The New Hottness To Me: Jeffrey Lewis

The greatest discovery I made at SXSW came the very first night. I scored a great spot up front by the stage at the Brooklyn Vegan showcase. I decided to chill there for the next act, whom I didn't recognize, to be up front for Kaki King later on. My expectations were low, because something about the tired "Frontman's Name" and "The Band's name" formula always seems to lead to a bad act unless the frontman previously was part of a great band. Jeffrey Lewis and The Jitters was an exception to this, and ever since catching that show, I have been enthralled with him.

It has been an extremely long time since I discovered a new personal music hero, and it is rare indeed that a person I hadn't even heard of a few months ago could earn such respect with me, but Jeffrey Lewis is just that amazing. Lewis is the paradigm of an artist. Not only does he make great music, but he also draws cool comics, and in both endeavors they are completely about unrestrained self expression. He is the greatest incarnation of the DIY ethos I have ever heard. His songs are powered by extremely clever lyrics, but the music captures the perfect simplicity that reminds me of the magic of Daniel Johnston, or Nirvana's Unplugged album, or Beck or Neil Young stripped down acoustic songs. I will always be more impressed about taking the most basic of music structure and making it stand out above everything else rather than the almost athletic nature of playing scales and rhythms faster than anyone. I like those who can do both best, but if I have to choose one, music is about art first to me, and at this point, I can't think of anyone else that does music purely in that realm better than Jeffrey Lewis.

On a completely personal level, I couldn't have discovered him at a better time in my life. I'm at a point where I'm making some serious life choices that are intended to allow me to live my life on my own terms. I want to pursue a life centered around art and self-expression and writing, and Jeffrey Lewis's back catalog is a very reassuring and pertinent soundtrack to this new, weird and mysterious road I'm traveling on. Get obsessed with me:

Jeffrey Lewis : Tapes From The Crypt : Gravity Sue


Jeffrey Lewis : 12 Crass Songs : Big A


Jeffrey Lewis : It's The Ones Who've Cracked That The Light Shines Through : Don't Let The Record Label Take You Out To Lunch


Jeffrey Lewis : Tapes From The Crypt : Complete History Of Jeff's Sexual Conquests, Vol. 1




"History Of Communism In China":



Jeffrey Lewis: On A Balcony, (part 1) "Heavy Heart":



Jeffrey Lewis: On A Balcony, (part 2) "If Life Exists":



BBC Interview:



Jeffrey Lewis Myspace