Brian James's Blog, page 51

Dream Pillow

Last week was one of those weeks that just sort of got away from me. It was also the week that I purchased a new pillow for the first time in years. I was a little nervous about it. I often like to stick with a pillow for years on end, but was feeling impulsive. On its first night in use, my new pillow released an epic zombie apocalypse dream that more involved, longer, and more intense than any I've had in long time. It was one of those dreams that I woke up thinking about, and the act of thinking about it caused me to remember other epic dreams that I hadn't recalled before, some dating back years. 
Now a few nights in, I'm happy to say that it has given another very detailed and complicated nightmare. I say happy because I'm of the strange breed who enjoys nightmares. Nightmares are often the most vivid dreams we have and therefore are hard to forget. They don't frighten me, not after I wake anyway. So I'm never left with fear, only awe with how the mind weaves together dream logic into something so real and so surreal at the same time. 

Weekend Music Roundup

The hottest week of the year is finally over, and I couldn't be more thankful for that. I spent most of this sweltering heat listening to a few curious new records. The extreme heat makes me a little loopy, which is probably why I picked mostly quirky albums. Sadly, many of these are kind of forgettable, but they are bookmarked on the top and bottom by some worthwhile records. Hopefully none of you melted over the past few days. Enjoy.
Black Rainbows - Stellar Prophecy: The seventh studio album from the Italian heavy psych band came this past spring and it's quite good. It shares similarities with other current bands in the genre including Kadavar, The Sword and on a lesser scale, Electric Wizard. I love the old school feel of the artwork, and the way it alludes to old '70s psych metal. Definitely worth checking out.
Bear Hands - You'll Pay for This: The Brooklyn indie band's third album is their best to date. While their previous two albums had flashes of interest, neither ever truly came together in my opinion to create something exciting. This album isn't perfect, but it definitely has a defined sound that doesn't seem derivative, and for that alone, it warrants a listen. It's uptempo, but never poppy, and quite a decent summer kind of record.
Bob Dylan - Melancholy Mood: This four sound EP of standards was released in April as a preview to his full length album of standards that came out in May. Not wanting to suffer through a full album unnecessarily, I decided to go with the short version. To my surprise this is quite enjoyable. Despite recent evidence to the contrary, Bob can still sing! Using a crooner, vocal jazz style, he manages to sound like Leonard Cohen on these songs. While it's not anything that I will cherish, it is an album that sets a nice mood. Worth checking out for fans, but nothing essential. 
Bonnie 'Prince' Billy and Bitchin' Bajas - Epic Jammers and Fortunate Ditties: Released in the spring, this is a collaborative album from Will Oldham and the Chicago free folk outfit. Basically it amounts to Bonnie providing vocals over Bitchin' Bajas brand of folktronica, giving the whole thing a freak folk vibe that is quite perfect for the hot and hazy days of summer, or the cold interior days of winter. This isn't an album that calls for attention to tracks but is rather best served as an entire listen like a experimental campfire singalong.

Jarvis Cocker - Music from "Likely Stories" EP: This is a four song soundtrack to Neil Gaiman project by the former Pulp singer. In typical Jarvis fashion, there is a pompous arrogance that colors this EP. He basically talks over the music, saying quasi interesting things which never really amount to anything. The music is good, but overall, it's really nothing special. Then again, I've never been a real fan.

Essra Mohawk - Essra Mohawk: Released in 1974, this is the third album from Sandy Hurvitz, and the second under the Essra Mohawk moniker. Her first album is one of my all time favorites, and this one is nearly just as good. This is one of those albums that I looked for in every record store I entered over the past seven years. I finally came across a beautiful copy for only a few dollars. I've been listening to it every day since. "New Skins for Old," "If I'm Going to Go Crazy with Someone, It Might as Well Be You" and her cover of "Summertime" are exceptional tracks.

War in America

The events of the last few days are extremely disturbing and I honestly fear where they will lead us. It started with the despicable actions of a few police officers, who in my opinion should be arrested for murder. These actions set of a wave of anger through this country. It was the accumulation of decades of abuse by police who are now run like small armies. The unequal justice that the African American community faces is obscene, and thanks to modern technology, is visible for all to see.
The reaction to these events over the past two years, with the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement, has been a long time in coming. The response from the right has been predictable, and continues to feed into the racism that created the situation in the first place. 
Yesterday, the inevitable finally happened. All the pent up rage released itself in another terrible act of violence, this time the target being the police. What happens after this incident is crucial. Either we move as a nation to finally try to address and deal with this problem, or it ends up with open war on the streets. Unfortunately, I have little faith in the divisive political climate to do anything to calm the tension. In fact, they already seem to be inciting it. (I'm talking to you former Rep. Joe Walsh!)
What we have here is a powder keg...the challenge is to diffuse it before it blows. 

America's Last Birthday?

On it's 240th Birthday, America may be facing the limits of its lifespan. I'm not suggesting that it's going away or that the stars and stripes won't continue to fly for a long time. What I'm saying is that we are a point where the democracy that was founded in 1776 is on the verge of destroying itself. 
One could point to rampant voter fraud, corporate influence, and corrupt party control over our election process as signs of the Republic's demise, but I won't. Those elements have been in play since the very early days of the nation. The idea of democracy comes with the notion that there are those who go to any means to be the power behind the reins. What is new this time around is that one of the men who could possible hold those reins will act and assume the powers of a dictator. 
If elected, Donald Trump will essentially be the last American president. Nobody with an ego that large will ever bow to the demands of an unpopular and weak Congress. Trump will do whatever his whims tell him to do, and with that, will change the very nature of the Executive Branch which is already unbalanced in its power. 
As we celebrate today, I ask you all to think about what this country means. The ideals of this country are not about walls and guns and killing. Search your soul, read the declaration of Independence, and find out what it truly means to be an American, one you can be proud of.

Weekend Music Roundup

Welcome to the long holiday weekend, the height of summer, and one that is usually packed with music. This past week was a good one for new sounds. It was a nice mix of new and old. There were a couple of releases from bands that have only been around a few years, along with some nice finds of favorite bands, and one recent archival live release from a favorite of mine. Hopefully there is something here for you discover, when you're not lighting fireworks and celebrating America with hot dogs. Enjoy.
The Sore Losers - Skydogs: This is the third album from the Belgium hard rock band. Unlike typical bands these days, they typically take a few years between releases. I was unfamiliar with these guys before this album, and will admit being attracted by the pitch perfect heavy psych cover. This is not really heavy psych. If stoner hair metal bands came of age today, they'd sound a lot like this. From my perspective, that ain't such a bad thing. For others, it's a nightmare. Very worthwhile if that genre is one you are into.
The Beatles - Yellow Submarine: Though I have a HUGE Beatles library, believe it or not, this is one I didn't have. I recently came across a mint first issue of this album still in shrinkwrap for $4 at an antique store and snatched it up. While the B side consists of forgettable George Martin soundtrack songs, Side A is pure Fab Four gold with "Hey Bulldog" being the real treasure. It was a great buy and I'm happy to add it to my collection.
The Oscillation - Monographic: The London space rock band recently released their fourth album and it's a departure from their last effort. While they have come to be known for their lush soundscapes and Pink Floyd like sound, this is very different. This sounds more like early Christian Death to me, aggressive, moody and gothic at it's roots. There are still elements of atmospheric rock that seep through, making this an interesting listen and one worth checking out.
Sly and the Family Stone - Stand!: Released in 1969, this is a landmark album that combines soul, funk and rock in a delightful way. Sly is in top form here, and will be for several years to come. I was lucky to find a perfect vinyl copy of this one for cheap and have been grooving to it for awhile. Though I had their Greatest Hits on vinyl, it's nice to hear some of the songs that you don't hear all the time. "Everyday People," "I Want to Take You Higher," and the title track are hits, and they are fantastic.
The Myrrors - Entranced Earth: The psychedelic band from Arizona released their third album two months ago. They specialize in creating almost lyrical soundscape with minimal vocals. This is the kind of album that typically I prefer in the late fall than in the summer, and will likely return to it at that time. Pleasant enough, though not particularly striking.
The Monkees - More of the Monkees: The band's second album sees them leading up to their classic records that were to come, is still a little more pop rock than psychedelic. The were still young and a little goofy here, but always catchy. This also has some of their best songs like "I'm a Believer" and "(I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone." It goes nicely on the shelf with their other records. This is a band that is too often dismissed when really they were one of the greats of the time.
The White Stripes - Live at the Golden Dollar III: In the continuing wave of Fan Club releases, this live set was put out on vinyl around Christmas time. This is an early concert, recorded before the release of their debut and features songs mostly from that album, and some that would come later and still more that would never be released on any official album. The energy on here is great and really captures the sound of one the best live bands of all time.

Game of Thrones...Winds of Winter

So begins a long year of waiting to return to my favorite fictional world. This season of Game of Thrones was perhaps the best yet in terms of story. Though other seasons have had more action, of which Season 3 has to rank at the top, this season dove deeper into the game. Most of the season was spent moving the chess pieces around to put them into place for the final climax and conclusion. All along they were hinting at big things to come, and in the final two episodes, they delivered.
One of the things that was interesting about this season (and please stop reading if you don't want any spoilers) is how the women are now fully in control, be it Cersei Lannister in King's Landing, Daenerys Targaryen across the narrow sea, or Sansa Stark in the North. While the women have always been powerful players behind the scenes, they are now out front. Let's see how they fair.
As the season ended, the cards have once again been shuffled and the noble families have realigned their allegiances in preparation for the wars to come. I still hold onto my prediction from way back in the first season that a Targaryen would end up ruling the seven kingdoms, but with recent revelations, who that Targaryen is, is now in question. We also have to wonder about the Stark perspective that has driven the narrative up to this point and wonder how much of what we've believed from the beginning is actually true. All that I know is that I am going to enjoy thinking about it often over the next several months.

Weekend Music Roundup

 
The first weekend of summer has arrived and with it has come the unbearable heat associated with this cursed season. The only thing about summer that is redeeming in the fact that music sounds great moving through thick humid air. This week featured a few new releases, all of which surprised me either for better or worse, but the fact that at this point in my life I can still be surprised is something I'm glad for. I don't have a agenda for next week just yet, so I don't know what the week ahead is going to bring as far as my musical enjoyment. I guess we'll all have to wait and see. Until then, find something you like and enjoy.

Red Hot Chili Peppers - The Getaway: I wouldn't call myself a die-hard RHCP's fan, though I've enjoyed their music for the past 25 years. As a loyalist, I always check out new output from bands that have entertained me in the past. So while their last album, 2011's I'm With You, was a real disappointment with the exception of a few songs, I still wanted to hear this. After "Dark Necessities"  was released a few weeks ago, the radio started playing it and I really dug it, increasing my anticipation for this. This is leaps and bounds better than the last album, and their best since By the Way. They've finally adapted to John Frusciante's departure and created a fun record. Very traditional RHCP, no real surprises, but solid all the way through.
Mudcrutch - 2: Eight years after their first album, the Tom Petty collaborate band released their follow-up. This is another album where the debut single has been on heavy rotation and has been stuck in my head. Normally I wouldn't show must interest in a Tom Petty release, but "Trailor" is an exceptional song that made me seek this out. I was pleasantly surprised by this country rock album. There isn't really a bad song on here. It feels like Traveling Wilburys era Tom Petty, and very Dylan influenced. Definitely worth checking out.
Rapidfire - Ready to Rumble: If that singer on the cover looks familiar, it's because he is. This is Axl Rose's pre-Hollywood Rose band. This five song demo EP had long been buried, but the guitar player, and songwriter, released them a few years back. I'd been looking for a copy of this for awhile and finally found one. This is more AC/DC meets NWOBHM than anything Axl has done since. Singing in the lower register, these songs are all about getting chicks. Nothing terribly special about this except from a historical and completest point of view. Still, "On the Run" is pretty bitchin'.
Misfits - Friday the 13th: It's been a long time since I've checked out any new music from one of my favorite bands from my teenage years. Partially because they haven't put out much music since the early '80s and partly because it's far from the same band with Danzig on vocals. But I did give this new EP a few listens and it's okay. The songs are based on '80s horror movies, and for the most part they are enjoyable even if they are not particularly memorable. A fun listen, but certainly nothing essential.
Jake Bugg - On My One: The third album from the British singer songwriter was released last week and I'd been meaning to check him out for some time. I'd read a lot of promising things about him, but have to admit that I found this album to pretty unlistenable. I found his voice somewhat annoying, and musically pretty pedestrian. I got through the whole album, though there were many times where I wanted to switch it off. I'm sure it would appeal to people with more a pop sensibility, or fans of Ed Sheeran.
The Charlie Daniels Band - High Lonesome: In the '70s, Southern Rock hit the mainstream thanks to bands like Lynyrd Skynyrd and The Allman Brothers. One of the bands on the next tier of that movement was The Charlie Daniels Band which brought a little more of the traditional country sound into their blend of Southern rock. Released in '76, at the peak of their career, this record is near perfect blend of those two genre. This is one I found in the $1 crate and it's well worth the price of admission. 

The End of Globalization

I remember when the EU was just a concept and the talk of how it would change the world by creating a United States of Europe. It was decades ago, when the idea of globalization was just beginning to take root. With yesterday's UK vote to leave the EU, that global movement may be coming to an end. It seems isolationism and nationalism are on the rise once again. It's not only in Europe. It's happening here in the U.S. too. We see it with the likes of Trump and his supporters. There's an increasing fear that the rest of the world is out to take advantage of you, no matter where it is you happen to be.
The thing is, it's easy to play into the fears of globalization. It's easy to tell the story of immigration taking away jobs. It's easy to point to money that flows out of one nation and into the hands of another. It's easy to get people angry that their taxes are going to help people who didn't contribute to those taxes. Yet it's very hard to communicate the benefits of globalization.
It's hard to convince people that the good of the many is good for them. It's difficult to illustrate how deep cooperation between nations can be a benefit to their lives. Yes, there are dangers when governing bodies are seen as remote, or in the case of the EU, when foreign countries can impose costs on to members of another nation. But it's the spirit of globalization that can solve the difficult problems the world faces. It's the spirit of globalization that can provide stability to our world. And it's the spirit of globalization that has given those of us in the West a standard of living that couldn't have been imagined 50 or 100 years ago.

Weekend Music Roundup

The last week of Spring has ended, and bringing with it the heat of summer. I can't stand the heat of summer, but I certainly like the explosion of music that happens every time this year. This was a week that featured some new releases from artists that I've been following for some time, as well as an anticipated bootleg that I'd been looking forward to. There are a few vinyl discoveries that I made recently. All in all, not a bad way to say goodbye to the season. Next week should feature a few more new releases, so stay tuned. Enjoy.

AC/ DC - Axl or Bust: In addition to fronting a re-united GNR, Axl has recently become the lead singer for AC/DC to help the band fulfill their tour obligations in the wake of Brian Johnson's necessary departure. I've always been of the mindset that AC/DC died with Bon Scott, not being a fan of Brian Johnson, so hearing their songs sung by my favorite singer was a welcome surprise. It's like getting a brand-new GNR double album of covers and that's a wonderful thing. Purists will object, but GNR fans will rejoice.

Scorpion Child - Acid Roulette: The Austin rock band's second album was released this week and it's quite good. It's a throwback to '80s metal, at least vocally, while the riffs feel very modern stoner metal. It reminds a bit of Ozzy or early Soundgarden, which is nice, though not particularly innovative. "Winter Side of Deranged," "Tower Grove," "Moon Tension," and the title track are standout tracks.
NRBQ - Scraps: I picked up the Miami boogie blues band's third album on vinyl a few weeks back and saved it for a while, but once I started listening to it, I couldn't really stop. Rooted in blues, this album transcends the genre and feels closer to Grateful Dead than any other band of the time that I can think of. Released in 1972, this album still holds a lot in common with '60s rock, but also has that shift into laid back '70s feel. I always thought this was a '90s band, having never heard of them before that era until I heard some of their early stuff on the radio recently. Certainly a band I will check out more of.

Psychic Ills - Inner Journey: Channeling their inner Brian Jonestown Massacre, the Brooklyn neo-psych band returns with their first album in three years, and third consecutive solid record. A laid back vibe gives the whole thing a feeling of Cali psych as they explore similar territory that BJM has been navigating recently. The result is one the albums that I anticipate listening to quite a bit this summer on lazy days, assuming I have any lazy days. "Another Change," "Mixed Up Mind" and "All Alone" are among my favorite tracks.
Jimmie Spheeris - Isle of View: The debut album from L.A. singer songwriter was released in 1971 and is one the early folk pop albums to feature a sound that would later be made famous by the likes of John Denver. However, Spheeris isn't nearly as poppy. This bridges the gap between bands like The Incredible String Band and the later world of Cat Stevens. Not a perfect record, but quite a good folk album and one that you don't seem around very often. Definitely worth checking out if you are into folk of that time period.
Curren$y - The Legend of Harvard Blue: Sometimes there's a reason to continue investing in an artist that shows promise. Starting a few years back, I began to listen to Curren$y (aka Spitta Andretti) and knew that one day the New Orleans rapper would do something that I truly loved. Of the many albums I've heard in his prolific output, I usually find them to be uneven, with flashes of raw talent that never quite come together into a whole. This mixtape finally does and it had me memorized from start to finish. He puts a unique spin on old way of rhyming and it's a pleasure to hear.

Wye Oak - Tween: This is the fifth album from the Baltimore based indie pop band. It has deep roots in '80s soft rock, but filtered through current dream pop tones. I enjoyed this album, not as much I enjoy their debut, but still it was entertaining. There were definitely moments where it sort of missed the mark, and others where I found myself easily distracted. "Too Right," "On Luxury," and "No Dreaming" were my favorites. 

Fiction Friday (42)

On this Friday, I've decided to post a review of book that I've known quite well for decades but which my opinion about has changed drastically in the past few months. Anyone who knows me knows that I'm a person of strong opinions and usually have stubborn convictions on said opinions. So for me to have a change of heart, especially on a book, is quite rare. I'm pretty pleased to say this is the first thing on which my daughter has changed my opinion, though I'm quite certain it won't be the last.

Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
(HarperCollins 1947)

When I worked in Children's publishing as buyer, I hated this book. I'd read it many, many times and never saw what people liked about it. It was dull. It was boring. It was a book that I crusaded against as one that had seen its time and needed to be retired. 
I was wrong.
Of course when my daughter was born, this book was one that was given to her. When she was about three months old, I read it to her for the first time, without much excitement. At the time, I still believed what I believed. We didn't read it very many times after. Then, about two months ago, I read it to her again as we were getting her ready for bed and saw how how much she liked it and how it soothed her. 
We read it a few more times, and soon she started pointing at the things as I read about them. My interest in the book grew. We began reading it every other night. For the first time I understood the genius in the rhythm of the text. I began to appreciate the nonsense quality of the items and the randomness of things chosen. And I discovered the art of reading it aloud and how it lends itself to a magical, peaceful ending. 
So goodnight old opinions. Goodnight criticism. Goodnight nobody. And goodnight mush.