Tag Archives: music

#770: Interlude: An American Sonnet Before the Letter K

I couldn’t bring myself today to startat the top of the letter K listening to Kansas records. I’ve listened to the entire collection alphabetically up through the letter J and I need a break. Since October I have written 78,000words about music in these poem-like-things. But I couldn’t bear to break my streak, oddly, ofContinue reading “#770: Interlude: An American Sonnet Before the Letter K”

#769: J is for John, Elton John

I ran a search of all my poststo see how many times I had written about or at least namedElton John in a blog entry.The result: nineteen times. He was my first rock star idol. I was a fourth grader and my cousins played me Goodbye YellowBrick Road from start to finish. Almost immediately after,Continue reading “#769: J is for John, Elton John”

#768: J is for Jockstrap

Georgia Ellery and Taylor Skye are the electronic experimental Englishpop duo of Jockstrap, who, with I Love You, Jennifer B, have released the only album I am aware of for which the listener gets to design their own album cover. The absolutely blank bright greenrecord jacket contains the record, of course, in translucent green, andContinue reading “#768: J is for Jockstrap”

#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”