Thanksgiving Song No. 3: Scott Walker's "Thanks for Chicago, Mr James"

A seedy and sumptuous track from Scott Walker's disowned Til The Band Comes In record (which is pretty great, btw), "Mr James" really captures the way we mask rejection with gratitude, or cloak it in condescension (it's not you it's me). Past-tense thankfulness sure seems to lean toward sentimentality, does it not? I certainly prefer the more responsive and in-the-moment, aka Gospel, type. But far be it for me to argue with such great orchestration:



p.s. Come to think about it, "Mr James" was actually my introduction to Scott - I was seduced by the seduction, as it were. If you're not aware of the mystery and majesty that is Scott Walker, the man responsible (in part) for bringing both Radiohead and Blur together, the well is very deep. Just watch 30 Century Man, and then buy Scott 4, followed by Scott 2.