Got an email from a friend the other day, headed “Enough already!” Like so many of us – especially we older folks – she’s sick and tired of being locked down, exasperated with the conflicting information we’ve received, really scared of leaving her home unless it’s absolutely necessary, and furious with the scoffers who put her health in danger with their refusal to wear a mask.
I’ve been deep into music since shortly after my 14th birthday. Three quarters of my life has been spent doing something I love. A lot. The side benefit has been that I’ve been able to create music as well. As much as any computer whiz with software can create “music” these days, I came about my (cough cough) talent honestly.
Rolling Stone Magazine recently released their latest ‘list’, “The 100 Greatest Songwriters” rollingstone.com). Let me repeat that title, “The 100 Greatest Songwriters”. Their descriptive line states “From Brill Building tunesmiths to Punk poets, from Woody Guthrie to Max Martin, the visionaries who defined music history.”
I may have officially outlived my tenure as Captain Canada. I pride myself in keeping on top of the latest and greatest Canadian music. It’s my duty as the chronicler of all things CanCon. But last week I became an anachronism.
Is it just me, or does it seem like every week – every day, even – of 2015 to date has been rife with some new horror, political revelation, or scandal involving everyone from the guy on the street to a British royal?
John Lennon said it best in one of my all time favourite songs of his: “So this is Christmas and what have you done. Another year over, a new one just begun.” I do so wish that Lennon was still here to continue with his amazing talent. But some self-centered asshole with a hand gun and a diseased brain (or a mind-controlled one, for all of you conspiracy buffs) silenced that legendary voice forever 33 years ago.
I’ve got a shitload of CDs to review sitting on my desk – Bob Menzies’ “One More Highway”, Goddo’s “The Pretty Bad Boys Return” (which is also a DVD), Half Past Four’s “Good Thing” and Klaatu’s “Sir Army Suit” re-issue (also with DVD). I have had no time to sit and listen to any of these with the attention and intent I always reserve for my reviews because of a million personal things going on right now – not the least of which is a day gig. To give the music a cursory listen would be an insult to the artists who put blood, sweat and cashola into seeing these things to fruition. Sometimes it takes years to get a disc off the ground. I owe the creators more than 5 minutes of listening to them.
With the advent of celebrity musical team-ups to help sell more downloads in this unpredictable business we now find ourselves in, I thought maybe we could do this for all lapsed and flagging music artists past and present. Here, for your bemusement, is a wish list of team-ups for the musically twisted compiled by yours truly and partner in crime Terry Lusk. Enjoy
Bullseye Records of Canada
Segarini: Don't Believe a Word I Say 