Better late than never

Oh Rufus Wainwright, I am sorry that I failed you.

I got "Want Two" maybe a month ago, spun it a couple times and then shelved it with a "meh." I know! I was such a fool. Something made me put it back in the CD player last night while I was cooking dinner, and I'm so glad I did! Maybe I wasn't listening the first time, or maybe I was in a bad mood then -- for whatever reason, I loved every song, every line on that album last night.

Don't you love it when that happens? You can just feel the light bulb blinking on. You put the disc in the player without much excitment, you remember how the first time you heard it you were unimpressed, you don't figure on being impressed this time but you want to give it one more chance since you did pay $15 for it. And then ... magic. It's not quite the same feeling as you get when you buy a CD, listen to it in the car on the way home from the record store, and it just wallops you with greatness immediately. Oh, that rules so much. But the sneak-up is delicious, too, and has the added element of wonder -- mainly, wonder about how the hell did you not think this was great in the first place and what the hell is wrong with you sometimes? :)

Here are just a few of the other artists that have snuck up on me, and I'm sure thankful they did:
Josh Ritter -- I borrowed the Hello Starling CD from Sean several months before I bought it, and I remember handing it back with a "meh." Now I own it and listen to it all the time. Funny.
Kelly Willis -- I'd heard all the hype about her career and how it was rescued from the evil clutches of corporate Nashville, and I'd spent some time with "What I Deserve" on listening stations in CD stores. Again, meh. Then I bought her next CD, "Easy," on sale and soon after saw her live at Merlefest -- you can bet I did a lot of forehead smacking for missing that train. And yes, I DO own "What I Deserve" now.
Steve Earle -- Ahh, this one's embarrassing. I had a boyfriend who was a Steve Earle nut, and he'd play his CDs for me and I just couldn't stand his voice. I can't even tell you what exactly happened, or when, to lead me to make the transformation into the Steve Earle nut I am today. All I know is that I remember not liking Steve Earle, and then I remember pouncing on tickets for a Steve Earle show the day they went on sale not too long later. Go figure. Apparently this is the way of things for many fans of Mr. Earle. An acquired taste, I suppose, but one that's damn hard to shake once you acquire it.

So to Rufus, Josh, Kelly and Steve (and others) -- I owe you an apology. I'm sorry I was stupid. But thanks for sticking with me and somehow making your CDs nudge themselves back into my CD player eventually so I could see the light.