Jim O’Rourke – Insignificance

Insignificance is an album by singer-songwriter Jim O’Rourke, a versatile and prolific musician who has worked with artists such as Sonic Youth, Wilco, and Stereolab. The album was released on November 19, 2001 by Drag City. It is named after the 1985 film by Nicolas Roeg, which depicts a fictional meeting of four famous figures in a hotel room.

The album features seven tracks that showcase O’Rourke’s eclectic and experimental approach to songwriting, blending indie rock, art rock, pop rock, and avant-garde elements. The lyrics are often witty, sarcastic, and self-deprecating, reflecting on themes such as failure, insignificance, and regret. The album also features contributions from other musicians, such as Jeff Tweedy on harmonica and guitar, Ken Vandermark on saxophone, and Rob Mazurek on cornet.

Insignificance received critical acclaim from various publications, such as Pitchfork, NME, and The Guardian. It was also ranked at number 166 on Pitchfork’s list of the top 200 albums of the 2000s.