Fiction Friday (72)

So the long weekend is about to begin and I'm starting it off by beginning to read a new book thanks to having finished the most recent one I was working on. This was a book given to me, something I always a little nervous about, but the idea of little elephant was irresistible. I began it immediately, and was rewarded by a good story by an author I was unfamiliar with, which is always exciting. 

Elefant by Martin Suter
(4th Estate, 2018)

This is the story of a genetically engineered elephant and the people who seek to profit from her existence, as well as those seeking to protect her from them. It starts a little slow, but as the two timelines of the story converge, the story becomes engrossing as it examines the trappings of success and the pressure to succeed. Disguised as a semi-thriller, this is really a book that takes a look at bigger issues like the moral implications of genetic engineering, the role of God, and the way people deal with troubling events in their past. The common thread that weaves through these themes is the tiny miracle elephant that glows in the dark. 

Well written and excellently executed pacing. I felt the characters were a little flat, or not so much flat as they were pretty standard in their views and range. They didn't feel like new and interesting people. That said, I really enjoyed this book, just felt that the writing could have been more profound. However, given that for nearly two decades, I've been wishing for "a really little elephant", this was probably the perfect book for somebody to give me.

Weekend Music Roundup

After a weekend away due to a brief trip the sea shore, the Roundup is back. This week's list includes a few new releases that I'd been looking forward to, some that met expectations and others that were slightly disappointing for me. Most rock on here, old, new, and everything in between. Next week there will be more new releases that I've been making my way through, but in the meantime, find something to listen to and, as always, enjoy.

The Growlers - Casual Acquaintances: The sixth album from the psychedelic garage band out of L.A. comes out this September and, like their other work, it's pretty fantastic. I never noticed before the vocal similarities to Tom Petty, but they are there, though musically, this isn't Petty, it's a wonderful blend of garage rock and psychedelic rock, a sub-genre that seems to flourish out there on the left coast. 

nazz - nazz: The 1968 debut from the Philadelphia pysch garage band is one of those albums that bridges the sound of '60s and the harder sound that would follow in the '70s. It holds some resemblance to The Stooges debut, except where the Stooges sound would lead to punk, this leads to harder rock. This is a band I've been really getting into lately and happily picked up a near mint copy of this on vinyl a little while back. Absolutely fantastic stuff, this.

The Jayhawks - Back Roads and Abandoned Motels: Two years after their glorious return, the legendary Americana indie band returns with this album, which doesn't stray far from the sound they've established over the course of 20+ years, yet doesn't reach the heights of the last album. This album felt a little to 70's soft rock influenced for my taste, though I admit to enjoying that sound at times. This was an enjoyable album, just one that didn't leave a lasting impression.

Melody's Echo Chamber - Bon Voyage: The second album from the neo-psychedelic art pop artist is one that has been great buzz on the places I follow, so I took a chance. This is one of those crazy genre bending kind of albums that throws everything in the way a lot remix or trip-hop albums would. I definitely enjoy the many different influences and the way they all come together. It certainly explains the love it's getting, because there is something here for everyone. It's less of an album of individual songs, more of a art piece. Worth checking out.

Ulver - Childhood's End: This 2012 double album from the diverse and prolific Norwegian band is a covers album that sees the experimental psych band take on lost psych songs from the late 60's. It doesn't attempt to completely re-invent these tracks into something new, but translates them enough to make them unique. Being quite familiar with the genre, there were still some unknown tracks for me to discover, and some old favorites to re-enjoy.

Hammer - Hammer: The one and only album from this San Fran heavy prog band was released in '71 and I found it the other weekend on vinyl. Being from the Bay area, there's a definite hippy vibe to their brand of hard rock, and vocally there is a kinship with Joe Cocker that is nice to hear. There is a pleasant lightness to this record, despite what the title might suggest. "Hot and Cold," "Sad Song, Happy Song" and "Pains and Tears" are my favorites on an album with a solid groove.

The Art of Letting Go

Mowgli Rockefeller BoJangles, Major Tom Hotpants  

(aka. Sir Captain Hopscotch)

You came to us,
           a few short weeks after we lost our other cat.

You came to us from out of the woods
          and we called you Mowgli.

You wanted nothing from us but our affection,
         which you returned tenfold.

You came to us, skinny . . lost . . all ears and paws.

You came to us, our handsome cat-man.

For nine years, you followed me around,
     screaming at me until I sat down
          because a lap was the only home you ever wanted.

You slept under the covers, or at the foot of the bed.
You slept with my arm wrapped around you,
           your head on my pillow.
You woke me early in the morning when you wanted fed.

You showed us your big paw when you were happy,
       with a regal purr and clip-clop claws.
   The looks you gave . . melted all pain away.

Your sickness came quick,
                   caught us unprepared.

Your energy dwindled and your hunger left,
                  but your love remained until the end.

Our hearts have a place for you that will never be filled,
     but we are forever grateful for the time with us that you spent.

Weekend Music Roundup

The first weekend in the last month of the summer! Thank goodness, because I'm melting in this heat. But that's always a good time to find some relief in music. This week is mostly new-ish releases with two older albums that I picked up in the last several weeks. Wide range of music as well, so hopefully there's something here that you might find worthwhile. Enjoy.

The Vines - In Miracle Land: The Australian band's first album in four years is their seventh since they splashed onto the garage rock revival scene 16 years ago. I've dutifully followed each new release in that time span and over the years they've evolved from the Nirvana-esque band of by-gone days into a kind of hybrid of Nirvana and Oasis, which, any regular readers of the Roundup will know, are two of my favorite bands. So what does that combination sound like? Much like their wonderful last album, a kind of throwback 60's psychedelic pop mixed with aggressive garage rock. The result works wonderfully on this album.

John Lennon - The Lost Lennon Tapes Volume Two: I've had this extensive bootleg series digitally for some time and finally came across one of the vinyl pressings recently. It happened to be of one of the better volumes and I snatched it up. These demos span most of Lennon's career, including some from the Beatles era. It was a radio broadcast series done between '88 and '92. Now I just need to find the other thirty or so, and the vinyl collection will be complete.  

Morcheeba - Blaze Away: The first album in five years from the London trip-hop outfit is the band's ninth album in a career that spans over 20 years. Not much has changed as these songs continue to focus on a mellow soulful groove that, as the title might suggest, are the perfect soundtrack for a certain state of mind. "It's Summertime," "Sweet L.A.," "Find Another Way," and the title track are my favorites.

Count Basie - Basie Land: Released in the productive height of his career, this 1964 album from the New Jersey native is text book Big Band at it's best. This was a recent $1 bin find at the local shop, and I rarely turn away jazz records in great condition from the $1 bin. I'm not a jazz snob in the way that I'm a snob in other genres. Perhaps it because I'm not a musician and don't hear the tiny differences that drive others nuts. Or perhaps I simply can get into any jazz groove when I'm in a jazz mood. Another dynamite find for my increasingly swelling jazz section.

Jonathan Davis - Black Labyrinth: The first solo album from Korn singer Jonathan Davis doesn't stray too far from the band's identifiable sound. In many ways, this feels like a Korn album, but it's less ambitious in many ways, and less intricate. The thing that I've always enjoyed about Korn is the dynamic song structure and the fury that seethes under the surface. That seems to be missing on these songs, and Davis' voice is subtle enough to portray the kind of emotion that these songs seem to demand. Not unworthy of a listen or two, but not essential. "Everyone," "Basic Needs," "What It Is," and "What You Believe" are standout tracks.

The Fragility of Time

We got some tough news this past week...Mr. Mowgli Rockefeller BoJangles Major Tom Hotpants (aka Sir Captain Hopscotch), our loving catman, hasn't been quite himself of late. He's an older cat, and he had grown less active and less hungry over the summer. After being diagnosed with a thyroid condition and given medication, he improved slightly. But last week, things got more dramatic. He started eating less and less, and was getting thinner and thinner. He was sleeping in a closet, or under a chair where he's never slept before, and wasn't seeking our affection. 

When we took him to the vet, they ran some tests, which all came back negative. Then they did a chest x-ray...and that's when we got the bad news. A tumor occupies a good portion of his one lung, and it has been taking most of his energy to breathe, which is why he wasn't eating. There is nothing they can really do. They gave him a steroid shot...which has brought him back to his old self, or at least as close to it as he's been all summer. But it's just a matter of time at this point. 

After a lot of crying came the acceptance that this is the long goodbye. With the time we have left, I'm going to do my best to give him all the attention I can and shower him with the same intense love he's always showed us. In some ways the long goodbye is better, but in some ways it's harder.