Musical T.S. Elliot references that don't involve cats

A friend of mine introduced me to the Loud Family's Plants and Birds and Rocks and Things a few years ago through a live recording of her singing the song "Inverness" with its writer, Scott Miller. I immediately wanted more, and found the album, which has since become one of my favourites.

I couldn't tell you much about them-- California-based, I assume, from their website and lyrical references-- but all I know is that each song on Plants and Birds and Rocks and Things, their 1993 debut album, grabbed me in turn. Scott Miller just has this way with melodies. I like his bitterness, especially when it's laid across the bouncier tunes. I like his literary references, when I finally catch them. I even like the cheesy use of thunderstorm sound effects on the studio version of "Inverness".

I really, really like 'im. And that's pretty good for one of my rare forays away from the world of musical theatre...

(So rare are these forays that I didn't realize until later that the name of that debut album was taken from that America song. You know the one, don't make me say it. Why didn't they name the horse?)