Wednesday, October 01, 2003

Music


Well, the Broadway album worked well enough. It did a credible job of erasing the sound loop in my brain, but it just wasn't zippy enough to blast me out of my Wednesday ennui. I've decided to hop over to NPR's All Songs Considered and listen to their latest show while I continue to chip away at my pile 'o CDs. All Songs Considered is a pretty cool show, highlighting a wide variety of music. My only complaint is that Bob Boilen has the classic NPR public radio voice. Sure, it's dreamy enough, but it makes me sleepy. Complain, complain. That's all I do.

First band on the program? String Cheese Incident. Their blurb (library speak, dontcha know) says they were known as a "bluegrass jam band" but this album (Untying the Not) is a concept album with "dreamy, ethereal soundscapes." AIEEE. I'm already falling asleep. The music is ok, but I want the story on the name of the band. What kind of incident does one have with string cheese? It sounds slightly illegal and pornographic if you ask me. Inquiring minds want to know, but I'm too sleepy to do research today. Speaking of funny band names, I was pondering the question "What would Trading Spaces designers do with $100,000?" I asked the Google Oracle the cost of grave blankets (think Kia), but never found the answer. I did, however, find to my dismay, there is a band out there called Graveblankets. Bet their folks are proud. It's right up there with the band "Sparklehorse" that opened for REM in Detroit on Sunday. I wasn't there, but the report on "Sparklehorse" was Meh. All I can say is...TIMMY!

OK, next song on the NPR program. Emmylou Harris singing "Little Bird" on the album "Stumble into Grace". Hrm. Don't love it. I'm harsh, I know. Moving along.

Next song. Savoy Family Band. Cajun music. It's fun in a very yee-haw kind of way. This is stuff TinyTuna would kill to dance to at the Folk Festival. She loves herself the dance tent. Fun song though. Peppiest thing I've heard so far. My brain starts to wake up.

Next. Interesting. A CD by a guy named Joe Bussard who collects 78s. Please don't ask me what 78s are, or I'll feel really old. If you don't know, ask the oracle. He bought a box of 78s in Virginia for $10, and one of the discs is now reported to be worth $30,000. Good job, Joe. That's very antiques roadshow of you. PS -- He's not selling.

Last selection. A band called "Beulah" out of San Francisco. Billed as "progressive rock." I'm so out of the loop, I couldn't really define "progressive rock." Is it progressive as opposed to stagnant or regressive? Upon listening, I can say, well. It's not offensive. It doesn't make me do flips, but I'm not reaching for the mute button either. It earns a solid, ok.

Half hour left. The string cheese incident has left me curious and hungry. I'm going to see what I can do about that.

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