I suppose one could rightly argue against the manner in which I'm choosing to honor the late Bryan Harvey (see this post for details) by invoking the whole "dowloading music hurts the musician" plank. While a valid point, both of the selections I've decided to upload here for your listening pleasure are from albums that are both shamefully out of print, so I figured I might as well put them up, so that you -- if so inclined -- could go hunt for the albums at your local used disc shop (being that it's damn unlikely that you'll find'em at your local crappy Coconuts or wherever) or prize them off somebody on eBay.
In any case, this first track comes from House of Freaks' afore-mentioned album, Cakewalk. Largely unsung (even, it seems, by the band's fans), I discovered this disc while writing for a long since vanished music mag called The New York Review of Records and totally fell in love with it. "A Good Man" is simply a self-deprecating love song (written and sung by Harvey). It may sound sort've mundane, but I don't doubt that he meant what he sang (and it was quite possibly directed at the woman who perished tragically by his side). Regardless, the organ solo in the middle of the song is complete genius, as far as I'm concerned. Rest in peace, Bryan...
Download "A Good Man" by House of Freaks
"One By One" by Gutterball (featuring Harvey and Johnny Hott from House of Freaks, along with Bob Rupe, Stephen McCarthy and ex-Dream Syndicate vocalist/songwriger, Steve Wynn), meanwhile, spins a yarn about a slovenly journalist down on his luck on the big bad streets of New York City (which might help explain why it appeals to me so much). It's also bizarrely reminiscent -- in both topicality and style -- of Flaming Pablum favourites, Firewater, who wouldn't put out their first album for another four years.
Recent Comments