Listening to Cowboy Junkies on Radio Paradise

bam23 wrote:

I can't quite grasp why so many "listeners" here really dislike this band because they sound like themselves. After this many years, if you don't like what they have spent their careers developing, let it go. I understand criticism that makes some point, but if "I'm bored" is the essence of what you have to offer, why bother? Somehow this band gets dissed frequently, for the reason cited above.

So how else can they sound if not like themselves? And the more years they spend developing their careers the more one should just let it go? Well kudos to any band active after 40 years but if they, in someone's humble opinion, sucked then and now they somehow continue to suck then chances are they actually suck regardless of how bored someone is.

Posted 11 hours ago by jazzgate [ Reply ]

bam23 wrote:

I can't quite grasp why so many "listeners" here really dislike this band because they sound like themselves. After this many years, if you don't like what they have spent their careers developing, let it go. I understand criticism that makes some point, but if "I'm bored" is the essence of what you have to offer, why bother? Somehow this band gets dissed frequently, for the reason cited above.

I really like the Cowboy Junkies myself, but looking at the rating distribution, I'd hardly say that those who do not are "so many". More like so few. :-)

Posted 6 months ago by MM_Prague [ Reply ]

When I first moved to NYC in the early 90's, I lived in a small apartment in the East Village. Every once in a while I would hear someone playing the Junkies but the song would often stop in the middle, pause, restart, go into something else. It was odd. Turns out someone in the band or crew lived right behind me and they were practicing. Never saw them on the street but it was kind of cool.

Posted 1 year ago by jbarryc [ Reply ]

I keep waiting for the chorus to start up with the "common disaster" lyrics.

Posted 2 years ago by timmus [ Reply ]

forthbrdge wrote:

I am a more of fan of Red Green’s Winter of Discount Tent.

If Red Green wrote a New Country song, what would it sound like?

Posted 2 years ago by westslope [ Reply ]

you mean there's also a summer of discontent? To go along with the winter of discontent?

that's discontent all year! We're doomed!

Posted 2 years ago by idiot_wind [ Reply ]

keenevision wrote:

Great band. Developed their sound to perfection. If you don’t like them just hit skip.

Thanks for the advice. Done!

Posted 3 years ago by ziakut [ Reply ]

Mannick wrote:

For some reason, this is the only album I like from the Cowboy Junkies... And the only one that is NOT on Spotify!
Thanks for playing this song!

The album is now

Posted 3 years ago by jp33442 [ Reply ]

Canadian Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Members! Best cover, ever. of "Sweet Jane"! So said Lou Reed, writer of the tune, and leader of The Velvet Underground!!

Posted 3 years ago by danthebeachman [ Reply ]

Great band. Developed their sound to perfection. If you don’t like them just hit skip.

Posted 3 years ago by keenevision [ Reply ]

Summer of our discontent… no shit

Posted 3 years ago by mach-hog [ Reply ]

For some reason, this is the only album I like from the Cowboy Junkies... And the only one that is NOT on Spotify!
Thanks for playing this song!

Posted 4 years ago by Mannick [ Reply ]

bam23 wrote:

I can't quite grasp why so many "listeners" here really dislike this band because they sound like themselves. After this many years, if you don't like what they have spent their careers developing, let it go. I understand criticism that makes some point, but if "I'm bored" is the essence of what you have to offer, why bother? Somehow this band gets dissed frequently, for the reason cited above.

Posted 4 years ago by eyke [ Reply ]

I can't quite grasp why so many "listeners" here really dislike this band because they sound like themselves. After this many years, if you don't like what they have spent their careers developing, let it go. I understand criticism that makes some point, but if "I'm bored" is the essence of what you have to offer, why bother? Somehow this band gets dissed frequently, for the reason cited above.

Posted 4 years ago by bam23 [ Reply ]

SummitPlot wrote:

The trouble with the CJs is that about 30 seconds into their songs, my mind drifts off and I don't hear them anymore.

Hear who?

Posted 4 years ago by tinypriest [ Reply ]

forthbrdge wrote:

I am a more of fan of Red Green’s Winter of Discount Tent.

Discount music definitely with this band.

Posted 4 years ago by tinypriest [ Reply ]

Cowboy Junkies é um grupo musical do Canadá cujo estilo se situa entre o rock alternativo e o country music. O grupo é formado por três irmãos da família Timmins, além do baixista Alan Anton. A banda se formou em Toronto, no ano de 1985.

Posted 4 years ago by tadeuluciano39 [ Reply ]

I am a more of fan of Red Green’s Winter of Discount Tent.

Posted 4 years ago by forthbrdge [ Reply ]

SummitPlot wrote:

The trouble with the CJs is that about 30 seconds into their songs, my mind drifts off and I don't hear them anymore.

I identify with this comment for nearly every CJ song. Blasé to the point of extinction.

Posted 5 years ago by ziakut [ Reply ]

Well I have definitely heard this more than twice in the last 30 days. Enough to be bored with it though it will be OK on a chill playlist I suppose.

Posted 5 years ago by lyteroptes [ Reply ]

good!

Posted 5 years ago by godindunant [ Reply ]

SummitPlot wrote:

The trouble with the CJs is that about 30 seconds into their songs, my mind drifts off and I don't hear them anymore.

The last time I saw them i drifted off from start to finish...

Posted 6 years ago by Bert7 [ Reply ]

The trouble with the CJs is that about 30 seconds into their songs, my mind drifts off and I don't hear them anymore.

Posted 6 years ago by SummitPlot [ Reply ]

peter_james_bond wrote:

Agreed! The keyboards give this a bit of a Talk Talk sound, which really works for me.

Interesting. Now that I own 3 Talk Talk CDs.... which I absolutely adore.

Not sure I hear the connection but this is a fabulous CJ song all the same.

Posted 7 years ago by westslope [ Reply ]

Cynaera wrote:

... where Ethan Hawke answered the telephone with, "Hello - You have reached the winter of our discontent..."

lol

I might have to steal that one for awhile. ( ^ ;

Posted 7 years ago by LowPhreak [ Reply ]

PERFECT, and still sends me back to the wilds of Noto Hanto... I miss you, Lisanne from Parker, CO, love how you got me into ceramics and this amazing band, and smile wide to remember all the fun TRIPS we had!

Posted 8 years ago by coloradojohn [ Reply ]

Thank you Bill, saw them again last week, great show. Appreciate you playing them.

Posted 8 years ago by Stefan_Lutz [ Reply ]

Yeah, sorry, couldn't pass it up.

Posted 9 years ago by eeastridge [ Reply ]

In supermarkets I can't find anymore.Origens Summa.It's a discontent.

Posted 9 years ago by twoplain2sea [ Reply ]

Exquisite chord progression!

Posted 9 years ago by MinMan [ Reply ]

My favorite Can con.

Posted 10 years ago by WendyLeah [ Reply ]

TerryS wrote:

Actually, he was buried under a car park.

He must have been very discontent...

everybody in my homeless camps loves this groovy song...

hope you are having a marvelous time right now, TerryS...

Posted 10 years ago by Lazarus [ Reply ]

(former member) wrote:

This song is soooo good my nipples get hard when I hear it...

this song is an allusion to Shakespeare—

Richard:
Now is the winter of our discontent
Made glorious summer by this son of York;
And all the clouds that low'r'd upon our house
In the deep bosom of the ocean buried.

Richard The Third
Act 1, scene 1, 1-4

Actually, he was buried under a car park.

Posted 10 years ago by TerryS [ Reply ]

mbolch30307 wrote:

Is Bill doing the nasty with the lead singer from Cowboy Junkies? It seems like every other song recently is from this group.

They do have a comparatively large number of songs on the playlist but they don't seem to be played to extremes.

Posted 11 years ago by Proclivities [ Reply ]

big stud Romeo Tuma wrote:

This song is soooo good my nipples get hard when I hear it...

this song is an allusion to Shakespeare—

Richard:
Now is the winter of our discontent
Made glorious summer by this son of York;
And all the clouds that low'r'd upon our house
In the deep bosom of the ocean buried.

Richard The Third
Act 1, scene 1, 1-4

I be the holy ghost of big stud Romeo Tuma... there is much discontent around the world this summer caused by relative deprivation... love this song soooo much...

Posted 11 years ago by Lazarus [ Reply ]

motobecane wrote:

Heh. Great image!

Thank you! Hope you are having a marvelous time right now...

we be dancing and looking forward to this summer...

Posted 11 years ago by Lazarus [ Reply ]

Lazarus wrote:

We be dancing like bow-legged gypsy muleskinners... love it...

Heh. Great image!

Posted 12 years ago by motobecane [ Reply ]

We be dancing like bow-legged gypsy muleskinners... love it...

Posted 12 years ago by Lazarus [ Reply ]

Beauty

Posted 12 years ago by Gerbear [ Reply ]

Everybody in my church loves this song...

Posted 12 years ago by Lazarus [ Reply ]

Is Bill doing the nasty with the lead singer from Cowboy Junkies? It seems like every other song recently is from this group.

Posted 12 years ago by mbolch30307 [ Reply ]

Wonderfully restrained arrangement.

It might also be derivitive of Steinbeck's last novel, which is, in turn derivitive of Shakespeare.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Winter_of_Our_Discontent

Posted 12 years ago by MinMan [ Reply ]

Much rather listen to them than the great mass of bands incapable of finding a good gear to begin with.

ThePoose wrote:
I will put it another way that might get through to you: Margo and the other Boring Flunkies have such a limited range of tempo and phrasing and tone that I groan when I see that they are Now Playing on RP. Scream a little, Margo, have fun, make a joke song, dance it up—whatever. Just break out of the ole lonesome whippoorwill mode you are stuck in.

And you ask if I have listened to any CJ. Ha. I was an associate producer in public radio in Montreal (Canada) in 1988 when a friend sent me this LP called The Trinty Session and said this was the hottest thing to come along in Canadian music in a long time. I was impressed for a while at their new sound—until LPs 2,3,4,5, etc. came along, with no change in range. They never did get out of the one gear they are mired in.

Posted 13 years ago by alux [ Reply ]

I've heard it said that it is her style . . .
I find it pleasant but underwhelming

Posted 13 years ago by wenatchee [ Reply ]

ThePoose wrote:

I will put it another way that might get through to you: Margo and the other Boring Flunkies have such a limited range of tempo and phrasing and tone that I groan when I see that they are Now Playing on RP. Scream a little, Margo, have fun, make a joke song, dance it up—whatever. Just break out of the ole lonesome whippoorwill mode you are stuck in.

And you ask if I have listened to any CJ. Ha. I was an associate producer in public radio in Montreal (Canada) in 1988 when a friend sent me this LP called The Trinty Session and said this was the hottest thing to come along in Canadian music in a long time. I was impressed for a while at their new sound—until LPs 2,3,4,5, etc. came along, with no change in range. They never did get out of the one gear they are mired in.

Well, to be fair, that's their "sound". If they like it, and their fans like it, then that's all that matters, even if others think it's formulaic. I find a lot of their work to be too lethargic for my tastes, but others may find it to be "soothing" or "introspective". They do have a handful of songs which have a tempo faster than their more common 40-60 beats-per-minute output, though. Anyhow, this song is "quite likable".

Posted 13 years ago by Proclivities [ Reply ]

I immediately thought of the scene in "Reality Bites" where Ethan Hawke answered the telephone with, "Hello - You have reached the winter of our discontent..."

Geez - I have too many movies I need to re-watch because of stuff like this. I love the Junkies.

Posted 13 years ago by Cynaera [ Reply ]

yep — i agree. Now listening to summer of discontent - and love it! BUT a whole album later...let me just slit my wrists now! BUT...I still really like Margo :)
HarvestMoon wrote:

I like amost every CJ song if it comes as a singular musical event. But can hardly listen to an entire album without getting annoyed or depressed. They did great cover versions, too (Powderfinger, Sweet Jane, Blue Moon to name a few).

Posted 13 years ago by tmc9902 [ Reply ]

Kristi wrote:

Who says music has to "get out of first gear" ?
And their songs are certainly not morose! Have you actually listened to any CJ?

Their music is beautiful, dreamy, thoughtful.

I will put it another way that might get through to you: Margo and the other Boring Flunkies have such a limited range of tempo and phrasing and tone that I groan when I see that they are Now Playing on RP. Scream a little, Margo, have fun, make a joke song, dance it up—whatever. Just break out of the ole lonesome whippoorwill mode you are stuck in.

And you ask if I have listened to any CJ. Ha. I was an associate producer in public radio in Montreal (Canada) in 1988 when a friend sent me this LP called The Trinty Session and said this was the hottest thing to come along in Canadian music in a long time. I was impressed for a while at their new sound—until LPs 2,3,4,5, etc. came along, with no change in range. They never did get out of the one gear they are mired in.

Posted 14 years ago by ThePoose [ Reply ]

Nice segue from the Chris Isaak song. Very similar vibe.

Posted 14 years ago by meauclaire [ Reply ]

I like amost every CJ song if it comes as a singular musical event. But can hardly listen to an entire album without getting annoyed or depressed. They did great cover versions, too (Powderfinger, Sweet Jane, Blue Moon to name a few).

Posted 14 years ago by HarvestMoon [ Reply ]

Yawwwwwn!

Posted 15 years ago by stephw [ Reply ]

westslope wrote:

Brilliant.

Agreed! The keyboards give this a bit of a Talk Talk sound, which really works for me.

Posted 15 years ago by peter_james_bond [ Reply ]

Posted 15 years ago by jkhandy [ Reply ]

Very nice!!

Posted 15 years ago by helgigermany [ Reply ]

Rickvee wrote:

In a just world The Cowboy Junkies would have sold millions by now. Glad Bill digs them cause I dig 'em too.

Actually, Trinity Sessions is certified platinum in the US, so they've sold at least a million... Not exactly millions, but it's not bad.

Posted 15 years ago by alanthecowboy [ Reply ]

Cowbow Junkies sound great after Chris Isaak. Excellent work.

Posted 15 years ago by ugly [ Reply ]

To date, the only listenable Cowboy Junkies song.

Posted 15 years ago by drife [ Reply ]

Yesterday I heard the title track from this album. It put into perspective how different this album is from other Junkies albums, say Trinity Sessions. Miles is much more dense and has a polished, produced feel to it, and you really hear it here. Fortunately, it does not diminish Margo Timmins' voice.

Posted 15 years ago by Zep [ Reply ]

Brilliant.

Posted 15 years ago by westslope [ Reply ]

I love the Junkies! Another great job of programing tonight. Thanks Radio Paradise!

Posted 16 years ago by ludite [ Reply ]

I might not like every tune, whatever. But Bill, you sure can spin a set!

Posted 16 years ago by Dog_Ear [ Reply ]

Kind of like a "comfort food" for the soul . . .

Posted 16 years ago by DeeCee1109 [ Reply ]

Kristi wrote:

Their music is beautiful, dreamy, thoughtful.

Agreed.

Posted 16 years ago by jagdriver [ Reply ]

*really* lame.

Posted 16 years ago by Thistle [ Reply ]

sonofpick wrote:

Wow, something upbeat from CJ.

facetious much?

Posted 17 years ago by lophrequa [ Reply ]

Wow, something upbeat from CJ.

Posted 17 years ago by sonofpick [ Reply ]

Very interesting band. Another turn-on c/o RP. Thank you!

Posted 17 years ago by nigelr [ Reply ]

Kristi wrote:

Who says music has to "get out of first gear" ? And their songs are certainly not morose! Have you actually listened to any CJ?

Their music is beautiful, dreamy, thoughtful.

You tell 'em.

Posted 17 years ago by RobK [ Reply ]

ThePoose wrote:

You say ''without being over the top.'' More like without being over the bottom: almost all of their songs are slow and morose such that they don't get out of first gear.

Who says music has to "get out of first gear" ? And their songs are certainly not morose! Have you actually listened to any CJ?

Their music is beautiful, dreamy, thoughtful.

Posted 17 years ago by Kristi [ Reply ]

keenevision wrote:

Hmmmmmm! I knew this girl who would just go WILD when Cowboy Junkies played.... :D needless to say i like the CB's ALOT!!! :p Margo has a great voice, and the band plays so tightly without being over the top!

You say ''without being over the top.'' More like without being over the bottom: almost all of their songs are slow and morose such that they don't get out of first gear.

Posted 17 years ago by ThePoose [ Reply ]

In a just world The Cowboy Junkies would have sold millions by now. Glad Bill digs them cause I dig 'em too.

Posted 18 years ago by Rickvee [ Reply ]

this sounds just like the fantastic band The Walkabouts!!And I like it :) Pls Bill play some time The Walkabouts. Barcelona,Spain

Posted 18 years ago by tro_73 [ Reply ]

Despite the frequent rotation I have yet to tire of hearing this track. So I bought the disk and enjoy it even more on the Hi Fi.

Posted 19 years ago by MinMan [ Reply ]

Not their best song, by a long shot..but likable nonetheless

Posted 19 years ago by LennytheB [ Reply ]

Excellent CD!

Posted 19 years ago by Shesdifferent [ Reply ]

God bless the Junkies. This was a particularly good album - lots of memories while in a small cabin upstate on acres of land, waiting for my first nephew to be born ("Are You Born Yet?"). This song reminds me of a summer of discontent while there. "Crescent Moon" is a great song for a cool September/October night (yeah, I know that's a different album).

Posted 20 years ago by Grantus [ Reply ]

ScottFromWyoming wrote:

Please let me jump on the bandwagon to bash this post: Not exactly a quote, now, is it? Allusion, maybe. And if the Cowboy Junkies can't do it, then neither can the millions of others thru the centuries, Shakespeare included, who have ever picked up a pen. John Steinbeck would kick your right here and now.

Posted 20 years ago by phineas [ Reply ]

The Cowboy Junkies (more specifically, Michael Timmins, who does the writing) are most likely the most literate, thoughtful, band to come along in ages. It is nice actually knowing them a bit also. s Emmanuel wrote:

Cheap: quoting Richard III in your song title. I bet they don't even know what it means exactly.

Posted 20 years ago by Frawg [ Reply ]

I like this band, but this song is sending a chill down my back, and it's not a good one. I think it's her voice.

Posted 21 years ago by Pez [ Reply ]

Everytime I hear the junkies I'm taken back to the first time I ever did. I was working at Killington VT as a ski lift operator, there was this fantastic radio station out of White River Junction that I could only pull in from the top of the mountain. The DJ played something off Trinity Sessions (a brand new release at the time) and then unable to stop herself, played three or four more in a row. Margot's voice is almost as distinctive as Emmylou's.

Posted 21 years ago by jamesbradley [ Reply ]

KevDog wrote:

Is there a band with a more distinctive sound than Cowboy Junkies? Yes, but not many.

True, but that's a double-edge sword, as well. I was huge CJ fan, starting with the Trinity Sessions, but after the fourth or fifth album, it all started to sound the same to me......

Posted 21 years ago by beelzebubba [ Reply ]

Not heard the Junkies before. Now I'm hooked.

Posted 21 years ago by Podge [ Reply ]

Originally Posted by trainmantim: Road trip music

Yep. With a smoke out the window.

Posted 21 years ago by eddief [ Reply ]

Love them Junkies.

Posted 21 years ago by Skyhawk [ Reply ]

Originally Posted by Emmanuel: Cheap: quoting Richard III in your song title. I bet they don't even know what it means exactly.

Please let me jump on the bandwagon to bash this post: Not exactly a quote, now, is it? Allusion, maybe. And if the Cowboy Junkies can't do it, then neither can the millions of others thru the centuries, Shakespeare included, who have ever picked up a pen. John Steinbeck would kick your

right here and now.

Posted 22 years ago by ScottFromWyoming [ Reply ]

thought the quote was... Now is the winter of our discontent

Originally Posted by Myrrh: And why wouldn't they? Do you have some special gift in the interpretation of Shakespeare? How pretentious. Maybe a critique of the song might be a better approach.

Posted 22 years ago by Rousseau [ Reply ]

The whole album is well worth a listen.

Posted 22 years ago by GGendeman [ Reply ]

Cheap: quoting Richard III in your song title. I bet they don\'t even know what it means exactly.

Posted 22 years ago by Emmanuel [ Reply ]

Hmmmmmm! I knew this girl who would just go WILD when Cowboy Junkies played.... :D needless to say i like the CB's ALOT!!! :p Margo has a great voice, and the band plays so tightly without being over the top!

Posted 23 years ago by keenevision [ Reply ]