Music

wow... right now I am watching Roy Orbison play alongside Bruce Springsteen and Elvis Costello on PBS (circa 1987). And it's just the best damn thing I've ever seen. I am on the verge of tears. This is what music should be like. They are playing with a ten or so piece band and I've never seen such a formidable group of musicians play together so seamlessly. There is no bandstanding, no showing off, no "look at me" moments. They just respect and admire each other and are playing for no other reason than to make good music. And it's just beautiful.

Not to mention Orbison's voice, at age 51, hadn't lost a ounce of potency. He could still nail 4 octaves and slide from octave 1 to 4 without a hiccup. I would almost buy a 45 just to play his vinyls and listen to it in its original glory. That man just transcended rock in so many ways, and people still don't quite get it. It's tragic that he will be remembered for "pretty woman" and his dark sunglasses and nothing else. Although those sunglasses were pimp.

You watch Springsteen, already a rock god at this point, playing not just backup guitar, but second backup, to Orbison, and being genuinely excited during every single song just to be there. He had begun his slide into "too big for his britches" stage, but this moment, this slice of the sublime, just totally humbled him. Amazing stuff.

Orbison would die a year later.

Here is some other stuff I'm listening to at the moment. Download it if you like music.

Pete Yorn - For Us (see what emotion and some real singing chops can do to a rather pedestrian song)

Phantom Planet- By the Bed (as close as you'll find to lyrical genius in pop rock. Not only is it a sick song, but every line is instantly relatable and it says so much in so few words. We can all learn something about picking our words carefully.)

Radiohead- Subterranean Homesick Alien (this is the song where they perfect the soft/loud dichotemy)

Calexico- All Systems Red (Emo kids, take note: Let the music scream instead of you.) (yes, this blog is named after this song)

Cat Power- The Greatest

Drive-By Truckers - Daylight (nothing like an amazing hook to fix that broken heart)

The Frames - In the Deep Shade

M. Ward - Sad, Sad Song

Modest Mouse- Long Distance Drunk (what a freakin beat. seriously.)

Guster - One Man Wrecking Machine (I could listen to the part where he says "...maybe get in her pants. Whatever." about a jillion times. That's GOLD I tell you!)