Here I am believin' words again
Here I am tryin' to find your love again
Here I am down on my knees again
Prayin' for a love
That we used to know
Both of us know
How hard it is to love
And let it go
Both of us know
How hard it is to go on living that way - I Must Have Been Blind
Then just like the river
I can change my ways - The River
To love and let it go. All of us have to go through this. It is part of being human. And it is one of the hardest things to do. And it is the central theme of this incredible album. Loving & letting go. And how we can blind ourselves. Deceive ourselves for a long, long time of the necessity to move on. But just like the river that provides the setting for so many of these beautiful, mournful songs - we can change our ways. We can move on. It can be so hard to believe that someone we feel so strongly about does not feel the same way. Does not reciprocate that love that we feel so deeply in our bones. We go into denial. And get stuck. Stagnate. And that’s disastrous for our soul. For our spirit. Luckily, Tim made this album for us during these these difficult times. Its an album that proves that we are not alone in this plight. That everyone loses love. That the feeling of love lost is universal. And we can go to that river that runs through all of us. Dance by that river's edge. And move on. Because just like the river, we can change our ways.
Grade: A+. I don’t know what this is. Is it Jazz? Folk? Who cares! Albums that bend and blur the genre lines are so often the best and this of course is no exception. Tim shows yet again that he was (by far!) the best vocalist of the folk rock kingdom for that era or really any era. His vocal prowess has really been unmatched. ( And if it has, school me! Please.) It was a singular instrument - sensuous yet longing. Full of vitality yet also vulnerable. Especially on Blue Afternoon - which even though he’s venturing even further into jazz terrain - is actually his most accessible and mellow album. Accessible is sometimes used as a four letter word. But, it really shouldn’t be. It just means it’s a natural fit. Like love should be! So sure Buckley has more challenging albums, more avant-garde albums such as BEA/Scaruffi faves like Lorca and Starsailor, but this is by far my favorite. It’s the perfect album to snuggle up with on this rainy, overcast morning with a cup of Numi's Aged Earl Gray. (I’m off coffee. Aargh!… Doctor’s orders, I’m afraid. Thanks for the tea recs, Paul & Jimmy!). And it meanders like a river all the way up to number six.
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Essential
1. Donovan - A Gift From a Flower to a Garden
2. Mum - Finally We Are No One
3. Dadawah - Peace and Love
4. Townes Van Zandt - Townes Van Zandt
5 Cocteau Twins - Victorialand
6. Tim Buckley - Blue Afternoon
7. The Durutti Column - Another Setting
8. Vashti Bunyan - Another Diamond Day
9. Harold Budd/Brian Eno - The Pearl
10. Judee Sill - Judee Sill
11. Roy Harper - Stormcock
11. Real Estate - Atlas
12. Virginia Astley - From Gardens Where We Feel Secure
13. Bonnie "Prince" Billie - The Letting Go
14. Cluster & Eno - Cluster & Eno
15. The Fun Years - One Quarter Descent
16. John Phillips - John, The Wolf King of L.A.
17. Yo La Tengo - And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside-Out
18. Townes Van Zandt - High, Low and In Between
19. Harold Budd - Pavilion of Dreams
20. Gene Clark - No Other
21. Grizzly Bear - Yellow House
22. Beach House - Thank Your Lucky Stars
23. The XX - XX
24. Bob Dylan - New Morning
25. A Winged Victory for the Sullen - A Winged Victory for the Sullen
26. Real Estate - Days
27. Bob Dylan - Self-Portrait
28. Beach House - Bloom
29. Real Estate - Real Estate
30. Deerhunter - Fading Frontier
Komorebi-D knows the score. This is Real Estate’s best album. And it’s not even close.
Was casually discovering your amazing diary for the first time and then I find out I got name dropped. I'm so glad somebody - other than myself - can go beyond dismissing them as "bland wallpaper pop" and see how gorgeously intricate their guitar work on the first three albums is (less so on In Mind). At least I was mentioned for something honourable 🤣 .
I also love the whole format you've fleshed out here. It's a lot better than my sporadic posting. I thought I might make a few contributions because mellow describes at least 85% of my taste.
I can definitely see it playing into that "technicolor folk rock" category you had with Yellow House. After all, its a side-project headed by Grizzly Bear's Daniel Rossen but it contains both Christopher Bear & Chris Taylor (who produced the record too) as well. I guess if I had to sell it to you, I'd say it acts as an excellent bridge between Yellow House & Veckatimest though Rossen definitely goes off on a Van Dyke Parks channeling tangent throughout.
Yes, another one with trees on the cover. I saw someone recommend Grouper's Dragging A Dead Deer Up A Hill - which is a brilliant album I just love, like the rest of Liz Harris' work - so I thought that you might like to check out one of Julianna's albums which are similar. She uses electronic vocal loops to create these breathtaking ambient soundscapes. 2011's The Magic Place is probably the best way to start.
More soundscapes, I guess. Before collaborating with names like Wilco, Joanna Newsom & Sonic Youth, Jim O'Rourke made this. Personally I think its his solo masterpiece. He turns Americana into these sparse & contemplative spaces that are kind of perfect for long periods of driving. If you don't call this one mellow at least, then I'll be totally lost.
Was casually discovering your amazing diary for the first time and then I find out I got name dropped. I'm so glad somebody - other than myself - can go beyond dismissing them as "bland wallpaper pop" and see how gorgeously intricate their guitar work on the first three albums is (less so on In Mind). At least I was mentioned for something honourable 🤣 .
I also love the whole format you've fleshed out here. It's a lot better than my sporadic posting. I thought I might make a few contributions because mellow describes at least 85% of my taste.
Thanks, Komorebi!!! I will totally check out those recs. They sound awesome. 😎 tilly
Many rivers to cross
And it's only my will that keeps me alive
I've been licked, washed up for years
And I merely survive because of my pride - Many Rivers to Cross
Life can throw a lot at you. Sometimes it can just get plain crazy. Ridiculous even. To the point where you cannot even believe it’s really happening to YOU. This shit only happens to other people, right? RIGHT?!
Call it bad karma. Call it a Job-ian test from the Gods. Call it whatever you will. But some of us have to go through a lot more shit than the rest of you lucky fucks. Put simply - life just sometimes sucks. And it can seem totally unfair. And you can do one of of two things when this happens. You can give up! Hurl your fists at the heavens. Cry out to the Gods that this is not even close to a fair fight anymore. That you’ve had enough. That this is inhuman. Numb yourself with scripts, alcohol and whatever drugs you can get your hands on. Curl up on the couch and binge on bad tv and tubs of Chubby Hubby. And say “I’ve had it. Fuck this! Fuck that! I’m out of here.” And I honestly don’t blame anyone who does this. No one but us really knows how frickin’ bad things can really, really get. If you judge these people, I have four words for you - YOU DON’T GET IT! You’ve never been there! You can’t even begin to imagine what they’re going through.
But there’s another option. To rise above! To cross those swollen rivers. To swim on & on. To keep searching for a way across. To try and build a better boat. Despite the impossibilities. Despite the doubters and naysayers. No matter how improbable your situation may seem. Really believe that you are going to cross those rivers. That you are going to build that boat and make it to the other shore. Out of duct tape, spit, willpower and faith. Lots & lots of faith.And that’s where this album comes in. Because no album ever made has such great anthems as this little number. It has THREE anthems that can stare down any others in recorded history and not bat an eye.
You can get it if you really want
But you must try, try and try, try and try
You'll succeed at last, mmh, yeah
Opposition will come your way
But the harder the battle, you see
Is the sweeter the victory now - You Can Get It If you Really Want It
On its surface this is just a wonderfully catchy Motown influenced number that can stuck in your head like cotton candy. But it really nails all the key components you’re going to face in building that boat. In crossing that river. In doing something others say is impossible. First, you are going to face the two Os - obstacles & opposition. Whether it be doctors, family members, a flare in your disease, a broken leg … whatever. Opposition & obstacles are inevitable. Setbacks are going to occur. And they can wear you down. But the key is to keep trying. Keep going. And believing. That you really can get there. But you must believe. But no one completely believes at first either. Especially if you’ve been through the ringer one too many times. And that’s why you must try, try and try, try and try!
So as sure as the sun will shine
I'm gonna get my share now of what's mine
And then the harder they come
The harder they'll fall, one and all - The Harder They Come
Again, notice the positivity. The belief. This is the commonality of all successful people. Whether it be Tom Brady or Ivanhoe "Ivan" Martin. The belief in themselves. The belief that no matter how hard the obstacle, that you can and will overcome it. As sure as the sun will shine!
Grade: A+. I never realized how influential Motown was on Jamaican music until I heard this album. This album has given me a whole different perspective on Jamaican music and music in general. Music can be such a weapon. To fire you up and change your attitude. And even though I highlighted those three legendary anthems, this album hardly stops there. In fact my favorite is actually by some artist I’ve never even heard of before - Scotty. It reminds me of Operation Ivy. I just love the guitar lick and verbal mumbo jumbo that starts it off. This is proto-punk rock at its finest.
This is easily one of the greatest soundtracks of all time and if you can splurge for the deluxe two cd version definitely do it. It further showcases the massive influence that the Motown sound had on Jamaican music with the highlight perhaps being my favorite cover of “I Can See Clearly Now”. That single is worthy of an essay all on its own. It’s going to be a bright, bright sunshiny day!
Lots of love,
Repo
Thumbnail. Click to enlarge.
Essential
1. Donovan - A Gift From a Flower to a Garden
2. Mum - Finally We Are No One
3. Dadawah - Peace and Love
4. Townes Van Zandt - Townes Van Zandt
5 Cocteau Twins - Victorialand
6. Tim Buckley - Blue Afternoon
7. The Durutti Column - Another Setting
8. Vashti Bunyan - Another Diamond Day
9. Harold Budd/Brian Eno - The Pearl
10. Judee Sill - Judee Sill
11. Roy Harper - Stormcock
12. Real Estate - Atlas
13. Virginia Astley - From Gardens Where We Feel Secure
14. Bonnie "Prince" Billie - The Letting Go
15. Cluster & Eno - Cluster & Eno
16. The Fun Years - One Quarter Descent
17. John Phillips - John, The Wolf King of L.A.
18. Yo La Tengo - And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside-Out
19. Townes Van Zandt - High, Low and In Between
20. Harold Budd - Pavilion of Dreams
21. Gene Clark - No Other
22. Grizzly Bear - Yellow House
23.Various Artists - The Harder They Come
24. Beach House - Thank Your Lucky Stars
25. The XX - XX
26. Bob Dylan - New Morning
27. A Winged Victory for the Sullen - A Winged Victory for the Sullen
28. Real Estate - Days
29. Bob Dylan - Self-Portrait
30. Beach House - Bloom
31. Real Estate - Real Estate
32. Deerhunter - Fading Frontier
MercuryTurn your back on the pay-you-back last callProfile St. Louis
Just went back and read up on this diary for the last month and a half. So good. Live it.
Your The xx review was spot on. Even though I do not like their music or that album, I felt you communicated my general thoughts on it. And you made me go and listen to the Juno soundtrack again to boot. You sly dog. _________________ -Ryan
For me, mellow means ambient music, which there has been some of, but not an incredible amount.
Anyways, one of the albums by this group comes to mind as well. It's a more folky upbeat indie band. I particularly like Tight Knit better, but you should give both a listen.
Just went back and read up on this diary for the last month and a half. So good. Live it.
Your The xx review was spot on. Even though I do not like their music or that album, I felt you communicated my general thoughts on it. And you made me go and listen to the Juno soundtrack again to boot. You sly dog.
For me, mellow means ambient music, which there has been some of, but not an incredible amount.
Yeah, obviously mellow means something completely different for me. It's a state of being for me. And any album that helps me get there is stuff I listen to now. Keep in mind that I used to almost exclusively listen to really LOUD noise rock, metal & punk so everything I've listed here is quite mellow indeed for me. And I'm really loving it. It's much healthier music for not just my illness, but my state of mind which is paramount in getting better. I hope this clarifies things up a little. Perhaps later I will give me a more elaborate idea of what this place is for me. But's it's basically a place to just chill out, accept all the wonderful things that life still offers me - like my children- and once more sing and be full of life.
Thanks for contributing! I will totally check out Vetiver! LOVE those album covers! 😎
Feel free to chime in on any of the albums any time.
Peace!
baystateoftheartNeil Young as a butternut squashProfile Massachusetts
Amen. However given that Tilly is a fellow parent I would strongly recommend this as a starting point (just so happens to be my most favourite record of all-time and perhaps the most beautiful, life-affirming, heart-warming album I've ever heard):
Coincidentally I don't know why I've never slung this your way - another personal love from the gorgeous Welsh county of Pembrokeshire. Folky acoustic loveliness...
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Repo
Komorebi-D
Mercury
Tha1ChiefRocka
baystateoftheart
Jimmy Dread
