The Dinner Ladies - "Muscle in the Bud". For those of you nursing your July 4 hangovers, here's the finest song the Dinner Ladies ever recorded. Originally from a 1987 7", I first heard it on a Hannibal comp in the mid-90s - it became an instant favourite round the house, a sprightly, catchy tune for mornings-after. Never has it been so thoroughly entertaining to hear about the perils of grape & grain: a ukelele strum, bass bounce, background coos, finger snaps and, indeed, a feisty oh-my-yes whistle solo.
Keb' Mo' - "Every Morning". Another track for the monday a.m. Keb' Mo's acoustic blues comes across without pretense, without facade: it's a steel guitar with things to say, a dawn voice that wishes to sing along. "It may be winter / it may be fall / I might have plenty / or nothing at all / but baby I mean it / whenever you call." The chime of strings, the incessant bass pad, the simple skycrossing sentiment. From his Robert Johnson-tinged, self-titled debut. (Another find by the magnificent Tuwa.) [buy]
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Stereogum's been doing very fine things lately, and not just with regard to Britney.
Oh - and again, thanks for all the songs. Wonderful, wonderful finds - if I haven't yet written you back, I will soon. Regardless, things have been so good that I'm excited to hear more. If you're in possession of The Greatest Song Ever, and it's something most people (including me) likely haven't heard, I beg you - send it my way. Thank-you!