Me At The End Of Episode 4 Of Life Is Strange

Me at the end of episode 4 of Life is Strange

Ellis Paul

 After having yet another listen to the most recent Ellis Paul album (The Storyteller’s Suitcase) I thought it’d be fun to have a quick look on Tumblr for any posts relating to him. I’m quite shocked that there is so little! After having some of his songs featured in films like Me Myself and Irene, Hall Pass and Shallow Hal I’d expected more people to have checked out his work and become big fans. 

I’m sure like a lot of people, my first exposure to his music was the song The World Isn’t Slowing Down which is featured prominently throughout Me, Myself and Irene. As a young 16 year old when I first heard this song, it was my first exposure to a song where I actually appreciated the story being told in the lyrics and was instantly hooked on the beautiful sound of his style of American folk music. 

Growing up and quite often still to this day for most music, my brain seems to focus in more on the instrumental side of songs and finds it reasonably hard to a) understand the actual lyrics being sung without serious concentration and b) decipher what they’re actually about. I find with Ellis Paul songs, his lyrics paint a beautiful picture which tells a story so clearly that for once I can actually appreciate both the instrumental and vocals at the same time. 

If anyone is interested in checking him out, I’d say his most accessible albums are -:

The Day After Everything Changed (2010) - The first six songs are absolute belters and would easily all be in my top 15 songs of his. I would say generally this album has a less folksy sound than his other albums but as an introduction to new fans I think this is the most accessible as a gateway to the rest of his music.

A Summer Night In Georgia (2008)- There’s only two live shows I wish I’d been at in person 1) when this album was recorded (ok technically over two nights I believe for this album) and 2) AC/DC at River Plate. Beautiful live renditions of some of his most beloved songs including the absolutely amazing performance of Alice’s Champagne Palace which I’ve listened to an embarrassing amount of times. 

Say Something - His third studio album from 1993, a good early album to sink your teeth into and has a more minimal production on most of his songs compared to some later albums. 

The Storyteller’s Suitcase - His most recent album (2019) and his most reflective in my opinion. Covering childhood, parenthood, life on the road, new relationships and love, politics and even death. This album also seems a little more “stripped back” in regards to the instrumentals compared to previous albums, its mainly just Ellis, his guitar and piano. 

If you do check out and enjoy his music, please please buy some of his albums to show your appreciation :) 

Chloe saying Tobanga is my new favourite thing in life

It’s the early 2000s, you just got home from school, you turn on the tv and change over to Kerrang!. One of these is now playing within the next two hours.

We gotta go back. 

Somehow.

ok hot weather, you’ve had your 4 weeks, go away and bring on autumn for 6 months now please so I can function without turning into a puddle of sweat