The Brothers Buffett

I may not be the biggest man, but I was the biggest boy.

It takes a big man to admit when he’s wrong. But, really, the biggest man of all is the one who has the ability to admit he’s wrong — but never actually has to.

I am no longer the biggest man.

I’m taking a cue from Warren tonight — WB in his letters routinely admits to being an idiot — and recognizing a sad fact: ten albums in, Jimmy is… how do I say this… not that bad.

I entered into this assuming Jimmy was purveyor of, to quote South Park, ”drunken frat-boy monkey garbage,” and to my discredit never really left that position. But having listened to literally nothing but JB for three months, his first ten albums offer a lot of listenable songs. Cough. Good songs. Songs I choose to listen to even when outside the bounds of this project.

So before moving on I actually have to adjust some of my ratings to correct for my initial Jimmy curve.

Hold me.

• “The Captain and the Kid” (Down to Earth, Havana Daydreamin’). I gave this a 3 but I have listened to it enough — and still like it three months later, for God’s sake — to make it a 4.
• “Ace” (High Cumberland Jubilee). Remember Ace? The little man deserves a 3.
• “Come Monday” (Living and Dying in 3/4 Time) is probably a 5. I gave this a 4 assuming it was too early (JB’s fourth album) to award a 5. Nope. This a 5 by any measure.
• “Trying to Reason with Hurricane Season” (A1A). I mentioned this in my post on Changes in Latitudes… but this is probably in all actuality also a 5. I have listened to this song more than any other, and I think it’s his best. Just enough Gulf Coast to not overwhelm, and the right amount of JB sincerity. Also: a hangover.
• “Presents to Send You” (A1A). 3 too. This is pretty good. I want to hear it again, which is my “3″ minimum.
• “Tin Cup Chalice” (A1A). Yeah. This is a 3. Sorry.
• “Stories We Could Tell” (A1A). 3. This is getting embarrassing.
• “Some Gothic Ranch Action” (Rancho Deluxe). This song is so cool it’s a 4, maybe even 5. I rated it a three initially. What was I thinking? Every time I put it on I want to dance around. Here, listen to it again:

• “Havana Daydreamin’” (Havana Daydreamin’). This has come back into my head enough to justify a 3.
• “Wonder Why We Ever Go Home” (Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes). I gave this a 3, but it’s a 4. Something works so friggin’ well here between the guitar and harmonica, and Jimmy just lets it be — here in the era before background singers and wind-chimes.
• “Coast of Marseilles” (Son of a Son of a Sailor). I rated this a 1 to penalize Jimmy for the overindulgent pap that accompanies the melody (it’s like a parody of a Pixar theme). I received some feedback and must face reality: First 90 seconds? 4. Rest of song? 2. Average: 3. I think Jimmy killed this in the mix and it’s too bad. Left to just a guitar and him, and maybe the violin, it’s a good song. I will check out the version on encores soon and hope for the best.
• “Lady I Can’t Explain” (Volcano). I missed this one flat-out. It’s a great track. 3 or a 4.

Here’s further reality I have to face. In ten albums I have listened to 108 songs. Of these, 31 ended up at three or better. Thirty-one. Even more starkly: I have a two-hour playlist of just Jimmy Buffett songs that I like.

I am sure – sure — that JB gets worse in the 80s. But I have to fess up that as of 1980 I like the bastard. I certainly have enjoyed him more than Warren’s letters. (WB: you have lost me money, and you have taught me nothing. Let’s go already.)

That’s it. We’ll resume regularly-scheduled programming tomorrow.

Call me a parrothead and I’ll sock you in the face.