04.11.07

Three times the usual reviews in one small package

Posted in some albums we done liked others we ain't - April 11th, 2007 at 3:14 pm by Mimi

I keep having this weird conversation with people, it goes like this:

Drunk Fool: What’s this we’re listening to?
Me: Joe Purdy
Drunk Fool: That a friend of yours?
Me: I WISH. *frowns*
Drunk Fool: This is good.
Me: *rolls eyes*

He’s had three records come out since I last talked about him here (yeah, wow, I know), You Can Tell Georgia, Paris in the Morning, and Canyon Joe. I think I’ll pick my favorite tracks from those records and just talk about them.

I first heard Joe Purdy a couple years ago because of a friend of mine in LA who has a very good ear for music I like (as friends tend to when they’ve had to hear you complain and rave for years). Right now, I’m eating dried figs and reading the CD Baby reviews of these records to amuse myself. Skip over there and check it out, because if you’re skeptical of what I have to say, you’ll see a page full of superlative reviews there written by the cynical, embittered indie-music, scenester crowd, and if I agree with them, then you know you’re dealing with someone special. [That, or the Apocalypse is nigh.—Daisy]

“Blue in the Sky” from You Can Tell Georgia [Is this so good that just telling the title is enough?—Cricket] [Perhaps the lack of explanation is some sort of intrigue to get us to just go listen to it?—Daisy]

Paris in the Morning is so frickin’ good that I’m having trouble picking which songs to talk about. (If you’re only going to buy one Joe Purdy album in its entirety then this is the one to get.) I’m trying hard not to bust out and just review this entire record…arg!

“Brand New Set of Wings” has this foot-stomping, recorded in the living-room feeling to it that we love so much around these parts. The beat’s kept partially by handclaps. This is an ebullient song where the new set of wings in question isn’t for the songwriter but for the person he loves. This song reminds me in a way of The Band’s “When I Paint My Masterpiece” in content, the narrative being a kind of nonsensical ramble about traveling around Europe. Worth it for the tambourine and handclapping.

Man, I love so much of this record. Especially the title track and “Waiting on Something Good” for its wistful lyrics about NYC. But I am trying to limit myself here. [Are you of the MTV Too Much Is Never Enough generation? Why start limiting now?—Cricket]

“Easier” has the feel of Purdy’s earlier albums, Julie Blue and Stomping Grounds–that lethargic, early evening, melting bronze sunset feel where the world reduces to you and your personal life, solipsism at its finest, full of regret that doesn’t really matter and love that drowns and buoys you at the same time. Joe’s music always reminds me of the rocking of water even when the lyrics have nothing to do with anything maritime. In this song, I think it’s the percussion that has a see-sawing feel to, like the back and forth of a boat. This song just makes me sigh. Siiiiiiiiiiiighhhhhhhhhhhh. Like that.

The first track I heard from Paris in the Morning was “I’ve Been to Holland” because it was sent to me as a random track by a friend. I immediately sent it to Cricket, because we have a running joke about Holland. Yeah, we’re strange, what’s new? I think this song is sort of a culmination of Joe Purdy’s evolution as a songwriter, because he’s still telling the loose sort of story he always has with his songs (whether that be a personal anecdote or a third person tale of love or anguish) but he’s also pulled it together to construct a tight chorus with a hook that anchors the song in a way that appeals to a wider audience.

Canyon Joe is a return to his earlier solo work, just Joe and his guitar. Needless to say, I’m a fan.

Why does this music reduce me to such ridiculous levels of emo stupidity? [You’ve been living with Cricket too long and her emo has rubbed off on you?—Daisy ] I would blame this on my allergy medication (strung-out warning level: approaching 80’s Miami) but it would be a pathetic, transparent lie. It could be that I love Joe Purdy’s songs so much because even when he’s expressing some sort of happiness, his voice belays that, always sounding one step from breaking out crying. Life is just so tragic! Whatever mockery you’re about to bring, I’ve already mocked myself harder, spare me. I just read a blog comparing Joe to Sufjan Stevens. I SCOFF. Sufjan wishes he was this good.

“Just because I have no regrets doesn’t mean I didn’t get it wrong” I had to do it! The lyric is from the chorus of “Santa Rosa in the Snow”. This is a good-bye, I still love you, but it’s over, baby song. I just listened to it on repeat six times. I think Purdy might have made some kind of deal with the devil, because I am honestly the least romantic person ever born (not exaggerating here) [She’s not.—Cric] and he manages to make me ache for other people’s lost love. You can check it out on his MySpace.

The last track on the album is called “Cowboy Song”. That’s sort of a freebie, right? [Yes—Daisy] I don’t need to mention that you should run to iTunes now and download this song? Thought so.

You should give Joe a whirl. Try some of the songs I name here, if you like any of them, grab some more. I haven’t forced him on anyone yet who doesn’t love him. Next up: Neil Finn—just joking, Cric! *cracks up* [Sometimes you're more terrifying than funny.--Cric]

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