Honesty. Knowledge of the context of the album. Clarity. Humor.

(response to Erika, natch)

So - is this the best album title ever? Best title for a country/folk-ish album? Holly Golightly/The Brokeoffs new album is titled You Can’t Buy a Gun When You’re Crying.

Positively haunting (in the best possible way). That’s how I’d describe You Can’t Buy a Gun When You’re Crying. It’s the lo-fi amalgam of quintessentially American country and western, folk, and blues – with hints of Weimar Republic cabaret music – that was recently released by stylistically-omnivorous British singer-songwriter Holly Golightly.

The big question: How did Holly, originally of the all-girl garage-rock band Thee Headcoatees, go so rustic and rootsy? The short answer: Convincingly.

Since 1995, Golightly has released a whopping 13 albums – 11 studio projects, two live ones – plus a couple of compilations. Along the way, she’s dabbled in R&B, rockabilly and bluegrass, and collaborated with the likes of the White Stripes, Billy Childish, and Rocket From the Crypt. But this latest set may be her most cohesive, with its dark and despairing mood and its spare, down-home instrumentation by the so-called Brokeoffs – said to be just one multi-talented musician named Lawyer Dave. Think of it as a dusty, rural equivalent to the bleak, urban netherworld conjured by the Velvet Underground and defanged by the Cowboy Junkies – one that can trace its lineage back to country-blues legend Robert Johnson and his metaphorical encounters with Lucifer.

[link]

The link has a live video you can watch.

Huh. Guess I'll have to buy this. Even if the whole Robert Johnson / Devil thing tends to be mentioned too often in rock reviews....

eta: Ooh - eMusic has. Am downloading. Will report back later.

So - is this the best album title ever?

If it's not Scum Tank Agitator, then no.

Best title for a country/folk-ish album?

Satan is Real!

Also, I've got my bootleg country rarity collection God less America with a ten year old boy singing "Mama, Please Don't Go Topless."

One of my fave album titles of all time is Talking Heads' More Songs About Buildings and Food.

Um, I'm sure I have others - just can't think of them now.

"Mama, Please Don't Go Topless."

Ya' just can't get more wholesome than that.

eta: This

Scum Tank Agitator

makes me think of the thing that stirs the water at the sewage treatment facility. Which admittedly is more gross than a milk tank agitator, but still....

Right this minute, my favorite song title is "Hoogie-Boogie Land" [link]

I love how the video is a semi-professional production with three(?) cameras.

I've always liked The Smoker You Drink the Player You Get.

makes me think of the thing that stirs the water at the sewage treatment facility.

That's because those things are called: Scum Tank Agitators.

See, there's a scum tank and they have to skim the scum. For this you need an agitator.

Right this minute, my favorite song title is "Hoogie-Boogie Land" [link]

That doesn't sound like a space age theremin love song.

That doesn't sound like a space age theremin love song.

No, but if there is a space age theremin love song with a title better than "Hoogie-Boogie Land", I'd like to know what that is.

See, there's a scum tank and they have to skim the scum. For this you need an agitator.

See, and my response is, "Yep. That's what that is." Like, might was well call an album Carburetor Float.

Although after thinking for a few seconds I could see other meanings, which makes it better than Carburetor Float.

No, but if there is a space age theremin love song with a title better than "Hoogie-Boogie Land", I'd like to know what that is.

"A Dissapointed Love With A Desensitized Robot"