portland, oregon

dear ernst,

listening to neko case reminded me of loretta lynn which reminded me of one of my favorite songs from lynn's most recent album. you may have heard it.

van lear rose was the album jack white called her up and begged her to make and he ended up producing it and it was touted as loretta lynn's comeback album. i sometimes have mixed feelings about jack white. i think he's a bit pretentious but also brilliant. i know you don't like the white stripes [they're SO good tho!] so i won't bother to send you any of that shiet. BUT this song was the first song i had listened to [and i wasn't that big of a white stripes fan at the time] where i got it. i finally understood what the big deal with jack white was. that he can truly produce not just make basic blues rock songs and have a cutesy on stage gimmick.

i remember the first time i listened to Portland Oregon: i was driving up polk street to my apartment on sutter [i think i was even driving in my old mustang - i must have been], stuck in some traffic and listening to the stereo a bit too loud, which is pretty typical. this song came on and just opened with this quick guitar riff and started building right away, really quickly. its like you hear all the instruments that are eventually going to come fourth in the song building speed for 50 seconds. then it drops into the basic melody, moves into the harder beats and picks up. then suddenly its almost like the sound gets separated - parted like the red sea - and here comes loretta lynn's voice through it all: "well portland oregon an sloe gin fizz, if that ain't love then tell me what is, uh huh." i was totally hooked. my favorite line: "well i lost my heart, it didn't take no time. that ain't all, i lost my mind in Oregon."

this song makes me wish i liked gin.

your friend,
gills