TS: "I'm Gonna Love the Hell Outta You" vs. "Secret Knowledge of Backroads"

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Talking about two Silver Jews songs in particular here in anticipation of July's forthcoming Tanglewood Numbers long-player for the Drag City recording imprint.

Both songs in question are diamonds in the already blindingly luminous Joos canon, but which is the superior track: "I'm Gonna Love the Hell Outta You," the jaunty little exercise in rollicking country literacy featuring electric guitar picking reminiscent of the Johnny Cash backup band (that can be found on the Tennessee EP), or "Secret Knowledge of Backroads," the languid, can-kicking, crusty old yellowed photograph of a rock dirge that sounds like, I dunno, R.E.M.? But R.E.M. on quaaludes decomposing by a tepid Georgian bog, only like a million times more strikingly beautiful in every way?

― ath, Friday, 8 April 2005 17:45 (twenty years ago)

"Secret Knowledge of Backroads," of course, appearing originally on The Arizona Record in addition to its Pavement cover version on the Slanted and Enchanted: Luxe and Reduxe reissue.

― ath, Friday, 8 April 2005 17:47 (twenty years ago)

"I'm Gonna Love the Hell Out of You," but only because I still have never heard The Arizona Record. Wasn't there supposed to be a reissue sometime last year or this year?

God, I can't wait for Tanglewood Numbers.

― Waking Up Onstage at Jumbo's (Bent Over at the Arclight), Friday, 8 April 2005 17:49 (twenty years ago)

I heard talk of a reissue of The Arizona Record along with the Dime Map of the Reef record and some early strays, but it was only talk and it was about a year ago. I think I might've even heard that talking from the Drag City site, but I can't be sure. I hope so, though.

― ath, Saturday, 9 April 2005 16:58 (twenty years ago)

"Secret Knowledge" is my favorite Silver Jews song, and ath is right that it's a tough one to describe. Doesn't sound REM to me at all, for instance -- the key is that bass line played, I think, on a guitar, sorta like early Pavement, but it doesn't sound like them either. For what it's worth, I don't think there's much else worth listening to on the Arizona Record.

― Derek Krissoff (Derek), Saturday, 9 April 2005 21:41 (twenty years ago)

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