The Jump Blog

Well, the split is complete. I have been AWOL the last few days getting things in order over at the temporary site of Bindlestiff Records. You’ll notice that the playlist has changed here at the B-sides back to other artists. If you were linking directly to my songs and still want that version of the B-sides player then you may link to it here.

I’m doing this mainly to keep from boring people on this side with the daily updates or constant revisions on music that they may not even like. This isn’t, after all, a music website. The B-sides player is different because in order to access the content you must click it, so those that don’t care about music can simply skip it all together.

So from here on out if you want to hear about my music other than the occasional update when something big happens you’ll have to look at Bindlestiff. The B-Sides, occasional reviews, and other such stuff will still appear here.

So here’s a shorter than normal commentary on the new picks:

Ryan Adams: Come Pick Me up
Now, there’s some rough language in this little gem of a tune, but anyone who has ever been cheated on can understand the bitterness, as well as the contradictory attitude displayed by the lyrics. This is just a gorgeous piece of songwriting about how you want somebody back even when they hurt you and even when they are bad for you, and even if you think they’ll do it again. There are a couple “F-Bombs” in there though, so skip this one if you might be offended by the language. What you shouldn’t skip is checking out Ryan Adams work either as a solo, with his new band the Cardinals or with his old band Whiskeytown. The guy is brilliant.

Lucinda Williams - Drunken Angel:
Another snarling alt-country darling, Williams’ performance on this tune is just perfect. You can feel her contempt in spots. This is music when it’s good, because it can’t be classified. It’s too rock for country and too country for rock, too electric for folk, but too intelligent for punk, but not scatalogical enough for alternative.

Bruce Springsteen - Highway 29:
From the popular socialist tinged but still brilliant “The Ghost of Tom Joad” this tune is a disturbing song about murder and bank robbery and death, but delivered in such a manner that we begin to identify with the main character regardless of what he has done. “Highway 29″ sticks with you in much the same way that “I’m On Fire” from “Born in the U.S.A.” did. THis song certainly harkens back to the days when Bruce was considered the second coming of Bob Dylan and not “The Boss”.

Nickel Creek - Helena:
This song just rocks. Nickel Creek stormed out of the gate with their new album with all guns blazing. Again this is simply American music. It isn’t bluegrass, not folk, not country, not rock. Just stunningly good. Thile’s vocals when combined with Sara and Sean Watkins’ masterful backing turns this tune of defiant walking out into a real foot stomper. Get the album, they are all this good.

Nanci Griffith - It’s A Hard Life Wherever You Go :
Nanci is another crazy liberal (most folk singers are, ya know) but she is a genius of a songwriter. What’s more I owe her a huge debt. In 1990 I was writing Metallica styled heavy metal. I heard this song and within days I had written my first song in the style I would write in for the next fifteen years (so far) which is usually classified as New Folk, or Urban Folk or Americana or Alt Country. Whatever you call it, this song started me doing it.

Bob Dylan - A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall:
I first heard this tune when Eddie Brickell and the New Bohemians did a cover of it on the “Born on the Fourth of July” soundtrack. This version is almost four minutes longer but wonderfully illustrates two things: 1) Bob Dylan’s masterful lyrical prowess 2) That Bob wasn’t scared to mess up and just keep going and then put it on a record. You’ll hear him screw up the “Who did you meet” sequence and you can even hear him crane his head around (probably to read the lyrics sheet) and pull back from the mic.

Outstanding.

Simon and Garfunkel - The Dangling Conversation:
This is simply one of the most beatiful songs the duo ever recorded. Paul Simon is one of the most literary songwriters of out time and shows it off often including in this song.

John Gorka - Promnight in Pigtown:
I also owe John Gorka big. His album “Jack’s Crows” and appearance on “Nashville Tonight” kept me moving in the right direction. This song is a wonderful collection of using intelligent puns withought making your audience groan. His wordplay here is just delightful and despite the whimsical nature of the song it still has a very meloncholy feel. That’s some achievement when one is singing about porcine prom attendee’s. Check him out if you get a chance, he plays a lot of coffee houses and he is incredible.

Gillian Welch - Make Me A Palet On Your Floor :
This is another one I included for a couple of different reasons. The main one being it is Gillian Welch and David Rawlings. Another being that you can hear a couple of real things in the tune: a couple of mic mishaps, Gillian stomping on the floor (as is her custom), a little siblance in the mic, and a missed chord that she just plays right through. I’d rather hear that any day than perfection.

Jay Farrar - Drain:
Jay was in the band that “started” the Alt Country movement: Uncle Tupelo and now he’s stuck in what he created. Like all of the others listed here as well as artists like Richard Buckner, Damien Rice, David Gray, Tori Amos, and Tracy Chapman who defy classification, you’ll have to work pretty hard to hear them on the radio. But as this tune demostrates radio airplay (or the lack of it) has no relationship to the value of what the artist has to convey. Farrar has a lot to say musically that is worth listening to, just too bad no one knows it.

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