The Importance of Being Folk

(taken from the band Adult.).

Maybe it's all the Joan Baez and Peter, Paul and Mary i listened to (via my mom) as a youngster, but i have a special affection for folk music. You know, songwriting? It's a bit hard to find these days, but it's coming back! Honestly, i herald the resurgence of Folk.

As i've previously mentioned, if you had asked me ten years ago if i would be listening to all of these stripped-down, bare-bones songs, i would have probably laughed in your face. But hearing Fleet Foxes on the radio the other night gladdened my heart, because it is the sign of a slowdown. The return to a slower, quieter, more ponderous place. The kind of music that softly grabs your thoughts and runs with them, weaving a small story along the way, depositing you kindly back down with a renewed gentleness. Does that make any sense?

Not that i'm advocating the abolition of loud noisy thrashy songs. Come on, we need those, too. But it's getting a little loud in our modern world. Taking it down a notch is just fine by me. Bring back the Folk! Bring songwriting and actual singing talent back to the forefront, not production values and flashiness. Let's just all fucking smooth out a little.
And hey, if it's not your cup of tea, it's just not. Hey, i understand! No worries here, friend. i like so many different kinds of music, and i never take anything (musical taste-related) personally. Here is my song of the week. It just keeps popping into my head, especially the ending refrain (i don't know what i have done/i'm turning myself into a demon). I'm not very familiar with Fleet Foxes (or their version of this song), only a couple of their songs (here's a great one) have made it to my ears. But oh, how glad i am to have ears.