Occasion For Song

Folk/alt-country
Dedicated to band member Noel Sayre, who drowned in 2008. The musical arrangements are devoid of frills, and the slender sound seems to point to some surrounding, crushing void. Captivating. Favorites: 2, 3, 6, 9. FCC WARNING: 7.

1. (4:21)—Medium-slow. Light, pleasant musical arrangements contrast with the dark, plainly delivered lyrics.
2. *(3:00)—Slow, spare. No percussion. “What do you do when the dark is too dark to see?”
3. *(5:47)—Mid-tempo stroll. Evening atmosphere. Explicitly about Sayre’s drowning. “Nobody’s supposed to die three days before the 4th of July.”
4. (4:42)—Slow. Blues structure. One acoustic guitar, one electric guitar, no drums.
5. (2:03)—Medium-slow, upbeat. The most pop-oriented song here.
6. *(7:02)—Very slow, nocturnal, catchy. Extremely minimal arrangement and beat.
7. (5:59)—FCC WARNING (f***). Slow, laid-back, warm. Key change near the end.
8. (4:03)—Another slow, nocturnal piece. Somewhat romantic, noir-sounding guitar.
9. *(3:55)—Medium-slow. Minor key, shimmering, catchy, slightly grooving.
10. (3:37)—Slow, serene. “Looks like I made it to the morning again.”
11. (4:41)—Medium-slow, full band country swing. Mention of Ramblin’ Jack Elliot.
12. (4:19)—Slow, soft, resolved. “We all held your hand while you were trying to die.”