Strange Weirdos: Music From and Inspired by the Film Knocked Up

by

Loudon Wainwright III

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To borrow a phrase from John Cusack's character from "High Fidelity" I sometimes want music I can ignore. This pretty much sums up all of Loudon's music for me. I can always have it playing in the background and tune in when I feel like it. It seeps into my head and pretty soon I realize I have been listening to some amazing songs. I discovered Loudon with "Last Man on Earth" and have been hooked since. I keep hoping others will catch on to his music and when I heard about this project I was nervous. Will he try to be too commercial? Will this become another one of those "Ally McBeal" moments? (You know what I mean...the whist full walk into the ending credits while a song plays and the characters take turns looking into the camera so we can all learn the episode's lessons.) But I should not have worried. Turns out he has been making music that could always be played during the ending credits but the difference is that his words will teach you what the actors cannot.

"You Can't Fail Me Now" may be just about the best song I have heard in some time. So honest it hurts. "Daughter" has been one my favorites for sometime. How does a man who write such amazing melodies toil in relative obscurity?

Others have written more poetically about the songs and the CD as a whole. All I can add it this...put on the CD, do some cleaning or have some tea. Maybe clean the garage or sit by a fire and let the music just play. Pretty soon you tune in and realize you were not ignoring this music because Loudon will not be ignored. He will find his way into your soul because he is sharing so much of his. As for this being a soundtrack...I think his music has always been a soundtrack. First for his life...then for ours. Get this CD, get hooked and don't ignore him any longer.