I was going to write a FMD post on the fact that I don't mind Nickleback and trying to somewhat defend their existence. But I didn't have the guts. Sorry. Talk about a way to goose up the comments.
Anyway drop 'em if you got 'em and let us know what other bands you would like to defend but don't have the energy.
Anyone watch or watching the Ken Burns gig on Country Music? I just have the last episode to left. Very good. I like the focus on different artists and would love to have off-shoot mini Burns documentaries on some of the characters we were introduced to, some we know very well (Johnny Cash) some we don't (Jimmy Rodgers). One thing I learned is that the George Jones song He Stopped Loving Her Today was released in 1980! I would've bet $100 that it was from the early 60s.
And completely unrelated, Gord Downie died two years ago yesterday. Here he is singing one of my favorite Guided By Voices songs.
Drop your lists if you got 'em.
Ed Ackerson died over the weekend at the age of 54. Not super well known but if you were a Minneapolis musician, you knew Ed. Sweet guy, great producer, awesome songwriter. Ed was in a bunch of Minneapolis bands including The 27 Various and Polara. Hard to find live stuff, but I was able to find this little gem.
(3 votes, average: 6.33 out of 10)
Loading... Did you know the LDS playoffs can go more than 4 games? Huh. I guess there still is baseball in 2019. Chat here if you'd like.
Here we go, playoff baseball. Milwaukee Brewers at Washington Nationals. Hottest team in baseball versus Max Scherzer.
Let's have some fun. First pitch at 7:08p
Lots of love and sadness for Ric Ocasek, especially for his work with The Cars. I was lucky enough to be in high school when those first two albums came out and they are still active on my playlist. In fact two good high school friends had a “Best Friends Girl” issue way back when and we still joke about it using that song.
Besides fronting The Cars, Ocasek produced 38 albums, some of which were The Cars of course, but a wide variety of others. Researching this post, I discovered he produced two Bad Brains albums, which I find amazing. Those are classic punk albums.
In the GBV world, Ocasek is known for producing Do The Collapse, which was Guided By Voices first foray into a highly produced rock album for a “big” label (Matador). Generally the album was well received and GBV fans have come around to the fact that it’s an album that wasn’t produced on a 4-track in the garage. The only issue that remains today is that Teenage FBI is probably over produced with a weird synthesizer effect that really isn’t needed oh and Hold on Hope was too much of a syrupy ballad. See video below.
Any way, Ric, you were your one weird looking dude who got to marry a super model and made or had a hand in a shit-ton of cool music. Plus you made me post about you instead of the the 50th anniversary of Abbey Road, which is my favorite album of all time. So good for you.
Last week of the season and the Twins should clinch the Central Division in the next day or so. Twins at the woebegone Tigers who have already lost 109 games. Hopefully the Twins get down to business and take at least two. Spencer Turnbull for the Tigers and has a 3-15 record, which is expected from a 109 loss team. Turnbull hasn’t had a Win since later May so here’s hoping he’s not due. Odorizzi on the mound and he’s been Twins most consistent pitcher and in 11 career starts, he's 5-1 with a 3.25 ERA against Detroit.
Game time at 5:40p and Cleveland at White Sox at 7:00p, so they will definitely be scoreboard watching in Chicago. C’mon Twins, let’s put this lousy team down so we can start chilling the Champagne.
Twins Lineup:
2B Arraez
SS Polanco
DH Cruz
LF Rosario
1B Gonzalex
3B Sano
RF Cave
CF Wade Jr.
C Castro
It's now one game in the rear view mirror, but the Twins got through their 12 games against decent teams stretch relatively unscathed (at least judging by wins and loses). Split the 12 games and especially splitting the six with Cleveland basically put the division crown in a stranglehold. Say what you will about this team, but resilient has to be one of the words you use.
Game two against the White Sox, and the Twins catch a break with Giolito being shut down for the season a day before he was about to start against the Twins. Dude's a great pitcher so whew!, but hopefully not a serious injury. Someone named Ross Detwiler up for the Sox with his 6.79 ERA and 1.67 WHIP. Ouch! Martin Perez pitching for Twins and after his nice start against the Red Sox, basically remembered he was Martin Perez and had a lousy outing against the Nats. Hopefully we can get a nice outing today against a White Sox team that's just kinda interested.
6:40p start again tonight. Will be a warm one at the ballpark but I think the rain should hold off until late.
Twins Lineup:
C Garver
SS Polanco
DH Cruz
RF Rosario
3B Sano
1B Gonzalez
LF Arraez
2B Schoop
CF LaMarre
Welcome to Pepper week!
DG played something else by this quartet last year, which let me to this wonderful piece composed by Gabriella Smith.
And if you're curious (as I was), according to their website, "the Aizuri Quartet draws its name from 'aizuri-e,' a style of predominantly blue Japanese woodblock printing that is noted for its vibrancy and incredible detail."
Book pairing: Creepy Carrots by Aaron Reynolds, illustrated by Peter Brown.
(4 votes, average: 8.75 out of 10)Loading... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twX3dU5iaqw
I'm still spending a lot of time listening to this album.
This piece is from an opera by Lembit Beecher, "Sophia's Forest", and this two part suite is the inner world of the narrator, an immigrant child fleeing a civil war. There are nine "sound sculptures" that are electronically manipulated in addition to the four string players.
I like this (and most everything else on the album) because it is certainly modern and not just straightforward string quartet music, but there is a lyricism and a theme that comes through without difficulty.
Plus, I figured just playing The Beths would be too easy.
(5 votes, average: 8.80 out of 10)Loading... 
