haven’t done as well as I thought I would
I’m not dead but I’m damaged goods
And it’s gettin’ late
I’m a rusty hinge, a squeaky wheel
at the bad end of a shaky deal
cursed by the hand of fate
and ooooooh – I’m a very lucky girl
yeah ooooooh – hello cruel world

Hello Cruel World
by Gretchen Peters

It’s amazing to me how a song lyric can capture ones feeling better than one is able to express it.

I love this title track from Gretchen Peters new album. It’s a breath of hope and an admission that despite the hardships that life might deal, she is facing it on her own terms. This album feels like a continuation, or the next chapter after her 2007  album Burnt Toast & Offerings, which is also a fantastic album.

Woman On The Wheel is another song on this album not to miss. I won’t spoil the punchline for you by posting it here. You will have to go listen to it yourself.

Other favorite songs from this album: Saint Francis, The Matador, Dark Angel, Paradise Found…okay, I pretty much like them all. Another thing I like about Gretchen’s song are that they can be listened to on a deep level. There is plenty their to consume and process. But the songs are also wonderful as background music, when you just need something going in your ears. My only regret is that I can’t buy this album on vinyl.

Gretchen, allmusic.com lists you as a country singer. I would never call myself a “Country Western” fan. But if what you sing is country then, almost thou persuadest me to like country. Regardless…welcome back to my iPod. Hello again Gretchen.

Going home without my sorrow,
Going home sometime tomorrow,
To where it’s better than before.
Going home without my burden,
Going home behind the curtain,
Going home without the costume that I wore.
-from Going Home by Leonard Cohen

I listened to Leonard Cohen‘s new Album, Old Ideas, in it’s entirety while walking my dog the other night. I was blown away, and came away with an incredible peaceful feeling.

Cohen has only gotten better with age. His voice is deeper and more pure than I have ever heard it. At age 77, he is a world treasure. And so, it’s obvious from this album that he sees that his time left here is limited.

My daily realization is that my time is limited too. The day you understand in your gut that some odd 4 score of years is not very long is a day you will always remember. Many of us will not even make it that far.

I ordered the LP of this album from Amazon. I was hoping that it came with digital downloads like many LP’s come with today. I was pleased to find that it came with the CD, for times when I am on the go. But the truth is that there is nothing like listening to music coming from a vinyl record. I can’t explain why, but I notice things I don’t notice while playing CD’s or listening to iTunes. Not to mention my love for album cover art. So when I really want to immerse myself in music, I put on an LP, put on my headphone and sink in deep.

My only complaint is that I am a slightly disappointed in the LP pressing. It’s slightly warped. I expected more for this 180g ‘audiophile’ pressing. It’s not bad enough to cause any problems…just disappointing.

The song Anyhow is perhaps my second favorite song on the album, after Going Home. I can’t get over how Cohen can weave words. I love all the song. The remaining 8 songs all tie for a close third place.

Whether these songs are Old Ideas or new thoughts, this album sure feels as comfortable as Going Home.