Labor Day podcast
I spent most of the morning intoxicated by M.I.A.'s new record (rather, one song off that record); it seems like every week brings with it a new release that eclipses an already crowded field of amazing music being released this year.
Heavyweights like Caribou, The Shins, The White Stripes and Wilco delivered, again, while relative newcomers like M.I.A., The National and Okkervil River clobbered the high standards set by their previous releases.
As such I was readying a new podcast, packed with new songs and accompanied by breathless commentary, then, on a lark, I listened to a Gourds song that I thought I'd add to the cast - you know, to mix it up.
And then I re-fell in love with The Gourds.
If you love music you have a couple of bands for whom you have an irrational affection; bands that, like, speak to you, man. When you find out someone is unfamiliar with their music you feel a moral obligation to introduce them; when you find out someone dislikes their music, you think less of that person.
It's probably what evangelicals feel like all the time.
Anyway, The Gourds are for me that band. What little time I've spent in Texas I found unpleasant and forgettable; when I listen to the Gourds I want to move there.
Their music is multi-sensory - I can smell dust and feel it dry my nostrils, the air is stickier, I can hear crickets, I want to learn to play the accordion, I wish I had a southern accent.
Anyway, I was introduced to them by my uncle about 6 years ago, here you go...
...if you don't like them I suggest you keep it to yourself...
El Paso (live)
County Orange
Ghosts Of Hallelujah
Meat Off the Bone
Gangsta Lean
Fine Leather Truck
O Rings
Jesus Christ with Signs Following
Tearbox
Piss & Moan Blues
Cranky Mulatto
Buy Gourds stuff here and here
Yes, this is the band that did The Bluegrass Gin 'n' Juice cover, and yes, that track is somewhere in this podcast but I won't say where, you'll just have to listen to the whole thing :)
