If my nephew Quinn is seven years old, that must make me old. So much has changed since he was born but it all seems like such a short period of time. I have a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that Quinn's not a toddler anymore, but at the same time it's hard to remember a Quinn without Ella, let alone all the other rugrats running around the Woehlke & McClelland compounds. I do remember him spitting up on me at least twice & it never bothered me in the least. Quinn & I will always have a special bond because we both know what it's like to grow up with two sisters. It's been fun watching what an interesting little man Quinn has become & it'll be more fun to see where he goes from here. Happy birthday, Quinntessential.
Five Favorite Songs of the Day
Red Right Ankle-The Decemberists, Her Majesty, the Decemberists
Out on a Weekend-Neil Young, Harvest
Heart of Gold-Neil Young, Harvest
This Dream of You-Bob Dylan, Together Through Life
My mother once told me that jazz musicians must not worry if they play a wrong note or two. She's probably right, spontaneity lies at the heart of every jazz session. I don't know anything about playing jazz music (or any instrument for that matter), & I'm also not sure how much of a jazz composition is planned out before the session begins. I do know this, however, that Miles Davis' Kind of Blue is the closest thing to musical perfection that I've ever heard. Maybe this is why it is such a highly regarded album, even among people who don't call themselves jazz enthusiasts.
Never mind all of that, I don't call myself a jazz expert by any stretch of the imagination. In fact, the more music critics I read, the more I realize most of it is complete & utter bullshit. Some people will knock you over the head with what they think is the most clever explanation they can think of regarding an album or a concert, comparing the work to any given number of musicians who came before. This is lazy writing that displays that the only way they can relate the music to their audience is by calling to mind another musician that everyone will know. Other critics feel as though they aren't doing their job if they aren't tearing down a piece of art that they can't create themselves.
The only critics that are worth the paper they write on, in my opinion, are the people who make you want to listen to a given piece of music. I realize I may be setting myself up for failure, here, but that's okay. I could tell you about the musicians (including John Coltrane, Cannonball Adderly & Bill Evans) who played on the album or about the circumstances behind the recording, but that just doesn't do it justice.
What sets this album apart is the space between the notes, or the notes that aren't played. It was one of the first album's of jazz spontaneity to not knock you over the head with the feverish pace of notes that you can't keep up with. I think Miles could've done that if he wanted to, but his real skill was to create a mood with extremely well placed notes that had purpose, & that purpose at many times was to let his fellow musicians shine. This is nowhere more evident than the opening notes of the first track, So What, where the piano & the bass do a little two step together that start things off slowly. It isn't until 50 seconds in that the horns come in, but the bass & the piano hold the spotlight until those definitive notes of Miles come in to remind you whose album you're listening to. Listen to the way the piano stays behind the beat ever so slightly, Evan's isn't begging to be heard, he realizes what he's a part of. Coltrane's solo a few minutes in rivals Miles, but by this point it doesn't matter who's playing what because everything is so laid back.
Most importantly, for me, is that this album always sounds like 8:00-10:00 pm on a Sunday summer evening. Every song & every note holds together a mood that, doesn't let go. To this day, I can't tell you which song is which, & it doesn't really matter, they are all pieces of one great big masterpiece filled with different shades of blue. So, it's Sunday evening, friends, open up the windows turn on the sprinkler, pour yourself a drink & enjoy this masterpiece.
Five Favorite Songs of the Day
Flamenco Sketches-Miles Davis, Kind of Blue
So What-Miles Davis, Kind of Blue
Song No. 2-Miles Davis, Quiet Nights
BS II-Charles Mingus, Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus
Tony Adams-Joe Strummer & the Mescaleros, Rock Art & the X-Ray Style
Maybe justice is served. Maybe my punishment for not helping my mother clean as a lad is that I will be forced to mop floors on mother's day from age 29 (the age my mother had me) forward. Such was the case, though, I was stuck at work on Mother's Day & I had two customers all day long & raked in a whopping $37. I could have sat in the office all day & read (or sulked) but I figured I could crank up some Miles Davis & do some cleaning instead. I'm sure all of the higher level executives for my company were doing the same.
I remember looking forward to when my mom cleaned the floors in the kitchen because that meant that we got to eat dinner in the living room in front of the television. When the carpets got cleaned, all of the furniture got thrown together in the middle of the room which was perfect for a fort. It didn't take much to entertain me when I was a kid. My mom used this to my disadvantage by trying to fool me into playing a game to see how fast we could clean the kitchen. Happy Mothers day, Ma, thanks for everything you do for me, especially those things I don't even know about.
Five Favorite Songs of the Day
Sing Me Back Home-Merle Haggard
I've never been to prison, but the line "there's a song my mama sang" gets me everytime.
There's nothing like getting an anticipated brand new album the day of it's release. I still get as excited about it as I did when I was thirteen years old. There's no longer 30 seconds then the 30 seconds it takes to get the wrapping off a cd, but the payoff is well worth it. To slap the cd into the player & search through the liner notes for clues that might decode the magic that the cd might hold. Who does the artist thank? Are lyrics included? What kind of pictures are on the inside?
I got home to an empty house with Bob Dylan's Beyond Here Lies Nothing sitting on the counter. Maybe this is why Christie spent the afternoon with her mother. Anyways, I didn't feel guilty about popping this into the cd player & turning it up nice & loud. There's good news & bad news regarding this album. The bad news is that to my ears I don't hear any great songs. Modern Times had Ain't Talkin', Love & Theft had Mississippi. The good news is that I look forward to listening to the album as a whole, not just certain tracks. There's both a cohesiveness & a diversity to these songs that hold it together.
The album challenges your perceptions, the opening track Beyond Here Lies Nothing sounds quite bleak but actually celebrates love in the moment, even if that love will someday betray you or leave you all alone. The closing track, It's All Good, takes that annoying cliche & proves it to be false every time, no matter how many times you tell yourself that it's all good. Life is Hard is Bob Dylan trying to sing as if he has to prove that he can hit the high notes & in his straining comes up with quite an effective performance. My Wife's Home Town copies the melody of the blues standard I Just Wanna Make Love to You & is downright annoying. If You Ever Go to Houston swings easily with charming lyrics wrapped in myth & tall tales. I haven't made my mind up about Forgetful Heart yet, I like the singing & the tempo. Jolene has a terrible guitar riff that is just as bad as the lyrics from the refrain "i'll be your king & you can be my queen".
This Dream of You is the first time I realized that this album doesn't sound anything like it's predecessors. Maybe it's Mike Campbell's guitar or David Hidalgo's (Los Lobos) accordion. I either love or hate Shake Shake Mama, I haven't quite figured it out yet. When I found out that there was a song called I Feel a Change Comin' On I cringed, fearing a "we have a new president & it's a new day" kind of song, but it's actually quite good. It's got a '70s pop song kind of feel to it. This is probably the most palatable to the average listener.
There we have it, friends. This album won't go up there with the great Dylan albums of all time, but it sure makes for a fun listen & a definate difference from the last two albums. If I had to rate it, I'd give it a 7. Give it a spin & see what you think.
I Feel a Change Comin' On
Beyond Here Lies Nothing
Life is Hard (the picture depicts Christie when she's listening to this album)
Five Favorite Songs of the Day
If You Ever Go to Houston-Bob Dylan, Beyond Here Lies Nothing
Today was a day for new possibilities. Let me start with the best news of the day: Christie has a job interview this Wednesday or the next that she's incredibly excited about. She shrieked, yes shrieked, with glee when she called me to tell me about it. It sounds right up her ally, but I'll let her tell you all about it.
Second, Jeff from work put in an offer on a house today. We've been discussing this for a long time now, & after one offer fell through he feels really good about this. The best part (for me, anyway) is that it is literally right across the street from the store which means he can never ever quit.
Finally, serendipity, I may have myself a new employee. A few weeks ago I found out that a customer of mine is a Bob Dylan fan so last night I made a compilation of my favorite live Dylan performances. Originally, I planned on making a couple of cd's, it turned into seven. Yes, I understand, this is the heights of dorkitude. This almost puts me in dungeons & dragons territory. Said customer came in this morning & I handed him the goods. We got to talking & I told him that we were hiring & he told me that he could find several candidates. One being his son. His son came in later today & filled out an application. His son just might be the best qualified applicant for the worst job, he has painting experience, he has a college degree (journalism, broadcasting) with a 3.9 grade point average, & the best part, he used to host a late night jazz program at CMU. Sure enough, he recognized Bitches Brew playing in the background. He's applying for an $8 an hour part time job. I might feel guilty for hiring him.
And now, for not particular reason, a poem:
Wine Comes in at the Mouth by William Butler Yeats
Wine comes in at the mouth And love comes in at the eye; That's all we shall know for truth Before we grow old and die. I lift the glass to my mouth, I look at you, and I sigh.
Five Favorite Songs of the Day
Where Were You?-Vic Chesnutt, West of Rome
Boom Boom Mancini-Warren Zevon
Wake Up-The Arcade Fire, Funeral
I Can't Stand the Rain-Ann Peebles
Newry Highwayman-Bob Dylan, Belfast 1998 Newry Highwayman In Newry town, I was bread and born, In Stephen's Green now I die in scorn. I served my time to the saddling trade, But I turned out to be a roving blade.
At seventeen I took a wife, I loved her dearly as I loved my life; And for to keep in fine array, I went a-robbing on the King's highway.
I never robbed any poor man yet, Nor any tradesman did I beset; I robbed both lords and the ladies bright, And brought their jewels to my heart's delight.
I robbed Lord Golding I do declare, And Lady Mansel, in Grosvenor Square; I shut the shutters and bad them good night. And home I went then to my heart's delight.
To Covent Garden I made my way, With my dear wife for to see the play; Lord Fielding's gang they did me pursue, And I was taken by the cursed crew.
My father cried, "O, my daring son." My wife she wept and sighed. "I am undone." My mother tore her white locks and cried; Saying, "In the cradle he should have died.
And when I'm dead and in my grave A flashy funeral pray let me have; With six bold highwaymen to carry me. Give them good broadswords and sweet liberty.
Six pretty maidens to bear my Pall, Give them white garlands and ribbons all. And when I'm dead they will speak the truth, He was a wild and a wicked youth.
This blog is only written for my own selfish reasons (well, aren't they all?). I'm looking for Heidi & anyone else who cares to weigh in on the subject to suggest how we should arrange the furniture after we put the floor in this weekend. I'd like to put the tv stand either to the left or to the right of the sliding doors 'cause that's where the cable outlet is, but I could probably hide the cord somehow if necessary. We have too black endtables (not shown) & one slate endtable (like the coffee table in the picture) & a slate coffee table. We also have a 6' high black book shelf (okay, cd's, who am I kidding?) & a 4' high black book shelf, one full length couch, one loveseat & one chair. We have a fairly large mirror with black frame & quite a few black & white pictures with black frames. Eventually we are planning on getting an area rug (any thoughts on color/style?). The window shade/curtain is tan, almost the same color as the couches. Whatever guidance you'd like to give would surely be appreciated.
Five Favorite Songs of the Day
It's All Over Now, Baby Blue-Bob Dylan, Kalamazoo 2008
Workingman's Blues #2-Bob Dylan, Kalamazoo 2008
Tonight Will Be Fine-Leonard Cohen, Songs from a Room
Tweedle Dee & Tweedle Dum-Bob Dylan, Kalamazoo 2008
Christie's birthday is tomorrow, & I've thought about 10 different ways to start this blog about her, but they all seem rather silly to me. First, I wanted to tell a story about the first time we met, but I don't think a story about how she was expecting me to be my friend Ryan would really do her birthday justice. She says that I never talked to her too much, I just think I was scoping her out & playing hard to get. I was trying really hard not to beat her in darts. I also won't tell you about how on our third date I took her to see a crude movie (Clerks II, not nearly as brilliant as the original), or how I thought the place we went on our first date was perfect but she didn't think so. I was going to compare to the 1984 Detroit Tigers since she was born that year, but that probably wouldn't come off right. So, I'll just tell you how happy she's made me. Had you told me when I was 25 that I'd have a dog sleeping in my bed, a stereo with country music presets, that I'd some day see Carrie Underwear in concert, that I frequently watch What Not to Wear & that I'd be enjoying every minute of it, I'd spit in your eye. That's just how she is, though. She'll make you enjoy something you never thought you would. She's beautiful, intelligent, loving & compassionate & I'm a very lucky man.
Happy Birthday. Haha, you're going to hate that I posted that picture, but Winston really wanted it included.
Five Favorite Songs of the Day
Our Town-Iris Dement
Under the Red Sky-Bob Dylan, Masonic Temple, Detroit April 12, 2005
