The first FRT of spring has a mix of old and new favorites.
I’ve been a fan of Billy Bragg and Lyle Lovett for many years, and I’ve got two of their classics here. Dar Williams shows up a lot on FRTs, and that’s not surprising given how frequently I download her stuff. Many of Iris DeMent’s songs are sad; this is the most heartbreaking one I know. #5 is still another reminder of why Los Lobos has been L.A.’s greatest band for a quarter century. I think far more people need to know about the wonderful Wailin’ Jennys, and I think they need to come perform in Los Angeles soon; if you want to download just one song of theirs to get a sense of who they are, make it #6. #7 — sheesh. No excuses. I loved ‘em in high school, and still have a soft spot for Klaus Meine’s wail. #8 is one of my three favorite tracks from this Georgia-born Christian folk rocker; #9 and #10 are two super tracks from two singers whose music straddles the country-Americana divide.
1. “Waiting for the Great Leap Forwards”, Billy Bragg
2. “Bears”, Lyle Lovett
3. “The Babysitter’s Here”, Dar Williams
4. “Easy’s Getting Harder Every Day”, Iris DeMent
5. “Tears of God”, Los Lobos
6. “Things that You Know”, Wailin’ Jennys
7. “Loving you Sunday Morning”, The Scorpions
8. “Where the Angels Sleep”, Bebo Norman
9. “Nothin’ But the Wheel”, Patty Loveless
10. “Plainest Thing”, Tift Merritt
Bonus Track: “The Sinking of the Reuben James”, Pete Seeger. I’ve been listening to this since the cradle.
And an honest admission of what I’m listening to a lot but can’t download on Itunes: “Ticks”, Brad Paisley. I keep listening to it stream for free on Paisley’s Myspace. So help me, I love it. I hang my head in delicious shame.