Classic Sounds: Edie Brickell & New Bohemians
Philosophy is the talk on a cereal box Religion is the smile on a dog
by Walter Price
Edie Brickell & New Bohemians hit it big in 1988 with Shooting Ribberbands at the Stars. Their retro hippie jam sound with the magical and somewhat concerning toothy smiled name sake mesmerized the kids on both sides of alternative and mainstream. Although there hit or one hit wonder status maker, “What I Am” summed up the band and the era pretty well. Well, sorta legitimized that segment of Patchouli drenched crowd that made waves that particular year.
‘What I Am” is a mature yet playful song and I took this and the entire album seriously. In an era of ultra annoying poetry jams and wanna be trippy hippies I thought it rather profound. Then again, I was convinced the classic single I’m celebrating here was a cover of some 60’s festival classic. Going so far as having a heated and loud argument about the origins of the tune with pals over dinner, I lost. C‘est la vie
Writeen byBrickell and guitarist Kenny Withrow it still has a ring of cool….No doubt you’ve heard but if not here it is. And add the album to your collection…it’s a great weekend play.
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