Jonathan Richman owes me a drink, or: Because Her Beauty is Raw and Mildly Depressing.
I have been a fan long enough to encounter the release of three Jonathan albums: Her Mystery Not of High Heels and Eyeshadow, Not So Much To be Loved As To Love, and Because Her Beauty is Raw and Wild. I know that doesn't sound that impressive, but I was 15 when Her Mystery came out. Holy crap, I'm old. Anyhow. With the first two albums, it was instant love. I kept them in my Cd player for two weeks straight, learned all the words, thrilled to "Couples Must Fight", got "Cosi Veloce" stuck in my head, and, in general, enjoyed myself immensely. I was eagerly anticipating this most recent album.
But, Because Her Beauty is Raw and Wild was something altogether different for me. Which is not to say I don't like it, and God knows I'm no music critic. I'm just not sure how I feel about it. It's something altogether darker than the Jonathan I'm used to. But, I might argue with myself, so was I'm So Confused, and I still play that often and love it very much. Nor am I averse to depressing music, as my collection of Elliot Smith would prove. Maybe it's because I don't expect it from Jonathan. It's not something I can quite put my finger on. One thing I REALLY appreciate about this album is it basically sounds like Jonathan in concert. That is brilliant. Makes me happy.
Play by Play:
1) Because her Beauty is Raw and Wild
The title track, this song really is adorable enough. It's a little ditty about how his wife is just fine as she is, she doesn't put anything in her hair, nor does she need to. It's much the same sentiment as the song "Her Mystery". But it seems less...happy? Maybe? Than "Her Mystery"
2) No One Was Like Vermeer
My least favorite of the artist songs, (The others being "Pablo Picasso", "Vincent Van Gogh" and "Salvador Dalí") I can't think of a reson why it's my least favorite, other than, it is. Same reason why "Salvador Dalí" is my favorite. It just is.
3) Time Has Been Going By Fast
Maybe I can't appreciate this because I'm 21. I'm a bit young for the whole coming to grips with age and mortality. At this age, it still doesn't bother me to know I'm going to die. Or maybe I'm reading too deeply into this song. It happens. I am an English major, after all. I felt very "well, the good parts of life are over, let's go get a drink" after this song. Even though it's peppy.
4) Es Como El Pan
Now this song I really and truly love. I loved it when he performed it in Salt Lake, and I love it now. I generally love his Spanish stuff, and this rates as one of my favorites. It adds a much-needed lightness to the mood of the album.
5) Our Drab Ways
And we're back to woeful.
6) The Lovers Are Here And They're Full Of Sweat
Okay, I love this song.
7) Le Printemps Des Amoureux Est Venu
This is great. I'm terrible at French, and have to apologize to the entire country of France when I speak it, but I love it anyhow.
8) When We Refuse to Suffer
Suffering is good for you. It makes you grow as a person. People who suffer are most in touch with the divine. These are all things I got from my class in Romantic literature, and also tie into this song. He's got a point about the whole over-medicated, emotionally dead thing.
9) This Romance Will Be Different For Me
Apparently, this marriage will be better than the last. I feel differently about this song than I did at first, and now I like it. Moreso every time I listen to it.
10) Old World
Is it just me, or is this a complete departure from the original "Old World"? *listens to old song, then new* Yep, it's totally different. I wonder why he's okay with saying goodbye to the old world all of a sudden. Maybe it's more of that coming to terms thing I'm too young to understand.
11) Our Party Will Be On The Beach Tonight
The broodiest song about having a seemingly pleasant party I have ever heard. It's got a dark beauty all its own, but there's definitely a tone of ....I don't know, longing, or sadness.
12) When We Refuse To Suffer (2)
I, for one, like the electric guitar. Not what I was expecting, but a welcome addition. This one has a particularly ranty end about Prozac and air fresheners that I find hilarious, but I'm sure someone has already taken offense to. Mainly the Prozac. Also, this song is ending up in my Romantics paper.
13) Here It Is
Another example of "I loved it then, and love it now". It's dark, brooding, sad, and fits well with the feel of most of the album. However, it doesn't help the grey feeling of the album. It's nice depressing, but still with the death and the stuff, people. I guess I should be able to relate since finals are on the horizon and I can see my demise, as well.
14) As My Mother Lay Lying
Holy Moses on the Mount. Confession time: I have trouble getting through this song. Which, I imagine, is a sign of how well it works. It makes me cry, and in fact, the first time I listened to this Cd, I was at work, and so skipped past it. There's really not much you can say about this song to anyone who's heard it, and if they haven't, there's no way to explain it other than playing it for them.
Like I said, this is difficult for me. I'm not sure how I feel about this album, mainly because of the mood of it. I feel it could have benefitted from the addition of some of the tracks he's been playing live: Celestial, I Have No Reason to Doubt Her, and the Cellphone song ( Oh please God, the cellphone song. If nothing else.) They would have added a little lightness to a fairly dark album. Maybe I'm applying my mood to it, I don't know. As it was, I finished listening to the album straight through, at home, and after the last song made me cry like a 5 year old when Bambi's mom bites the dust, Nik showed up at my door
Nik: Do you need a drink?
Randi: You have no idea.
I imagine this will grow on me. And I'm still completely stoked that I get to go see him again in July. And it'll be Cathy's first time!
ETA: It has grown on me, after a few days. I still think it's rather sad, but I'm liking it more and more. I think the trick for me is to put it in my Jonathan playlist on my Ipod, rather than trying to listen to it all together.
But, Because Her Beauty is Raw and Wild was something altogether different for me. Which is not to say I don't like it, and God knows I'm no music critic. I'm just not sure how I feel about it. It's something altogether darker than the Jonathan I'm used to. But, I might argue with myself, so was I'm So Confused, and I still play that often and love it very much. Nor am I averse to depressing music, as my collection of Elliot Smith would prove. Maybe it's because I don't expect it from Jonathan. It's not something I can quite put my finger on. One thing I REALLY appreciate about this album is it basically sounds like Jonathan in concert. That is brilliant. Makes me happy.
Play by Play:
1) Because her Beauty is Raw and Wild
The title track, this song really is adorable enough. It's a little ditty about how his wife is just fine as she is, she doesn't put anything in her hair, nor does she need to. It's much the same sentiment as the song "Her Mystery". But it seems less...happy? Maybe? Than "Her Mystery"
2) No One Was Like Vermeer
My least favorite of the artist songs, (The others being "Pablo Picasso", "Vincent Van Gogh" and "Salvador Dalí") I can't think of a reson why it's my least favorite, other than, it is. Same reason why "Salvador Dalí" is my favorite. It just is.
3) Time Has Been Going By Fast
Maybe I can't appreciate this because I'm 21. I'm a bit young for the whole coming to grips with age and mortality. At this age, it still doesn't bother me to know I'm going to die. Or maybe I'm reading too deeply into this song. It happens. I am an English major, after all. I felt very "well, the good parts of life are over, let's go get a drink" after this song. Even though it's peppy.
4) Es Como El Pan
Now this song I really and truly love. I loved it when he performed it in Salt Lake, and I love it now. I generally love his Spanish stuff, and this rates as one of my favorites. It adds a much-needed lightness to the mood of the album.
5) Our Drab Ways
And we're back to woeful.
6) The Lovers Are Here And They're Full Of Sweat
Okay, I love this song.
7) Le Printemps Des Amoureux Est Venu
This is great. I'm terrible at French, and have to apologize to the entire country of France when I speak it, but I love it anyhow.
8) When We Refuse to Suffer
Suffering is good for you. It makes you grow as a person. People who suffer are most in touch with the divine. These are all things I got from my class in Romantic literature, and also tie into this song. He's got a point about the whole over-medicated, emotionally dead thing.
9) This Romance Will Be Different For Me
Apparently, this marriage will be better than the last. I feel differently about this song than I did at first, and now I like it. Moreso every time I listen to it.
10) Old World
Is it just me, or is this a complete departure from the original "Old World"? *listens to old song, then new* Yep, it's totally different. I wonder why he's okay with saying goodbye to the old world all of a sudden. Maybe it's more of that coming to terms thing I'm too young to understand.
11) Our Party Will Be On The Beach Tonight
The broodiest song about having a seemingly pleasant party I have ever heard. It's got a dark beauty all its own, but there's definitely a tone of ....I don't know, longing, or sadness.
12) When We Refuse To Suffer (2)
I, for one, like the electric guitar. Not what I was expecting, but a welcome addition. This one has a particularly ranty end about Prozac and air fresheners that I find hilarious, but I'm sure someone has already taken offense to. Mainly the Prozac. Also, this song is ending up in my Romantics paper.
13) Here It Is
Another example of "I loved it then, and love it now". It's dark, brooding, sad, and fits well with the feel of most of the album. However, it doesn't help the grey feeling of the album. It's nice depressing, but still with the death and the stuff, people. I guess I should be able to relate since finals are on the horizon and I can see my demise, as well.
14) As My Mother Lay Lying
Holy Moses on the Mount. Confession time: I have trouble getting through this song. Which, I imagine, is a sign of how well it works. It makes me cry, and in fact, the first time I listened to this Cd, I was at work, and so skipped past it. There's really not much you can say about this song to anyone who's heard it, and if they haven't, there's no way to explain it other than playing it for them.
Like I said, this is difficult for me. I'm not sure how I feel about this album, mainly because of the mood of it. I feel it could have benefitted from the addition of some of the tracks he's been playing live: Celestial, I Have No Reason to Doubt Her, and the Cellphone song ( Oh please God, the cellphone song. If nothing else.) They would have added a little lightness to a fairly dark album. Maybe I'm applying my mood to it, I don't know. As it was, I finished listening to the album straight through, at home, and after the last song made me cry like a 5 year old when Bambi's mom bites the dust, Nik showed up at my door
Nik: Do you need a drink?
Randi: You have no idea.
I imagine this will grow on me. And I'm still completely stoked that I get to go see him again in July. And it'll be Cathy's first time!
ETA: It has grown on me, after a few days. I still think it's rather sad, but I'm liking it more and more. I think the trick for me is to put it in my Jonathan playlist on my Ipod, rather than trying to listen to it all together.