Album of the Day

While she may be thought of as an avant-garde performance artist, Laurie Anderson also has a knack for narrative that comes to the fore on THE UGLY ONE WITH THE JEWELS AND OTHER STORIES. Released 25 years ago this month, Laurie's final album for Warner Bros. was recorded live in London during a presentation of her Stories from the Nerve Bible, and consists of 18 spoken-word vignettes, most with a touch of instrumental accompaniment. Occasionally autobiographical (the title is how she once heard herself described), these brief, beguiling tales of plane trips, Ouija boards, salesmen, stranglers and ambassadors are by turns humorous and haunting, and Anderson's distinctive delivery gives them an otherworldly air. If you're a fan of such off-beat storytellers as David Sedaris or Sarah Vowell, you'll treasure THE UGLY ONE WITH THE JEWELS.