What To Do When You Need To Find New, Exciting Music

1. Go to http://www.kcrw.com
2. Click on "music" in the upper left-hand corner.
3. Stream the player of your choice.
4. Get a new favorite song within 30 minutes.

At least it always works for me.

Obscured By Clouds

I made the slow, tedious drive home from work tonight. I have rain attacking me from all around, I'm choosing not to use the defroster because the last time I did I heard a bad noise (and I do not like bad noises), and my windows are open a bit so that the windshield does not completely fog up. I make it home 45 minutes later and I'm tired. I don't reward myself with sleep though. That'll come later.

For now, I have blogs to check and music to listen to. I can't quite find my musical mood though. I bounce around Rhapsody, listening to snippets from Aimee Mann, Lou Reed, and Louis Jordan. I'm not really digging anything. Finally, I think of Pink Floyd and open up their discography. And I settle on Animals, followed by Obscured By Clouds. These albums are perfect for me tonight.

And the title of the latter choice is certainly appropriate for those affected by Katrina and her Waves, who are decidedly not "Walking On Sunshine" tonight. CNN is reporting at least 54 deaths as a result of her winds and rains. My Biloxi mother-in-law is safely with us in the Boro and it's nice to have her here and near.

It's safe and cozy in my home. The family is sleeping well upstairs, and I'm sipping my green bottled Heineken and feeling quite content. "Absolutely Curtains" is closing the disc, Roger Waters and company are done for the night, and so am I.

This Boy Is Country Again

It never lasts long. Soon, I'll be back to Nine Inch Nails and Tom Waits and David Baerwald and more great music that scares the masses. But in the last few days, I have put some serious time into listening to some really great country music.

A few days ago, a friend gave me some CDs that he didn't want. One of the CDs was a Suzy Bogguss release from the 90s that I loved then and was happy to return to now. Driving home last night, I listened to it and just fell in love with her all over again. John Hiatt's Drive South sounded awesome as I drove southeast. And, topically, Lovin' A Hurricane sounded beautiful, if not a little ironic. (My thoughts are certainly with those who are dealing with the not so metaphoric hurricane Katrina.)

Then, thinking I've listened to my share of country music for the year, I read today's Tennessean and find a profile on new artists Hanna-McEuen. I pull them up on Rhapsody and am loving it. The profile references the sound of both Foster and Lloyd and Raul Malo of The Mavericks. I can't say I disagree. This is smart, clean country music with heart.

Too much more of this and someone is gonna have to take my Pearl Jam and Van Halen shirts from me.

Venti Vent

OK. I came into contact with someone today who I thought would appreciate that there is now a Starbucks at my workplace. She quickly and indignantly told me that she doesn't support Starbucks because "they don't support our troops because Starbucks doesn't support the war."

Now while there may be quite valid reasons for people to choose not to spend their money at certain places, this reason just plain doesn't fly. It is completely untrue and invalid. Nonetheless, I was not in a position to argue with her, and frankly I don't think she wanted to be proven wrong.

She felt very righteous to be out there in the field (or desert), supporting our troops by not drinking a specific coffee. Hell, this act of support pretty much puts her right on the front line, doesn't it? Wonder if she's waiting for Rummy to provide extra body armor for her Lexus while she's out there fighting the good fight? I'd hate to burst her bubble about her java line.

Oh well, I'm just here to serve. The truth shouldn't get in the way. Meanwhile, snopes has the details. Carry on, traveling saleslady. I'll wear a ribbon for you.

Silhouette Of My Daughter

Not the perfect profile, but a nice shot nonetheless. I wonder how many thousands of pictures I have taken of the little crumb-snatchers.

It's Time Again For HNT

I am a serious intellectual. As evidenced in the photo.

4/5 Of Chez Bez

Adventures In Google Image Search

While listening to Herbie Hancock's new CD, I decide to try Google Image Search to find any pics of both Joss Stone and Herbie Hancock together. It turns out that while no pictures of them together were found, GIS determined that three pics of Diana Krall would be the next best thing. Evidently, Herbie Hancock plus Joss Stone equals Diana Krall.

Okey-dokey.

Herbie Hancock's Star-studded New Release

It had me at "featuring Joss Stone." It sounds good.

Herbie Hancock - Possibilities

"Stitched Up" featuring John Mayer
"Safiatou" featuring Carlos Santana and Angelique Kidjo
"A Song for You" featuring Christina Aguilera
"I Do It for Your Love" featuring Paul Simon
"Hush, Hush, Hush" featuring Annie Lennox
"Sister Moon" featuring Sting
"When Loves Comes to Town" featuring Joss Stone and Jonny Lang
"Don't Explain" featuring Damien Rice and Lisa Hannigan
"Gelo No Montana" featuring Trey Anastasio
"I Just Called To Say I Loved You" featuring Raul Midon

Midlife Crisis At Age 35

It is a quiet dusk at Chéz Béz and I am listening to Claire de Lune by Debussy. It is just what I need right now. I go about each day both blessed and stressed. Aware of how happy I should be, but always worrying about how I might lose what I have. It's possible that I am just simply hard-wired for anxiety, and no measure of good fortune will put me at complete ease.

If I am to use Unbreakable by M. Night Shyamalan as a reference, it makes sense that (just like Bruce Willis' character in the movie) I a man destined for a certain kind of work and I am doing something very far from that work. In essence, not only am I not realizing my potential but I don't even know which way to face to go toward it.

All will be fine; I know this. I am just ever so self-analytical. Nothing transpires in my life without me playing it over and over in my head, trying to find the place where I could have really performed at a greater level of achievement. No conversation takes place where I don't reflect on how I could have better played a part. I just want to be all things to all people, a task of dubious good sense.

I complain and I worry, and yet I have so much beauty in my life. My struggles are the dreams of millions. Go figure.

What phrase keeps me going? "This too shall pass." So far, it is always true.

Close Your Eyes, Ethel!

In today's Tennessean, Learn Nashville is chock full of information about the history of streaking in Nashville.

My favorite passage (from March 1974): "...and Tennessee legislator Rep. Benny Stafford, R-Lenoir City, was calling for a bill to prohibit even partial nudity. 'Streaking is the most indecent and immoral thing. It brings this country one step closer to the dogs,' Stafford was quoted as saying."

Terry Gilliam on Studio 360

Tune in this Sunday at 10am to 90.3 WPLN to hear Terry Gilliam on Studio 360. The topic? Why darkness, fear, and the fantastic are good for kids.

Enjoy!

Google Enhances Desktop Search

Google just keeps on rockin' me, baby. Last night, I downloaded their new Desktop Search and I am loving this sidebar that comes with it. Today, I am taking my PC to a friend's house so he cam work his magic and speed it up and fine tune it and such. And here I am installing more stuff. But I can't help it. It's Google and Google owns me. I really should buy a Google hat or t-shirt, but it's just not within the reaches of my budget right now. (Why is everything just out of my budget reach? And if that's true, why do I keep buying beer?)

ANYWAY, check out what Google's got to offer. It's a keeper.

My Rare Day Of Leisure

Today was my day off from work; no major tasks were required of me, at least none that couldn't be put off until tomorrow. We at Chéz Béz went to the pool and followed that by an evening at the ballpark. More days like this would be quite welcomed by yours truly.

Hunter S. Thompson, Out Of This World

Hear that boom? That's the sound of Hunter S. Thompson's ashes being shot out of a 153-foot tower into the Colorado air. Here's the story.