Random Ruminations: Music

Thirteen Crosses

Posted Tue Sep 30, 2008 in Music

One of my current favorite listens is Cry Cry Cry comprising Richard Shindell, Dar Williams, and Lucy Kaplansky, all folk singers in their own right. I don’t remember now how I came across this project. But, I know that a number of the songs are excellent. One of the best on the recording is “Cold Missouri Waters,” written by James Keelaghan.

I might have to go find some of his work. I’m always on the lookout, so to speak, for new music.

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Too Busy

Posted Fri Sep 12, 2008 in Music

I’ve been much too busy to write the last few days. However, I’ll share a bit of music that came across my virtual desk this morning.

Leo Kottke

Posted Fri Sep 5, 2008 in Music

Leo Kottke is one of those rare finds of mine from many years ago. I’ve written about him before. He’s an American singer-songwriter, but his real fame is in his guitar playing. He’s an amazing player and has talent for both generating material and arranging songs.

I’m listening to Standing in My Shoes as I write. I’ve been listening to my Kottke collection all day (as I work). He was a real find.

As an aside, I see that Amazon has some of his music available for download. They use a 256Kb/s-rate MP3. I usually buy CDs, then convert to 256Kb/s-rate AAC, but much of my older collection is in 256Kb/s-rate VBR MP3 format. While it’s not archival quality, it’s certainly good enough for listening in the equipment I own. My ears aren’t good enough to tell the difference at that rate.

So, I could purchase MP3s from Amazon if I found something I like and have an alternative to the iTunes Music Store. That’s cool. I like options.

P.S. OK, now I’ve done it. While snagging an image for the essay, I stumbled on a copy of Chewing Pine that I had to order. That was my first Leo Kottke recording, purchased on vinyl, more than thirty years ago.

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New Music

Posted Sat Aug 30, 2008 in Music

I picked up the mail on my way home from work yesterday (early… Yay!). There was a box in the parcel pick-up. I wondered what it was.

I opened the parcel when I arrived home and was surprised to find a pile of CDs inside. Oh yeah! I forgot I ordered some discs as well as downloaded some music from iTunes. What a treat!

I popped the shrink wrap (SecondSpin wraps their used discs too.) and popped the first disc (Bayshore Road) into the drive and began the ripping process. When the first disc finished, I started playing it. I heard D’Agostino play in Minden last summer and he was very good. The recording does him justice and I’m looking forward to picking a few more of his recordings.

It is nice to have new music. My collection seems a little stale of late, so it’s time to freshen it a bit.

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New Music

Posted Tue Jul 29, 2008 in Music

While we were in Denver last week we stopped by the Secondspin store. I’ve been buying used music from them for years. But I never darkened the doorway of one of the bricks-and-mortar stores. That is, I hadn’t until last week.

It was huge. I was overloaded by the number of choices available. I picked at a few things, but no longer keep a list of things I’m looking for. So, I had no idea what to buy.

Fortunately, Wife, Young Son, Older Son, and DiL have no such problems. So, they found plenty. Wife picked up Eric Clapton’s Journeyman from somewhere. I know it was on my list at one time. I found a copy of a Dan Gibson Solitudes recording. I use those to help relax sometimes.

New music, even if it’s old, is good. My collection could use a little freshening. It’s been a little stale of late, although I have a lot of great music. We listened to a lot of tracks on the way home. I found a few I’d forgotten I had and that’s really cool. The Pink Floyd sounded as fresh as when they made it.

Clapton, though, is classic material. Old Slow Hand still rocks.

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Dog Food

Posted Fri Mar 21, 2008 in Music

I don’t know if it’s true or not, but the embedded video is purportedly by Tom Waits — an odd, eclectic musician who’s quite fascinating. Enjoy.

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Movies and Music

Posted Sun Jan 13, 2008 in Music

When this posts, I’ll be en route to DC for a set of meetings. It’s been an interesting week, all right. But, I spent some time on myself this weekend, watching a few movies and messing around. This album found its way to my iPod for the trip. Wife bought this recording would be good for me because my taste is so eclectic. (She’s pretty proud of herself too.)

It’s good. I’m listening to it as I write this Saturday evening. I’ll pack in a few minutes, which won’t be hard, and hit the rack fairly early. The aircraft leaves RNO at 0730, so I’ll have to be on the road north by 0530. I’ll listen to this on the way and probably write some as well. I still have to throw together a presentation for Monday afternoon, but I’ll get it done. It’s only a twenty-minute talk and I could probably wing this one. It’s familiar material. But, I won’t.

I had four movies from Netflix and watched them all over the last couple of days. I need to revisit my queue and reorder it. Lady in the Water was panned by the critics, as I recall. But, I ordered a copy anyway because what do the critics know? I was pleasantly surprised, as I often am by Shyamalan’s films. The movie is deeply emotional, even if it is a fairy tale. He has a knowledge of the human emotional condition that is amazing and is able to construct stories that work at a deep emotional level.

Or, perhaps you have to be a raving romantic to get his material. I always find things there that surprise me — not in the horror sense, although he has a knack for the deeply horrifying as well. No, he manages to draw me in to his stories and reach me on a emotional level. It’s good and his stories remind me of good things.

I watched 20 Million Miles to Earth, which is a late 50’s SciFi movie. Harryhausen was a genius for special effects and it shows. While the movie is dated in many ways, and the cold-war references are too clear, it was still entertaining to watch.

It was a good day and I’m thankful for it. I pray for safe travels this week and hope to be home Thursday evening.

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