Tellin’ Stories

So given that the songs this month are so rich in narrative detail, I think I’ll spend more time telling you about where the songs are from and less about their content — let the storytellers do their job, no?

1. Stars, “One More Night”
   Easily the most arresting thing on 2005’s Set Yourself on Fire, this tale sex amidst a crumbling relationship is given weight thanks to a jaw-droppingly gorgeous melody and the subdued back-and-forth vocals of Amy Millan and Torquil Campbell.
2. The Hold Steady, “Chillout Tent”
   It took until last year’s Boys and Girls in America album for me to find Craig Finn’s voice palatable (in both the literal and figurative senses). Thankfully, on Boys Finn learned to sing instead of just talk into the mic. A dash of Dave Pirner vocals doesn’t hurt, either.
3. Willie Nelson (with Merle Haggard), “Pancho and Lefty”
   I thought, “well, if Matt is going to take Johnny Cash for his list, I’m going to make sure Willie is representin’ on my list.” Then I discovered that Matt didn’t, in fact, include a Cash song, but I stuck with Willie anyway, because nothing’s better than two outlaws singing about two outlaws.
4. The Rolling Stones, “Prodigal Son”
   The Stones were at their delta-bluesiest on this stripped-down retelling of the biblical story from ’68’s Beggar’s Banquet.
5. The Gourds, “Ziggy Stardust”
   Obviously “Ziggy” would make it on my list, but I decided to pick the most oddball version I could find. This one comes from The Gourds, a hayseed quintet who got well-known after an awesome bluegrass cover of Snoop Dogg’s “Gin & Juice” hit the intarwebs a few years back. This cover comes from a tribute disc included with Uncut magazine a few years back, which made it into my collection courtesy Rudi.
6. Eels, “Jungle Telegraph”
   Every time I hear this song, I think of the classic Bugs Bunny ‘toon Gorilla My Dreams, where he gets adopted by a family of apes. Much swinging through trees ensues.
7. Garth Brooks, “Papa Loved Mama”
   This I couldn’t resist. It’s 2:52 of awesomely clichéd redneck revenge courtesy the (frankly) most cosmopolitan of modern country singers.
8. Paul Simon, “Darling Lorraine”
   Rudi & I were treated to this song’s first (partial) public airing when we went to a New Yorker Festival event where David Denby (right?) interviewed Simon in advance of the release of You’re The One. Simon whipped out a boom box & played most of the unfinished song to the assembled crowd. Very cool.

Enjoy the tunes!

Download: Stars, “One More Night” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: The Hold Steady, “Chillout Tent” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Willie Nelson (with Merle Haggard), “Pancho and Lefty” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: The Rolling Stones, “Prodigal Son” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: The Gourds, “Ziggy Stardust” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Eels, “Jungle Telegraph” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Garth Brooks, “Papa Loved Mama” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Paul Simon, “Darling Lorraine” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)