Nonesuch #99

Less than a week before Christmas and I just do not feel it. Not sure if it is because I am getting older or too much commercialism or for the first time in 4 years I will be alone. I mean, I will spend it with my parents but I got used to spending time with my ex-fiance's family. It was different than what I had done growing up. Not to say that what we do at my parents is not fun, it was just different. Christmas growing up now that I look back was really a lowkey affair. My Father being a minister would from time to time have service on Christmas but most times there was a service on Christmas Eve either at 7pm but occasionally it was held at 11pm. On those years, we would get home after midnight so technically Christmas was there and I would get to open 1 present, not of my choice, before I went to bed. But is was a wrapped gift all the same. It would be a cassette tape of a band I liked or even a cassingle! I would wake up first and go see what was under the tree. We had two trees, a Christmas tree with colored lights, colored glass ball ornament etc in my room and a Chrismon tree with white lights and ornaments symbolizing the life of Jesus, like crosses, stars, crowns, doves and so forth (see attached picture).

When I think of Christmas, I will always think of a Chrismon tree. Most churches my Dad served, had one as well. My Mom and Dad made the majority of our Chrismons before I was born. So, there were some presents under the tree in my room but the big gifts were under the Chrismon tree that was put up in the living room or den, depending on the house we lived in at the time. I was told that I could not even bother my parents about opening presents until the sun was good and up. It didnt take too long to open all the presents. Most were for me being an only child. I would always look for more to open and in some cases would open my Mom and Dad's presents for them. Afterwards or sometimes before opening presents, Dad would build a fire in the fireplace. Mom would start on breakfast. My Grandfather, her Father, insisted on having oysters for Christmas and that tradition continues. She would make fried oysters and oyster chowder that m'y parents would eat. I didnt like either growing up so she made pancakes and sausage or bacon for me. The rest of the day I would play with the stuff I got that year. One year, I wanted a Lone Ranger and Silver, his horse action figure set. One of the 12 inch tall ones, the same size as the Bionic Man. One of my friends had the Lone Ranger, Tonto, and I think some others like U.S. Grant and maybe Buffalo Bill. I really wanted the Lone Ranger and Silver.
Instead, I received Johnny West, his horse and his buggy. What a haul! But no, it was not what asked for, in fact it was MORE than I asked for and still I was dissapointed. I think I also got the big Lego set that year as well. I just remember how dissappointed I was and it bothers me to this day. So, after a bit, I played with Johnny West and that horse and that buggy until they all fell apart(over several years). I remember Johnny's arms coming off and I would put them back on. Johnny was an all brown(different shades) with brown accessories action figure. (see picture)

You know, not really sure where I was originally going with this post, sort of turned all nostalgic. I guess trying to recapture some of the "spirit" I see on TV, hear on the radio, hear others talk about, maybe once the tree is up...

Nonesuch# 98 Best Singles

In my last post I listed my favorite albums that I had listened to the list year. Now, are for the single songs that I have listened to over and over. I tried to not have overlap with artists from the Best Albums but sometimes a song will just stay with you.


3Style - Way U Move
Hip-Hop from Scotland. What more can I say?
With lyrics like:
"I'm Batman, I'm Living the nightlife" and the infectios chorus "all alone, you and me, we get so tipsy"(think I got that right)members G, KS, and Ally have under their belt a solid first outing.
3style


Athlete - Wires
From London, this 4 piece group releases their first single "Wires" from their second album, Tourist. In a style similar to some Stone Roses tracks(not from Second Coming), Coldplay, and Radiohead, singer Joel Pott wears his emotions on his sleave and doesn't give a damn. Nice intro to their music.
ATHLETE


Ben Folds - Bitches Ain' Shit
Who else could take a gangsta classic from Dr. Dre and turn it into a sympathetic spotlight on a man done wrong by the very objects that he want to impress with his lyrical madness, women.
"She found herself short, now she's taking me to court. That's some real conversation for your ass."
Ben Folds


Slim - Cortez and Pizarro
Slim, sometimes a one man acoustic/electric guitar act and sometimes a band, leeps out at you with the first track off his Interstate Medicine. With spanish guitar pickings surrounded by rocking bass and drum/percussion line, tells the story of the Conquistidors or as he says in the first lines, "Way way way way long time ago, before I was before I was born that's all I know....". Nice quitar work in the middle has kept me comg back for more this one.
Slim
Thanks to Accident Hash for introducing me to the music of Slim


Bright Eyes - When The President Talks to God
Take a listen, read the lyrics. Rinse, repeat.
Bright Eyes

Nonesuch #97 -- Best Albums 2005

Since it is the end of the year and everyone and their mother has a best of the year list, I decided that I too should jump on the bandwagon and let you folks know what I have enjoyed over this past year.

First of all, I claim 2005 Year of the iPod since I bought an iPod in 2005. I have had it since March. It has brought back music in my life so much. Not since my college years have a listened to such a variety of music. Now, just to get back into going to concerts. Music is a different experience when live. And that leads to my first band/music:

The Grateful Dead Download Series 1-8
Found exclusively on the Grateful Dead wesbite and at iTunes, the Grateful Dead have released so far 8 in a series that should continue. These are mostly previously unreleased shows from the prolific career of the Dead. These shows spanning from the early 70s into the 90s do not duplicate the ones found in the Dick's Picks and the From the Vault series. So, to pick these up is essential for any Deadheads to complete there "tape collections". Also, add Rare Cuts and Oddities, a collection of tunes from 1966 both studio and live that shows how things were at the beginning. Key songs: "I'm A King Bee" and "Caution".

Gorillaz - Demon Days
I didn't get into the Gorillaz the first time around. I wasn't sure what to make of a band that had cartoon images of the band members. I think I had heard their first single "Clint Eastwood" from their debut album but it didn't register with me. Now, Demon Days comes along and I listened to the album sampler from iTunes. The samples were nice and a few of the tunes I could not get out of my head. The next step was to get the full album. Very dark for the most of the album, things pick up with "Feel Good Inc (Album Crossfade) with its very catchy beat and its "feel good" lyric that pops out and grabs ya and does not let go. Other standouts are "Kids with Guns", "Dirty Harry" and "All Alone".

William Shatner - Has Been
What is a 74 year old doing singing rock and roll with such gusto and feeling? Who cares when the end result is "Has Been". Here we have a collection of tunes produced by Ben Folds where Mr. Shatner sings his heart out, lays everything he has on the line and has the listener wanting more. I for one am eager for his next release which cannot come to soon. Tracks to check out are "Together", "Has Been", "Real", oh forget it, check all of the tracks out and take a look inside the man who just will not go quiet.


Ben Folds - Songs for Silverman
I have been a Ben Folds fan since back in the days of Ben Folds Five. Having lived in Greensboro, NC for 10 years and having several Kevin Bacon-like connections to members in the band, everytime I hear one of their or his songs I am instantly back there in the mid to late 90s. Songs for Silverman gives us Ben Folds at his songwriting best and probably most personal to date. "Gracie" is the song dedicated to his daughter and "Jesusland" strikes a cord in anyone that has lived in a small town, where things are never as they seem. The standout track is the tribute to Elliott Smith, "Late".



Polphonic Spree - Together We Are Heavy
Another amazing find that goes back several years but just this year have I discovered the magic of this band and this album. I had listened to their music on their website but had not bought their cds. It is one of those things you wish you had done long before but you know that it came along at the right time. No sophmore slump whatsoever, Together We Are Heavy takes what Tim DeLaughter and company started on The Beginning Stages Of... and takes it to the next level. This album is an affirmation of life in all its forms, a continuation of DeLaughter's healing process from the drug overdose of his friend and Tripping Daisy bandmate Wes Berggren. Its choir-like harmonies and melodies form meditations for the listener. Standouts include: "Section 11: (A Long Day Continues/We Sound Amazed)", "Section 17 (Suitcase Calling)" and "Section 14 (Two Thousand Places)"


Sonic Youth - Sonic Nurse
With a return to an earlier Sonic Youth sound, Sonic Nurse seemingly picks up where Goo and 100% left off 15 years ago. With chords only Sonic Youth can get away with since they are the ones that started them in the first place, Sonic Nurse starts off with the Kim Gordon lyriced "Pattern Recognition" that harkens me back to 1990, to when alternative music was THE alternative to radio, not what is played on it. I am sure college radio stations rejoiced when they got their hands on this one. Listen now: "Pattern Recognition", "Paper Cup Exit" and "Dripping Dream"



Mike Doughty - Skittish/Rockity Roll
I was a big fan of Soul Coughing back in the day and for sometime now I wondered what had become of them. Then, while reading WWdN:In Exile, in the listening section I saw Mike Doughty and thought to myself, why does that name sound so familiar? After a quick google search, I had my answer to where Soul Coughing had gone. This double album of solo material produced by Doughty himself was where he saw Soul Coughing going but the other members did not so the split came. Skittish released in 2000 and Rockity Roll released in 2003 blend an acoustic sound with the poetic lyrics that Doughty is famous for from his Soul Coughing years. Tracks to check out now: "The Only Answer", "Real Love/Its Only Life", "Shunned+Falsified" and "Move On (Bloom Like The Sunlight in My Song)" (live). Thanks to Wil Wheaton dot net for the link to Mike Doughty.
This is my album/albums of 2005.

My next entry - Best Singles of 2005

Nonesuch #96 - Imagine

John Lennon
October 9, 1940 - December 8, 1980