News outlets are reporting that he died after suffering a heart attack.
The mission of this blog is to review, discuss and appreciate various music and musicians. Your contributions on these topics will be both welcome and appreciated. From major label to indie release, all music is fair game.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
RIP Davy Jones of The Monkees
Davy Jones, one of the distinctive voices of the group The Monkees, has passed away at the age of 66.
News outlets are reporting that he died after suffering a heart attack.
News outlets are reporting that he died after suffering a heart attack.
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Immersion? Yeah, I suppose so: Pink Floyd's "The Wall"
So, today was a big day for me. I got my first iPhone (woo), and my wife gave me the OK to get the Immersion box set of Pink Floyd's "The Wall."
A whole lot of vinyl the last few months
Sometimes, rather than write reviews or get all excited about any particular topic, it's nice to reflect on the music I have.
As I've said before on this li'l blog of mine, I own a lot of music and I love just about everything about it. The hunt is always fun, of course, and being able to hold it and examine it closely is one reason why digital music is never going to be my primary source of collecting. Sure, I buy a fair share of stuff on iTunes and Amazon mp3. But I just prefer the physical formats.
Combining the hunt and the thrill of inspection isn't hard ... some albums are just hard to find. Try to locate Harry Chapin albums that aren't compilations at your local Target, Best Buy or Walmart. Find any? Didn't think so. Harry Chapin's stuff DOES exist on CD, but it wasn't produced in large quantities. If you hit eBay or Amazon or assorted online vendors, you can track the stuff down. But most vendors for that stuff know how rare the discs are, and the prices are far from modest.
But vinyl? Well, that's another beast entirely. And it is very much worthy of the hunt.
As I've said before on this li'l blog of mine, I own a lot of music and I love just about everything about it. The hunt is always fun, of course, and being able to hold it and examine it closely is one reason why digital music is never going to be my primary source of collecting. Sure, I buy a fair share of stuff on iTunes and Amazon mp3. But I just prefer the physical formats.
Combining the hunt and the thrill of inspection isn't hard ... some albums are just hard to find. Try to locate Harry Chapin albums that aren't compilations at your local Target, Best Buy or Walmart. Find any? Didn't think so. Harry Chapin's stuff DOES exist on CD, but it wasn't produced in large quantities. If you hit eBay or Amazon or assorted online vendors, you can track the stuff down. But most vendors for that stuff know how rare the discs are, and the prices are far from modest.
But vinyl? Well, that's another beast entirely. And it is very much worthy of the hunt.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
My brother's 30th birthday
My brother turned the magic age of 30 today.
My only sibling, he's younger than me by about a year and a half. So, for as far back as I can really remember, he's always been there. He's been my most trusted and faithful companion, as a boy and as a man. We were Boy Scouts together, and we both attended the same college (for different degrees ... he always was the smart one, and he found his calling in engineering). He's a hard worker, a hilarious guy, and one of the most trustworthy and reliable gentlemen you will ever meet.
My only sibling, he's younger than me by about a year and a half. So, for as far back as I can really remember, he's always been there. He's been my most trusted and faithful companion, as a boy and as a man. We were Boy Scouts together, and we both attended the same college (for different degrees ... he always was the smart one, and he found his calling in engineering). He's a hard worker, a hilarious guy, and one of the most trustworthy and reliable gentlemen you will ever meet.
Billy Joel: Far from innocent, still awesome
An album homage to the music of the Fifties and Sixties that Joel so loved, "An Innocent Man" at times emulates the structures or sounds of these songs, or dips into lyrical stylings from this era, or is focused on elements of the time (when the youth culture was starting to separate from the Eisenhower-personified adult structure).
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Dylan slows things down with "Harding"
Following three electric, eccentric, frantic and essential albums comes this record, which makes almost as much impact by making LESS noise.
With "Bringing It All Back Home," "Highway 61 Revisited" and "Blonde on Blonde" in succession, Dylan was on top of the rock world. His arrangements were electric, and he'd attained that "thin, wild mercury sound" that he'd been seeking.
After touring constantly, pushing his muse to the brink and taking more drugs than most people could stand, Dylan was frazzled (and rightfully so). Then there came the motorcycle accident (or, at least a story of a motorcycle accident) that brought the whole frenzy to an end.
With "Bringing It All Back Home," "Highway 61 Revisited" and "Blonde on Blonde" in succession, Dylan was on top of the rock world. His arrangements were electric, and he'd attained that "thin, wild mercury sound" that he'd been seeking.
After touring constantly, pushing his muse to the brink and taking more drugs than most people could stand, Dylan was frazzled (and rightfully so). Then there came the motorcycle accident (or, at least a story of a motorcycle accident) that brought the whole frenzy to an end.
"All Things Must Pass," but album still strong
The greatest Beatles solo album to date?
That might be overstating it, or maybe not.
For as powerful as John Lennon's "Plastic Ono Band" surely is, or as masterful as Paul McCartney's "Band on the Run" undeniably is, or as beloved as "Imagine," "Ram," "Double Fantasy," "Tug of War," etc. all are ... "All Things Must Pass" is a masterpiece.
That might be overstating it, or maybe not.
For as powerful as John Lennon's "Plastic Ono Band" surely is, or as masterful as Paul McCartney's "Band on the Run" undeniably is, or as beloved as "Imagine," "Ram," "Double Fantasy," "Tug of War," etc. all are ... "All Things Must Pass" is a masterpiece.
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Missed? Syd is/was/will be
As talented as Syd Barrett undeniably was, his solo output highlights the issues that surrounded his departure from Pink Floyd.
What were those issues? Scattered performances, uncommercial lyrics/topics, an aversion to honing the material in the attempt to preserve the spontaneity of first performance (or whatever). Uneven temperament, increasingly weird behavior ... All of that and more.
What were those issues? Scattered performances, uncommercial lyrics/topics, an aversion to honing the material in the attempt to preserve the spontaneity of first performance (or whatever). Uneven temperament, increasingly weird behavior ... All of that and more.
Monday, February 6, 2012
A great voice, silenced: RIP Carl Wilson
Carl Wilson, the youngest brother of the Wilson family in The Beach Boys, died on Feb. 6, 1998.
Many members of the group don't have name or face recognition to the general masses. But believe me, you would recognize his voice.
Many members of the group don't have name or face recognition to the general masses. But believe me, you would recognize his voice.
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