[ Saturday, May 31, 2003 ]
I like to consider myself something of a songwriter, and there's no better moment for a songwriter than for a new song to appear instantaneously, as if from on high. Such a thing has happened to me a few times over the years (including the requisite "song that was in my head when I woke up one morning"), and it happened again tonight. Hot damn! Sometimes you get lucky, sometimes you get lucky...
So this new song - which is nowhere near done, mind you - has all the promise to be among my best, if only because the two major elements (central lyrical/thematic image and melodic structure) both came together with almost alarming ease; I literally opened my mouth and started singing, and the main chorus line came out fully-formed. This is not something that happens often; even songs that come out quickly usually take a while to hone and refine. I honestly think I could write all of this one right now, in sequence, no stopping, with very few refinements needed later. I think I'm gonna go do that right now, as a matter of fact. I'll let you know if my theory bore itself out...
On the box right now: well, nothing right at the moment, but earlier tonight I was playing The Beatles, HELP!
Dove With Claws [8:36 PM]
[ Thursday, May 29, 2003 ]
Great tracks I've been playing lately...
"Total Destruction To Your Mind," a devastating slab of psych-funk from the vastly underappreciated
Swamp Dogg, who shoots through jive with a fully-operational bop gun.
"I Got A Hole In My Pocket" by Little Jimmy Dickens. Who'd have thought that this talented but clownish Opry favorite would be responsible for one of the all-time great rockabilly singles. No shit; check it out, ye who may doubt...
"Shadows On The Sun," by Brother Ali. Finally, intellectual hip-hop that isn't boring. (KRS-ONE should take note.)
"One-Man Guy," by Rufus Wainwright. Rufus' voice is perfectly - and ironically - matched to his dad (Loudon's) ode to self-centeredness. (Rufus's sexuality makes the whole thing take a different, and startlingly affecting, turn.)
"Hound Dog," by Big Mama Thornton. Elvis is great, but Big Mama is greater.
On the box right now: the latest "Southern Music CD" from the accompanying issue of the
Oxford American, one of the country's best rags.
Peace...
Dove With Claws [7:26 PM]
[ Wednesday, May 28, 2003 ]
How do I love the Dixie Chicks? Let me the count the ways...
The latest way...Natalie Maines' T-shirt - worn in concert - that featured this odd acronym: F.U.T.K. She claimed it stood for "Friendship, Understanding, Truth and Knowledge," but perhaps more likely is the rumor that the epigram actually stands for "Fuck You Toby Keith."
Yee-HAW!
On the box right now...Brother Ali, Shadows On The Sun
Dove With Claws [8:54 PM]
[ Monday, May 26, 2003 ]
To quote the late great Ian Dury, the latest
Entertainment Weekly gave me some "reasons to be cheerful," as it says that albums by the following are on their way in the next few months:
Warren Zevon, OutKast, Cee-Lo, Bubba Sparxx, Rodney Crowell, Robert Randolph, Mary J. Blige, June Carter Cash
Add this to a couple exciting releases I already knew about (Mellencamp, Liz Phair, Macy Gray), and I'm not ready to give up on this music year yet.
On the box right now: David Banner, MISSISSIPPI: THE ALBUM
Peace...
Dove With Claws [5:05 PM]
[ Sunday, May 25, 2003 ]
Happy birthday to
Mr. Martin Price!
Dove With Claws [7:28 PM]
Reading material today:
This article details the young conservative movements on campuses today. Fascinating, and disturbing, stuff. (You'll need to complete the free registration to the NY Times website. Easy to complete, very worthwhile.) Then,
this one casts some interesting doubts on everybody's favorite Gulf War II hero story.
On the box right now: Mary Black, THE BEST OF MARY BLACK.
Peace...
Dove With Claws [7:55 AM]
