Poet, Canadian, folk hero – call him what you want – this record is still gold.

Neil Young makes me think of a kid I went to high school with. Ray Fallon wore pajamas almost every day, or sweat pants. He was a champ in our AP English class and ended up acting through college. Now I think he still lives in my hometown and has plans to buy land and start a farm. I guess some things never change.

This is his third record, out in 1970. I’m sure you’ll fall in love with it again. Either that or realize that Southern Man is more than just an overplayed song on all radio stations. The guitar solo on that track is a reminder, or education of, the fact that Young is a forgotten guitar hero. You’ll dig it once you forget you’re listening to Southern Man. Don’t forget what your good book says.

euphoria! live!

Recorded in 1969 in Dallas and San Francisco, released in 1974, there is a volume 1 & 2 (on CD. Vinyl is two discs.) Lou Reed chats up the Texas crowd before the first track for about a minute. And by chat up I mean he offends them. Full of long Velvety drone jams, on vinyl the quality is old and has been passed around. But that is just how you want your live Velvet Underground. Rare and gritty.

As it is my birthday I moved my stereo out to the living room. Angeline is celebrating her sister’s graduation from Drexel in the Philly heat today and then heading to the cooler Buffalo for most of next week. That means loud records all the time.

On slate for today: homemade tzatziki, falafel and white bean hummus. And for dessert homemade strawberry rhubarb pie and homemade vanilla ice cream. To the sounds of This Year’s Model, Speaking In Toungues, The Specials, Some Girls, Highway 61 Revisited and lots of Jefferson Airplane. But I will say there is nothing quite like live Velvet Underground. Doug Yule has stepped in for John Cale but the rest of the gang’s all here – Moe Tucker, Sterling Morrison and (with) Lou Reed. Here to download.

Like the new Death Cab For Cutie on NPR’s first listen – check out some of their new first listens (let me save you a step: Cults are boring on the record and live. And you already know how I feel about the new My Morning Jacket.)  They also have a full listen of Our Concert Could Be Your Life – titled after the book which chronicles the bands featured throughout the covered line up, Our Band Could Be Your Life. (I’m actually reading it right now – some great writing about some of life’s unmentioned bands.)

Or strawberries.

dessert

It’s been reaching the 80s here for a couple weeks and summer is close. Just a reminder that another year has gone by. My mom used to tell me, the older you are the faster it goes. I’m beginning to see it. Next weekend I’ll find myself in Ithaca with close friends, Gimme coffee, Angry Mom Records, and most importantly, Viva. Nostalgia is fun and healthy – I’ll be deep in it all weekend. I’m looking forward to going back but I can already tell, I’m glad I didn’t stay.

"new england" whoopie pies

Not as melty, just as tasty – maybe more so? Plenty to share, eh? Wish you were here.

what do i have to do to prove my love to you?

1983. Milwaukee, WI brings to us our album of the day. Opening with the ever popular among movies, radio, tv and obnoxious sing-a-longs Blister In The Sun – a song I always skip past. But we also have Kiss Off, Add It Up and Gone Daddy Gone. It’s full of charming hatred and lust.

This record is so good. Malkmus, Reed (big claims here) and Gordan Gano – he sings, he talks and he bo do wah du waohp whops his choruses. Painful love and sex has never sounded so harsh and, well, good. I hope this band never becomes forgotten. Listen to the whole record (download here). That’s your assignment of the day.

(In other news, my biking wounds have healed nicely. No more limp on a harsh knee, my face is pretty much back to normal (insert joke here) and my shoulder has one hell of a scab on it. Back in the saddle, I’ve never felt more fit.)

(Also, making it to Ithaca for Memorial Day weekend. If you’re around the area/there, I’d like to see you – whoever you are.)

Their distaste for West Coast hippies, while remaining hippies themselves all the way from Hudson, NY, is reflected in the tunes. Smart, funky, jazzy – their music has unique sounds and stories that make them who they are. (For an unknown reason, people I’ve come across in our parent’s generation and our own, always hate on this band. I never know why.) I saw them live with my dad in Camden, NJ in 2006 (Michael MacDonald opened) and it was great. I’ve loved them ever since.

i have this tee shirt somewhere..

charlie bird parker

shoulder

face

knee

I must really love this blog. Time check: 3:18am.

rain dogs

The list of personnel is endless, as is the list of instruments used in recording this album. 1985 never sounded so good.

Los Angeles has been creeping in on me for the last few days, so Waits seems all the more fitting here.

Raw, uncomfortable, commanding, thoughtful and meaty – this record shouldn’t have taken this long to reach me. Download here and enjoy yourself an off beat Wednesday.

underrated bliss

Of all the bands from the psychedelic era and to go even Further – get it? hahaha – I have declaired in the past and know it’s true that Jefferson Airplane is my favorite San Francisco band. Overshadowed by the Dead and only thought of for White Rabbit (which is on this record), this band is remarkable. They are purely psychedelic, full of musical genius and poetic. Have you ever listened to the lyrics of Somebody To Love? Just watch A Serious Man – growing to be one of the most underrated Cohen Brothers movies. It’s full of this band, weed jokes, dark humor, Jewish humor and lo fi mid sixties mid-western suburbia.

When the truth is found to be lies / and all the joy within you dies / don’t you want somebody to love / don’t you need somebody to love / wouldn’t you love somebody to love / you better find somebody to love

Since getting my records down to the district, I have been revisiting my favorite bands from high school, like Airplane, and I can fall in love with them all over again, just how it was meant to. On vinyl.