These Tough Economic Times

Dropbox

The box is online. Drop it in the box and pick it up at your next stop (like on the AT).

The best thing about it is sharing a box with a friend. "Check this out."

Now: Great Week on Spinner

Booker T. Jones - The Road From Memphis

Seems fitting enough considering the flooding in Memphis this week. I always find it easy to listen to his music but am rarely taken by it. I like the addition of guest vocalists here including Jim James.

Ben Sollee - Inclusion

At first listen I threw out the names Paul Simon and Brett Dennen. I believe the quality of the songs and the soul of the sound are on par with Simon. I use Dennen as the low end measuring stick. I know he is really pretty good but I've had problems appreciating his ilk of singer over the last 10 years. There are several "soulful" white boys who feel the need to use their own brand of annunciation that really kills it for me. Sollee is not there, but he can edge on it at times. I like him because of his Kentucky roots and community fueled shows and songs. I will always give him some bonus points for that and I will always want to listen to what he has to say. Hopefully this one will grow on me. Here is a link for a good review by Silas House.

Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues

I would say this one is at the same level as the first. They came onto "the scene" pretty hard a couple of years ago and garnered lots of critical and popular praise. I listened then and I liked what I heard although I never jumped in deep. I doubt I'll jump here either but I will always welcome such sweet sounds and maybe one of these days, I'll get to know these songs well enough to feel steeped.

The Felice Brothers - Celebration, Florida

Warren Haynes - Man in Motion

Man Man - Life Fantastic

Okkervil River - I Am Very Far

Lee Scratch Perry - Rise Again

El Obo - Oxford Basement

UNIFORM CPA EXAMINATION PASSING RATES

2011

Section First Quarter Cumulative

AUD 43.88% 43.88%

BEC 42.32% 42.32%

FAR 42.43% 42.43%

REG 41.28% 41.28%

Evolution: Sock Hop

I don't remember exactly how it happened but when I was about 11 I became fascinated with the 1950's and my parent's school days. They pulled a huge stack of 45's out of the attic and I dug through them and I dug them.

I don't remember what all was in that stack but I think my favorites were Tequila, Purple People Eater and (My Baby Does) the Hanky Panky. Really, Hanky Panky is pretty punk rock for that era. I got pretty fired up about The Four Seasons feat. Frankie Valli and anything by the Coasters. I mean, Yakety Yak, Poison Ivy and Love Potion # 9 ruled my brain.

It became clear that those records weren't going to satisfy my thirst. A year or so into this obsession, my Dad recognized that I need to dive in. He had a friend at work who had purchased a huge collection from Time Life????? of music of this era. There were different years represented and some focus on things like Doo Wop and Elvis. His friend made tapes and he brought one or two home every week or so. The biggies that I remember were;

Chuck Berry

Buddy Holly

Little Richard

Jerry Lee Lewis

Everly Brothers

Fats Domino

I liked it all, including the cheese;

Rockin' Robin, At the Hop, Peggy Sue, Be-Bop a Lula, Tutti Fruity, Book of Love, Duke of Earl, You Send Me, ..........

I loved Sea of Love and I loved loved Runaway by Del Shannon. That song got me pumped.

Evolution: my walkman keeps falling out of my pocket

When I was between the ages of 11 and 18, I was the manager of grounds maintenance at 263 McCullough. In other words, I mowed the yard all summer. Funny thing is, I don't remember a riding mower... Anyway, my parents have way too much yard. We lived in the country at the top of a hill with a long driveway, a big front yard and like 3 back yards.

It was just the right size so that if I mowed every chance I got in the early spring, by the time I was finishing up the back yard(s), the front yard had grown back, so I never had to worry about where to store the mower.

From ages 13 - 15 or so, I remember having a cassette walkman and I burned through an outrageous amount of batteries with that thing. I have a distinct memory of the tapes that spent most of their time in there and I know every word, musical phrase and breathe from those recordings. There's something about listening on headphones (regardless of the hum and vibration of the mower).

U2 - Joshua Tree

Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers - Conscious Party

INXS - Kick

John Mellencamp - Lonesome Jubilee

Midnight Oil - Diesel and Dust

Terrence Trent D'Arby - Introducing the Hardline According to TTD

Beastie Boys - License to Ill

..... many of which I had bought bootleg versions at Court Days. The tapes were white and the writing wore off.

The best thing happening, right about now

the bad revue (link)

Kentucky songwriters making songs based on a weekly (so far) theme.

This weeks theme:

answer songs

write a song in response to an already written song that asks a question - such as:

"what's love got to do with it?"

"do you know the way to san jose?"

"who let the dogs out?"

Dave and Gil ....

.... kinda piss me off with their social ease and on-stage humor. It used to amuse me and endear them to me. I thought it personalized their music…… eh…… naw. What would endear them to me and personalize their music to me is if they were to get serious about making another album. Sure, people are free to do what they want…. to squander gifts (I’m not one to complain), to justify, to procrastinate life (Lord knows), but ….. I mean, Gillian Welch spent about 6 or 8 years putting herself on the map as one of America’s great songwriters…. incredible voice, soul and skill….. they're a great team….. perfect performances. But now it’s really gotten old. Why make appearances? I mean, how do you walk out on stage all of 40-45 yrs old and play the same shit you’ve been playing for the last 5-10 years?.... and then joke and fumble through your tunings and instrument changes, like your nervous to bear your soul? I don’t get it. The last time I saw them was a more polished version of the last 5 times I’ve seen them….. and it sucked. It sounded good, it reached out to me at times, but really it just made me sad for them.

I think it's time for Dave to put her in a room and lean an antique instrument against the door until she produces enough material for the next one.

Playlist - Just like old times

Today's playlist really started off last night. I listened to Patrick's Americana Crossroads on Morehead Public Radio. It was a fresh mix of similar tastes to my own.

Sonny & Brownie - Sonny's Squall ("Run to the Whoop"), Ryan Bingham, Avetts,...........

Started off the day with the winetree - Americana Crossroads tracks and Kentucky from their facebook page. Man, I wish these guys were more widely recognized and a bit more prolific. I believe in Isaiah's talent and taste.

Justin Earle Townes - Harlem River Blues was background for my busy mind. I'd definitely like to give it another go. I think he falls somewhere in that vast area between his namesakes and I'm starting to think he is an apple further from the tree musically yet pretty much like them both, personally.

Ryan Bingham - Mescalito I already like it, but it was good to hear it from a different source last night on Patrick's Americana Crossroads show.

Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee - Red River

Railroad Earth - Railroad Earth

Music For Moving Images V3 - Various This is a compilation from the Three Sixty label roster. I like almost everything on it and I like some of it a lot. I hope to follow up on some of these artists.

All India Radio - Echo Other

2010.08.17 Playlist

I just read that MMJ are recording a new album in a church in Louisville, expected to be out around the middle of next year. I really wish I had the dough to go to NYC to see them in October. They are doing their albums in their entirety.... 5 nights ending with "Evil Urges and beyond". I would love to see them perform that one live! So, I am starting my playlist with a live show from 8 years ago yesterday and it starts off with "Suspicious Minds" in honor of the anniversary of Elvis' death.

My Morning Jacket - Live at the 9:30 Club 8/16/2002

Yim Yames - Tribute to George Harrison (Aug. 2009)

My Morning Jacket - At Dawn and Tennessee Fire Demos Package (2007)

Bonobo - Black Sands (2010)

Jonsi and Alex - Riceboy Sleeps (2009)