Center Of The Universe #17

Giant Sand, “Center Of The Universe”
Gutter Twins, “All Misery/Flowers”
K. McCarty, “Living Life”
Dolly Parton, “Mule Skinner Blues (Blue Yodel No. 8)”

Welcome to the Center Of The Universe. Where even if we’re not compelled to write, we’re still eager to explore, revisit and share. The Gutter Twins - Mark Lanegan and Greg Dulli - sadly only made one collaborative album together, 2008’s Saturnalia. But it’s got some keepers for fans of either alternaduke. K. McCarty’s Dead Dog’s Eyeball is still where I’d tell the Daniel Johnston’s work to go first, especially if their tastes are more indie-NPR than avant-esoteric. And Dolly Parton with a Top 5 country take on a Jimmie Rodgers classic.

TV On The Radio, “New Health Rock”
The Cure, “A Strange Day”
Clinic, “Harmony”
Jimi Hendrix Experience, “Are You Experienced?”

I don’t know where people stand on TV On The Radio these days, and I can see the argument that they were too hyped then or too ignored now. But I’m bummed if fans have forgotten this terrific single released between the first two albums. Then we've got some skewed, spooky psychedelic stunners from the Cure, Clinic and Jimi Hendrix. Ironically, this might be the least jarring set of four songs I’ve ever slotted together on here.

Leonard Cohen, “I Can’t Forget”
Caroline Rose, “Miami”
Ghostface Killah, “Underwater”
Pere Ubu, “Heaven”

Leonard Cohen can’t get a grip on the past, Caroline Rose can’t get a grip on the present, Ghostface finds himself somewhere totally other, and Pere Ubu is unnerved to be feeling better than all of them: “It feels like heaven, it’s such a problem.”

Robyn, “Don’t Stop The Music”
Purple Mountains, “She’s Making Friends, I’m Making Stranger”
Minnie Riperton, “It’s So Nice (To See Old Friends)”
Freddy Cannon, “Abigail Beecher”

While I was one of those lucky poptimist ducks blessed with access to Robyn’s 2005 album back when it was a Swedish-only release. I only checked out the album before it, 2002’s Don’t Stop The Music, last month. Unsurprisingly, it’s great. I never clicked with the Silver Jews in their day, but - distanced from the tragedy of David Berman’s death - the Purple Mountains album clicked hard last month. Irrespective of where Berman found himself after its release, this is an album about someone who wants to comprehend, accept and survive depression and heartbreak. It’s a bit of a cruel joke to go from a twangy tale of envying an ex’s ease with social interaction to a twangy tale of reveling in friendship. But both perspectives are valid, both coming from a desire for comfort and connection. And it’s not a bad joke. Freddy Cannon’s joke about a hip history teacher sounds great to me, too.

Cracker, “I’m A Little Rocket Ship”
Imarhan, “Tumast”
Sandy Denny, “Down In The Flood”
The Fendermen, “Mule Skinner Blues”

They say your dumbest song will be your biggest hit, and Cracker could get real stupid seeking that smash. But dark memories of “Sweet Thistle Pie”’s radio push aside, The Golden Age is probably their (20th century) career best (David Lowery’s too smart to ever count out). Imarhan bringing the Tuareg desert rock heat, Sandy Denny & Richard Thompson going down in the flood (fans of early Fairport Convention better not sleep on Denny’s The North Star Grassman and The Ravens. Thompson’s all over it). And then the Fendermen with a Top 5 pop take on a Jimmie Rodgers classic. I’m not kidding. Number 5 in 1960.

Limp Bizkit, “Livin’ It Up”
Harry Nilsson, “Subterranean Homesick Blues”
Dexter Gordon, “Stairways To The Stars”
Tears For Fears, “Break It Down Again”

Limp Bizkit presumably was trying to celebrate the good life on "Livin' It Up," but from the opening dedication to Ben Stiller(?!) to the "thirty seven tons of new millennium” to the tribute to the smell of pot to the immortal “pay me no mind/ I’ve seen Fight Club about twenty-eight times,” the song flows surprisingly well into Harry Nilsson’s hopped up take on “Subterranean Homesick Blues.” Dexter Gordon takes a more lovely, less madcap “Stairway To The Stars,” and Tears For Fears gets (tastefully) violently metaphysical on their last Top 40 hit.

Heart, “Even It Up”
Clash, “Overpowered By Funk”
Buddy Holly, “Think It Over”
Julia Jacklin, “End Of A Friendship”

From seriously frustrated men swearing they’re “livin’ it up” to seriously confident women demanding you “even it up”! Oh, the connections we're making! Then we’ve got some proto-rap-rock from the Clash, Buddy Holly suggesting we take a minute to consider the choices we’re making, and Julia Jacklin accepting that this can’t go on. And on that resigned note we depart from the Center Of The Universe once again. Thanks for your time!