Snobbin: Beautiful Trash in the Pop Culture Gutter

 319. The Living Skeleton (1968), Hiroshi Matsuno, Shochiku 320. In the Realm of the Senses (1976), Nagisa Oshima, Argos 321. Withnail and I (1987), Bruce Robinson, Cineplex Odeon 322. The Horse's Mouth (1958), Ronald Neame, General Film 323. W.R.: The Mysteries of the Organism (1971), Dušan Makavejev 324. I am Curious (Yellow), Vilgot Sjöman, Grove Press 325. The Blues Accordin' to Lightnin' Hopkins (1970), Les Blank 326. Bulldog Drummond Comes Back (1937), Louis King, Paramount 327. The Naked City (1948), Jules Dassin, Universal 328. Born in Flames (1983), Lizzie Borden, First Run

I wasn't originally entirely taken with Scott H. Biram. He wrote quite exceptional country and blues songs that were filtered through a lo-fi vibe that recalled later era Hank the third and Joe Buck. I didn't see the passion and originality at first. Biram is revivalist, but brings real soul and dedication to his bluesy rave-ups. I first heard the song, "Go Down Ol" Hannah" from his 2009 record, Something's Wrong/Lost Forever on shuffle mode. It sounded like a vintage 1930's blues song. I actually asked myself whether it was John Lee Hooker or Lightnin' Hopkins. When I looked and saw that it was Biram I was amazed. Like he was channeling an old blues singer, he gives his all and makes the song sound like an original even though it has really good production for a Biram album as most of them are fairly lo-fi. By the next song, he is as dirty as ever. As a one man band, he not only can bring different styles at a drop of a hat, but is clearly ca...