2008年 Jul 4日 Friday, 10:37

Been a while since I made it to the library, and with the big 4th of July holiday upon us, I figured I'd see if they had anything new to help me through the elongated weekend.

They did.

There was a lot there to experiment with. In a few cases, they didn't have exactly what I was looking for, though. I wanted to bring home the new Death Cab for Cutie album because my wife and daughter were both obsessed with I Will Possess Your Heart during our vacation. I ended up bringing home Plans. We also heard a track on WTMD by The Decemberists last week, and I hoped to find that. I don't think it's on Picaresque, but we'll see what is there.

Two I picked up out of curiosity: Tom Morello's solo project - calling himself The Nightwatchman - entitled One Man Revolution; and Riot Act, a Pearl Jam album I missed because I was too busy in 2002. I don't expect to be blown away by either of them, since Pearl Jam hasn't been satisfying since releasing Vitalogy, and even though I like elements of both Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave… I harbor the secret opinion that Morello's solos tend to sound like a cat being raped. (I hope he proves me wrong here.)

They had a couple of interesting jazz discs for me. The Essential Charlie Parker and a 2-disc special edition of 'Round About Midnight. Always a sucker for Miles Davis, and I already know I like Bye Bye Blackbird. I also picked up Stanley Jordan's brand new State of Nature, which reinforces his reputation as a phenomenon. Mozart's Piano Concerto #21 stood out on first listen, but the whole disc is great.

Daby Touré's Stereo Spirit caught my eye, too; I'm pretty sure I've heard it before, but because I've also listened to his dad - Ali Farka Touré - I might be wrong.

I've already played the Flight of the Conchords, which is the soundtrack to their HBO show. I laughed me arse off the first time I heard Business Time, and there are some other funny bits on the disc. I also picked up Blame It On Gravity by Old 97's, which is a favorite group of my friend Dave (of One to Hold the Lightbulb fame), and The Very Best of the Grateful Dead. I'm sorry to have to report that while I appreciate the Dead… they bore the crap out of me. (Sorry! Please don't send angry sprigs of weed, colorful teddy bears on spikes, or tie-dyed hemp crafts to protest me!)

Anyway, there's a lot to listen to; think I'll start with Anna Netrebko's Russian album to cleanse my palette. There's nothing that says "Fourth of July" like a dozen Russian soprano arias! :)