Red Dirt Girl, by Emmylou Harris

[steve]

11/6/06:

I just recently got this album and I highly recommend it to anylisteners of haunting americana. Emmylou Harris has merged into a styleof her own in the last ten years which is now called "alternativecountry". She meanders through the broken-down, haunted buildingsof american dreams, why simultaneously driving you heavenward with avoice which is angelic, yet accesible. Check it out.



She has numerous albums. Another home run is "Wrecking Ball" which was produced by Daniel Llanois.

[Josh]

11/6/06:

Steve,

I'm really getting into the whole 'haunting americana' thing myself. We saw traces of it in the Land of my Sojourn, and I love Daniel Amos' Songs of the Heart for that very reason. Of course there's Resplendent. I'd love to check out Harris' "Red Dirt Girl". Also, I'm hearing good things about an alt country band called Wilco. Have you heard of them?

The Lost Dogs have a new album with a song along these lines (I guess they've had quite a few, but this one is 'haunting me' right now. Here's the lyrics (although you'd have to hear it to get the full effect):



Broken Like Brooklyn
from the album "The Lost Cabin and the Mystery Trees"
(2006 Terry Taylor)

Once I dreamed I was Ponce de Leon
and I'd grown so bitter and old
You whispered "Baby, I am Eureka
without any redwoods or gold"
So together we packed up the Airstream
with Pepsis, Pall Malls and Moon Pies
and we lassoed the San Joaquin River,
kicked back, went along for the ride

I dreamed faith was our precious cargo,
determination our boat
We sailed straight on through troubled waters
and around the Cape of Good Hope
Then we dressed ourselves in fringed buckskins,
having leveled that brownstone of ours
Amid the Palos Colorados,
we slept 'neath a blanket of stars

Wake up broken like Brooklyn,
the year The Bums left
in The Bronx on a cold day
while our Boys tan out West

Now we fly over junkyards and factories,
Dennys and transient hotels
above the churches and bars and video stores
the black smoke and slaughterhouse smells
Toyuching down in the golden Sierras,
we ate spinach quiches grown there
I wove a crown of boysenberries
through your lemon-scented hair

Blonde girls in bikinis and snow skis,
in the desert, cashed in their chips
then filled the Rose Bowl with guacamole --
we took our clothes off and went for a dip
Bobbed and weaved like old Trolley-Dodgers
after reading a policeman his rights
Then we followed the Duke of Flatbush
and scaled the Boyle Heights

Woke up broken like Brooklyn
the year The Bums left
in The Bronx on a cold day
while our boys tan out west
Always broken like Brooklyn
after losing the best

Old sun-bleached bleachers at Ebbets
tore the hearts from our chests
(Woke up broken like Brooklyn)
tore the hearts from our chests
(Woke up broken like Brooklyn)

[steve]

11/7/06:

I'd like to hear the songs that you posted. Can you email the file tome. I promise I'll listen and then erase it when I'm done so that thereis no ethical breach.



I think the whole alt-country scene is capturing something which both rock and country are predominantly missing. It is exulting in the glory of the story, the roots are where the songs arebirthed. Also the mourning of innocence lost and the stories of despairand defeat, contrasted against the seemingly illogical hope and ,yeseven knowledge, of some greater truth or glory about to be revealed.



In this field, Emmylou Harris is an icon. Buddy Miller is another to check out. Yes Josh, I do know Wilco. They're a very innovativeband, yet rooted in the familiar elements of Americana. GilianWelch and David Rawlings are absolutely a fabulous duo as well asmarried couple.



Of course you know how I feel about Nickel Creek. They are young and brilliant. They will only keep getting better as they mature as musicians and people. The vigor of youth will eventual give way to the gravity and wisdom of age.

[Josh]

11/8/06:

Nope. You gotta come out here to hear them. You know, I have to get you trapped on a long car ride so I can force my musical tastes upon you. That's the way I've always done it.

But seriously.... what's this I hear about you coming out in February and Doris teaching at PC? I thought I was all-dialed in with the latest info, and then I heard this rumor.

[steve]

11/9/06:

It's not 100 percent yet. PC has approved the internship, but werestill waiting for the final word from Doris's department head. It willprobably work, but like I said, we won't know 100% for a few weeks.



Commmmmon!!, give me the song.

[marc p]

11/12/06:

WHAT? I haven't been in the loop for like 5 years... Are you still in Germany? Or are you somewhere in the US?


By the way, I've been a huge fan of Emmylou since Wrecking Ball, which came out prior to Red Dirt Girl. I haven't heard Wilco, but I have heard many good things about them. But back to Emmylou... she is an angel! When she was touring in support of Red Dirt Girl, I went and saw her along with Buddy & Julie Miller at the Roseland theater here in Portland. It was probably one of the best concerts I've ever been to. It was an aesthetic experience to say the least.

[steve]

11/14/06:

Yes I'm still in Germany. But I'm enjoying the benefits of technology which allows me to "reach out and touch someone."


I love wrecking ball as well, but I haven't been able to buy it hereand it isn't for sale on the internet either. The next time we visit, Iam going to snap it up. YOu should check out the Spyboy DVD concertfrom Emmylou Harris. Both Buddy and Julie Miller are on it.

[marc p]

11/15/06:

I have the Spyboy CD. I didn't realize there was a DVD also. I'll have to check it out. Well, next time you're in town, let me know so we can catch up. I miss you.

[marc p]

11/06:

You guys should check out this guy: Chad Bault

www.chadbault.com/music.html