Daniel Johnston: Welcome to My World;
Innocent pop-folk (anti-folk?); reminiscent of 60s pop (Beatles, Beach Boys). Lo-fi. Surreal lyrics and vocals. Lots of piano, grainy organ…greatest emphasis on vocals. Beauty lies in honesty of the music, rather than technique or arrangements. Very straight forward on surface…but a depth shines through in the quirkiness. Sometimes quite derivative, but still sounds fresh. Is the naiveté authentic or contrived? Mmmm….
No FCCs. Play tracks 1, 4, 7, 16, 19, 21
1) 4:51 - Slow, beautiful singing to piano. Lo-fi. Very desperate pathos.
2) 2:58 – starts with sample. Faster beat. Accordion/organ? Odd percussion.
3) 4:52 – moderately paced piano chords. HEAVY vocal reverb. distorted samples.
4) 3:34 – starts with samples of children’s toy. Staccato synth strings. Sweet.
5) 1:29 – repetitive piano chords. Simple emotional lyrics.
6) 1:18 – beatlesque rock + roll. Stomping piano chords.
7) 3:18 – accordion/organ. aphorismic pseudo-religious lyrics. Picks up at 2:30.
8) 1:50 – simple piano pounding. Bittersweet vocals.
9) 2:04 - very Beatlesque. Piano. Plaintive.
10) 4:02 – upbeat rock and roll. Very grainy. Organ.
11) 3:25 - pretty piano chords. Cool, sing-a-long vocals.
12) 3:21 – simple organ stomp. Ends with quirky, but endearing, howling.
13) 1:47 – neil young vocals. Guitar strumming.
14) 3:20 – starts with odd spoken word piece. Folksy nursery rhyme. FCC at 1:46?
15) 2:18 – paranoid bluesy guitar. Desperate crooning.
16) 2:42 – bluesy, jangling guitar. Doo-wop sing-speak. female vocals. 1:38 picks up
17) 1:34 – references to “Imagine”. Sad, bittersweet fan vocals. Quiet, quick piano.
18) 1:04 – a cappella, with heavy reverb. Sweet, yet alienated.
19) 2:31 – ballad. folksy strumming guitar, happy piano.
20) 5:11 - Starts with a sample. Distorted minor key piano. Lots of self-pity.
21) 0:53 – grunge!? Raspy vocals, electric guitar. Awesome quick track.