A Bloy and his Blog

What is it about the music of your youth that makes it the best you’ve ever heard? Is it because when you hear the soundtrack of those years it floods your brain with memories (most people look back quite fondly on those times). For me it was my early twenties. I think that’s when I did the most “growing up” and considered myself an adult.

The other day in a used record store, I discovered a CD from my favorite local Milwaukee band from that time (the early 1980’s), Those X-Cleavers. When I got it home and popped it into the CD player, I couldn’t believe how good it sounded. If I close my eyes when it’s playing, I’m at those old hangouts with all of my friends from that time. It almost makes me wish I could time travel. The music of Those X-Cleavers has a new wave / punk feel to it. The compact disc I bought includes two albums: Those X-Cleavers, The Waiting Game and also a few bonus singles from that time. I don’t think it’s available new anymore (no, I won’t sell mine) but if you can find this CD, you too can hear such excellent songs as Silence The Critics, 18 (And Unprotected), Skip A Beat, Nice Legs (Shame About The Face) and Do The Confusion.

Summerfest is over and I ended up going five times this year. I must admit I thought the musical line-up was a little weaker compared to years past. Some of those same old acts are definitely due for a break next year. Seeing a group like the BoDeans headline the main stage year after year is getting a bit stale. On the other hand I did see (and hear) some great concerts. My favorites this year (starting with the best) were Guided by Voices, Midnight Oil, Femi Kuti, Train, Third World, Yellowman and R&B group Christopher’s Project. How’s that for en eclectic group? Oh, and in case you’re interested, just 352 days until Summerfest 2003.

Yesterday was day two for me at the biggest music festival in the United States, Summerfest. What an excellent place to hear live music, eat great food, have a beer or two and people watch. Summerfest is yet another reason that I feel lucky to live where I do (which is about 10 miles from the grounds). I’ve been there for two days and I’ve already seen five excellent bands, the best being Guided By Voices — what a great live band. Looking at the schedule this year my favorite band name is “Reverend Raven and the Chain Smoking Altar Boys.” Sadly (or maybe fortunately, I don’t know what they sound like) I did not see their show.

Yesterday I bought a new CD by one of the best singer / songwriters around, Neil Finn. He writes intelligent lyrics, beautiful pop melodies and he can also rock out a bit. The new CD, One All is his second solo album. Listening to music has always done a lot for my psyche and my sanity. Since Neil’s early days with Split Enz and later with Crowded House, his music has always been a big part of my “sanity maintenance collection.” It’s amazing to me that an artist of his caliper doesn’t seem to get the recognition he deserves, a least here in the United States. Hopefully he does better in his native country of New Zealand.

Today’s entry comes to you courtesy of the band Cracker. They’ve always been a band with a great sense of humor and their new CD, Forever has plenty of examples of that. On that disc I heard my favorite lyric of the year so far:

You are so beautiful,
you should be guarded by monkeys.

 

I’ll just let you sit back and contemplate that for a while.

I’ve discovered that as I get older I have some seasonal rituals which I always do. Okay, the word ritual might be a little strong, maybe I should call them traditions. Anyway, today I performed one of my Spring rituals. Usually on one of the first warmer, sunny days of spring, I head out the door for a long vigorous walk with my walkman attached to my belt and the headphones in my ears. The CD I always end up listening to on this first walk of Spring is African Shadow Man by Johnny Clegg and Savuuka. It’s a definitely an album to listen to in the springtime with its blending of African and Western pop music styles. In my mind, it’s not Spring until I listen to that as I breathe in the fresh air and walk along the parkway with the sun on my back.

There’s a lot of good music that comes from the continent of Africa. The shame of it is, you never hear it on commercial radio stations here in the United States (thank heaven for public radio). Lately I’ve been listening to an excellent afro-pop album. Pirate’s Choice is a disc that came from a 1982 recording session when the group Orchestra Baobab was at their peak. It’s just been reissued with a second disc of bonus material from the recording session (which is every bit as good as the material on the first disc). The music itself has a very laid back tone to it — not what I first expect when I think of this type of music. You can also hear the heavy influence of Latin and Cuban music on the band. Just the thing to help you think of summer in the middle of February.