Album of the Year
I don't buy a ton of music, really, so this is sort of presumptuous of me. I believe the only albums new this year that I own are "Live From the Mountain Music Lounge, Volume 10" (which is a very, very limited release, sold only in Seattle) and the album I'm going to plug as being the Album of the Year. The "Lounge" CD is better overall, but after nine previous compilations of great live performances, it was to be expected. These CD's, released annually, are absolute treasures. I also wanted to pick up Carbon Leaf's "Indian Summer," but this li'l hick town I live in seems not to have any copies of it anywhere. So...
William Shatner. Yes, I'm serious. If anyone had ever told me that I'd intentionally buy a William Shatner CD as anything other than a joke, I'd have thought they were insane. But this thing is genuinely great, containing, among other things, perhaps the saddest song I've ever heard, "That's Me Trying." The song features Ben Folds and Aimee Mann, and was co-written by Nick Hornby (no, not the cheesy musician... the good writer). Other tracks feature folks like Joe Jackson and Henry Rollins.
Anyway... click the title of this post to go listen to some samples. It's surprisingly good, and it's my album of the year, mainly because it's so completely unexpected.
(And thanks to Nance Knauer for turning me onto it.)
posted by Dave Clapper @ 4:56 PM
2 comments
2 Comments:
ugh. . . just when I'd gotten the whole William Shatner thing outta my head. But I know what you mean. All my friends (like all 2 of 'em) think I'm insane, but still. . .I may just have to buy that CD yet.
Heehee! I swear it's worth it, and I know you listened to that song as much as I did when Nance first posted about it. Well, I'm here to tell ya it ain't the only great track on the album. There's also one called, "You'll Have Time" that is wonderful. Shatner takes on sort of an evangelical tone, telling us to live every day like we're gonna die, "because you're gonna." Check it out:
Live life
Live life like you're gonna die
Becasue you're gonna
I hate to be the bearer of bad news
But you're gonna die
Maybe not today or even next year
But before you know it you'll be saying
"Is this all there was?
What was all the fuss?
Why did I bother?"
Now, maybe you won't suffer maybe it's quick
But you'll have time to think
Why did I waste it?
Why didn't I taste it?
You'll have time
Because you're gonna die.
Yes it's gonna happen because it's happened to a lot of people I know
My mother, my father, my loves
The president, the kings and the pope
They all had hope
And they muttered just before they went
Maybe, I won't let go
Live life like you're gonna die
Because you are
Maybe you won't suffer maybe it's quick
But you'll have time to think
Why did I waste it?
Why didn't I taste it?
You'll have time
'Cause you're gonna die
I tell you who else left us
Passed on down to heaven no longer with us
Johnny Cash, JFK, that guy in the Stones
Lou Gehrig, Einstein, and Joey Ramone
Have I convinced you?
Do you read my lips?
This may come as news but it's time
You're gonna die
You're gonna die
By the time you hear this I may well be dead
And you my friend might be next
'Cause we're all gonna die
Yeah, oh maybe you won't suffer and maybe it's quick
But you'll have time to think
Why did I waste it?
Why didn't I taste it?
You'll have time
You'll have time cause you're gonna die
Yes, you're gonna die
You're gonna die, I tell you
You're gonna die
You are gonna die
'Cause maybe you won't suffer maybe it's quick
But you have time to think
Why did I waste it?
Why didn't I taste it?
You'll have time 'cause you're gonna die
Live Life
Life life like you're gonna die
Because you're going to
Oh yes
I hate to be the beater of bad news
But you're gonna die
Maybe not today or even next year
But before you know it you'll be saying
"Is this all there was?
What was all the fuss?
Why did I bother?
Why did I waste it?
Why didn't I taste it?"
You'll have time, baby
You'll have time
'Cause you're gonna die
You are gonna die
Oh yeah
Also, "Together" is really haunting:
He says Phoenix
Pegasus
Grecian urn
Midwest turn
So much to learn
Together
She says our souls
Are warm
Lives
Reborn
From hearts
That were torn
Before before perform performs
Together
Together they say
A breath renewed
Everyday
With you
Our arms
Are moved
We are not alone
Not unloved
Together
Our souls are warm
Lives reborn
From hearts that were torn
Before
Breath renewed
Everyday with you
Our arms our hold
We are not alone
Together
We're ready.
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