The first and only time I’ve ever seen Jim White in concert was over two years ago at the Orpheum Stage Door. Per usual, he mixed captivating storytelling and humor amongst his set list. It remains, unequivocally, one of my favorite performances in that venue, and fairs pretty well amongst all the concerts I’ve seen.

Jim White’s music evokes his Southern surroundings, the power of the creator, and sometimes the outright weird. Through that combination, his diamond-mind imagination and unique songwriting, he’s brought plenty of worthy records to my ears over the past few years. If this is your first introduction to his music, my personal favorite remains Drill a Hole in That Substrate and Tell Me What You See, followed closely by Wrong-Eyed Jesus!, though I’ve brought you here today to introduce you to his new work, which, at this pace of frantic repeated listens, could unset those previously referenced as the zenith of his body of work.

On March 4th Luaka Bop will release Jim White’s Transnormal Skipperoo. Jim describes the album title as “a name I invented to describe a strange new feeling I’ve been experiencing after years of feeling lost and alone and cursed. Now, when everything around me begins to shine, when I find myself dancing around in my back yard for no particular reason other than it feels good to be alive, when I get this deep sense of gratitude that I don’t need drugs or God or doomed romance to fuel myself through the gauntlet of a normal day, I call that feeling Transnormal Skiperoo.”

That description parlays itself into the music throughout the record, though long-time Jim White aficionados needn’t worry that he’s abandon his style of capturing a fleeting moment or telling a great story. My current favorite is the desolate and midnight drive number “Jailbird,” which White describes as “an old song from the days when I had to run from my problems.” The album’s first digital single (download below) is “Crash Into The Sun,” recorded by the renowned Tucker Martine and includes assistance from MoB favorite Laura Veirs. The song is full of vibrant energy, with a memorable/catchy chorus that could just as easily been released by label head and friend David Byrne.

Transnormal Skiperoo is a release that will reach past Jim’s weirdo fan base (myself included) and should garner him substantial praise and attention. There’s an old pledge of faith, which theorizes that there are certain artists good enough that you’d pay to listen to them read from the phone book. I think Jim’s the only one who could make that interesting enough to make it something I’d seriously entertain. Whatever he’s playing or reading a phone book, I just hope he does it in Wisconsin sometime this year.

Myspace: Jim White
MP3: Jim White – “Crash Into The Sun”

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