What I'm listening to...

It is unmistakably Summer in Texas right now, which is why I can't wait to take off to the northeast. So, to help mitigate the heat, I put together a summer playlist. 

First up is The Be Good Tanyas' "Littlest Birds"

Next is Shakey Graves' "Late July" 

Hurray For The Riff Raff's "Junebug Waltz"

And lastly, Gregory Alan Isakov' "Dandelion Wine" (because it makes me think of Ray Bradbury's novel, which is summer itself)

The Tallest Man on Earth

If you spend much time around me, you've probably realized that I am obsessed with The Tallest Man on Earth right now. Kristian Matsson has a delightfully raspy voice and a skillful hand at the guitar.

Although he's from Sweden, he writes in English. But, he writes well. Matsson's brand of neo-folk is not the trite, not-quite-Biblical nonsense that Mumford and Sons has been churning out. It is delicate, understated, and beautiful; it does not require overly dramatic banjo bridges to get its point across.

Indeed, Matsson conveys an immense soul all by his lonesome. Just one man and a guitar.

Oh, and did I mention? He rides horses.

Bob Dylan: musical fashion icon

Earlier I wrote a post about William Faulkner as a fashion icon for UD men. Well, this post is a continuation in that theme. 

 There is another and notable brand of man at this school. This kind does not model himself off of pipe-smoking Southern gentlemen. Rather, he takes as his icon Bob Dylan.

Disheveled shirts, old blue jeans, a cigarette, and expressive eyebrows, these are his accoutrements of choice.

Chances are, he will also adorn himself with a guitar, or maybe a mandolin. He is known to skip class on occasion, generally for the purposes of playing music. He may be mistaken for a hobo.

I'm sure you can think of some names.