12-string madness

So for some time now, I’ve been obsessed with the 12-string guitar. Weird, I know, but before you get all “The Heavens Are Telling” and bust out your Joel Osteen Sings chordbook, hear me out. I think it originated when I saw Matt Nathanson play at Brown University a few years ago. What sounded like a tinny shoebox on live recordings was a thumping, trumpeting thing of beauty in the boomy room that is Brown’s Meehan Auditorium.

So here’s a few excellent 12-string songs:


Wide Eyed and Full - Matt Nathanson
JTR - Dave Matthews Band (Live Trax 3)
The Gymnast, High Above the Ground - Colin Meloy (thanks to NPR’s All Songs Considered live concert series for this excellent version)
Twice - Leo Kottke & Mike Gordon
Song to the Siren - Tim Buckley