(Now that his morning funk has been rocked away by Steve Earle, McCormick is free to discover a new record from a favorite band…)
Because Julie called her high-school mate John Darnielle a genius, he resisted the Mountain Goats on principle.
Dylan was an ego-object back then. Making Bob share any space crowded McCormick when he really needed to feel large.
His change of heart wasn’t gradual. The recognition struck while hearing:
I remember California, I remember Malibu
I remember the states and the names of the cities but I don’t remember you
It was the perfection of college lit review writing. Things you just thought, rhymed and adored. Who hadn’t searched for that treasure?
Defeating jealousy gives him room. With pleasure, he listens.