Shake, Rattle & Roll

We had a little “shaker” the other day, a visceral reminder that in spite of all the tangled little plans we weave out here on the left coast, we are really at the mercy of the very ground we so take for granted. So I selfishly offer these two songs to the earth mother in the hopes that she will forestall “the big one” for an epoch far beyond this one.

Along with After the Gold Rush and Sweet Baby James, Carole King’s landmark album Tapestry from 1971 remains one of the most important singer-songwriter albums of the era.

Backed by 2^nd husband, Charles Larkey on bass, Danny Kortchmar on guitar and Russ Kunkel on drums, I Feel the Earth Move is the one upbeat rocker of sorts on an album of intimate and introspective songs. 

I just love her vocal on this song; a little vulnerable, earthy, and sexy as hell. To me it feels so east coast; I always picture a gray autumn day, leaves falling, a chill in the air, lying in front of a fire after a long walk in the woods.

And then there’s Earthquake Weather off of Beck’s 2005 effort Guero.

Crazy ass production by the Dust Brothers, which threatens to spiral down into some really dark places until it suddenly breaks into bright rays of sugary sunshine, kind of like living in LA. With its herky-jerky Brazilian rhythms, I’d pair this with a Malbec from Argentina and hope that tomorrow doesn’t bring one of those 50 degree changes in weather that always seem to precipitate Kate Hutton’s next appearance on KTLA.