Summer's Here

And the time is right for dancing in the streets. I haven't had a whole heck of a lot of spending money nor time, but I have been able to pick up some great music in the last month. I've also had the chance to revisit some dusty goodies as well, something I always try to do each summer while not working.
What I have picked up has been wonderful. I would recommend everything to anyone who remotely shares my tastes in music. Since my readership is about two people strong and we all know each other's tastes, anyway, I'm talking to you! What I've picked up:

Traveling Wilburys box. While the two "radio-friendly" singles from Volume I are the best songs ("Handle With Care", "End of the Line"), both records are wonderful, well-produced and written. Masters of songcraft and performance, the Wilburys execute twice what most bands struggle to do once: make solid songs. This isn't the lost masterpiece like "Smile" or "The Ties That Bind" but these songs flowly effortlessly and consistently. Orbison, Petty, Lynne, Harrison and Dylan: in the mid-80s, no one was breaking new ground, but they were all holding steady. Jeff Lynne's production is surely evident; since he always wanted to be in the Beatles, what he could do here is simply make the band sound like they were as closely related as possible. With that, the vocal harmonies soar, the guitar parts are distinguishable, the drums are miked perfectly and the clutter that hurts so many songs is simply not present. One can trace Lynne's handiwork over the next decade: Petty's "Full Moon Fever" (this one a classic) and the Beatles' Anthology series, both which I'll hit later.

Sonny Rollins - Newk's Time. This session from fall, 1957, is a solidly-cut if forgettable record. I love Sonny. No one, regardless of instrument, is or was as hot as Sonny in the late '50s and early '60s when he was on his game. However, this record has the nasty misfortune of falling around the same time as masterpieces that simply get more recognition: Tenor Madness, Way Out West, The Bridge, Freedom Suite, and of course, Saxophone Colossus. That being said, buy this record, throw it on and turn it up for modern jazz lacks everything found on this record: playful solos, a driving yet concise rhythm section and the members' abilities to wrap up their statements in under six minutes per song. "Newk's Time" won't be Sonny's best but it just may be his most consistent.

Tom Petty - Anthology. I must admit, I've never been one for greatest hits collections. I guess it's part of being a history major but if one delves into an artist, get your hands dirty and discover the warts an' all as you discover as much as possible about a topic of interest. On top of that, I must say that I've always been a 'casual' Petty fan. I caught him a couple of years ago (albeit simply because he was the headliner for the best 'opening' band ever in 8/05) and his performance was simply good. That all said, Tom Petty's music is deceptively difficult, catchy as hell and always, always good, polished rock and roll. I think it took being in a working band to really come to love Tom Petty's work; you sit down and bang out all of those three-minute rocking classic tunes like he did. Trouble is, you can't. Even some of rock and roll's greatest artists can't. Yes? Floyd? While Tom Petty's music isn't the social statement or instrumental genius of his era, The Heartbreakers sit in the pantheon of bands that DELIVER. This, with the fact that I can't go dump a Benjamin on his catalogue, I figured I'd start with this inexpensive two discer (yup, this is my first Petty cd!). You name it, it's here. What this collection simply has done is assemble everything someone probably would assemble if still using Napster. From "American Girl" to "Mary Jane's Last Dance", there really isn't a bummer cut in this whole collection, except for maybe one from his first record. Just as ugly as Neil Young with a voice rivaling Dylan's in nasal-twang (remember that SNL skit with Adam Sandler and David Spade?), Tom Petty is a true rock and roll warhorse. I dare you to put this one on just for a couple of tunes. Can't. Plus, this beats having to listen to the radio for an entire day to hear a couple of his tunes and say, "man, I need to buy some Tom Petty".

Now, the two sleeper records of the summer, both worth picking up immediately upon reading this. The first is Ian Hunter's Shrunken Heads. The former Mott the Hoople leader, this record sounds like Willy Nelson's rocking cousin. Here's a guy who's sixty-eight years old who isn't trying to sound young, isn't trying to impress anyone and isn't trying to sound like he is what he used to be (sorry, Macca, but there isn't enough Starbucks coffee in the world to make me think your latest sits next to Abbey Road). Described as "Dylan backed by Exile-era Stones", Ian Hunter's record catches you completely off-guard - who the heck at this age still has anything to say, especially with this much energy? Well, the answer comes in this record. No ephiphanies, but you do hear a man who's looking back without being weepy. However, this record isn't the slightest bit derivitive of anything or anyone. One would fail to hear even the slightest bit of Mott in this one. Great rootsy rock and roll. This would be great to hear in a bar. If Hunter was playing (or anyone sounding like him) at my local bar with tunes like these, I'd be there singing along every night. This record just may be the score of the year.

That's because this next one was released last year: Willie Nile's "Streets of New York". I discovered this artist in Backstreets magazine but I didn't buy it for my Bruce jones or because of my fetish with NYC. In fact, I didn't want to buy it simply because it would be like playing the Six Degrees game even though this one person was the Pluto to the major star's Sun. Being able to sample it at the new-and-improved Rasputin's in Concord (taking over Tower's remains), this one immediately blew me away. I really wanted to call you, Chris Brown, on this one, because so much of it reminds me of your love of indie- and early-80s based alt/punk/new wave stuff. Elvis Costello/The Clash rock sensibility with the singer/songwriter sound of aTom Waits or Billy Joel ( minus the immense piano-playing ability). I don't necessarily get the sense that I'm in New York listening to this album, though the dropping of geographical locations does help paint a great mental picture in many of the cuts. This doesn't need to be a "New York" album like, say, Lou Reed's album from the '80s. There are great rockers, introspective ballads, drunken sing-alongs. This will seems to play well across the seasons, unlike so much rock and roll that I can't listen to based on the weather, the climate or my phyisical location. Jack Johnson doesn't cut it being inside all day; Jimmy Buffett only out by the pool with a Crown and Coke or three. While Willie Nile may only be a regional hit, this one's the club barn-burner to Hunter's bar buster. I need to find more of this guy. Caveat: Lucinda Williams raves about him (plus) but a lot of Springsteen fans follow him simply because he's been given props by the Boss. "Streets of New York" may just beat out "Shrunken Heads" as my favorite find of the year.

On a more basic note: Bruce looks to be hitting the Bay Area in October; I can only pray for two dates during my fall break. His new album continues to make me smile. Can anyone tell me if the new Rolling Stones catalogue (new within the last three or so years of recent remasters) has non-SACD versions? I found out the hard way that my new system can't play SACD. Imagine wanting to hear "Salt of the Earth" from Beggar's Banquet and being denied? Travesty. Finally, my oldest son's taken to the Beatles!!! I can't imagine how or why! ;) I have the Anthology DVDs which I always play only in July (don't ask why). I figured that one of them would keep him quiet while I was preparing dinner, so I threw on the most "kid friendly": 1969-1970. The colorful costumes, sing-songy choruses and day-glo colors did keep him entertained. I wasn't prepared for what has happened this last week: my son emphatically telling us the names of each Beatle when seeing their images on the screen; requesting to watch the Yellow Submarine segment, and not just the cartoony parts, and singing the songs, even without the music playing ("Koo koo kajoob" at breakfast this morning, no kidding). "All Together Now", "Hello Goodbye", "I Am the Walrus". I haven't seen my son this jazzed about songs like this since the "Owl Song" (points for anyone to guess this classic Stones song). I just love my son's ability to hold a tune and quote lyrics throughout the day, often without music playing. I guess he just knows what good music is. This is maybe God's way of proving that not all is lost about the world. :)

I'm not sure whether I'll be able to post later this week as I need to prepare for a new class I'm teaching: AP American Government and Politics. I'm thinking that the first year will simply be doable until further training helps me make it a great class. Material's not tough; it's just not as familiar to me as history. With that, Lefty, I want to wish you a happy and healthy "GREAT 36th" as you experience some spiritual peace at Vernal Falls or wherever you may roam this weekend. Celebrate knowing you're well-loved and missed by people strewn all over God's earth. Didja hear about the Phil show that night!?!?!!?!? :)