Posts tagged "inchoate"


New Theme: Inchoate

Posted by pootytang November 13, 2008
Posted to themes  inchoate 

Pronunciation:
\in-ˈkō-ət, ˈin-kə-ˌwāt\
Function:
adjective
Etymology:
Latin inchoatus, past participle of inchoare to start work on, perhaps from in- + cohum part of a yoke to which the beam of a plow is fitted
Date:
1534
: being only partly in existence or operation : incipient ; especially : imperfectly formed or formulated : formless , incoherent <misty, inchoate suspicions that all is not well with the nation — J. M. Perry>
Often times a song will spring from a songwriter fully formed.  Comparable to giving birth to a child, or receiving the song on some private wavelength.  Songwriters speak of how these songs seem to come from outside of themselves, and once birthed, have a life of their own.
Other songs, however, life with the musician through many iterations before finally becoming the tune known to us.  Their beginnings may be radically dissimilar in tune, lyrics, arrangement, mood, perspective, etc.  Some such versions are true diamonds in the rough, and in many cases contain a raw essence that revision has dimished.  Such diamonds can be found on box sets, bonus tracks, or bootlegs, and they are often a fans greatest delight.

Posted by pootytang November 13, 2008
Posted to inchoate 
[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]
72 plays so far

Bob Dylan - Mississippi

Dylan fans rejoice! From the newly released Tell Tale Signs: the Bootleg Series Vol. 8 an early version of Love and Theft’s Mississippi (arguably the album’s strongest song). I have had this track on heavy rotation. It has given me a whole new appreciation for the song, and like many early versions, a valuable glimpse into Dylan’s creative process. This track, along with one other that is forthcoming, were the inspiration for the inchoate theme.

If you already love the song, enjoy it again for the first time. If you don’t know it, let Dylan tell you a story as only he can.

Posted by newspeedwayboogie December 3, 2008
Posted to inchoate 
[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]
141 plays so far

R.E.M. - Gardening At Night (acoustic)

I’m old school, but Chronic Town is my favorite R.E.M record, as raw as it might be.  So taking that rawness, here is a quasi-demo version of Chronic Town’s Gardening At Night.

Bill Berry:

“We were driving at night after a show (I don’t remember where), and I was at the wheel of our old car, with a rental trailer in tow. One of my three passengers aimed a directive at me. Rather than inform me of his desire to evacuate his bladder, he instead suggested that I pull over so that he might engage in the task of roadside ‘night gardening.’ To four guys in their early twenties this was a glaring catalyst for a new song.”

Posted by whitneymcn December 5, 2008
Posted to inchoate 
[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]
239 plays so far

Tom Waits - Jersey Girl

Has there ever been a more sweet and tender song about choosing your girlfriend over an 8th Avenue hooker?

This song sometimes gets credited to New Jersey’s own Bruce Springsteen (who performed it live throughout the ’80s), but it’s pure Waits. This alternate version—just Waits with a guitar and bass—appeared on the 1981 sort-of best-of collection Bounced Checks. It’s not substantially different from the version on 1980’s Heartattack and Vine, but is an interesting peek at the skeleton of the song.

Posted by pootytang January 3, 2009
Posted to inchoate 
[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]
25 plays so far

Tom Waits - Fish and Bird (instrumental demo)

Tom manages to get a heck of a lot of feeling out of his trusty harmonium on this early version of Fish and Bird.  I think it stands on its own without the vocals or the lush instrumentation.  What do you think?

Posted by newspeedwayboogie January 7, 2009
Posted to one plus one  inchoate 
[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]
84 plays so far

David Crosby - Wooden Ships (rehearsal tape)

Crosby noodling around on guitar and vox from 1970 or so … . he decides to hum the tune instead of singing the words.  He can get away with that.

Posted by pootytang January 27, 2009
Posted to inchoate 
[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]
77 plays so far

Tom Waits - There’s Only Alice

I’m not sure if the alternate song title was a working name, or just what ended up in the tags of my mp3 - I’ll let you decide.

Here is another demo from Alice.  Raw, and beautiful.  Tom Waits is just that good.