Weekend Music Roundup

I won't lie, I was straight grooving this week. As I mentioned two weeks ago, jazz has been the unexpected soundtrack while writing the new book I'm working on. So most of my working hours were spent listening to old Coltrane and Dolphy albums. When I wasn't writing however, I was feeling some '70s hard rock. I picked up a few fantastic records from that era over the past few weeks that are included here. In general, it was one of those weeks that I heard a lot of things that kind of thrilled me. It feels like a while since one of those weeks, so I'm happy to share this list. Enjoy.

Black Sabbath - Master of Reality: My chronological musical history with Sabbath is an odd one. In college, when money was tight, the way to go with Sabbath was to have the We Sold Our Soul For Rock N Roll hits album. So over the years as I tried to fill in the collection with the actual albums, it was tough to decide which order to get them since I knew a good number of songs from each. I've been on a big Sabbath kick for a few months now and decided it was time to fill in the remaining gaps. This 1971 album, the band's third, is perhaps their most complete. From the opening cough of "Sweet Leaf" this album is perfection all the way through. The two acoustic short pieces work amazingly among the heavy vibe of the rest. "The Lord of This World" is a track I didn't know and is easily among their best songs. Now if only the crazy dragon moon 1987 cover existed on vinyl, it would one of the best finds ever.

Nazareth - Hair of the Dog: This is a record I bought on a whim. It was $5 with 30% off and with that cover, I figured it was worth a risk. This album from 1975 is probably the Scottish hard rock band's best known. As soon as I put it on, at least four of the album's eight tracks were familiar to me, most notably "Love Hurts." I'd also known the GNR cover of "Hair of the Dog" and hearing the original, it's no wonder they covered it. This album is an obvious influence on Guns N Roses. It's not just the likeness of Dan McCafferty's voice to Axl's, it's the hard driven blues riffs as well. Just a really upbeat driving rock record.

The Beatles - Live at the BBC: Released din 1994, this double disc was the start of a wealth of Beatles material to be released. It's price tag always kept me away from picking this up back in the day, but on a recent trip to Switzerland, it was one of the few acceptable car ride selections on the in-laws music shelf. I'm really into these early performances of a lot of lesser known songs, as well as good number of popular ones. What you hear on these tapes is a young band just beginning to realize their potential. While it may not always be them at their best, it's always them at their most relaxed. Some stand out songs for me "Ooh! My Soul", "Memphis, Tennessee," "You Really Got a Hold on Me," and "Hard Day's Night."

Heavy Metal Kids - Heavy Metal Kids: This 1974 album is the London glam rock band's debut and it rocks. One note about the name, a lot of people don't realize that the term 'heavy metal' comes from William Burroughs and this band's name is taken from there, which gives them automatic cool points. This is another album whose influence is clearly heard in Guns N Roses, not to mention all of the L.A. glam rock bands. "Nature of My Game" "Kind Woman," and "Hangin' On" are standout tracks for me.

Calexico - Feast of Wire: After recently revisiting the album Calexico did with Iron & Wine, I decided to give this band another shot. I'd heard a few of their albums in the past, and hadn't paid much attention. But listening to this 2003 album over the past week, it really kind of blew me away. It's the kind of alt-country that can be heard on Wilco's albums of the last decade, but they have a way of bringing their own ingredients to it. The use of horns is subtle and affective. The songs on this album are melancholy and beautiful. It's a really good album. For me it stands out above a lot of other similar albums by much more acknowledged bands. A real treat...even with one of the worst album covers I've ever seen. Not only is it ugly, it suggests nothing of the cold feeling the album evokes.

PJ Harvey - Let England Shake: After finally hearing this album in its entirety, it's easy to see why it's currently the highest rated album of this year on Rate Your Music. Harvey has continued to reinvent herself and evolve over her career. The trek has lead to this stellar alternative folkish album about England. It incorporates many different genres in an effortless cohesion of moody songs. Not my absolute favorite album of the year, but certainly high on the list.

Charles Mingus - The Art of Charles Mingus: The thing I've always loved about jazz is the stories told within the songs. It's really a visual type of music and never fails to create pictures in my mind. With my increased listening of jazz lately, I picked up this beautiful double vinyl album last weekend and have been listening to it pretty much every evening since. Listening to Mingus is just as Donovan once sang, "listening to Mingus mellow fantastic." These recordings date between 1956 and 1961 and are generally superb. A lot of the really great songs on here come from the album Pithecanthropus Erectus. I really could sit back and swing to this album all night long.

Hawkwind - Bring Me the Head of Yuri Gagarin: This one of many infamous Hawkwind releases considered by many fans to be a blatant attempt to rip people off. Since the band's heyday, many releases of poor quality continue to surface. Back in the day, I'll admit to being a victim myself. However, this is one I always wanted despite the fact that it may be the most despised out of all the slew of '80s reissues. What can I say, the title is just impossible to resist. I finally got my hands on it and I'm happy to say it's not as bad as reported. The main issue with fans is the poor recording quality. It's a concert from 1973 that was obviously bootlegged and the quality never improved before proper release. But as far as bootleg quality goes, this isn't so terrible. You can hear everything, it's a little muddy, but the energy is still there. The track list is great, like a short Space Ritual. Certainly a worthy addition to any extended Hawkwind collection. If you're new to Hawkwind though, begin with Space Ritual.

The Escape Artist

Writing a novel sometimes feels like a series of escape moves. I keep writing my characters into these situations, knowing eventually that I'll have to write a way out for them. I don't mind. It's interesting work. I just hope they realize just how much effort I go through for them...and so go the thoughts of a man after the seventh hour of writing in a day that has provided two great escapes.

Pay No Attention to the Man Behind the Computer

It's only a few short months now before Life Is But a Dream is released. That means it's about time for the nerves to kick in as I wait to see how it will be received.

Though I've promised myself not to get worked up about reviews, I imagine that I probably will. It's kind of inevitable not to be curious what the reaction is to a story you've spent so much time creating.

Lately, the book has shown up on a good number of blogs and there seems to be a lot of anticipation and excitement for the book. I also noticed that a lot of Advanced Reader Copies were shipped recently as it turned up in a number of In My Mailbox posts over the past few days. So the good news is, it's getting attention. The bad news...potentially more reviews to avoid.

In the meantime, I recently did an interview on Trisha's Book Blog that you can read here. I'm sure this will be the first post in many concerning my neurotic worries that seem to come with the territory of putting your work into the world.

Weekend Music Roundup

I've been doing a lot vinyl shopping the last few weeks. I discovered a great store in Albany NY that was well stocked with '60s and '70s vinyl in great condition for reasonable prices. I also did a little shopping at the local shop and picked up some nice things. Some of those are reflected here, while others will show up in the next few weeks. I was writing most of the week again and found some old music very inspirational. However, I did make time for some new releases as well. All in all, a pretty interesting list. Hope you enjoy.

Bonnie Prince Billy - Wolfroy Goes to Town: Released this past week, the new album from Americana pioneer Will Oldhman is actually his first full-length solo album in two years after doing a bunch of collaboration projects. This album is more low-key than some of his more iconic releases, but I've been enjoying it very much. It's very much music for sitting on your porch, but that's okay, it just so happens that kind of music also makes for good writing music. Standout tracks include the single "Quail & Dumplings," "Cows," and "Black Captain."

The Besnard Lakes - You Lived in the City: Last year's full length from this Montreal neo-psychedelic band was one that really grew on me with each listen, so I was pretty excited when this EP was released last month. The last album had bits of Pink Floyd soaring soundscapes, this one is quite different. It's more of a psychedelic folk album consisting of four songs all over six minutes in length. There's nothing revolutionary that stands out, but it's extremely solid. It reminds a little of The Skygreen Leopards.

The Grateful Dead - Workingman's Dead: This is one my favorite albums by the Dead and I finally found a first pressing copy for a great price. Released in 1970, the band had really perfected their country rock sound on this record. This is one of those rare records where everything just clicks and every song sounds so effortlessly good. "Dire Wolf," "Cumberland Blues," and "New Speedway Boogie," are simply perfect.

The Decemberists - A Practical Handbook: This is a concert video released in 2007, but I'm only reviewing the audio track. I have all of the band's albums, so I know all the songs intimately. It's a great collection that represents their catalog up to that point. I can't argue with the song selection. Though I must say that really none of these version surpass the album versions and some are just downright lackluster. Instead, I would highly recommend 2008's Colin Meloy Sings Live!, a solo concert by the lead singer which is fantastic.

Jim Kweskin & the Jug Band - Relax Your Mind: I got this record for Christmas and was appalled to discover this week that I hadn't yet reviewed it. Released in 1966, this is the band's third album. Last year I fell in love with their second album Jug Band Music which came out the year before. This album isn't quite as perfect as that one, but it's pretty close. The band plays an old timey folk revival sound, but also very influenced with the emerging counter culture. The closest comparison would be Country Joe, but decidedly more east coast. Definitely a band worth exploring if you don't know them.

Family - Music in a Doll's House: I've been listening to this album all year and was thrilled to find a copy of it on vinyl last weekend. I reviewed it back in February, here's what I had to say then and it still holds true. This progressive folk album from 1968 had been on my wishlist for quite some time. This is a fantastic album, one of the gems of the genre. Using blues, rock, and folk elements, it creates an album that reminds me a little of Jethro Tull's Stand Up, but at the same time is remarkably different. It's quickly becoming a favorite discovery of the year.

George Benson - The Other Side of Abbey Road: I came across this jazz soul interpretation of the Beatles from 1970 and was intrigued by the cover and the concept. For $5, and in perfect condition, I couldn't resist giving it a try and I'm glad I did. It's a wonderfully smooth album. There's some great musicians on this record and the arrangements are amazing.

The Dandy Warhols - ...The Dandy Warhols Come Down: This in album that I dug up off the shelves, one I've had for well over a decade. After listening to their recent session on Daytrotter, I had a craving to pull out this classic. Released in 1997, this is easily the Portland band's most solid album. Every song on here is perfect indie pop. "Boys Better", "Hard on for Jesus," and of course "Not if You Were the Last Junkie on Earth" are brilliant. It was definitely worthy of rediscovering.

Fiction Friday (2)

When I'm working on a project, I try not to read anything that I think resembles the same tone of the book I'm writing. This isn't because I'm afraid it will influence me. I more afraid it will discourage me from continuing. I'm terrified I'd encounter a book I loved and would always be trying measure up to it. Instead, I read books that put me in the mind for whatever the next idea I have floating around. While writing Afterworld, I read two amazing books that definitely helped me focus my vision for the book I'm writing now. Both of these novels sort of represent the current state of mind when it comes to working these days. Enjoy.

Charlotte Sometimes by Penelope Farmer

(1969)

I'd been wanting to read this classic British Children's book ever since I was nineteen and learned The Cure song of the same title was based on it. I recently found a used copy on a rainy day in great NYC bookshop called The Housing Works. I started reading it a few days later. That's saying a lot considering books typically sit on my to read shelf for months or even years. But this was one I just couldn't resist.

When Charlotte wakes up after her first night at boarding school, she discovers she's not quite the same in the morning...and neither is anyone else. In fact, Charlotte is somebody entirely different. Due to a magical phenomenon, skillfully left unexplained, she has swapped places with a girl named Clare who lived fifty or so years before. Switching back every other day, the two girls leave each other notes to help ease their confusion. Then one day, Clare and her sister are moved out of the boarding school leaving Charlotte stuck in the past. The longer she remains in 1918, the less Charlotte seems to remember who the real her really is.

The aspect of this book that I found remarkable was its tone. Penelope Farmer is able to capture the worry and excitement of a character in this situation in very subtle and moving ways. The emotion is restrained, yet powerful. The same can be said about the bigger themes that run through the novel such self-discovery, family bonds, friendship, and the lingering shadow of World War I that hangs over the narrative. They are dealt with in a way that feels natural and effortless. An excellently written novel that I enjoyed very much.

The Little Girl Who LIves Down The Lane by Laird Koenig

(1973)

I opened this book not knowing anything about it and was completely blown away. I literally couldn't put it down and read it in one sitting. It follows a 13 year old English girl named Rynn who has recently relocated to Long Island in the '70s. Now I must confess that Rynn is my favorite type of character, a strong willed, intelligent young protagonist who refuses to bow to the unfairness of the adult world. In that sense, the book reminded me of some of my all time favorites like Paper Moon and The Demon Flower. But in addition to creating such a wonderful character, Laird Koenig is able to build suspense in such a clever way. In the past, in regards to my own novel Zombie Blondes, I've written extensively about my appreciation for what I've termed 'slow-motion' horror. This books is a perfect example of the genre. The suspense comes from the reader's concern for Rynn, not from the fear of something. Most of the fear happens behind the surface, keeping the reader guessing all the way to the end...and the actual ending is phenomenally handled, leaving the reader with a joyously evil grin on their face as they turn the last page.

There are some powerful scenes in this book. And besides Rynn, there are other unforgettable characters. Frank Hallet has to be one of the creepiest characters I've ever encountered. The mood and dialogue in this novel are pitch perfect. I'm amazed sometimes that books this good can be forgotten by the world. It's more than a simple suspense novel, it's also an incredible, and unconventional, coming of age story. An absolutely fantastic read. If you ever come across this book at a used book store, do yourself a favor and snatch it up immediately.

Putting a Leash on Your Characters

Allow your characters too much freedom and they will sprint away from the story. You want them to be adventurous, but within the confines of the page. Once they get out...well, things just get messy.

It's really in the early chapters that a writer must get a firm grip on the behavior of the main characters. Like the director of a play, you must give cues. Tell them where to enter. Set up the scene and let them know what they are expected to accomplish. Then sit back and let them act. They'll test you at first. Lizzie is currently trying to get the upper hand on me. But I think maybe today we'll come to some sort of understanding.

Weekend Music Roundup

As I mentioned in this weeks' posts, I've begun work on a new novel that is taking shape to be a terrifying fairy tale of a story. I was listening to a lot of different things trying to find the mood for it. Oddly enough, I found that classic jazz was giving me a really good inlet. Though not very dark by nature, it can add just the right amount of darkness to a cloudy day. I also was listening to a lot of softer mood inducing music. As a result, this week's roundup is a little coffee shop-esque, but in a good way. I threw in a couple other kinds of sounds just to mix it up. Enjoy.

The Smithsonian Collection of Classic Jazz: I bought this six record box set on vinyl for $30 on St. Mark's Place when I was in college. Back then, it was a ton of money for me. I never really bought vinyl back then either, but this seemed too good to pass up. It has a great selection of wonderful tracks by all the greats, Mingus, Miles, Monk, Coltrane, Dizzy, Duke, Charlie, etc. Recently, I've found myself putting this on in the evening, randomly choosing a record and getting wrapped up into the mood. Nearly 20 years after purchasing it, there is still always something new to find within the sleeves.

Miles Davis - Kind of Blue: Another record that I've owned since my days living in East Village of the mid-90's, I listened to this album pretty much every morning this week. This is probably my favorite Miles record, it's less upbeat than other standards such as The Birth of Cool. For whatever reason, this album had the power to put me in the mind of goblins all week long. Such a fantastic crisp sound that resembles nothing else in the world.

Yuna - Decorate: A few weeks ago, I caught Yuna's video for her amazing cover of "Come as You Are" and was completely transfixed by her voice. I've since acquired both of her EPs. This is the newest, released in March and contains five really solid songs. Some of her songs veer too heavily into pop vocals, but the softer, bare singer songwriter tunes are incredible. There's also a longer version with some of her beautiful Malaysian language songs.

Wale - The Eleven One Eleven Theory: The newest mixtape from D.C.'s representative MC goes back a little to his Go-Go roots, but with a harder edge to the beats. As with most mixtape hip-hop releases these days, the material is very uneven. A lot of the songs tend to sound like toss off numbers dropped from the next studio album to come, but there are also some solid jams on here. The standout track for me is "Chain Music."

o'death - outside: I reviewed this record a few months ago and it has since become my favorite album of the year as of now. On a recent visit to NYC, I bought it on vinyl and thought it worthy of reposting my review. Here's what I wrote in March: The fourth album by the pioneering New York gothic folk outfit was one of my most anticipated albums of this year. Easily one of my favorite bands to emerge in the last five years, their previous albums all rank highly on my list of albums of the last decade. It only makes sense that this is hands-down the best album I've heard this year. Shifting slightly away from the death-folk harshness of their previous album, the band finds a something of a beautiful calm on this one. It's almost as if the last album, Broken Hymns, Limbs & Skin was an act of violent death and this album is the peace found afterward. Truly brilliant.

Sic Alps - Napa Asylum: The third and latest album in my continued exploration of this lo-fi San Francisco band is definitely the best. Released in January, this is also one my favorite albums of the year so far. The band has refined their sound by now, streamlining the songs into a perfect modern Grateful Dead experiment with heavier psychedelic overlays. The songs sometimes feel like snippets, but they all weave into one another making a truly interesting and at times stellar album.

Diamond Rings - Special Affections: After seeing the really good video for "You and Me" I was very intrigued by this Toronto native (take one look at the cover and you can see why). I was worried the album would be more Erasure than the single, but thankfully it isn't at all. The sound is somewhat a cross between Bauhaus and Violator era Depeche Mode. But it's also modern at the same time, a very respectable update of that sound with songs that have a really interesting point of view.

Jeff Mangum - Live at Jittery Joe's: Another album that I recently reviewed and have since picked up on vinyl. Even though I just reviewed this in August, I wanted to repost it in anticipation of seeing Jeff live in a few weeks. Here what I said then: This live solo album by Neutral Milk Hotel front man was recorded in 1997 but remained unreleased until 2001. This show was played around the time In Aeroplane Over the Sea was recorded and features many of the songs on there as well as some tracks from the first album and a few unreleased tracks. The atmosphere is amazing on this album. There's a baby that babbles and cries between songs, which in my opinion adds to the mood and the dreamlike quality of Jeff's songwriting. There's some bootleg NMH shows that are probably better, but this one is right up there with the best of them.