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Republicans are the party of chaos and catastrophe.

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Disappointing to see gov. newsom with his finger to the wind.

You come for women, you’re gonna get your ass kicked.

Let there be snark.

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Baby steps, because the Republican Party is full of angry babies.

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You are here: Home / Music / Friday Night Music Thread

Friday Night Music Thread

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On The Road - Steve from Mendocino - The Caribbean 4 of 4 – Virgin Islands 7
Image by Steve from Mendocino (3/27/25)

I had never heard of this song until eclare posted it the day we had this photo in the sidebar.  What a lovely combination!

I listened to the song multiple times, including this morning.  Anyway, since I liked this song that I had never heard of, are there others of a similar ilk that you think I might like?

I trust you guys more than I trust some random music service!

Anyway, this is a music open thread, but if you post something in response to my request, maybe note that in the comments so I can be sure to listen to those?

Reader Interactions

62Comments

  1. 1.

    Gloria DryGarden

    Is it Wednesday?

    The days have been so long and full of troubling things, I’m sure we deserve Friday already, but it might be too soon.

  2. 2.

    HinTN

    Lyle isn’t everyone’s cup of tea but I am a really big fan. This is a fine example of his songcraft. “Kiss my ass I’ve bought a boat” is just perfect. Joshua Judges Ruth is one of my “desert island” must haves.

    Also, if anybody asks, which they did when the sidebar photo ran in OTR (way back when Alain had the stick), there’s no post processing. It’s just a Samsung S7 cell phone shot taken at max magnification (8x, I think).

  5. 5.

    Old Dan and Little Ann

    Hmmmmm….As I was listening it started to sound kind of like “The Gambler” by Kenny Rogers.

  6. 6.

    Deputinize America

    A lot of Jim Croce hits a similar vibe. “One Less Set of Footsteps” says a whole lot about life and screwing up. James Taylor, Jim Messina (his early collabs with Kenny Loggins are genuinely delightful listens.

  8. 8.

    Miki

    Pretty much any boat song makes me think of James Taylor and Carly Simon singing Terra Nova

    I still love that album, almost 50 years later.

  10. 10.

    Anthony

    I saw Meshell Ndegeocello on Sunday, it was an excellent show. She basically played her most recent album, focused heavily on James Baldwin’s writings.

  14. 14.

    MagdaInBlack

    @Deputinize America: Loggins and Messina had some good stuff. “Watching the River Run” is one of my favorites.

    “House at Pooh Corner” is fun.  “Angry Eyes” is a fave too. And of course, “Danny’s Song”

    You’ve sent me down the youtube rabbit hole…

  15. 15.

    Scout211

    My youngest daughter was in Spain doing a college semester abroad when 9/11 happened in the US.  It was so hard to be so far away from her during that time.

    One of her favorite artists at the time was Enrique Iglesias and his song Hero turned out to be kind of a healing anthem during that post-911 period so I always have had a soft spot for that song. For some reason, I’ve heard it on my car radio at least four times lately and I hadn’t heard it in forever.

    I think we all need a hero right now to kiss away our pain.

    Enrique Iglesias Hero

  17. 17.

    Kelly

    I heard Lyle Lovett sing this live in Salem not long ago. The talent of his Acoustic Band is amazing. Matches the adage “first rate people hire first rate people”. My favorite Lyle Lovett songs are covers. Townes Van Zandt’s Flying Shoes and Guy Clark’s Step Inside This House.

  22. 22.

    HinTN

    @Kelly:

    The talent of his Acoustic Band is amazing.

    As is the talent in his Large Band. I’ve probably attended ten of his concerts over the years. Some better than others but ALWAYS excellent.

  26. 26.

    Gloria DryGarden

    @HinTN: so that photo of the Grand Canyon, where did you take it from? I’m guessing east or west ends, outside of the park, but I don’t know the area very well, only went there a few times.

    very inspiring place, many exhilarated and ecstatic memories of hikes down in. Those junipers transport me

  27. 27.

    Mr. Bemused Senior

    Isn’t today Wednesday? [I see I’m not the only confused one. Reminder to self: read from the top. 😁]

  31. 31.

    Xavier

    “If I Had a Boat” was written after a conversation Lovett had with a young relative. Another favorite of mine is “Who Loves You Better”:

    “Why do I do the things that make me sorry / Why do I do the things that make you cry / Will I lose your love to another /  Who loves you better than I”

  32. 32.

    Hungry Joe

    The National, “Runaway,” “Lemonworld,”* “I’m Afraid of Everyone,” “Bloodbuzz Ohio.”

    Okay … almost anything by The National.

    * “I was a comfortable kid / But I don’t think about it much anymore / …  Lay me on the table, put flowers in my mouth / And we can say that we invented a summer lovin’ torture party.”

  33. 33.

    Chigail

    Cheerful and optimistic.AOK. Ben Sadock and Uwanosora. Available with cute video on YouTube.

  34. 34.

    H.E.Wolf

    Thanks to everyone for the recommondations. I’m excited to have so many songs to listen to – both familiar and brand-new to me!

    This one might have been a rec. from a BJ person, once upon a time: Angelique Kidjo, “Flying High”.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgB1JRny1Pg

    “We can fall, fall, fall
    And we can rise also”

    On which note, good night, all…

  37. 37.

    Chetan Murthy

    anybody remember Neneh Cherry’s “Buffalo Stance” ?  I was just thinkin’ about that one.

  44. 44.

    prostratedragon

    @NotMax:  Recently heard some nonfilm music of Rota that I really liked. It was edgy enough that finding out it was his surprised me a little.

  46. 46.

    No One of Consequence

    Dear WaterGirl, I offer the following because I owe you some digital karma, and I always try to pay my debts. The following are some recent gems I had never heard before, and most all of them are quite ‘experienced’ at this point. I take it you listen to some music, but perhaps had missed some good deep cuts or lesser knowns. (Lyle Lovett example you posted was one of his better known early hits, one could argue. I agree it is fantastic. He has a few that are quite good.) I typically associate music with moods and/or memories, so here is a Smattering for Sampling for some of my moods lately: (consider further exploration of those you like)

    Singer/Songwriter/AcousticGuitarist : Jeffery Martin – Coal Fire (live)
    https://youtu.be/rNEoRKIdFxk?t=834

    Blow Your Face Off Acoustic Old School Country Blues: Kelly Joe Phelps – Country Blues (live)
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7aSCeN01BFA

    Structured Oddly Yet Strangely Cool As Shit: This Is the Kit – Moonshine Freeze (live)
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=toHRYlgaC98

    Missed It Originally But Dig It When Exposed: Roberta Flack – Compared to What
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDUk9Lsy_yQ

    Get Over the Space Odyssey Bit and HOLY FUNK! –  Deodato – Also Sprach Zarathustra
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FwkQ27xzCY

    Hopefully, with at least one of these, you’re welcome. If they are all duds, come see me, I’ll try again.
    -NooC

  48. 48.

    anitamargarita

    John Hiatt is one of my favorites. Hiatt’s more raucous than Lovett, generally, but has written some nice country/blues type ballads. “Feels like Rain” is real good.

  49. 49.

    anitamargarita

    @HinTN: I saw LL and his large band open for Bonnie Raitt at Winter Park’s first summer festival. He and his large band

    totally eclipsed Raitt.

  50. 50.

    cintibud

    @Hungry Joe:

    The National, “Runaway,” “Lemonworld,”* “I’m Afraid of Everyone,” “Bloodbuzz Ohio.”

    Okay … almost anything by The National.

    Bloodbuzz Ohio always hits hard for me. My family is from Colorado. I could have been born there too but I was carried to Ohio in a swarm of bees

  52. 52.

    No One of Consequence

    @Martin: I resemble that remark. The resentment is free of charge. Now I’ll go listen to your damn link. Just let me fetch my AOL login and password.
    -NOoC (Who once rocked a 5.6k Baud modem on my first computer…)

  53. 53.

    No One of Consequence

    @Martin: It’s no Kid A or OK Computer, but then again, I missed Radiohead before I heard Geddy Lee used to have both albums on his top-ten albums of all time playlist. Rush fan or no, you have to respect Bass Game. I listened to both albums, actively, and agree, they are superb. So, thanks.
    -NOoC

  54. 54.

    hotshoe

    Jason Isbell

    Hope the High Road

     

    I know you’re tired

    And you ain’t sleeping well

    Uninspired

    And likely mad as hell

    But wherever you are

    I hope the high road leads you home again

    To a world you want to live in

    To a world you want to live in

    actually not my favorite Jason Isbell song, but might be the more appropriate one for a Balloon Juice recommendation.

    written in 2016, relevant today …

  55. 55.

    frosty

    WG – if you don’t trust a random music service, subscribe to Paul Krugman’s newsletter via email. I do (free, I’m cheap). He finishes every post with a Musical Coda. Most are relevant to the topic, some aren’t, some I’ve known about, some are new. I don’t know how he finds the time to check them out!

  56. 56.

    frosty

    @HinTN: Yes! I agree with the commenter who thought it was a painting. Great landscape, great formatting, and the magnification made it softer, less focused, and better.

  58. 58.

    Melancholy Jaques

    @Kelly:

    Damn! I missed a music thread while it was hot.

    One of my favorites nights of music ever was seeing Lyle Lovett, John Hiatt, Joe Ely, and Guy Clark at the Disney in Los Angeles. One of those nights you don’t want to end.

  61. 61.

    ghost cat

    You’ll probably also like most of the other songs on Pontiac, the album If I Had a Boat is from. I also recommend Walk Through the Bottomland (with Emmylou Harris, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvN29Xv_a-Q) and Simple Song (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXLYtAwUtzM), but this whole album is amazing.  As the kids say, every song slaps. Great mix of bluesy country with swing, gospel, and jazz. I’m a fan of the Lovett sense of humor — also check out Here I Am from Lyle Lovett and His Large Band (live on Johnny Carson https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6blv3BCh8o8).

  62. 62.

    Keninhogtown

    Lyle Lovett is a national treasure!  Just get his Joshua Judges Ruth album and chill!

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