Replaying The Classics And Crying With The Crows

Replaying The Classics And Crying With The Crows

I've had my new Dell laptop for two weeks now. I must be lucky, because unlike so many other folks, my battery has not exploded, my computer didn't arrive bogged down with "bloatware," I haven't been attacked by any malicious viruses, and the supposedly lousy Windows Vista hasn't given me any problems yet. I count my blessings every morning.

So, I've been busy ripping my considerable CD collection to my hard drive. This has made for hours of entertainment. It has been a lot of fun going through my collection and pulling out some CDs that I haven't listened to in some time. There are some really good CDs hiding in the forgotten regions of my collection.

Under the Table and Dreaming by Dave Matthews Band is one of the first CDs I bought. It hasn't really been forgotten so much as under-appreciated. When I got to college and found out that everyone liked Dave Matthews Band, I lost a lot of interest in them. This is the band at their best though, before they became superstars and Dave still performed in his pajamas.

I remember the day I got my hands on Chroma Key's first two CDs Dead Air for Radios and You Go Now. It was the Thanksgiving break of my first year at Belhaven. Dead Air for Radios became one of my all time favorite CDs, while You Go Now seemed half-hearted and got overshadowed. However, I forgot how much I listened to both of them at the time. As such, You Go Now replays with a lot of old memories. There is some angry, depressed stuff on there! Anyway, I think You Go Now could use some reconsideration on my part. It's unique but strong recording.

I go way back with Counting Crows also. Their live album Across a Wire is the band at its best. I'm usually distrustful of live albums. Often the sound quality suffers, or the music is a stale reproduction of the studio recording. The Crows rearranged a lot of these songs, half of which are acoustic, while the other half is electric. That's not terribly original, but the performances stand out above and beyond many of the studio recordings. Sullivan Street is a great example of this. I also really like the versions of Raining in Baltimore and Anna Begins better than the album versions. The other notable performances are the acoustic Have You Seen Me Lately and the reinterpreted Mr. Jones.

I've heard a lot of negative things about Adam Duritz' stage presentation, but that certainly isn't the case on Across a Wire. He manages to sing many of his lines better than on some of the studio recordings. He's an earnest human voice behind some bleeding heart lyrics. His honesty keeps it from getting too sentimental. I've talked about his lyrics before, but how can you not shed a tear with the guy when he sings things like, "When everybody loves me, I hope I never get lonely." and, "It's good for everybody to hurt somebody once in a while. The things I do to people I love shouldn't be allowed." Duritz and I shared a few moments this weekend. Across a Wire is one of a handful of live albums that have made that kind of an impact on me.

I even dusted off my best of Bon Jovi CD after I heard one of the songs on the radio. That guy used to have a really good voice. Age has not treated it well though. Momma, don't let your boys grow up to be cowboys. Particularly not the kind that rides on a steel horse with a six string on his back. He'll only go down in a blaze of glory.


It was me and my sidekick
He was drunk and I was sick
We were caught up in a barroom fight
Till an Indian shot out the light

I'm so tired of being tired
Sure as night will follow day
Most things I worry about
Never happen anyway...
- Tom Petty

Happy Groundhog Day!

Happy Groundhog Day!!

And what a happy day it is! Punxsutawney Phil warbled out of his warm, cozy hole with all the confidence and gusto necessary to face the new day. And afraid of his shadow, he was not! This means, my friends, that spring is most certainly on its way to an early arrival. This is only the 14th time since 1886 that Phil has predicted an early spring - a rare event which may not happen again in our lifetimes!

Of course, this news could not come at a better time. This cold is starting to hammer me down. I don't think I can take six more weeks. Here's to spring, and here's to our hero Punxsutawney Phil! Hip, hip, hooray!!

Routine was the theme...
He'd wake up, wash and pour himself
Into uniform
Something he hadn't imagined being...

As the merging traffic passed
He found himself staring
Down... at his own hands
Not remembering the change, not recalling the plan
Was it...?

He was okay
But wondering about wandering
Was it age?... By consequence?... or was he moved by
Sleight of hand?
- Pearl Jam