music

Hello Again Gretchen, Hello Cruel World

Feb 112012

haven’t done as well as I thought I would
I’m not dead but I’m damaged goods
And it’s gettin’ late
I’m a rusty hinge, a squeaky wheel
at the bad end of a shaky deal
cursed by the hand of fate
and ooooooh – I’m a very lucky girl
yeah ooooooh – hello cruel world

Hello Cruel World
by Gretchen Peters

It’s amazing to me how a song lyric can capture ones feeling better than one is able to express it.

I love this title track from Gretchen Peters new album. It’s a breath of hope and an admission that despite the hardships that life might deal, she is facing it on her own terms. This album feels like a continuation, or the next chapter after her 2007 album Burnt Toast & Offerings, which is also a fantastic album.

Woman On The Wheel is another song on this album not to miss. I won’t spoil the punchline for you by posting it here. You will have to go listen to it yourself.

Other favorite songs from this album: Saint Francis, The Matador, Dark Angel, Paradise Found…okay, I pretty much like them all. Another thing I like about Gretchen’s song are that they can be listened to on a deep level. There is plenty their to consume and process. But the songs are also wonderful as background music, when you just need something going in your ears. My only regret is that I can’t buy this album on vinyl.

Gretchen, allmusic.com lists you as a country singer. I would never call myself a “Country Western” fan. But if what you sing is country then, almost thou persuadest me to like country. Regardless…welcome back to my iPod. Hello again Gretchen.

Going Home…Hopfully Not Soon

music No Responses »

Feb 032012

Old Ideas Going home without my sorrow,
Going home sometime tomorrow,
To where it’s better than before.
Going home without my burden,
Going home behind the curtain,
Going home without the costume that I wore.
-from Going Home by Leonard Cohen

I listened to Leonard Cohen‘s new Album, Old Ideas, in it’s entirety while walking my dog the other night. I was blown away, and came away with an incredible peaceful feeling.

Cohen has only gotten better with age. His voice is deeper and more pure than I have ever heard it. At age 77, he is a world treasure. And so, it’s obvious from this album that he sees that his time left here is limited.

My daily realization is that my time is limited too. The day you understand in your gut that some odd 4 score of years is not very long is a day you will always remember. Many of us will not even make it that far.

I ordered the LP of this album from Amazon. I was hoping that it came with digital downloads like many LP’s come with today. I was pleased to find that it came with the CD, for times when I am on the go. But the truth is that there is nothing like listening to music coming from a vinyl record. I can’t explain why, but I notice things I don’t notice while playing CD’s or listening to iTunes. Not to mention my love for album cover art. So when I really want to immerse myself in music, I put on an LP, put on my headphone and sink in deep.

My only complaint is that I am a slightly disappointed in the LP pressing. It’s slightly warped. I expected more for this 180g ‘audiophile’ pressing. It’s not bad enough to cause any problems…just disappointing.

The song Anyhow is perhaps my second favorite song on the album, after Going Home. I can’t get over how Cohen can weave words. I love all the song. The remaining 8 songs all tie for a close third place.

Whether these songs are Old Ideas or new thoughts, this album sure feels as comfortable as Going Home.

Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson

reading, technology No Responses »

Dec 062011

“Did you hear that Steve Jobs died?” read the text from my brother. I was at dinner with my family and the news hit me harder than I expected that it would. I knew that his health was not good, but I was holding out hope that it would turn around.

I picked up his book about the first of November. It took me a while to read it, there was a lot to process. For me, it’s not just a quick read like many books I consume. I had to take it in digestible doses.

In July 2011 Jobs told Walter Isaacson, His biographer:

“I know there will be a lot in your book I won’t like.” It was more a question than a statement, and when he stared at me for a response, I nodded, smiled and said I was sure that would be true. “That’s good,” he said.

Jobs had aspects of his personality that most would consider character flaws. I’m not sure I would characterize them that way. Personalities are complex things, and who is to say that the genius that was Steve Jobs would have been completely broken without those very “flaws”.

He is among the short list of people I truly admire. Why? The answer might surprise you. He was an enigma. He espoused Zen living, but created commercial products that’s people found hard to live without. He cared little for money, but was as shrewd of a business man as has ever lived. He was frequently callous but could just as easily break down in tears.

For a billionaire, he was unassuming. He had no security detail. He even kept the back door unlocked during the day. And while he was never able to live with the calm spirit and mind that his Zen beliefs taught, they were engendered in the products he envisioned and lead his companies to produce.

Steve, the world misses you. Now please go and make the afterlife more user friendly.

Day 93 – Big Wheels

365 No Responses »

Jan 142010

Taken with iPhone Camera. Edited with Cinema FX, Photogene and PhotoStudio.

I’ve been thinking it over
So many times they say
You got it made
They never understand
The answer lies within your soul
‘Cos no one know which side
The coin will fall.
-Jeff Lynne

Yes, those are real album covers overlayed with an Electric storm. The problem was the glare from the Light overhead. So between using a few people and light modifying instruments, there was a virtual Orchestra of people helping to modify the glare from the overhead lights.