Bluegrass and a Man of Constant Sorrow

So this week I have been listening to a lot of bluegrass music. It started on Monday when I was singing "Man of Constant Sorrow" form the O Brother Where Art Thou soundtrack. My roommate came in and asked me, "Was that O Brother Where Art Thou?" "Err, yeah..." I responded, almost embarrassed that my roommate had walked in on me full on belting country-bluegrass.

His response was possibly the highlight of my entire week: Without saying a single word, he walked over to his computer, plugged in the speaker cord and proceeded to play from top to bottom the entire O Brother soundtrack.

Suffice to say, we had a sing along.

So since Monday, I have been all about bluegrass and folk music. Mostly, I've been listening to The Tallest Man on Earth. Despite his moniker, Kristian Matsson is a Swedish singer-songwriter of fairly average height and quite classy facial hair. A multi-instrumentalist, Matsson primarily plays the guitar and sings. A master of the finger-picking style that is common of many bluegrass and folk guitarists, The Tallest Man on Earth couples his precise and beautiful playing with a haunting, raspy Bob Dylan-esque voice.

As well as his impressive musical ability, The Tallest Man on Earth is also a master lyricist. Every so often, lyrics are emotionally moving and when listening to this particular song, "Where Do My Bluebirds Fly?" I felt like a needed to draw a picture. It's no masterpiece, but I'm happy with it:

This is titled, "Man of Constant Sorrow" after the song and was modeled after a picture of Robert Johnson, a blues guitarist who, according to legend, sold his soul to the devil.









While listening to "Where Do My Bluebirds Fly?" I did the outline for this picture. But I finished it listening to something a little more raw. By shear happenstance, I stumbled upon this country-bluegrass trio and they are sick. Going by the name The Devil Makes Three, don't expect any songs about the pleasant country and pick-em-up trucks. Instead, expect to be fully entertained by songs about getting into mischief and heavily drinking.

Anyway, this is the song I was listening to when i finished up that drawing:

The first thing I would like to point out is that the banjo player's beard is highly impressive. The second thing is that, while these guys aren't as musically talented as Kristian Matsson, they make up for it in shear bluegrass spirit. Their songs may be simple, and the lyrics maybe not so poetic, but I'll be damned if they aren't having a great time just playing.

So that's a little insight to my bluegrass week. For sure, these two songs were not the only ones I listened to this whole week, but they certainly exemplify my musical experience.

I'd like to leave you with a band that needs no explanation. Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes