I'm Not Gonna Say They're Great, I Ain't Gonna Say They Ain't

"State songs, state songs, I can't wait for my favorite one"

I said I needed to do a State Songs post and here it is :-) I don't know how to describe the State Songs album except to say that is so classically Linnell. Like if I were to try to imagine the type of album Linnell would produce on his own this is exactly what I would have envisioned even if I had never heard it. Right down to the band organ.

I rather love Linnell's explanation that the state names were "just a way to create more music without getting having to get bogged down in verbal ideas." So that he can write a song called South Carolina that is actually about a bike crash. Because in Linnell's world, why the hell wouldn't you write a song about a bike crash? I've heard/read Linnell mention a few times that he frequently writes the melody of a song before the lyrics. I like to think of him sitting around with this melody worked out and needing a topic to tie some lyrics together and just latching on to the first thing that pops into his brain. Hmmm, bike crash... that'll work.

Even the band organ makes perfect sense to me, because I think, at heart, Linnell is really kind of a fan boy. And something as antique and complex and precise and really unique sounding as a band organ, is exactly the sort of thing I envision him geeking out over. And putting together this album finally gave him an excuse to write some band organ music.

One of the things that is so unique about this album is the incredible variety of music styles. From songs that essentially sound like TMBG without Flans playing guitar, to ballads, to dirges, to the peppy pipey band organ. Almost every song is a complete 360 from the last and yet there is still a cohesiveness that holds the whole collection together. You know, I think that Linnell fellow might have something here ;-)

A few random thoughts before my list of favorites. I actually prefer the versions of both Pennsylvania and Nevada that appeared on the Hello EP to the ones that ended up on the album. I find the vocal more appealing on the original PA and I like the additional lyrics in NV. "The acorn of the squirrel" and all that. I love the concept of Arkansas and the lyrical idea presented, but the song is a bit too plodding for my taste. However, this quote from the wiki is the best: "However, none of these ships have been the same size or shape of Arkansas, as such a project would be extremely difficult to build, and probably wouldn't float." I love that someone felt the need to say that. And finally, the Montana single is one of the niftiest pieces of vinyl ever created, but sadly we have never successfully gotten it to play on my record player because the state of Maine is slightly bent and keeps bumping into the arm rest. So it's a damn good thing I have Louisiana as an mp3 :-)




Here goes my list. There are six. Don't question it.


6. Louisiana - See I told you it was a good thing I had this as an mp3, otherwise I might never have heard it (well, ok, it's on YouTube). I can't fathom how this didn't make it onto the album. It is a wonderful song. 


5. Maine - No, the fact that I am from Maine doesn't make me biased at all. What are you talking about? Actually, I just really love the drums. Boom. Boom. Boom. 


4. Montana -  "A le-eeeeee-eeeeg" I just love the way he sings that. And the song is just funny. Fantastic imagery.


3. The Song of the 50 States - I love the self referential quality of this and the melody. If one was to make an argument that any of the songs on this album were just TMBG without Flans on guitar, this would be the shoe in since it's got the entire band of Dans playing on it. It is literally TMBG without Flans. Best line? This one: "The time has come for us to sing about a certain place, where everything is in the control of men who are controlling my mind." Also, I am submitting this to my list of songs that Dan Miller is uncredited for singing back-up on (this is one of my pet projects that will probably turn up in one of these posts in the near future).


2. South Carolina - Everything about the song is excellent. The melody, the lyrics, just everything. Perfect. I can not praise this song enough. It makes me happy.


1. West Virginia - This and South Carolina are neck and neck but this is sneaking ahead for sentimental reasons due to how much I love it's live performance. Linnell throws himself all in when he sings this. While I may have been a decade too late for all of Linnell's solo performances, I was there the first time TMBG covered this. Afterward, I read a comment someone made jokingly, that you could hear the Linnell-girls in the audience thudding to the floor as he began the last chorus. The only thing missing from the recording to make it perfect is the absurdly high falsetto Flans lays in of the chorus when the band does it. Priceless.




"Keeping my awake, late at night, can't get them out of my mind"