Oh Jeffrey!

The end of the academic year is coming. What does that mean? I have nothing to look forward to in the coming months. It’s gonna be a lot of studying and assignments and reading – not the fun kind. There is one little thing however that I am excited for in April: Jeffrey Lewis! I will attend one of his gig again next month.

I have been listening to him for a few years now and I love him. His voice is not that great, he’s probably not that fantastic of a guitarist, but it just works so so well for his songs – which I, for one, find really relatable.

Two years ago, I got to see him live when he came to London and I’m excited to see him again this year – yaaaaaaay! And to get even more in the mood – I’m never not in the mood for Jeffrey Lewis – here are some of my favourite songs from Jeffrey.

1 – Back When I Was 4 (It’s the Ones Who’ve Cracked That the Light Shines Through, 2003)

This song is just a great summary of life and how weird it is.

2 – Moving (City & Eastern Songs, 2005)

I always get that empty unsettling feeling that makes me think about death when I’m moving out, do you?

3 – Travel Light (with Diane Cluck, Diane Cluck And Jeffrey Lewis, 2001)

The two voices in this song work together perfectly.

4 – The Chelsea Hotel Oral Sex Song (The Last Time I Did Acid I Went Insane, 2001)

For those of you not familiar with Leonard Cohen – maybe try it out, really, do it – the tittle is a reference to his song Chelsea hotel #2.

5 – Don’t Be Upset (City & Eastern Songs)

It’s hard to be alive sometimes, let’s try not to get upset.

6 – Alphabet (It’s the Ones Who’ve Cracked That the Light Shines Through)

Great song for when you feel “ugly and petty, awkward and unsteady”.

7 – Cult Boyfriend (A Turn in the Dream – Songs, 2011)

It’s all about quality, not quantity.

8 – Broken Broken Broken Heart (‘Em Are I, 2009)

You can sing any sad thing and make it sound happy if you add energetic clapping in the right places.

9 – Gold (It’s the Ones Who’ve Cracked That the Light Shines Through)

It’s hard to tell what this is actually about; whatever it might be, it kind makes me feel like crying.