Chalkdust - Eric Loves Me

(Even when I call him an asshole.)



My primary motivation for posting this -- though Eric's love for me is no doubt eternal -- is to champion a fantastic cover to one of Chalkdust's other albums:



It's calypso Harder They Come, guys!

Garish red vest, shades, no shirt, mini-fro, big-ass revolver: This one has it all. And look at that belt buckle. I found it at Easy Street a month or so back, and I was probably a fool not to buy it. But the title track skipped something awful, and $15 seemed like a premium for wall art. I don't know, maybe I'll go back and see if it's still there.

Plus it's a nice little motif for the other thing. Rally the legion!


...


Aw hell, just one more thing:

Tom Waits - You Can Never Hold Back Spring

Joanna Newsom - '81

She has a new album due out soon. A triple album. So we will see.




And how about a bonus video!

This is from that guy who does all those silly reenactments and here is the script he is working off of for this one.







EXTRA LATE EDIT/BONUS VIDEO BECAUSE I FORGOT THE SUPER BOWL WAS TODAY WHEN I WAS MAKING THIS POST AND NOW I FEEL LIKE POSTING SOME TOM WAITS TOO AND WHAT.

Tom Waits - Diamond in Your Mind

I know I've had one Tom Waits post already this month, but indulge me. Besides, this is one of the bonus tracks off the Orphans vinyl, so I know someone will care. Drew will care.

You know it's an authentic Tom Waits song because he rhymes "Pinkerton raid" with "Three-finger Dave."



In exciting news about one of my other aural crushes, Kristian Matsson, alias The Tallest Man on Earth, has signed with a new label and will release "The Wild Hunt" in April. I previously wrote about meeting Matsson after a show in Seattle last year; he is by all accounts a likable dude. Along with that post I included a live version of "King of Spain," which lo and behold is the first single off "The Wild Hunt." You can download the album version here. And hell, Waits is putting out a new album later this year. It's time to get excited about your 2010 releases.

Tom Waits - San Diego Serenade

I found this waiting for me in my e-mail this morning, from my lady friend. We just hit one year a few days back, so maybe that has something to do with it. (Sappy, I know.) But in true song of the day fashion, I present it here.



Early Tom Waits can get a bit maudlin (just listen to those strings) but it's also more earnest than the deranged pirate he is occasionally accused of evolving into. I'm sure there are people who fall solidly into one camp or the other, but man are those people missing out on some good stuff on either side.

Tom Waits - Train Song (live)

Moving on from the remembrances (I'm assuming Aaron went with some MJ, but I am writing this on Monday and could be wrong.), I wanted to draw our train survey to a close.

It is probably the least inspired of my selections, but of course I had to post this song. The clip is from his concert film "Big Time," which I have not seen, although I did purchase the accompanying album in a little record store in Ljubljana about a year ago. Trains, travel and the music of Tom Waits always make me nostalgic. For me, this one is the intersection of all three.



(Critics should note this is the first Tom Waits song I've posted since the inaugural post of this blog.)

Tom Waits- Diamonds On My Windshield

Tom Waits - Christmas Card From A Hooker In Minneapolis

I don't have too much time right now, so I'll just go with the obvious one for the week.



I should have my year end mix ready to post at some time today. Hopefully.

Tom Waits - Franks Wild Years