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Gregory Alan Isakov — This Empty Northern Hemisphere
Album: This Empty Northern Hemisphere
Avg rating:
7

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1777









Released: 2009
Length: 4:54
Plays (last 30 days): 3
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Smoke it flies from whisky mouths
Vagabonds walk this suitcase town
Summer left us beckoning
The cottonwoods were all worn out

Night comes fixing on the day
And the universe reigned again
While the wheels roll, it all glows a flickering light

While you were sleeping I was the turning the dials
And I walled up your kingdom with radio wires
And the bells of the choir came in low and rumbling
..aw you should a heard them

Living here in this city on fire, well I've been fine
Just dancing drunk above the street
Me the ghost of caroline

And that was me, ya know, calling up above
From the steeples in the church yard

Watch the wheels roll to find another place home

While you were sleeping, you bet that I might
Walk this empty northern hemisphere wide
And the kingdom it came, well it all fell down
It all fell to dust
Comments (52)add comment
comfort me on this scary ass doomsday of an election - this song helps but goddamnit. WT ever loving fuck happened to my country?
Posted 2 weeks ago by marysclark    [ Reply ]
the lyrics make me think he spent a summer up in northern alberta working at an oil refinery or some such. nice tune 
Posted 8 months ago by wanderinglevel    [ Reply ]
The mike in the wiki photo makes it seem like he has sick sideburns, 8 on that alone.
Posted 1 year ago by magonivel55    [ Reply ]
 zebradys wrote:

This is not what is playing right now.
Songs that played 20 minutes ago are repeating.



just disconnect for a few moments and re-connect. This happens occasionally with RP. You can fix it yourself.
Posted 2 years ago by mach-hog    [ Reply ]
This is not what is playing right now.
Songs that played 20 minutes ago are repeating.
Posted 2 years ago by zebradys    [ Reply ]
saw him play with Patty Griffin in October - very impressed and thrilled to be hearing live music again! play on!
Posted 2 years ago by xcranky_yankee    [ Reply ]
Following half of Abbey Road and Life On Mars, how much excellence do you think I can take in a day?!?  Try me! 
Posted 3 years ago by jerund    [ Reply ]
Thank's RP to let me know about this great artist. He's not very known in France and his records are hard to find but i finally suceed to bought them on line, i'm impatient to get them tomorrow for a Gregory Isakov' week-end.
Posted 3 years ago by Ptijoc    [ Reply ]
RP you I introduced me to the work of this wonderful artist a few years back. Caroline is fewer than 60 miles away. Thank you.
Posted 3 years ago by mach-hog    [ Reply ]
 RabbitEars wrote:
just one second of this song and I'm transported.
 

First few riffs and I thought we were in for a cover of Take a Walk on the Wild Side
Posted 4 years ago by pinto    [ Reply ]
Just Brilliant Composition for a groovy high. 💋
Posted 4 years ago by Matt_Maurer    [ Reply ]
 helgigermany wrote:
Beautiful!
 

I'm just starting to really pay attention to him for some reason.  I second that opinion.
Posted 4 years ago by khardog145    [ Reply ]
 RabbitEars wrote:
This version of this song is from a live album, not Empty Northern Hemisphere: 

 
This song does not appear on his live album
Posted 4 years ago by KevinM    [ Reply ]
just one second of this song and I'm transported.
Posted 4 years ago by RabbitEars    [ Reply ]
 MayBaby wrote:
Ha! Thought it was Chris Martin.
 
Chris Martin couldn't achieve this if his own life was at stake.

Plus, I hear Coldplay won't be touring to promote their new album due to "concerns" about the environmental impact of the events.  Huzzah!!!
Posted 4 years ago by DaidyBoy    [ Reply ]
 fredriley wrote:
There's a fine line between elegaic and soporific, which wavers according to mood, day of week, hormones etc. Sadly this one is the wrong side of it today, and comes to these ears as aural Valium {#Sleep}
 
And what's wrong with that? I have a whole soporific playlist
Posted 5 years ago by haresfur    [ Reply ]
 MayBaby wrote:
Ha! Thought it was Chris Martin.
 

Me too!
Posted 5 years ago by ziakut    [ Reply ]

Gregory Alan Isakov — This Empty Northern Hemisphere

What a Superset this is!  10

Posted 6 years ago by Rockit9    [ Reply ]
Such a lovely dance-with-your-love-outside-as-the-fireflies-glow song :)
Posted 6 years ago by Laurelai    [ Reply ]
 crogers wrote:

Big points to you both — love it when an adult discourse comes together!

 
+1 

I wish our politicians could discuss their differences with as much intelligence and understanding. 

RP is such a great place to hang out, thanks Bill (and all of your music-loving, intelligent listeners/commenters)
Posted 6 years ago by bluematrix    [ Reply ]
Ha! Thought it was Chris Martin.
Posted 7 years ago by MayBaby    [ Reply ]
Meilleur Hiver?
Posted 7 years ago by ArrayMac    [ Reply ]
A mary jane tune for sure.
Posted 7 years ago by Rockit999    [ Reply ]
Beautiful!
Posted 7 years ago by helgigermany    [ Reply ]
I saw him play with the orchestra at Portland's Schnitz. Front row seat. So this is what it feels like to be a "fan".
Posted 8 years ago by Spiderwoman    [ Reply ]
I love his voice.. Can be a little dragged on, maybe some lead? 
Posted 8 years ago by MS_Anchor    [ Reply ]
 On_The_Beach wrote:

I much prefer this this explanation. Sounds more constructive, less insulting.
Thanks misterB.

 
Big points to you both — love it when an adult discourse comes together!
Posted 9 years ago by crogers    [ Reply ]
ugh, what droning noise.
Posted 9 years ago by Jelani    [ Reply ]
{#Bananajam}
Posted 9 years ago by prefabsprout    [ Reply ]
 misterbearbaby wrote:
Not to scratch the nit-bite on a gnat's nut, but I stand by my comment. It is quite concise, pithy even. Isakov's is a serious artistic attempt and my comment is likewise serious. It clearly conveys my opinions that I find the songwriting and musical composition overly simple and the singer's voice unpleasant.  It's of equal value to explain my  low score for this tune as it is to explain a high rating, if you admire this artist's work. I owe it to RP, a listener-supported medium (which I support financially, a point of fact) to elucidate what I like, as well as what I dislike. QED. I don't just toss these any comments off for your irritation; music- all music- means a great deal to me.
 
I much prefer this this explanation. Sounds more constructive, less insulting.
Thanks misterB.
Posted 9 years ago by On_The_Beach    [ Reply ]
 On_The_Beach wrote:

So... one sentence and a bunch of whining does not really make a "song comment" per se.1

 
Not to scratch the nit-bite on a gnat's nut, but I stand by my comment. It is quite concise, pithy even. Isakov's is a serious artistic attempt and my comment is likewise serious. It clearly conveys my opinions that I find the songwriting and musical composition overly simple and the singer's voice unpleasant.  It's of equal value to explain my  low score for this tune as it is to explain a high rating, if you admire this artist's work. I owe it to RP, a listener-supported medium (which I support financially, a point of fact) to elucidate what I like, as well as what I dislike. QED. I don't just toss these any comments off for your irritation; music- all music- means a great deal to me.
Posted 9 years ago by misterbearbaby    [ Reply ]
Just saw him a few weeks ago... so lovely, great band. My favorite artist to listen to these days. Such sweetness about him. 
Posted 9 years ago by RabbitEars    [ Reply ]
 hempmandan wrote:
Asimov?
 
Not unless he's written 300 books, numerous papers, articles and reviews.
Posted 9 years ago by TerryS    [ Reply ]
Wow. How annoying.. 
Posted 9 years ago by greenbuilding    [ Reply ]
Asimov?
Posted 9 years ago by hempmandan    [ Reply ]
 misterbearbaby wrote:
So... one chord progression and a bunch of whining does not really make a "song" per se.1
 
So... one sentence and a bunch of whining does not really make a "song comment" per se. 1
Posted 9 years ago by On_The_Beach    [ Reply ]
8 > 9
Posted 9 years ago by KevinM    [ Reply ]
 cbazinet wrote:
He sounds like Andrew Bird's twin brother from a different mother.

 
Was just thinking ...
Posted 9 years ago by tonypf    [ Reply ]
 misterbearbaby wrote:
So... one chord progression and a bunch of whining does not really make a "song" per se.1

 
  I hear at least five different chords in this song.  Anyhow, I guess it depends on one's definition of a "song".  It's probably best not to start a sentence with the word "so"; it's a bad habit and annoyingly popular these days.
Posted 10 years ago by Proclivities    [ Reply ]
So... one chord progression and a bunch of whining does not really make a "song" per se.1
Posted 10 years ago by misterbearbaby    [ Reply ]
Very cool {#Cool}
Posted 10 years ago by brkit2012    [ Reply ]
Outstanding album.
Bill, please play 'Master and the Hound'; it is my favorite song on the planet; absolutely beautiful. 
Posted 10 years ago by pinem    [ Reply ]
Absolutely love it.

I do so hope he does it when I see him later this month.
   
Posted 10 years ago by robpratley    [ Reply ]
He sounds like Andrew Bird's twin brother from a different mother.
Posted 10 years ago by cbazinet    [ Reply ]
Thanks for branching out with your GAI selections. I'm a huge fan of his.
Posted 10 years ago by Spiderwoman    [ Reply ]
 MojoJojo wrote:
 
{#Yes}
Posted 10 years ago by On_The_Beach    [ Reply ]
very nice
Posted 10 years ago by dlaumor    [ Reply ]
There's a fine line between elegaic and soporific, which wavers according to mood, day of week, hormones etc. Sadly this one is the wrong side of it today, and comes to these ears as aural Valium {#Sleep}
Posted 10 years ago by fredriley    [ Reply ]
He sounds Perry Como laid back. That doesn't work for the tempo of the music. Lay off the Xanax, dude.

This early in the morning it should be all rock, all the time. Or at least until I have had my second mug of coffee.

3.
Posted 10 years ago by n4ku    [ Reply ]
Great lyrics :) and everything else, well done!
Posted 10 years ago by Amyjacksoncc    [ Reply ]
Saw him open for Josh Ritter in January. This song was the highlight of their set
Posted 10 years ago by KevinM    [ Reply ]

Posted 10 years ago by MojoJojo    [ Reply ]