his childhood, the complicated relationship between him and his mother, and the time of her death (if you want more background, it's out there and easy to find, so I won't go too much further into the backstory).

I know there's been some pushback on the whiney singer/songwriter wailing over his acoustic recently, and this album could be construed as that, but I don't think it applies. In my mind, he wrote this album strictly for himself. He was kind enough to invite us in on what must have been a substantial and devastating cathartic journey. Littered throughout are so many baldly personal, terrible little slices of life. Take the first two verses this song alone:


Light struck from the lemon tree
What if I’d never seen hysterical light from Eugene?
Lemon yogurt, remember I pulled at your shirt
I dropped the ashtray on the floor
I just wanted to be near you


Emerald Park, wonders never cease
The man who taught me to swim, he couldn't quite say my first name
Like a Father he led
Community water on my head
And he called me “Subaru”
And now I want to be near you

It may not be my favorite of his (I mean, my god, Age of Adz), but it is definitely his finest work to this point. Sparse, sharply honed, and expertly crafted. A simply masterful album from one of my favorite craftsmen.

...oh, right, I should probably play the song now.


2015

Sorry, I wanted to find something professionally done from this album, however, strangely, none seem to exist.

Anyway, if this piques your interest, here's the album version of the first track, also awfully wonderful/depressing:

6 votes, average: 7.50 out of 106 votes, average: 7.50 out of 106 votes, average: 7.50 out of 106 votes, average: 7.50 out of 106 votes, average: 7.50 out of 106 votes, average: 7.50 out of 106 votes, average: 7.50 out of 106 votes, average: 7.50 out of 106 votes, average: 7.50 out of 106 votes, average: 7.50 out of 10 (6 votes, average: 7.50 out of 10)
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