We’re going to the new exhibit at the Victoria and Albert East called The Music is Black: A British Story. It looks really great. I wish there was a good pre-read or “learn about the subject ahead of your visit”, but they’re just getting opened.
This video provides a great overview:
If you’re sad that Pinegrove is no longer producing music, you can try listening to Jack M Senff. Quiet, thoughtful, gentle but also a big heart.
I’m always in search of good playlists and albums to listen to while doing work or writing. This site is a superb resource.
Datassette presents a series of mixes intended for listening while programming to focus the brain and inspire the mind (also compatible with other activities).
Source: musicForProgramming();
Nick Cave’s work answering questions from readers will be, in the future, as esteemed as his songwriting.
This answer to the question “why are we here” is beautiful and one I’ll come back to again and again.
“Personally, I do my best to move through life with a joy that is reconciled to the sorrow of things but is not subsumed by it, that apprehends darkness and is not afraid of it. I try to receive some form of salvation in this life by paying witness to, and being lifted by, the great, uncontested value of existence. I feel duty-bound to unearth, enhance and promote the world’s beautiful things rather than obsess, worry and agitate over the worst of things. I believe in creation over destruction, compassion over cynicism, mercy over vitriol, friendship over hostility, truth over lies and love over hate. I remind myself that, at this moment, I am here as a happy and humble participant in the complex and relational nature of the universe – a person who loves life but draws the line at bathing with strangers in pineapple jelly.
While 2020 was sort of a disaster in so many ways, there was great music to listen to.
Also fun, but not from 2020:
St. Cloud by Waxahatchie is such a great record. Beautiful songs, bold performances, and the sound is amazing.
Due to a random Facebook post, i went deep, deep into a Cracker and Camper Van Beethoven hole. I’ve been listening to most of the older Camper records that i’ve loved for years and “discovering” the more recent Camper releases. The earlier stuff was both dumber and better than i remembered and i LOVED them at the time. But the more recent records are just great recordings. The songwriting is still distinctive, literate, funny and novelistic. They’re even better players now, balancing good, tasteful restraint with just enough showiness.
I kind of stopped listening to Cracker after Kerosene Hat for some reason, so i’m going through the Cracker catalog now and really enjoying getting to know the songs. New to me.
Lowery is one of my favorite writers. He’s way more than a musician; i keep hoping he’s going to turn to novellas, short stories or an autobiography.
I really enjoyed this three hour (!) podcast with two writers from the National Review (!). And the 300Songs.com site is new to me, but you can find a travelogue of sorts masquerading as blog telling the backstory of the Camper Songs.
Such a great idea. Kind of gimmicky, but still a good way to make an artistic statement via tech.
The app works by using Google Maps to identify areas that are forests (those that are shaded a specific green on the mapping system). Then, the coordinates are sent from your phone and that is what allows you to access the album. By releasing an album in such a way the band is offering listeners a unique and multi-sensory experience of their music whilst also encouraging people to go out and spend time in nature.
via A Music Album You Can Only Listen To In A Forest — Pop-Up City.
Runnin’ With The Songsmith | MeFi Music. For more background, check out this and this.
Microsoft Research Songsmith. imagine the parody possibilities. Was this part of the plan?