Say what you will about the music of Mr. Springsteen but I am always stunned by his ability to speak so eloquently about his art, music and mythic writing (that captures his american life so perfectly and profoundly). He is our great observer and this HBO documentary sums up so beautifully why he is one of our national treasures. Listen to a true master explain how he made his great double album, The River.
One of the things most overlooked is his pinpoint writings on love.
Joni Mitchell has taken ill this past week and since most only know her for her 1960’s folk tunes lets remember her for her fitting exploration of mortality and love in her now recognized masterpiece Hejira. Given her mind, music and ethereal beauty she is possibly one of the most mesmerizing yet original artists of this age, moving from folk to jazz with effortless grace; Something few have done – or will ever achieve.
She is a true Artist of uncompromising artistic achievements.
“We all come and go unknown Each so deep and superficial Between the forceps and the stone
Well I looked at the granite markers Those tribute to finality to eternity And then I looked at myself here Chicken scratching for my immortality In the church they light the candles And the wax rolls down like tears”…
Hejira
I’m traveling in some vehicle I’m sitting in some cafe A defector from the petty wars That shell shock love away There’s comfort in melancholy When there’s no need to explain It’s just as natural as the weather In this moody sky today In our possessive coupling So much could not be expressed So now I’m returning to myself These things that you and I suppressed I see something of myself in everyone Just at this moment of the world As snow gathers like bolts of lace Waltzing on a ballroom girl
You know it never has been easy Whether you do or you do not resign Whether you travel the breadth of extremities Or stick to some straighter line Now here’s a man and a woman sitting on a rock They’re either going to thaw out or freeze Listen Strains of Benny Goodman * Coming through the snow and the pinewood trees I’m porous with travel fever But you know I’m so glad to be on my own Still somehow the slightest touch of a stranger Can set up trembling in my bones * I know no one’s going to show me everything We all come and go unknown Each so deep and superficial Between the forceps and the stone
Well I looked at the granite markers Those tribute to finality to eternity And then I looked at myself here Chicken scratching for my immortality In the church they light the candles And the wax rolls down like tears There’s the hope and the hopelessness I’ve witnessed thirty years We’re only particles of change I know I know Orbiting around the sun But how can I have that point of view When I’m always bound and tied to someone White flags of winter chimneys Waving truce against the moon In the mirrors of a modern bank From the window of a hotel room
I’m traveling in some vehicle I’m sitting in some cafe A defector from the petty wars Until love sucks me back that way
Well its only been 7 years but Modest Mouse is giving us a new great song titled Lampshade on Fire and an album on the March 17th it looks like. A few other singles have been released on ITunes as I look today – which is a bit odd but hey we are talking about Modest Mouse here and they follow no rules but their own! Included below is the amazing 2004 video of Float On (from the last time we heard from them)…
One of my rules on this blog is all music must be live. Listening to this Chet Faker live version of No Diggity is a revelation and more proof how a record company can mess with your music and market what they think is the right version. Well folks in my opinion the radio version can’t come close to this…
If there was any artist who makes me think (musically) of a young David Byrne it’s this girl Merrill Garbus who is more musically talented than any human should be allowed to be…
