Here are some things I have really been loving lately:
A) The Man in The Blizzard, a novel by Bart Schneider, offers one man's story of the events surrounding the recent Convention in our fair Cities. A tough private eye gets more than he baragined for when trouble in the form of a beautiful dame walks into his office. But it's much more than that, of course.
I love it when the characters drive down Lyndale towards Lake, stop by Vera's, etc. and I can picture it exactly. It was a little taste of what it must be like for residents of New York City when they read, oh I don't know...every other freaking novel that's ever existed.
B) I heard the song "Copacabana" somewhere the other day. That is an outsanding, perfectly composed marriage of words and music. I love the tumbling, fricative lines. I love the mysterious, suggestive mood. I love that it's an entire story that spans decades. The song has everything a person could want in a song. I bought Ultimate Manilow very inexpensively, used at amazon.
C) It wasn't lately, but I also love the book Infinite Jest so much I have read it twice. Some parts of it I just pick up and read once in a while, especially the filmography of James O. Incandenza, a brilliant piece of faux archivism that shines a satirical light on my actual archivism of my artistic works.
Good Lord, but the suicide of David Foster Wallace makes me sad! Is there something about genius level artistic accomplishment that creates or is generally accompanied by crushing depression? Yes, I'm afraid there is, yes.
D) Neil Diamond's 3 CD box set In My Lifetime was at Half Price Books recently for about 13 bucks. Even though I already had The Essential, which has much of the same material, it is worth having. The original studio versions of the live stuff on Essential are so fascinating. I espeically like disc two. He is so genuine and sincere. I am learning to play "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother".
E) A free video at amazon for Bob Dylan's new old song "Dreamin' Of You" is really cool. Harry Dean Stanton is a character who is obsessed with Dylan as many are.
F) Two of my favorite albums of all time have just been reissued with Bonus Tracks: Billy Joel's The Stranger, which in the deluxe edition I will acquire shortly also includes a DVD of a 1977 television appearance.
Liz Phair's Exile in Guyville only includes three bonus tracks and since we are in a whatever-the-opposite-of-golden-is age of rematering (a.k.a. super-compressing) I may just have to check the Bonus Tracks at iTunes by themselves. Ah, I just checked and guess what? They are only available if you buy the whole album. Typical iTunes screw job.
G) Also started the 17 book Dave Robicheaux series from author James Lee Burke at the recommendation of one of my most trusted advisors. Private eye, tough life, beautiful woman, bad guys, etc. Yet with something more - literary, if I can use that word as praise.
This has been Culture Roundup with Memphis Evans.
Showing posts with label Neil Diamond. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Neil Diamond. Show all posts
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Top Fourteen Neil Diamond Characteristics
14. The Essential Neil Diamond and Bob Dylan's Time Out Of Mind are the only two albums I am aware of that use the Columbia Viva-Tonal Electrical Process.
13. One of the only songwriters who writes good songs about songs and songwriting.
12. No rhyme is too tired, silly, or unhip.
11. Elvis did at least two of his songs.
10. He was voted women's favorite music to listen to during sex.
9. He writes about anything he wants: imaginary friends (Shiloh), seagulls (Jonathan Livingston Seagull), and who-knows-what (Soolaimon).
8. You can put on his music and forget about it and enjoy your day a little more or you can listen on headphones and really get in to it.
7. The twin descending portamento keyboards that lead back to the title line on "Love on the Rocks".
6. You can always understand the words.
5. He's the truest descendant of the Sinatra "Tell a story/sing a poem" school working today.
4. He takes his work seriously
3. He appeared as himself on Saturday Night Live alongside Will Ferrel as Fake Neil Diamond.
2. The Band liked him enough to invite him to The Last Waltz
1. Surrounds himself with great players of music.
No irony or, really, humor in today's post. Just really was enjoying The Essential Neil Diamond this week and wanted to figure out/talk about why that was.
13. One of the only songwriters who writes good songs about songs and songwriting.
12. No rhyme is too tired, silly, or unhip.
11. Elvis did at least two of his songs.
10. He was voted women's favorite music to listen to during sex.
9. He writes about anything he wants: imaginary friends (Shiloh), seagulls (Jonathan Livingston Seagull), and who-knows-what (Soolaimon).
8. You can put on his music and forget about it and enjoy your day a little more or you can listen on headphones and really get in to it.
7. The twin descending portamento keyboards that lead back to the title line on "Love on the Rocks".
6. You can always understand the words.
5. He's the truest descendant of the Sinatra "Tell a story/sing a poem" school working today.
4. He takes his work seriously
3. He appeared as himself on Saturday Night Live alongside Will Ferrel as Fake Neil Diamond.
2. The Band liked him enough to invite him to The Last Waltz
1. Surrounds himself with great players of music.
No irony or, really, humor in today's post. Just really was enjoying The Essential Neil Diamond this week and wanted to figure out/talk about why that was.
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