Happy New Year

 

It is few and far between the number of people who will be sad to say goodbye to 2020...but it wasn't all bad. And the good thing about a year like this one...it's going to be difficult for next year not to be a better one.

It's the weekend, the first real weekend of winter around these parts, with a fresh 16 inches of snow. Snow days are some of my favorite listening music days. I have a few albums here that I listened for the first time this week, a few others are some other 2020 albums that I want get up here before the new year starts. Lots of different stuff on here, so enjoy.

Emma Ruth Rundle and Thou - May Our Chambers Be Full: Over the past several years, Emma Ruth Rundle (Marriages, Nocturnes, Red Sparrows) had become one of my favorite artists. On this new record, she teams up with the sludge band Thou to create a really great atmospheric sludge metal album. Her voice adds another level to the screeching that occurs in the background, coming together to create pleasant chaos. 

Blue Rose Code - With Healings of the Deepest Kind: The fifth album from the Edinburgh artist. He's the sort sing songwriter that's difficult to categorize. It's part chamber pop, part baroque, part Sting, part easy listening and part Nick Cave. It's very moody, grey and beautiful, a kind of uplifting sort of folk with lots of strings.  "The Wild Atlantic Way," and "Starlit" were standouts for me.  

 

Black Ends - Sellout: After loving this Seattle band's newest EP, I delved into their back catalog of EPs on their Bandcamp site. This one is from last year and is a little more experimental than the new one. It's little groovier, perhaps less dangerous, less tinged with darkness, though it's there under the surface. "Peak," "Tongues Turned" and "Maybe When" are brilliant. The underground is definitely going to come round to these guys. Super stuff that I haven't heard the likes of since Sweet 75s and Pagoda and Enormous. 

Henry Gross - Release: The fourth solo album from the one time Sha Na Na guitarist was released in '76 and is a groovy '70s pop rock record that blends soul and folk. "Overton Square" reminds me of Donovan's "Sunny Goodge Street", one of my favorite songs. This is a decent album that is wholly of its time. A good choice when looking for some 70s FM pop rock. "Moonshine Alley," "Shannon," and "Something In Between" are standouts.

The Warlocks - The Chain: The 9th album from the L.A. psychedelic rock band was released this spring. This band has always done fuzzy psych as good as anyone and this record is another great addition to their body of work. This album feels more like their earliest stuff, rougher and eerier and more suited for stoned travels through the Interzone. "Mr. Boogeyman," and "Double Life" are fantastic tracks.

 

The Alligator Wine - Demons of the Mind: The debut album from heavy rock band from Germany came out this past spring. It opens with the hard hitting "Shotgun" before mellowing out a bit, creating that heavy psych balance. The vocals are little gruff, but they work with the music. A pretty solid blues inspired rock that certainly isn't groundbreaking, but decent enough to check out. "The Flying Carousel" is another standout track.

 

Fiction Friday (122)

 

 

One of the few things I will always remember about this long cold winter of homesteading is that I've been able to read more. Coupled with the fact that the library has is literally overrun with new titles, and my newfound interest in contemporary literature, it's was a good post Thanksgiving reading week. Enjoy.

August by Callan Wink

(Random House, 2020)

August. A character title is just about perfect for a novel that attempts to, and pretty masterfully succeeds in, capturing the complete essence of a character's life.

We meet August before he's even born. We meet him the moment his mother decides his name will be August. One's essence doesn't start at birth, it starts when you have a name. Names are powerful in shaping one's character. Now that empty container has a label and something to live up to. This is August's search to discover what being August means.

The novel is written in what almost feels like linear slice of life pieces strung together with scene breaks. They are brought to life with carefully crafted moments that allow the reader to spend time with August. It's a fly on the wall perspective, a camera lens kind of straight forward storytelling in a style that reminds me of many of the late 20th century greats.

It's the kind of book that's not really about anything, because it's really about everything. It's about parents and first relationships, and not understanding what any of it means to a teenager becoming an adult. It's a book that will stay, always wondering how August is doing these day.

Weekend Music Roundup

 

The weekend is here and the holiday season is upon us. It's also time for me to start thinking about my favorite albums of the year, which means I've been trying my best to absorb the 2020 records that I have yet to hear. Some of those are on this list, and others will come. There's also some older albums on here the I recently listened to for the first time. Enjoy.

Muzz - Muzz: The debut album from the indie band made up of Paul Banks (Interpol), Matt Barrack (Jonathan Fire Eater/ The Walkman), and Josh Kaufman. This was released in the summer, but somehow missed my radar. It's a sublime and beautiful album, very ethereal and subdued. Paul's voice is fantastic, much more low key and less buried than on Interpol albums, which I love, but I enjoy hearing him clearly too. "Evergreen," "Broken Tambourine," and "All is Dead to Me" are my personal favorites. 

Paloma Faith - Infinite Things: The fifth album from the British pop soul artist is her first in three years. I've been a fan ever since seeing her on the Never Mind the Buzzcocks years ago. Despite her overtly pop sound, there's something there that endears her music to me. This album, like most dance pop these days is heavily 80s influenced. She does a great job on this album of having a good balance of upbeat songs with sad songs. In many ways, this is a sum of its influences, but that's okay with me as long as it's done this well.

Secondhand Habit - Contact High: The forth album from the Canadian hard rock band mixes metal with blues based hard rock and has an early Alice in Chains feel, only without Layne's mesmerizing voice or the misery that permeated early 90s rock. Not that this is exactly uplifting, but is more uptempo and less wallowing. This is one of those albums that is just okay, suffering not for what it does but for what it doesn't do. There are too many aspects that are lackluster (vocals and drums mostly). "Soundwaves" and "Next to None" are standout tracks. 

Spacemen 3 - Dreamweapon: This live performance from '88 was originally released in '90, the year the band was breaking up. At the time of it's released, it only contained the one 40+ minute track "An Evening of Contemporary Sitar Music", but the recent re-issue contains three additional tracks. Pioneers of the shoegazer drone movement, Pete Kember (Sonic Boom) and Jason Pierce (J. Spaceman) were inspired by 70s space rock and reinvented it into something new. Later, Jason would form Spiritualized, a band with more attention to melody, but the work of the Spacemen is legendary. This is one of their more spacey pieces and really good soundscape stuff. 

 

Elvis Costello and The Roots - Wise Up Ghost: The new wave legend's releases have grown few and far between these days. Released in 2013, this was a collaboration with The Roots. I remember at the time thinking that it was an ill advised pairing and that's probably why I skipped it. A few weeks ago, this came to me in a selection of CDs a friend was giving away and I figured it was worth a listen. I was surprised that this is a pretty solid record. There are not dynamite stand out tracks, but there also no stinkers. It's political, poetic and ?uestlove's back beat is pretty great. Not a legendary album, but an interesting addition to an interesting career catalog. 

 

The Charlatans - Between 10th and 11th: This is the second album from Baggy / Madchester outfit from the West Midlands. Released in 1992, at the growing height of Britpop, this was one of those albums that I missed back in the day, but was recently re-issued. The Charlatans were always solid second or third tier Britpop in my world, but always managed to get it all together for a few songs on each album, but never able to put together that iconic album. This isn't that album, but it may be there most complete. "Page One," "Weirdo," "(No One) Not Even the Rain," and "Indian Rope" from the second live disc are standouts.

 

Long Cold Winter

 

I remember when The Big Chill was showing on cable when I was young, and I remember thinking it was such a grown-up movie...like how grown-ups really liked boring stuff. Chariots of Fire was the other one. Fast forward nearly forty years and a few weeks ago, I found myself thinking about that out of the blue and I thought that I should probably watch this movie.

Naturally, the library had a copy of the DVD and I checked it out to watch over Thanksgiving. The long weekend came and went, but we finally sat down for it and what a good movie this is, but I movie I don't I would have appreciated until a minimum of three or four years ago. 

There's an honesty about these characters, the way they interact and how they talk to each other, that gives this movie it's power. It's a rare, genuine examination of friendship and passing into middle age...and it still holds true. 

Weekend Music Jazz Roundup

 

I'd warned you all that another Jazz only weekend was going to come, and looking through the queue, it seemed about right for now. This list features mostly heavy hitters, or heavy hitter related. As steady followers are aware, my passion for jazz has really blossomed over the past two years and I love that there are always a few decently priced jazz records to be found in the local shops. If Jazz ain't your thing, I apologize. If it's potentially your thing, but you haven't explored it enough, I encourage you to. If it is your thing, than I'm happy to share with you my thoughts. Enjoy.

Jaki Byard - Jaki Byard with Strings: Released in '68, this albums sees the iconic pianist move headlong into the post-bop era. At times it's erratic, but there are two absolutely brilliant tracks, "Cat's Cradle Conference Rag" and "How High the Moon," both clocking in over ten minutes. Over the past few years, Jaki has become one of my favorites, I think because his music challenges you in a way that some other favorites of mine do not. Chet Baker is instantaneous, you get him. Jaki is not, you must study him. And that's what appeals to me about his music. 

Eric Dolphy - Eric Dolphy: This double album comp was released in 1968 and includes his first two albums, Outward Bound (1960) and Out There (1961). When I was in college, Dolphy was the first  jazz artists beyond Coltrane and Davis that I got into. There was something about his avant style that spoke to me. Whether it was his sax playing or flute or clarinet, he's always taking an exploration. Shockingly, I didn't have either of these first two albums, and was really excited to find a nice copy on Record Store Day, that was reasonably priced and on sale.  As one might expect, Out There is more complex and challenging, but not overly so. "Green Dolphin Street," "Glad to be Unhappy," "245" "Serene," "The Barron," and "Feathers" are all brilliant tracks.

George Benson - White Rabbit: Released in 1972, this is one of the early forays into the emerging jazz fusion scene. The jazz guitarist blends Latin sounds with guitar jazz that is more eerie than a lot of what would come later from big names in jazz fusion. He's always had a knack for reinterpreting pop songs into jazz pieces, The Other Side of Abbey Road is a great example. Here, he gives that treatment to "California Dreaming" with outstanding results. "El Mar" is another standout track with its cinematic leanings. A decent record for those who like more jazz to their fusion.

Art Pepper - Early Art: I've been on a west coast jazz kick for the past year, and Art Pepper was the genisus for that. I recently picked up this double LP compilation, released on Blue Note in '76. These recordings are from '56 - '57, when L.A. was still thriving, but changing rapidly. This is the height of the cool jazz that came out of there during that time. Not only is Art's saxophone in top form, but Ben Tucker and Joe Morello are as pretty dynamite. 

Cootie Williams - The Boys from Harlem: This Swedish compilation was released in the early 80s and features music recorded between '37-'39 under "Cootie Williams and His Rug Cutters". There's not a ton of Cootie releases and was super excited to find this (and Volume 2) at an outdoor sale. Cootie was a trumpet player for Duke Ellington, and in the '30s and '40s, Ellington encouraged his band members to form what were called "The Ellington Small Groups." This is one of those outfits and is phenomenal swing jazz. Cootie is one of my favorite jazz musicians and this album is pure treat. 

Gerry Mulligan and the Concert Jazz Band - Live: This '61 release on Verve was recorded a year earlier and features Gerry's attempt at creating a Big Band, long after the Big Band era was over. It was a bold move on his part, and one that yielded great results, if not overwhelming commercial success. Zoot Simms joins the band by the second disc, which is something that excites me.

 

Fiction Friday (121)

 

I've mentioned before how one of the joys of working in a library is the thrill of random discovery among rows and rows of books. A few weeks ago, I was grabbing something off a shelf and was caught by the title of this book. I made a note and then when I had finished the last book I was reading, I went back for it.

The Dead School by Patrick McCabe

(Delta, 1995)

This is the tale of two men of two generations who experience similar trauma as children, but whose lives take very different paths. One becomes a celebrated Headmaster of a boy's school in Ireland. The other becomes a not-so-dedicated teacher at that school years later. Their lives intersect and from their very first meeting, both are thrown onto different courses than each had planned. Though very different in regards to morality, views on life and culture, and societal values, Raphael Bell and Malachy Dudgeon's lives mirror each others in many ways. Neither ends up turning out too great.

This is a portrait of struggle, the struggle to remain in the present as the world moves on without you. The struggle to reconcile mistakes, and achievements, of the past with the present. It is a story about the rippling effects of tragedy on the individual and those around him. It's also a historical look at a changing society in a notoriously stifling culture that was Ireland in the 20th Century. 

This is one of those books that started off slow, but begins to dig into your thoughts until it eventually consumes your attention.

Weekend Music Roundup

 

Welcome to the holiday weekend...though we are now in day three of the weekend. After days of relaxing and eating and online shopping, I figured some of you might be switching to the listening portion of your weekend. At least, I know I'm at that point having spent the past few days spinning some old favorites. These are albums I was listening to most of last week and few that I've had waiting around for inclusion on the list. I'm grateful for good music...Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Skyway Man - The World Only Ends When You Die: The second album from the Nashville indie band was released last month is one the albums I've been most excited about listening to. Their debut came out three years ago, and I got to see them play during the tour of that fantastic record. The band channels their inner Dr. Dog on this record, as is showcased with the opening "Muddy Waters." Throughout the album, they play on the psychedelic folk pop rock sound, making it cleaner and tighter than the previous album, a choice that is certain to get them a wider audience. "Did Ya Know Him?," "Night Walking, Alone," and "Atom Bomb" are personal favorites on this fine record. 

John Coltrane - The Rain Dogs: This is a new digital release that just came out, but I can't find out any information as to when the recordings were made.  Given the track listing, I would say this is from around the year Blue Train came out, probably some time around '58. This is strictly hard bop Coltrane, and the fact is there is nothing much better than Coltrane in this period. It's the measuring stick for me, the framework from which I evaluate all jazz from the genre. "Moment's Notice," "I'm Old Fashioned," and "Blue Train" are great as always and the recording quality is excellent. 

Mark Eitzel - West: The third solo album from the American Music Club frontman was released in 1997, a few years after the band's initial split. Close followers of the round-up will remember that I saw him play a small show last year and was transfixed by his Leonard Cohen level of depth, both lyrically and musically. A few weeks ago, a friend let me rifle through a box of CDs that someone had dumped on them and I found this in there. This is the type of alt-country that the San Fran artist is known for, and though it felt a slightly bland (in comparison to his other work) on first listen, by the second listen, I was enthralled. A friend of mine once called Mark Eitzel an national treasure, and that is about the most accurate description I can give. 

Medicine - Barcides (Selected Early Recordings 1990 - 1991): Originally released in 2017, this compilation features early tracks from the L.A. noise rock band. This is a band I'd heard a lot back in the mid-90s, having had a friend who was a fan, but I never really got into them. I decided to give this is a listen recently and glad I did. They have a noisy sound with shoegazer elements, a sound that I wouldn't end up getting into for a few years after their '92-'93 hey day. There's a rawness to these recordings that gives them their character and I'm eager to go back to their studio albums and see if there's the same quality. "I Don't Want to Know," "Gum," "Queen of Tension," "In Your Pocket," "Time Baby 2," and "Christmas Song" are my personal favorites. 

The Beatles - White Unplugged Album: In '68, the band got together at George's house and laid down some acoustic versions of songs they'd been working on, songs that would make up the White Album. Released in 2007, this bootleg captures these sessions. I've always enjoyed the stripped down, demo versions of the Fab Four. I'd heard many of them, but never this whole album in that format and needless to say, it's a revelation. This is the album where the members were just starting to reach their creative peak as individual artists. People were so upset with they broke up, but all members would release their most profound work afterwards.

Fiction Friday (120)

 

Last week was one of those where I found myself finishing a novel on a Friday, and not having a chance to pick up any of the long list of books that I want to read from the library. So I was resigned to pick up a book from my "to-be-read" pile, one that could be finished over the weekend. And that's when I found this one that I got last year and hadn't read yet. 

Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai

( Harper, 2011)

The start of a new year is a time for hope, a promise that things will change and the strong desire that they change for the better. For a child in Saigon in 1975, those were difficult wishes to have. Ten year old Há is aware of the war that has split her country and ravished her city, but she is hopeful. She has a papaya tree, she is smart, and though her father has been missing since before she can remember, she is confident that her family's luck will turn for the better. What she discovers is that sometimes luck is disguised as hardship...like the papaya, sometimes luck needs time to ripen.

This coming of age novel, told in verse, tells a different side of a period of American history that continues to haunt this nation. It is one of those timeless novels that will live on for generations, and it's no surprise that it won top awards. It has all the ingredients of a classic. It exposes an ugly side to America's racist culture, but also show the resilience of those who come here for a second chance, and how despite the hardships, it can still be a land of opportunity.

Weekend Music Roundup

It's officially the last weekend before the holiday season begins, and the way things are going, the last weekend before most of us are locked down once again. As we gear up for that combined chaos, it's always good to find yourself some new tunes to escape with. Most of this list is newer albums, with a couple of older ones that I recently acquired. Take some time to listen to something new. Enjoy.

Gorillaz - Song Machine, Season One: The eighth album from Damon Albarn's art pop cartoon band is their first in two years. As always with a Gorillaz album, it is a series of interesting guest appearances, this time featuring such legends as Robert Smith, Beck, and Elton John. It also includes a wide range of hip-hop artists and world soul artists, all which are mixed into the electronic whirl that makes up the band's unique sound. 

Billie Eilish - Don't Smile at Me: Before she was a phenom, Billie released this phenomenal EP in 2017. In some ways, this is superior to her break-out debut...or at least, equally as compelling. A bit more laid back, a bit less electronic, this album is electropop at it's best. I think it's the honesty in her work that makes her so appealing to so many people, not to mention that she just knows how to make great music. 

 

Cut Worms - Nobody Lives Here Anymore: A few weeks back, I reviewed this Chicago indie band's "Every Once In A While" EP, which features songs from this album released in October. This is the third album, but that EP had been my first introduction to them, and I was pretty blown away. Easily one of the best albums of the year, this is timeless and wonderful, mixing Americana with indie folk rock. There isn't a bad track on here. It's these kinds of discoveries that keep me always searching.

 

Norma Tanega - Walin' My Cat Named Dog: The 1966 debut album from the California folk pop artist is one of only two albums the singer would release (the other in '71). This has become a bit of a cult classic in the past several years and was highly recommended to me by a friend who shares my tastes. It was recently re-issued following her death last year and I found it in my local shop. Most people think of protest songs when they think of '60s folk, but there was also the poppy side, and that's what this it. It's beautiful, melodic, and full of sunshine. It's the kind of album that would inspire the Dandelion - Children of Sunshine record, and the parent of bands like The Carpenters. Excellent bit of folk pop.

 

The Lemon Twigs - Songs for the General Public: The fourth album from Long Island band led by the D'Addario brothers was released at the end of the summer. This is my first encounter with the band who's debut came out five years ago. This psychedelic pop rock at it's purest. It is thick with '70s glam pop influences as reminds me of early Nazz albums. "The One," "Somebody Loving You," and "No One Holds You" and "Ashamed" are personal favorites on this retro sounding record.

 

Black Lips - Sing...in a World That's Falling Apart: Released in January, this is the latest album from Atlanta garage rockers. This album has a heavy country influence, but more like Rolling Stones country via "Exile on Main Street." As usual, they sing about characters on the fringes of society with a mix of humor and realism. "Holding Me, Holding You," "Gentleman," and "Dishonest Man" are personal favorites. As usual, a solid album if not altogether essential.

Fiction Friday (119)

 

Oh, that shiny new book appeal, far greater than the appeal of new cars, and somewhere right up there with new records. After months of playing the waiting game, my library finally placed a sizable order for new books about a month ago, books that have since been cataloged and placed on the shelf. I was nosing through them last week when one exceptional cover caught me eye. I did what I always do in that situation, I read the flap copy and if it appeals, I flip to the middle and read a random paragraph. I was sold instantly on this one.

A Children's Bible by Lydia Millet

(W.W. Norton, 2020)

Parents are shapeless masses drowning in alcohol, drugs, and a yearning for their youth. They are worthless in the eyes of their children. Children who have been dragged along for a months long reunion of matured college friends. Children left to entertain themselves while the grown friends wallow in all the pointlessness of grown-up life. 

The mansion where they are vacationing holds little appeal for the children, ranging in age from 10 to 17. It is an old fashioned mansion in an undisclosed location that resembles the Hamptons, or the Cape, or anywhere not too far from the sea where rich people go to spend their time. Of course, devices were confiscated so that the children could appreciate the time, but it only ends up adding to the alienation they feel toward the older generation.

Then the storm comes.

Millet's sublime writing enriches this perfectly crafted novel, elevating it truly biblical proportions. Part Lord of the Flies, part Oryx and Crake, part  The Road, this novel's scope and power build so carefully that they settle upon the reader like a wave that gave no indication of its arrival.  An absolutely stunning novel that I don't expect I will ever forget.

The Joys of Parenting

 

Some of the greatest moments as a parent come when you get to share something you love with your child. Recently, I've been watching my favorite anime series, Cardcaptor Sakura with my daughter and she loves it. 

Of course I had the Clow Card book, sitting on a shelf in my office for years, that I took out. She has spent days studying the cards, reading the names, and making me act them out so that she can use her wand (she uses a stuffed giraffe) to capture them. I even had a stuffed Kero who now spends most nights in my daughter's bed alongside well-loved bunnies.

Sakura is such great character. It's important to me that my daughter sees strong girl characters in shows and books, characters that aren't simply made more masculine to make them powerful, but who strong because they are who they are. I'm so proud of the strong girl my daughter is and will continue to become.

Weekend Music Roundup

 

It's another weekend, the first official post-Trump weekend. It's been a rainy week around my parts and I've been trying to match my listening to the soundtrack to the weather. As a result, there is a lot of psychedelic folk and metal on here, two genres that I often turn toward in the fall. Some of them are new, some not so new, but all new to me over the past several weeks. Enjoy.

Big Blood - Operate Spaceship Earth Properly: I don't know how I missed this album when it came out two years ago. I'm usually on top of everything this husband/wife from Maine release. They are one of the most original psychedelic folk outfits today and having been consistently tapping into my wave length for well over a decade. This is one of their more experimental albums, expanding the psychedelic aspects and sinking the folk into the undertones.  Another fantastic record.

 

A Blaze of Feather - Labyrinth: The second album from the British indie band is equal parts indie folk and equal parts mellow experimental rock, a combination that creates a nice sound. The guitarist was in a band called Haven about twenty years ago, a band who I really enjoyed. This is a very melodic and ethereal album, the kind that I really enjoy hearing while I'm working. "Witching Hour," "Fields," and "Clock Hands" are my personal favorites.  

 

Dungeon Weed - Mind Palace of the Mushroom God: The debut album from the Oakland sludge metal band was released at the end of summer. The moment I saw the cover and read the title, I simply had to give it a listen. As one might expect, it's heavy stoner metal. As one may not suspect from the comical name and title is that it's a competent rock record. Very Sabbath influenced, and very much in line with Electric Wizard. "Beholder Gonna Fuck You Up," "Lumbering Hell," and "Mind Palace" are stand out tracks. 

 

Big Black Cloud - Dark Age: The 2010 first album under this name from the band formerly known as Here Comes a Big Black Cloud from the Portland lo-fi noise rock band is an album I picked up on a whim during the local shop's used vinyl sale on Record Store Day. It's their third album. This definitely has an 80's dark punk sound, something akin to Christian Death but much more lo-fi. It's chaotic and frenzied, and that's the appeal. 

 

Night - High Tides - Distant Skies: The fourth album from the Swedish band is their first in three years. This is a power metal throwback to the late 80s and NWOBHM bands. There's been a lot of these bands over the past half-decade, bands like The Sword and others, some which nail it and other that don't. I wouldn't say Night nails it, but they do a decent job of capturing the energy of the sound. "Give Me to the Night" and "Under the Moonlight Sky" are the real standout tracks for me.

 

Grin - Gone Crazy: The forth and final album from Nils Lofgren's early 70s band formed after he left Crazy Horse and years before joining the E-Street Band. Released in '73, this album is very much blues based rock of the time, but Nils is an exceptional guitarist and this album really show that. My local shop was having a 30% sale on used vinyl and I picked up a white label promo of this one for under $10. Money well spent.