To end another wonderful decade of great music, I’m going to write about ten albums from each of the last ten years, that are either great, or hold some sort of personal significance. A musical kiss off to 00s.
2005 – #5. Amy Rigby – Little Fugitives
(Signature Sounds)
Geez. 2005 in retrospect was quite the adult contemporary year! The only other person I knew who liked Amy Rigby was my friend Sam, who told me that this album, Little Fugitives, was a bit too adult contemporary for her.
Although there is little that is as studied or well produced as Ben Folds, Josh Rouse, Aimee Mann, etc. This is a lo fi, indie record. It’s just one made by a mid 40s single mother. If anything, I like it more than Til the Wheels Fall Off or Diary Of a Mod Housewife. And since there was almost nothing that changed in her approach, her voice, her sound or anything like that, it basically comes down to the songs.
Like Rasputin, the opener, is the best thing on here. As cool as early Lou Reed, she sings of Rasputin, the crazy Russian monk who could not be killed, and compares it to her love life where she keeps coming back. It’s fun, it’s cool and it sets the stage for a great record.
Another real highlight is Dancing With Joey Ramone. A garage rock-ish ode to the late singer (who died in 2001), it’s a rock ‘n’ roll daydream of the highest standard. Joey would be proud. If you love the Ramones, you would love this.
Needy Men sounds like a 50s TV theme, but dissects the kind of men that just want a new mother, with her startling wit and a cheesy smile. It’s Not Safe plays on the urgent guilt of having hurt someone. I Don’t Want To Talk About Love No More is another garage/blues influenced track that pleads for less talk, more action.
It’s her inescapable wit and her smarts that really make this album, and her career as an artist. She’s fallen in and out of love, and she gives it all back to us with Woody Allen eye for the funny and the sweet.
Which is why it’s so great that she has found happiness and from left field. Rigby, with her power pop background and US roots, met Wreckless Eric, the Stiff records stalwart who was living in France. I love both artists, and followed their lives in songs. They fell in love and got married, and released their first album as a duo in 2008.
So two of the biggest losers in love found eachother. This makes me so happy. Happy that Wreckless Eric did go the whole wide world to find her. And that if there’s hope for Amy Rigby, there is hope for everyone.
(again, no videos)