Slovenly music is this week’s theme on Listening Lyrics, Oct. 10, 2025

So, the word of the day is slovenly. Yeah — slovenly. What do I mean by that? Well, to me, it’s music that’s a little messy, kinda careless, maybe even a bit dirty. Songs that aren’t trying too hard to be perfect — they just are.

Sometimes that sound comes from the artist or producer just being… slovenly, plain and simple. Other times, it’s totally intentional — they want that rough edge, that human touch.

Think of folks like Keith Richards or Jim Morrison — total geniuses who could make something brilliant while still sounding like they just rolled out of bed.

So today, I’ve pulled together a few tunes that, in my mind, really capture that slovenly vibe — songs that don’t need to be cleaned up, because the grit makes them great.

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