Finding Jon Brion, Day 2: The Album

So what of this lone album released by Jon Brion? Well, though I’m pretty sure I’ve written of it before on this blog in an earlier incarnation, there’s no doubt it bears mentioning again. Meaningless, Brion’s 2001 solo effort, is damn near impossible to track down (really only available these days via CD Baby, the web’s greatest procurer of obscurity. If you are willing to travel off the beaten path a bit to obtain it, however, I can guarantee you won’t be disappointed.

The album is straight-up instantly likeable pop music that sounds both familiar and innovative at the same time, with Brion serving as literally a one man band on almost every track. This is perhaps most evident on tracks like “Walking Through Walls,” an upbeat motivational tune that features Brion on vocals, guitar, piano, even acting as his own backup singer (adding, for instance, a just-audible echo of “motherf***ers” to the declaration “get out of my way”).

Plus, when was the last time you hears a pop anthem that successfully incorporated the word “caterwaul”? It curses and it educates!

Jon Brion—Walking Through Walls (from Meaningless)

Tune in tomorrow for what may be the only time you see Fiona Apple and Kanye West sharing a blog post.