That Loudon Wainwright III once served time as a character on M*A*S*H should come as no surprise to anyone familiar with his work; the quirky singer-songwriter’s satirical folk music is definitely cut from similar cloth. Think of it as a ’70s-bred thinking man’s tomfoolery. But let’s forget the goofy stuff, because Wainwright — when all is said and done — is an honest man, one who has been struggling for decades now with the elemental bitterness that comes with years of watching humanity destroy itself. And though he’s able to laugh at this, Wainwright’s music is fierce, unforgiving, sad, and beautifully expressed — all the elements that help to create a great singer-songwriter.
This article appears in Nov 15-21, 2006.