music reviews, fascinating trivia, opinionated commentary
Finding new music that hits me viscerally is sublime. Recently, No Depression introduced me to Eric Tingstad and his take on Americana instrumentals.
When my copy of Badlands arrived, it stayed in the CD player in the car for over two weeks, playing over and over again. Nearly every track is on my all-night music list (I never sleep without music playing. I’ve heard some people do. Seems odd to me.)
Instrumentals are hard to write. Continue reading “Badlands = Good Listen”
Why isn’t oddbod famous? Proof positive that talent and fame are not connected. Tim “oddbod” Conway is one of the finest songwriters and performers I’ve ever heard. His new songs at FAWM turn into a mad rush to comment. A week in, his first song Instamatic has nearly a hundred comments from other songwriters who are supposed to be scrambling to write 14 songs of their own.
Gorgeous instrumentals. Tear-worthy love songs. Yes, but also a half-song called The Pig of Loveliness wherein oddbod shows he can shred hugely, and A Letter from Nigeria, a hysterical but musically brilliant tune taken almost entirely from spam emails he’s received. Listen to both, and more, at oddbod’s website. (His tune And the Starlight made it onto Handmade & Homespun. My definition of “Americana” is musical, not geographical.)
Not just a songwriter’s songwriter. Stop what you’re doing and go to oddbod’s FAWM profile to see what the good songwriters are wearing this year.
Hard to pin down, is Evin Wolverton.
My Michael Hedges Pandora station has been playing a lovely little harp-like guitar piece for a while. I listen all night so I don’t always check to see who’s doing what. (Okay, sometimes I do. It’s music.)