Hello, all you who wander the Virtual World,
I haven’t posted a ‘picks’ in a long while, so those seven or eight of you
who asked me to please do a new picks post, here you are:
MUSIC
I’ve been listening still, and often, to The King Is Dead, the
Decemberists latest record. It’s so lyrically dense and literate, and so
melodic that I haven’t tired of it on repeated listening in a short period.
Also I must confess to a crush on Colin Meloy’s voice. I hope he is okay
with that.
I just got in the mail a copy of the new Blackie and The Rodeo Kings’ ‘Kings
And Queens’, and it’s a fantastic record. The ‘queens’ are Lucinda Williams,
Emmylou Harris, Sara Watkins, Cassandra Wilson, and several others,
including me, and each track seems tailor-made for the female guest. The
songs are badass but sweet. A tough trick to pull off, and a really
satisfying record.
Also, I just received an advance of Mike Doughty’s newest release, and I am
crazy about it. I think it’s his best yet. This man knows his way around a
catchy melody, and yet, each song is so unique and lyrically wondrous. Also,
there’s that sexy, gravely voice that makes you swoon. Nothing not to like
about Mr. Doughty.
Finally, Is it too self-absorbed to say how proud I am of my new
‘Essential’? I can’t believe I’ve put in 32 years as a songwriter and
singer, and that those years are so well-represented on this record. It’s
quite moving to me, and humbling. I’m so honored Sony came to me and
suggested it was time. I don’t feel old, I feel rich.
FILM
I got nothing. I saw ‘Super 8’ and although I liked it, and it hit all
the right notes, I left feeling I’d seen it before. And I had. Seems like
every Spielberg movie ever made was somehow borrowed from or represented.
But I suppose there’s a generation who hasn’t seen every Spielberg movie
ever made, so…
TELEVISION
I’m still stuck on Nurse Jackie. Addiction, marital strife,
affairs, child with mental health problems, bone-crushing exhaustion,
stressful work relationships, crazy and funny boss… what’s not to like?
BOOK
I just finished ‘Dead End Gene Pool’ by Wendy Burden, who I used to
know, back in the old days (aka 1992) when I lived in Greenwich Village.
Wendy comes from Old New York society and Old Money, and this is a
fascinating, funny, dark, honest look at the incredible dysfunction of a
complex, super-rich family. I’d love to see the film version of this book.
Now I’m reading yet another biography of Elizabeth I, by Christopher
Hibbert. It’s so well-written, and doesn’t veer off into the dry pedantry
of so many of these historical bios. I really loved Hilary Mantel’s ‘Wolf
Hall’, which sent me on this latest Tudor excursion. This is my kind of
escapist, pleasure reading, along with Jane Austen, of course, my go-to
author for comfort. Speaking of her, I re-read ‘Pride and Prejudice’ on my
iPad, to see what the experience of reading 19th century fiction would be
like on this new device, and must say it was very pleasurable. Took me a
couple days, and I don’t think I missed any nuance.
THEATER
Just saw ‘Jerusalem’ starring the sublime Mark Rylance. Is there
any other stage actor who is his equal? I think not. The play is wordy,
funny, full of metaphors and provocation, and I was intrigued, more than
entertained. Sometimes that’s very, very good.
BOOK
I read my ex-husband Rodney Crowell’s memoir, ‘Chinaberry Sidewalks’ and was very moved by it. I did approach it with some trepidation, as no matter how friendly a divorce there are always little stings and arrows that are remembered and exaggerated, but I had nothing to fear. The book is almost entirely about his childhood, and his upbringing near Houston, TX in a spectacularly dysfunctional and impoverished family. He has such a clear-eyed take on it, completely lacking in self-pity, and you can see how the experience seeded his future art and writing.
He is a vivid storyteller and so many scenes resonate in my mind still, full of detail and tone of voice and a good look into the inner life of a sensitive, but resilient child. There was one scene that I’ll never forget: Rodney was 8 yrs old when his parents took him to an outdoor concert of Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and my father. My father was 26 years old. I would have been 3 yrs old. Rodney described my dad so well, his performance style, his charisma and the impact he made on the crowd in the midst of an epic rainstorm, that it felt like a personal gift to me to read it.
Hereis a great review by Jonathan Yardley in the Washington Post, in which Mr. Yardley also gives a nice nod to my own memoir.
TELEVISION
The ITV’s ‘Downton Abbey’ is the best series (do they call them ‘mini-series’ anymore?) in years. It is nothing short of spectacular. Every note - in casting, dialogue, set decoration and costumes - is perfect. The series begins in April 1912, the day the Titanic sinks. On the Titanic is the heir to Downton Abbey, a grand English estate owned by Lord and Lady Grantham, the parents of three daughters, none of whom can inherit because the estate is entailed to a male heir. The next male heir is the third cousin of the Earl, a lawyer in Manchester. He brings the lawyer, Matthew, to Downton Abbey to immerse him in the village, and the lives of the family, since it appears nothing can be done to break the entail. The parallel story to the family takes place downstairs among the servants to the great house, and their lives, love interests, secrets and dreams are no less compelling than those going on upstairs. I have an admission to make: I bought the UK version of the series online, which apparently has a few more minutes of cut scenes than the American version, and I’ve watched the entirety four times. That’s how much I love it. I”m waiting impatiently for Part 2, which I hear has just begun filming.
MUSIC
One record has not left my player since it was released;The Decemberists ‘The King Is Dead’. This is a staggering record on all levels. The lyrics are enough to make a songwriter throw herself on the bed in utter frustration. Yeah, me. But they are also great enough to inspire me to be better. The arrangements, melodies, subject matter, roots-and-post-REM mashup— it all speaks to me deeply. This is one of those records I feel grateful to have discovered, and I have the deepest admiration for Colin Meloy as a writer and a voice.
ART
I co-created an art poster with Steve Mockensturm, a great graphic designer/ artist in Toledo, Ohio. By ‘co-create’, I mean I gave him a line from my memoir and asked him to come up with a visual, and he more than rose to the occasion. The first 25 were donated toThe Secret City, a fabulous organization for artists, and one in which I serve on on the board of directors. The remainder of the small edition are now availablehere. Take a look.
For other news from Mrs. L, check out her recent blog posthere.
Hello friends,
Ive been on vocal rest for nearly a month now, for a vocal polyp, sometimes called a singers node. Its an occupational hazard, and comes partly from over-use. I had to cancel or reschedule a few concerts, so its vexing, but not serious. My vocal doc is sure we can resolve this with rest and steroids.
My inner life has been strange during this time. The combination of steroids, which rev me up, and silence, which shuts me up, creates the emotional equivalent of a hurricane in a phone booth. Ive gone a little crazy. But the craziness did lead to some interesting stuff. I wrote two series of tweets called Jane Austen at the Super Bowl, and Jane Austen at the Oscars, and a lot of people on Twitter joined in. You can read about the Austen-fever here and here.
Ive also been obsessively watching and re-watching Masterpiece Theatre shows, particularly Downton Abbey, which is my new favorite thing ever. The clothes alone are enough to drive a woman mad.
I was nominated for a Grammy this year, for my album The List. I lost, which was a little disappointing, but it was really an honor to lose to Mavis Staples, a legendary artist and one I admire deeply. She had never won a Grammy, at the age of 71, so it was time for her.
Sony is releasing my Essential 2-disc compilation in May, which is very exciting. It covers my entire career and every record I made from 1978 to 2009. Some people have said it makes them feel old to warrant a place in the Essential series, but it makes me feel like I showed up for work for the last thirty years. And thats a good feeling.
Its been a long, cold winter here in New York City, but Ive enjoyed it. I like winter to feel like winter, instead of Spring, and Spring to feel like Spring, instead of summer. Every season in its proper place, thank you.
I will begin recording a new album in the next few months. It will not be a follow-up to The List, as some might expect. Its time to return to my songwriter self. I will revisit a List, Part Two in the future, Im certain.
For now,
Love from Mrs. L
aka Rosanne Cash
