Mary Lou Lord’s Got No Shadow was originally released in 1998 and now gets its first vinyl release on Fire Records. Sounding as fresh as did back then this jangly folk-rock jewel sees Mary Lou joining in sonic partnership with a spiritual brother in Nick Saloman of The Bevis Frond. Nick’s the foremost of a stellar cast of musicians including Elliott Smith, Roger McGuinn, Ethan Johns, Jon Brion and Money Mark.
Comprising a combination of Lord and Saloman compositions, a pair of co-writes, and takes on Freedy Johnston’s ‘The Lucky One’ and Elizabeth Cotten’s ‘Shake Sugaree’. There’s a great version of Nick’s iconic ‘Lights Are Changing’; songs about London in ‘Seven Sisters’ – where she quotes briefly from The Pogues – and ‘Down On The Lea’ which prefigures The Rails by almost fifteen years. ‘Some Jingle Jangle Morning (When I’m Straight)’ – work out the derivations yourself – revisits her friendship with Kurt Cobain during her Olympia days.
Previously Mary Lou Lord had travelled and busked – New York, Seattle, London. Cassettes were dubbed, EPs recorded for Kill Rock Stars. She wrote her own tunes and teamed up with Bevis in the UK enjoying the beauty of the Lea Valley before taking her wares from Walthamstow to the world. Later she put out an album on Loose and you’d run into her playing on 6th Street in Austin during SXSW in the early noughties.
Still going strong she’s got a gig with Bevis Frond in Boston tonight, and her most recent album Backstreet Angels includes songs by The Green Pajamas, Paul Westerberg, and Peter Bruntnell. So still in the best of company.
Track Listing
His Lamest Flame (Saloman, Lord) – 3:37
Western Union Desperate (Lord) – 3:09
Lights Are Changing (Saloman) – 5:23
Seven Sisters (Lord) – 3:36
Throng of Blowtown (Lord) – 3:25
The Lucky One (Freedy Johnston) – 3:07
She Had You (Saloman) – 3:57
Some Jingle Jangle Morning (When I’m Straight) (Lord) – 3:44
Shake Sugaree (Elizabeth Cotten) – 2:21
Two Boats (Saloman, Lord) – 4:02
Supergun (Saloman) – 3:34
Down Along the Lea (Saloman) – 2:04
Subway (Lord, Saloman) – 4:14
Bucketfull Of Brains 