This is the urgency: Live!
And have your blooming in the noise of the whirlwind.

                                                               Gwendolyn Brooks    

Say What? [] 12:29:14 PM  Permalink  

Willie Nelson: "Crazy: The Demo Sessions". A collection of early '60s recordings by the Red-Headed Stranger shows a chiseled young man with a sweet, sweet voice. [Salon.com]

Classic stuff. Great.

Say What? [] 12:00:11 AM  Permalink  

The haunting genius of the queen of the blues

Heartfelt, well written piece on one man's love for the music of Nina Simone.

Say What? [] 6:30:43 PM  Permalink  

I've just posted a link to Weblog Central on MSNBC. This site is a tremendous resource for news and all kinds of information in weblog format.

I've also cleaned up my Wishlist page by deleting items that I now have from the older sections.

Say What? [] 10:59:47 PM  Permalink  

The Tulia Story Isn't Over. The activities of Thomas Coleman, the indicted ex-cop, should be thoroughly investigated, and his superiors should be investigated as well. By Bob Herbert. [New York Times: Opinion]

thanks to mr. herbert  for staying on this outrageous case.

Say What? [] 10:58:26 AM  Permalink  

cyberwar! on PBS tonight. [bOing bOing]

looks interesting

Say What? [] 1:55:15 PM  Permalink  

Earl King, New Orleans Bluesman, Dies at 69

The King of New Orleans

Say What? [] 8:33:39 PM  Permalink  

Nina Simone, Jazz Singer, Dies. Nina Simone's raspy, forceful voice helped define the civil rights movement. She was 70. By The Associated Press. [New York Times: Arts]
Say What? [] 8:26:08 PM  Permalink  

The Cash Family Singers Finally Record Together. Rosanne Cash found that singing about her father's sickness was easier than talking about it. By Anthony Decurtis. [New York Times: Arts]

When it comes to comparing the kind of singer-songwriter's I love, I never isolate the women from the men. That would be ridiculous. But it just worked out that the new Lucinda Williams album, "World Without Tears", and the new Rosanne Cash album, "Rules of Travel", came out about the same time. They've ended up in my CD player at the same time, and the comparison is inevitable.

They are both excellent and I listen to them both, but it's "Rules of Travel" that I return to again and again. And the duet between her and her father that this article mentions, "September When It Comes", is very special and deeply touching beyond anything you are likely to hear any time soon.

Say What? [] 2:35:40 PM  Permalink  

A Mighty Wind.

A Mighty Wind is a must-see, the funniest movie I've seen in a long time, probably since Best in Show. Full of big belly laughs (there are scenes that nearly had me in tears) and pieces, it's also brilliant at the detail level. The performances are just fantastic, contagious all around. But if Chatherine O'Hara and Eugene Levy don't get nominated for Academy Awards, something's wrong. They both create characters that are both extremely funny, but at the same time they're real, sympathetic people and are very moving. The backstories of the characters are nearly letter-perfect. I can't recommend this movie too highly.

(Mike, maybe we can catch a matinee this week; I'll be glad to see it again.)  [Steve's No Direction Home Page]

You're on!

Say What? [] 1:10:25 PM  Permalink  

Ripped on the rocks

 

 

Ripped on The Rocks  (circa '83 - '84)

 

Say What? [] 12:33:39 PM  Permalink  

Stream the new album by Daniel Lanois - “Shine”

 Available on his record label's site until it's released on April 22nd. Read the track list and in-depth info from the artist here.

Say What? [] 6:11:40 PM  Permalink  

If you don't own this stuff you're probably a terrorist.

If you're like me, you've probably received mountains of disgusting patriotic spam over the last couple weeks. In this piece, Slate rates it. And on this site is a great parody of the lengths they're going to.[Steve's No Direction Home Page]

This is an absolute riot! Don't miss it.

Say What? [] 1:15:16 PM  Permalink  

For a war that wasn't about oil...
I imagine the planners in Washington consider the looting that has wrecked Iraqi cultural edifices, including the legendary National Museum of Antiquities in Baghdad, in the wake of the U.S. "liberation" to be so much minor "collateral damage" -- eggs that have to be broken to make the omelette, that sort of thing. "Regrettable," you know. "Can we move on to the next question?"

But I can't help thinking about this: While U.S. forces were unable to protect museums in Baghdad (or Mosul, as Salon's Phillip Robertson reported) from looting crowds destroying millennia-old artifacts, it seemed to have plenty of troops available to protect the Iraqi oil ministry in Baghdad. (See this picture.) And of course seizing and protecting the oil fields in both southern and northern Iraq was not beyond the capacity of our forces. Priorities are priorities!

The Washington Post had a good piece Sunday on all this. [Scott Rosenberg's Links & Comment]

Say What? [] 9:25:09 AM  Permalink  

Reagan blasts Bush. "My father crapped bigger ones than George Bush," says the former president's son, in a flame-throwing conversation about the war and the Bush administration's efforts to lay claim to the Reagan legacy. [Salon.com]

Tell it like it is.

Say What? [] 10:20:58 PM  Permalink  

Out From the Shadows, in the Name of Motown. The Funk Brothers, the surviving members of the Motown Records studio band from 1965 to 1972, moved into the spotlight for a concert Friday night. By Jon Pareles. [New York Times: Arts]

Hey Ev, how was the show?

Say What? [] 10:19:25 PM  Permalink  

'A Mighty Wind': 'Spinal Tap' for Folkies?. Christopher Guest's "A Mighty Wind" is a fictional documentary about a colorful entertainment subculture that, in the real world, approaches self-parody. By David Hajdu. [New York Times: Arts]

They did Letterman. It's a riot! I love it.

Say What? [] 12:32:50 AM  Permalink  

Annie Lennox's Bittersweet Dreams. Her last breakup album sold seven million copies worldwide. All heartbreak and self-doubt should be so productive. By Jon Pareles. [New York Times: Arts]

i'm looking forward to this.

Say What? [] 12:30:14 AM  Permalink  

Jack Kerouac's Haiku. Jack Kerouac, the poet of inordinate prose, was also a master of haiku, and a master, as always, at deformalizing the formalities of any genre. [New York Times: Opinion]
Say What? [] 12:06:49 AM  Permalink  

Going South - Lucinda Williams gets the best of us on World Without Tears

I don't agree with everything this Boston Phoenix reviewer has to say. He especially misses the boat with his comments on "Essence." Overall, however, this is an excellent, in depth article that is worth a read.

Say What? [] 11:18:42 AM  Permalink  

What To Expect In PHP 5.0. Ben Shepherd has written a good article that gives a sneak peak at the next version of PHP. It also has a pretty good summary of the history of PHP.... [patrickv] [Lockergnome's Bits and Bytes]

For Steve.

Say What? [] 12:01:12 PM  Permalink  

Babatunde Olatunji, Nigerian Drummer, Dies at 76

First Mongo, now this.

It's starting to look like if you are not pounding the Drums of War, the gig is up. Where is the passion? Where is the love?

Watch out Petruso. 

Say What? [] 10:18:09 AM  Permalink  

Dissonant Thoughts on the Music Pulitzers. John Adams, who won a Pulitzer on Monday, said the music award has "lost much of the prestige it still carries in other fields like literature and journalism." By Anne Midgette. [New York Times: Arts]

Say What? [] 2:21:14 PM  Permalink  

Roseanne Cash interview in Salon

Rosanne Cash talks about her ailing dad, the Dixie Chicks and the war, losing her voice and the new album that helped her find it again.

This is a nice follow-up to what I said about "Rules of Travel" the other day. 

Say What? [] 11:48:55 AM  Permalink  

The Reason Why

Is intelligent dissent at this point moot? I don't think so. Here is an excellent essay by a now 80-year-old George McGovern in a recent edition of The Nation. A quote:

Following the 9/11 tragedy at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, the entire world was united in sympathy and support for America. But thanks to the arrogant unilateralism, the bullying and the clumsy, unimaginative diplomacy of Washington, Bush converted a world of support into a world united against us, with the exception of Tony Blair and one or two others.

Say What? [] 12:55:40 AM  Permalink  

New Spring Wishlist

I've just posted a new wishlist. From this date forward, anything you buy on Amazon from a specific link on my site, or a click on the Amazon logo, will result in me earning a few pennies. You will notice that this list is smaller than previous ones, and although I no doubt will be adding an item here and there, I'm going to be very particular. Enjoy.

Say What? [] 6:17:23 PM  Permalink  

Music Tips

One of the best concert experiences you can have in the Bay Area is a summer night show at the Greek Theater in Berkeley. It was about 10 years ago and Lyle Lovett and his Large Band were scheduled to hit at eight. If you've never seen Lyle, let me tell you -- he's tremendous, and funny as hell. But even though I was really looking forward to the show, it wasn't Lyle that I was excited about. It was his opening act, Rosanne Cash, who has been one of my favorite singer/songwriters since the excellent "King's Record Shop", almost 15 years ago.

Anyway, you can be sure that we got to the Greek way early. So imagine how confused and pissed off I was when I walked in to the sounds of live music. Because of complaints from neighbors in the hills surrounding the theater, the show had been moved back an hour to seven. Apparently it had been announced on the radio, but it sure as shit was news to me. As a result, we only got to hear the last two or three songs from her set -- but man, I'll never forget it. She and her band, led by husband/producer/guitarist John Leventhal, was outstanding. I've always regretted missing Roseanne that night, the only time I've ever had the chance to hear her live.

Now, after a seven-year absence during which she became a mother and struggled to recover from severe vocal cord polyps, Cash has just released a fantastic new album - "Rules of Travel."

If you've never listened to Roseanne Cash before, this is an excellent introduction. It has my highest recommendation. Then go back to the above-mentioned "Kings Record Shop" and follow that with "Interiors." Then come see me and I tell you where to go from there. You will not be sorry.

---------------------

Moving right along, I've spent a lot of time over the last few weeks with Lucinda William's "World Without Tears" (due in stores April 8) and it's one of her best yet. Here is today's review in the Sunday New York Times.

---------------------

Other albums that fill my CD player these days are:

* The Allman Brothers Band - "Hittin' The Note" Kicks ass!

Gregg Allman describes "Hittin' the Note" as "the best album we've made since Eat a Peach.”

* Wynton Marsalis - "All Rise"

* Wayne Shorter - "Alegria"

* Kelly Joe Phelps - "Slingshot Professionals"

* Chris Whitley - "Hotel Vast Horizon"

Say What? [] 11:08:56 PM  Permalink  

Edwin Starr, Soul Singer, Dies at 61. Edwin Starr, a Nashville-born soul singer, was best known for his 1970 hit "War," which denounced conflict as good for "absolutely nothing." By Reuters. [New York Times: Arts]

It had to be now, of all times. The word "ironic" doesn't begin to cover it.

Say What? [] 2:16:00 PM  Permalink  

Found poetry from Rumsfeld's speeches [bOing bOing]

Ha! Too much man. Be sure to click through to Slate.

 

Say What? [] 2:12:10 PM  Permalink