Hey, Everyone! Well, as you might have noticed, the posts have been a bit scarce in the second half of 2011. It’s been a rough year, honestly, and I’ve come pretty close to just throwing my hands up in the air, dropping everything, and running off to Alaska (Into the Wild style…). Of course, being a bit of a lazy sod, I only got as far as dropping everything. And now, here we are. So, what happened? And more importantly, what am I going to do about it?
Hi, Everyone! Sorry it’s been so quiet around here, and that I’ve been hoarding all the lovely things that people have been sending me. This has been a tough year. I’m in the last ten-day stretch of my Ph.D., and then I plan on doing some epic catching up. In the meantime, I thought I’d put together a little mix for you. For me, it’s a great mix of things to listen to as I drive on a late, Winter’s afternoon with the Sun sinking fast. Hopefully, you’ll find it enjoyable, too! See you all very soon…
I’ve been pretty quiet on the subject of R.E.M.’s final album: the forty-track, quasi-greatest-hits compilation Part Lies, Part Heart, Part Truth, Part Garbage: 1982-2011. At first, I didn’t really want to deal with the fact that this beloved band of mine was splitting. They have been the direct line through my musical history, and I honestly still feel pretty weird about contemplating a future without new R.E.M. in it.
But for the moment, we’ve got NPR to thank for a preview of the forthcoming release. You can hear the whole thing, including new tracks “A Month of Saturdays,” “We All Go Back To Where We Belong,” and “Hallelujah,” over at their First Listen series site. For my own part, I’ve made a video mix of some of my favorite moments in R.E.M. history, and you can find that below:
Continue reading “First Listen: R.E.M. – Part Lies, Part Heart, Part Truth, Part Garbage: 1982–2011”
It’s been a bit slow around here, huh? Sorry about that! I’ve been teaching three classes, working on a research project, and dealing with the Zombie Dissertation From Hell ™! I really do want to be a good blogger again… honest. But until that day, it’s time for a quick recap of some of the stuff that has gone whizzing by in my absence. I hope you enjoy!
Delta Rae is a North Carolina band with four lead singers, and a whole mess of harmonies. Their sound fuses Americana, Blues, Gospel, and Rock, and it comes at you like a freight train. In their new, Halloween-friendly single, “Bottom of the River” (video and free download below), the band creates an enormous sound that combines layered harmonies and driving, bodily percussion. The result is an earthy track that feels, fittingly enough, like a spell being cast.
Continue reading “Mailbag: Delta Rae: “Bottom of the River””