These Singer-Songwriter CDs Make Me Nostalgic
Earlier this week, one of my new friends and I were talking about the music we liked in high school, and one of our mutual favorites was Mary Chapin Carpenter. My friend grew up in Georgia and said she wore out her cassette of Come On Come On back in the mid-‘90s. I was telling her that seeing the video for "Down at the Twist and Shout" on a PBS station in rural Nebraska led me to country music, a move to Nashville, and ultimately this career. Then we decided we were weird teenagers, because at that time our peers were far more intrigued by grunge, rap or pop radio than earnest singer-songwriters. My musical tastes have since broadened, but probably haven't changed all that much at the core. As I was going through my CD collection at home, in my ongoing effort to go digital, I couldn't help but get nostalgic over these particular titles:
Mary Chapin Carpenter, Shooting Straight in the Dark (1990)
This album changed my life. At 15 years old, listening to all these songs about love gone wrong, I anticipated that I'd have my work cut out for me. (I was right.) Twenty years later, listening to "The Moon and St. Christopher," I realize that I'm still someone who runs just because he can. I guess the more things change, the more they remain the same.
Kasey Chambers, The Captain (1999)
I was just getting started in the biz when I heard this dynamic Australian import. Her country crossover never happened here, regretfully, but I immediately connected with her songwriting on "Cry Like a Baby." "I'm not much like my generation/Their music only hurts my ears." Plus we were the same age, forging our way at opposite ends of the globe.
Marc Cohn (1991)
I bought this because of the undeniable "Walking in Memphis" and because I like the way he played piano. Then the cinematic songwriting, like on "Silver Thunderbird," kept me engaged. Now, as an adult, I find myself in awe of "True Companion." I may not be a romantic at heart, but this wedding song makes me say "Awwww" every time.
Sheryl Crow, The Very Best of Sheryl Crow (2003)
Counting Crows, August and Everything After (1993)
Sheryl Crow and Counting Crows were just starting out during my first year of college in Nebraska -- and soon they were inescapable. Then I moved to Nashville where everybody listened to country music, right? (Surprise! They don't.) Still, this is the soundtrack to my early 20s and if they ever pitch some country songs around town, I'd be eager to listen.
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D Trotter says:
What a treat! First I hear Kasey Chambers (surrounded by a real bring-on-the-weekend fireworks medley of the Felice Brothers, Buffalo Springfield, Hank III, Kracker, and Bob Dylan’s “Everybody Must Get Stoned”), on today’s XM Outlaws radio show hosted by Mojo Nixon, and now she’s highlighted in this article. I strongly recommend this Aussie County gal with the unique voice to anyone who wants something a little more rootsy than Pop Country. Other than Kasey’s unfortunate tendency to overload albums with too many “downers”, she deserves respect comparable to Lucinda Williams. Good work, Craig.
As for Sheryl Crow, somebody should turn her on to Slaid Cleaves, a very good sonqwriter who grew up in Maine, lives in Texas, and has a new song “Black T-=Shirt” that’s a nice … umm … TRIBUTE to Crow’s “Strong Enough to Be My Man”.
Shadow says:
Always enjoy your articles, Craig, and even have some of these very CD’s in my car at the moment.