When I Grow Up I Wanna Be An Old Woman
In London there is a dive record store off of Covent Garden. It's in what used to be one of the storage cellars of the market, and I wasted much time there, browsing for showtunes. They played an album in heavy rotation that got under my skin like junky's worms--so much so that I ended up skipping two days' worth of meals to buy the cassette tape--Short Sharp Shocked. That love for Michelle Shocked has continued to this day. 
She writes folk and blues and rock, all of it from the perspective of a woman from Texas whose cut her teeth on her own broken heart. Any list of Michelle Shocked favourites would undoubtedly be headed by Anchorage, her wistfully mournful ballad about the unexpected turns in every ordinary life. Prodigal Daughter, her beautiful duet with Alison Krauss is a haunting feminist country ballad worthy of Loretta Lynn. But just when you think Michelle is the queen of the weepy guitar, up pops the entire Captain Swing album, with its raunchy blues and danceble swing.
One quick trip through her website reveals that she and I probably disagree about many things, but that will never stop me from loving the way her songs speak to me. A further glance at her website also provides the happy serendipity of seeing that she will actually be playing here in town on Friday Night. Even if you don't see her live, listen to a song or two when you get the chance. You'll be glad you did.
She writes folk and blues and rock, all of it from the perspective of a woman from Texas whose cut her teeth on her own broken heart. Any list of Michelle Shocked favourites would undoubtedly be headed by Anchorage, her wistfully mournful ballad about the unexpected turns in every ordinary life. Prodigal Daughter, her beautiful duet with Alison Krauss is a haunting feminist country ballad worthy of Loretta Lynn. But just when you think Michelle is the queen of the weepy guitar, up pops the entire Captain Swing album, with its raunchy blues and danceble swing.
One quick trip through her website reveals that she and I probably disagree about many things, but that will never stop me from loving the way her songs speak to me. A further glance at her website also provides the happy serendipity of seeing that she will actually be playing here in town on Friday Night. Even if you don't see her live, listen to a song or two when you get the chance. You'll be glad you did.
posted by Kat Coble at 10:03 AM
2 Comments:
How is it that we all have such good taste in music! I:
I especially like the bizarre song you mention. "And we'll give'm that watermelin when they start yellin'!"
WhattadorkIam..I was trying to figure out where the 'Sin City Social Club' is and wondering why I had never heard of such a place..I mean, I DO read the freakin' Scene..
then I realized that the SCSC is kinduva moveable feast deal, landing this weekend at the Exit end. Peter Case is also on the bill. He's a great writer and another one of those guys with not such a great voice that still manages to be listenable.
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