So while I was driving through Maryland yesterday listening to WTMD (89.7) --- the perfect remedy to all the rock/rap/country stations York seems to favor --- I heard this song, that started with simple guitar and a man singing poetry who sounded like a Bob Dylan and Jeff Mangum (Neutral Milk Hotel) hybrid.
It was the perfect background music for a windows-down summer ride up the interstate.
Unfortunately, as always happens when you hit the border, the station immediatly got fuzzy, and I missed the name of the artist and the song.
So armed with the chorus ("While you were sleeping") and a few lines about mirrors, vampires and honey bees, I Googled the lyrics when I got home, and was directed to indie folk artist Elvis Perkins (son of late actor Anthony Perkins and late photographer Berry Berenson).
On a whim, I went on iTunes and bought his album "Ash Wednesday" which starts off with "While You Were Sleeping," a song I can't stop listening to. The lyrics are gorgeous. I guarantee you'll fall in love with artistry of writing after listening to lines like "your vampire mirrors face to face
they saw forever out into space and found you dreaming in black and white
while it rained in all the colors of the night" and "so i waited for the riddled sky
to dissolve again by sunrise."
Try reading them out loud, you'll get what I mean.
Songs combine acoustic guitar, then throw in jazzy horns or quiet strings, all playing up Perkins aching voice.
Anyway, if you're in the market for some mellow music, "Ash Wednesday" won't disappoint.
I'm excited to hear this CD. I'm wondering if I've heard "While You Were Sleeping" before since WTMD is the station I listen to at home. When I move to Glen Rock next month, I'm going to be very sad to lose WTMD as my home station.
Nice review. We should show to new teens as an example of how to write a good one.
Nice review. We should use this as a how-to write good review example for new teens.