Simply Stunning. The light jazz guitar, those great harmonies. A perfect antidote to those of you who have been feeling some Gotye overload.
Culled from the excellent Take Me To The River: A Southern Soul Story 1961-1977, It’s no overstatement to say that this little known single might rival “Hold On, I’m Coming” in being among the top soul songs ever recorded. I’ve had it on repeat for the last week.
The third track off of The National’s Sad Songs For Dirty Lovers has long been a favorite of mine, and not only because of its mysterious title. "90-Mile Water Wall" doesn’t seem to fit into any specific genre, rather it plays out like an epic Western, a lonesome figure silhouetted by twilight in a harsh winter, espousing the hurt of a love lost. For all the gorgeous songs this band has produced (and there are many), this may be their finest unimpeachable arrangement.
New Classics: Sad Songs For Dirty Lovers by The National (2003)
Love being a losing game was a big theme back in 2003, the year of Beck’s Sea Change and its equal partner in romantic shame, Sad Songs For Dirty Lovers. So why did one become instantly lauded as one of the greatest albums of all time (Sea Change) and one fall through the cracks (Sad Songs For Dirty Lovers)? The simple answer would be name recognition, with Beck holding the obvious advantage over a Brooklyn by way of Cincinnati band’s sophomore effort. Yet Sad Songs For Dirty Lovers is the better album.
Continue reading New Classics: Sad Songs For Dirty Lovers by The National (2003)
The Art of the Mixtape 