Improving Upon Perfection, Part Two: Brian Wilson and Danny Gatton
Sean MurphyOne of the best ballads ever? No question. Brian Wilson, whom one can never say enough about, evinced such astonishing growth in such a short period of time, only The…
Improving Upon Perfection, Part One: Curtis Mayfield and Junior Murvin
First, the sweet, angelic genius of Curtis Mayfield. (Sidenote: if you've lived this long without getting a proper exposure to Curtis, remedy that as soon as possible. Virtually everything the…
Paul McCartney and Lee “Scratch” Perry
It was 33 years ago today... They almost put Macca away! Do you remember what a huge thing this was at the time? This, of course, was not Paul's first…
Julian Priester: Help Him, Help Yourself
Needless to say, if I had my way jazz musicians would be famous, well-paid and appreciated. This is not a selfish desire: I would make no money in the venture,…
Les Claypool & Co: The Power of Music
I will go ahead and answer my own question (posed the other month, HERE). Based on the footage I've seen (never caught him in real time, in person, alas) Les…
File Under: Man’s Inhumanity to Man (Revisited)
This hurts my heart and devastates my soul. It makes me furious and leaves me deeply distressed. And with a helplessness that at once causes me to question my belief…
Q & A* (Revisited)
Question: What would you do differently? Answer: Nothing. True answer: Everything. Truest answer: I don’t know. *** If the death of a loved one provides the ultimate answer it also…
Finding Grace in Beautiful Places (Revisited)
In a piece I recommend you reading @ the reliably awesome Rumpus, writer Amber Sparks, a non-believer, discusses matters of faith, spirituality and art (check it here). The piece is…
The Bittersweet Science, Part One (Revisited)
It probably says something about evolution that the younger generations see the future as expansive, malleable and positive while the older generations eventually—and inexorably—see the past as safer, simpler and…
2012: When Rhetoric Meets Reality (Revisited)
I read the news today. Oh boy. Looks like one of the worst-kept secrets in the industry is beginning to spring a rather unseemly leak. Sounds like art may have…