I first saw the Bowerbirds play when they were two members (Beth Tacular and Phil Moore), a guitar, an accordion, and a bass drum. There first EP consisted of a burnt cd released in a hand-made, construction paper case sewn together with string and decorated with a few silk-screen designs. Their folk sound mimicked the minimalist design of this first EP. It was stripped down, straight forward, and unforgettable. The band has now released their second studio album Upper Air, and while their sound is considerably more layered and complicated now than ever before (they may now have four or five instruments on a single song), they have held on to their simple, nature-loving, folk roots.
When I saw the Bowerbirds in concert, they were the opener for the opener of a band that I can’t even remember anymore. Just one more reason why you should always go to a show from beginning to the end (no matter how many bands are opening). I immediately bought their EP, but for some reason, I never got around to buying their first studio release Hymns for a Dark Horse until a week before the release of their second. Hymns for a Dark Horse is a mix of pretty love songs and biting environmental commentary. These themes are re-explored throughout Upper Air, but the Bowerbirds have managed to wind the two so closely together that at times it’s difficult to tell whether a song is written to a far-off lover or to nature herself. The song “Chimes,” for example, while brief, overflows with stunning imagery and heart-wrenching affection in a way that is complicated, yet memorable:
Oh the chimes are sounding
And they echo wildly off the canyon walls
Well this is wild land, hold me
These are ancient songs that fill my body
Oh the light is astounding
It’s golden lashes sweetly overgrown
Well this is my joy smiling
These are my spoils for simply breathing
Bowerbirds – “Chimes”
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While tinged with themes of nature and love, the song “Chimes” also highlights the slightly more layered sound that permeates all of Upper Air. This isn’t exactly a criticism. While I was swept away by the Bowerbird’s overpowering simplicity, I find myself equally effected by the beauty of their complexity. The change is subtle…the music is still simple, but more complicatedly so. Instruments are added, sounds are filtered in…it’s not worse, it may even be better…for lack of a better word, it is simply different, yet undeniably effective. And while I enjoy the band’s affection for the natural, I find myself most moved by their love songs. It’s not that the songs are particularly romantic, or even cheerful…but they are honest, endearing, and always heart-rending. Simultaneously provoking a smile while producing a tear:
Bowerbirds – “Northern Lights”
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Bowerbirds – “Silver Clouds”
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There are few times when I’ve been given a chance to watch a band grow from their humble beginnings, but the Bowerbirds is one of those bands. And while they may have moved away from some of the simplistic charm of their early years, they continue to mature in different, exciting, and always endearing ways.
I have to say that the Fourth of July is one of my favorite holidays. Forget the parties, the cook-outs, and the fireworks (though I really like the fireworks)…the day commemorates the most important and the most memorable day in our history (go ahead and argue that if you want, but it’s the truth). With just a few choice words, the US was born:
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just power from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute a new Government…
Thousands of songs have been written about America in the 233 years since its birth…they’re not all patriotic, they’re not all positive, but they all reflect the promise of freedom contained in the Declaration of Independence…the achievement of that freedom and the continuing struggle to extend that freedom to all who seek it. In honor of the day, I thought it would be fitting to put together a mix of these songs, and what better way to start than with Woody Guthrie’s classic, “This Land is Your Land.” Ironically, this song has become something of a patriotic ballad, commonly appearing on collections of songs to America, but when it was written, it was a biting criticism of the inequalities of dust-bowl America. One verse in particular, which doesn’t make the popular release of the song, asks:
In the shadow of the steeple I saw my people,
By the relief office I seen my people;
As they stood there hungry, I stood there asking,
Is this land made for you and me?
Woody Guthrie – “This Land is Your Land”
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Guthrie can be considered the voice of the migrant worker, calling for fairness while exposing aspects of America that many do not see, or choose to ignore. He ushered in an age of music as a vehicle for protest…calling for equality, peace, and justice. Not all songs written about America are protest songs, but for some reason, such songs tend to be more interesting and compelling. Perhaps it is because writing patriotic songs too often becomes simplistic, sentimental, or (to put it simply) lame (see for example “I’m Proud to be an American,” “Let the Eagle Soar,” or just about every country song written on the subject). Now I realize that putting together a mix of “protest” songs on the 4th of July may not seem to be in the spirit of the day, but I disagree. The country was founded on the idea that we can live a better life, so long as we continue to strive toward that goal. As Thomas Jefferson wrote, “All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent.” While songs of protest are critical of the country (whether it be issues of war, equality, environment, or economy), they are so in the hope of righting wrongs and bringing about positive change for posterity:
Bruce Springsteen – “How Can a Poor Man Stand Such Times and Live”
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The Pogues – “Thousands are Sailing”
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Steve Earle – “Condi, Condi”
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Bowerbirds – “In Our Talons”
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Bob Dylan – “When the Ship Comes In”
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Kimya Dawson – “Loose Lips”
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This is just a few of the thousands of songs written about America that call for change, but I can’t leave a Fourth of July post on a note of criticism, and at times even pessimism. Instead, I will end with a couple of songs highlighting the very things that make the US great. The first is a song by Johnny Cash, called “Ragged Old Flag.” While the song is in fact quite critical, it’s underlying theme is one of great optimism, emphasizing the American spirit and the pride we can all feel because of it. And unlike his country singing successors, Cash is able to present the sentiment in a way that doesn’t feel like being beaten over the head with an American flag:
Johnny Cash – “Ragged Old Flag”
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And last, I leave you with what may be the most stunning rendition of any patriotic song ever written. The song is Katherine Lee Bates’ “America the Beautiful,” sung by none other than Ray Charles. This version of the song will never be surpassed:
Ray Charles – “America the Beautiful”
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OK, I may have lied…I have to include just one more thing. Yes, I realize that this is Schoolhouse Rock, but really, how many of us actually know the words to the preamble of the Constitution. In high school, I had to memorize this song, and I’m glad I did. Even more so than the Declaration of Independence, this may be the single most important document in American history, and this one sentence says it all. Happy Fourth of July.
