The Lonely Goatherd Blog And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats - Matthew 25:32
Up to the minute notes on the current state of free thinking and free living: Kentucky moonshine - original analysis and reporting from MoreThings, and all round pop culture museum of sight and sound - photo galleries, mp3 and video downloads.
Al Barger and MoreThings - getting people's goats since 1998.
Live free or die!
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Links
To explicitly state the obvious, these external links go to interesting and provocative websites, but they speak for themselves. I don't necessarily agree with anything they say - especially that no-goodnik Richard Marcus.
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The Red Hot Chili Peppers release their two CD set Stadium Arcadium. The single "Dani California" doesn't sound like much to me- it's barely better than the crappy Pearl Jam. It is, however, a hit single already. Curious though for a band with a new double album that they only played one new song for their big Saturday Night Live showcase last week. For a second number, they went all the way back to "Give It Away." What, there wasn't another new song worth playing?
Nick Lachey, the ex Mr Jessica Simpson has a new album. I didn't know that he was even a singer. Is there no end to his talent? Anyway, What's Left of Me is apparently about the breakup of his marriage. Thus, the AMG reviewer describes it as something of a boy band Blood on the Tracks. Kind of a Back Street Boys thing- with a little bit of Coldplay in the mix. Ouch.
Saving the cheesiest for last, Neil Young has a new album about Living With War. He brags on whipping up a whole album from scratch in a couple of days, but frankly it SOUNDS like it was thrown together in a couple of days. It's not like he spent any time thinking up these formulaic guitar blues. On the other hand, sometimes he manages to squeeze maximum effect out of plain generic elements.
Specifically, the centerpiece track "Let's Impeach the President" at least halfway works. There is, let us say, minimal melodic development, but it is kinda catchy in a dumb way. It has a certain brash boyish charm. By accident of my mix programming, I put this on a car CD followed immediately by some classic Judas Priest. Given the theme of the Neil Young sillyfest, the self-defense of the one "Breaking the Law" plays like a musically complimentary and intellectually appropriate answer from the president. Image W screaming, "You don't know what it's liiiiiiiiiiiiiike!"
Here's the complete list of this week's major new album releases, courtesy AMG:
Paul Simon Surprise Warner Bros. Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Singer/Songwriter, Pop/Rock
Gnarls Barkley St. Elsewhere Downtown Neo-Soul, Alternative Rap, Underground Rap, Alternative Pop/Rock, Hip-Hop
Nick Lachey What's Left of Me Jive/Zomba Adult Contemporary, Dance-Pop
Matmos The Rose Has Teeth in the Mouth of a Beast Matador Electronica, Experimental Techno
Red Hot Chili Peppers Stadium Arcadium Warner Bros. Funk Metal, Alternative Pop/Rock
Art Brut Bang Bang Rock & Roll Banana/Fierce Panda Indie Rock
Susana Baca Travesías Luaka Bop Latin Folk, Afro Peruvian
The Black Heart Procession The Spell Touch & Go Indie Rock
Jirí Barta Moscheles, Hummel: Cello Sonatas Hyperion Classical and Romantic Chamber Music
C.J. Chenier The Desperate Kingdom of Love World Village Zydeco, Creole
Popa Chubby Stealing the Devil's Guitar Blind Pig Contemporary Blues, Modern Electric Blues
Harry Connick, Jr. Harry on Broadway, Act 1 Sony Traditional Pop, American Popular Song
Alan Curtis Vivaldi: Motezuma Deutsche Grammophon Baroque Opera
