Total Lee: the Songs D

Lee Hazelwood penned some of the finest most famous songs of the 50’s and 60’s (Boots, Some Velvet Morning). Popular with hipsters, this is exactly that: a collection of a veritable who’s who of alt.Americana (Calexico, Tindersticks) and dark popsters (Lambchop, St. Etienne) doing what are actually super good versions of less popular songs (mostly). Theres really not a stinker in the bunch. Hazelwood arguably invented the dark/sweet ironic twangy drug addled pop song and these bands really do him justice. Songs are naturals for bands like Calexico and the ‘Sticks as they’ve based their careers on channeling him (as well as Ennio Morricone). So this CD is a “ready made”. Awesome, excellent. (amazing liner notes where Lee critiques each song as he hears them for the first time). This is worth buying.

1) brief, to the point
2) triplet galloping, big and dark
3) one of the most famous songs ever, nice dark upbeat feel, pretty friggin amazing actually
4) typical Calexico, derivative spaghetti western feel w/ mexi-trumpet, girl duet
5) slow duet turns 60’s burlesque Motown feel
6) dark trippy pop w/`synths
7) acoustic voc centered train song, builds toward end w/ fuzzy guit and efx
8) swingy slow dark rockabilly w/ casio beat
9) folky acoustic anti-war ballad, guit + piano vocal centered
10) waltzy, marching drums, acoustic feel but big big darkness
11) Spanish gut guit air, fem vocs, pretty and sweet melody, acoustic feel, splendid
12) all the drama of a Tindersticks song, vibes, strings, cinematic
13) upbeat swaying pretty pop w/ lyrics about DEATH, voiceover sample is Lee himself
14) rather comical version of this oft covered classic, the best version you will find on an album/band called OP8 (Calexico/Lisa Germano/Howe Gelb) I might suggest instead
15) minor western ballad through a flanger/phaser, weird effects
16) pretty, disjunct and interesting Bowie’esque pop w/ Alladin Sane pianos