We always appreciate when we get an album in the mail by an artist we’ve never heard of that doesn’t suck.
If the album actually earns a life rattling in the side passenger pocket of one of our cars or graduates into the iTunes library to bask among the rest of the ready-for-random-play singles, we careen alarmingly close to expressing enthusiasm. As pseudo-zen postmodernists unsure of the current currency of blitzkrieg irony, genuine excitement for cultural product must be conserved. Like breaths, orgasms and brain cells, we figure you only get so many, and you should use them wisely.
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We were surprised to learn that Hezekiah Jones is the moniker of one Raphael Cutrufello, local musician usually seen playing keyboards with jam bandy locally performing act StillWillis. Because Hezekiah Jones is a totally different thing.
It’s full of the kind of songs that scintillate along the glistening strands of forlorn love or something like it. Like Will Oldham, who Cutrufello cites as a major influence, the best songs are little elusive, offering tiny bubbling epiphanies and a bittersweet afterglow.
You can check out Hezekiah Jones live and join the celebration of the debut album Thursday Aug. 4 at Milkboy on Lancaster Avenue. Meanwhile, allow Raph to introduce you to some of his favorite lo-fi Sunday morning bedroom music.
In Bed with Hezekiah Jones:
Sunday Morning Soundtrack
Sign on the Window, Bob Dylan (New Morning)
This is a great Dylan tune from an album of his that seems to be overlooked. What does it for me is the production on this album, a lot of songs with minimal guitar and layered piano and organ. I recommend the entire album.
Frank Mills, Lemonheads (It’s a shame about Ray)
This was a big album for me through high school. It features Juliana Hatfield on bass. It’s really the only real acoustic number on the album with some amazingly witty lyrics. “He was last seen with his friend, a drummer, he resembles George Harrison of the Beatles but he wears his hair tied in a small bow at the back….” Rhyming friend with George Harrison, genius.
I Am a Cinematographer, Will Oldham (Days in the Wake)
I’m a huge fan of all of Will Oldham’s incarnations. The production on this album is just really intimate. It sounds as if he recorded them in his bedroom with one microphone (which he probably did). You can hear little mistakes and his voice cracking where he can’t hit a note. Favorite line is definitely the “I was a big old bear once” chorus. I love this song.
Helicopter, M. Ward
M. Ward is a fantastic songwriter with a voice like butter. I love this song for the chug of the drumming and chorus. The melody is just stunning, and he slips into a strong high falsetto for the choruses. Reminiscent of some of Jeff Buckley’s vocal techniques.
Lord Anthony, Belle and Sebastian (Dear Catastrophe Waitress)
This is another winner from the Scottish group. The song has a great melody that begs you to sing along. I must have listened to it 15 times in a row when I first heard it. The arrangement, in my opinion, is perfect as well. I’m not sure who produced the album but it’s definitely their best up to that point.
Everybody’s in a Band, Two Dollar Guitar (Weak Beats & Lame-Ass Rhymes)
I guess it depends on what your opinion of lame is. These guys are out of Hoboken, New Jersey. I first heard this song a few months ago while visiting my brother in California. He knows my taste very well and put it on for me. When I got back to Philly I looked up the words and tried my best to imitate how I had remembered the music. I like Two Dollar Guitar’s version better. Being in a band, I seem to be always around musicians and this song just made a lot of sense. I’m sure it will for most non-musicians as well, except maybe the line “your feces is masterpieces.” Hilarious.
I Pity The Poor Immigrant, Akron/Family/Angels of Light (Akron/Family & Angels of Light)
This is Michael Gira’s version of a Bob Dylan song. He’s backed up by the Akron/Family for the whole second half of the album, while the beginning of it is all Akron/Family. Very distinct difference from start to finish. His voice has a nice rich sound here, he kind of sounds like Johnny Cash. I’m a big Dylan fan, and love hearing people cover his songs when they’re done well. As indeed it is. “…I pity the poor immigrant whose strength is spent in vain, whose heaven is like iron sides, who’s tears they are like rain….” That’s a good one Bob.
Jerusalem, Dan Bern
I used to see Dan Bern at The Point years back. He’s a magnetic entertainer who knows how to captivate a room. I’ve seen him at the TLA as well with his band, but believe me you are much better off seeing him in a smaller setting. He ended every song prematurely once at the Point, he said “I’m not going to finish any song tonight,” and he didn’t. He’d stop suddenly after a few verses, and the crowd loved it. This song is an acoustic rambling with some great lyrics. “I am the Messiah, yes I think you heard me right, I was gonna wait till next year, build up the suspense a little, make it a really big surprise, but I could not resist….Doctor Nussbaum was right, he said get it out in the open….” I guess I never realized how much I’m into unusual songs until I started writing some of my favorites out.
Sea of Love, Cat Power (The Covers Record)
Cat Power does a good cover of this classic oldies song. We do this song in StillWillis, but none of us have a voice like this woman. She cuts out the bridge and it ends up being pretty short, but I forgive her because she is absolutely amazing. I’ve never gotten a chance to see her live but have heard some stories about how she only allows candle light on stage and that she might just start crying in the middle of song. As idiosyncratic as she may be, she’s got some real talent for songs.
These Days, Nico
Nico is a curious musician. I found this song on the Royal Tenenbaums soundtrack, I’m not really sure which album it was released on. Nico is a one-of-kind talent. What an odd voice she has. You almost think it’s a man singing but eventually you realize that men don’t sing like this. The string arrangement on this song is brilliant as well. I think I might go out now and find a Nico album.
To learn more about Hezekiah Jones and sample some songs, go to www.myspace.com/hezekiah11. Tickets for the show available at www.milkboycoffee.com.
