These precious days.
Well, Labor Day is officially gone, and with it go the long days of summer. As much as I love all things autumn (Oktoberfest beers, college football, apple orchards), summer's power over me is undeniably strong. With that in mind, here are a couple of songs to usher out firework days and usher in bonfire weather.
Loudon Wainwright III - The Swimming Song. I'm not sure why this one gets to me so much. Maybe it's the hint of bittersweetness in the plucking of the banjo that's so affective, or the images of drowning and self-destruction tucked inside the otherwise goofball lyrics. I can't place it, but it usually leaves me unsettled.
The Drowners - Summer Break My Fall. I think it's safe to say that my unabashed love for Is There Something On Your Mind? is significantly greater than that of my peers. I think it's also safe to say that this song is the poppiest song about season affective disorder this side of... well, "Seasonal Affective Disorder" (which, lo and behold, happens to come from the very same album). Besides, who could be more familiar with the seasons' emotional rollercoaster than the near-Arctic Swedes?
Fancey - Autumn Music. Todd Fancey: the forgotten songwriter of the New Pornographers. When you're in a group with performers like Carl Newman, Dan Bejar, and Neko Case, it's probably pretty easy to get lost in the shuffle.
That's all for now. Expect more seasonal music as the weeks go by, and maybe even an Atlanta Weekend recap.
