This album came after two huge gun-involved incidents—the school massacre at Columbine High School in Colorado, and the sniper-like murder of a Buffalo women's doctor by Right-to-Lifers. I was living in Buffalo at the time of the latter, and vividly remember the days following his death. For that reason, "Hello Birmingham" has always made me very sad. The title track calls for "open[ing] fire on the NRA ...[and] each weapons manufacturer," which is an unmistakable call for an end to gun violence.
Conversely, there are also more great galmorous-life-of-a-touring-folksinger songs like "Freakshow" and "Going Once," not to mention the sweet and silly "Arrivals Gate," which shares a very similar banjo part with its predecessor "Angry Anymore" from Up Up Up Up Up Up.
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Track Listing
- To the Teeth
- Soft Shoulder
- Wish I May
- Freakshow
- Going Once
- Hello Birmingham
- Back Back Back
- Swing
- Carry You Around
- Cloud Blood
- Arrivals Gate
- Providence
- I Know This Bar