On this hour of Almanac, Cate, Abigail and I discuss variations on the theme of “Importance of Place”.
What is your place, what is “place”? Is a place somewhere that you build, or can you attain it, is it given?
I lead off the hour, followed by Abigail, and finally by Cate. As I recall it, this is our playlist:

The Shins – When I Goosestep
Denison Witmer – These Days (cover)
Cat Power – Good Woman (Live version)
Daniel Rossen (Grizzly Bear) – Deep Blue Sea
—
Death Cab for Cutie – Carolina
Iron and Wine – Sunset Soon Forgotten
—
Rosie Thomas – Wedding Day
Nancy Griffith – Three Flights Up
Deb Talan – Somebody Loved
Rosie Thomas – Two Dollar Shoes

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My newest film is done.  We finished editing it last night, and I hold it here, in it’s case, the product of a few sleepless nights and quiet hours, but nothing of the soul-wrenching and life-threatening experience of the first.  The first was about community, and about people and loves that I don’t have anymore.  The second is about solitary seeking, I’ll find a way to post it soon.  It’s not as lush or beautiful as the first, but I love them both.  I think I just spent more time, period, with Belongings than I did with Twin Talk. 

To be a good woman is nearly as hard as finding a good man, but one needs the other, I think.  This song is simple, spare, and a somber thought.  I had such a strong feeling of affinity when I first heard it, I do want to be a good woman, with all the many things that means to me.  Chasny says in his Dusted review of the song: “Few songs have ever been written that are so bathed in compathia, which Octavio Paz describes as that state where love returns in a concentric circle to the beginning and another place further and washes away all the hatred for a person that only real love could create in the first place… It lives in the same company as “Boots of Spanish Leather.” Unlike most of the pathetic pleadings drowning the world that call themselves “love songs” but are merely made to mythologize oneself in the heart of the other through weepy melodramatics, “Good Woman” is a gift, not a trap.”

That line, ”a gift, not a trap” is astounding. 

I want to be a good woman
And I want, for you to be a good man.
This is why I will be leaving
And this is why, I can’t see you no more.
I will miss your heart so tender
And I will love
This love forever.

I don’t want be a bad women
And I can’t stand to see you be a bad man.
I will miss your heart so tender
And I will love
This love forever.
And this is why I am leaving
And this is why I can’t see you no more
This is why I am lying when I say
That I don’t love you no more. Cause I want to be a good woman
And I want for you to be a good man.

Cat Power – Good Woman (Acoustic, Live at KCRW) 

Cat Power – Good Woman

 

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A short, sweet updatey informal Almanac to replace the one that didn’t happen on Thursday. There will be one this week, so mark your calenders, but until then, here’s a one-take no pauses endeavour.

There’s no music, but I do sing briefly. Can I offer you some sunshine?

Twelve minutes of glory.

Also, something seems to be wrong with the file. My voice isn’t that low normally.  I’ll look into it later.

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