[midlife 150] #138: lambchop “up with people”

#138 Up With People by Lambchop (taken from Nixon, 2000)

Nashville-resident Lambchop‘s stock peaked in 2000 with the release of album Nixon, and this track as a single, helped by a remix from then-hip downtempo producers Zero 7.

Up With People - about humanity’s (as represented on the album by Richard M. Nixon) propensity to f*** things up without really understanding or caring – takes full advantage of the extended collective, including choir and orchestra, band constant Kurt Wagner brought together to record the album.

The music’s gospel-like charm belies the pessimism, even nihilism of the lyrics, and makes listening to Up With People sheer, uneasy pleasure.

This review is part of close to 94 ‘s [midlife 150] series, which counts down favourite music 1970-2009.