BungoJungo

Someday, I'll have the time and the money to go to the South by Southwest (SXSW) Festival .

At the link above, you can browse through the myriad of performers and listen to songs from most of them.  I did this last year and found some gems . 

This year is no different.

Carolyn Mark is the artist partially pictured above.  Her song, "Fireworks " is featured on her SXSW page (one of the best artist stories I've read in a while).   Any song that starts off with the lyrics "You're dumb when you're drunk.  Yeah, you heard me right." is bound for my play list.

I also stumbled upon a track entitled "Westboro Baptist Church ".  This song is now going to be my standard response when anyone talks about the Religious Right.  Thank you I Can Lick Any Sonofabitch in the House

I have about 150 more artists to sort through.

I've added some new links to the sidebar.

The link for Art historical images points to a site created by Dr. Mary Ann Sullivan.  Dr. Sullivan taught English at Bluffton College (I still can't bring myself to refer to it as a University) for many years.  I was fortunate enough to be part of a group from Bluffton, led by Dr. Sullivan, that studied in Poland during the Spring of 1993.  The site is an amazing collection of photographs taken by Mary Ann.

I've also added a link to KBCU .  KBCU is the Bethel College radio station.  I was the Program Director for the station when I was in school and consider it one of the best experiences I've ever had.   The medium of Radio is a mess right now.  KBCU is one of the great stations still on the air.

I am a very tolerant person when it comes to music.  I'll listen to any type of genre and I appreciate the talent it takes to make music.

However, the two following "artist" should stop making music.  The qualifications for this are entirely of my own choosing.

You are not Elvis.  You are not Marilyn.  You're not Garbo or Dietrich.  And, most importantly, you are not a musician.

The reason Kabbalahdonna is forced to change her image so often is her complete lack of ability to produce and perform anything with musical relevance.  People who list Madonna as an influence never refer to her music.

Ms. Ciccone has an abundance of talent.  Her persistence in changing how she looks, moves, speaks, and dresses has afforded her the constant and desired public attention.  She should retire her strained vocal chords and fall back on that great acting career she's built.

Bela Fleck and the Flecktones have released a new album entitled "The Hidden Land"

I was fortunate enough to see Bela play with Mike Marshall in Manhattan Kansas a few years ago.  Both of them are amazing  performers and musicians.

Bela is a truly unique force in the contemporary music scene.  He crosses genres successfully and with ease.  He challenges and re-formats conceptions of musical styles and compositions and creates new traditions.

There's a great Associated Press interview with him regarding the new album and his career.

I need to pick up the new record.  I've really enjoyed their recent collaborative efforts.  The new record is just the Flecktones.

I've seen the movie, but I haven't read the book

One of the main themes of the movie High Fidelity is  top 5 lists.  I'd rather not list my top 5 breakups (have I even dated 5 women?) or top 5 missed opportunities.

Instead, I'll do some top 5 music lists.  Comments encouraged.

Top 5 musical artists making music in my lifetime:

1. Bruce Cockburn – Incredibly prolific, stylistically diverse
2. Prince – Symbols notwithstanding, he can play anything
3. Patty Griffin – Diminutive woman, gigantic talent
4. John Leventhal – Amazing producer
5. Johnny Cash – Legend

Top 5 number 6 tracks: 

1. Someday – Steve Earle (Guitar Town)
2. Cry Like An Angel – Shawn Colvin (Steady On)
3. Get Up Stand Up – Bob Marley and the Wailers (Legend)
4. Day After Day – The Pretenders (The Singles)
5. Fat Man and Dancing Girl – Suzanne Vega (99.9 F°)

Top 5 songs to leave on repeat:

1. Train in Vain – The Clash
2. Happy Time – Daniel Johnston
3. Long Hair Man – The Horsies
4. Once in a Lifetime – Talking Heads
5. Saturday They'll All Be Back Again – David Wilcox