I seem to remember an interview were Paul is saying something “deep” about songwriting & makes a crack, “yaddah, yaddah, blah, blah, blah… then I’d end up writing songs about lampshades. The context of the quote implied that such a song would be shit.

Then Suicaine came out, & the fucker went & wrote a song about a lampshade.

It’s hard for me to weigh Suicaine. My years between the 2nd & 3rd solo releases were full of change. My personal life got complicated, as they tend to do, & I lost touch with lots of interests, music included.

Suicaine came out around the same time I started hooking back up with my record collection. Kinda my “Welcome Back” album. The problem was, the record fit my mood like a glove. I listened to it, & then sorta forgot to take it out of the player.

After 1 die 20 weeks later, I decided it wasn’t healthy & put it away. Listening to it now all these years later, I’m torn…

Wonderful Lie – The best opening track on a solo record? Not the rocker one would expect. My only issue with this song: It’s sets the bar so high, I’m not sure the rest measures up.

Self Defense – “Cheekbones and hormones” &…Skip.

Best Thing… – Classic Paul turn-of-phrase.

Lookin’ Out Forever – Another Bizarro World Top 40 hit single. When he rips into this song at the Guthrie, yer like, “YEAAAHHH”.

Born for Me – This song draws blood. I think it’s beautiful.

Tears Rolling Up Our Sleeves – Too fancy, shmancy for my taste. “Pregnant for minutes & bored for hours”, the lyrics strike me as too Krafty.

Fugitive Kind – Love the song. Cringe during the opening.

Sunrise Always Listens – Really, Jodi? How sappy. 😉
Paul “bores a sunset, a lamp shade, & the TV then bed”…& then me.

Whatever Makes You Happy – Makes me happy. Cheeriest thing on the record, then you really listen.

Actor in the Street – Skip

Bookmark – I can’t like this song. Too specific, maybe. Too personal? An outtake for me.

Not sure how that all adds up.

I can say, I like it when Paul plays the pia…guitar.

meaning that,(to me, anyway) as much as he wants her, he knows that he will ruin it by getting too close. or something like that.