A Love Supreme

Ah, jazz. It came into my life when I first became a teenager and for some inexplicable reason, joined the junior high jazz band. My interest peaked a few years later, in high school, when I spent most of the spring weekends traveling to different jazz competitions and shows with the school band. (I was a fair trumpet player: competent, I suppose, but certainly nothing to write home about.) As time passed, and my trumpet took a backseat to a number of other interests, my taste in music moved away from jazz to some extent. I still had Miles Davis and Louis Armstrong CDs, but I wasn't actively interested in acquiring more jazz.

So what happened? A few things, I suppose. Martin Medeski & Wood are partially responsible; I also consider Yoko Kanno to have pushed me back to sweet jazz. Even some of the records people brought into one of my favorite bars on Sundays were an influence. But the important thing is that jazz and I made up.

So, today's music is A Love Supreme by John Coltrane. I think this may be my favorite Coltrane album, possibly even over the highly-regarded Giant Steps, though it's hard to say. There are other musicians on the album, but it's really all about John, just freaking out with his sax. I don't know if I really have the words in me to compare to John's playing; it would be comparable to describing the Taj Mahal with grunts and scratches. Still, his playing is the absolute antithesis of all the 'lite jazz' crap that was forced on the country years ago; while John doesn't physically beat Kenny G to within an inch of his life with his sax, he certainly does artistically. If you haven't listened to any John Coltrane, then a) get out from under your rock and b) do something about it. Whether you even enjoy jazz or not is up to you, but you can't deny that this record is a showcase for a talented man at the peak of his powers. Highly recommended.

In other news:

I survived testing. I think it went very well. I failed to break boards with a wheel kick, which is unusual and irritating. Oh well. I have a couple sore spots but nothing serious. Somehow I managed to injure my right hand slightly by punching through a board, I think, which is both a surprise and a nuisance. It's certainly nothing serious though.

I looked at furniture last night - specifically, couches. I think that a reasonable couch purchase is in my near future, after which a house, er, spider-hole-warming party might be in order. Complete with smoothies and twister! And maybe some Fin du Monde if the party waits until I leave the state again.

Before The Dawn Heals Us, and others

I have a lot of things to think about today. But first, music.

Today's Music That Jason Stole From The Public Library is Before The Dawn Heals Us, by M83. This is an album that was recommended to me when I was looking for more electronic music, and I was fortunate enough to find it at the library. It's wonderful, ethereal music, the kind of music that makes me feel like I should be able to simply float off the ground and into the atmosphere somewhere. It's obviously influenced by some other artists I'm very fond of: My Bloody Valentine, Boards of Canada, even Wish You Were Here-era Pink Floyd. Keyboards are featured most prominently; some vocals exist, but they certainly don't drive the songs in the manner you would expect from a more 'pop' record. A few of the tracks are a little drawn out or too over-the-top for my taste, but as a whole the album shines.

I was surprised to find out (after a couple listens) that this is a relatively recent album; for some reason I always thought that it was almost as old as I am. It does have a little bit of a PBS vibe to it; I could easily see this music comprising the soundtrack for Stargazer though. If you've never seen Stargazer, just think about what a show about naked-eye astronomy for heavily medicated people would be like, and then animate most of it. (Side note: whenever I've seen Stargazer come on TV, it made me think that I should either start drinking or stop drinking, but that something definitely had to happen.) In any event, I am glad that M83 will (I think) produce more music for me to listen to and maybe blog about.

In other news:

I found some anime that I really like. It's called 'Seirei no Morobito', which roughly translates to 'Guardian of the Sacred Spirit'. Kind of a cheesy title, I know, but it's a very mature and smart anime with some great characters. Without spoiling too much of it for you, it's set in pre-industrial Japan, where a female spearfighter named Balsa is forced to protect a child bound to be assassinated. If you're curious, let me know and I can give you a link. It's very good. In particular, the main character (Balsa) is one of the best characters in anime that I can think of. (Note: I don't like a lot of anime, particularly stuff that has a serious premise but lots of dumb humor. I suppose the anime that I can stand is another blog altogether though.)

So tomorrow is testing! I'm actually looking forward to it, mostly. I have a hard time not thinking about it, and consequently being nervous, even though there isn't any reason for it. The only real concern I have is my back, which I injured at the gym a couple days ago. It isn't serious, but it will hinder me somewhat tomorrow. I think I'll be okay, though. Assuming it isn't so hot that we all perish, and that my back holds up for the first half of the day, testing will be a lot of fun. Wish me luck!

I'M FREAKIN OUT MAN

Nothing too much to report today; I don't really have time to talk about an album but I wanted to post something.

I'm trying not to worry about testing too much. It's in my thoughts much of the time now, though. I'm partially excited and partially scared, but I really believe testing will work out fine.

...and I got some really good beer today! Stuff you can't get in this lousy state. Stupid Iowa. If you're interested, you're welcome to stop by and have some. Though it probably won't last long.

Edit: I'm trying to listen to Phish's Billy Breathes, and the CD is all scratched up and keeps cutting out. Few things piss me off more than scratched CDs. It's like letting my ears take you out for a nice dinner and a fun night of dancing, then telling them to sleep on the couch.

So Tonight That I Might See

Today's Music That Jason Found In His Car is So Tonight That I Might See by Mazzy Star. Somehow, inexplicably, I have a cassette copy of this album, and I've been listening to it lately after rediscovering it underneath my copy of Crime and Punishment and some checks that I don't think I'll ever cash.

I don't exactly know how I came into possession of this album. I'm partially surprised that the contents of the tape didn't become Queen's Greatest Hits at some point as well, ha ha. I suppose it's possible that I may have purchased it at a thrift store, or that someone left it in this car or my previous vehicle, a red 1991 Grand Prix that was acquired through a Satanic ritual. In any event, it's nice to have, given that I've listened to most of my R.E.M. cassettes to the point where they are beginning to deteriorate. (I suppose a similar fate will befall this cassette in the relatively near future, inevitably.)

Prior to finding this album and actually listened to it, my exposure to Mazzy Star was simply to the song "Fade Into You", the first track on this album and a mainstay of every high school dance I ever went to. It's a nice enough song, probably featured in a number of movies with overly emotional endings that I didn't ever see. I certainly don't mind it, but I wouldn't trade you a Cat Power song for it, to be certain. The rest of the album has a similar sound, not overly complicated, slow and dreamy. The guitar playing is very mellow, the vocals are subdued and entrancing. Maybe if Cat Stevens or whatever he calls himself now had been a depressed twenty-something in the early 1990s he would have made music like this. I especially like the title track of this album; it has a real slow burn to it, a rhythm so good I could listen to it all day.

Also, Hope Sandoval (the singer of Mazzy Star). I don't know where she is now, exactly, but I really really hope she could use a skinny Midwestern poolboy. Let's just leave it at that, though I think you get the idea.

Also I went to the Atomic Garage this weekend. I love that place.

Fingers Crossed

Every now and then, I borrow CDs from the public library to listen to at work. One of the things I try to do is to always check out at least one CD by an artist or group that I am not familiar with; this has been a good way for me to find new music. Some of the artists I've found this way: Four Tet, the Benvenetto/Russo Duo, M. Ward, and today's artist, Architecture in Helsinki.

Specifically, I'm going to talk about AiH's debut album, Fingers Crossed. It's probably classified as 'twee', meaning that most people would expect me to hate it. I really enjoyed this album though. It's full of upbeat melodies, hand claps, cheery keyboards, strings and breathy vocals. Maybe one track where there are children singing gets on my nerves a little bit though. This album even has horns and bells! Really, it's hard not to be in a good mood after listening to this album, unless it's just too precocious for you. The lyrics don't stand out but certainly fit the tone of the album; there is one song about protecting someone from a serrated knife, which is kind of funny for a few reasons.

The songs are all short, sometimes a little too much so; this is very much a band that has found its sound but doesn't exactly know what to do with it yet. I'll be curious to hear some of their other work, but I'll always like this album. Standout tracks include "Like a Call", "Vanishing", and my personal favorite, "Fumble." I could listen to the strings at the end of "Fumble" all day. I don't know what else to say about this album, except that it's just a little bittersweet listening to it; it makes me long for something I can't quite put my finger on. I guess this album is like a warm bed on a cool day when you don't have to get up and do anything right away: you know it can't last forever, but while it does, it's comforting and relaxing and wonderful. Bonus points if you can share it with someone.

I think I just found this album at the right point in my life. If I were younger, I might not have taken it seriously; if I were older, I might not have given it a chance. As it is, I'm just glad I found it.

In other news, I'm not freaking out about testing yet but I'm thinking about it. I wrote my statement of philosophy, and I actually don't hate it; if you want to read it, just let me know.

Miscellany

No music entry today. I've convinced myself not to buy any new CDs until after taekwondo testing, which isn't so hard. There's only one place I really buy music at locally (ZZZ Records) so I just have to stay out of there for a few weeks.

Last night I went to Wal-Mart for the second time in three days, in search of a turtle-shaped sandbox for a friend. I spoke to three employees, all of which were polite though not very helpful. In short, I wasted almost 40 minutes there and had no sandbox to show for it. I suppose the lesson learned here is one that I know but don't always remember: stay the hell out of Wal-Mart.

I also gave up on searching for my new favorite beer, after having failed to find it at no less than four liquor stores in Des Moines. Apparently it isn't available in Iowa. So, to make a long story short, if anyone is interested in going to Omaha at some point in August, let me know and you can ride shotgun. (If this trip fails at least I can get Fat Tire.)

The Creek Drank The Cradle

Today's Music That Jason Is Listening To is Iron & Wine's The Creek Drank The Cradle. I believe that some of the other Iron & Wine albums or LPs are more popular, but this is the one I was able to get at the library, so it is what shall be reviewed.

If you aren't familiar with Iron & Wine, it's essentially the stage name for Sam Beam. Creek is his first full-length album. It's a laid-back semi-Southern album, utilizing a number of secondary instruments (banjo, slide guitar, etc.) but all based around a man with a serious beard and a guitar. It's hard to listen to this and not think of Sam Beam as something of a hippie Nick Drake, if that gives you any idea as to what to expect. This is the album I like to listen to on Friday afternoons when there's nobody else around and I can do what I want at work. It's very laid-back with reserved vocals, perfect for relaxing or just maintaining a good mood. I can't ever imagine Beam going electric, not in the sense that Dylan went electric, but that's okay. I endorse this album fully, even if you'll never find any of these songs on my MP3 player (mostly because it is almost exclusively used at the gym, and for all its virtues, Iron & Wine is lousy workout music.) It's perfect for laying around almost anywhere though.

Funeral.

Today's music is Funeral, by The Arcade Fire. I chose this because I went to the bar last night to work on my statement of philosophy for TKD testing, and the bartender played this album in its entirety. This really drew me in, as I am more of an album person than a single song person. Part of this is that I like to hear the complete work of the artist/group, and often enjoy the transitions between songs on albums such as Funeral; part of this is that when I am in the mood for something, I just want lots of it.

Funeral is the first full-length album produced by The Arcade Fire, and was it ever an indie-rock heavyweight. It makes fair use of piano and strings, though the guitar is probably the most prominent instrument. It's mostly moving, with a couple ballad-ish songs, and has been described as being "emotional without being emo" (sorry Jeph Jaques) for good reason. The more I think about this album, the more appropriate "Funeral" seems for a title. It has great songs, really swelling and uplifting at times, but it really takes something away from me to listen to this album. I didn't know anything about it when I bought it, really, just that one of my better music sources strongly recommended it, and I found it for $7 at Best Buy. To say the least, it really knocked me on my ass.

This music might be too cloying and emotional for some, but I really think it works. There are songs that I like better than others on the album, but even the weak links are strong works. Good lyrics, good drive, a great album altogether. (The CD even comes with a small funeral program, which is a nice touch.) This CD is not one I listen to often, but I am fond of it; rather, I listen to it sparsely so that the effect it has will not be dimished by time and repetition. "Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)" is a marvelous song.

I was pleased to find that the recent Arcade Fire release, Neon Bible, was a fine album in its own right (maybe a stronger complete work than Funeral) as well. But that's discussion for another day.

In other news, I figured out what I am going to write about for TKD testing. I never really had doubts that I would find an idea, but I feel better having one. If you'd like to proofread my paper, I would welcome some criticism before I send it out to everyone.

Fear and Loathing in Ames. Or, yes, we're in Iowa.

This weekend was pretty good. I helped a friend move, had dinner with my family, found part of my Halloween costume. I spent a little too much time in the car, had a decent workout, explored a part of Ames' Main St. that I hadn't visited before.

Preparations for taekwondo testing are in good shape. I think the hardest part of this is simply going to be keeping my nerves about me the day of the event. We have three weeks.

Something happened this weekend which I could not have forseen or imagined, and I believe it is worth sharing in some detail. So, Saturday night, I was playing darts at the Corner Pocket with my friend Scott, when a comely young woman came down the stairs next to the dartboard and begins talking to us. She had chest-length blonde hair, wore light-blue jeans and a greenish-patterned tank with some kind of jacket over it; she was tanned and looked to be in fair shape at worst. She began talking to us, and I don't know if I can reproduce her exact words, but here is how they exist in the malleable fabric of my memory:
"Hey, how's it going? Can I talk to you guys? I was upstairs and there isn't anyone for me to talk to there. It's just all black people and gay people and I don't like black people or gay people. So what are you guys doing? Just playing darts? Are you Iowa State students?"
Scott: "Sort of,"; Me: "Not really."
Her: "You two aren't gay, are you?"
Us: "No." (In hindsight, we missed an opportunity here.)
Her: "Okay, because I just don't like gay men." At this point we introduced ourselves; our little bigot's name was Lindsey.
Her: "Well I'm going back upstairs." (to Scott:) "You should come up."

At this point she left the same way she came. We had to sit down. Did this really happen? Sure it did. Lindsey may have been under the influence of alcohol at this point in the evening, but she seemed coherent when she spoke. Both Scott and myself agreed that we probably should have said something but our words were bound with disbelief when this actually happened. Still, it was astonishing. Such bigotry is a rare and stealthy animal, not often seen and rarely believeable when it is in this day and age.

We did eventually go upstairs, mostly out of morbid curiosity. Lindsey never crossed our paths again. The rest of the evening was fun though relatively uneventful, and it was never really in doubt that it would be.

Today's Music that Jason is Listening To is Twoism by Boards of Canada. This is ethereal, dreamy electronic music. It has no real vocal structure and only sparing use of language, mostly using percussion and various synthesizers to create a layered aural tapestry. It is not as emotional as, say, Mogwai or Explosions in the Sky; I usually find myself listening to BoC in the mornings when the fuzz of sleep is not entirely cast off. Still, this record's reserved nature is a choice rather than an inability to be something else, as it achieves a nice minimalist effect but still offers a fair amount of interplay on each track. I also enjoy the song titles, which are almost always nonsensical at their most relevant. This music may be too simple for some, or just not rock hard enough for others; I would agree that it is somewhat situational for my tastes but I certainly enjoy it. It manages to not always be everything that I want, but to not be something that I do not desire or appreciate.

The near South, the Police, the Cheese.

I spent a pretty good two-ish days in St. Louis this week. Did lots of things and had lots of fun, found a new favorite beer. I went to the zoo, the art museum, two great concerts, and the St. Louis arch. Saw fireworks, visited a wonderful record store, enjoyed some good music and company, visited a marvelous bar, got hit on a little bit. Spent too much time in the car but it was worth it. Slept but not much. Took lots of pictures, snuck in a little exercise. Ate and drank decadently, took many pictures.

The bands? The Police (the reason for the trip) and the Goo Goo Dolls (a free outdoor pre-fireworks concert). The Police were awesome, played everything I could have hoped for. The Goo Goo Dolls are not one of my favorite groups, never were, but put on a pretty good show. Both venues (a hockey arena, the arch park) were crammed full of people though the Police show was much more organized.

The social portions of the evening were spent in St. Louis's Delmar district, near Washington College. The establishments visited there, Cicero's and Blueberry Hill in particular, offered wonderful hospitality. The only complaint I had was that Blueberry Hill closed at midnight on Sunday, which forced my cohorts and I to down half a pitcher of beer to save it. Alcohol math: 2 beers / 5 minutes = Jason flash drunk. Someone else drove, thankfully.

We took a walk on Sunday evening and got lost a little bit. Unfamiliar residential areas are trouble, to say the least.

'The Cheese' refers to many well-placed jokes made throughout the trip. I can scarcely remember them now, but one of them was about something being the reward for an acheivement, or 'the cheese'.

All things considered, the trip went pretty well. It was brief but a welcome respite from the rigors of daily life, work, and Iowa in general.

No album review today; the music I listened to on the trip was either random songs or my own.