What is "Weekly Christmas"?

One of the cool things about working in college radio during the mid 90's was the fact that no matter how small your station was (and we didn't get much smaller than the station I ran) you got treated very well by the record companies. In many ways the 90's were a great time to be around music because even the major labels had a need to seem hip and indie. Every label had a college radio promo guy or girl and these people spent their days dealing with those of us in college radio who for lack of a better word, were music snobs. We had a tremendous influence on the shape of new music simply with our play lists. Since I was close enough to LA to count it only added to my cache and for a short while my opinion genuinely seemed to matter (this would translate into a short career as a promo guy myself...but more on that later)

Anyway, the best thing was that every week there were packages of records that would be sent to the station for us to listen to. My friend Scott called it "Weekly Christmas". Every Tuesday I would travel to the mail room and pick up a huge bag of packages. We would tear through to see what was new for the week. Some packages were more valued than others. For some reason, packages from ISLAND RECORDS always held personal favor with me. It seemed there was always something good in those packages. That's how I found dEUS.

I can't say I really listened to the whole album very much. I was really only enamoured with a couple of songs on it. But the ones I liked I really liked. dEUS had that beat poet, jazz dissonance thing going for them which made their songs jump out at you. The record was also very dark both lyrically and musically. Crunching guitars meshed with violins and a scream/shout singing style that was just short of hard to listen to. Then the band would find a groove and all of sudden it all made sense. I may have played "Suds and Soda" about three dozen times on my show in a six month period of time. I absolutely loved that song probably because it reminded my a bit of CAMPER VAN BEETHOVEN whom I also love. I have not heard anything else since their debut record back in 1994 but I understand they are still around. So a couple of tracks from a gift of "Weekly Christmas"!

(mp3) dEUS -- Suds and Soda

(mp3) dEUS -- Via

Like a well worn sweater...

There are some bands that just don't change. They just don't have it in their DNA. They have a formula that brought them success and they simply cannot break away from it. They may play a bit with some new instruments are try a new producer to shake the mix up but they still end of sounding the same every time. This is not always a bad thing. After all, many bands have made a career in this variations on a theme approach. A prime example are THE COUNTING CROWS. This was one of those American Bands of the 90's (along with Blind Melon, Live and Toad The Wet Sprocket) that made a name for themselves with a heart on their sleeve lyrical sensibility married to a folk rock approach that owed a lot to Neil Young. Counting Crows are still around and are set to release a new record and based on the first few leaked tracks, it is very much their formula. They have taken a Jekyll and Hyde tactic this time around with a rock side and a country side but really it's all just their songs. Simple, plaintive and comforting. I admit I missed them and I'm glad to have them back. Now if I could just find my favorite sweater from college I'll be set...

(mp3) Counting Crows -- You Can't Count on Me

(mp3) Counting Crows -- When I Dream of Michelangelo

Has This Ever Happened To You?

So I intended to take the easy way out today and post some U2 or Sinead O'Connor (or even, Lord help me, a Cranberries song) in celebration of St. Patrick's Day.

But then a funny thing happened around 2:00am in the morning about three days ago. What I describe here happens to me all the time. It's a by-product of spending most of my adolescence and adulthood immersed in music. What I want to know is if I am the only one afflicted by this condition.

It starts out with a slight nagging sensation. Sometimes its a piece of a song lyric. Maybe a guitar line or a drum beat. On those truly difficult cases its a bass line. It just gets stuck in my head. I start repeating it over and over. I can't place it yet. I try to seek out the next line in my head. I hum the tune (or at least the portion rattling around my cranium at that particular instant) endlessly searching for the connective tissue that will point me in the right direction. By midday I descend into a kind of manic state. Will I ever figure out what song it is? Was it something I heard recently or is my subconscious jarring my musical interest in a long lost gem? Will I ever figure it out or will it just dissipate as quickly as it came?

Normally, in the best cases, I figure it out in a day. Maybe two at the worst. I have yet to be totally stumped by my brain but this latest incarnation of this game almost drove me insane. Mind you, I suffer these melodic torture treatments silently. After all, those are the rules. Sharing only makes others endure my suffering. If I share the odds on someone knowing the song are slim at best. Certainly someone with a limited musical selection would be useless in cases such as these because the tune is often some toss off album track. Rarely is it obvious.

Then the miraculous happens. A light clicks on and the sound in my head grows. The next line or piece falls into place. I connect the sound to a picture (usually album artwork but sometimes a singer standing on stage). I am filled with a rush of accomplishment. I have a concrete clue to work from. Then its into the racks of Cd's. I pay no attention to other albums (to do so can be fatal, it causes the brain to shift to other treasures. I have no time for the live bootleg recording of a 1987 REM concert...I'm on a mission Damnit!) Then there it is, nestled in corner of a shelf. The CD that contains the song that has haunted me. I have found it!!!! HALLELUJAH!! PRAISE THE LORD!!! THE NIGHTMARE IS OVER AND I CAN SLEEP AGAIN.

(all that for a song from a anonymous New Zealand band called THE CHILLS...and it wasn't even the single.)

(mp3) The Chills -- Background Affair (from Soft Bomb)

one more for good measure

(mp3 The Chills -- Male Monster From The Id (from Soft Bomb)

Why History Matters

So HBO is running a mini-series about the life and work of John Adams. Adams was an influential founding father of the United States serving as a member of the Continental Congress then later as the Vice President under George Washington and the 2nd President of the United States. While not as celebrated as Washington, Jefferson or Franklin, Adams clearly had a tremendous impact on the shape of this country. It reminds me of why I enjoyed teaching US History so much for the nine years that I did it. People often asked me why I taught history. It's boring and slow and has little impact on my life. My response was always the same. History, particularly US history, is full of important men and women facing tough moral and ethical questions and their choices impacted the course and shape of our nation for all time. Imagine what the United States would have been like if Lincoln had not been President to guide the US through the Civil War. Imagine what might have been had Franklin Roosevelt not met the Great Depression head on with a plan of action. What would our future be if Kennedy had not stood in front of the Berlin Wall and challenged the Soviet Union? Where would this country be if George Bush hadn't taken us into war? (okay so that's not a great example of leadership but will move on...)

The point is that those who do not learn from the past are doomed to repeat it. Those who do not study the past are robbing themselves of the collective wisdom of those who came before them. To do either is foolish.

(mp3) The Bell -- I Am History (courtesy of Discodust)
(mp3) Propellerheads -- History Repeating (courtesy of Lost In Your Inbox)
(mp3) The Good, The Bad and The Queen -- History Song (courtesy of Twelve Major Chords)

Notes From The Hill

A few thoughts upon my return from lobbying the state Congress on behalf of education.

1) I don't believe I actually saw a single Congressman today. They were all out to lunch when we got to their offices and were unavailable. Glad to see my tax dollars are hard at work paying for a good meal. I'd hate to see anyone starve.

2) State Capital Buildings are like museums. Until you get upstairs then they look more like insurance offices. Very bland with outdated magazines all over the place.

3) True Story: A legislative aide for one of the Republicans we visited actually referred to Governor Arnold as "The Govenator" (To be fair it was slip of the tongue for which she was highly embarrassed, but it was still funny)

4) Educators (especially those in administration) love to thank each other. Seriously I counted 45 thank yous in one speech. If the speeches were to be believed approx. 4000 people worked on a day and half conference held in one location and catered by the hotel staff. This took tremendous amounts of planning and I would like to take a moment to thank myself for attending.

5) A friend of mine referred to our lobbying efforts as "ball-washing" and "ass-grabbing". Just about sums it up for me.

6) Since I heard this about 800 times it bears repeating, California is the 8th largest economy in the world and is 46th in education spending. Do these numbers add up to anything but a load of crap?

7) People who speak in public (myself included) strive for one of two avenues for their speaking; get people laughing or get them yelling in support. Wouldn't it be nice if people just spoke like normal people into mics so we could actually understand what they are saying for a change?

8) Two guys hiked from Vacaville to Sacramento to protest these education cuts and got more press time then a collection of over 500 school administrators. So I guess it's true that actions speak louder than words.

9) When Republicans speak of supporting public education and then one of their leaders chooses to honor a women who, while sitting on city council, decided to home school her four children, doesn't that send mixed messages?

10) A final story: At a reception on the first evening my friend Garrett and I were sitting on the patio drinking a beer and we noticed two older gentlemen sitting at another table. They leaned over and politely introduced themselves as retired school administrators who had served collectively over 75 years in public education. I asked them why they were here and one replied that he still believed in the cause after all these years. I turn to my friend and we both have the same thought...will that be us in 30 years and is that a good thing or a bad thing?

(mp3) Maximo Park -- Apply Some Pressure

(mp3) The Dead Kennedys -- California Uber Alles

Look Ma I'm A Lobbyist

I've always had a passing interest in government and politics. While in college, I started out as a Political Science major with the intent of working in government is some capacity. Now as an educator I have been sent to our state capital with the intent of speaking with various congressmen on the perils facing our schools if they go through with their proposed budget cuts. I won't bore with the gory details (but if you live in California you should definitely worry about how this will affect the overall quality of your children's education), but I do find it interesting dealing with politicians.

By and large, politicians are not the slimy, used car salesmen that they are made out to be. Sure, there are some of those type in operation, but most are simply party men and women who have been conditioned to say little of importance and try to do their best to avoid saying something stupid. So this leads to stagnation and a dearth of new ideas. What it also leads to is deadlock and lack of compromise on a number of issues so real people get hurt due to all this inaction. So here I am, ready to go to battle tomorrow armed only with my conviction that what I believe is right and facing the daunting task of talking with little or no hope of it meaning anything...STAY TUNED!!

(mp3) Brave Captain -- I Pledge Resistance To The Flag

(mp3) The Boxer Rebellion -- All You Do Is Talk

Random Sloan Post

As referenced on numerous other postings, I have a slight thing for the power pop groups (see previous posts on THE POSIES and MAGNAPOP) so it was just a matter of time when I got back into SLOAN. Sloan was supposed to be Canada's answer to WEEZER right down to the shaggy hair and geek chic glasses. But where Weezer fell apart after their first record and have never seemed to reconcile their poppier tendencies with their desire to emulate KISS (at least musically), Sloan have just continued to mine the three chord, three minute pop song. Their first album, "Smeared", is by far my favorite. This is because the band was still playing with their sound a bit and you can hear the variance in sound (a little fuzz and distortion added that is missing on the later records). Lyrically, the songs tend to be the tried and true unrequited or lost love, which makes them classical in pop music stature. Enjoy!!

(mp3) Sloan -- Underwhelmed

Their first single and probably their most recognizable song. Just enough of a smirk in the lyrics to match the power of the guitars.

(mp3) Sloan -- Median Strip

This song has a kind of anthemic quality to it from the guitar intro to the bass only accompaniment in the verses.

(mp3) Sloan -- Coax Me (courtesy of Nellies Life)

This was off the second record and is more akin to their overall sound.

Wanted -- New Direction for Huge Commercial Band

So I stumbled across this article about the upcoming COLDPLAY record and it got me thinking...when is it a good idea for a huge band with lots of commercial success to change and when is it a bad idea. You look at various bands (U2, Radiohead) who have made radical shifts in musical style with greater commerical and critical success while others (REM, New Order) stayed the course and saw their relevance disappear. But as is the case with the first two examples, eventually fans started to slowly tire of the experiementalism and the bands slowly returned to their roots. In the case of u2, with all the applause that came with Achtung Baby and Zooropa their was equal disdain for POP. Eventually they returned to their signature sound on the last two records and saw their importance to the rock world return. Despite what people say about Radiohead and their experimental nature, I would argue that the most recent album is the closest thing they have done to THE BENDS than any other record (which, despite everyone's claim that OK COMPUTER is their favorite, still outsells anything else in the band's catalogue)

So what is COLDPLAY to do? They say they are moving away from their sound for a grittier, darker approach (cribbing a bit from the U2 Playbook with producer Brian Eno on board). Rolling Stone says that this is a good thing but I argue, what was wrong with the band in the first place? Will this new direction rob the band of their commercial appeal for the sake of chasing "artistic integrity"? Did the music on the first three records not have any art to it because it sold? Can a band find a balance? Well, the article at least got me listening to their music again.

DISCLAIMER: I know it is frightfully uncool to like COLDPLAY and I might very well lose my Cool Music Blog Registration Card for this post, but I defy anyone who has heard "Clocks" not to get goosebumps

A Couple of songs from the last album just to remind you were the band left off (unfortunately I only have this record on my computer at this time, but you can pretty much find anything on line)

(mp3) Coldplay -- Square One

I thought this was the highlight of the last record.

(m4a) Coldplay -- Your World Turned Upside Down (live in Hollywood)

I was at this show and I thought this song was brilliant. Too bad I can't find a better quality of it.

Gazing at My Shoes (Part Two...The Podcast)

The shoegazer movement of the 1990's was the UK answer to the Grunge scene in America. Both broke around the same time and both contained artists that were original followed by a lot of imitators who took the scene more seriously than the music. Those early bands, MY BLOODY VALENTINE, THE JESUS AND MARY CHAIN and RIDE (pictured) set a tone and feel with their sound. They weren't interested in theatrics or flashy stage shows, just playing music that they felt passionately about. They all set out with the intent of pushing the boundaries of what guitar based music should sound like. Although most of these bands had critical success here in the States, many of them failed to make any commercial dent. Most bands today seem to shy away from this sound, opting for a more radio friendly mix of rock and pop that plays well in car commercials, which only seems to reinforce the unique nature of what these bands were doing. This podcast is just a small sample...

(mp3) Zencast #10 -- Gazing at My Shoes

Tracklisting

My Bloody Valentine -- Soft As Snow (But Warm Inside)

My Bloody Valentine -- Only Shallow

Ride -- Leave Them All Behind

Sonic Youth -- Dirty Boots

Spacemen 3 -- Take Me To The Other Side (Live)

Swervedriver -- Rave Down

Th' Faith Healers UK -- This Time

Slowdive -- Some Velvet Morning

Snowpony -- Easy Way Down

Catherine Wheel -- Salt

m83 -- A Guitar and a Heart

p.s. here is a site with a great live show by RIDE from Italy in 1992. I think it's a great example of this style of music played live.

Gazing at My Shoes (Part One)

A prelude to my next podcast in the form of a quick post of a song from one of my favorite shoegazing bands, MY BLOODY VALENTINE. Now there are literally thousands of posts a month on the greatness that is MBV so I won't give you the whole story but it's safe to say that for those of us who listened to music from the UK throughout the 90's, MBV and THE STONE ROSES were the two most frustrating bands around. Both made brilliant music and then seemed to disappear as they struggled to make a follow up album (which, unfortunately, the Roses did years later with the mediocre "Second Coming"). Kevin Shields and Co. are still taunting us with the potential for another record but I'm not holding my breath. So here's something to remember them by (more to follow tomorrow with the podcast...)

(mp3) My Bloody Valentine -- Soon (from Loveless)

Not To Get To Far Ahead Of Myself BUT...

So, songs from the new REM record, "Accelerate", are starting to make their way into the world in the finished studio form. The first single "Supernatural Superserious" gives me a sense of hope. As detailed on this and other blogs about 6 months ago, REM seemed to have lost a bit of their cache mainly due to their pitiful last record "Around the Sun" (to the point where it is the only REM album I do not own). So why do I have hope...well because this song has all the REM trademarks that made them a great band. The Peter Buck guitar is back (still a little to clean for my tastes, I like a little fuzz in it), the Micheal Stipe lyrics are still a bit obtuse (I think it's about a lost teenage love or something like that) and the great Mike Mills harmonies are thankfully back in full force. Maybe it's the fact that they realized that their relevance had wained and they needed to pull it together or maybe they just had some fun for the first time in a while in the studio but maybe, just maybe, we have the Great American Rock Band back!!!

(mp3) REM -- Supernatural Superserious (Thanks to Pop Tarts Suck Toasted)

Band Crush -- Lotion

A quick post tonight because I'm really tired. Here is another in a long list of bands I loved while in college and found recently when searching through my CD collection.

Had this band been in exsistence today, I believe they would be all over the blogs. People would be hailing them for their sound and their original take on the old alternative rock formula. Unfortunately, the band broke up in 1999 after three records. What they did release, particularly their first album "Full Isaac", was melodic, intense and full of moments of real excitement. Although not the most original, Lotion managed to transcend the alternative genre with just enough off kilter bass lines and a slightly nasal vocal delivery to make me come back to their music often. Lyrically, the songs travel in a world of awkward teenage boys pinning away over girls they can't have or when they do get the girl they don't know what to do with them. It's almost emo before emo was even a phrase. I particularly enjoyed "Around", which is a simple acoustic song with very little lyrics but just keeps building and building to a crescendo by the end of the song. Elsewhere on "Tear", the band comes closest to a stadium rock feel with a great bass, guitar power chord combo over a driving drum beat.

The band moved in a poppier direction with "Nobody's Cool" with soemwhat diminishing returns. Their sound was very much a sample of most of the music coming off the SPINART label (one of my favorite indie labels) and had a feel remiscent of BUFFALO TOM with a slight SUPERCHUNK feel. Very good stuff indeed.

(mp3) Lotion -- Tear

(mp3) Lotion -- Around

Pain+Love = Brilliance

I often think that I missed out not being of age to fully understand the music of the 1970's. I didn't really get into music until well into my high school years (late 80's, early 90's) so much of the 1970's was a mystery to me. I had an aunt who gave me THE EAGLES "Hotel California" when I was like 8 and although I enjoyed the music I didn't get the lyrics (which in restrospect is probably a good thing). When I hit college I began to slowly dip my toe back into music history to try to understand where my favorite bands got their inspiration. REM and U2 turned me on to THE VELVET UNDERGROUND. NIRVANA and PEARL JAM got me interested in NEIL YOUNG. SOUNDGARDEN begat LED ZEPPELIN and so on. I can't really remember how I found FLEETWOOD MAC's "Rumours". I did spend at least one afternoon a month at a local record (and by record in this case I do mean the actual vinyl) store diving into the stacks for anything of interest which is probably where I came across this record.

Most people know the story of the FLEETWOOD MAC (if not here is the Wikipedia link for the tale) but what strikes me even to this day about this album are three things:

1) The music is just absolutely perfect in every sense of the word. Back then bands would take forever to make a record and the studio was more of a lab than a location. Today, bands rip through a session in a few weeks and often put out material that has a shoddy or half finished sound. Fleetwood Mac took their time, thought about every song and every step and the results are an album with no visible flaws. What was the last record you bought made recently with no filler?

2) The lyrics and songwriting are heartbreaking. For some reason, great music comes from pain and misery more than joy. We identify with the pain that these singers are going through (mostly because the entire album is a prolonged break-up story). I doubt the record would be as good if the writers were in a happy place. Stievie Nicks and Lindsay Buckingham are giving us a peek into their souls and allowing us to truly feel the pain of their deteriorating relationship. All in the context of truly brilliant pop songs that are memorable for their feeling and their sound.

3) The sounds recorded in the 70's just sound fuller and richer (even digitized for today's consumption) than anything today. Now, this might be due to the use of analog tape or just the quality of musician but their is just more depth to the sound. It has a distinct sound.

Does this mean music recorded today has no merit? Of course not! But it doesn't hurt to take a trip back in time every once and awhile to see what influenced the music of today.

(mp3) Fleetwood Mac -- Go Your Own Way

This has to be one of the ultimate break-up songs. There is so much anger and bitterness here and yet the music makes the song irresistable. This is my favorite song of their entire catalog.

(mp3) Fleetwood Mac -- The Chain

This song has such a great guitar, bass and drum interchange in the second half. Here is the best example of the band as professional musicians.

Zencast #9 (The Indie Cast)

I'm not entirely sure I like the end product of this particular Zencast. I had high hopes a week ago for a new podcast; I felt good and I had a clear idea in mind of what I wanted to do. Then I sprained my ankle playing basketball and spent the better part of a week hobbling around in pain (putting me in a less than festive mood). So I held off doing a podcast till I felt better. Then I changed the playlist about three times depending on my mood for the day until I settled on this line up. The feel is somewhat indie rock (which is rapidly becoming the most overused tag line for music ever) but I think the songs are really top notch. As for my contribution, well, you be the judge...

(mp3) Zencast #9 -- The Indie Cast

Tracklisting

Matt Pond PA -- Last Light
Chris Walla -- Geometry &c.
Band of Susans -- Not In The Life
The Killingtons -- Destination Failure
Chin Up Chin Up -- The Architect Has A Gun
Emily Falls -- Carnation
Aeon Spoke -- No Answers
Iron Hero -- Spy Versus Spy
Rogue Wave -- Harmonium
The Stratford 4 -- Autopilot
Voxtrot -- Blood Red Blood

A Teaser For Tomorrow

So I had a podcast done and began to finalize the recording when I looked up a realized it was very late and I have to be at work early tomorrow, so the podcast will be up tomorrow but I wanted to share this song because its just sooo good!!!

I once had quite a few songs by MATT POND PA on my first Ipod but when it crashed I didn't have them saved on my computer so I kinda forgot about them. After rummaging around the net looking for new music I ran across their name and realized that they released a record last year that I totally ignored. "Last Light" has the classic REM meets Cracker style of the early Matt Pond PA records but with a newer weight and energy. Two of the songs, "Last Light" and "Basement Parties" lept out at me and demanded my attention. Poppy and catchy I haven't stopped humming them all night. So I give you these and promise a podcast tomorrow.

(mp3) Matt Pond PA -- Last Light

(mp3) Matt Pond PA -- Basement Parties

My Bank Is Evil ! !

So my bank is trying to steal my money. Now, I worry about money all the time (it's a trait I inherited from my father), so when I get closer to the end of each month the balance watch begins. Trying to balance familial needs with the ever dwindling household monetary supply has become a sort of family charge with my wife and I constantly repeating the mantra "Wait till the first"...over and over again. So when my trusted financial institution tries to steal money I get angry. Which leads to ranting phone calls late at night to some teller who for all I know is really a computer with a semi-sensual female voice. So how does this happen you ask?

Well, I made my deposit in the ATM over the weekend (Mistake 1 if you're keeping count). So this means that the deposit did not take effect until today. No problem I have enough to cover any outstanding debts accrued over the last 24 hours. So when I woke up this morning I saw said deposit right there in my account bright as day (Mistake 2, don't trust on-line statements, they do not tell the truth.) Unbeknown st to me, my bank places a hold on ATM transfers for 24 hours (Mistake 3) so the money I thought I had I didn't really have yet. So when I spent money today I, according to my bank, went into overdraft and triggered an overdraft fee (yes kids, that would be mistake 4). So seeing this as I rechecked my balance tonight (remember, ingrained fear of no money care of my dad) I fired off an angry call to my bank. After three tellers and 1 account manager (who was probably some 14 year old kid who passed Algebra 2 when he was six and acted like I was a blithering idiot for not understanding the banks "very simple and efficient system") I got the bank to rescind my overdraft fee and set the world right. Maybe keeping a piggy bank like when I was a kid might not be such a bad deal after all...

(mp3) Jens Lekmann -- Pocketful of Money

(mp3) House of Love -- Money and Time

(mp3) Straylight Run -- Dignity and Money

Yet Another Weather Themed Post

It seems the weather has been on my mind a lot lately. I assure you that I will try harder in the future to cut out the ridiculously themed posts that are starting to infect this otherwise wonderfully written blog. (okay, you can stop laughing now!). I promise I will have a new podcast up tomorrow or the next day. In the meantime a couple of rainy day songs to mirror our current conditions here in Southern California.

(mp3) Thom Yorke -- And It Rained All Night

(mp3) The The -- Kingdom of Rain (I may have posted this on my last rainy day rant, but it's such a darn fine song I feel I can get away with it twice)

(mp3) The Arrogants -- Another Cold Morning

Death Cabber Goes It Alone

I am often wary of musicians who are traditionally not front men setting out own their own. Chris Walla is one of the principal architects of DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE (which over the past couple of records have quickly become one of my favorite bands) and he is preparing to release his first solo album, "Field Manual". The reason I get wary is that there is usually a reason these musicians don't front their original band (i.e. can't really sing or secretly can't write lyrics to stand up with the music.) While I reserve judgement until I hear the whole record, I have to say that I am encouraged by the three songs I have heard. The first, "Sing Again" is a very harmless slice of alt pop that could best be described as a cross between Death Cab and Guided By Voices (Walla's voice bears a striking resemblance to Robert Pollard with it's slightly smoke filled rasp). The other two tracks available on his myspace site follow an early REM-esque formula. So I can say I am looking forward to this as well as a proper new Death Cab record all in one year.

(mp3) Chris Walla -- Sing Again

Listen to more here

Catching Up With An Old Friend

Many of you probably have the same problem I do. As avid music collectors its easy to lose track of some of your favorite records over time as you continuously seek out new and exciting bands. There's nothing really wrong with this, after all, what was new and interesting is what got us into the record collection business to begin with. But sometimes a long lost friend pops its head out and says hi.

A few days ago my son was playing with a puzzle and kept shouting cow over and over again. For some reason I began thinking about a lyric from an old song "I'm building up my problems to the size of a cow". The lyric is both absurd and poignant. After about a day trying to remember the song (the ole long term memory ain't what it used to be) I finally landed on THE WONDER STUFF. So I pulled out their album, "Never Loved Elvis" and gave it a spin. Man what a brilliant album. From the opening rant of "Mission Drive" to the barroom feel of "Welcome to the Cheap seats" the band hit on all musical cylinders. Mixing Irish folk, country and rock together and relying on the brilliant poetry of lead singer Miles Hun, The Wonder Stuff were a true breath of fresh air. But the real joy was the gem of a track called "Maybe".

When I was in college, this was one of those songs that spoke directly to me and where I was at. I had little or no idea what I wanted to be or do. I was drifting between an interest in politics and a love of music. I fell hard for college radio and never imagined I would end up teaching. (to borrow another "Cow" lyric, Don't you think it's funny when nothings what it seem when your not looking forward?") But "Maybe" hit the nail right on the head. The ambivalence at one turn followed by the sheer conviction as the singer makes up his mind as to what he wants. Hunt seemed to be speaking to me through my headphones. Few songs have that power, even fewer come back to you with the same feeling years later. If you take no other song from me, take this one...you won't be sorry!!

(mp3) The Wonder Stuff -- Maybe

(mp3) The Wonder Stuff -- The Size of a Cow

p.s. apparently some form of the band still exists and is releasing a live album in two weeks. Who Knew?

The Wind Makes Me Anxious

Here in SoCal we get hammered for the utterly boring weather. It's why people move here. they hate the cold or the rain or the snow so they come to LA where it's sunny and 72 degrees 10 months out of the year. When it does get cold here it hits about 50 or so. We had rain two weeks ago and you would of thought the world was about to end. But the one negative barometric feature of Southern California is wind. We get these hot, dry winds called "The Santa Anas". Or we'll get the cold, biting winds we are experiencing right now. Not really cold mind you, but just uncomfortable. They make my skin tense up and make me feel anxious. Like something bad is about to happen. Do I have a point with this rambling mishagosh about weather? Not really. But it does play with your psyche. The wind brings bad news and bad feelings and there's nothing you can do about it so get prepared...

(mp3) Robert Plant and The Strange Sensations -- Let The Four Winds Blow

(mp3) Kansas -- Dust In The Wind

(mp3) Cat Stevens -- The Wind

(mp3) Three Dog Night -- Eli's Coming**

**I feel like this one might need an explanation. Although the song is about a man who uses women with impunity, Eli represents something ominous and bad. I always think of this song when the winds hit. Got this from an old show called "Sportsnight" where one of the characters said "Eli's Coming" to predict bad things happening at his job that night. I guess I connected the two ideas in my warped little head. (Man am I in a weird place right now or what?)