Man Of The House

Friday evening, my doorbell rings. I stay here on the computer while my lovely wife answers the door. Apparently, the conversation at the door went something like this:

Neighbor: Hi, ma'am. My lawnmower won't start and I was wondering if I could borrow yours. Is your husband home?

Lovely Wife: He's here, but you can go ahead and borrow it.

Neighbor: Thanks, but I still have to ask your husband.

Lovely Wife: That's not necessary. You're welcome to use it. (To me: Honey! Open the garage please!)

She told me of the conversation and added that she wondered if he saw her roll her eyes when he persisted that he had to ask me instead of her. Here at Chez Bez, we do things a bit differently. None of that man of the house crap. We are a team. We are equal.

Now if he had wanted to borrow my latest issure of Glamour, that would have been a different story. And my Gilmore Girls tapes don't leave this house. The man has spoken.

The Beauty Is In The Choice

So the car stereo has been on the fritz for a few weeks now. As much as I love to fill my days and nights with music, this is quite close to unbearable. It is especially unbearable on a night like last night when I did some shopping at Kroger on my way home from work and found myself with a song from their in-store music system stuck in my head for the rest of the trip home. The theme song from Ghostbusters just shouldn't be right with me for each country mile left at the end of another day of arrested development and drudgery.

That said, with the car stereo on the fritz, it means that much more to me to be able to listen to whatever I want when I get home. Usually, I listen to WRVU for some great indie music or I scan around Rhapsody and just bounce around there for a bit. But tonight is a special challenge for Chez Bez. Tonight I have to choose among three artists I've been waiting all day to listen to.

1. I've blogged about Geoff Baker a good bit lately. And thanks to the beauty of blogs and email, he has graciously sent me a few of his CDs. My wife called me this afternoon to say that they arrived today. And now I am looking at the now opened package and reading the liner notes and remembering a time when the words were typed out so much larger on the LPs that filled my room as a young teen. (With digital downloads, does anyone even read liner notes anymore?)

2. While at work recently, I met Jason Harvey. Jason is a rocker who grew up in Memphis and seems on the verge of making a huge impact on radio and through live performances. I've heard a bit of his stuff and like it a lot. My 15 month old daughter and I were listening to snippets from his website last night and while I haven't commited to a favorite song yet, she definitely liked "Unconditional" the most. It's got a really funky beat that she took to immediately. Happiness really is watching a toddler get down to the music.

3. For a bit I was wondering which of the above artists to treat my ears to tonight. And then on my dinner break, I read in the NY Times that Neil Young just released a new album, "Living With War" available to listen to in its entirety on his website for free. As Prince did with Lovesexy in 1988, Neil Young has released this so that you cannot just listen to different tracks alone from the others. It is to be heard as a whole so that "people will have to absorb the whole thing. To understand the songs, you need to understand where the whole album's coming from."

I guess this one wins tonight. As excited as I was to hear either Geoff or Jason, Neil Young gets the edge over most everybody for me. I'm listening to it as I type this (still on the first song right now), and it sounds great. I hear a lot of Ragged Glory in the rough guitar sound. This release is political and it is strong. It was written and performed only three weeks ago and now it's available to all of our ears.

Give yourself some time and give it a listen. And really let it soak in. Some things require our full attention, and this Neil Young release is most certainly one of those things. Until this Tuesday's Pearl Jam release, I think it'll be hard for me to listen to much of anything other than "Living With War." It's that good.

(Edit to add: While surfing around this morning, I saw that one of my favorite bloggers is also talking about "Living With War." Click here to read her take on it.)

Jon Bon Jovi Sings The Question,

"Who Says You Can't Go Home?"

I answer, "My realtor."

They're showing our house again between 10:00 and 12:00 today. And I've got thirty minutes to clean up and get out.

I think what I need to do is make friends with my neighbors so that I can go over and nap on their couch when this stuff comes up.

Putting The "Waste" In "Waste Not, Want Not"

A Day In The Life

She ambles in and asks the bellman a question.

"Is this where the seminar is going to be at?"

"Which seminar would that be, ma'am?"

"It's next week sometime."

"Um, that could be any number of seminars. Do you know the name of..."

"You know. It's about finance."

God. Aren't they all? "I'm sorry, ma'am. I'll need to know a little more info..."

"Who would know?"

"Well, the front desk might..." And to the front desk she went.

I wish her well. And I wish me a drink.

Required Listening

Today, Bruce Springsteen released We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions. I've only been able to hear the first four songs and now I have to go to work. Tonight, I will listen to the rest. So far, this is knocking me on my ass. "O Mary Don't You Weep" is absolutely giving me goosebumps.

Recorded in only three days, this tribute to the songs of Pete Seeger is chilling it is so great. I'll write more on this after I punch the time clock late tonight. For now, I'll leave you with this mini-review:

These classic tunes from Pete Seeger's songbook, recorded with the legendary protest singer's original band, sparkle with heartfelt emotion and grace. All the songs were recorded live in the living room of Springsteen's Jersey farmhouse, without rehearsal, giving them a sense of urgency and fun that has been missing from the Boss's work for a mighty long time. His most vital and energized work in a couple decades.
- Jon Maples

By all means, get this album and improve your state of mind.

High Point

Ever have your favorite singer-songwriter e-mail you out of the blue? Mine saw that I had blogged about him and e-mailed me to say how much he appreciated my words. You think Bob Dylan ever called my dad up back in the '60s to personally thank him for being a fan? This internet thing really does bridge the gap between entertainers and their fans.

Currently, my favorite singer-songwriter is Geoff Baker and I have mentioned a bit about him here, and here, and here. I now consider it my mission to get my hands on some of his CDs (I currently listen to him via stream on Rhapsody) and donate them to the lovely Ashley of the wonderful WRVU radio show, Alphabet (stream her latest show here and view her playlists here). She likes Nick Drake and Jeffrey Lewis and everything cool in between. I'm betting that she'd love to play Geoff Baker as well.

One With Nature

Lying on one's back in the grass and seeing this above is about as peaceful a moment as there is. 

Ben & Jerry's Offends The Irish

Ben & Jerry's has offended many Irish people because of a new flavor named the "Black & Tan." To the Irish, that is the nickname of the British soldiers they fought during their war of independence. I had no idea. To me, "Black & Tan" has always been the name of a very good ale and stout. But I learned something new today. Anyway, Ben & Jerry's has apologized to anyone who might be offended by it. They're all about peace, love and good ice cream.

But what I really want to tell you has nothing to do with that. The really nice news is that on Tuesday, April 25, Free Cone Day is here. (Thanks Linda for the tip. Consider my calendar marked.) Oh yeah!

What's That Supposed To Mean?

I'm not often perplexed
by the messages
found on the backs
of trucks. 

This Pedestrian's Pedestrian Bridge

As It Turns Out...

...there are no pictures of naked people in this book. 

Charged Up And Playing Violin On 2nd Avenue

I snapped a shot, listened to him play for a bit, then tipped him $2 making for the perfect experience. 

Snaps Around My City

 

New Stooges? Oh Yeah!

Well, I'm trying not to get overly excited, but this has all of the makings of CD of the year in my book.

Iggy Pop and the reunited Stooges are back in the studio to make their first recording since 1973. Pitchfork tells me that Steve Albini is producing and Jack White is involved as well. In place of deceased bassist Dave Alexander is everyone's favorite, Mike Watt. There's no mention of a release date, but there is a tour with several dates already set.

I can't wait to hear this. In celebration and steady anticipation, I think I'll give "Your Pretty Face Is Going To Hell" from Raw Power a listen.