Wants, Needs, and Vivid Dreams

Obscure 70s Canadian Folk Groups

I stand to inherit a seriously MEGA record collection from my rents someday. As I was perusing the vinyls one day, my real cool Dad (by the way, I have found that most of the chicks I really vibe with are also members of the cool dads club. coincidence? I think not) suggested I check out this group I had never heard of before. As soon as the needle hit the groove (heh) I was locked into this trance-like state of musical euphoria. You know, where the music that's playing is not just background noise but it is commanding all of your attention and entreating you to listen and follow every heart-breaking measure.

Folk music, man. I know that in some incarnations it can become a little whiny, starry-eyed, overly-plaintive, etc. but it will seriously always have a special place in my heart.

This was the debut album from the folk-psych duo Alan Fraser and Daisy Debolt (seriously with a name like that what else do you do in life besides sing in a high, clear voice?) Put out on Columbia records in 1971, all of the tunes are original compositions, with the exception of their haunting cover of The Beatles "Don't Let Me Down." There is so much dissonance in these tunes that they break away from being blithe country songs. There is a real salt of the earth feel to the lyric content, as well as the transcendentally harmonious vocal delivery. This is the kind of music that can't be contrived or highly produced because it is just what pours out of some North American musicians who have lived simple and humble lives and grown up playing and listening to the very same homespun music. What strikes me most about this album, however, is the use of Ian Guenther's fiddle. As a classically trained violinist, I know it as an utterly melodic instrument. However, Guenther manages to turn his fiddle into a percussion instrument, lending a feeling that is unique from country or bluegrass fiddle because of the halting rhythm and meandering patterns he takes in his accompaniments. Seriously worth a listen.... here's the link to a direct download for all you pirates out there.

6 Degrees of Music Separation

Remember that "6 Degrees of Kevin Bacon" Game? Being a total music nerd, I thought it would be a fun challenge to try and connect two seemingly unrelated artists through their various endeavors in as few steps as possible. Ready? Ok.

Spice Girls to the Dead Milkmen in 5 Easy Steps!
1. Spice Girls starred in the movie SpiceWorld (how could we forget that cinematic gem?), which also featured Meatloaf as the unflappable bus driver.
2. Meatloaf sang on the Ted Nugent album Free For All
3. Ted Nugent frequently covers "Soul Man," a tune penned by Isaac Hayes, during his live performances.
4. Isaac Hayes wrote the original film score for the movie Shaft
5. The Dead Milkmen have, on their record Soul Rotation, a song called "Shaft in Greenland," (sample lyric: "The world's full of danger/You do what you can/You feel like a stranger/Like Shaft in Greenland")

and there you have it. This is fun. Please give me suggestions on artists to try and connect, and I'll keep on thinking about Herb Alpert's recorded instrumental hit "Rise," which was sampled in 1997 by Notorious BIG for his song "Hypnotize."

Joining the Tired, Huddled Masses

Deleted the FB account a month back cos it was getting too damn depressing. Was having major Holden Caulfield-phony-hating-syndrome every time I would cruise around and witness these embarrassing displays of people's personality adverts. Between these social networking sites and the cell phone texting era, I think we've just reduced our interactions to these inauthentic gasps and desperate displays. It's all so inarticulate and non-commital, and .... christ I'm sounding like a cranky senior citizen rambling on about the way they don't make things like they used to. Fuck that rant -- if you're as nihilistic as me I'm not saying anything new to you here.

Anyway, this is my attempt to have an internet presence again, because god knows if I'm not google-able I might as well not exist in this world. I love how "blogging" has become this completely legitimate form of journalism, and how in this day and age everyone is so exhibitionistic and willing to put their thoughts, interests and whatnot on public display ... because we think someone else might be interested? I guess as egotistical as it is, it's the same as making art -- one has to have a bit of ego going on to even feel that what one has to say is worth being heard. And now that the media is so democratized, everyone has the opportunity to be heard. The answer to the riddle has finally been answered -- regardless of whether anyone is listening, when the tree falls it does make a sound. Well here I am and I sure as hell have spent enough time logging hours as a voyeur myself, so it's about time I join this giant game of "look at me, look at me." So look at me and I don't really care if you don't like what you see. If it doesn't taste good, spit it out.

I do a lot of shit and have interests that run the gamut from 70s German cartoonists to all of my really cool and creative friends in New York City who are making moves and trying in some way to impact this vast cultural landscape. So that is what may be expected from Minnie Ma'am. Oh, by the way the origin of that name is that that is what I used to call my pacifiers when I was a wee one. Pretty cute huh? See, I was a born copy writer. So for my amusement probably more so than for yours, here it goes