Has anyone heard of Mary Lou Lord?

[mvd]

She is an indie-rock singer. I haven't been able to find samples of new album Baby Blue, but I've heard a couple past songs and liked them - including "Martian Saints." I hate to buy an album without hearing anything, so is she worth it?

[m-jean03]

1. Yes!

I used to play "Got No Shadow" constantly, until my friend took it and left the state. I haven't heard her newest one, but I'm sure it has got to be good.

[mvd]

2. Cool

Glad I'm not alone in recognizing her. :hi:

[m-jean03]

3. Have you heard anything else by her?

I have, on the radio, but that's the only album I ever owned of hers. There are some clips from it on Amazon -- short, but which give a good sense of its "ambience."


edit -- to wave or not to wave..oh heck.. it's only good manners!:hi:

[mvd]

4. A couple clips

Can't remember which songs. What are her slower songs like exactly?

[m-jean03]

6. Good morning, mvd.

Her slow songs are melodic, catchy -- I don't know how else to describe them. The late Elliot Smith has played guitar on some of them. Got No Shadow is quite haunting. Makes me nostalgic for that "era" of my life.

[mvd]

13. Thanks

To you and everyone else. I'm thinking Baby Blue is worth taking the plunge for. Amazon has it for a good price, too.

[Kat45]

5. Yes I've heard of her.

No, I've never heard her music.

[mac56]

7. She teamed up with Semisonic

and recorded a GREAT cover of the Archies' "Sugar, Sugar". No joke. It's on an album called "Saturday Morning". Check it out.

On edit: Also a great song by her called "My Own Worst Enemy."

[fishnfla]

8. This months "Paste" magazine

has a take on her new album, Baby Blue. she and her friend Nick Saloman,threw it together in a week, by her own admission, just for fun. here's her quote;

"it was not meant to be the 'return of Mary Lou Lord' And I know alot of people are going to be, 'i dont know about this record. its wierd.she sings it weird.she's weak;the songs are fluff' I'm really prepared for that"

the critic goes on to say the album is "flawed" but "oozing with charm" FWIW, She sounds interesting, to say the least, but until you hear the music, the jury is out, as you say.

Ever hear of Paste magazine? its pretty cool, every bi-monthly issue has a sampler cd in it of all new releases. Her song is not on it tho, maybe next time.

edit-double D'oh!

[Whitacre D_WI]

9. Yup.

Not a fan, but I don't dislike her work, either.

[vi5]

10. Yeah....I love her stuff....

I just wish she wouldn't rely so heavily on cover songs and collaborations with the Bevis Frond. Her own stuff is great in its own right.

[truthspeaker]

11. yeah, 8 years ago when she had her 15 minutes

Glad to hear she's still around! I liked her songs, but didn't want to admit it because I have a hard time respecting anyone who slept with Kurt Cobain.

[m-jean03]

12. Wow, 8 years ago, you're right...

*sigh* That was in high school. Those were crazy times... I'm sure old...

[BrotherBuzz]

14. I heard her because she did a version of...

Elizabeth Cotton's "Shake Sugaree". I'll stick with Cotten's version, one of the most haunting songs I know.


Mary Lou Lord's version of "Shake Sugaree"


Got a little secret
I ain't gonna tell
I'm going to heaven
In a ground pea shell

Oh lordie me
Didn't I shake sugaree

Everything I got is down in pawn
Pawned my watch
Pawned my chain
Pawned everything that was in my name

Oh lordie me
Didn't I shake sugaree

I'm going sailing
In a wooden shoe
Looking for a star
I can tell my troubles do

Oh lordie me
Didn't I shake sugaree

I pawned my horse
Pawned my plow
Pawned everything
Even my old milk cow

Got a little secret
I ain't gonna tell
I'm going to heaven
In a ground pea shell

Oh lordie me
Didn't I shake sugaree
Everything I got is down in pawn
Everything I got is down in pawn


(more Elizabeth Cotten verses that wern't used)

I have a little song, won't take long
Sing it right, once or twice
Oh lord oh me, didn't I shake sugaree
Everythiny I got is done in pawn (2x)

I pawned my watch, pawned my chain
Pawned everything that was in my name

I pawned my buggy, house and cot
Pawned everything that was on my lot

I pawned my chair, I pawned my bed
Don't have nowhere to lay my head

I have a little secret I ain't gonna tell
I'm goin' to heaven in a ground pea shell

I pawned my house, I've pawned my home
Pawned everything that I own

I pawned my tobacco, I pawned my pipe
Pawned everything that was in my sight

I know something, I ain't gonna tell
I'm goin' to heaven and I ain't goin' to ...

I pawned my hat, I pawned my shoes
Pawned everything that I could use

I chew my tobacco, spit my juice
I would raise cain but it ain't no use

[Whitacre D_WI]

15. I like the Dirtbombs' version.

[BrotherBuzz]

16. Taj Mahal, Dylan and others have done versions...

But Elizabeth Cotton's version is still number one in my book. A truly haunting rendition.