Category Archives: Music

#765: J is for Joan As Police Woman

I don’t know how I found her. In 2008, either because I hadread something or someonehad recommended her to me, I bought a CD. I don’t think I had a clue at the time about her collaborations with otherfamous artists or that she wasJeff Buckley’s fiancee up to thepoint of his tragic drowning.So beyond allContinue reading “#765: J is for Joan As Police Woman”

#763: J is for Jimenez, José

Filed under Jimenez, and not underBill Dana, the name of the comedian whoplays the character–José Jimenez The Astronaut, the First Man in Space, is the only comedy record albumin my collection, the only record in the collection that was once part of my parent’s record collection. That record was lost to me until I foundContinue reading “#763: J is for Jimenez, José”

#761: J is for Jethro Tull

Sitting on a park bench. Snot dripping down his nose. Both of my Jethro Tull albumsare used acquisitions, Aqualungstill has a price tag on it of $1.99. Aqualung, my friend, don’t you start away uneasy. You poor old sod, you see, it’s only me. And I want to know who has a friend namedafter aContinue reading “#761: J is for Jethro Tull”

#759: J is for Jellyfish

I cannot think of a better 90’s bandthat did not sound like the 90’s. Maybe The Posies or They Might BeGiants both come close, but thesecats, this Jellyfish band, I saw liveonce in their first iteration at a smallclub downtown shortly after that firstalbum, Bellybutton, and it was nearlya religious experience. Andy Sturmer, lead singingContinue reading “#759: J is for Jellyfish”

#756: J is for The Worst of Jefferson Airplane, or the Worst of American Airlines

Coming home from Dayton with a short layover in Chicago, our flight, scheduled for take-off from O’Hare at nine, is delayed because of “technical issues.” That’s just the thingyou want to hear waiting to boarda plane. Your thinking goes to uglyplaces. And then, on the other hand, statistically speaking, you are safer ina plane thanContinue reading “#756: J is for The Worst of Jefferson Airplane, or the Worst of American Airlines”

#751: J is for Japanese Breakfast

Even though the two albumsI have from Japanese Breakfastare titled after opposites on the emotional spectrum, jubilation and melancholy, when I listen to Michelle Zauner’s music, my own emotions run to the former of the two. Even the sadsongs evoke joy for me. I maybe wiping tears from the corners, but there is at theContinue reading “#751: J is for Japanese Breakfast”

#743: J is for Jackson, Kara

I can’t remember the last timeI was as hypnotized by a voice. Or the last time I fell in love withan album that was, ostensibly, folk. When Kara Jackson tours, I think, she’s just a singer with an acoustic. And while the songs are powerful delivered in this stripped down way,this record is sonically complex.Continue reading “#743: J is for Jackson, Kara”

#741: J is for Jacklin, Julia

Somehow Joe Jackson snuck in frontof Julia Jacklin in the stacks. One of my favoriterecords of 2022, Julia Jacklin’s Pre-Pleasure is a mellow, moody mix of singer-songwriter goodness, smart, evocative, sometimes funnylyrics and Julia’s soft but rich singing voice.“Lydia Wears A Cross,” the album opener, is a vivid study of children in church and allContinue reading “#741: J is for Jacklin, Julia”

#739: J is for Jackson, Joe

At first, Joe Jackson struck meas the “other” Elvis Costello, and at the time, in my teens, I could not imagine needing another one. I was wrong aboutthat, of course, and I knew itas soon as Jackson released the big band album, Jumpin’Jive. He actually beat Costelloto the punch with the genrehopping. But this, NightContinue reading “#739: J is for Jackson, Joe”