Mermaid Avenue Volume 1

Time is usually a healer and in the interim between Medulla and todays commute album, Mermaid Avenue Volume 1 by Billy Bragg and Wilco. I may have realised that my words regarding Bjorks a cappella album may have been harsh. If anything they were too complimentary. Its still a dreadful brain scarring album.
Mermaid Avanue then. Many months ago when I reviewed the second volume of songs I touched upon my feeling that I didn’t think Bragg offered the authenticity that I was hoping for. It still exists, but as I think Billy’s contribution to this album isn’t as prominent as the second volume, it is a surprisingly good effort.
The album came about as Woody Guthrie’s daughter wanted someone to interpret the lyrics that her father had left, but instead of the peggy-o ramblings of some earnest young folkie, arran sweater and beard, she wanted a contemporary take that Billy Bragg and Wilco would afford the songs.
Assisted on this album we have the beautiful Natalie Merchant formally of 10,000 Maniacs perform lead vocals on the hauntingly beautiful Birds and Ships. A song that could be her own and this was perhaps the catalyst in her interest in folk music at the start of the millennium.
Tweedy again produces the authenticity and and again you believe what he has to say, but surprisingly you also get a sense that Billy Bragg may have wandered through the dust bowl and he may have lived the life of a hobo in the mid west.
All in all as I return to work, an enjoyable album to ease me into the blunt end of the week. 8 out of 10.



California Stars by Wilco

The Non Carpenters Carpenters

A friend of mine actually made a request for a post, on the subject of The Carpenters. This is a first, and a landmark in the short, glorious, unknown and undiscovered history of I Taught Myself How to Grow Old. Unfortunately, having been driven to distraction by a workmate who used to play The Carpenters endlessly, I have been forced to expunge all things Karen and Richard from my already fogged up brain, although I do remember a good tribute album featuring a Sonic Youth cover of Superstar.

So, unable to provide even a half decent post on The Carpenters, I've made a stab at a Carpenters related post, as you will see.

First up, Bobby Davro, I mean Bobby Darin, making Tim Hardin's If I was a Carpenter famous (Carpenter! Wehey!).


Second batter up is the music from Halloween, composed by John Carpenter. He didn't just write it and direct it you know.


And finally, in this non Carpenters Carpenters list is House Carpenter's Daughter by Natalie Merchant, who appears to have changed her name to 'Ex Ten Thousand Maniac Natalie Merchant'. She released an album of traditional folk songs in 2003, and this was one of them. Is it possible that the carpenter's daughter went to school with the blower's daughter, in some special performing arts school for tradesmen's offspring?

And that concludes my knowledge of Carpentry in music.

House Carpenter's Daughter by Natalie Merchant