Eamon - "Fuck It (I Don't What You Back)". Doubtless familiar to my British readers, here's a cup of slinking angry soul, a man in a cool suit and kohl-dabbed eyes. Though Eamon sounds a little squeaky, he's also charmingly forthright - unflinching in the simple expression of what's on his mind. "Fuck you ... I don't want you back." All this over a sighs, strings, and a drum machine beat that would make Babyface proud. Don't misunderstand, though: it's a venomous comedown track that'll be among the best singles of the year. As if the New Radicals went R&B.
Another song for a tough week -
The Boggs - "Hard Times". Arena Rock signed The Boggs in 2000 or so. They must have been expecting something of them. That indie bluegrass might explode, I suppose. That the moosh-haired Strokes, Stripes and Vines would be replaced with moosh-haired, washboard-wielding, oldtimey hooligans. But it didn't happen. Instead, I guess, Interpol did. Or OutKast did. I'm not sure. But I think that I can safely say that neither Interpol nor OutKast suggest market demand for a Brooklyn sextet of twentysomething bluegrass revivalists.
Which is too bad. Because We Are The Boggs We Are was a pretty excellent record, full of shambling, cracked, quiet or riotous tunes. "Hard Times" is an excessively simple stretch of folksy blues, a man with a dog's voice singing out over round-and-round guitar picking. "Been hard times for so long / that I forgot / the good Lord above me / shines down with love." There's a glimmer of resignation, of regret, but stronger still is the feeling of hope. "This too shall pass," and so it does, ending with an abrupt and humble silence.
The Internet Archive's astounding Live Music Archive. Featuring more than 150,000 tracks from 10,000 shows and 500+ bands, including Pinback, Damien Rice, Soul Coughing, Antibalas, and, inevitably, the Grateful Dead.
Also, the very finest biography of Walt Whitman that I have ever read. And I've read more than one. (via clap clap).
Posted by Sean at April 23, 2004 1:22 AMGreat tracks today.
Where are you finding Damien Rice at the Internet Archive? Because my friend was recommending him but (as ever) I'm behind the curve on it, and all I'm finding at archive.org is Charlotte Martin, who opened for Damien Rice.
Posted by tuwa at April 23, 2004 3:28 AMi'm sick of no one giving props to the boggs, so thank you.
Posted by adam at April 23, 2004 5:53 AMthis is awesome! my husband caught Eamon on Sharon Osborne's show and went through quite a time to figure out who he was. anyway, the song is most excellent and way way better with all the cursing.
Posted by Hillary at April 23, 2004 9:18 AMEek - sorry, Tuwa. I saw Damien Rice's name on the list of "authors who have okayed their work being posted," and assumed he was included. It seems not. I know that Largehearted Boy has posted links to live recordings... Good luck on yr hunt!
Adam, I'm glad to see I'm not alone. They're quite great, aren't they?
Hilary, did they bleep out the cursing? Did he say "frick"? How the heck do you handle a song like this: I'd assume that all the impact would be drained if you took out the rough bits.
Posted by Sean at April 23, 2004 11:07 AMI thought the boggs were a trio. At least the boggs I saw a few months ago were. They were INSANE. I didn't know what to make of it, but it was certainly interesting.
Posted by music robot mark at April 23, 2004 11:48 AMInsane good? Insane bad? Punk rock or extreme hoedown?
On record, they're a core group of four people, with two more who contribute seamlessly.
Posted by Sean at April 23, 2004 11:56 AMnot bleeped in the sense of a beep. just deleted, i believe. though hubby said he could tell something was going on. and he _still_ dug the song. i didn't hear the bowdlerized version, but i'm all about the swearin'. i have to keep trying to sing the chorus under my breath as i'm walking about my office, as busting out with "fuck you, you ho; i don't want you back" = not acceptable.
Posted by Hillary at April 23, 2004 2:35 PMYikes. Is Eamon just hitting the airwaves in Canada? Unfortunately, those of us in the states had to suffer through this song for these past few early months of the year. Maybe I'm just missing something with the track, because I've heard so many people say that it's a great song: "It's so...audacious!" But I just don't get it. He also has the most annoying voice I've heard in a while.
Nice pick with the Boggs, though.
Posted by Emery at April 24, 2004 12:43 AMsome damien rice live/rarities can be found here: http://www.damienrice.co.uk/music.asp
other than that. sharingthegroove periodically has damien shows bittorrented.
Posted by justin at April 24, 2004 9:34 AMah, thanks Justin, Sean, for the links. Yes, he is worth looking up. :-)
Posted by tuwa at April 24, 2004 11:58 AMThe Boggs are great. And Eamon is-- Well. He's opening for Britney Spears on the latest leg of her tour. Good for him.
Posted by Paul at April 25, 2004 12:59 AMCheck out a great fan site right here, Eamon Online
Posted by Bolard at September 25, 2004 10:13 AM
and it will begin playing. All songs are also available to download: just right-click the link and choose 'Save as...'
