Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

There is one struggling party in US right now, and it’s not the Democrats.

Let us savor the impending downfall of lawless scoundrels who richly deserve the trouble barreling their way.

Today’s gop: why go just far enough when too far is right there?

The willow is too close to the house.

Wow, you are pre-disappointed. How surprising.

Jack Smith: “Why did you start campaigning in the middle of my investigation?!”

Every reporter and pundit should have to declare if they ever vacationed with a billionaire.

Republicans don’t lie to be believed, they lie to be repeated.

That’s my take and I am available for criticism at this time.

If you tweet it in all caps, that makes it true!

The most dangerous place for a black man in America is in a white man’s imagination.

Trump’s legal defense is going to be a dumpster fire inside a clown car on a derailing train.

Not all heroes wear capes.

fuckem (in honor of the late great efgoldman)

Republicans seem to think life begins at the candlelight dinner the night before.

Fight them, without becoming them!

Wake up. Grow up. Get in the fight.

Conservatism: there are people the law protects but does not bind and others who the law binds but does not protect.

Republicans: “Abortion is murder but you can take a bus to get one.” Easy peasy.

Seems like a complicated subject, have you tried yelling at it?

Let the trolls come, and then ignore them. that’s the worst thing you can do to a troll.

How any woman could possibly vote for this smug smarmy piece of misogynistic crap is beyond understanding.

We are aware of all internet traditions.

Russian mouthpiece, go fuck yourself.

You are here: Home / Medium Cool / Medium Cool – Music!

Medium Cool – Music!

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Medium Cool is a weekly series related to popular culture, mostly film, TV, and books, with some music and games thrown in.  We hope it’s a welcome break from the anger, hate, and idiocy we see almost daily from the other side in the political sphere.

Arguments welcomed, opinions respected, fools un-suffered.  We’re here every Sunday at 7 pm.

Let’s talk about music.

Music that gets you fired up.  Music that gets you through.  Protest music that inspires you.  Music that helps you heal.  Music that makes the rest of the world disappear.  Music that reminds you of another time.  Music that’s a balm for your soul.  Music that helps you connect with other people. Music that helps remind you of who you are, who you used to be, who you want to be.

Or is music just music?  And you like a piece or you don’t.

What’s your relationship with music?

 

Reader Interactions

134Comments

  1. 1.

    BigJimSlade

    I just got up off the couch from listening to some Schnittke – the first concerto gross and first cello concerto. Some pretty amazing work. To me this music that… makes me think the best classical music is the pinnacle of art. I never would’ve thought that when I was younger, and there are many types of art and music that still represent fantastic pinnacles of human achievement, but this impresses me the most.

  2. 2.

    SiubhanDuinne

    When my mother was dying, in 1975, I listened constantly to Dvořák’s “American” Quartet. Its combination of  introspection, earthiness, and exuberance helped get me through a very bad week.

    Don’t know why. I don’t think I chose it. But I love the piece, and while it reminds me of that time nearly half a century ago, it still lifts my spirit.

  3. 3.

    azelie

    Music that comforted me as a recent widow: Nancy Griffith, “Other Voices, Other Rooms” especially “Across the Great Divide.”  My late husband and I were both fans of Americana and he introduced me to Nanci Griffith’s music.

    Music that helped me feel energy again: Neko Case, “Fox Confessor Brings the Flood” and PJ Harvey, ” Rid of Me” and “Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea”

  4. 4.

    Phylllis

    I have Sirius & keep it on either 60’s Gold or the 70’s channel. I particularly enjoy having the 60’s channel on with my husband in the car. He can usually ‘name that tune’ in two-three bars.

  5. 5.

    Mr. Prosser

    When I want to be up and running it’s jazz/blues. The best I can recommend as samples are the sessions with Jimmy Smith on organ, Kenny Burrell on guitar and Stanley Turrentine on tenor sax. Marvelous, been listening to them since the late 60s and they never get old. Try Midnight Special and Back to the Chicken Shack.

  7. 7.

    frosty

    My relationship with music is that I wish I could play it better. Do I have to goof a chord, a lyric, or a solo EVERY time I do an Open Mic?

    I read that amateurs practice until they get it right, pros practice until they can’t get it wrong … I’m not gonna live that long! I also read play it slow until it’s right, then speed it up. I’m still playing it slow!

    But I’m having fun, and as my friend and occasional singer said “Music is ephemeral.”

    Back to the topic for the rest of you!

  8. 8.

    Prescott Cactus

    Quadrophenia, by the Who and written by Pete Townsend.

    The double album “rock opera” that followed their successful hit “Tommy”.  It’s got a story that’s not to hard to follow and ebbs / flows between ballads and hard rock. It’s my go to. No good for shower karaoke as it’s almost 2 hours.

    Corduroy, by Pearl Jam is a close second as far as music that “moves me” … Raises the heart rate and gets the synapses firing hot and bright.

  9. 9.

    BSR

    De-lurking as I missed the lurker thread last week…

    I take long (3-week) bike rides during summer when I’m off work (public school). I have a playlist of 3K+ songs that are mostly 60s-70s classic rock/some blues/old-school rap & lots of 80s that is my riding playlist.

    But when I’m working and I want to get things done, I have a playlist called “work” that is Mozart’s Requiem, several Bach works (Magnificat, Goldberg Variations, Cello Suites), some Handel, and it veers into very different with Rimsky-Korsakov, Prokofiev & Philip Glass. Always gets me through the day!

  11. 11.

    Xavier

    If I had to choose between no food or no music, I’d try to negotiate for bread and water. If an asteroid wiped out life on earth, I think the biggest loss to the universe would be our music.

  13. 13.

    BSR

    @WaterGirl:

    It’s not too hard when I see there have only been 7-8 comments instead of arriving after 200+ and don’t think I could really add to that. But thanks!

  15. 15.

    Alce _e_ardillo

    I’m wildly eclectic in my musical tastes, but the music that can most reliably put me in a trance that I won’t want to come out from is Mozart piano concertos. Next might be Allman Brothers Band Live at Fillmore East, and Eat a Peach. Duane Allman and Dickie Betts, before Allman died and Betts fried his brain cells with drugs and alcohol, were incomparable….

  17. 17.

    Juju

    @SiubhanDuinne: Dvořák’s New World Symphony, especially the 2nd Mvt (Cor Anglais Solo) makes me tear up. It was played at my father’s funeral as well as the Naval Hymn, which also makes me teary eyed. I can’t watch “ The Perfect Storm” all the way through to the end because they play the Naval Hymn in that movie.

  18. 18.

    p.a.

    Saw Michael Doucet & Beausoleil last night.  Love cajun & zydeco music.  Graham Parker solo 4/10, my favorite R&R guy.  Small venues, reasonable bedtimes 😂.

  19. 19.

    PaulB

    My comfort music is the Simple Gifts CD, arrangements of Shaker melodies by William Coulter and Barry Phillips. Guitar, cello, flute, violin, and a couple of other instruments. Listening to these lovely melodies is the audio equivalent of soaking your cares away in a warm tub. Here is a link to a YouTube playlist.

  20. 20.

    zhena gogolia

    My “pep aria” is La mamma morta from Andrea Chenier in Renata Scotto’s performance. (You may know it from Tom Hanks in Philadelphia, but that’s Maria Callas.) It always makes me burst into tears and feel better afterwards. Takes a while to get going, but stick with it to the end!

  21. 21.

    Peke Daddy

    @Prescott Cactus: Agree with you about Quadrophenia, a hero’s journey ending on a note of hopeful redemption fortifies me. For quiet compilation, Bach’s “Jesus, Heart of Man’s Desire” and “Sheep May Safely Graze” hits the spot. For get up and go, Townshend’s work does it, along with Beethoven’s Ninth and rousing movie soundtracks. Magnificent Seven and Star Trek 1-6 right now. On a Mozart binge right now.

  22. 22.

    Ol' Nat

    I never post. Your threads are so long, I get lost!!

    I listen constantly, and play regularly. I play in a bluegrass band at church, and if the soloing and harmonies have gone well the high will last me most of the week. I practice as much as I’m able  (which isn’t much, frankly) and love how I get sloooooowly but surely better year over year.

    Listening is such a mood thing! This week it’s been John Prine, Rush (oddly the final three albums), and High on Fire. I sing along to the Prine, High on Fire is an angry sludge that blots out the world, and Rush is just always there.

  24. 24.

    Tehanu

    Ursula K. LeGuin said that music is the art that is made with time.

    Music that’s meant the most to me:

    • “In Memory of Elizabeth Reed”
    • Wagner’s Ring – especially the first half of “Die Walkure”
    • The Chichester Psalms
    • “Riders on the Storm” and “L.A. Woman”
    • The B Minor Mass
    • “Baker Street”
    • “Any Day Now”
  25. 25.

    Math Guy

    Pat Metheny got me through grad school. Put on a few albums for background music, then immersed myself in math for a few hours: almost all of my dissertation results were obtained that way.

  26. 26.

    Craig

    Got back from Vancouver on Friday. Went to BeatStreet records before the airport. Great store. Never knew about The Gil Evans Orchestra plays Jimi Hendrix. Mainly kind of cheesy late 60s smooth jazz, but the version of 1983 is incredible. Also picked up a bootleg of Ornette Coleman live at some hall in NYC. Side 2 is called The Ark and it is smoking hot. Otherwise listening to old Black Flag records because there are few things more intense than Black Flag.

  27. 27.

    West of the Rockies

    Is it okay if I say that if I never hear Piano Man or Uptown Girl again, that would be fine?

  29. 29.

    Poe Larity

    Anything from 1970-1971 will trigger cosmic expansion. From Coke commercials to Maggot Brain.

  31. 31.

    glc

    I attended one of Dylan’s first concerts in Spring 1963, and one of Leonard Cohen’s last, at Madison Square Garden, and they were both memorable. In Dylan’s case I didn’t know who he was, and just showed up to usher. He talked quite a bit, introducing the songs.

    As for Leonard Cohen, the physical vigor of that very long concert was in itself remarkable. He remarked at one point, “We may not pass this way again, and we’ll give it all we’ve got!”

    At this point, between the two, I’d say I’m more on the Leonard Cohen side of things. Then there’s Glenn Gould, who perhaps was even more like Leonard Cohen in some ways than Leonard Cohen was.

  33. 33.

    Jack Canuck

    Been on a bit of a classical binge with concerts lately – Mozart and Beethoven plus some others. Bach is my classical comfort music, especially when it’s Glenn Gould on piano. For daily life, I’ve just acquired a fairly new Sony (digital) walkman that, with a suitable SD card, can fit my entire ripped collection of ~1000 CDs with ample room to spare – loving having everything with me to choose from! The latest addition to the collection is three remastered CDs by These Immortal Souls (an offshoot from Nick Cave/the Birthday Party, centred on guitarist Rowland S. Howard).

    On the other hand, I spend a lot of my limited free time working on my own stuff, and I’m currently looking for other musicians to collaborate with, whether that’s in a full-blown band or something more limited. My Soundcloud page is linked in my nym (I think); here’s the most recent song I put up there.

  34. 34.

    Prescott Cactus

    @Peke Daddy:

    Classical doesn’t move me in a … classical sense. It un-moves me, relaxes and is great for de-stressing. I enjoy it, but don’t partake enough.

    Field of Dreams is my fav movie soundtrack. Ups, downs and playful, so to speak.

  35. 35.

    Laura

    I feel like I always have some melody running in my head. I try to expand my listening but seem to always end up back with favorites – classic rock, music from the 60s and 70s. I think I listen to something by Steely Dan (or Donald Fagan) everyday. Been listening to a lot of yacht rock and learning of some new groups that have that sound. And yes – Baker Street is fabulous!

  37. 37.

    NotMax

    @Prescott Cactus

    Speaking of soundtracks, while recently looking up something I came across a movie music credit from so early in his career he is credited on film as Johnny Williams.
    ;)

  39. 39.

    Brachiator

    There was a 1981 Japanese film about a 19th century social protest movement marked by partying and songs.

    Ee ja nai ka was a complex of carnivalesque religious celebrations and communal activities, often understood as social/political protests, which occurred in many parts of Japan in 1867–1868.

    “Ee ja nai ka” is translated as “Why not?” But it might be more accurately translated as “Fuck it!”

    I love all kinds of music, but this topic brings to mind the long tradition of protest music I love, from Woody Guthrie to Bob Dylan, to the wonderful music of the anti-war era to Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On?”

    But one song that resonates with its ferocity and anger is Les McCann and Eddie Harris playing “Compared to What?”

    This song reminds me of how much I hate what Trump and his MAGA idiots have done to this country.

  42. 42.

    A Ghost to Most

    Down in the crack between rock music and country music where I dwell, the two best protest albums I’ve heard came from Drive-By Truckers. The Unraveling, and The New Ok. Especially The New Ok.

    But no one even knows who I’m talking about.

  43. 43.

    Lydia Reeder

    Favorite song of all time: “Cathedral” – Crosby, Stills & Nash. Also love “Englishman in New York” and Beethoven Piano Sonata “Pathétique”. Anything by Mozart makes me happy.

  44. 44.

    raven

    I was between Korea and Vietnam at Ft Lewis, Wa and I hitched up to this gig!

    Sky River Rock Festival and Lighter Than Air Fair

    Genre
    Rock, psychedelic rock, blues

    Dates
    Labor Day Weekend

    Location(s)
    Skykomish River Sultan, Tenino, Washougal, Washington, United States

    Years active
    1968–1970

    Attendance
    unknown

    Capacity
    13,000 (tickets)

    The Sky River Rock Festival and Lighter Than Air Fair was a historic rock festival first held on a raspberry farm on the Skykomish River outside Sultan, Washington. The 1968 rock festival was held between August 31 to September 2. It was the first multi-day outdoor hippie rock festival at an undeveloped site.[1] The line-up included bands the Grateful Dead, Santana, and others

  45. 45.

    piratedan

    music that speaks to me can be found over on BlueSky under the hashtag #Pirate’s Playlist.  That way I can prevent myself from over sharing on the thread :-)

  47. 47.

    Sheila in nc

    Choral singer since the age of 10. Sometime pianist and organist. Music was never my profession but has been of overpowering importance in my life. Faves are too numerous to mention but i know i have a special relationship with works I’ve performed as opposed to having heard performed. Currently enjoying working up the Faure Requiem, Vaugn Williams Serenade to Music, and a piece by Oja Giello for a concert coming up in May. Other desert island music I’ve been lucky enough to work on: Mozart’s Requiem and The Marriage of Figaro, Bach B Minor Mass and St Matthew Passion, Verdi’s Requiem.
    I love many forms of pop music and rock also! Not just classical! Don’t want you to think I’m a nerd or something.

  48. 48.

    lowtechcyclist

    @West of the Rockies:

    Is it okay if I say that if I never hear Piano Man or Uptown Girl again, that would be fine?

    Sure! If you’re ever visiting chez lowtechcyclist, I promise not to play our Billy Joel CDs while you’re there.  (My wife and I are both big fans, and have seen him in concert a few times.) We don’t all have to like the same music.

    And speaking from personal experience, songs being overplayed by your standards can take them from being songs you love (or can at least enjoy) to songs you’ve heard enough of for one lifetime.  The DC classic rock station has killed a number of songs for me that used to be among my favorites.  About a decade ago, I had to stop listening to that station altogether.

  49. 49.

    Scout211

    @Starfish: Taylor Swift’s new video “Fortnight” has Ethan Hawke in it so the olds can appreciate, and it has a very Victorian aesthetic.

    And Josh Charles, too. Both starred in The Dead Poet’s Society.  They were in the video as a nod to that movie since her album is The Tortured Poet’s Department.  Easter eggs everywhere.

  51. 51.

    prostratedragon

    @Sheila in nc:  Fond memories of rehearsing and performing the Fauré back in the day. We sang it in English. That second section is intense!

  52. 52.

    Jack Canuck

    @Craig: It’s great stuff. I’d known about the band forever, but finding the old CDs was an exercise in overpriced futility. But this year they’ve remastered the two albums and released an ‘Extra’ CD that’s a mix of live and other songs.

  57. 57.

    Sure Lurkalot

    @OlFroth: I pulled up Preservation Act 2 on my music service recently and listened to the whole thing! Brought back lots of memories.

  59. 59.

    SteveinPHX

    I tried to write about all the music I love and realized I would bore the ass off of most of you.
    I like a lot of R ‘n B, blues, rock n’ roll, jazz, classical music. I’m always looking out for stuff I might have missed.

  61. 61.

    schrodingers_cat

    I enjoy listening Rahul Deshpande’s YT channel. He is a classical musician by training but on YT channel, he does covers of music of the more popular variety.

    Here he is singing a poem by V. V. Shirwadkar (a winner of the gyanpeeth, which is an all India award for lifetime achievement in literature) recounting a famous lopsided battle (like the charge of the light brigade).

    Sarnar kadi ran, prabhu tari he (Oh Lord, When will this battle end?)

  62. 62.

    Craig

    @raven: I feel you. A bit much. Years ago a buddy stayed at The Phoenix Hotel in the Tenderloin in SF and they had a turntable and 5 records in each room. It gave him the bug. He bought a turntable and started being tons of records.

  63. 63.

    Xavier

    Not quite OT, anyone want to mention first lines? I’ve always loved “Wouldn’t be the first time love’s made a fool of me,” from The Fire Thief, written by Dan Messe

  64. 64.

    WaterGirl

    @Ol’ Nat: Welcome to commenting!

    Not sure what you mean by “Your threads are so long, I get lost!”

    Long as in lots of comments?  Or long as in the post itself is really long?

  69. 69.

    citizen dave

    Totally agree about Les McCann and Eddie Harris “Compared to What” and its relevance to today.  I just discovered that song about three years ago.

    I believe it’s accurate that Louis Armstrong said there are only two types of music: good and bad.

    I’ve been listening to a quite a bit of jazz in my later years–John Coltrane my favorite (A Love Supreme is certainly an incredible piece of art).  Other lifelong favorites are Neil Young, Tom Waits, The Who/Townshend (Google says Quadrophenia length is 81:42; Bob Dylan, Nick Cave (incredible increasing greatness as he aged); Louis Armstrong, Willie Nelson, PJ Harvey, Norah Jones, Elvis Costello, Les Claypool, the Flaming Lips, Wilco, R.E.M., Minutemen, Husker Du, Van Morrison.  I’ve found a few younger artists I really like: Vulfpeck, Wet Leg, Laufey.

     

    I casually listened to the new Taylor Swift album (the 31 song version).  It’s fine, but made me think how incredible Dylan’s Blood on the Tracks album and especially that song is, with its shifting points of view, and even different lyrics performed over the decades.

    There’s a guy interviewing various Dylan bandmates and friends and he put a book out last year.  Ray Padgett is his name.  He posted his interview with Dickey Betts to remember him, and Betts sounds cogent to me, at least.  It’s a very fun read!  https://www.flaggingdown.com/p/dickey-betts-rip-talks-singing-ramblin

  70. 70.

    Miki

    Oh man …. From my early youth until about age 18 I always assumed I’d be a musician but debilitating performance anxiety put the kabosh on that. Thank goodness listening to others’ performances is a better-than-perfect alternative. As is my mental iPod. There’s always a soundtrack playing ….

    Recently I fell back in love with Joni Mitchell, Brandi Carlisle, and Annie Lennox performing “I’m Still Standing” at the Gershwin Prize for Elton John

    And I love Eric Whitaker Virtual Choir 6 – Sing Gently

    And Al Di Meola Mediterranean Sundance

    And Braham’s 4th

    I’m gonna stop now, except to comment that the best thing about being alive is music. And literature. And poetry. And food. And politics.

  72. 72.

    funlady75

    I love Quincy Jones “Summer in the City”

    Killing Fields soundtrack & The Mission soundtrack are wonderful..

    Otherwise, classical Russian composers & Chopin  piano concertos……

  75. 75.

    kalakal

    The first music I ever bought was 2 LPs

    Led Zep – Led Zep 1

    Deep Purple – Made in Japan

    I still listen to them.

    I’ve never really been that into ‘pop’ music as in Top 20 stuff, other than that my taste ranges all over the place but somehow always seems to come back to Blues and Bach.

    Favourite group ever is probably Cream

  76. 76.

    Craig

    @citizen dave: Nick Cave is such a pro, so good for so long. His work is astounding, but I don’t think anything can touch the raw, feral destruction of The Birthday Party. Only Bad Brains comes close. I wish I’d seen both of those bands.

  78. 78.

    BSR

    @Sheila in nc:

    Similar experience here – was in British (and American) boy’s choirs for several years, and works like Britten’s Ceremony of Carols will never leave my head (still sometimes gives me chills) having performed it in several cities and on radio at age 9. That stuff you sing for other people stays with you! Ditto for all the musicals I was in in HS (Carousel, Oklahoma, Guys & Dolls).

  79. 79.

    Spanish Moss

    @Lydia Reeder: “Cathedral” is my favorite too! I got to hear it live at a CSN concert in college and it was amazing. I also love “Guinevere”.

  80. 80.

    West of the Rockies

    Having watched the super stylish Man from U.N.C.L.E., I discovered the song Che Vuole Questa Musica Staser by Peppino Gagliardi.

    That song gets my wife in the mood every time.

  83. 83.

    thruppence

    Two different poles: Vaughn Williams – “Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis” and Fela Kuti – “Zombie”

    Sorry can’t link, only on the phone at the moment.

  84. 84.

    MomSense

    I’m a music freak!  Just today my kids were at the house helping me pack and when we took a break the boys played guitar.  My youngest wrote a little song last night inspired by packing up his childhood home and today the two of them worked on it a little bit.

    I’ve recently been on a Noga Erez kick.  She has a video of the live version of “Views” and I’m obsessed with it.  The live version is better because the singers clap and stomp the percussion and it’s a banger as the kids say. It looks like it is filmed in a tent.

    Oh and I’m under contract!!

  87. 87.

    OlFroth

    @Sure Lurkalot: Victoria just might be my favorite Kinks song.  Schoolboys in Disgrace got me through a really bad breakup (No More Looking Back) and I don’t think I could have survived high school without Misfits.

  95. 95.

    Miss Bianca

    @BSR:

    Another fan of Britten’s Ceremony of Carols, having performed it in church choir at a tender young age, always for the Christmas Eve midnight service.

    A lot of the music that I performed with the choir stays with me as favorites, particularly Bach’s Passion According to St John and Handel’s Ode to St Cecilia and Alexander’s Feast.

    For working purposes – ie, I can’t get distracted by lyrics in English –  medieval choral music and anything dark, brooding, and Scandinavian does it for me. Although I was also on a jazz guitar kick for quite some time.

    For pleasure, obscure 60s acid/folk/psychedelia will do it for me every time.

  99. 99.

    trollhattan

    @thruppence: Once was demoing speakers I could not afford and they played that Vaughn Williams piece, and for the first time I heard the pipe organ part. WTF? says I.

    Lovely, emotional, evocative piece it is.

  101. 101.

    pajaro

    My dad’s 100–at a much earlier point in his life he subbed with the Chicago Symphony.  His memory is pretty much shot–he kind of remembers who I (his oldest son) am, but there isn’t much of our life together he remembers, and even if he did, his facility with language is pretty much gone.    I visited him recently, and he had a recording of Beethoven’s 9th symphony cued up, with the Second Movement ready to start.  I came in to the room and started air conducting the movement.  He smiled at me and proceeded to come in, on time, playing air violin, at the violin entrance, and we continued to “play” the movement for some time.    His memory of music had outlasted his memory of most of his life, and even of exactly who I am.  What a moment of bliss.

  102. 102.

    citizen dave

    At least 100 more artists I could add–The Clash, XTC, Echo & the Bunnymen, Kinks.  (the recent posts reminding me).  Was on a Ray Davies/Kinks youtube rabbit hole the other night: watched 3 performances of Celluloid Heroes (there is something about how he strings those words together and the two conclusion verses (which I just noticed the other night) that is so awesome)).  Ray Davies can certainly claim some of the very best songs ever written in English.  So beautiful.  I recently watched the nearly 5 hour version of Wim Wenders’ End of the World movie, and the song Days is so moving how its used there.

  104. 104.

    Ceci n est pas mon nym

    Saw this thread earlier but couldn’t respond as I was… sitting in the audience at a concert.

    We decided we needed some great choral music and drove an hour up the road to Princeton to hear the Spring Concert of the Westminster Choir. Yesterday we heard their amazing bell choir.

    Music and music performance are really central to our marriage and our familes. I’m an amateur pianist and choral singer. My wife has been a professional musician since before we met, and attended the aforementioned Westminster Choir College and sang in their choirs. We haven’t done much together musically but we’ll do our “Carnival of Animals” duet on the thinnest excuse, though when she’s had a church music gig I’ve always sung in her choirs. (Note: I was not a singer before I met her. That’s entirely her fault.)

    Musicians dot our family trees. One of my siblings is a professional, the rest of us are amateurs like our parents. Grandpa was a professional cellist in Russia and New York. One of her uncles was a marimba player in Vegas, and his son, her cousin, retired as first horn of the Cleveland Symphony.

  106. 106.

    CWV

    Ginger Baker’s Why.  This was released in 2014 , but just heard it about a year ago. It was his last album before he went and died.  Ginger on drums, Pee Wee Ellis on sax, Alec Dankworth on bass and percussionist Abas Dodoo.  I don’t have any reasons for liking this other than it’s so damn good.

  109. 109.

    Ceci n est pas mon nym

    @Miss Bianca: I’ll give another vote for the Ceremony of Carols. In my top two pieces to sing, but Brahms Requiem might edge it out for the top spot. I love singing in other languages, but the Britten taught me to love ancient English texts set to modern tunes. We listen to the King’s College of Cambridge version sometime most Christmas seasons.

  110. 110.

    BigJimSlade

    @SpaceUnit: Someone else knows early Oingo Boingo! I got to see them on a Friday the 13th, which was also my 17th birthday, and my friend’s 18th birthday (he went with me) at The Palace in Hollywood. It was so much fun!

    And, yes, Ocean Rain is great :-)

  111. 111.

    BigJimSlade

    These days I usually use rock as something to make dinner by. Could be any band from the 60s to the present. For instance, Spoon is great food prep music!

  112. 112.

    StringOnAStick

    @frosty: My feelings exactly.  I used to be utterly mortified when is screw up at an open mic but then I realised life is too short to beat yourself up over that and the audience is nearly always supportive fellow musicians.

  113. 113.

    Brachiator

    @citizen dave:

    Ray Davies can certainly claim some of the very best songs ever written in English.

    Totally agree with you on this.

    Also, I think that in terms of longevity, consistency and quality of songwriting, the Bee Gees must rank in the top tier. They were also notably able to write hits for other artists even when they themselves were not on top of the pops. All three brothers are often credited as songwriters even if Barry is noted as the main contributor.

    As a songwriter, he shares with John Lennon and Paul McCartney the record for most consecutive Billboard Hot 100 number ones, each having six. In total, he has written or co-written sixteen Billboard Hot 100 number ones.

    I loved the Bee Gees harmonies and the sheer variety of their songs. Davies grabbed me early on with his wit and intelligence.

    No connection between the Davies and Gibb other than I think that at times, both have not been rated as highly as they should be.

  114. 114.

    SpaceUnit

    @BigJimSlade:

    I’m jealous that you got to see them.

    I went to probably 5 bazillion shows in my misspent youth but somehow I never saw Oingo Boingo.  I saw Echo and the Bunnymen and it was great.

  115. 115.

    pieceofpeace

    Love “Free Bird,” and for this election season, perhaps Biden could use it in campaigning as emblematic and particularly fitting as it addresses the most important personal drive politically of what Democrary offers its citizens.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kphg_kWMwE

    And this could lift, enlighten and remind folks of how that feels……..

  121. 121.

    kalakal

    @citizen dave:

    Ray Davies can certainly claim some of the very best songs ever written in English

    Couldn’t agree more.

    Waterloo Sunset, Shangri La, Celluloid Heroes, Victoria, etc etc

    I heard a interview once where he said that at first he never expected anyone to listen to his lyrics, nearly all pop music at that time was basically “yeah, yeah” and lyrics were usually pretty trite. Then people started telling him how much his lyrics meant to them and so…

  122. 122.

    frosty

    @StringOnAStick: … the audience is nearly always supportive fellow musicians.

    That’s one of the reasons I decided that if I peaked at Open Mics instead of a band and gigs it would be OK. One of my high points was hearing from one of the audience that he really liked my version of Springsteen’s Atlantic City. He eventually went to Nashville!

  123. 123.

    S Cerevisiae

    My tastes have broadened greatly but I still love the 70’s rock I grew up with. I also have an unfashionable love for prog rock (which I define broadly) and still have my old records. I always thought Kansas didn’t get the respect they deserved, the first 5 albums are fantastic.  I still use Miracles Out of Nowhere to test out the quality of a stereo.

  125. 125.

    Melancholy Jaques

    I have a playlist of Motown hits that I go to from time to time. Always picks me up.

  126. 126.

    BigJimSlade

    @SpaceUnit: :-) I saw Echo 4 times, though it’s pretty foggy now.

    For the Boingo show they had a screen above the stage showing sports clips of people crashing into each other and scenes from movies like Scanners of a guy’s head exploding. That was pretty cool at 17. My friend and I were moshing away (not a hardcore mosh, just a little bit of banging around) and otherwise right up front the whole time. I was excited when they rolled the marimba out – I was like, OH! Grey Matter!

    They kinda got some mainstream success for a moment, but to me, their best stuff was all before that, up to Good For Your Soul.

    Also, in the earliest stuff (I forget if the song was on the first EP, or the first LP) you can totally hear the type of music that would later be The Simpson’s theme song.

  127. 127.

    SpaceUnit

    @BigJimSlade:

    Cool.

    It seems that Echo and the Bunnymen have gotten back together.  I watched a fairly recent concert on YouTube and it was pretty damn good.

  129. 129.

    CWV

    Ginger Baker’s 2014 album titled Why ?. This was his last album before he went and died. It has Baker on drums, PeeWee Ellis plays sax , Alec Dankworth on bass and percussionist Abass Dooboo. It’s labeled under the jazz genre , but it digs into some type of sub strata below that. I don’t have any deep dives for liking this so much other than that it’s just so damn good.

  130. 130.

    Steve Stuart Stonestacker

    I LOVE listening to Bach or mostly any of the baroque composers while I’m mucking the horse pens.

  132. 132.

    WaterGirl

    @Ol’ Nat: Thanks clarifying!  I try really hard to not make my posts too long, because here on BJ, eyes glaze over when there’s too much text.

    So I was wondering if maybe i needed to improve my efforts relative to posts being “not too long”.

  134. 134.

    WaterGirl

    @Ol’ Nat: I didn’t think to say this yesterday because I hadn’t noticed the apostrophe in your gym.

    WordPress throws every single comment in moderation if the person has an apostrophe in their nym.

    Click the link below to find out how to change your apostrophe to something that LOOKS LIKE an apostrophe, but is different enough that WordPress has no problem with it.

    Fix Nyms with Apostrophes

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