This time it's just a short love letter to The Mountain Goats, my new favorite band.I've blogged about this band - and the hook of giving out free mp3s in generating sales - before here on Bowing to the Future.
Meanwhile, a new track, off the vinyl-only Black Pear Tree, is entitled “Thank You Mario But Our Princess is in Another Castle,” and you can download it here.
Lou,
ReplyDeleteDarnielle lists James Sallis as an influence. Sallis lives, writes, and teaches in my town. He's also in a band (I saw 'em play Saturday) -- Three Legged Dog. They play old weird Americana -- murder ballads, Carter Family songs, blues, and strange calypso tunes about 7 skeletons being unearthed in a backyard (catch tune!)
Jim Sallis plays guitar, resonator steel guitar, mandolin, banjo, fiddle, and god know's what else. He's good. They're all good.
Robert
Fascinating. Any of Sallis' band's work online?
ReplyDeleteIt is. The band's site is at
ReplyDeletewww.three-legged-dog.org
and Jim Sallis's author page is at www.jamessallis.com
Robert
I have to say: I liked the Mountain Goats but I am now officially crazy about Kaki King. I like that thumpy sound she gets out of the guitar.
ReplyDeleteRobert - thanks for this, I will check it out soon.
ReplyDeleteJames - that EP is awesome!
James, if you like Kaki King you should check out Antoine Dufour and the late Michael Hedges. They use a similar tapping/slapping technique on the acoustic guitar.
ReplyDeleteAh, Michael Hedges. I've got one of his Wyndam Hill CDs around here somewhere.
ReplyDeleteHedges was exactly who her sound made me think of. I'll have to check out Dufour: thanks!
ReplyDeleteMight have to grab the EP--it's been years (decades?) since I bought a vinyl record new, but I always liked the vinyl sound.
James and Lou,
ReplyDeleteMichael Hedges is known primarily as an instrumentalist, but he was also an excellent singer. I highly recommend his Live on the Double Planet album. In addition to his instrumentals and original vocal songs, the album includes mind blowing versions of "All Along the Watchtower", the Beatles "Come Together", and surprisingly, Sheila E.'s "A Love Bizarre".
Got it. Will listen to it now, since you bring it up.
ReplyDelete