The greatest song from one of my favorite albums of all time. Jackson Browne pulled out all the stops in this collection of songs that so vividly and eloquently capture the plight of the human spirit. Songs of heartbreak, longing and hope permeate this 1974 disk.
I link this particular song because it displays the incomparable David Lindley.
Browsing Posts published in February, 2010
A song of sheer beauty from one of the best rock and roll films of all time.
When it comes to the 2009 Academy Awards coming up in three weeks there is no greater lock than that of Jeff Bridges playing the role of a down on his luck country singer in Crazy Heart. The movie is based upon a 1987 novel by Thomas Cobb. The book is capable and a worthy read and the romance that pulls at the heart of the story is sweet and memorable. However, the true story here is of Bad Blake, a sort of crooning version of The Wrestler, a parody of what he once was but hoping to return to former glory.
It is no secret that many athletes profess faith in God. Displays of faith and piety are common scenes following a touchdown or at half-court following a game. Athletes in Action and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes are prominent nonprofit ministries that wield a great amount of influence upon the sports landscape. Tom Krattenmaker’s Onward Christian Athletes: Turning Ballparks into Pulpits and Players into Preachers is a look at the world that is faith-based athletics. Krattenmaker is a critic of such public displays and sends a warning cry about hidden agendas behind these organizations and the potential that pluralism is muted as a result. I decided to give this a read after I visited an Oklahoma City Thunder game recently and was surprised to note that a Christian prayer was offered prior to tip-off. I did not realize that still took place and was hoping for some illumination. Although Krattenmaker has great points and give sufficient notice to what is going on it does not warrant a full length book. The material was too scant to be anything more than a journal piece.
The Alchemist by Paolo Coelho is a much loved book. It has been translated into multiple languages and sold over 65 million copies since its release in 1988. It is viewed by many as a classic. A young shepherd chases after his dream and a treasure that is revealed to him through a dream. Despite the positive buzz the book was, to me, a tedious exercise of self-help mumbo-jumbo and trite philosophy. It is “The Secret” in narrative form, Dr. Phil as an alchemist. For a true coming of age story set in a comparable locale I will stick with Hesse’s Sidhartha.
There have been a number of political novels that have launched salvos in recent weeks. Alongside Jenny Sanford’s memoir and the Andrew Young tell-all, Game Change has been a source of discussion across the country.
Written by two highly regarded political writers, this book is a behind the scenes look at the 2008 campaign that purports to go behind the scenes unlike any of the other books that have already been released. The authors claim that all of this is substantially backed up, although there are no footnotes.
Regardless of the exactitude of the book it is an engrossing read. John Edwards is painted as an empty suit whose delusions of power even at the time that he was most in the snares of Rielle Hunter is staggering. Palin is, of course, portrayed as the political idiot that she is. McCain’s campaign is of course ineffectual.
I have read several books about the campaign thus far. This is, by far, the most enjoyable. I just would have liked a little bit of citation to go along with it.
Dylan has more popular songs. He even has songs that are musically and lyrically superior to this one. However there is no song in his impressive oeuvre that had a greater impact.
This song, chronicling the misjustice accorded to Ruben Carter, created such a cause celebre that it would ultimately lead to his exoneration. THAT is the power of music. It was this song that truly introduced me to the world of protest music over 20 years ago.
Blogging through every book that I read during the year means that I can’t get behind or I have a huge backlog of titles to work through. In the interest of succinctness I will give a basic up or down on the last 5:
Why We Suck: A Feel Good Guide to Staying Fat, Loud, Lazy and Stupid by Dr. Denis Leary
Leary can grow old quickly, especially as he tries to channel George Carlin. However, when he is on he is definitely on. The advantage of the audio book is that Leary narrates and you are able to experience a performance of the material rather than a recitation. It is worth a listen for the section on Oprah alone.
Captain Underpants and the Wrath of the Wicked Wedgie Woman by Dave Pilkey
This is just fun reading and there is nothing more enjoyable than reading this sophomoric scatological series with an irreverent six year old.
The Gingerbread Girl by Stephen King
This is a novel of a young woman who picks up running after the sudden death of her infant daughter. She ends up running from her life to an isolated stretch of beach. She runs straight into the path of a psychopath. This captures the heart of some of King’s classic psychological horror stories. I am not a fan of Mare Winningham’s narration but it is vintage King writing.
84 Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff
This is a fun epistolary collection that chronicles Hanff’s exchange with a London bookseller over the course of two decades. It was made into a stage play and a film but the reading is not os such substantive weight that would make me think that either would be worth going out of the way to witness. It is a light and easy read but nothing overly memorable.
My Dead Girlfriend by Eric Wight
This graphic novel bills itself as being part 1. I anxiously await volume 2 but it seems to have been delayed. Nevertheless a highly enjoyable read. If you like graphic novels then pick this one up.
I Slept With Joey Ramone by Mickey Leigh
This is one of my favorite reads thus far this year. Mickey Leigh was the younger brother of Joey Ramone. He has written a memoir that traces his life in wake of the supernova that was the frontman for the greatest punk rock band of all time. I have read some criticism that Leigh figures too prominently in the story but this is not a story about the band. It is about Mickey and Joey and that is important to remember. What transpires is an intimate portrayal that holds no punches but at its core depicts the power of family and devotion. A must read for a fan.
I can think of no greater musical injustice than the fact that Michael McDermott is not a household name. He is the greatest songwriter of my generation and his lyrics resonate with me more than any other artist. He writs the human need for belonging and meaning so well and every song is laden with heart and emotion.
This song is a beautiful tune of redemption and hope. In 40+ years of church going this ranks as fine of a hymn as I know. It is not a song of blessed assurance but fervent hope in the midst of doubt. That speaks volumes to me.
This is, quite simply, one of the greatest Heavy Metal songs of all time. When I first discovered Metallica back in 1984 I did not fully realize that I would spend the remainder of the decade as an unapologetic metal-head. Ride The Lightning was the impetus behind that. I lost interest in Metallica years ago but this song, about a man contemplating suicide, still has me banging my head.
This is a fine dystopian novel that I would run great risk of spoiling it if I said too much. It has been adequately described as a sort of Logan’s Run. Although this time the cut off age is 50 and those who are are committed to the Unit are used as guinea pigs for medical experiments and organ donors.
Holmqvist tells the story in an understated manner that allows you to immerse yourself in the story while the action precedes at a pace that could be described as languid but is deceptively action packed.
What results is a sober look at the meaning of life, the value of individuals and the dangers of rampant capitalism. Having read this so soon after The Girl Who Played With Fire it is obvious to me that some of the best fiction today is coming out of Scandinavian countries.
These two books are a pair of graphic novels that I found to be fun reads. My two oldest daughters have recently expressed some interest in Greek mythology with the impending release of The Lightning Thief movie and a screening of Jason and the Argonauts. With their interest I realized I needed to do some brushing up on the stories.
The story of Demeter and Persephone is an intriguing one. The story explains in Greek lore the reason for the seasons and this book captures the legend in succinct and captivating ways.
Out From Boneville is the first in an epic series of graphic novels entitled Bone. I don’t know much about what the series is about strictly from the first entry but it is intriguing enough for me to read more. If you are a fan of graphic novels then both of these are worth picking up.
