Mike Bones: New Single and Impending Album
If you have a predisposition to sadness, you might want to stay away from this one. It won’t make you feel too much better, but that’s not to say that the songs that Mike Bones has crafted aren’t well thought out and brimming with emotion.
Bones is another musician who has seemingly mastered the loud/soft dynamic. There’s a great deal of punk in his music – even in the quiet sections, it seems that the intensity of his voice and despair that comes with it owes the same debt to the Sex Pistols as Leonard Cohen.
“What I Have Left,” his first single from his newest offering A Fool for Everyone, finds the singer/guitarist lamenting his loneliness amidst a rather lush arrangement of guitar, strings and piano. The thumping of simple drumming drives the song forward as Bones continues reminiscing and assuring his lost love of her future happiness. The 7 inch single comes replete with a Sian Alice Group remix that won’t be included on the proper album, which is due out February 3rd
Whereas his vocals may be maligned elsewhere, his voice seems fitting for the mood that Bones aims to set. He probably isn’t the most boisterous and energetic fellow as reveled through his lyrics, but it’s certain he’s aware of that fact – his music certainly is.
For the Social Registry roster, this isn’t necessarily in keeping with their other output, but it does hint at the possibilities of the label. They want urgent music to be recognized and perhaps Mike Bones will get his due.
MODEL SEEKING PAID ASSIGNMENTS
Reunion Times: Blur
A lot has transpired in the world since Think Tank was released in 2003: pirates, war, etc. But a great deal has happened in the lives of the men that make up Blur as well. Front-man, Damon Albarn has released a great deal of material with Gorillaz (alongside Del the Funkyhomosapien), guitarist Graham Coxon has worked on his solo career and drummer Dave Rowntree has entered politics – at least it’s with the Labor party.
But nearly 9 years since the band performed as a quartet, they’ll be performing in July at Hyde Park. The last time the group was together in this configuration was at London's Royal Festival Hall, but considering the musical prowess of each player, almost a decade off shouldn’t be too big of a problem.
The question now is: Why? Can fans be assured that his performance is for the love of it and not the $60 (£45) ticket price? We can’t be sure, but it’s probably a better deal than paying $100 to see the Who with only two original members left though.
Coming on the heels of Blur’s announcement has been a great deal of speculation. It’s not about new recordings however. It’s regarding the Glastonbury Festival. Just when you thought nothing could trump the Oasis/Jay-Z back and forth, imagine a row with Blur and the Gallagher brothers. Representatives of the festival have been tight lipped, but they haven’t said that Blur performing this summer won’t occur either. Don’t buy your tickets for that quite yet, but look forward to July nonetheless.
Marco Benvento to release (another) new album.
Marco Benevento has released two discs (one being a double live album) of material in the last year and some change. He’s toured with at least two different groups and is now preparing to release another full length on the Royal Potato Family - his own label.
This February 3rd will see the release of Me Not Me which counts eight covers and two Benevento originals amongst its track-listing. Before knowing this fact, I remarked to a label representative that I’d been listening to a lot of Keith Jarrett recently and the new Benevento disc would fit into that kick nicely. He said not to expect to hear the similarities. And that’s really surprising considering the melodic tendencies of Benevento and this predilection for large, ringing chords.
But during his latest tour, Benevento announced song titles prior to performing them – that’s not all too shocking, but it was a little bit surprising to hear him announce that he was ready to delve into a Deerhoof song. And you’ll find that the cover is included here on Me Not Me alongside tunes from Leonard Cohen, Beck, Led Zeppelin and Beatle George Harrison.
Instead of working with Russo (of the Benevento-Russo Duo), Benevento has again decided to record and tour with Reed Mathis, Matter Chamberlin and Andrew Barr. This combination should produce tightly wound rendition of the album tracks after having toured together for the past year or so.
Beginning with a stand at Oakland’s acclaimed Yoshi’s, the group plans to tour the West Coast during February.
Tracklisting:
01. Golden (My Morning Jacket) 02. Now They're Writing Music (Marco Benevento) 03. Seems So Long Ago Nancy (Leonard Cohen) 04. Mephisto (Marco Benevento) 05. Twin Killers (Deerhoof) 06. Call Home (Marco Benevento) 07. Heartbeats (The Knife) 08. Sing It Again (Beck) 09. Friends (Led Zeppelin) 10. Run Of The Mill (George Harrison)
Pride of Ownership
About those Rieslings
I've been particularly enjoying Rieslings from Oregon and Washington, of late; most notably the Hogue 2007, the Ste. Michelle 2007, and Columbia Winery's 2007 Cellarmaster's Reserve. Riesling, as you probably know, is a very sweet grape, and tends to make sweet wines. Many Rieslings are largely served as dessert wines. The Pacific Northwest climate, with its cool nights, and the soil conditions of eastern Washington, and the Columbia valley, grow particularly fine Riesling grapes. I started looking at Rieslings in particular because my mom, after seven years in Germany, developed a fondness for them, and the same climate conditions that make Rieslings flourish in Germany's Rhine and the Alsace apply to Oregon and Washington, especially the Columbia valley.
The Riesling grape is an old variety, popular in medieval Europe, and, according to DNA research by Ferdinand Regner, Riesling is likely descended from an old grape known as Gouais Blanc, or in German Weißer Heunisch. Vines were brought to Burgundy from Croatia by the Romans. Another parent is a cross between a wild vine and Traminer, which suggests to wine historians that Riesling was a Rhine development. Nineteenth century German emigrants brought traditional Johannisberg Riesling vines to New York, California, and Washington, and they've flourished ever since.
I suppose, if I had to choose between the Rieslings I've tried so far, I'd pick Columbia Winery's 2007 Cellarmaster's Reserve, but I've not had a bad Pacific Northwest Riesling yet— and I'm finding I like both the dry varieties, like the Chateau Ste. Michelle 2007 Dry Riesling, as well as the sweeter variants. That said, I'm curious about some of the Rieslings from outside the Columbia valley, and found an interesting list of Riesling recommendations to try.
I'm also curious about the German tradition of Eiswein, or "ice wine," in which the grapes are harvest very late, long past when they would usually be picked, in order for the water to evaporate via freezing. That means that the juice from the pressed grapes is richer, and much more saturated with sugar, producing a sweeter "dessert" wine. Pacific Rim Winery, rather than freezing the grapes on the vine in the traditional fashion, picks Riesling grapes then freezes them, pressing the grapes while they are still frozen, to produce Riesling Selenium Vineyard Vin De Glaciere. Chateau Ste. Michelle in 2006 was able to make a traditional ice wine, producing Chateau Ste. Michelle 2006 Eroica Riesling Ice Wine, which, while it sounds lovely (it's one of five times in a forty year history that the winery has had the right conditions for ice wine), seems to run around $75.00 a bottle.
I think I'll have to wait for another opportune late harvest freeze.
Dead Heart - Gogol's Nozdryov
Dead Souls was the signature novel from Nikolay Gogol, a Russian born in the Ukraine, written while living in Rome. It was first published in Russia in 1842, and was the book that established Gogol as the greatest Russian prose writer of his time. Gogol wrote many significant works, including Mirgorod, and the play Zhenitba, before supposedly burning his sequels to Dead Souls and then dying at the age of 43.
Nozdryov, his "Dead Souls" lead character, archetypes the utterly selfish man, the man who has unlimited fun but zero love.
Literally everything Nozdryov does, without exception, he does for his own amusement or pleasure. His defining character traits are lying and gambling. When he lies, he does so to amuse himself. When he gambles, he prefers to lose other people’s things.
Nozdryov has the narcissistic need to be at the center of everything, has to be involved in everything he sees, and his selfishness has no limits. He has no conscience. He has a dead heart.
"Nozdryov at the age of thirty-five was exactly what he had been at eighteen and at twenty: he loved having a good time.” (Pg. 76)
With this, Gogal satirizes Imperial Russia and foreshadows by some 70 years the revolution in Russia. He also self-satirizes the ironic leftist complaint that *other* forms of government are too intrusive.
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Nozdryov does love a good time, and like many hedonists has his charm, but the moment he sees something that he can take out of a relationship, he does not hesitate to extract it.
“Nozdryov’s type... friendships appear to be for life, but it almost always happens that anyone who becomes friends with such individuals will get into a fight with them that very evening at a friendly gathering.” (Pg. 76)
Nozdryov has no problem making a public scene -- flashing his unpleasant and obnoxious side, as the Tsarist nobles often did theirs -- where it suits his purpose. He likes attention and he likes to fight, especially (but not only) if it is for something he wants.
“Some event would inevitable occur: either the gendarmes would lead him out of the hall by both arms, or his own friends would be compelled to toss him out.”(Pg. 77)
Sobakevich, befriended by Nozdryov , becomes the immediate target of mean-spirited insults, when it is clear that is what it will take to induce Chichikov to visit Nozdryov’s home. These imperialists are so fickle, aren't they, comrade?
“’Dump him! Let’s go to my place... You’ll rue the day you were born as soon as you get there.’” (Pg. 73)
Yet later on, when Nozdryov cheats at checkers, he turns against Chichikov as well. For a moment we think it will come to physical conflict. Alas, it's not 1917 quite yet, so the violence is latent ....
“’So you don’t want to play out the game... beat him up!’ he shouted in a frenzy.” (Pg. 95)
Later, Nozdryov, when questioned about Chichikov, rats out Chichikov without a qualm.
“The closer anyone got to him, the more readily would he play a nasty trick on this person.” (Pg. 78)
“Nozdryov had sat down on the floor and begun grabbing at the skirts of the dancers, which was ‘unlike anything imaginable.’” (Pg. 196)
Of course, Nozdryov only shows his ugly side when his own interests are in unusual peril. Otherwise, he's funny and entertaining. And his love for gambling personifies his love for taking that which he has not earned.
“’As for me, my friend, I’m on my way back from the fair. Congratulate me, I’ve lost my shirt playing cards.’” (Pg. 69)
He gambles when he lies, when he cheats, and even when he befriends someone. The gambler is a selfish man, and this is the epitome of who Nozdryov is as a man.
“’I could have broken the whole bank.’ ‘Still, you didn’t break it,’ said the fair-headed fellow. ‘I didn’t break it because I doubled at the wrong time.’” (Pg. 70)
He even loses his beloved horses, so it is clear also that he can’t control himself when it comes to gambling.
“’You know, he’s prepared to sell his own father, or rather to lose him at cards.’” (Pg. 211)
Nozdryov not only enjoys his own lying, but enjoys accusing others of the same.
“’Now I’ll take you... to see the boundary line where my land ends... everything you see on this side... and even on the other side... and everything beyond the forest, all that’s mine.’” (Pg. 81)
As so often, there is absolutely no good reason to lie about this, so he does so with alacrity. And nobody is quicker to charge a lie than a liar...
“’You’re lying, you’re lying, you had no intention of combing him...’” (Pg. 74)
It’s comical to what extreme his lying is taken. After Nozdryov almost beats Chichikov up for calling baloney on his cheating, Nozdryov says:
“’You really did treat me very shabbily... when we were playing checkers... I just can’t stay angry.’” (Pg. 243)
By this time, Chichikov doesn’t even bother arguing with him. These soulless types are a waste of time.
Yet, even though Nozdryov is selfish, or maybe because he is selfish, he is great fun, and this tension prevents Gogol's novel from sinking into a dreary Orwellian navel-gaze. Uncompromosingly selfish people are often fun to watch, at least in the short term. He takes Chichikov for all he’s worth, loses everything at gambling, extravagantly claims the whole county is his land, and starts grabbing girls’ skirts. He has a dead heart, but he does manage to make your own heart laugh. And finally, in the concluding quote, Chichikov thinks about Nozdryov,
“’In what way is he different than the others? He’s a man just like them.’” (Pg. 75)
Nozdryov is a dead soul, with a dead heart, living on impulse only. Yet Gogol seems conflicted as to whether to give his lead a pass for the entire melodrama...
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The book has a somewhat lighter touch than many of the anti-establishment tirades from the classic era, and is no doubt a friendlier read. Dead Souls would be a worthwhile read if written today. But, anticipating the revolution by 75 years? Not bad, comrade Gogol. Not bad.
Cheers,
jemanji n j
image: http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/images/c0/c3340.jpg
Dickens' A Christmas Carol
Dickens' A Christmas Carol was first published on December 19, 1843. Written in a feverish haste during a time when, despite his best-selling author status, and the on-going sales of the serialized Martin Chuzzlewit, Dickens was terribly short of money, Dickens managed to write the entire work in six short weeks. The book was an immediate success. Dickens commissioned noted artist John Leech to create four hand-colored etchings and another four black and white wood engravings as illustrations. Dickens also saw to it that the book had an elaborate binding and gilt-edged pages.
A Christmas Carol was an astounding success. The first printing of 6,000 copies sold out in days, and a subsequent printing of 2,000 copies was sold out by the 6th of January. Although the book didn't make nearly enough money to alleviate Dickens' financial problems, its social impact inspired Dickens to write special "Christmas" books for several years, most notably The Chimes and The Cricket on the Hearth.
Despite the absence of immediate commercial success for A Christmas Carol, Dickens did have a very salutary, and ongoing, impact on English society and custom. Dickens began to read his work publicly, using a special version he edited himself for dramatic readings. In fact the initial popularity of the book was such that there were eight stage adaptations in production within months of the book's initial publication.
Dickens, a child of poverty himself, seems to have modeled the Cratchit family's "two up and two down" home on his own childhood home in a Victorian tenement. His social goal in A Christmas Carol was particularly to draw attention to the plight of poor children— allegorically identified in his novel as "This boy is Ignorance. This girl is Want." Dickens was a staunch supporter of education as the surest way to end poverty, to the point of being one of the major advocates of the "ragged schools," free schools for poor children.
The long term cultural effects of Dickens' little Christmas book have been profound, so profound that more than one writer as identified Dickens as "the man who invented Christmas," in terms of social customs, and associations about Christmas traditions, ranging from a Christmas turkey, instead of a goose, Christmas games (and caroling) and the perhaps popularizing further the German tradition of the Christmas tree, begun by Queen Victoria.
If you want the Christmas Carol experience for yourself, why not print a copy of the dramatic reading version Dickens himself used, for a family reading? Alternatively, you can read the book— and see the original illustrations here, or listen to Jonathan Winters reading Dickens' dramatic version.