Emily's Albums A to Z

Listened: Monday August 9

I have fond memories of listening to Just Enough Education To Perform, Primal Scream’s Xtrmntr, and Sigur Ros’s Von Brigði (Recycle Bin) as I was cleaning my college apartment in Berkeley after graduation, preparing to move back to my parents’ house. I was the only one left in the apartment at that point, so I could crank the music as I cleaned. Consequently, this album has a lot of nostalgic value to me.

For some reason the songs remind me of Rod Stewart a bit. Maybe it’s the gravelly working class voice, I’m not sure. It also reminds me of the retro sounds of Ocean Colour Scene, who were active at the same time.

Listened: Monday August 9

Writing an entry on The Joshua Tree intimidates me a bit. What more can I say about this album that hasn’t already been said? Every song is brilliant. I particularly love how When the Streets Have No Name builds up so gradually; it’s like the sun rising in the desert. With or Without You is one of my favorite love songs of all time, and the imagery in In God’s Country is a favorite: “Sad eyes, crooked crosses, in God’s country.” How did an Irish band construct such a great American time capsule?

Recently I read an in-depth narrative of someone visiting the cover photo location (it’s in Death Valley, not Joshua Tree National Park) and describing what’s there now (the tree fell down a couple of years ago, sadly, but its “corpse” is still there). I’d love to visit it someday.

For a long time, no one besides the band and the photographer (Anton Corbijn) knew exactly where it was, but since Google Maps and Google Earth came out, people were able to narrow it down more, given the landscape clues in the photos. I wonder what U2 think of it becoming  a place of pilgrimage?

Listened: Monday August 9

I’m a bit ashamed as an English major that I didn’t get the biblical reference of Jonathan and David on this Belle and Sebastian single until this review. It works really well with Belle and Sebastian’s normal subject matter, as it seems to suggest a homoerotic love triangle. I love it when music helps me learn something!

The violins and Stuart’s voice on Take Your Carriage Clock and Shove it are achingly beautiful too.

Listened: Monday August 9

I think I checked out John Lee Hooker because someone recommended that I’d like his music. And I do! His accent reminds me of my Southern relatives, so I’m automatically drawn to it.

I can see how his style of blues singing influenced rap. He is basically rapping in a lot of the songs. It’s also still somehow modern; it’s hard to believe some of the songs are more than 60 years old.

Then there’s the elephant in the room – the sexual nature of the lyrics and how much they influenced rock and rap. It may not have been as clear to the average person back then, but in our less innocent times, many of the songs obviously have a sexual component.

“”‘John Lee, I need lovin’ and I just can’t help myself. Love me, love me, love me daddy, love me all night long'”

“Cause you got the best darn stinger any queen bee I ever seen”

“I’m a lonely boy, baby, looking for someone to love. Please come have a drink with me”

“I’ve been drinkin, you’ve been drinkin too. I know you’re ready baby, cause I’m ready for you… ready as a man can be”

Despite it being “blues”, John Lee’s music makes me really happy. Obviously, he’s a charming man in many ways!