Influence of a good strange man

There's an interesting-looking show in New York concerning the influence of Henry Darger. Darger's an odd figure in the art world, even as Outsiders go. He seems to have been an uncomfortable figure in his own life. Some people feel too intensely, see in too high a contrast. Well, for some purposes at least. But if the man is out there, if he's watching and listening, at least he knows he's appreciated.

Blog under reconstruction

Well, more like blogger (not Blogger) under construction. Not plastic surgery construction*, but I am trying to make some life changes, which has cut into posting time. I do plan to return, though. My verbosity knows no bounds.

And now a word from our sponsor.


*I thought about getting the devil horn implants, but then my favorite hat wouldn't fit as well.

Bizarrely jazzless Friday Random Ten

Might be the first such selection here. The Mingus collection I loaded is another one of those sets that refuse to play on Friday. Without further ado:

1. Alison Krauss--Down to the River to Pray
2. Randy Newman--Memo to My Son
3. Gabrielle--Dreams
4. Paul Simon--Sure Don't Feel Like Love
5. Fairport Convention--Come All Ye
6. Tom Waits--Dirt in the Ground
7. T. Rex--Interstellar Soul
8. Isobel Campbell--Yearning
9. David Bowie--Fashion
10. Talking Heads--Psycho Killer

Little victories

Okay, so blogging has been a little on the light side recently. But it's not like I have nothing to show for my time. Herewith, two small but sweet accomplishments I can claim.

1. Sometimes a little behind the curve, I just recently found out about that thing where you can put quotation marks around a set of words and narrow down where you heard particular phrase, sentence, etc. For some time i've had this Ned's Atomic Dustbin song intermittently playing in my head. (I won't be too hurt if you laugh.) I was pretty sure it was by them, and that it was called "Desire." But on those terms I was never even able to find proof the song existed. Well, turns out that the song is by NAD, but it's called "Grey Cell Green." Weird title, but I can live with it.

2. Also, I've recently started making pasta sauce from scratch. Well, I'm not growing and pulping the tomatoes myself. But I've found that with the right kind of canned tomatoes, combined with mushrooms and a few other things, I can make something decent. Also it doesn't weigh down the noodles as much when I take in leftovers for lunch.

As far as adding the dried pumpkin seeds, the world might not be ready.

Notes from a procrastinator:)

Just thought of this recently. On the RI income tax form, there's a happy face next to the line you fill out if you're getting a refund. And, natch, a sad face for the amount you may still owe. Does this predate the popularity of online emoticons? I seem to remember these little mascots going back pretty far, so it's not impossible. Who says we don't have any pioneers here in the biggest little.

????/

Part of a vintage episode of I've Got a Secret. Something tells me that you're not likely to see anything like this on a game show produced now. Our loss.

I like Cage's somewhat Vincent Price-ly vocal manner. And as far as the radios are concerned, you gotta give him credit for thinking on his feet.

Friday Random Ten, now with 200% more commentary!

Well, i thought it might be nice to provide some context here. At no extra cost, too!

1. Marvin Gaye--Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler). The Moody Closer to the "What's Going On" album. Initially Berry Gordy was not happy about Gaye doing this angry funk stuff. It sold, though, so he learned to live with it.

2. Fats Domino--Jambalaya (On the Bayou). I bought a Fats Domino compilation a while ago, both because I had always loved "Ain't That a Shame" and because of the cover art. It's got some gems though, and this is one of them. While Hank Williams' original sounded very young, the still living Domino brings a more mature poignancy to the partying.

3. Sly & the Family Stone--Don't Call Me Nigger, Whitey. I've had "Stand" in ye olde iPod for a few weeks, but the songs tended not to come up much, especially on days I was compiling these lists. So I made a point of loading "There's a Riot Goin' On" too. This song is actually from the former, but has a pissed off feel (duh) people more associate with the latter.

4. The Kinks--Have a Cuppa Tea. Ray Davies rocks on his grandma. Hallelujah, Rosa lee!

5. Annie Lennox--Little Bird. Note to "American Idol" fans. This is what vocal gymnastics sound like when the song actually means something to the singer.

6. Scissor Sisters--Laura. Opens up their first album, and is totally catchy. They're still fairly fringe here in the states.

7. Beth Custer--Sixes. In the running for the most obscure cut I've ever included. Custer is a San Francisco-based composer, and this percussion based track is one of the pieces she wrote for/with dance company The Joe Goode Performance Group. Nifty.

8. Nat "King" Cole--Lush Life. Nat captures the despair in Billy Strayhorns song with a theatrical yet convincing ennui. Or something.

9. Milt Jackson--I Should Care. Good vibes, with a nice vocal by Kenny "Pancho" Hagood.

10. The Veldt--I Couldn't Care Less. Another kind of obscure one. The Veldt were a 90's Black rock group from NC, one that tapped into a kind of Echo and Bunnymen/My Bloody Valentine sound. Their debut ep (which I used to have on tape) captured some ears, and they recorded a major label debut called "Afrodisiac." Then they hit a wall, but the music is still good.

I think there was other stuff I wanted to blog about, but that'll be coming in the next couple of days. Nighty night.