Containing, among other things, my humble effort to bring my fellow sixty(ish) year olds up to date on some current, and frankly, not so current, pop music.
Oh, blogging gods! How can I make this post any different from my last one? There are just too many similarities!
Both posts pertain to music that:
I wasn’t looking for in the first place.
Is performed by an artist from whom I’ve already gotten a ton of stuff.
Is mostly made up of songs I already have .
… Is, all right, different renditions of those songs.
Is Jazz, and since it’s summertime, jazz shouldn’t be a priority for me now.
Is on f*cking amazon.com for $3.99!
And in this case it’s not a single album either, but rather a two-in-one set: one that float by so effortlessly all of the above caveats melt away, and make me dream of putting all of this artist's songs - sometimes six and seven versions of each - into a single playlist, and then sort it alphabetically, so I can hear all six versions one after the other.
I'll have to warn Mrs. Jaybee ahead of time. Even she - has her limits.
Jazz can be a very tricky and daunting genre to get into. For every masterpiece, there are two or three awkwardly (or cynically) slapped-together compilations to bore or puzzle you. So any album - especially a two-fer - in the $3.99 bin should be viewed upon with suspicion.
Now, I’ve done very well by Monk. There isn’t a single album of his I haven’t liked. But even I had a hard time believing I could get two really good albums for such a low price.
But sometimes, pure, dumb luck wins out. It’s what makes me think the universe errs slightly on the benign side, despite all evidence to the contrary.
So, how did we do? Well, given the stature of the artist in question, I’m going to tackle each album separately.
I had my doubts about an “orchestra” (actually, in this case, a “tentet”) doing Monk tunes, even with Monk in the band. I’m not a big fan of the bit of Charlie Parker with Strings I know.
But this works great. Familiar tunes are given a sympathetic, but not reverential, treatment. The other nine guys can’t manage to overwhelm Monk - they’re too busy keeping up and flat out admiring him.
If you’ve never heard Monk before, you may want to start with this one. At least theoretically, fewer musicians should distract you less from the utter weirdness of the tunes.
But here’s the paradox: In my two-fer version, this one starts right up after Town Hall finishes, and you’d think there’d be a drastic change in tone going from ten to four musicians, but no. Monk’s tunes are either impervious, or just plain adaptive-in-the-extreme, to any such trivial matters such as there being four or ten musicians.
Another paradox (and by the way, paradoxes seem to be built into every song): Occasionally, a single musician does make a huge difference. This record comes from the same shows that gave us Misterioso (my favorite Monk album). And the reason that record is so great is tenor saxophonist Johnny F*cking Griffin, whose contributions here are just as magical as those on Misterioso. (Why wasn’t that guy more famous?)
Anyway, my mere pop/rock brain won’t generate the words to adequately describe this music. Suffice to say, if you’re unfamiliar with Monk, (but are possessed of a pop/rock brain like me) your first reaction will likely be puzzlement.
But, ah, that’s the final paradox! Because his tunes are so strange, they aren’t boxed in by the “sophistication” that keeps a lot of jazz out of reach for you and me. Their very strangeness makes them memorable. And then they reveal their beauty.
So it should have come as no surprise that when I asked him what his favorite musical instrument was, he would say “saxophone”. (What? Not GUITAR? The answer should ALWAYS be guitar! Write that down, everybody!)
Anyway, there goes another shingle from the roof of my insular little world. And the resulting leak might have been what led me to eventually get Kind of Blue, my first jazz album, and the many others that followed.
Not that I'd notice for a while, but there was this guy who played saxophone on KOB named John Coltrane, whose name I'd eventually remember because of the several prior occasions when I saw people walking around with armloads of records. Never one record. Always an armload.
So my curiosity got the best of me, and over the years I'd get a number - an armload, really, except they're all on CD - of records by him, or at least, with him, like:
Another motivation for getting these records was hearing a song by him on the radio that was so damned good that I've been searching for it ever since. I believe the song had the word, "train" in it, which led me to get "Blue Train", and Village Vanguard ("Chasin' the Train"), neither of which is the song I'm looking for. But I'm not really disappointed.
But did I really need another Coltrane? Especially one that has several songs I already had? Depends what you mean by need. Sometimes you don’t know what you need until you get it. But amazon $5 mp3s can be very persuasive.
And this one had bonus tracks, too, so I was sold.
This is post-Miles and Monk, but pre-A Love Supreme, and here he takes several songs I’m already familiar with and begins his journey to outer space with them. But not too far out - I consider it a little mellower than Village Vanguard - but enough to make it interesting.
Which means this record now has some of my favorite versions of these tunes.
The sound is superb, and McCoy Tyner gets to shine, too. This expanded version runs over two hours and that time just flies.
Admittedly, for a non-jazz fan, it might seem a bit repetitive, but since I've been hooked for a while, and have visions of having a John Coltrane Day at my house and playing all of the above records all day long on September 23, his birthday.
And no, that song I'm looking for is not here. But that's okay. I'll find it someday.
So here’s another journey by this, at first troubled, but then humble, courageous and deeply spiritual man. It’s a privilege to ride along on.
One day, while pondering the many iniquities of our society, it occurred to me that I didn’t have a single jazz album by a white person.
I guess I should thank the amazon.com’s $5 mp3s for helping me address this historic injustice but I’m still mad at them for being so horrible to their workforce, so f*ck them.
Anyway, while waiting for the phone call from the Nobel committee I decided I should actually play the record.
I find this very precisely played music - West Coast Jazz , they called it - less than thrilling. Less than passionate. And yet, quite durable. I’ve played it many times and haven’t tired of it yet. Weird, huh?
In theory I should hate music that’s meant to be spontaneous but is in fact very precisely composed and played, But you know there are worse things that a fusion of classical and jazz. I’m sure they’d hate me saying that but it’s the best analogy I can come up with.
So while it doesn’t have the weird brilliance of the best Monk, or the furious spiritual searching of Coltrane, I can’t find any fault with it. Plus, my version has several live cuts added, where the band lets loose a bit.
So, I’ve concluded that, with the guidance of their superiors, white people might actually have some potential in this area. Not that I’m advocating giving them a helping hand, mind you. That’ll just make them dependent upon the (musical) (welfare) state.
If they hope to overcome the many disadvantages they face, they’re just going to have to pick themselves up by their bootstraps and apply themselves.
When it comes to jazz, I say the smaller the better. (A convenient motto overall, I admit.) It’s just easier to follow that way. So I like small combos, and love solo piano.
and Keith Jarretthave all made wonderful records by just sitting down at their pianos and playing. (Okay, I lied about Errol Garner -he gets help -but you get the point.)
And now I’ve got one by Art Tatum, who plays like a mofo. Of course, as impressive as virtuosity is, it won’t matter if the record sucks. So how is this one?
Quite nice, thank you. Tatum plays the standards, which until recently I couldn’t have cared less about. But he manages to play them straight enough to help a boob like me recognize them, and, by putting his own stamp on them, makes me like them like I never have before.
There's a generous 65 minutes of graceful, pretty and not at all intimidating music here. Just put it on first thing in the morning, and go do your... early morning stuff.
By the way, who's better? Tatum, Powell, Monk, Garner, Joplin, Jarrett or Tatum?
Well, let’s see. This is how I’d classify them:
Monk - With his utterly weird songs and playing, he’s by far the Most Fun.
Powell - Very, very impressive but I hear he doesn't always show up. But when he does The Snazziest.
Garner - The audience sounds very, uh, white. So that makes him The Crowdpleaser.
Joplin - Pretty and graceful, but kinda slow. He’s The Relaxer.
Jarrett - Your Sensitive Artiste friend from the 70s, who you keep hanging around with because, although he goes on a bit, he’s basically a good guy. And purty as hell when focused.
Each of the above artists have hit more homers, but Tatum combines technical skill, exquisite taste and expressiveness, which together give him the higher batting average.
Does that make him the best? How the hell should I know? Anyway, like I said, it doesn’t really matter how good the player is. It’s about how good the record is. (So why did I just put us through that little exercise, you ask? Just let it go, okay?)
All I know is that the piano is my second favorite instrument and Tatum is now my second favorite piano player.(Ah, so who’s the first? Powell, I think. But Monk sure is fun!)
With jazz, I'm never sure if I ever get to the bottom of the music, even when there's only one instrument playing. So it’s too soon to tell if this will be my absolute favorite piano record, but it will do just fine while I find out. So the grade is anticipatory - where I think I'll end up with it. Right now, it's a pleasure all the way through. A-
When to Play It: It’s perfect for first thing in the morning.
When Not to Play It: When your company is comprised of a bunch of clods.
Since I’ve already done a roundup of 2007 and 2008, I’m just going to give them a quick once over to see if I’ve changed my mind about anything. (Have I ever?)
There’s not much to add, except to say that Neko Case, while not outdoing the Go Betweens, did outlast them.While it clear from the start that “Oceans Apart” was great, “Fox Confessor Brings the Flood” hung back and slowly took over.Once it kicked in, we played it for weeks straight.It’s definitely one of the best of that year, and of the decade, too.
The other Go Betweens record – “Spring Hill Fair” - turned out to be pretty good, but not great.Sometimes the GBs –at least the Robert Forster part - are all elbows.It’s on “Oceans Apart” that they grow wings.
So the revised “Great List” stands as:
The Go Betweens – “Oceans Apart”
Neko Case – “Fox Confessor Brings the Flood”
PJ Harvey – “Stories of the City, Stories of the Sea”
And the “Really Goods” now are:
Nick Drake – Pink Moon
John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, Featuring Eric Clapton
Thelonious Monk – “Solo Monk”
The remainder of that year’s music more or less stays where it was in my original estimation, although some records will continue to swim around inside my brain, only to surface years from now, at the oddest times.
Just when things were going really well, another major life crisis arrived, and life suddenly sucked again.Luckily for me and everyone else, this time around, when the thrasher came I was able to give what was mine.And, unlike the last time when this happened, I decided that I wouldn't forgo music.Maybe it would help.
But not right away.
Spring:
When your life sucks, why not retreat into someone else’s?Which is why I read Neil Young’s biography, “Shakey”.This would lead me to filling some holes in my record collection with the second and third Buffalo Springfield albums - "Again" and "Last Time Around", and Neil's own “American Stars and Bars”.
I was tempted big time to get the Buffalo Springfield boxed set, which was put together by Neil Young, until I found out that Neil left off some tracks from “Last Time Around”.Yo,Neil, wtf?!(a phrase, I might add, that could apply to several episodes in this infuriating genius’s life).But it all worked out for the best at the bargain bin of my favorite record store, which is my equivalent of the McDonalds plastic ball pit.
Buffalo Springfield is sometimes called the polar opposite of the Byrds - a band that was great on record and a bit rickety live.Legend has it that the Springfield was monstrous live, but that their records never captured it.Their first record is quite good when you get past the anemic production.They hated it."Again" has several all-time classics (“Bluebird”, “Expecting to Fly”, “Broken Arrow”) and a couple of forgettable songs (uh, I forget.See?)."Last Time Around" doesn't have as many peaks, but it's excellent throughout, and it’s the one I played a lot more.Of course, I’d heard those classics a thousand times already. ---------------- Now playing: Neil Young - I Am a Childvia FoxyTunes
“American Stars and Bars” is half pretty good country rock with Linda Rondstadt singing backup, the highlight of which is the more rocking “Bite the Bullet”, and half bits of genius from the vault, like “Star of Bethlehem”, “Will to Love” and “Like a Hurricane”.
Before an adult came to tell me it was time to go, I also found “The Best of Love”.Theywere a California band from the sixties best known for that obscure FM cut "You Set the Scene" from their classic album “Forever Changes”.This CD pulls four songs from that record, along with a bunch from the albums that came before and after it.It's a very good, varied collection, with the brilliant "She Comes in Colors", reportedly the inspiration for the Stones' "She's a Rainbow". ---------------- Now playing: Love - She Comes in Colorsvia FoxyTunes
Summer:
"The Sky is Crying: The History of Elmore James" contains the originals of “I Can't Hold Out”, “It Hurts Me Too”, “Madison Blues” and “Done Somebody Wrong” and others, each of which beats the cover by way of raw guitar, pounding piano or stronger vocal. ---------------- Now playing: Elmore James - Done Somebody Wrongvia FoxyTunes
Ah, have music and life ever melded together as intimately as they did that summer?Sufjan Stevens' "Illinois"was the only possible soundtrack to our numerous grim trips to the hospital that summer. No one asked me to turn off "Casimir Pulaski Day", which, as great as it is, would have been understandable under the circumstances.Best of the Year, hands down.One of the best of the decade, too.I think I would have loved it even if everything was okay.
Maya Arulpragasam was born in England but has lived in Sri Lanka, India and elsewhere.She makes a very potent mix of dance music and electronica under the name M.I.A.I play her first record, “Arular”, to impress my nieces.I’ll have to play it a lot more, I guess.She manages to keep your attention without letting things get too grating.She’s adds some smart lyrics, and doesn’t overstay her welcome.Highly recommended, especially if you want to know what those young folk are up to these days.
I file the soundtrack to the film "The Harder they Come" under Jimmy Cliff, but that's not quite right.If one person did all these songs I'd have to rate him above Bob Marley.Jah was smiling the day that BMG offered it as a special two disc edition containing a number of other Jamaican hits, like "The Israelite" and "I Can See Clearly Now". But even if it was just the original single disk, it would be great."Johnny Too Bad", "Pressure Drop", "Sitting Here in Limbo" - there's not a bad song here, and I enjoy it more now that times are better. But what's that I smell?Oh that’s right, nevermind…
Thelonious Monk Quartet, with John Coltrane at Carnegie Hall combines two of my favorite jazz artists, and is one of those records you can play over and over again, and never reach the bottom.The fact that this record even exists is a miracle - someone found a fifty year old tape lying around.Treat yourself to the warm embrace of music that seems almost Easy Listening at moments, but that over time reveals its many layers and dark corners.
I decided that I’d been playing it too safe with Monk – only listening to his late ‘50s recordings, and so went for the circa 1947 “Genius of Modern Music”.This is his first record as a band leader and it immediately grabs you with its odd angles and structures.It must haveseemed like a space ship landing at the time.I wouldn’t start here to learn about Monk, but it's well worth the ride.
Sometimes I get over-sated, and feel bad that I've gotten a CD that I didn't absolutely need.It's compounded when it doesn't bowl me over.Such was the fate of Roxy Music's “Avalon” - a perfectly good, if a little slick sounding record.It just didn't have any surprises or brilliantly weird Roxy moments. Great music for company, though.
Who the hell are the Impressions, I wondered? Well, they’re more significant than Wolf Blitzer, I can tell you. I didn't know that Curtis Mayfield didn't spring out of the ether fully formed with "Move on Up" and "Superfly". He had a life and career before I became aware of it. This vocal trio started in the 50s doing light, airy doo wop-like tunes.Their arrangements got more varied during the 60s, and their lyrics became more socially relevant. Then they broke up and Curtis went solo. I never tire of "Superfly", which has some of the tightest drumming, and the best lyrics, ever."The Anthology" brings all of this together in one place, and while at first I resisted, I find myself coming back to this record more and more.
One morning after working all night, I put on Gogol Bordello's "Gypsy Punks" and The Hold Steady's "Separation Sunday", and I can't think of two records that are worse to put on when someone's trying to get some sleep.Ask my daughter."Gypsy Punks" is exactly how it sounds - accordions, violins, electric guitars, screams.It's been a while since I've been to the caravan so I don't listen to it often. But the energy is undeniable. "Separation Sunday" is the sound of "Blinded by the Light" Bruce Springsteen, but without the Big Man, and the guitars turned up. And he’s had a few.The characters are low lifes of varying degrees, and I don't always want to spend time with them, but they do make life interesting.
After the next all-nighter, I tried Mississippi John Hurt's “Rediscovered” (link) which worked a lot better.John's gentle voice and nimble guitar accompany tales of love, violence and, well, coffee. It’s so quiet, you could practicallyblast it and no one would complain.On the downside, you could easily miss it if the world intrudes.File under "don't play too softly". ---------------- Now playing: Mississippi John Hurt - Candy Manvia FoxyTunes
James Talley's "Got No Milk, No Bread, No Money, But Sure Got a Lot of Love" wins the best title award.This is laid back country music that doesn't even try to grab you.It assumes you're paying attention.James's voice isn't going to knock down any doors either.Although I appreciate the feeling, it's an acquired taste, and only for certain occasions.
Mozart’s Sonata/Fantasy/Rondo and Variations (played by Alfred Brendel), is the abbreviated title.(Jesus Christ, why can’t these guys name their tunes something sensible, like “Louie, Louie”?)Even so, James Talley’s still got them beat.Anyway, this is a fine collection of solo piano music.When it comes to classical music, for me, smaller is always better.Now I’m waiting for the kazoo version.
Good friend Mike had seen Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers in Europe ages ago (which, by the way, used to mean hours, but now means decades) and raved about them.But which one to get, I wondered?I eventually choose their first, because of the nice cover (and price), and even the record store guy concurred. It's energetic, tuneful and certainly worthwhile, if not earth shaking for the non-jazz nut.
Sam Phillips was married to T-Bone Burnett, and before they broke up, he producedher "Martinis and Bikinis" which is more serious than it sounds. You may have heard “I Need Love” at your local drug store chain, between announcements for specials on toiletries.Sam's voice is less raspy than Kim Carnes’.She obviously loves the Beatles, and even covers John Lennon’s “Gimme Some Truth”.While it doesn’t all cohere into a great record, there are a number of excellent, accessible songs here.Not bad at all.
Joanna Newsom’s “The Milk-Eyed Mender” is my latest "the rest of the family gives me funny looks" CD. It's understandable, really. With her whoops, cackles and regressions into early childhood, she makes Bjork sound like Mary J. Normal. And yet, and yet, some of these songs are incredible.There is a fearless openness here that makes other such attempts pale in comparison. Oh, and she plays a harp. One of the quietest records ever, it slowly fades in from an utter silence.It'd still piss off someone trying to sleep, though.
In the cold January of 2001, what does one do with the balance left on his record store gift certificate?If you’re me, you get obscure depression era folk music – to cheer yourself up.
Okay, so maybe it's not party music, but I found great comfort in Harry Smith’sAnthology of Folk Music.Thissix CD set covers the odd - sometimes very odd - folk songs that floated around this great country of ours during the twenties and thirties.It kicks off with a singer who makes Grandpa Jones sound like Tom Jones.Of course, it’s about the perfidy of wimmin.From there, we get to thwarted love, misunderstood outlaws, murder and fiddles, in various combinations.The cast of characters includes Stagerlee, Frankie and Johnny, President Roosevelt (the second one), John Henry, King Kong and God.How do you feel about old people singing?I ask because everyone here sounds old.But I'll bet none of them were over twenty five at the time.And every once in a while, there’s the odd lyric you could swear you’ve heard before.And you did, because Bob Dylan “borrowed” it.
Valentine’s Day:
I somehow rated a present that year, and got Ken Burns’s Jazz – Charlie Parker.It’s easy to go wrong when trying to get a good compilation of a major jazz artist, butthissingle CDsounds fine to me.Parker was a brilliant improviser, with major chops, who, along with Dizzy Gillespie, revolutionized jazz.How did they even think of songs like “Koko” and “Salt Peanuts”, let alone play them? ----------------
Now playing: Charlie Parker - Salt Peanuts via FoxyTunes
Take This Job and Shove It:
Around this time I changed jobs, and decided to stamp this major life event with new music.(I did something similar when I tried my first slice of anchovie pizza, and got Beethoven’s Nine Symphonies.)
Miles Davis’ Bitches Brew had beencalling out to me since it came out in 1970.I held off because I suspected that it would be one of those albums whose reputation was greater than the actual music.Overrated, for short.I can’t possibly appreciate it for what it represents in the evolution of jazz.It’s kind of like trying to appreciate sound pictures when you didn’t live through the silent era.So, yes, to my ears it’s overrated, and you can get a shorter, sharper sampling of similar music on the great A Tribute to Jack Johnson.
Then there was the Fugees’ The Score, which was a bit out of my reach at the time.Stressful times call out for soothing, familiar music.The Fugees were neither, and so I put it aside.Now, eight years later I’m hearing it more, but neither cover (“No Woman No Cry”, “Killing Me Softly”) sounds different enough from the originals for me to care much.Good, not great.
Earth Wind and Fire’s Greatest Hits - If you asked me what type of music I didn’t like in the 70s, this would be it.Rhythm, horns, a male vocalist singing in a high register, style, commercial appeal, etc. - all no-nos for an awkward teenager like me.But this isn’t bad at all, their version of “Got To Get You Into My Life” notwithstanding.“September” is simply undeniable.If you don’t like it, check your pulse.And the rest is much better than I ever realized.
Father’s Day:
I invoked the rule “have someone else buy something for you that you may never get around to getting on your own”.This resulted in Nirvana’s “Unplugged”, whichis a good record with some great moments, but only “On a Plane” offers something different from the original version.“Where Did You Sleep?” is the grim highlight at the end.Miss you, Kurt.
The Rolling Stones “Sticky Fingers”held up very well, even if I didn’t need to hear “Brown Sugar” or “Bitch” ever again.“Sway” and “Dead Flowers” are great, “Moonlight Mile” is a classic, and “Wild Horses” just never seems to tire out.
The Calm at Labor Day:
So there I am in my favorite downtown record store, only up to the B’s when a bunch of firemen burst in.Oh no, I’m thinking, how hot and smoky would it have to get before I aborted?It turned out to be a smoke condition down the block, so I got back to my obsession.
Two weeks later, these very same firemen would get a call that would be anything but routine.Did even one of them make it out alive, I wonder?But in the meantime, I, not knowing what was about to come, really enjoyed playing the CDs I got.
Like the gentle folk and noisy guitar extremes of Yo La Tengo’s “Electro Pura”, which is almost as good as their masterpiece “I Hear the Heart Beat As One”. ----------------
Now playing: Yo La Tengo - Tom Courtenay via FoxyTunes
Then there was David Bowie’s “Hunky Dory” (link) a pop record from before his stateside fame.
Van Morrison’s “Bang Masters” is okay, but it’s really just an awkward stepping stone between Them and “Astral Weeks” (which I’m still waiting to be remastered).
And although I don’t think you can ever have too much noisy guitar, Archer’s of Loafs’s “Vee Vee” and Sleater Kinney’s “Dig Me Out” made me rethink my position.While both are good, neither could quite win me over.The latter was a particular disappointment since I’m a big fan of their previous one “Call the Doctor”.
Massive Attack’s “Protection” opens with the fantastic title song, but the rest of the record just can’t keep up.It averages out to pretty good, but the strings bug me. Better was Tricky’s subsequent soundscape “Maxinquay”, which offers no hint of salvation.
Thelonius Monk’s “Brilliant Corners” is considered the one to get by him.It’s very good, but I have several others records by him that I like even more.(Misterioso!)
But the one that got me through the time after those first two weeks was the wonderful, spacey voice and chimy guitars of Luna’s “Penthouse”.(link)What was pretty before 9/11, also seemed regretful and resigned after it.Perfect for 9/12.And I wouldn’t be able to listen to anything else for a while.(Hell, I heard a guy blasting Enya out of his car that week.Even I couldn’t blame him.)
It took a pre 9/11 BMG order, arriving in late September for me to finally get a CD that came out this decade – Outkast’s “Stankonia”, which is a perfect example of music that isn’t in my favorite genre (hip hop) but that even I can tell is great.This fast, funny, wordy and often thoughtful CD is what I put on when I’m in the mood to take on a difficult book. (link BOB, Ms. Jackson)
My wife had to console herself with Andrea Bocelli, and if you have to as well, please get Sogno, and not that power ballad collection disguised as Euro-sophistication Romanza.Christ.
Thanksgiving:
John Coltrane’s Blue Train was a disappointment at first because the title track turned out to not be that amazing song I heard on the radio twenty years ago (which I’m still trying to track down).But I’m past it now, and this is a very good record - as good a place to start getting into Coltrane as “My Favorite Things” which I got at the end of the year.Some day I’ll find that song…
Then there was Iris Dement’s “My Life”, which my family can’t stand because of Iris’s country vibrato and the traditional-type melodies that scare off the city folk.Otherwise, it’spractically flawless.But it takes an effort, and I’ve got enough to do around the holidays. But if you're feeling like you don't matter in this world, listen to the title song.
Christmas:
So I retreated to comfort music, and replaced some vinyl, by getting the Velvet Underground’s “Peel Slowly and See” and CitizenSteely Dan for Christmas.
The surprising thing is that I gravitated to Steely Dan, instead of the Velvets.Considering that the former set had virtually no new music on it, you'd think I would have tired of it quickly.But it was the latter, with the extra, and often unnecessary, new stuff that put me off.And how could they leave off the official live double album, and "She's My Best Friend", one of their greatest songs?And did we really need a whole CD of demos of five songs?On the other hand, the remainder is some of the greatest rock and roll ever made.
I guess I was priding myself that my black-as-ink outlook would enable me to handle the infamous subject matter of both bands.Not so.Steely Dan was practically sweet in comparison.And as much as I wouldn’t admit it, I needed sweet.
The Best:
Anthology of Folk Music
Luna - Penthouse
Yo La Tengo-Electro Pura
Charlie Parker
Two years into Our Decade and I’ve only gotten one record – Outkast - actually released in it.And I admire that record more than I love it.I guess there were worse things at the time, like the f’ing world coming to an end.
People are always (never) saying to me, "Hey Jaybee, thanks for those suggestions for morning music you gave last year. You've given me a reason to get out of bed! (The story of my life.) Ya got any more?"
How can I refuse?
What follows are several more records that can get you through those critical morning hours between say 6 and 9am on a Saturday or Sunday morning when you're asking yourself what the hell am I doing up this early? Don't worry, you're just turning into one of those old geezers who prowls the neighborhood in search of empty soda cans. (By the way, there is a "weeding the garden" ensemble – short-shorts, tucked in dress shirt, dress shoes and knee high white socks - in your future.) Before you get to that point, let me help you delude yourself into thinking you're still young and vital.
Frank Sinatra: In the Wee Small Hours-
As a committed Frankie skeptic, I held out quite a long time before getting this CD. And for once, I can take him. Here is Frankie the wuss. What a relief! For my money, it beats the hell out of Frankie the obnoxious tough guy who rock and roll damned near made obsolete. Yeah, you heard me. I strongly recommend it, but only for when you're feeling strong enough for the both you. Frankie's having a rough time of it.
Mississippi John Hurt: Rediscovered
If you like acoustic Hot Tuna, you will probably enjoy this. His voice is gentler than Jorma's and his guitar playing is just as good. Now playing: Mississippi John Hurt - Candy Man via FoxyTunes
Neil Young: Harvest Moon
I find this record somewhat over-rated, but it will appease the spouse. And hidden at the end of it is the haunting, ten minute "Natural Beauty".
Nick Drake "Pink Moon":
There isn't as much orchestration on this record as there was on his first one. Its starkness is probably due to the fact that Nick was to commit suicide not long after this. And yet, the music itself is not despairing. He's just going gently into that good night. Now playing: Nick Drake - Pink Moon via FoxyTunes
Bob Dylan: Time Out of Mind
Some people might place this on their Middle of the Night Music list, but I like it early in the morning. It speaks of hurt, regret and pain. Perfect for your depression. What better way to start the day?
Scott Joplin: Complete Rags
It might seem a bit jaunty for first thing in the morning, but in fact, it's very nearly perfect for it. Ok, maybe 9am instead of 7.
At times you might think your listening to the soundtrack to the Little Rascals, but no, the guitar is too intricate, the violin too melodic, and the piano is giving them both a run for their money. From France, of all places.
Okay, now that I've got you this far, you're on your own. I can handle middle of the night and early morning, but haven't got the slightest idea what to do about daytime.
Around now, a lot of young people are reveling in the year-end best-of reviews of music and pop culture in general.Debating siblings and friends about what album was the best one released in a given year is a fun way to participate in the culture.It used to be for me, at least.
But at my advanced age, I can’t possibly keep up with all of the musical developments of the year.There are just too many artists to keep track of to be able to weed out the great from the merely worthwhile.And the term “worthwhile” takes on an added urgency when you realize that you don’t have many “whiles” left as you used to.So the things you spend it on – musical or otherwise – better be, well, worth it.
So I’ve left 2007 pretty much alone, letting the dust settle on it before jumping in.Instead, I’ve begun to dip into 2006, along with any other pretty colors that may have momentarily attracted my limited attention span.
So I have to define the musical year differently.My 2007 is not based on what was released this year.It’s based on what I either bought or was given.So it couldn’t be anything like yours.
Anyway, here’s mine:
Loved Them:
I’m not yet sure if either of these CDs is hall of fame material yet, but the Go-Betweens go deep and Polly Jean has a high on base average.
Oceans Apart-The Go Betweens (2006) Beauty, pain, death, tears, and maybe forgiveness.Guitars, too.Never heard of them?Don’t get me started…
Stories of the City, Stories of the Sea-PJ Harvey (2000) I’ve gotten two of her earlier albums: “Rid of Me”, which is like knocking off a bottle of scotch on a Saturday night with a psychotic/nymphomaniac, and “To Bring You My Love”, which is like spending Sunday morning with her, after she’s found religion.Both can be bracing experiences, but aren’t my idea of fun. Here, you get hit with thechiming guitars right out of the gate, and she’s telling you how she’s got to get away from the violence.So she moves from England.To New York.Before 9/11.So her timing's not great, but the important thing is that she’s upped the tune factor, and cut back slightly on the histrionics.The result is bracing, but in a fun way.
These are very entertaining records that might yet move up to Love over time.
Pink Moon - Nick Drake(1972) This is sparer than “Five Leaves Left” – no strings, just Nick and his guitar - maybe because he’s closer to the end.
Solo Monk - Thelonius Monk (1964) If you don’t know what a great composer he was, you could mistake him for a Scott Joplin for the 60s.You might even think he’s hitting the wrong notes, but he’s just re-writing things as he goes.
Still Getting My Ears Around:
Egypt - Youssou N’dour (2004) This is the guy (yes, the guy) who sings at the end of “In Your Eyes” by Peter Gabriel.He’s a superstar in his native Senegal, and I quite liked his album “Nothing’s In Vain”, but I’m not even close to getting to the bottom of this very pleasant mixture of Middle Eastern and African music.
Fox Confessor Brings the Flood - Neko Case(2006) This is pretty and spooky at the same time - like a country music soundtrack to “Twin Peaks”.And when spread out over a humongous playlist in Windows Media Player, each song stands out.I’m just not yet convinced that all the individual parts add up to a great CD.
The Discount Bin, or Hey, at $6.99, how can you go wrong?
Aoxomoxoa - The Grateful Dead (1969) The songwriting is beginning to strengthen, and they never sounded so muscular in the studio.Only one laughable track.(Hey, they were on drugs at the time.)And the bonus jam tracks are very good.
Disappointments:
Neon Bible - Arcade Fire (2007) Actually quite good, just not as powerful as it’s trying to be. And a letdown after "Funeral".
Live at the Apollo - James Brown(1962) I really shouldn’t complain.It is James Brown live after all.But it’s short, so a greatest hits collection (like “30 Golden Hits”, or the 4 CD box set “Start Time” would be better.Definitely not bad, but sometimes live albums make you feel like you had to be there.
Return to CookieMountain - TV on the Radio (2006) It’s got tons of sound, and is occasionally striking, but too often is just a lot of noise.And the singing isn’t good enough.But I’ll keep trying.
What I Got for Christmas: This amounts to a subset of“Still Getting My Ears Around”.This is where I ask for gifts that I’d feel too guilty just getting for myself.There’s usually some experimentation here, which can be cause, during the cold winter months, for joyful immersion or deep depression as I ask myself just what kind of weird music I’m getting myself into.But as our use of the word “weird” is merely a reflection of our own provincialism, I carry on proudly, feeling superior to all around me.And isn’t that the point of life?
So I won’t know what I’ve got until at least March.
Spring Hill Fair - The Go Betweens (1986) Will this be yet another classic from the Australian band of the 80s?Yeah, you heard me.You can keep your INXS, Men at Work, etc.
John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, featuring Eric Clapton – (1966) Bitchin’ blues guitar from a post-Yardbirds and pre-Cream Clapton, and crappy singing from Mayall.Next year, I’ll go back to the originals that are covered here.
Brazil Classics, Volume 4: The Best of Tom Ze (1970s) Gentle, but strange Tropicalia.
The Rough Guide to Youssou N’dour and Etoile Dakar(1980s) A long vacation in Senegal.
I suppose that I ought to have a “Bad” category, but I rarely feel like I’ve gotten something that falls into that category.This may seem like the denial of a grim reality – bad music – but I guess I’m just too pig headed.I’ll force myself to listen to something over and over until I get it.Sometimes I never do.It’s great!
I got fourteen CDs altogether this year, and by my rough count, they average out to about 20 years old each.This gives the lie to my blog’s description, which refers to “current pop music”.But let’s face it, you don’t think in terms of years anymore, anyway.You think in terms of decades. Ouch!
It was an average year.I wish that there were a few more “Love”s.The great years are the ones where I get a truckload of music and five or six Loves rise to the top.I find that, unlike most things, more music is better.
