Harlan T. Bobo - Too Much Love

This blog comes from Memphis, but there has only been one entry for a local artist (Lucero... Mr. Airplane Man almost counts, as one of the girls moved here). This entry is not just an attempt to remedy the dearth of Memphis artists on this Memphis blog; the song (and the album from which it is pulled) is phenomenal.

Harlan T. Bobo's "Too Much Love" is the best recording to come out of Memphis in quite some time. The fact that it is totally self-produced and released (along with interesting posters touting the CD's availability in "less discerning record stores" and a childishly disturbing coloring book) makes "Too Much Love" even more desirable. Plus, each CD has a hand-made, one-of-a-kind cover.

Harlan is a local artist and bassist (Viva l'American Deathray Music) that came out of nowhere with a collection of grinding, dixie-fried laments in the traditions of Nick Cave and Tom Waits. "Too Much Love's" titular anthem is my favorite; I am a sucker for organ. It's a drunkenly (on whiskey, of course) creepy little love song that wears the two aforementioned influences on it's sleeve while announcing it's uniqueness with tones of Memphis garage and lyrics that no one else but Bobo could write.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Harlan T. Bobo will be playing at Earnestine & Hazel's Huricane Elvis Party Saturday Night along with Impala and Royal Pendeltons!