i went there on business

woke up, rolled out of bed. that's where the beatles reference ends. it was misting out and that seemed just right. gray and gloomy. this was yesterday? yes, yesterday. my head throbbed. i remember thinking i should flush my phone down the toilet. i am a man of impulse, not thought!
so, things weren't looking great.
then something snapped. crackled. popped!! (jesus, that's terrible.)
got on the 70 and headed to the record store. quickly, like taking an antidote.
it's not easy for me to find people to record shop with. i take a long time. i don't like to converse when i'm doing it. i'm meticulous, cuz, otherwise, i may miss something. solomon burke was playing, so that was a good start. cuz sometimes the fine folks at EDM play some horrid shit. wasteful, really, with all that magic at yr fingertips.
and clouds parted, and solid rays of light shone a path. angels don't exist, i know, nor devils. but sometimes i write them into my story.
i flipped through the records, the cd's, and that feeling of well being returned. i miss that feeling. and there was all this beautiful music, just throwing itself at me. and i'm sure i passed over something special. and that's exciting. because it's out there now, waiting for me, waiting for me to redlightgreenlightonetwothree at just the right moment. but these are the few i was lucky enough to stumble on:

1.von sudenfed-tromatic reflexxions. yeah, i know, i'm not a huge electronic fan. but, jesus, mark e. smith fronts this band!! and i will buy anything the man puts his name on. cuz he's never done anything bad. and he is the coolest man to walk god's god awful world. check out the falls peel sessions box set if you don't believe me. as for this one, well, i like it but i won't subject you good folks to it.

2.gil scott-heron-pieces of a man. jazz poetry. y'know.'the revolution will not be televised'. one of those guys i've always been interested in but never got into. so now i'm gonna try. to be honest, part of the reason i got this is to bolster my snob rep.

3.r.e.m.-fables of the reconstruction. i always thought 'reconstruction of the fables' would have been a better title. but what do i know? i'm a deli clerk and these cats are billionaires. i've found myself in the position of having to rebuild my record collection. so this is a step. this is a great, tho' imperfect album. but it's worth the money for 'driver 8'. don't know it? download it. you'll thank me. or at least not curse me. which, really, is just as good.

4.vic chesnutt-north star deserter. i will always buy whatever vic puts out. he is beautiful. there's not a voice that moves me more. i am, frequently, brought to tears by the man. don't tell anyone that tho'. i gotta seem cool for the ladies. another solid album. another great band behind him. he mixes it up. i like that. tho' really, i'd just like to hear him re-create 'little' over and over. please, do yourself a favor, and own 'little'. there is, simply, nothing better. oh, and he covers a nina simone song on this album. probly the only guy who could do it right.

5.camper van beethoven-key lime pie. their last album. y'know before they re-formed. but in my mind, this was it. what can i say? i'm a big lowery fan. i remember trying to explain to lucy what a californian accent sounded like. i don't know if there is one, but if there is, he has it. a mellow twang. and i think their quirkiness (like they might be giants') obscures the beautiful music, and lyrics, and moods, they create. i was recently reminded how great a song 'all her favorite fruit' is. another example of the everyday sadness, and beauty, we're surrounded with everyday. that sadness and beauty makes me glad to be alive. again, don't tell anyone. the rep. plus, it's got 'when i win the lottery' on it, which i'm petitioning to become the new national anthem.

6.uncle tupelo-still feel gone. uncle tupelo were supposed to be a country band. anyone who's heard them knows that's bullshit. they're more like dinosaur jr. or maybe i'm just saying that because this album was recorded at fort apache. anyone get that reference? and this album has 'gun'. tweedys' (yeah, jeff 'wilco' tweedy) finest uncle tupelo moment. sounds like he swallowed westerberg whole. 'my heart, it was a gun/ but it's unloaded now/ so don't bother'. i wish i wrote that song when i was 23. i coulda been a contender! instead of a bum. which is what i am. that's a quote from 'raging bull'. seen that? it's great. i love boxing, by the way. that upsets some people. what can i say. i live vicariously.

7.the hold steady-stay positive. i'm gonna keep this brief, cuz i have a big piece planned on the hold steady. i'll say this: i haven't felt so invigorated, haven't had such a visceral response to a band since i first heard springsteen. and i was fucking 9 when i first heard springsteen. (idea for a posting: did hearing 'the river', the album, and more specifically, the song when i was nine alter the way i view the world? did springsteen ruin my life? if i had listened to the knack would i be more mentally healthy?) what a joyful band. i don't wanna get into it too long. these guys deserve their own piece. but i'll say this: the hold steady restore my faith in ROCK! be it dead or alive....

well, i've gone on long enough. and i can't imagine any of you are all that interested in my humble opinions. but i'd like to thank these records for saving me. once again. there will always be a debt i can't repay.