is and always was
mp3:
Daniel Johnston – Without You
Daniel Johnston has long been, based on appearance and demeanor, perhaps the least likely indie icon of his generation. Between Kurt Cobain’s affinity towards wearing his ‘Hi, How Are You’ t-shirt and 2006’s documentary The Devil and Daniel Johnston, the eccentric and at times disturbed songwriter has occasionally flirted with mass recognition.
Johnston’s latest album Is And Always Was is an interesting step for the now 48 year old Johnston. The album consists of some bouncier numbers (see ‘Without You’) and some stream of consciousness cuts (see ‘I Had Lost My Mind’). Nothing on the record is quite as perplexing or dark as his work in the early ’90s and nothing is quite as innocent and personal as his earliest works on records such as 1983’s ever-so-wonderful Yip Jump Music.
mp3:
Daniel Johnston – Chord Organ Blues
“Chord Organ Blues,” from Yip Jump Music, has long been one of my favorite recordings ever. It’s sloppy, it’s primitive and it’s incredibly juvenile sounding, but therein lies its charm. Just a confused kid in a garage banging on his Casio and singing his heart out. What more could you want.
Yip Jump is impossible to replicate, a messy time capsule that never gets old. While Johnston’s latest is a fresh sounding album, its best gift has been that it has inspired me to dive back into the archives of his expansive career once again.
Sure, lots of Johnston’s work is downright un-listenable to.
But, then there are plenty of moments throughout where everything. just. makes. sense.
mp3:
Daniel Johnston – Don’t Let The Sun Go Down on Your Grievances
“Everybody! Woo! Sing It!”
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