Reading the Costello memoir reignited my interest in TJL. It's in my closet, and I can still hum "Jackson, Monk, and Rowe" and "I Almost Had a Weakness" and "The Birds Will Still Be Singing," so that's something (EC sez TJC sold about 300,000 worldwide and thus made a small profit off it). Still haven't heard the Bacharach album.
― The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Sunday, 1 November 2015 02:16 (eight years ago) link
Just bought a $5 used copy of King of America today!
― Fetty Wap Is Strong In Here (cryptosicko), Sunday, 1 November 2015 03:09 (eight years ago) link
"I Almost Had a Weakness"
that and the imperial bedroomish "taking my life in your hands" were the two keepers for me.
― fact checking cuz, Sunday, 1 November 2015 18:34 (eight years ago) link
Dipped into the memoir recently. Seems much better written than a lot of his recent song catalog, although he is too prolific for me to keep track of everything so who knows.
― Memes of the Pwn Age (James Redd and the Blecchs), Sunday, 1 November 2015 19:19 (eight years ago) link
Juliet Letters was a huge album for me when it came out, I played the hell out of it. Haven't listened to it all the way through in years.
― akm, Monday, 2 November 2015 04:06 (eight years ago) link
Here are ones I'd torch.
― So who you gonna call? The martini police (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, 6 November 2021 15:28 (two years ago) link
I like at least four of them
― Nasty, Brutish & Short, Saturday, 6 November 2021 23:46 (two years ago) link
haha "Pidgin English" was #1 on my ballot. I thought it was odd that it didn't make the cut, but apparently some really dislike it...?
― Montgomery Burns' Jazz (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Sunday, 7 November 2021 17:40 (two years ago) link
"two little hitlers" is a good tune but a terrible lyric, yeah
― ufo, Sunday, 7 November 2021 20:08 (two years ago) link
I always assumed it was an indulgent reference/sequel to Nick Lowe's "Little Hitler."
― Josh in Chicago, Sunday, 7 November 2021 20:16 (two years ago) link
"Two Little Hitlers" is a bizarre ditty but the lyric actually works because that part is so damn catchy. It may also be his vocal too which is just right for it - a prettier or "nicer" voice couldn't pull it off. I guess that might apply to a lot of those vitriolic songs on the first three albums.
― birdistheword, Sunday, 7 November 2021 23:40 (two years ago) link
*actually works for me
― birdistheword, Sunday, 7 November 2021 23:41 (two years ago) link
I find "Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood" very atmospheric - the pensive marimbas, and startling metallic raking sound in the chorus. I also love the hazy VGPS-era Kinks shuffle feel, and chromatic descending chord hook in "Dr. Luther’s Assistant".
― Halfway there but for you, Monday, 8 November 2021 00:40 (two years ago) link
I hate his shouty voice.
Hitler analogies to limn relationships, whether EC or Woody Allen's, were gross even in the Carter era.
― So who you gonna call? The martini police (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 8 November 2021 00:43 (two years ago) link
Would you have objected to the original title of Armed Forces: Emotional Fascism?
― Halfway there but for you, Monday, 8 November 2021 00:48 (two years ago) link
It's the jaundiced perspective of an unreliable narrator. Saying it's gross feels like it's missing the point, especially when you broaden the argument to include Woody Allen - his work never felt like it was anything but his own real life voice, often to a fault.
― birdistheword, Monday, 8 November 2021 06:18 (two years ago) link