Your Pawnbroker Roared

Marcus over at Harry's Place has posted a hilarious piece on Bobby D's decision to release his latest album via Starbuck's only. The horror!

'Dylan has chosen to distribute his latest release exclusively through that symbol of global capitalism, Starbucks.'

Symbol of global capitalism, eh? Unlike that cottage industry Capitol Records, employees of which knitted each of Dylan's previous multi-platinum selling records by hand.

Read the comments - they're hilarious.

Was listening to the Bootleg Series last night. It still amazes me that he has never released or properly recorded She's Your Lover Now. So biting and although full of bile ('You just sit around asking for ashtrays/Can't you reach?'), it's a prescient commentary on meeting your ex-girlfriend who's with a new man. Also, on the first disc, there's his 1962 version of Moonshiner, a traditional mountain tune. Dylan sings it so beautifully. The liner notes suggest that you should play it to anyone who thinks Dylan can't sing. I first heard the song through Uncle Tupelo (Jay Farrar, now of Son Volt and Jeff Tweedy, now of Wilco). I've played it live before. Dylan holds on to the notes which changes the length of the measures. Truly haunting.

Been listening to Seven Swans again. I was an idiot to say that it wasn't great. It is. In the Devil's Territory is beautiful. Here's a quote from this review.

"In The Devil's Territory" might be the prettiest song ever written about staring down the Beast. Amidst a soaring banjo and organ (not to mention musical saw), and accompanied by the willowy harmonies of Elin and Megan Smith, Stevens sings "Be still and know your sign/The Beast will arrive in time/We stayed a long, long time... To see you/To beat you/To see you at last."

Also listening to:

Derek Bailey/ William Parker/ John Zorn: Harras. Quite a rare find thi one. Got it off ebay. £26 on Amazon. Japanese only release, I think. Recorded at the Knitting Factory, NYC.

Nas: I Am