Here's the second installment of my XM Memory List posts. In case you've forgotten, using my XM reciever's Memory function I store the artists name & song title of any song that really strikes my fancy and then I post 'em when I've got 10 new ones.
This particular list is only 9 entries long, because I accidentally stored something while I was writing down the list (nothing against Lonnie Donnegan's "Rock Island Line", but I prefer Johnny Cash's version...).
So, without further ado...
1. Pat Metheny..."Eighteen"
2. Kurt Elling..."Minuano"
3. Pumpkinhead..."Anthem for the E" (partial title, I'm sure)
4. Husky Rescue..."Sleep Tight Tiger" (Husky Rescue had a song on the last list, too, so I probably need to check them out pretty soon)
5. Teddy Pendergrass..."Love TKO"
6. Sigur Ros..."Svo Hljott" (okay, so I've already got the album this is from...I couldn't help but include it here because it sounded SO good)
7. Willis Jackson..."Medley September"
8. British Sea Power..."North Hanging Road"
9. Dlq..."Blue Train"
12.25.2005
12.20.2005
XM Favorite Channels: One Year Later
As I pointed out in a previous post, the side-bar banner of my "Favorite XM Channels" was put together when my XM experience was still in it's infancy. I'm too lazy to alter it right now, but I daresay that had I waited until now to compile that list, a year after first subscribing to XM, it would be a slightly different list.
But just HOW "slightly"? That's what I mean to find out now, by evaluating each channel that is included on the list and revealing which channels, besides/instead of the ones I've listed, have actually recieved the most attention.
AUDIO VISIONS (new age, ambient, space music): I knew from the start that Audio Visions would get played a lot, and I was right. It has probably been listened to by me more than any other, but that's because I enjoy this kind of music while reading and relaxing.
FINE TUNING (eclectic mix): The concept is a good one, throwing together quality examples from all genres of music and hoping they coalesce into something where the whole is greater than the sum of it's parts. But alas, I noticed early on that way too much Celtic music was in the blend, and though I have nothing against Celtic music, like the blues a little but goes a long, long way. Fine Tuning is a perfect example of what I THOUGHT would be a "favorite XM channel" which wound up being rarely listened to.
XM CLASSICS(classical,symphonic,chamber): Along with Audio Visions, XM Classics has turned out to be a channel that I listen to almost every day. It's especially cool on a great composer's birthday when the channel plays only that composer's work for 24 hours. Only the heavy-hitters get this special treatment...Beethoven, Bach, Mozart...
I find that I supplement XM Classics with XM Pops, especially when XMC is playing a long piece by someone I've never heard of...
VOX (classical vocal, opera & choral music): Though I am not much of an opera lover, I do thoroughly enjoy choral music and Vox plays it's fair share of that. So even though I don't listen to Vox enough for it to qualify as a "favorite channel", when they are playing choral works I enjoy it immensely.
The TORCH (Christian rock): I don't really listen to the Torch very much at all, as I am just not hip to all the very young bands who are currently making that scene. If there were a Christian rock channel that played the classic stuff (sort of a Jesus Music version of Fred, with Daniel Amos, Larry Norman, Randy Stonehill and all those CCM pioneers) I would probably tune in often, but I just can't get too deep into the groups they feature on the Torch (though I would recommend them to younger folks).
The FISH (Contemporary Christian): I have enjoyed much of what I've heard on the Fish, and I've listened to it quite a bit. The problem isn't so much the Fish, but the general state of Contemporary Christian music itself that keeps me away. I don't like hearing 70's-80's secular hits turned into religious songs, nor do I enjoy hearing songs that might as well have been cloned from the current Top 20 hit charts churned out "for Christians" (throw the Saviour's name in a couple of times for bonus points). Still, every now and then they get on a roll with some good Praise & Worship songs, and it's all good.
I think I like XM Online's Enlighten southern gospel channel better than any of their regular Christian offerings, but I rarely listen to XM Online...
HANK'S PLACE (classic country, 60's-70's, honky tonk): Consistantly great country music at Hank's Place, except when they're playing something new that just SOUNDS like it came from the 50's-60's classic country era. I can't say I enjoy the tribute type stuff, and the "bar noise" between-song banter gets very old very fast. But still, Hank's Place is one of the reasons XM is so cool, and is definately a favorite.
AMERICA (classic country, 70's-80's): America is every bit as good as Hank's Place when it comes to the really classic stuff from the 70's-80's. I enjoy it much more than I thought I would even when I made the "Favorite XM Channels" list.
NASHVILLE (country): Nashville kind of straddles the line between current versions of the kind of country played on America and the "modern country" featured on Highway 16. I never listen to Highway 16, and to be honest, I have rarely listened to Nashvill, either, after having put it on the list based on an established taste for C&W music out of Nashville.
But seriously, I've listened to Bluegrass Junction more than Nashville, and of the three country channels I chose, it gets by far the least play in my house.
DEEP TRACKS (album rock): Yeah, I suppose Deep Tracks has earned it's spot on my "Favorite XM Channels" list. Especially when they're not so obscure that I have no idea who they're playing. And when they're broadcasting a concert or a special program. I hear a lot of "alternate versions" of songs I'm familiar with on Deep Tracks, and that's good...
FRED (classic alternative rock): I still acknowledge the greatness of Fred, but alas I find that I don't listen to it nearly as much as I thought I would. I suppose that has to do with the extremes of quality that come with the different acts they play...I mean, it's cool to hear a song from New Order's Movement album on the radio, but nothing's gonna stop me from grabbing the remote control when they follow it with some dreck by the Thompson Twins.
XM MUSIC LAB (jam bands, progressive rock): Call me a geek, but I do enjoy listening to the Music Lab, especially when they've dug out something interesting from their prog-rock vault, like Nektar or Gong or Gentle Giant...Even the jam bands are big fun to listen to, though I'd be more than happy to limit all jam band airplay to Phish, Moe, Widespread Panic and the String Cheese Incident...do we really need any more jam bands besides those four?
That said, I do tend to utilyze the trusty remote control whenever anything Les Claypool-oriented come on (and that occures MUCH too often on the Music Lab, I can assure you of that).
REAL JAZZ (traditional jazz): Yeah, it's real jazz, alright, and so how can I NOT like it? Well, I'll tell you: whenever they're playing vocal jazz, that's when. No, I have never cared for vocal jazz, though I have long been a fan of instrumental jazz. The selection on Real Jazz is pretty solid (not counting the vocal jazz, which does get played too much), but I recall having DMX music service with my cable TV back in 1993 and their jazz channel was more eclectic. Real Jazz is a real favorite, though.
BEYOND JAZZ (modern jazz, fusion): I'd like to hear more original fusion than I do on Beyond Jazz...more Weather Report and less Bela Fleck & the Flecktones, if you catch my drift...more Miles Davis & less Medeski, Martin & Wood. But that's just me and my arcane preferences...all in all Beyond Jazz is an excellent channel (except when they are playing that wretched vocal jazz), but there should be a rule in jazz that states "only REAL percussion instruments allowed...NO programmed drums.
The 70's on SEVEN (70's music): Yes, I am a child of the seventies (ages 8-18), so there's a soft spot in my heart for the 70's hits and semi-obscure stuff they play on this Decades channel. My wife, almost 10 years younger than me, enjoys the 80's on Eight probably just as much as I like this 70's crap. It has earned it's place on the "Favorite XM channels" list, but when it comes to Decades, lately I've listened to little more than the 50's on Five channel. I NEVER listen to the 90's on Nine and only rarely tune into the respective 80's and 60's stations. I do, however, sometimes find myself in the mood to really go back in time and check out the 40's on Four.
The SYSTEM (electronic, trance): Of the "dance music" channels that XM offers, the System is the closest to what I enjoy about "electronica" (and it gets close, it doesn't really nail it, rarely playing Autechre, Aphex Twin, Pole and other IDM artists that I prefer slightly over their fare). Victor Dinaire's Future Progression really helped open my ears to trance music and I enjoyed his program quite a bit until it got pulled. The System is a decent channel, though, and I would still call it a "favorite".
SONIC THEATER (audio theatre, books): There seems to be a bit of a move towards more audio theatre and less "books-on-tape" type stuff on Sonic Theater in the last couple of weeks, and so I have found myself listening to it more than I normally have. Surreal offerings from Crazy Dog Audio Theatre and New Frequencies have really boosted this channel's popularity with me, and I hope it remains in this mold.
FAMILY TALK (Christian teaching, talk): Even with Hank Hannegraff's Bible Answer Man broadcast I find that I just don't listen to this channel very much. The programming on BOT Network (terrestrial radio) is better, so if I'm needing this type of programming I generally will skip Family Talk in favor of BOT.
AMERICA LEFT (liberal talk): Well, it's no longer America Left...it's Air America. I can't stand Al Franken and though I originally wanted to attempt a balance by listening to both liberal and conservative viewpoints, I find that I rarely listen to either one...There's just TOO much opinionating out there for my tastes and I get enough of it watching the cable news shows, I don't really want to hear it on my XM (although this is likely because I have a home unit...if I had XM in my car and was a heavy traveller I don't doubt that a LOT of the "Talk & Entertainment" channels would get listened to a lot.
AMERICA RIGHT (conservative talk): See above. At least there's no Al Franken.
Other XM channels that I did not put on that list, but which wound up getting listened to quite a bit last year included:
XMU: When I finally got in the mood for "college rock" I was introduced to M83 on this channel.
SOUL STREET: Especially a program called "The Penthouse"...this is the REAL DEAL.
BBC WORLD SERVICE: Somehow all the depressing world news seems just a wee bit more endurable when delivered in a thick British accent.
XM COMEDY: Yes, I get offended by a lot of what I hear on this channel. But I think the ratio of belly laughs it provides makes up for the ratio of cringes.
LAUGH USA: The "clean" comedy channel, which has become my son's favorite XM channel. I enjoy listening to it with him, and it is pretty funny.
RADIO CLASSICS: You just don't hear these classic radio performances from the 50's anywhere else.
Biggest Disappointment with XM of the last year: That's easy. It was when they raised the subscription rate by $3.00 and the only thing to show for the extra cash was XM Online service and the Opie and Anthony show thrown into the basic package.
As for the XM Online...well, my regular XM is hooked up to a high end stereo unit and sounds GREAT...for some reason I just don't opt for the chinsy computer speakers that my XM Online comes through. Call me unappreciative, but I can count all the times I've listened to XM Online this past year on one hand.
And as for Opie and Anthony...give me a break. These guys are quite simply two of the most UNentertaining people to ever have their own radio show. Oooh, wee! Listen to 'em cuss! They just used the F-word! For shame! How do they get away with it? Oh, right...it's satellite radio. But really, these "Freedom of Speech Calisthenics" are just not amusing, IMO.
Most Exciting New Development for XM in 2006: There may be a few more surprises in store for the next year, but I've just learned that BOB DYLAN will host his own Deep Tracks show beginning in March of 2006...I don't know how they'll be able to top that!
But just HOW "slightly"? That's what I mean to find out now, by evaluating each channel that is included on the list and revealing which channels, besides/instead of the ones I've listed, have actually recieved the most attention.
AUDIO VISIONS (new age, ambient, space music): I knew from the start that Audio Visions would get played a lot, and I was right. It has probably been listened to by me more than any other, but that's because I enjoy this kind of music while reading and relaxing.
FINE TUNING (eclectic mix): The concept is a good one, throwing together quality examples from all genres of music and hoping they coalesce into something where the whole is greater than the sum of it's parts. But alas, I noticed early on that way too much Celtic music was in the blend, and though I have nothing against Celtic music, like the blues a little but goes a long, long way. Fine Tuning is a perfect example of what I THOUGHT would be a "favorite XM channel" which wound up being rarely listened to.
XM CLASSICS(classical,symphonic,chamber): Along with Audio Visions, XM Classics has turned out to be a channel that I listen to almost every day. It's especially cool on a great composer's birthday when the channel plays only that composer's work for 24 hours. Only the heavy-hitters get this special treatment...Beethoven, Bach, Mozart...
I find that I supplement XM Classics with XM Pops, especially when XMC is playing a long piece by someone I've never heard of...
VOX (classical vocal, opera & choral music): Though I am not much of an opera lover, I do thoroughly enjoy choral music and Vox plays it's fair share of that. So even though I don't listen to Vox enough for it to qualify as a "favorite channel", when they are playing choral works I enjoy it immensely.
The TORCH (Christian rock): I don't really listen to the Torch very much at all, as I am just not hip to all the very young bands who are currently making that scene. If there were a Christian rock channel that played the classic stuff (sort of a Jesus Music version of Fred, with Daniel Amos, Larry Norman, Randy Stonehill and all those CCM pioneers) I would probably tune in often, but I just can't get too deep into the groups they feature on the Torch (though I would recommend them to younger folks).
The FISH (Contemporary Christian): I have enjoyed much of what I've heard on the Fish, and I've listened to it quite a bit. The problem isn't so much the Fish, but the general state of Contemporary Christian music itself that keeps me away. I don't like hearing 70's-80's secular hits turned into religious songs, nor do I enjoy hearing songs that might as well have been cloned from the current Top 20 hit charts churned out "for Christians" (throw the Saviour's name in a couple of times for bonus points). Still, every now and then they get on a roll with some good Praise & Worship songs, and it's all good.
I think I like XM Online's Enlighten southern gospel channel better than any of their regular Christian offerings, but I rarely listen to XM Online...
HANK'S PLACE (classic country, 60's-70's, honky tonk): Consistantly great country music at Hank's Place, except when they're playing something new that just SOUNDS like it came from the 50's-60's classic country era. I can't say I enjoy the tribute type stuff, and the "bar noise" between-song banter gets very old very fast. But still, Hank's Place is one of the reasons XM is so cool, and is definately a favorite.
AMERICA (classic country, 70's-80's): America is every bit as good as Hank's Place when it comes to the really classic stuff from the 70's-80's. I enjoy it much more than I thought I would even when I made the "Favorite XM Channels" list.
NASHVILLE (country): Nashville kind of straddles the line between current versions of the kind of country played on America and the "modern country" featured on Highway 16. I never listen to Highway 16, and to be honest, I have rarely listened to Nashvill, either, after having put it on the list based on an established taste for C&W music out of Nashville.
But seriously, I've listened to Bluegrass Junction more than Nashville, and of the three country channels I chose, it gets by far the least play in my house.
DEEP TRACKS (album rock): Yeah, I suppose Deep Tracks has earned it's spot on my "Favorite XM Channels" list. Especially when they're not so obscure that I have no idea who they're playing. And when they're broadcasting a concert or a special program. I hear a lot of "alternate versions" of songs I'm familiar with on Deep Tracks, and that's good...
FRED (classic alternative rock): I still acknowledge the greatness of Fred, but alas I find that I don't listen to it nearly as much as I thought I would. I suppose that has to do with the extremes of quality that come with the different acts they play...I mean, it's cool to hear a song from New Order's Movement album on the radio, but nothing's gonna stop me from grabbing the remote control when they follow it with some dreck by the Thompson Twins.
XM MUSIC LAB (jam bands, progressive rock): Call me a geek, but I do enjoy listening to the Music Lab, especially when they've dug out something interesting from their prog-rock vault, like Nektar or Gong or Gentle Giant...Even the jam bands are big fun to listen to, though I'd be more than happy to limit all jam band airplay to Phish, Moe, Widespread Panic and the String Cheese Incident...do we really need any more jam bands besides those four?
That said, I do tend to utilyze the trusty remote control whenever anything Les Claypool-oriented come on (and that occures MUCH too often on the Music Lab, I can assure you of that).
REAL JAZZ (traditional jazz): Yeah, it's real jazz, alright, and so how can I NOT like it? Well, I'll tell you: whenever they're playing vocal jazz, that's when. No, I have never cared for vocal jazz, though I have long been a fan of instrumental jazz. The selection on Real Jazz is pretty solid (not counting the vocal jazz, which does get played too much), but I recall having DMX music service with my cable TV back in 1993 and their jazz channel was more eclectic. Real Jazz is a real favorite, though.
BEYOND JAZZ (modern jazz, fusion): I'd like to hear more original fusion than I do on Beyond Jazz...more Weather Report and less Bela Fleck & the Flecktones, if you catch my drift...more Miles Davis & less Medeski, Martin & Wood. But that's just me and my arcane preferences...all in all Beyond Jazz is an excellent channel (except when they are playing that wretched vocal jazz), but there should be a rule in jazz that states "only REAL percussion instruments allowed...NO programmed drums.
The 70's on SEVEN (70's music): Yes, I am a child of the seventies (ages 8-18), so there's a soft spot in my heart for the 70's hits and semi-obscure stuff they play on this Decades channel. My wife, almost 10 years younger than me, enjoys the 80's on Eight probably just as much as I like this 70's crap. It has earned it's place on the "Favorite XM channels" list, but when it comes to Decades, lately I've listened to little more than the 50's on Five channel. I NEVER listen to the 90's on Nine and only rarely tune into the respective 80's and 60's stations. I do, however, sometimes find myself in the mood to really go back in time and check out the 40's on Four.
The SYSTEM (electronic, trance): Of the "dance music" channels that XM offers, the System is the closest to what I enjoy about "electronica" (and it gets close, it doesn't really nail it, rarely playing Autechre, Aphex Twin, Pole and other IDM artists that I prefer slightly over their fare). Victor Dinaire's Future Progression really helped open my ears to trance music and I enjoyed his program quite a bit until it got pulled. The System is a decent channel, though, and I would still call it a "favorite".
SONIC THEATER (audio theatre, books): There seems to be a bit of a move towards more audio theatre and less "books-on-tape" type stuff on Sonic Theater in the last couple of weeks, and so I have found myself listening to it more than I normally have. Surreal offerings from Crazy Dog Audio Theatre and New Frequencies have really boosted this channel's popularity with me, and I hope it remains in this mold.
FAMILY TALK (Christian teaching, talk): Even with Hank Hannegraff's Bible Answer Man broadcast I find that I just don't listen to this channel very much. The programming on BOT Network (terrestrial radio) is better, so if I'm needing this type of programming I generally will skip Family Talk in favor of BOT.
AMERICA LEFT (liberal talk): Well, it's no longer America Left...it's Air America. I can't stand Al Franken and though I originally wanted to attempt a balance by listening to both liberal and conservative viewpoints, I find that I rarely listen to either one...There's just TOO much opinionating out there for my tastes and I get enough of it watching the cable news shows, I don't really want to hear it on my XM (although this is likely because I have a home unit...if I had XM in my car and was a heavy traveller I don't doubt that a LOT of the "Talk & Entertainment" channels would get listened to a lot.
AMERICA RIGHT (conservative talk): See above. At least there's no Al Franken.
Other XM channels that I did not put on that list, but which wound up getting listened to quite a bit last year included:
XMU: When I finally got in the mood for "college rock" I was introduced to M83 on this channel.
SOUL STREET: Especially a program called "The Penthouse"...this is the REAL DEAL.
BBC WORLD SERVICE: Somehow all the depressing world news seems just a wee bit more endurable when delivered in a thick British accent.
XM COMEDY: Yes, I get offended by a lot of what I hear on this channel. But I think the ratio of belly laughs it provides makes up for the ratio of cringes.
LAUGH USA: The "clean" comedy channel, which has become my son's favorite XM channel. I enjoy listening to it with him, and it is pretty funny.
RADIO CLASSICS: You just don't hear these classic radio performances from the 50's anywhere else.
Biggest Disappointment with XM of the last year: That's easy. It was when they raised the subscription rate by $3.00 and the only thing to show for the extra cash was XM Online service and the Opie and Anthony show thrown into the basic package.
As for the XM Online...well, my regular XM is hooked up to a high end stereo unit and sounds GREAT...for some reason I just don't opt for the chinsy computer speakers that my XM Online comes through. Call me unappreciative, but I can count all the times I've listened to XM Online this past year on one hand.
And as for Opie and Anthony...give me a break. These guys are quite simply two of the most UNentertaining people to ever have their own radio show. Oooh, wee! Listen to 'em cuss! They just used the F-word! For shame! How do they get away with it? Oh, right...it's satellite radio. But really, these "Freedom of Speech Calisthenics" are just not amusing, IMO.
Most Exciting New Development for XM in 2006: There may be a few more surprises in store for the next year, but I've just learned that BOB DYLAN will host his own Deep Tracks show beginning in March of 2006...I don't know how they'll be able to top that!
12.19.2005
!
I had a wonderful time Saturday night/Sunday morning visiting with Jacob and Amanda from Basement Dynasty. They were interested in hearing some of my original songs after a performance I gave at the HiLo club was upstaged by the appearance of no less than 100 people dressed in Santa Claus outfits...
Yeah, that's right...apparently there is this group of people who go out and crash the local bars/clubs in full Saint Nick regalia. They descend upon one establishment and hang around for about 30 minutes spreading their unique brand of Christmas cheer, then they are marshalled together by a guy with a bullhorn (something quite unsettling about hearing a bullhorn in a place like the HiLo...) and they move on to the next establishment.
They just happened to hit the HiLo during my 5th song. What could I do? Who wants to listen to a guy playing guitar and singing his songs when everywhere you look there are white beards and cheery red and white costumes? So I made a quip about how several of the Santas were smoking and drinking (and probably making drug deals...ha...I think a couple of 'em resented that particular attempt at humour) and I sang an impromtpu version of "Here Comes Santa Claus" before cutting my set short and surrendering the attention to the North Pole swarm.
Afterwards, when I expressed some dissappointment in being upstaged in this manner, Jacob comforted me by pointing out that I had done something legendary, something that few people living in this day and age have ever or will ever be able to do: I had sung "Here Comes Santa Claus" to a whole room full of Santas.
Yes, I did! Ha!
So anyhoos after the show had ended I wound up playing background guitar music in the wee wee hours of the morning for Jacob, Amanda, Red, Stu, Big D, Capital and I think Warty might have even stayed up for some of it.
Before it was all over with I had Jacob playing guitar with me (this guy is one of the most talented musicians in Oklahoma, so I was thrilled to get the chance to jam with him, and I wasn't surprised at how good it sounded) and both he and Amanda had expressed an interest in the possibility of putting a band together to flesh out, record and perform these songs of mine that I've had lying around for ages.
I've got tons of songs and musical ideas just waiting to be arranged and polished. So the idea of getting together with accomplished players who are as versatile and talented as Jacob and Amanda are is very exciting. That they seemed to honestly enjoy my work was encouraging. I have not heard back from them since we first discussed the possibility, so there's always the chance that it could fall through, but I gotta tell ya, I hope it doesn't. I really want to try and do something with these songs and I hope they were both serious about putting this thing together.
Yeah, that's right...apparently there is this group of people who go out and crash the local bars/clubs in full Saint Nick regalia. They descend upon one establishment and hang around for about 30 minutes spreading their unique brand of Christmas cheer, then they are marshalled together by a guy with a bullhorn (something quite unsettling about hearing a bullhorn in a place like the HiLo...) and they move on to the next establishment.
They just happened to hit the HiLo during my 5th song. What could I do? Who wants to listen to a guy playing guitar and singing his songs when everywhere you look there are white beards and cheery red and white costumes? So I made a quip about how several of the Santas were smoking and drinking (and probably making drug deals...ha...I think a couple of 'em resented that particular attempt at humour) and I sang an impromtpu version of "Here Comes Santa Claus" before cutting my set short and surrendering the attention to the North Pole swarm.
Afterwards, when I expressed some dissappointment in being upstaged in this manner, Jacob comforted me by pointing out that I had done something legendary, something that few people living in this day and age have ever or will ever be able to do: I had sung "Here Comes Santa Claus" to a whole room full of Santas.
Yes, I did! Ha!
So anyhoos after the show had ended I wound up playing background guitar music in the wee wee hours of the morning for Jacob, Amanda, Red, Stu, Big D, Capital and I think Warty might have even stayed up for some of it.
Before it was all over with I had Jacob playing guitar with me (this guy is one of the most talented musicians in Oklahoma, so I was thrilled to get the chance to jam with him, and I wasn't surprised at how good it sounded) and both he and Amanda had expressed an interest in the possibility of putting a band together to flesh out, record and perform these songs of mine that I've had lying around for ages.
I've got tons of songs and musical ideas just waiting to be arranged and polished. So the idea of getting together with accomplished players who are as versatile and talented as Jacob and Amanda are is very exciting. That they seemed to honestly enjoy my work was encouraging. I have not heard back from them since we first discussed the possibility, so there's always the chance that it could fall through, but I gotta tell ya, I hope it doesn't. I really want to try and do something with these songs and I hope they were both serious about putting this thing together.
Crazy Dog Audio Theatre
Even though I have Sonic Theater in the list of my "favorite" XM Satellite Radio channels (on the right side-bar of this very blog), the truth is that I have rarely listened to it in the year I've had the service. When I made that list I hadn't really had XM long enough to have decided on that many "favorite channels"...I included Sonic Theater on the strength of the concept alone, but in reality I have just not come around to it...
Until last night, when I happened to catch an incredibly surreal performance by the CRAZY DOG AUDIO THEATRE. The production was called Press 3 and, as is the case with so many of the things that I find enjoyable, I find it uncommonly difficult to come up with words to describe it. "Disorienting" fits, but I don't know that most people would consider that a reccomending quality like I do. "Somewhat bizarre" is better, but that's too general a description. Let's just say that it's like spending time in an alternate universe that's equal parts comfortingly familiar and yet jarringly alien.
If you're old enough to remember the Firesign Theatre, you can reference that legendary performance art troupe and you won't be too far off from what Crazy Dog reminds me of.
Anyway, their website is pretty cool, too, and you can buy CDs/MP3s of their stuff there. If I were a man of more wealth than what I have been entrusted with I guarantee you I would be piling up as much of this Crazy Dog merchandise into my shopping cart as possible.
Until last night, when I happened to catch an incredibly surreal performance by the CRAZY DOG AUDIO THEATRE. The production was called Press 3 and, as is the case with so many of the things that I find enjoyable, I find it uncommonly difficult to come up with words to describe it. "Disorienting" fits, but I don't know that most people would consider that a reccomending quality like I do. "Somewhat bizarre" is better, but that's too general a description. Let's just say that it's like spending time in an alternate universe that's equal parts comfortingly familiar and yet jarringly alien.
If you're old enough to remember the Firesign Theatre, you can reference that legendary performance art troupe and you won't be too far off from what Crazy Dog reminds me of.
Anyway, their website is pretty cool, too, and you can buy CDs/MP3s of their stuff there. If I were a man of more wealth than what I have been entrusted with I guarantee you I would be piling up as much of this Crazy Dog merchandise into my shopping cart as possible.
12.15.2005
The Midnight Special Episode Guide
While looking for information on a performance by Genesis on NBC's The Midnight Special from back in 1973, I stumbled upon this LIST of every performance ever given on the legendary music program.
Ahhh...memories!
Ahhh...memories!
12.10.2005
Inspired Words from the Pope
A quick glance at the first page of my blog and you can tell that I don't really dive into the "deep issues" of life very much. That's just not what I wanted to do with this blog (God knows there are plenty out there if that's what you're looking for).
But still, I feel compelled to post this excerpt from the recent homily given by Pope Benedict, sent to me by my old friend Mark White over at Liberty Just In Case. I have read it and re-read it several times and I really believe that these words are inspired.
What is the picture placed before us in this page?
Man did not trust God. He harboured the suspect that God, at the end of the day, was taking something from his life, that God was a competitor who limits our freedom and that we will be fully human only when we have put him aside; all in all, that only in this way can we fully realize our freedom.
Man lives in the suspicion that the love of God creates a dependency and that it is necessary to get rid of this dependency to be fully oneself. Man does not want to receive his existence and fullness of life from God. He wants to be the one to draw from the tree of knowledge the power to mould the world, to make himself god, raising himself to His level, and to win over death and darkness. He does not want to count on love which does not seem trustworthy to him; he counts only on knowledge in that it confers power upon him.
Rather than love, he aims for power with which he wants to take his own life in his hands, to be autonomous. And in doing so, he places his trust in deceit rather than in truth and thus, he sinks with his life into a void, into death.
Love is not dependence but a gift which gives us life.
The freedom of mankind is the freedom to be a creature with limitations and that is therefore a limitation in itself. We can possess it only as a shared freedom, in the communion of freedom; only if we live in the right way with each other and for each other can freedom develop.
However, we live in the right way if we live according to the truth of our being and that is, according to the will of God. For God’s will for man is not a law imposed from outside which forces him, but an intrinsic measure of his nature, a measure which is inscribed in him, making him in the image of God, therefore a free creature.
If we live against love and against truth – against God – then we destroy each other and we destroy the world. Then we will no longer find life, but we will serve the interests of death.
All this is narrated with immortal images in the story of original sin and the banishment of man from the earthly Paradise.
The complete text of the Pope's homily can be found HERE.
(No, I am not Catholic)
CMJ Lists Most Influential of the Last 25 Years
CMJ has published a list of the "Most Influential Bands/Artists of the Last 25 Years".
Well, what do y'all think?
1. R.E.M.
2. Nirvana
3. Sonic Youth
4. Pixies
5. Public Enemy
6. Pavement
7. The Smiths
8. Violent Femmes
9. They Might Be Giants
10. Slayer
11. Black Flag
12. New Order
13. Jane's Addiction
14. U2
15. De La Soul
16. Aphex Twin
17. Uncle Tupelo
18. Fugazi
19. Mike Watt
20. Bikini Kill
21. Husker Du
22. Ani DiFranco
23. The Replacements
24. Radiohead
25. Superchunk
I don't have a lot of thoughts on the list, other than it seems to be a little too kind to a few of what I've always considered to be "CMJ staples" (DiFranco, Bikini Kill) and that a couple of acts are WAY too low on the list (U2 and Radiohead).
R.E.M. probably deserve the number one slot, I think, even if their influence has waned considerably in the last several years.
Well, what do y'all think?
1. R.E.M.
2. Nirvana
3. Sonic Youth
4. Pixies
5. Public Enemy
6. Pavement
7. The Smiths
8. Violent Femmes
9. They Might Be Giants
10. Slayer
11. Black Flag
12. New Order
13. Jane's Addiction
14. U2
15. De La Soul
16. Aphex Twin
17. Uncle Tupelo
18. Fugazi
19. Mike Watt
20. Bikini Kill
21. Husker Du
22. Ani DiFranco
23. The Replacements
24. Radiohead
25. Superchunk
I don't have a lot of thoughts on the list, other than it seems to be a little too kind to a few of what I've always considered to be "CMJ staples" (DiFranco, Bikini Kill) and that a couple of acts are WAY too low on the list (U2 and Radiohead).
R.E.M. probably deserve the number one slot, I think, even if their influence has waned considerably in the last several years.
12.09.2005
Mad Laugh at the Riviera Studio 12/9/05
Just got back from seeing my old buddies in the Mad Laugh put on a stellar performance at the Riviera Studio on Shartel in OKC.
Took some photos, but the quality of the shots is somewhat dicey.
Whatever. Here they are:
The band had one particularly enthusiastic fan, who was inebriated to the point of not caring but not enough to prevent him from probably having a better time than anyone else there:
A few in the audience, our good friend Melissa in the forefront:
All in all it was a very enjoyable evening. My friend Dustin accompanied me, and we engaged in stimulating conversation both on the way up there and back. I was also able to show Dustin highlights from the latest Sun Kil Moon album (which he now plans to purchase) and I turned him on to some old Peter Gabriel-era Genesis songs. He was surprised at how much he enjoyed the tracks I showed him from Nursery Cryme ("The Return of the Giant Hogweed", "Harold the Barrell" & "The Fountain of Salmacis"). He'd never heard them before.
Plus, wonder of wonders, on the trip back I saw not one but TWO falling stars. Dustin and I both saw the first one, as it was very close and stayed in the sky for a couple of seconds. Only I saw the second one, and I just caught it in the corner of my eye. Two falling stars in the space of 30 minutes...a revelatory omen, no doubt.
Took some photos, but the quality of the shots is somewhat dicey.
Whatever. Here they are:
The band had one particularly enthusiastic fan, who was inebriated to the point of not caring but not enough to prevent him from probably having a better time than anyone else there:
A few in the audience, our good friend Melissa in the forefront:
All in all it was a very enjoyable evening. My friend Dustin accompanied me, and we engaged in stimulating conversation both on the way up there and back. I was also able to show Dustin highlights from the latest Sun Kil Moon album (which he now plans to purchase) and I turned him on to some old Peter Gabriel-era Genesis songs. He was surprised at how much he enjoyed the tracks I showed him from Nursery Cryme ("The Return of the Giant Hogweed", "Harold the Barrell" & "The Fountain of Salmacis"). He'd never heard them before.
Plus, wonder of wonders, on the trip back I saw not one but TWO falling stars. Dustin and I both saw the first one, as it was very close and stayed in the sky for a couple of seconds. Only I saw the second one, and I just caught it in the corner of my eye. Two falling stars in the space of 30 minutes...a revelatory omen, no doubt.
12.02.2005
Thanks, Louis!
A blogger named Louis dropped a couple of comments here at the old Listening Room...in fact, he saved me from sure emberassment by pointing out a gaff in one of my posts, so I felt like the least I could do was visit his blog, Mr. TV Head.
I'm glad I did. It's quite entertaining.
And so I wanted to link to it here for future reference. Check it out, and tell him I sent ya...
I'm glad I did. It's quite entertaining.
And so I wanted to link to it here for future reference. Check it out, and tell him I sent ya...
Dylan Project Update
Bob Dylan Bringing It All Back Home
The "Dylan Project" continues, and hoo-boy is this a good 'un! Favorites at this point are "Gates of Eden" and "It's Alright Ma (I'm Only Bleeding)". Hate to say it, but the full band material doesn't really impress me like the more stark, bare acoustic only stuff. I'm no folkie purist, obviously, but there's just something about the impact of these incredible lyrics set next to minimal instrumentation that is lost with bass, drums, etc.
And I doubt that I'm alone in wishing that Dylan had never learned how to play harmonica.
My nerve-damaged ears just can't take much of that screeching harp...
12.01.2005
CD Compilation: My Personal Early 70's Hit Parade
CD Compilation: My Personal Early 70's Hit Parade
I'm putting together a compilation CD of several songs that I liked a lot back in the early 70's (years 70-75, although some songs are from the 60's...if I listened to them a lot in the 70's, they meet the criteria).
"Liked a lot" is a bit of an understatement...these were the songs that I played the most during my early teen years.
It's a pretty diverse mix, I think you'll agree.
Volume 1:
1. Bloodrock "Breach of Lease"
2. Paul McCartney & Wings "Oh Woman Oh Why"
3. Creedence Clearwater Revival "Graveyard Train"
4. Van Morrison "Sweet Thing"
5. Nitty Gritty Dirt Band "Prodigal's Return"
6. Vanilla Fudge "The Sky Cried (When I Was a Boy)"
7. Barnstorm "Midnight Visitor"
8. Led Zeppelin "No Quarter"
9. Genesis "The Musical Box"
10. Bee Gees "A Man For All Seasons"
11. Yes "And You and I"
Volume 2
1. Faces "On the Beach"
2. John Lennon "It's So Hard"
3. Paul Revere & the Raiders "Ups & Downs"
4. Bachman Turner Overdrive "Sledgehammer"
5. Black Sabbath "Electric Funeral"
6.-8. Queen "Procession"/"Father to Son"/"End Piece"
9. Alice Cooper "Halo of Flies"
10. Deep Purple "Child In Time"
11. Grand Funk Railroad "Creepin'"
12. David Bowie "The Gospel According to Tony Day"
13. Emerson, Lake & Palmer "Tarkus"
Future volumes to come, featuring solid tracks from the likes of Electric Light Orchestra, the Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, Alan Parsons Project, Lou Reed, Mike Oldfield, The Doors, Bob Dylan, George Harrison, the New York Dolls and a whole lot more. I can't wait to make 'em.
I'm also considering doing up some liner notes and posting them here, featuring band photos and album covers.
There were several other songs that I listened to during those years between 70-75, but these just happened to be in my CD collection. And I'm not kidding when I say these are the songs that made up my life back then.
I'm also planning on doing a compilation of late 70's (75-79) Top Tracks. The list of songs I'd put on them is nearly as long as the one for the early 70's (early 70's has 52 entries and the late 70's has 35 entries...more than enough for a 3 CD set).
Let me know if you're familiar with them...leave me a comment and tell me what you think...
I'm putting together a compilation CD of several songs that I liked a lot back in the early 70's (years 70-75, although some songs are from the 60's...if I listened to them a lot in the 70's, they meet the criteria).
"Liked a lot" is a bit of an understatement...these were the songs that I played the most during my early teen years.
It's a pretty diverse mix, I think you'll agree.
Volume 1:
1. Bloodrock "Breach of Lease"
2. Paul McCartney & Wings "Oh Woman Oh Why"
3. Creedence Clearwater Revival "Graveyard Train"
4. Van Morrison "Sweet Thing"
5. Nitty Gritty Dirt Band "Prodigal's Return"
6. Vanilla Fudge "The Sky Cried (When I Was a Boy)"
7. Barnstorm "Midnight Visitor"
8. Led Zeppelin "No Quarter"
9. Genesis "The Musical Box"
10. Bee Gees "A Man For All Seasons"
11. Yes "And You and I"
Volume 2
1. Faces "On the Beach"
2. John Lennon "It's So Hard"
3. Paul Revere & the Raiders "Ups & Downs"
4. Bachman Turner Overdrive "Sledgehammer"
5. Black Sabbath "Electric Funeral"
6.-8. Queen "Procession"/"Father to Son"/"End Piece"
9. Alice Cooper "Halo of Flies"
10. Deep Purple "Child In Time"
11. Grand Funk Railroad "Creepin'"
12. David Bowie "The Gospel According to Tony Day"
13. Emerson, Lake & Palmer "Tarkus"
Future volumes to come, featuring solid tracks from the likes of Electric Light Orchestra, the Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, Alan Parsons Project, Lou Reed, Mike Oldfield, The Doors, Bob Dylan, George Harrison, the New York Dolls and a whole lot more. I can't wait to make 'em.
I'm also considering doing up some liner notes and posting them here, featuring band photos and album covers.
There were several other songs that I listened to during those years between 70-75, but these just happened to be in my CD collection. And I'm not kidding when I say these are the songs that made up my life back then.
I'm also planning on doing a compilation of late 70's (75-79) Top Tracks. The list of songs I'd put on them is nearly as long as the one for the early 70's (early 70's has 52 entries and the late 70's has 35 entries...more than enough for a 3 CD set).
Let me know if you're familiar with them...leave me a comment and tell me what you think...
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