👢
Didion and Baez. Admittedly, I’ve unhealthily attached myself to them because of the things we have in common (Didion living in LA and Sacramento, Baez being Mexican and going to BU) which has made me even more obsessed than I would have been otherwise. But they’re so good !!!
I feel like everyone’s first introduction to Didion is her memoir The Year of Magical Thinking (me included), but after that move on to her collection of essays Slouching towards Bethlehem. There’s an essay about Joan Baez in there (🤠) and if you grew up in California the book will make you feel extra cool.
& listen to the album Baez sings Dylan, where she covers all Bob Dylan songs, obviously. Bob’s an amazing lyricist but an awful singer lol. Joan does it undeniably better. But my very favorite song of hers is “silver dagger.” So beautiful and eerie and she was only 19 when she sang it.
Feb 20, 2024
Related Recs
🎵
i am a big fan of A Complete Unknown, and each time I have seen it I am forced to go deeper down a Joan Baez and Bob Dylan rabbit hole. For how revered she was in 60s and 70s, I don't think Joan Baez CURRENTLY received the attention she deserves. She has an unreal voice and subdued style that is as comforting as a conversation with an old friend. I am very happy this new movie is bringing some further attention to her so people (like me because I barely knew about her before) can become fans! Songs i recommend: The Water is Wide, Don't Think Twice It's Alright, Farewell, Angelina, Donna Donna
Feb 13, 2025
〰️
There’s a limited selection of poets that can move me to tears without even reading through their stanzas but allowing the recollection of their words to pass over my mind — the aforementioned Bachmann is one of the real ones, T.S. Eliot is another; Elizabeth Barrett Browning, on occasion; sometimes-too Hölderlin, Herbert, Hadewijch; at least one Donne piece has this power, at least one Brecht; perhaps-too I would add cuttings of Young’s Literal Translation of the Holy Bible — contemporarily, the lines of Paris Reid, an absolutely gorgeous young Canadian I discovered several years ago (her first published prose piece can be found in the most recent Heavy Traffic) certainly effect this movement upon me time and again … who else? — well, the only other living writer to fall on this list, and quite honestly my most exalted favourite of all-above, should be obvious to anyone who knows me … yes, yes, of course: singer slash poet slash emotional-genius Lana del Rey, my personal saint and hero … truly, her words either brought to sound or put to page surpass the Scripture to me and this I would not say if I did not mean it violently. She has held aloft my life: she is probably the third factor to my continuance. You know — as I type this — I can hear the lyrics to Venice Bitch, perhaps the greatest lyrical song ever written (though a strong case could too be made for Video Games!) echoing within and my vision swims — so overcome with emotion am I! Good God. My friends, it’s unbelievable. And everything she does is fantastic, of course, but lately I have been really been spiralling about in her demos and bootlegs and regional exclusives dating around the release of Ultraviolence, her third studio album. Pray listen; I’ll leave you with this. Say Yes To Heaven: breaks my heart. Fine China: breaks my heart. I Talk to Jesus: well, you know, onward and onward, from here to eternity…
May 10, 2023
I’m slowly making my way through Joanna’s discography. I spent a lot of time listening to her album Ys which is incredible, but finally Have One On Me is starting to click. Joanna’s songs are often so long and unconventionally structured that they take a while to settle in but oh my god this album is so good. I also love watching videos of her performing, she’s insanely precise with her playing and singing it’s super impressive. The title track and Soft As Chalk are currently my favorites.
Jan 15, 2025
Top Recs from @cocktail_twin
I had a card in California and getting a new one was one of the first things I did when moving to New York. And now I’m using it to see Eartheater play at the MoMA this week for FREE ! it’s good for much more than just books !!!!
I am still shocked when I find out that friends who’ve lived here for months/years still don’t have one or have never had one before in general. Did I mention it’s free ???
Jul 30, 2024
🌋
Idk why I’ve felt so drawn to volcanoes lately but I’ve been wearing a lot of obsidian and have had Volcano by Eartheater and Smoke by Caroline Polachek on repeat. I need to go rewatch Fire of Love …
Feb 12, 2025
Feb 12, 2025