Nothing says Christmas like a curmudgeon and nobody is more of one than Jaimie Vernon which makes me wish I knew some of the stories behind his long career in music and, also, in life. Regaling you with tales of chicken wire and whoopee cushions would make this a lot easier to write— nothing like fart jokes to liven up your reading— but it is Christmas season and I must put aside the slings and arrows, as humorous as they might be.
Yep. Denmark’s Alcoholic Faith Mission is releasing a new album, their first in three years, and it’s a beaut. This column, in fact, originally started as a tribute to the band and its run but, as usual, life got in the way (my brain stopped functioning) and I promise a future column will go into the band’s history as well as numerous videos they have produced over the years.
Why am I the last to know about Margaret Wise Brown? Chances are, if you don’t remember the name, you have heard her works, especially Goodnight Moon, a book written specifically for children and sandmen. While I had not heard of it, everyone to whom I have mentioned it has, some making snide references to that rock I must live under. Evidently my childhood was deprived— at least deprived of Ms. Brown and her wonderful works. I am not taking it personally, though, thanks to Virginia musicians Emily Gary and Tom Proutt. They contacted me awhile ago about a book they had recently been involved with, written by Ms. Brown, titled Goodnight Songs.
Again, my column has been waylaid. There is something in my universe which gets in the way of every other column I sit down to write. This time it has to do with my favorite of the grunge bands in Seattle back when grunge was just a child— Son of Man. I think that band and Screaming Trees were the only bands I paid close attention to back then, at least when it came to the up-and-comers. Each had a certain undefinable something which made me sit up and listen. Each has held up well as the years have passed. One day I will post a list of my very favorite albums over the years and the Trees’ Sweet Oblivion will be there as will the lost “album” of Son of Man— I say lost because I am not really sure whether an album was the intention, they being handed to me on cassette as “demos”.
Bullseye Records of Canada
Segarini: Don't Believe a Word I Say 