OR and BSP

Way to corrupt your kid, man. I will say that I'm jealous about you being able to go see OR. Bring back some good stories. I wish I could see them but what with them playing on Sunday here, I don't see that happening. So, when you go, at least sing along to the end of John Smyth Allen Sails. At least go that far. If you don't, you'll know you're a tired old man awaiting retirement and valium pills to sleep through the pain.

As for me, I believe I'm going to learn about British Sea Power. Yes, they are coming to America to a small club in DC. Should be fantastic. 13 bucks. That's worth it just to see Please Stand Up, which I will most graciously do when they play the song (I plan on sitting on the fetid floor up until they sing the lyric "Please Stand Up" and then I'll leap to my feet).

I mentioned this to you before, but what Conor Oberst is to others, Will Sheff is to me. Will's such a storyteller. Look at those lyrics. I think I thought this as I was listening to Down the River of Golden Dreams and then it was reinforced with a day of listening to The Stage Names. There are some songs I can't get over, namely the one track that no one, not the blogs, not the message boards talks about, that track being Savannah Smiles. It rips me apart every time I hear it. It's difficult to listen to. This is why Sheff excels, singing from the perspective of a middle-aged woman whose daughter has either become estranged or committed suicide (it's not quite clear). But it breaks you apart. There's something so sad about her husband going and watching TV with the lights out, and her turning off the radio.

Which brings me to the List of Tough Songs to Listen To That Are Great:
I don't have them in any order yet, but they exist. You could really put anything here...like Lord Anthony is a tough song on a day when you're remembering junior high.
John Wayne Gacy Jr - Sufjan Stevens.
The Chalet Lines - Belle and Sebastian
Savannah Smiles - Okkervil River
Black - Okkervil River

I forgot the other one I was thinking about! How awful.