Loving Lydia Loveless

One of my favourite albums of the last couple of years is Lydia Loveless’ 2020 record, Daughter. (And you can click that link to read my review from the time – that feels very ‘old school’ to point that out). I play this record a lot, and within it, there are a couple of songs in particular that just knock me out. The confidence of the singing against the vulnerability of the writing. To me, it’s just extraordinary. I hear the early Neko Case – particularly vocally. And I hear some of what I love so much about Lucinda Williams – particularly with regard to the songwriting.

Lydia Loveless has a handful of records you can check out – and you should.

And to get you started, I’ve made you a wee sampler. This features songs from all of her records to date, and a few one-off collaborations. She’s a great musician and songwriter, but if you’re lucky enough to have her singing harmonies or duetting on your track, I’d say you’re doing pretty well in life.

To me, the very best of Lydia Loveless’ material is like the very best of Drive-By Truckers’, a new kind of country music that is equal parts honky-tonk and deep, dirty, dive-bar rock’n’roll. That sort of gutter-punk poetry lights me right up. For sure.

Last night, I finally caught up with the documentary, Who Is Lydia Loveless? which was released in 2016. I remember hearing about it, but if you don’t add them to ‘the list’ you lose them. This one slipped through the cracks.

Well, thanks to Tubi – which I raved about earlier in the year – I was able to find it. Tubi’s music documentaries and concerts are reason enough to subscribe to the service (and it’s free). You will wade through a lot of unauthorised biography docos (which, shhh, I’m still a bit of a sucker for) but there really is some great stuff on the channel (the recent/ish Public Image Ltd doco is on there, I watched a great one about The Ventures, and a really nice one about 90s TV-theme composer Snuffy Walden).

But the Loveless doco is superb. One of those top-tier music docos where, if you’re a fan, you’re into it and still learning new stuff, and if you’re not a fan there’s still plenty there for you – and the likely reward of finishing the film a confirmed new fan. Who Is Lydia Loveless? was made by author and filmmaker Gorman Bechard. He has a way with the music doco – making interesting choices (he has made music docos about Grant Hart of Hüsker Dü, The Replacements, Archers of Loaf) and in Lydia Loveless he has a wonderful subject. She’s a brilliant talent for a start, but she’s also not without baggage. And she’s a hardworking, touring musician that is far from super-famous and not exactly rolling in the cash. This is really interesting for the film – particularly since it was shot across 2015, Loveless is really angry about streaming services such as Spotify and YouTube. They will bring her an audience, I’m using them here to hopefully do that (point people towards her music, or remind people because maybe you heard a song or album you liked but forgot to check out more).

But back, seven years ago, the streaming services were still something to fight against. Maybe they still are, but the major labels gave up that battle, took the money, and sold out their artists for, primarily, their own survival.

Bechard also captures some kickass footage from a wonderful band. Loveless is a great live performer – and that’s the key to this film I think.

I was reminded of the power of Loveless’ work earlier this week when I really took a dive back into the catalogue. And then, linked to that, I was reminded of the power of a really great music doco. Just when I think I’ve seen them all, just when I think there’s no way I’ve missed any of the must-see ones…

So, well, that’s about all I wanted to say today.

Keep it short. Send you to the music.

I’ve made a 30-track, 2-hour sampler from across Loveless’ career. But I also want to say that Daughter, her 2020 album, is worth hearing in its entirety. Hey, they’re all good records, but that’s the standout for me. At this point.

And, I’ll also include, as always, my 20-track Something For The Weekend playlist. This one is Vol. 89. I’ve yet to listen to it back, but I reckon it’ll play through pretty nicely.

Thanks, as ever, for reading. I hope you enjoy something you hear here – whether by Loveless or anyone on the other playlist.

And what new music is giving you the most thrill right now?

Happy weekend!