When Stephen Malkmus made the rounds and talked to journalists about his 2018 album with the Jicks called Sparkle Hard, he routinely made reference to a solo, keyboard-centric album that he had in the can. In fact, he revealed in a 2018 Washington Post interview that he had submitted this album to his label MatadorContinue reading “Stephen Malkmus Series: “Forget Your Place””
Tag Archives: The Beatles
The Last 20 Seconds of “Cinnamon Girl”
The lore surrounding the song “Cinnamon Girl” by Neil Young and Crazy Horse is extensive. Recorded and released in 1969 on Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere, it is one of Young’s most beloved songs and an unassailable classic. Stories about the song abound, such as how it was one of three songs written in aContinue reading “The Last 20 Seconds of “Cinnamon Girl””
Dirty Three’s Love Changes Everything
Nick Cave famously called Dirty Three his favorite live band. He went on to say about the Australian instrumental band composed of Cave’s fellow Bad Seed violinist Warren Ellis, guitar player Mick Turner, and drummer Jim White: “When I watch them, they ignite something, I start having grand plans and hundreds of lyrics leap intoContinue reading “Dirty Three’s Love Changes Everything”
2024 Big Ears Festival in Knoxville, TN – March 22, 2024
Click here to find all of Recliner Notes’ coverage of 2024 Big Ears Festival. The following is a conversation between a middle-aged father and his 21-year old daughter overheard at on Friday, March 22, 204 at the 2024 Big Ears Festival: Daughter: “I don’t mind free jazz, as long as it’s good.” Father: “But allContinue reading “2024 Big Ears Festival in Knoxville, TN – March 22, 2024”
Interview with Elizabeth Nelson of The Paranoid Style
Elizabeth Nelson is the lead singer and songwriter of The Paranoid Style. In addition to serving her duties as a bandleader, she writes about music for publications such as The Ringer, Oxford American, Lawyers Guns & Money, and Pitchfork (including a recent piece on Dylan’s Desire) as well as operating an iconic Twitter account madeContinue reading “Interview with Elizabeth Nelson of The Paranoid Style”
Recitations on Waitresses & Art Within Terry Allen’s “The Beautiful Waitress” and Bob Dylan’s “Highlands”
In a 2011 interview to accompany a catalog on his latest group of paintings, Bob Dylan was asked by curator and art critic John Elderfield if he kept up with contemporary art. He replied: “I don’t follow it that much. Owen Smith, Terry Allen, I like their work. I think miniature golf courses are greatContinue reading “Recitations on Waitresses & Art Within Terry Allen’s “The Beautiful Waitress” and Bob Dylan’s “Highlands””
(What’s So Funny About) Peace, Love, and Understanding
In Letters to a Young Poet, Rainer Maria Rilke advises the following: “Irony: Do not let yourself be governed by it, especially not in uncreative moments. In creative moments try to make use of it as one more means of grasping life. Cleanly used, it too is clean, and one need not be ashamed ofContinue reading “(What’s So Funny About) Peace, Love, and Understanding”
The Lovers That Never Were: The Paul McCartney & Elvis Costello Demos
In 1987, Paul McCartney invited Elvis Costello to write songs together. Over a series of sessions, they created a body of work from which both artists pulled selections for various albums over the years. The songs written by this partnership were used to augment their own individual work, filling in cracks when either member neededContinue reading “The Lovers That Never Were: The Paul McCartney & Elvis Costello Demos”
Uncomplicated
Renowned minimalist Lou Reed once said: “One chord is fine. Two chords are pushing it. Three chords and you’re into jazz.” Rock ‘n roll has plenty of examples of one-chord songs. “Chain of Fools” is filled with such incredible vocal interplay between Aretha Franklin and her background singers that the lack of a chord changeContinue reading “Uncomplicated”
Deportee
Elvis Costello and The Attractions released their album Goodbye Cruel World in June 1984. To say Costello was disappointed with the album is an understatement. In the liner notes for the re-release of Goodbye Cruel World, Costello wrote: “Congratulations! You’ve just purchased our worst album.” After the release of the album, Costello took stock whileContinue reading “Deportee”
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