Prick Tunes: Damien Jurado "Reel to Reel"

Both TSLF and myself are pretty fucking obsessed with this song right now. Really, all of Maraqopa, the newest Damien Jurado record is damn fine and should be purchased henceforth.

Unfortunately, I can't seem to find an embeddable version of the album cut, so I've put in the best live version I could find. Really though, go to this site to hear the album cut and then go out to your nearest independent record store and buy the record (or at least go to his site and buy it). This album has not left the car stereo in weeks.

Prick Tunes: Richard Swift "Lady Luck"

This past Friday featured a song from Damien Jurado's latest album, which was produced by today's featured artist, Richard Swift. In addition to being a member of the current incarnation of The Shins, Swift has toured opening for Wilco, produced albums for The Mynabirds and Laetitia Sadier of Stereolab, and released albums under the monikers Company and Instruments of Science and Technology. "Lady Luck" is the last track off of his fourth LP released under his own name, Atlantic Ocean, and it is so damn good. 

Prick Tunes: Damien Jurado "Nothing is the News"

This tune kicks off Damien Jurado's (by my count) tenth proper LP, Maraqopa--his second straight collaboration with musician/producer Richard Swift. When contrasted against his earlier solo output, this could almost be from a different artist, at least in the sonic sense. Luckily the ability to craft a song didn't fall by the wayside, and Jurado's got a gem on his hands here, kicking off an album that seems to be netting positive reviews everywhere you turn.

Here is hazy throwback "Nothing is the News" from Maraqopa: 

Prick Tunes: Damien Jurado "Amateur Night"

While searching for a usable video of his fantastic "Ohio" off of what is still my favorite Damien Jurado album, 1999's Rehearsals for Departure, I elected to go with what may be his darkest song, "Amateur Night" from 2003's Where Shall You Take Me? his first release on Secretly Canadian.

To qualify this song as dark is an understatement of severe proportions. The quiet chaos that looms underneath comes to bear at the close of "Amateur Night." Dark fucking lyrics. Urban folk at its most disturbing.