#8 Desert Island Album

Number 8 is a special one for me. “Evgeny Kissin & Kremerat Balitca 'Mozart Piano Concertos 20 & 27'”.

Before I started writing this I asked myself, “How does one describe pure music?”. And before you ask, yes I do sound pompous when I talk to myself. But I could not find an answer to my original question. I could talk about the technical aspect of it, but I always thought that was boring. I could talk all flowery and poetic about it, but then I would sound even more pompous. So if you don't mind I'm going to flounder through hoping to catch a glimmer of this brilliance in the blog.

Let me start with Evgeny Kissin. This man is a genius, and I don't use that word lightly. In my opinion, to use that word a person has to be either truly innovated in their field or perfected their art. Kissin defiantly perfected his art. He was playing the piano by ear and improvise by the ripe old age of 2. Ten years later at the age of 12 he played Chopin's concertos 1 & 2 at the Great Hall of Moscow Conservatory.

I have listen to many piano virtuosos all of them great. Here is the problem that I hear with almost all of them. They are really amazing at playing one period of classical music. Most of them are brilliant at playing the Romantic period. When playing Beethoven or List they sound amazing. When they play Mozart or Bach not so much. Kissin isn't like that, he can play any piece of piano music he wants and he makes it sound beautiful.

I'm going from one genius to another, Mozart. I don't think I need to describe why I think Mozart is a genius. Even if you are not a fan of him, no one can deny the influence musical history. He is my favorite composer. I had a hard time choosing a piece from Mozart, there is only 626 pieces of music. I thought first to pick my favorite recording of his Requiem. Then I thought I would love one of his operas, there is a great version Don Giovanni that I love. However this recording, even only being two years old, is the one I listen to the most.

Mozart piano concerto 27 is a lively a moving piece. It always gives me a feeling of running. Not running away from something or towards something, but just running for the joy of it. Then it slows down and it feels like you sit to take breath. You feel your heart beat and you take a breath. Afterward, to get up and run again. I can't describe it better than that. I know it's only what I picture in my head, but there it is.

Mozart piano concerto 20 is not as upbeat as most of his music. It begins with a heavy orchestral that makes it feel almost as if something ominous is chasing you. Yet the entire time the piano part gives you a since of hope. Which the orchestra starts to follow along with. It feel like Mozart is trying to say the power of positive thinking can change anything. Kremerat Balitca does the best job with this orchestra I have heard in this piece since the movie Amadeus.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7cn_9ZuOq8&feature=bf_prev&list=LLLgbh1ytnydSmPp1cxVlVcw

This is a must have for me on any desert island.  

Conversation with Jess Album #9

JESS:I couldn't wait until I got the opportunity to talk to you about this one - you picked one of my two favorite bands of all time!   

ME:Well I do have exceedingly good taste.

I remember when I first heard the Eagles - I was 14, and had just gotten my first walkman cassette player.  No, I'm not old, or anything.  Anyway, my sister made me a tape of "Greatest Hits Volume 1" of theirs.  One listen, and I was hooked.  The sheer precision of their performances was amazing to me, and the tight vocal harmonies instantly captivated me.  The song "Best of My Love" especially got me - the ending harmonies were so sublime.  How did you discover them?  And what first got your attention?

I first heard of them because the country stars at the time did a tribute album of their works which was incredible poplar. I instantly hated the Eagles and that album, why you asked, because I was in Jr. High and hated anything that was really poplar. You know, because I was a “REBEL”. Then after the “Hell Freezes Over” album came out a was chatting up a girl at a party who really like them. So in my suave Jr. High way I told her, “Oh yay! Me too!”. I'm not sure if that helped, but I got to second base that night, so it didn't hurt. Later I listen to the album without any pre-prejudices, and found them incredible.

Hitting on girls - expanding teenagers musical interests since the dawn of time. "Gregorian Chant? I LOVE Gregorian Chant! Have you heard that one about 'Dies Irae'?"

The Eagles changed dramatically throughout the 70s - beginning as a Country/Folk/Rock group, with Don Henley being mainly a songwriter, to their later incarnation as a Southern Rock group, with Don Henley being the quasi-lead singer, and Timothy B. Schmidt and Joe Walsh giving a very urban edge to their sound.  What period of their music do you like the most, and why?  Or do you even have a favorite?

I don't have a certain favorite. I do, however, love the way they changed. The best bands I know change the way they do things. The Killers change their style ever album, Rolling Stones, the Beatles, Muse, all have a way to change their identities over and over again. IT is a true mark of a great band.

I agree. Stagnation is a mark of the creatively challenged. 

Now, we know that Hell Freezes Over is something like a Greatest Hits compilation - of their original albums, do you have a favorite?

Desperado... I know, I know... It's a sin not to say Hotel California, but you asked the question.

Not a bad choice at all. That one is my favorite of their early period. If it weren't for "Last Resort" and "Wasted Time," it would easily top "Hotel California" for me, as well. 

The Eagles began when Glenn Frey and Don Henley met while working as backup singers for Linda Ronstadt.  Within a week they wrote two songs - Tequila Sunrise and Desperado.  Desperado is obviously the more famous of the two, but Tequila Sunrise is more interesting to me as a musician.  I noticed that you picked it as perhaps your favorite.  I wanted to ask whether the changing of perspectives ever stood out to you: it starts in third person, talking about a boy.  Then it changes into talking about his woman.  Then it changes to first person, where he's unsuccessfully hitting on this same woman. I can't think of another song that changes subjects that much in such a short time (Billy Joel's "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant" does, but it's something like 9 minutes long, and it's basically a medley of three unrelated and unfinished songs).  You get a definite glimpse into this world, and it feels familiar, but you also feel like there's far more left unsaid than spoken.

Or am I reading far more into this than you think is really there?

I don't think writing a song in a shifting perception like that is as hard as you think. I just think it's something no one ever thinks to do. Your average writer of something short isn't think, “let me look at this from all angles” just, “here is a point of view”. Which is to bad because it does pull me into the world completely. And no I don't think you're reading to much into this.

Hotel California is musically interesting to me for completely different reasons.  Everybody thinks of it as having this awesome, unmistakable melody.  This is actually not at all true.  There are only three or four notes in the verse, and just a few in the chorus.  If I played them for you on a piano, you might not even be able to distinguish what song it is.  What makes it so interesting is the very unusual chord progression going on behind it, and the way that progression changes the sound of the unchanging melody.  The structure is also interesting - extended intro, verse, chorus, verse, chorus, verse - extremely extended guitar solo.  I can't think of another song with that form.  Do you think its unusual composition helped it to be so successful, or was it a hit despite its strange structure?

I think it's one of those rare beautiful arts in the world. One of the few that ascends the art in which it's in.

As much as people complain about it, things like structure, and non-originality are used because it is what works. Every now and then something will be different but not BAD. Usually when someone steps outside the structure it is horrible. However, every once in a blue moon you get a masterpiece, like Hotel California,

You know me; I love structure. It's one reason I think Toby Keith's songs fade in popularity so fast; he writes a perfect hook, but has no structure to his songs. That said, if an artist can transcend the rules, that's when you find greatness. I think of the great Classical and Jazz composers; they spent years learning all the rules, so that they'd know how and when breaking them would be the most effective. 

Great call on this one. Now I'm not sure if I can put one of my favorite two bands on my top ten list. Damn you, Caleb Baccus! But yeah, great choice. 

#9 Desert Island Albums

Honestly, number 9 I had a harder time picking then any other position on this list. I knew whatever I picked here would kick a lot of albums off the top ten. Albums I truly love from artist like The Cure, R.E.M., Micheal Jackson, and Queen all failed to get on this list because they were either going to be number 9 or nothing. After a lot of listening and soul searching, a lot of listening and second guessing, a lot of listening and asking for advice, and a LOT of listening I finally came to a decision. My number 9 Desert Island Album is the Eagles “Hell Freezes Over”.

Now I know what you are thinking, “of for crying out loud Caleb, That is such a cop out!”, and you are right it is. But I do not think I can get through this list without a cop out or two.

As for the album itself, what can I say that hasn't been said a thousand times about the Eagles. We all know about there beautiful harmonies and mellow sounds. We know they were a huge influence on the rock & roll in the 80's and country music of the 90's. So I guess I'll do my best not to bore you.

There is another slight problem with picking this album, and that's that there is more than one version of it. For those wanting to hear this I suggest getting the DVD edition. It is the one where the Eagles sing Don Henley's “The Heart of the Matter”, which is my favorite version of that song. Before singing the song Henley makes a statement about it that sums up writing, and I mean writing anything, better than anything else I've ever heard. “This song took me 40 years to write, and it takes about 5 minutes to sing.”

I have written a book that is about 90,000 words long. When people hear this they say things like”wow” or “that's amazing its so long”. And they wonder why I am not impressed with myself. I spent 7 years developing a world that would work, another 2 years writing the book, and so far the last 2 years rewriting it. So since my 20's were spent on this book, no 90,000 words don't seem that long when I think about it. So thank you Don for letting me know I am not the only one.

But let's forget about that we are here to talk about music, and music I have a relentless passion for.

This band, in my opinion, has a catalog of music that rivals any other band in history. And like all bands they have the song that started the career. 

Like all great bands they have a song that is my favorite from them. Not necessarily the best, or most thought of song when you think about them, but the one I most relate to. With the Eagles this song is “Tequila Sunrise”. Now to the best of my knowledge, I was never a hired hand. But I was a lonely boy out on the town a lot, and the way it work going up to women you need a push.

“Take another shot of courage
Wonder why the right words never come
You just get numb”

That was most every night of my youth. Sometimes I really miss it.

I could easily keep going on here, but let's face it, there is only one song you the readers want to hear. The song that no matter who you are, no matter how you are feeling, and no matter if you understand what the HELL they are talking about, is the song you want to listen to. So I;m just going to put it on and let you enjoy it. 

I truly think that is all I need to say. Hope to see you back for album #8!

Top 10 Desert Island Albums: #10

 I recently heard “The sweet and sultry sounds...” of a podcast called “The Fish Tank” by David Rodriguez, Hansel Orozco, and Brian Menard. They had an interesting two part episode called “Top Ten Desert Island Albums”. After I heard it I couldn't help but to think of the 10 albums I would take with me on a desert island to listen to. Later that night I was texting my best friend and professional musician, Jess T. Mills IV, about how hard it was picking these albums out. We came up with the idea of doing our own top tens on our blogs. We can do commentary on each others blogs during this. We decided to go one album at a time to delve more deeply into them. Also, if we pick one from an artist it can be the only one from that artist. Otherwise we might end up with 2 or 3 from such artist as Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan, Billy Joel, or The Eagles. So that brings us up to speed. Hope you enjoy it (although I know you won't enjoy it more than me and Jess), let's begin.

My number 10 album is a recent one, “Harlem River Blues” from Justin Townes Earl. It was released in 2010 by Bloodshot Records.

Let me give you a little history about Justin before I get in to the album. He is the son of singer/songwriter Steve Earle who made his name in the mid 80's with such hits as “Guitartown” and “Copperhead Road”. Steve was a protege of legendary songwriter Townes Van Zandt, whose songs including “If I Needed You”, “To Live Is To Fly”, and “No Places To Fall” are still considered standards in the genre. Carrying not one but two name sakes Justin Townes Earle had a lot to live up to.

Live up to it he did with an album that really explored his depth as a musician and songwriter himself. By the second song on this album, “One More Night in Brooklyn”, I got hooked. The song a beautiful base line that runs through the whole song. 

The album hits a sad and powerful point in the song “Slippin & Slidin”, a song about drifting down into addiction. As an addict himself Justin really let's you feel the downward slide, emphasized by the horns going down. I think he said it all with the lyrics:

Why do I try my luck?

I should never touch the stuff.

But it shouldn't make any difference.

As long as I keep up appearances.

What might be my favorite song on the album is “Chirstchurch Woman”. It is a song of hope, a hope for a better life represented in a woman that may or may not exist. I think I love most the change in attitude through the song. At the beginning he's “doing all right”, by the end:

I should be in my room, man I should learn how to forget.

Well she maybe pretty, but one day I'll get sick of her shit.

I put as the video a live version instead of the album, because I believe it shows some of the style of the album.

That's my number ten, what do you think Jess?

Jess: I enjoy your choice at number 10. It is best album of his that I have heard. I think his singing on the album "Midnight at the Movies" was better, but his songwriting and arranging are masterful on "Harlem River Blues".

Caleb: I agree with the singing, but I think he changed his way of singing searching for his own style.

Jess: I can definitely see that.  One of the hardest things about being a singer/songwriter is finding your own sound; you have to do it for both your voice and your songwriting style.  Not an easy task!  One of the intriguing things to me on that album is the almost triumphant gospel tone on the title track, which is a song about suicide.

Caleb: I've always wondered about that. Something I would ask him about if I ever got to meet him. It is an odd combination. 

Jess: His strength seems to be writing songs that speak to everyday emotions and difficulties. He's not writing about being a rock star, or a millionaire, or a badass, or a criminal who has killed twenty people. He's not writing about his immortal love of a perfect and beautiful woman. He writes about jobs, imperfect women, and the drudgery of life, and he writes it in a way that you know he lived it.  Almost like a modern, country version of Bruce Springsteen.

Caleb: I think that is what pulls me to his music so much. I have always connected to the the songs of struggle and strife. Those and sad songs about love have always been my favorite.

Jess: I remember when I first heard about him from you; you wouldn't stop raving about this new guy you'd found. I thought it'd be worth checking out, and I'm really glad I listened to you. I didn't listen to "Harlem River Blues" first, but when I did I could tell why you were so impressed. How did you hear about them?

Caleb: My brothers wouldn't stop telling me about them, but I had been in a Alterntive Rock mood for weeks so I wouldn't listen to the album. When I final did I was at work and put the album on a loop for about 6 hours. I just couldn't stop listening.

Jess: Awesome, great first album, Caleb.

Caleb: Thanks! Can't wait to hear your number 10. If any of you reading are interested, check Jess's blog, Jester's Journal, at  http://jessmills.blogspot.com/

and check back hear in a week to see my #9 Desert Island Album.