Two

Albumbeschreibung

Papa M's Two continues David Pajo's series of singles made up of songs recorded in different cities across the U.S.A. The old folk standard "Black Is the Color" was recorded in Chicago by Pajo solo. His fragile voice and gentle acoustic playing gives the song the feel of late-night bedroom recording. It is also strangely reminiscent of one of Simon & Garfunkel's quieter, more foreboding moments. "Mary Was the Kind" was recorded in Bloomington, IN, with the help of Molly Kein on cello and Maggie Polk on violin. Pajo's oddly echoed vocals and the soaring strings bring a sense of unease to the dark lyrics and the beautiful melody. As much as Pajo seems influenced by Leonard Cohen and Lee Hazlewood, he is also very much an original. Not too many other people make music of such small scale grandeur these days. The third song is the true masterwork here. "World's Greatest Sin" was recorded in Los Angeles by Pajo solo and for five glorious minutes makes a claim to be the kind of song Dylan can every now and then pull out of his hat. It is a tiny epic with a madly catchy hook. Heck, it even references "Blowin' in the Wind" for maximum music-geek pleasure. Papa M is making folk music for people who hate folk music. It's hard to believe that at the same time Pajo was making this beautiful and restrained music he was also treading the boards with the (also wonderful but in a completely different way) Zwan.

© Tim Sendra /TiVo