Gregg Porter - "Good God to Gerty"
The internal monologue of a man who's let his life spiral out of control. As questions of mortality come to occupy his every waking thought, the quotidian recedes into the background. He lives in a pigsty, he hasn't seen his friends in months, his body is profoundly unclean, not to mention malodourous. "Why bother?" he asks. "This could be your last day." Fittingly, the narrator's thoughts are set to a music - stately country, replete with horns and strings - that moves at the languid pace of a funeral procession. [Out soon from Broken Sparrow.]
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Randy Burns - "Girl from England"
Get over it: A man called Randy Burns made a pretty song. It's not so hard to believe, is it? Sure, the name evokes an embarrassing family friend who gets awkwardly drunk at lunchtime barbecues; but who's to say that, at home, alone, after a cold, possibly tearful shower and a cup of coffee, that guy doesn't get contemplative and write tender love songs to imaginary British girls. Who's to say that Randy Burns - with his white pants and batik shirts, his panama hats and American beers - who's to say that he's incapable of composing this patient finger-picking pattern, this golden lead guitar line - as casual and warm in its execution as Randy is, disconcertingly, with your mother. [Buy]
Posted by Jordan at April 10, 2008 12:00 AMLovely pair of songs; thank you.
"Good God...": Horn and strings, yes, but let's not forget the bassoon, for me the real star of the arrangement. Good use of an under-used instrument.
Posted by Thomas at April 10, 2008 4:21 AMThe Randy Burns song is nice, but white pants and batik shirts? Not quite sure what to make of that ...
By the way, I'm doing a survey on digital music for a class at MIT. I'm giving $5 free credit on Amie Street to anyone who fills it. Check it out at: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=K9zfdPbYagqlxxoUqPWZ6Q_3d_3d
Posted by Biz at April 10, 2008 4:53 AM"good god..." is the 2nd version of this song, written by gregg porter, zev hardman and myself during our days as milkweed. this song was originally released on our first, self-titled cd, which is only available through cdbaby/itunes.
there's a lot more bassoon usage in the 2 follow-up cd's, as it's my favorite instrument; and gregg's new cd, that this version is from has some other tunes with bassoon as well.
just a note, the original version of this song has a homemade, nylon strung banjo in the arrangement. the two have a slightly different feel.
glad you enjoyed it. the cd should be released officially today, if memory serves me correct.
Posted by blindbanjodjim at April 29, 2008 9:17 AMIf you're thinking of white pants and batik shirts, you're thinking of another Randy Burns. It's really a funny thought though.
Posted by Lisa at July 3, 2008 7:09 PM
and it will begin playing. All songs are also available to download: just right-click the link and choose 'Save as...'
