"I DON'T WANNA WAIT..."

one of the best things to come out of alabama since the drive-by truckers, these folks know how to lay down a groove & she can belt out what needs to be said as forcefully as any of them. there are shades of joplin here, which i don't mind a bit since it's more the texture of the voice than any imitative thing.
after a few bad days for pop music, it's always nice to hear something like this. it's what helps us hold on, i suppose.

ETTA JAMES RIP

a bad couple of days for pop music.

JOHNNY OTIS RIP

born to greek emigrants in vallejo ca, otis was commonly referred to as "the godfather of rhythm & blues." his life is just more proof that american pop culture is a mutt, lovable & handsome but a mutt nonetheless.

PRAYERFUL SIMPLICITY

from watching & waiting, a photography collection by steve mccurry. these are prayer flags in amdo, tibet. at odiyan, they used to hang the old worn-out prayer flags on a barren, lighting-struck tree that used to stand on the property where the new cintamani temple was built. prayers are not directed towards a god but rather generally aimed at the welfare of everyone, including enemies.

here's the link to more of mccurry's pics:
http://www.soulcatcherstudio.com/exhibitions/mccurry/index.htm

TONIGHT'S DESSERT

APPLE & CHERRY PIE

LAST NIGHT'S DINNER

HALIBUT W/SHORSHE BATA MAACH(BENGALI MUSTARD SEED SAUCE), ROASTED MAITAKE MUSHROOM, CASTELFRANCO GREENS W/AVOCADO,PARSLEY ROOT

FAVORITE 2011 MUSIC

here's my list of favorite music from 2011 that i posted over at the no depression site just before c'mas. this does not include new jazz or new classical. it would have included the black key's el camino but it came out after i'd drawn up the list.

in no particular order:

1) bonnie "prince" billy: WOLFROY GOES TO TOWN

2)tab benoit: MEDICINE

3)the low anthem: THE SMART FLESH

4)gillian welch: THE HARROW & THE HARVEST

5)tom waits: BAD AS ME

6)tom russell: MESABI

7)jeffrey foucault: THE HORSE LATITUDES

8)jessica lea mayfield: TELL ME

9)malcolm holcolme: TO DRINK THE RAIN

10)wilco: THE WHOLE LOVE

honorable mentions: the decemberists, jason isbell, gregg allman, monk boudreux, willem maker(agapao), austin lucas, slackeye slim, hellbound glory, glossary, the bo-keys, big harp, the deep dark woods, mike doughty, john hiatt, joseph arthur, dave alvin, buddy miller.

re-release of the year: mickey newbury, an american trilogy.

& i have to mention my new orleans friend, the great transcendent coco robicheaux. rip