Today while I drove home from work I saw the most beautiful sunset. The sun was just above the horizon and was shining with a gorgeous, golden-orange hue. It’s great to see the sun after I get out of work again. The worst part of winter for me is when my workday ends at 5pm and night has already brought its dark shadow upon the landscape. Seeing the sunset today reminded me that I made it through the darkest period of winter. Another month or two and I can start thinking about real important matters — like where to take my first camping trip of the year.
The Reverend returns
The other day I picked up an album that should have been included on my best music of 2003 list. Last year, Al Green reunited with his producer from his soul records of the 70’s to release a new CD. Consequently, I Can’t Stop sounds like a lost album from that time period (when some might say his music was at its zenith). Every song on the CD screams 70’s soul with the same beautiful voice Al had 30 years ago. My favorite tracks (so far) are the danceable “Million To One” and the bluesy, “My Problem Is You” where he demonstrates his masterful ability to use his voice to convey emotion. A most welcome comeback for the Reverend Al Green.
Musical risks
Buying an album just on the basis of a few reviews can be risky, especially when you’ve never heard any of the artist’s music before. I’ve definitely been burned in the past by doing this. Today taking that risk paid off for me when I put Talkie Walkie, the new release by the French duo, Air, into my CD player. Air’s blend of voices, electronic sounds, synths and guitars creates lush, psychedelic soundscapes which can be melancholic and playful at the same time. Perfect music to let you zone out and relax in the middle of the winter. Next time I listen to it, I’m getting out the headphones.
Sports, rock and roll
So it was about time for the evening news and I turned on the television. The first thing I saw was the Superbowl pregame show. Not a regular pregame show, but a hyped-up, rock and roll pregame show. At halftime there was another hyped-up, rock and roll show (and with the exposed breast incident, the hype continued long after the show was over).
A winter hike
I’ve come to realize that being outside in nature is very important for me and my psyche. This fact really becomes apparent to me in the middle of winter (when I’m not outside as much as I am in warmer weather).
Thanks to a nice blanket of snow that fell over the past few days, I was able to strap on my snowshoes today and hike around the Wehr Nature Center near my house. I wasn’t the only one taking advantage of the winter conditions. There were people cross country skiing, sledding, snow boarding and tobogganing. You might wonder how a person can enjoy the beauty of nature around you with all those people around? That’s the great thing about having snowshoes.
The Moon / Mars plan
I’ve been conflicted about President Bush’s proposal for establishing a base on the moon and a manned mission to Mars. My first reaction is I feel space exploration is something we should be doing. We humans can learn a lot from exploring the universe around us. The more we learn, the better off we will be. Just think of all the technological innovations we use everyday, which evolved from the work NASA did in the 1960s. I also feel that someday humans will be living on other worlds and in space. Perhaps that’s the best insurance for the disastrous asteroid strike that scientists say will inevitably occur on our planet.
Go Badgers!
In the dead of winter there can be times when you need something to get your heart pumping and lift your spirits. Yesterday, I was at the Kohl Center to see the Wisconsin Badgers defeat Michigan State, 77 to 64. When your team is playing well, the band is playing the old college fight song and an energetic crowd is screaming (like we were yesterday) it really gets your adrenaline going. Just thinking about it gets my heart beating a little faster. Over the past several decades the Spartans have dominated Wisconsin. Consequently, it was real sweet to watch the Badgers beat Michigan State for the third straight time in two years.
After the game, Dad and I were cheering Wisconsin on as the team left the floor. When Devon Harris approached (one of the best players in the country) we both reached over the rail and he jumped up and gave us high fives. That was sweet too. Great game Devon and Go Badgers!
Best music of 2003
The year is at an end and that means it’s time for me to list my favorite CDs of 2003.
Ryan Adams – Love Is Hell
The best non-album released this year. See my posting from December 14th for details.
Dido – Life For Rent
Dido has such a beautiful voice. Her captivating melodies and heartfelt lyrics fit that voice perfectly. I could develop a bit of a crush on Dido listening to this.
You get what you pay for
Complaints about taxes have certainly been a strong fixture in the news lately. After opening up my property tax bill (which arrived in the mail the other day) I thought I’m really getting a lot for my money. Parks, recreational trails, library services, fire protection, police protection, refuse pickup… the list goes on and on. I would much rather pay to have those services and facilities available to me than to live somewhere without them. What would it be like to live in an area without libraries, without a good park system, not to mention fire and police protection? Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes once said “Taxes are the price we pay for a civilized society.”
I for one would rather live in a civilized society than have a little more money in my pocket.
Ryan Adams, Love Is Hell
Ryan Adams’ latest CD, Love is Hell (actually a two part EP) is one of the best albums of this year. An excellent blend of subdued songs along with some rockers, Love is Hell was originally intended to be released as a full album. Instead Adams decided to release the unpolished, albeit more rock-friendly Rock n Roll and offer Love is Hell as a limited edition, two EP set. The reasoning behind this decision is beyond me.