I don't spend much time on the Lindsey forum, but Lindsey's songs on Tusk are my favorites out of all his FM work, so here I am! I love this group of songs because to me they seem to be the most genuine, emotionally raw statements he's made. The anger, the nastiness, the sadness...it's there all there, it's palpable, and it's accentuated by the music and production rather than diluted. When I listen, it's the turmoil that grabs me locks me in.
The Ledge~ This is almost my favorite on the album. It's just so hostile and musically frantic, it's seemingly teetering on the edge of control. I think it's Lindsey's answer to Stevie's "you'll never get away" statement in Silver Springs. "You can love me baby, but you can't walk out..." And "you're never gonna make it baby..." Ouch! If he was talking to Stevie, how wrong could he have been?
Save Me a Place~ I love the lyric "And I guess I need to be amazed." This song is achingly vulnerable, needy. Makes me want to hug him!
What Makes You Think You're the One~ This is another great hostile-to-Stevie song. To me the lyrics are a response to their remaining emotional connection. He feels that she's still expecting him to love her and want her and maybe pine for her, but he's saying no way, you're not so special. Maybe he's fighting what's left of the connection through these lyrics.
That's All for Everyone~ This one I don't like. It's the only one I skip when I'm listening to the CD. I find the alternating/echoing "that's all/exactly what I need" part kind of annoying.
Not That Funny~ This is one nasty song--but that's why I love it! "You're here 'cause I say so" makes me think that of course is about Stevie, that she would be nowhere without him. And then the rest of it seems to be a "you made your bed, now lie in it. And if you don't like it, well ha!"
I love both versions, the album version because it IS more sarcastic, and the live versions because Lindsey just takes the opportunity to go absolutely crazy on this song.
That's Enough for Me~ This is the nicer cousin to The Ledge, a wistful acknowledgement of the good and bad feelings that remain, and a sort of acceptance and closure. I like it. Very sweet.
I Know I'm Not Wrong~ Another wistful, sad song even though the music is fairly upbeat. He's trying to convince himself of something, so he seems a little lost...I want to comfort him again. lol. Seems to me there's not the same kind of resolution as in That's Enough for Me.
Walk a Thin Line~ I like this--instrospective, a little of the "tortured artist" vibe...Why won't anyone listen? Why doesn't anyone understand? I'm listening, I get it!
Tusk~ I love it. It's spooky, it's mysterious, it's dark, it's angry. "Don't tell me that you love me, just tell me that you want me." He wants lust but not love. And wild lust, by the sound of the rhythm, the jungle sounds, the yelling! I also love the grand scale of the song, its ambition--you need an entire marching band to do it up right. Excellent, excellent. Genious. I love this song.
Whew. That was fun. I need to go listen to Tusk now.
