Word on the street dictates that on Friday night the temperature will drop to 2 degrees with a windchill of -17. Now, I can't really believe this considering the rampant sensationalism we all know has come to define the meteorology community. (Remember last weekend when we were in for a real snowstorm of the century that really wasn't a big deal whatsoever?) In any event, here are a few cold songs. Click the tracks to stream or do the right click/save thing to download while they last.
I discovered the fabulous Cowboy In Sweden from somebody somewhere and it has been in constant rotation ever since. Like Nick Drake if he decided not be a crybaby for a sec or like some dream amalgamation of Serge and a less-of-a-redneck Johnny Paycheck, this is a solid marriage of pop art and country.
Phil Elverum speaks to me in two ways - directly or directly with a lil condescension. This is one of his better later tracks from a new compilation called Dawn, which collects the series of songs and journal entries he composed during a self-imposed exile in the backwoods of Norway. I'd never be one to claim that authentic authorship of a song depends on experience, but in this case it's clear that Phil really knows the cold mountain intimately. My only cold mountain is the frozen black ice created by the bodega guys throwing their water into the street during subzero weather.
This is clearly one of the best songs ever. Too much has been written about it (and good work, too) that I'll refrain from commenting. If you have the means, track down the fifth issue of Yeti for a great article on why this is such a powerful piece.
