Brian James's Blog, page 24

Fiction Friday (81)...A Nonfiction Edition

As I mentioned in my book review last week, I'd been reading a non-fiction book of late, something that I rarely do. It's not that I don't like informative real life stories, it's just that I've always found the inner world of the imagination more interesting, probably because I've always felt more at home there. But every once in a while, I do like to read non-fiction, and usually when I do, it has something to do with music. This is a book that passed to me from a friend who is aware of my vinyl record addiction. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Old Records Never Die by Eric Spitznagel
(Plume Books, 2016)


The premise of this book reminds me of a line from written by John Frusciante:

"Sold all my records,
What a stupid thing to do.."
(from "Montreal" by Ataxia)

This is the thought that suddenly strikes Eric Spitznagel in his forties. It wasn't really a conscious decision to sell all of his records, it was just something that happened during the passage of time. Records gave way to CDs, and then the convenience and mobility of digital music. What would be the reason to hold onto these artifacts, especially when a few dollars might needed here or there?

This is the story of a man in search of what his lost. It is a story about getting caught up in the wave of time, drifting along for the ride without giving much thought to the meaning of things. The records Eric searches for are a search for memories, a search for the past and what once was but now is lost. It attempts to answer the question of whether or not we go back and re-capture these things.

The records are more than a metaphor, or a symbol, they act like a talisman...a physical object that awaken something deep inside us. Though Eric is successful in finding some of the records he owned in his youth, he discovers that certain things are lost forever, but that's okay. Memories are a part of life, but life is not meant for living in memories.

It reads like a delightful scavenger hunt for beloved objects and the meaning of life.

Now Our Watch Has Ended...

The final episode of the most popular show on television aired this past Sunday, and unlike most people on the web, I can say that I found it to be a satisfying conclusion. I thought it wrapped up the storylines adequately, and I liked how it put the main Stark characters exactly where they wanted to be. In that way, I felt rewarded that there was some happiness to be found for these characters that had suffered so much.
Sure, there are bones to pick, people are going to have wished for more, but that's always the case whenever you invest so much time and passion in a story. The conclusion is bound to disappoint in some ways because your imagination has already written what you wanted. But a story must end, that's the horrible truth about stories. There has to be an end. 
The one thing that I can agree on with the haters is that the final episode felt a little anti-climatic, especially after the episode before. There wasn't a lot of action. There was a lot of talking, a lot of sitting around. What I would say to everyone is to think about the last two episodes as one episode. If you had watched them together, I don't think it would have felt that way. The final episode was all conclusion. Those two episodes feel as though they should have been one movie length episode, and I think had that been the case, people would've felt better about it. 
I enjoyed that it didn't end the way I'd predicted. I like that there was a twist, even though we can debate the way that twist was revealed and the satisfaction of it. But there was an evolution that came to this fictional world, and that is a positive thing, otherwise we went on this decade long journey for nothing.

Weekend Music Roundup!

The weekend is here, and it's supposed to be summer-ish in my parts. So I've decided to kick off the season with releases that feel appropriate for the sunshine and warmth. It's a collection of new releases and new discoveries from the past. It's all upbeat stuff, the kind of music you want to hear when it's nice outside and the breeze is blowing through the windows. It's my least favorite time of year, but when it first arrives, I can enjoy it...at least until around July, and then I'm looking forward to Fall.
The Sonic Dawn - Eclipse: Released in January, this is the third album from the Danish psychedelic rock band, and my first introduction to them. This three piece band plays a kind of garage style psych sound that reminds me of Mystic Braves and some of the other Cali based bands. It kind of blew me away, not in the sense that I hadn't heard it before, but in the sense that it is exactly the sound that I love. "Forever 1969," "The Stranger," "Psychedelic Ranger," "Christinania," "Love Bird" and The Doors-esqe "On the Edge of Our Time" are standouts for me on one of my favorites of the year so far. 
Slade - Slayed?: Released in '72, this is the second album from the Midlands glam rock band. I'm sort of embarrassed to say that I'd never listened to a Slade record before, despite the fact that they've influenced many of my favorite bands. And after listening to it, I'm really embarrassed because it's fucking fantastic! This is definitely the band that ACDC was imitating when they burst out with High Voltage three years later. This album was a working class revelation, a big middle finger to hippy rock, and guess what? The kids loved it, they did! Brilliant record from start to finish.
Chapter and Verse - Glow: This is the second EP from the London band and was released in January. They have an alt rock sound that reminds me of other early EPs from UK bands from the last decade, bands like Cooper Temple Clause and The Nova Saints. It's alt rock derived from BritPop and infused with heavier elements to give it a harder sound. This is a short album that holds a ton of potential. Really worth checking out, and a band definitely worth following.
Bon Jovi - 7800º Fahrenheit: Released in 1985, one year before their breakout album Slippery When Wet, this is the New Jersey rock band's second album and possibly their most glam rock record. This is a band that got lumped in with all the L.A. bands at the time, but their sound is decidedly more east coast. I picked this up for a few dollars on vinyl on RSD and have been enjoying it's 80s carefree abandon. This is considered by many to be the worst of their early albums, probably due to the fact that it is the one that doesn't feature any instantly recognizable hits (which probably also why I never owned it). For my money, it's just as solid at their debut and definitely shows songwriting growth. Sure, it's not the best record ever made, but it's a good time when you're listening to it. 
Curren$y (Spitta Andretti) - Bourbon Street Secrets: This 2016 mix tape from the prolific New Orleans rapper is available on DatPiff. I've been following him for some time and every now and then like to listen to a new mix-tape. He's one of the most skilled MCs around and when he's on, he's right on. This is one of the strongest tapes of his that I've heard. It's an anthem of living out of control and being aware of it, enjoying the thrill of knowing you're heading for a crash.

Fiction Friday (80)

Shockingly, I'd been reading a non-fiction book the last couple of weeks, but a little more than half-way through, I needed to pause to read some fiction. One of the best things about working at a library is seeing things that people have returned. Last week, someone returned this book and the cover grabbed my attention. Then I noticed that my friends at Feiwel and Friends published it, and that the author is the author of 11 Birthdays, a book that I enjoyed when it came out. SO, I simply checked it out to myself before ever returning it to the shelf.
Bob by Wendy Mass and Rebecca Stead
(Feiwel and Friends, 2018)

Nearly 11 year old Livy is returning to Australia to visit her Gran for the first time in five years. Though she was five the last time she was there, she oddly doesn't recall anything about the trip, even though there's something inside screaming that there was something very important that she was supposed to remember.
That something exists in the attic of her bedroom. It's a smallish creature who has been waiting five years for her to return. The problem is, there's a magic attached to Bob (the creature), a magic that makes people forget him unless they are in possession of a charm. Once Livy remembers, the adventure begins. Together, her and Bob must solve the mystery of what Bob is, where he came from, and how to get him home.
This is a quick read, but don't let the thinness of the book deceive you. The story's depth is far bigger than the slightness of the pages. Part fairy tale, part mystery, the surface story is perfect for upper elementary school children. But there is a deeper level to the story, one about a girl trying to come to terms with the five year old she used to be. This is something every child goes through, trying reconcile who they've become with who they were and accept that we are always only one person. 
A sweet and touching story that is nicely done and never sugar-coated.

Weekend Music Roundup!

The weekend is here and it's time once again to venture into my ramblings on music that I've been grooving to lately. For this weekend, I decided to review albums from primarily solo artists, though nobody is really a solo artist because there are inevitably a world of musicians involved in the making of any record. Most of these are new releases from some artists that have long been favorites of mine. There is also a classic record on here that I'm sort of shocked to say I'd never listened to before and even more shocked by how much I love it. All in all, this is a list of great stuff, so do yourself a favor and check some of it out. Enjoy.
Pete Doherty and the Puta Madres - Pete Doherty and the Puta Madres: The third solo album from the Libertines and Babyshambles icon is his first release in three years and is already being hailed as his finest work to date. As a big fan of his work, I'm going to reluctantly agree with that assessment, though with so many great albums, it's hard to choose. This is definitely his best solo record. From the first song, it's one of those rare albums that immediate grabbed me, feeling both new and familiar at the same time, creating an instant love affair. Through all of his troubled history, Pete has always been one thing, and that's an incredibly honest, poetic, and clever songwriter. 
Paul and Linda McCartney - RAM: Paul's second solo album, released in 1971 is probably the album really showcases the full extent of his solo talents. The first album is also great, but a good deal of the material existed as Beatles demos. This is post-Beatles work and as much I like to rag on Paul, this is great stuff. There's not a single song on here that is bad in any way and he shows all of the different sides of "Paul" on this record.
Andrew Bird - My Finest Work Yet: The newest album from the indie chamber folk fixture is his first traditional album in three years, and it may be aptly titled. Though it probably won't find that special place in my world that The Mysterious Production of Eggs (2005) shares, this is a great work of intricate songwriting that shows he's still a master of the craft after decades in the business. There are so many amazing tracks on this record, including "Sisphus," "Bloodless," "Olympians," and "Manifest." 
Jenny Lewis - On the Line: The fourth solo album form the Rilo Kiley singer cam out a few months ago. I've always been on the fence about Jenny Lewis's work. Every album has songs that I truly love, and some songs that I don't. The first single from this album, "Red Bull and Hennessy," is one that I love and so I dove into again as I always have. For my money, this is my favorite of her solo records. There's a 70's Stevie Nicks vibe on here that she conquers. I don't love every song, but there wasn't any that I didn't like. In addition to the lead single, "Heads Gonna Roll," "Hollywood Lawn," and the title track are my favorites. 
Neil Young - Songs for Judy: Released last last year, this is a live album recorded in November of '76. It was on my radar when it came out, as anything the Grandfather of Grunge does, but I didn't pick it up until recently. Part of me was reluctant, simply because I have a lot of live Neil albums, but when I looked at the track listing, I saw that there are a bunch of songs on here that aren't the usual Neil live tracks. I'm so glad I did get it because it's easily one of the best Neil concert albums I've heard.

When Reality and Fiction Meet

As I mentioned a little while ago, I've been working on a new manuscript for the past two months and have shockingly been making progress on it. It's a story set in my own house, using elements from my own life, which is always the easiest place to start and embellish.
The idea for the story came to me over the winter. I was lying in bed and had nearly fallen asleep when I heard two pronounced footsteps in the attic above my head. They were not the sounds an animal would make. They were human sounding footsteps. Only two of them. Two footsteps that started and ended in the middle of the room. I would've thought I was imagining it except that my faithful cat, who was lying beside me, also looked up at the sound, confirming that the footsteps were not some half-dream hallucination.
This past week, I finished writing a scene where a bird delivered a message to a character in the attic. The attic in the story is my attic. Oddly enough, two days ago, a bird mysteriously showed up in our attic a day after completing the scene. The bird was one meeting the description of the bird in the story. There seemed to be no way the bird could have ended up in there, but my wife clearly saw it at the window when she was outside. Even more puzzling, when she went to free it, it wasn't there.
These are the kinds of events that give me the encouragement to continue. It's the kind of thing that reminds me how art, and the creation of art, exist in a strangely connected way to life that is a mystery worth exploring.

Weekend Music Roundup

It's the weekend, and up these ways, it's a bit of a rainy one. Rainy weekends are my favorite time to stay inside and listen to tunes. Hopefully the same is true for you, and if it is, I got some things that you might feel like checking out. This week's list features a nice mix of genres, some stoner rock, some introspective singer songwriter stuff, and of course some jazz. It's a mix of new releases and albums that are new to me. Enjoy.
Green Lung - Woodland Rites: The debut full length album from the London stoner metal band. As is the case with most bands in this genre, it owes a lot to Black Sabbath, but that's not something ever bothers me. It opens with a the blistering Ozzy sounding title track. The heavy ode to Sabbath continues with "Let the Devil In" and basically runs throughout this great album. Definitely worth checking, and a band worth following. 
Mahogany Rush - Child of Novelty: Released in '74, this is the second album from the Montreal band. This is a heavy psych, hard blues rock album sounds a bit like a groovy Jethro Tull meets a soulful Mountain. The inspiration for these guys is clearly Jimi, but they are certainly moving toward prog rock here. "Thru the Milky Way," "Makin' My Wave," and "Changing" and crazy psych track "Guit War," are my favorite tracks. Some have said it sounds too much like Hendrix, and vocally it does, and guitar, it does, the overall feel is something that feels like an evolution of the Hendrix sound being translated into something else four years after his death. Good stuff, this.

Mark Eitzel - Hey Mr Ferryman: This 2017 release is the most recent album from the prolific singer songwriter and former frontman for the 80s - 90's indie rock band American Music Club. Though that band is one that I'd known about forever, it was one that just never fell on my radar. But Mark played an intimate show in my town a few weeks ago and a friend, who is a long-time fan, invited us along. From the first thirty seconds of the show, I could tell this was something special. Mark writes songs with the kind of intense honesty and poetic beauty that reminded me instantly of Leonard Cohen, but in an entirely modern American sense. This record is remarkable and I'm excited to journey deeper into his work. 
Dory Previn - On My Way to Where: The second album from the folk singer was released in 1970. This is a rich sounding record that strays from the typical folk sound of the period, incorporating brass instruments to create a deeply psychological journey. This is an introspective record that explores loss, the pains of childhood, and the attempt to define self. It's a nearly forgotten record of the period, but one that is worth exploring. "I Ain't His Child," "Esther's First Communion," and "Mister Whisper" are stand outs for me on this fine album. 
Blackberry Smoke - The Southern Ground Sessions: This Southern rock band out of Atlanta have been around for 15 years, but they've only popped up in my world recently. I decided to check out this EP from last year, consisting mostly of songs from the full length album also released last year. This recording was the band's attempt to capture a more laid back, bare bones feel and it works. These acoustic tracks capture the soul of what Southern rock is all about. "Medicate My Mind," "Let Me Down Easy," and the cover of Tom Petty's "You Got Lucky" are my personal favorites. 
Earl Hines - Archive of Jazz: One of the early pioneer's of the Ragtime movement, Earl was a jazz pianist who was a fixture on the swing and Dixieland scenes. Over the past year of so, I've come across a bunch of this compilations from the Archive of Jazz series that was released in France, all of them in the cheap bins, and all of them exposing me to great musicians. These recordings were all made in the late 10's and early 20's and have that old timey sound that I can really dig. "Dear Old Southland" is a track that any one who digs jazz vocals should check out. A very nice addition to the growing jazz collection.

Game of Thrones...The End is Coming

The final season of one of the best television shows ever to air is now only three episodes from completion. Halfway through this short season seems like a good time to reflect on what is possibly to come. I will try not to reveal anything critical, but to be safe, if you have not caught up *STOP READING NOW*....
This season was always going to be about two things, the war against the army of the dead and the battle for the Iron Throne. I think wisely, the producers decided to split those two storylines. I've read many fans complaining about how they chose to end the first of those two storylines. There's been a lot of.."that's it? it just ends?" and I'm like, "well yeah...that's what stories do. They end." The first three episodes did more than just end one of the two storylines though, they have moved the pieces into place for the second of the two. 
The lines have been drawn and the characters have chosen their sides. Of course, they are free to switch allegiances, as many have done throughout, but for the most part, we know where they stand after 8 seasons. It also deepened some of the bigger mythologies of the show, the place of the gods, the prophecies, and hinted at character destiny. 
I still hold true to what I said on a post dating back to Season 3 or thereabouts, and that is Ayra Stark is really the center of the story. I would venture to say that many of the viewers share her thoughts on pretty much everything that has taken place. She represents our point of view and has always seemed the most sensible character, one who has rarely made a choice that has made us shake our heads, unlike all of the others, with the exception of Tyrion. So when all the bets are being placed, I would bet on those two to still be around when the dust settles. Everyone else is up for grabs.

Weekend Music Roundup!

The weekend has come again and in this season of rebirth, I'm going to exclusively share some new releases that I've been jamming to recently. Some are records from bands that are new to me, others are new releases from bands that have been in my life for ages. This is mostly rock, mostly heavy, but there's also some hip-hop, some doo-wop, and some accoustic Neil. I hope you find something worth checking out. As always, enjoy.
Dead Witches - The Final Exorcism: This is the second album from the stoner / doom metal band. It should be known by now that I'm a sucker for anything that looks like this, especially if the band name has Dead or Witch in the title (L.A. Witch, The Devil's Witches, Dead Heaven, etc), so of course I took a chance on this one and my instincts once again paid off. This is a great metal album that veers toward heavy psych and grunge metal at times. "When Do the Dead See the Sun," "Lay Demon," and the title track are among my favorites. 
Smino - Noir: The second album from the Chicago based hip hop artist was released at the end of last year, nearly a year and half after his brilliant debut record. Like that album, this one contains magnificent beats that go beyond the typical, creating a mellow vibe that fits his outstanding flow. I will admit to liking this one slightly less than the last album, but it's still one of the best hip hop records of recent times. "Spinz," "Krushed Ice," and "L.M.F." are standout tracks. 
Guided by Voices - Zeppelin Over China: The newest release from the ever-prolific Ohio lo-fi band is yet another collection of brief snippets of brilliance. The band has had a revolving line-up over the last few years, which is probably necessary to keep up with Robert Pollard's endless well of songs. The current line-up features Bobby Bare Jr., a favorite artist of mine. One thing that a lot people dislike about this band is that the albums, especially recently, are all very long and have tons of songs to slog through. This one isn't going to appease those, but fans will love that there is so much here to hear. 
Ville Valo and Agents - Ville Valo and Agents: Just released, this is a new side-project from the HIM frontman, collaborating with the surviving members of the Finish band The Agents. This is an album of unreleased songs written by the late member, Rauli “Badding” Somerjoki, who Valo has long admired. These are definitely not the gothic rock songs of HIM, being of a different era. These are more like the second wave of garage rock that came around in late '70s and early '80s, with surf rock guitars and even some doo-wop influences. Yes, it's in Finish, but it's still something his fans will enjoy. Definitely worth checking out.
L.A. Guns - The Devil You Know: The newest album from the glam rockers is their first in two years and continues their impressive return to form that began two albums ago and really took hold with their last record. This album certainly feels like a proper bookend to their incredible '88 debut album. It has the same energy and reckless nature of that album, and it quickly become my second favorite record of theirs. 
Neil Young - 5 X or Less "Live" Acoustic: This recent digital bootleg is a two-part collection of Neil Young live songs that he's played...you guessed it...five times ore less. I listened to the acoustic one first and will dip into the electric one soon. Given that these are all taken from different shows, the equalizing is a mess, but the songs, as always, are pure gold. As would be expected, there are a ton of lesser known Neil songs on here and it's nice to hear them get the live treatment. Really for hardcore fans only.

Discovering Beasts

I'm the kind of person who always has lists. I have lists of albums that I want to hear, books I want to read, and movies that I want to see. Due to the length of said lists, it sometimes takes years before I'm able to cross an item off. That was the case with Beasts of the Southern Wild. It is a movie that I've wanted to see since it came out, but it never showed in the area, or if it did, it disappeared from the theater before I could see it. And then it never showed up on any of the streaming services, but I always kept looking. Finally, I came across it at the library and checked it out (and renewed it once, because even when it was in my possession, it took two weeks to find the time to watch it).
Now, it should be said that even though this is a movie that has been high on my list for seven years, I knew very little about it. However, in that time, my mind had orchestrated images and ideas about it based on the limited images I'd seen and descriptions I'd read. In my mind, I was expecting something along the lines of The City of Lost Children and maybe Tideland. In other words, something more fantasy based. And while there are elements in the film that remind me of the above movies, this is a very different film.
The movie follows a young child named Hushpuppy during a few days in her life living in a fictional version of the swamp islands of Louisiana. Hushpuppy is preparing herself for the end of the world, when the polar ice caps will melt and unleash fearsome beasts trapped in the ice that will come to eat her and all the eclectic residents of "The Bathtub."
The truly exceptional aspect of this film, and the reason I believe it was so celebrated when it came out, is how it is able to capture the way a child sees and understands the world. It reminded me of the way I understood the world at the time, the way a matter-of-fact comment (especially from an adult) could blend with the very active imagination that was just as much of a reality as reality was. It also depicts a way of life that is nearly forgotten and nearly invisible in mainstream society and makes you remember that this is a big world and people live differently throughout, but what unites us is our humanity, our love for each other, our struggles to survive and live and enjoy life. 
There is beauty. There is sadness. There is weakness and there is strength. A movie like this is worth the wait.