Praise of Folly

Sancta vacca!

Erasmus can't believe his ears. Whether it's his fondness for big-band swing or some perverse Eighties nostalgia, he can't help thinking that this guy may be right.

Take a listen for yourself:

Ayiyi. It's good...

Even the Lionel Ritchie song. Erasmus is mentally paraphrasing the High Fidelity guys.

ROB: I used to hate this song.

BARRY & DICK: Yeah.

ROB: Now I kinda like it.

BARRY & DICK: Yeah.

Dave's True Story: “I'll Never Read Trollope Again”

I’ve an appetite for fiction
No post-modern work can slake
I refuse to buy a book
Unless it’s thicker than a steak
Now Gordon Lish and Barry Hannah
Have their partisans and shills
But I prefer Victoriana
For my literary thrills

And of all the British authors
Who were writing at that time
There’s one special British author
I find especially sublime
Now Austen is awesome
And Dickens is a kick
But no one packs a wallop
Quite like Trollope
Yes Trollope is the one I most adore
But my days of reading Trollope are no more

I was sitting in a quaint café
With a favorite tome and some café au lait
But my luck ran out when you came my way
Now I’ll never read Trollope again

You spied the cover as you slithered near
And said “The 1800s—that’s my favorite year.”
And then you sat right down and now I fear
That I’ll never read Trollope again

Armed with Trollope and a cup or two
I could while the day away
Now just a dollop
Makes me think of you
And that’s too high a price to pay

I’ll read Kafka’s tale about that lonely vermin
I’ll read every Jonathan Edwards sermon
Hell, I’ll read Emmanuel Kant in German
But I’ll never read Trollope again

I used to read him with a friend or two
I used to read him by myself
But to read him now only makes me blue
So I’ve tossed him from my shelf

I’ll read Don Quixote five or six times through
I’ll read Jackie Collins till my face turns blue
Hell, I’ll even read Bukowski too
But I’ll never read Trollope again
No I’ll never read Trollope again

© 1998: Flexible Man Music/Chesky Productions

...è vero!

The terrific New York City jazz trio (writes Erasmus, who's not necessarily all that hot on either New York or jazz) Dave's True Story has released a new album, Nature, which will be in stores on April 19. However, lucky you, you live in the digital age and can download it from the iTunes Music Store this very second, all for the low, low price of U.S. $9.99. Buy it from Amazon here.

Dave's True Story is a terrific combo that's most characterized by the witty, often off-color lyrics of guitarist Dave Cantor and the astonishingly beautiful and varied vocal stylings of Kelly Flint, who can go from bell-like and pure to smoldering and sexy in the wink of an eye. Jeff Eyrich plays upright bass very nicely to round out the sound.

If you wish to check out their back catalog, Erasmus recommends picking up Sex Without Bodies, the self-titled album, the Christmas stuff, and then Unauthorized.

Erasmus knows the cool kids are big DTS fans. TT raved about them in the NYT in MMI. And OGIC? well, I suspect Dave knows OGIC and penned "I'll Never Read Trollope Again" for her. Read above and decide. (But really, get the record and listen to Kelly sing this. It's gorgeous and even funnier.)

If American popular culture were more adult, Dave's True Story would be exceedingly rich and famous by now. Perhaps we have our immaturity to thank for their not touring in white sequined jumpsuits. Still, show that you dig, man, and pick up the album. You will thank Erasmus. (Or don't. Erasmus doesn't care so much. Just get the album. Now. Go! Buy!)

DTS, ave, ave!