Robbie Fulks

My problem with Fulks (my problem, not his) is that I started with Couples in Trouble, an album which is 1.) incredible, and 2.) unlike any of his other albums.

There's very little out-and-out country; instead you get faux-trad. folk (In Bristol Town One Bright Day), southern rock (Dancing on the Ashes), piano-and-strings torch song (My Tormentor), Marshall Crenshaw-riffic pop (Mad at a Girl), even a couple minutes of hiss and buzz that would fit right into Sonic Youth's "Providence." It completely skewed my expectations.

There's almost nothing from this album on You Tube. Here's an acoustic "Mad at a Girl":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1rgjv2RJLo

I am a huge fan of Robbie's. Started with South Mouth, then back to Country Love Songs, the on to Let's Kill Saturday Night, which I think is a terrific record. The title track is an all-time personal fave of mine. Georgia Hard is great, too.

I wasn't going to post just to say "I love Robbie," but then Hideous Lump lauded Couples in Trouble, which is funny, because it's my least favorite of his.

Besides being a terrific songwriter, I think Robbie is one of the smartest dudes making music, and a stunning writer of prose when he wants to be.

Need to spend more time with the new one.

I love everything up until "George Hard", which really fell flat for me. Indeed, "Couples In Trouble" was an outstanding album for exactly the genre-hopping reasons Lumpy laid out. "Georgia Hard" simply couldn't compare. I should give it another listen after all these years and see if, removed from my expectations, it stands up.

My question about his self-released 50+ songs remains - yea or nay?

Haven't heard the whole thing but sampler sounded good last night.

He's in town for a split second, playing at Barbès tonight in a duo with his pal Jenny Scheinman.

His new record, Upland Stories is phenomenal. And if I hear a better song in 2016 than Fare Thee Well Carolina Gals, it will be a great year for music.

I take back my positive experience of 8 years ago, played on the same bill a couple summers back and dude pulled some very unprofessional shit (taking someone's expensive instrument without permission to 'play' and joke around on during his set).

one of thee greatest working songwriters, imo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKhZDOTMVK0

HI DERE

what does this mean
did he do something bad
did he die
or
are you just listening to him

My new screen name reminded me of one of his songs.

And his friend Jenny Scheinman (see recent video post) just posted that they are on tour, I think

Yes, starting in Tucson.

And moving on to:
http://www.robbiefulks.com/tour-1

Also wish I could find that ancient blog post he wrote which featured karaoke.

I really, really, really enjoyed xpost Upland Stories, which was much more well-considered than anything I've heard or read about his behavior. The follow-up was with Linda Gail Lewis, thus doubly disappointing, because she also made at least one awesome album (with her brother), and I've heard intriguing tracks since, though not another whole album.
Last thing I read about him was in that Chicago article about the collapse of Bloodshot (linked on the Lydia Loveless thread). He wasn't ranting about it, but was one of the several artists mentioned who were--casting about.Sure hope the new owners will do right by all of them. Retrieving the financial records, such as they are, seemed pretty challenging.

his behavior? huh? Robbie has never been anything but a rock-solid professional who writes great songs and performs them well. never been in any trouble or acted like an asshole (in public) that i'm aware of. just been doing his job for 30+ years.

Maybe not that big a deal, but apparently he has his moments, for inst:

I take back my positive experience of 8 years ago, played on the same bill a couple summers back and dude pulled some very unprofessional shit (taking someone's expensive instrument without permission to 'play' and joke around on during his set).

― sam jax sax jam (Jordan), Monday, May 16, 2016

I still have hard feelings about it

I'm sure he would apologize now if asked about it, but it basically ruined him for me (not that I was a huge fan or anything)

not trying to be a shit, but i'll stick w/ my observations of Robbie having seeing him play 5 times and interviewed him 2 or 3 (can't remember).

bummer Jordan had a bad experience with him, tho.

He once chastised/berated me for “not smiling” at one of his show, telling me “I must not be having a good time.” Maybe he was just fishing for audience approval, still don’t know how I feel about that. Jenny Scheinman was smiling enough for the both of us.

My perception of him from interviewing him (years ago) and seeing him play a few times is that he’s a perennial smart-ass who can probably be a dick, but in his own mind is “only kidding.”

Good songwriter regardless.

Yes, this is exactly right.

A few posts down in his current FB feed he seems to have made a weird joke about Stiv Bators.

definitely a smart-ass. fair enough ... my fanboy-ism is clouding my judgment!

“That’s Where I’m From” is a hell of a song.

Yeah it clearly wasn't mean-spirited, and he couldn't have known the stature of that musician or the very difficult time they were going through (closely intertwined with their relationship to that instrument). But that's why you don't pick up instruments you don't own or play for a dumb bit during your set, just a good general policy.

otm