John Doe retrospective due in May

The Best of John Doe: This Far will be released May 20 on Yep Roc Records. 

 

Compiled by Doe, the album guides listeners through the acclaimed songwriter’s solo catalog, encompassing nearly a quarter century. Doe says of the album, “I wanted to convey the idea of the best: this far. This is not ‘I’m done, I’m over, this is the best I’m ever gonna do.’ This is more like a celebration of the not-so-distant past.”

Sequenced non-chronologically, The Best of John Doe: This Far was compiled with four vinyl sides in mind. (“Side three is the quiet side,” Doe offers.) There was no formula—these are simply Doe’s favorite moments including in-concert staples, pivotal collaborations, personal milestones and even a pair of unreleased reexaminations of songs from his past. The album features guest musicians Kathleen Edwards, Aimee Mann, Neko Case and Grant-Lee Phillips.

Of making this album, Doe comments, “When you look backwards, you just end up thinking ‘I wish I could write that song again—that was a good one.’ You gotta keep going forward. But, within the past five years or so, I’ve begun to realize some of the advantages of reflection. It’s always shocking to see how far you’ve gone and how close it is to where you started. The trick is to be more at home with what’s real, and not what you want reality to be.”

John Doe is a founding member of the seminal L.A. punk rock outfit X and the country spin-off band The Knitters. Doe’s solo career began with 1990’s Meet John Doe, followed by Kissingsohard (1995), For the Rest of Us (1998), Freedom Is… (2000), Dim Stars Bright Sky (2002), Forever Hasn’t Happened Yet (2005), For the Best of Us (extended version in 2006), A Year in the Wilderness (2007), Country Club (a collaboration with The Sadies in 2009), A Day at the Pass (a collaboration with Jill Sobule in 2011) and, most recently, Keeper (2011).

Throughout his career he has garnered worldwide acclaim. The Los Angeles Times says of his work “Doe beautifully balances a rocker’s heart and a poet’s soul,” while American Songwriter praises, “…a winning platter of ‘60s inspired rock with a singer-songwriter twist.” Doe’s most recent release is 2011’s Keeper.

JOHN DOE, THE BEST OF JOHN DOE: THIS FAR

 

1. Telephone By The Bed 

2. A Step Outside 

3. The Golden State 

4. Catch Me

5. Take 52

6. Highway 5

7. Safety

8. Love Knows

9. Never Enough

10. Poor Girl

11. Forever For You

12.This Far

13. Twin Brother

14. 7 Holes

15. Worried Brow

16. Faraway (From the North Country)

17. a grain of salt

18. Beat-Up World

19. Dying To Get Home

20. Tragedy By Definition

21. Sueltame