Jesus Christ, but 2016 was a tough year! The musicians (and people) we lost! The impending doom of a Trump-inspired government! The division of what was in some ways a country, a world even. Ideals crushed beneath the boot heels of hate, news warped beyond any rational thought, a world based upon a semblance of logic now an anarchy of thought and emotion.
The first thing David Bullock said to me when I asked about his new EP, In the Waking World, was, and this is paraphrased, “How do I write my bio without emphasizing Space Opera?” I wanted to say hell if I know but the more I thought about it the easier it seemed. Only because I probably know more about that band than maybe a dozen people out there (beyond the crazies who go out of their ways to find out what a musician has for breakfast).
I have been so overwhelmed with videos and new releases this week that I’ve decided to hit you all with nothing but Notes. Videos you might want to see, news (mostly about new releases), and thoughts. I am taking a week to get away by myself to hopefully get caught up. Tons of reviews to write and notes to arrange. I will be back on track next week. In the meantime, if you don’t have the time to look this over now, save the link and do it when you have a few seconds. No sense in forcing it now when you could actually enjoy it at a later time. There are some cool things here. I know. I screened them myself.
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Pardon me while I get serious for a moment. My country seems intent upon flushing itself down the toilet and before it does I would like to share a few words with you about– Alistair Cooke? But he is (or was) not even American! True, but he is (or was) more American than many of the people who portray themselves as “patriots” (I put it in quotes to point out that the word has been cheapened and no longer holds value to me). I too think it strange that I would look to a “foreigner” to make my case about The Unites States, but it seems natural.
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Barry Diament. Odds are, you’ve never heard of him— or think you haven’t. The truth is, though, that if you have albums or CDs by Bad Company or Hoodoo Gurus or Led Zeppelin or Linda Ronstadt, you could have some of his work in your collection. Diament, you see, has mastered or remastered albums by those and many other musical artists. What is mastering? According to Hoyle (erm, Wikipedia):
This past week I am working on two big articles, this column and have a stack of reviews waiting to be written and am wondering where I can find the time. I need a good 48 hours in a day to even think about keeping up, but if they gave them to me I would more than likely use them napping or watching Howard Stern make a judging ass out of himself on network TV (No, I wouldn’t. I hated him when he was doing his radio and TV shows. After watching him embarrass himself brown-nosing some poor schlep who was lucky enough to make it to the end of some lame circus act of song or dance, it reinforced my initial judgment.
Before we dive in to that 800 pound gorilla, Spotify, I want to point out that Toronto has two more chances to catch one of the most impressive bands to live within Canada’s borders. I caught Picture The Ocean‘s set in Portland a week or two ago and I couldn’t have been more impressed. Impressed enough to keep the new album on heavy rotation, listening-wise. Impressed enough to relive many of the outstanding moments of the band that night. Impressed enough to trumpet the band to any and all who will listen. This band is the real deal, my friends, and they are holding down a “residency” (whatever the hell that is) at The Cameron House the next two Tuesdays and will be playing from 6-8 PM. Now, I don’t jump up and down for that many artists and/or bands (okay, I do, but it’s only because the bands I love are bands you need to hear), so take my word for it. If I’m wrong, I’ll give you ten free whacks at the whipping post. I’m telling you, these guys are good! An antidote to the musical blahs. An argument against there being no good music anymore. You can thank me later. And now…
I was sitting here in front of the computer this past week and wondering about the plethora of deaths amongst musicians, because it seems like musicians are taking a larger hit than normal lately, and Gypsy popped into my head. Gypsy Queen— Part One, to be specific. “Warning… warning…” to be even more specific. Goddamn but I love the beginning of that song and the rest of the song, to boot, and I couldn’t help but wonder what the hell is going on. I can’t turn on the computer anymore without hearing of another musician’s passing and, truth be told, it is starting to get me down.
Bullseye Records of Canada
Segarini: Don't Believe a Word I Say 