en http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/uk/ Thu, 1 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 Thu, 1 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 60 http://www.audioscrobbler.net/data/webservices http://www.last.fm/user/gary_lankford/journal The Last.fm journal for gary_lankford. Last.fm journals are a place to talk about all things music. http://www.last.fm/user/gary_lankford/journal/2006/05/30/3wse_back_in_the_u.s.s.r. Tue, 30 May 2006 19:22:22 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/gary_lankford/journal/2006/05/30/3wse_back_in_the_u.s.s.r. Back in the U.S.S.R.

I was posting a "Welcome" message from Classic Rock to the Shoutboxes of new members when I saw belyj-bada's avatar (he's one of our newest members). It was his avatar that caught my attention, but if I hadn't checked his country, I would probably have just smiled and continued on. As I thought about the incongruities and ironies of avatar and country (he's from the Russian Federation, I became more intrigued and finally decided to PM belyj-bada to ask if I could post his avatar on Classic Rock. At that point, I had an avatar, but I didn't yet realize that there might be a story.
On May 30, 2006, 05:20 you wrote:
Hi,
I love your Avatar. It's like, so inappropriate for a Russian guy. Would you mind if I posted it on the Classic Rock page along with your country of origin? Only with your permission and only for a few days(?)
His avatar may have been what caught my attention, and his country may have been what intrigued me, but it was his reply that made me think there was something else to be said.
On May 30, 2006, 10:00 you wrote:
If you're interested about it, I could say, that such inappropriation was one of the reasons I made it. And another one was that I like past times of american culture, the romance of highways, road trips, I like hippies. I love every thing related to America, espesially times of 60's-80's. Today is just very modern, but also interest, I hope. I respect America.
Well, you can post it. This comments, I guess, will be interesting too. Please, send me a link, I've not long ago accepted a membership in Classic Rock group, and I can't orientate myself sufficiently well.
It was just a few years ago by my standards, if not by yours (the older you get the more a lot of years seem like a few), that not only would belyj-bada not have been on the internet (true for most of us), but the kind of sentiment spoken by both his avatar and his PM might have gotten him a visit from the secret police. That belyj-bada is here on last.fm and listening to 'Classic Rock' attests to great changes wrought in the world over the period of my life, but not only in technology. :lol:

One of my earliest political memories is of the Cuban Missile Crisis; I was seven and in the second grade. We were required to bring canned goods and blankets to school, in case it became necessary to hide in the basement while missiles were coming in. :) I won't claim to have understood exactly what was happening during that crisis then (does anybody know now?), but I understood that there might be a war and that the world as we knew it might be destroyed. Hey, I had seen "On The Beach" and numerous other "WWIII" doomsday movies and "Twilight Zone" episodes. I understood that WWIII would likely mean 'no more people' and I could understand that also meant 'no more me'.

The possibility of nuclear war was a life defining fear for many of my generation. As a college student in 1976, I was certain that there would be nuclear war within the next ten years. To my thinking, the election of Ronald Reagan, and the renewed arms race brought about the economic and then political collapse of the old Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact communist regimes. Whatever the underlying causes they did fall and the rest of the world breathed a sigh of relief; the threat of full-scale nuclear war began to recede and a new era began.

Read belyj-bada's pm above and you will see that there is not one direct reference to 'American' politics in it (please those of you from other American countries, don't take offense; I'm using the word American as equal to United States only because that's the way belyj-bada uses it. I know better; please cut us both a little slack). The "american culture, the romance of highways, road trips, and the hippies" are all related in some way to politics and the military. The 'culture' was dependent on a continuing free flow of goods, the interstate highway systems primary purpose was the transport of war material, road trips require cars which required raw materials and oil for fuel, and the hippies were a reaction to the then existing culture and militarism.

belyj-bada can look at those times and see the 'romantism' of them. I'm glad he can; I wish I still could. It's been a long time since I've been able to respect 'America' as he does, even while I love it for some of the very same things. I see too many of it's flaws, even while benefiting on a daily basis from all the wrongs it's perpetrated around the world. As an American, I'm actually very confused about America's standing in the world today. I wonder how we got to this place where most of the world either hates or fears us and I wonder how we can go back... I fear it's too late.

I began this article intent that it should be light and fun. Somehow that's not what happened, but I have to tell you that it thrills me somehow, to know that there's at least one young man, from the center of the country whose government was once the United States most feared enemy, who can still look at America and see something positive; something to respect. I'm going to hold on to that...

Talkin' World War III Blues
Back in the U.S.S.R.]]> http://www.last.fm/user/gary_lankford/journal/2006/05/24/3wsd_seven_questions:_panacea Wed, 24 May 2006 21:32:49 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/gary_lankford/journal/2006/05/24/3wsd_seven_questions:_panacea Seven Questions: Panacea (from Hobart, Australia)

Who are you: Two Tazmanian devils
Describe yourself: Keep It In Style
How do you feel about yourself: With my hands(?) :lol: How else?
Describe your ex girlfriend/boyfriend: Sweetest Thing
Describe your current boyfriend/girlfriend: That's My Girl
Describe where you want to be: Waiting Outside
Current Mood: Feel Like Flying]]> http://www.last.fm/user/gary_lankford/journal/2006/05/06/3wsc_confessions Sat, 6 May 2006 15:54:46 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/gary_lankford/journal/2006/05/06/3wsc_confessions I must confess that I had never even heard of Michael Penn until just a few months ago. That may seem an improbable statement, except that I have to tell you that I go out of my way to not hear about a lot of things.

Anyway, Michael Penn first came into my sphere of knowledge just a few short months ago when I downloaded Walter Reed from http://music.download.com. I really liked the song from the moment I heard it, but then, I was finding quite a few songs that I really liked by a lot of artists who were also completely unknown to me. I had then no clue that Michael Penn was really something of a cult hero. Neither had I any idea that he had four albums under his belt before the release of the album Mr. Hollywood Jr., 1947, from which the song Walter Reed came; or that the release of those five albums stretch back over the years to as far back as 1989. Quite a long musical career by any standard.

OK, I have to confess that when I recently learned that Michael Penn was the brother of Sean Penn and of the deceased Chris Penn, I did have a spark of memory that maybe knowledge of a Michael Penn had once entered my “sphere” sometime in the distant past, but nonetheless, he made no big splash in that quagmire and, by me at least, was totally ignored. All this might be totally unbelievable to the connoisseur of Michael's work, but the reality is that Michael Penn has been largely ignored by, well, almost everybody; that at the same time that his albums were getting critical acclaim.

Now, I was not in the least bit dumbfounded by any of this, unlike the many Michael Penn fans who, I imagine, just can't figure out why Michael hasn't rocketed to stardom. But then remember, I had only heard one song by Michael Penn, albeit one I really liked, Walter Reed and thus had no basis of knowledge that would allow me to be dumbfounded with them.

You, the long time Michael Penn fan, may think, “well this problem can be easily rectified, just go buy all his albums, listen to them and then you can be dumbfounded with us”. Unfortunately, I have severe budgetary restrictions, due to a decision to quit my job and to choose poverty as an alternative life style just over eight years ago. So, several months passed with no action on my part until I thought to check Amazon.com for Michael's albums. There I found all five of his albums, with the first four March, Free-For-All, Resigned, and MP4 (Days Since a Lost Time Accident) available for $0.01, $0.80, $0.95, and $1.75, respectively. Including shipping (at $2.49 per CD), a grand total of $13.47. Mr. Hollywood Jr., 1947 was not available for less than $4.49, so I didn't buy it. Remember, I had no basis for knowing whether any of Michael's other work would appeal to me at all, as the only song I had ever heard was Walter Reed.

Now some of you Michael Penn fans may consider that my purchase did nothing to help Michael Penn financially, and you would be absolutely right. But then, somehow I think Michael is probably not starving to death. I suspect, that at this point in life he would just like to be appreciated by more than a few (well, if that appreciation led to many new purchases of his CDs, and some big bucks, I'm sure that would be OK, too).

Anyway, here I was a couple days ago, when all four CDs (purchased from three different dealers) came on the same day and only three days after my Amazon.com purchase. I quickly ripped them to flac files (I'm a SUSE Linux and amaroK music player user) and started listening. I must say that I am astounded. The style comparisons with the Beatles are somewhat correct, but Michael's sound is a much more mature Beatles sound and his subject matter much more modern and less juvenile. While I can't say yet that there is a song that I like better than Walter Reed, I can say that there is not one song that I don't like from all four albums, and that Bunker Hill (from Free-for-All) and several others are certainly in contention for top spot.

Now, I can be dumbfounded along with all the other Michael Penn fans. Pull your heads outta your arses mates and find out what Michael Penn is all about. I can almost guarantee that you won't be disappointed.

You can bet I'm counting my pennies to see if I can buy Mr. Hollywood Jr., 1947 on the quick.]]> http://www.last.fm/user/gary_lankford/journal/2006/04/27/20z4uc_panacea Thu, 27 Apr 2006 00:33:22 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/gary_lankford/journal/2006/04/27/20z4uc_panacea No, not the Teutonic band of some renown, but the Australian band of little... Last.fm fans of the Teutonic Panacea may have seen a few tracks listed for Panacea that they have never heard of. ;) They belong to...

The Panacea that hails from Hobart, Australia. The two and a half member Panacea has a style that reminds me of the Beach Boys during their Pet Sounds period. The band figures themselves to be something of the style of Gomez, Radiohead, The Beach Boys, The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Pixies, and Frank Black.

What I know is that their tunes are catchy and fun to listen to. Their music is something of a throw-back to an earlier age. It just happens to be the earlier age that I came from. :)

Currently, the sole source for their music is music.download.com.

Panacea

where you can find eight tracks (for stream or download) from their CD Cheap Relief. You should listen to them all, for sure. I get a real kick out of That's My Girl, but Feel Like Flying is probably my favorite track; also Sweetest Thing and Comfort.

I'm told the band is working on a new CD release (personal correspondence). How it will be released, I am still waiting to find out as the band has no website.

Contact: panacea_the_band@yahoo.com.au]]> http://www.last.fm/user/gary_lankford/journal/2006/04/18/3wsb_extensive_tastes_and_%22obscure-artist_listening%22 Tue, 18 Apr 2006 04:22:02 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/gary_lankford/journal/2006/04/18/3wsb_extensive_tastes_and_%22obscure-artist_listening%22 Recently lathe posted on the group Extensive Musical Taste:

Quoth lathe:
I came to this group seeking people of the advertized extensive musical taste, but I look at the top artists for the group and... not very extensive. Sure, some good ol' classics are on there, but I'd hardly categorize this group's top ten as extensive. Is there a way to remedy this problem? I'll do all I can to punch up my own obscure-artist listening to, but I'm only one man. Come and join me, let us make this group truly representative of an extensive musical taste!
This is my answer:

Extensive tastes and "obscure-artist listening" may not be all that connected.

Most people, no matter their age, have a certain fear of stepping out on their own. The young in particular, while usually proud of their difference (this usually as compared to "adults") often walk in lock step together. They may march to the beat of a different drummer, but it is likely the same drummer for all. Unless everybody is doing "it," likely no one will. We tend to listen to what our friends listen to and it's likely at no time in a persons life will they have more "friends" than in their youth. All this adds up to the reason every generation has its "Pop" music. There was a terrible time (IMHO) in the the late 70's and early 80's when Disco was "Pop." Pop means no more and no less than 'popular'.

Now I realize all this is a gross generalization and I expect that what I've said will excite controversy. So be it, I can take it. Maybe you can set me straight. ;)

My main purpose here proceeds from my opening line. This forum is about extensive musical tastes; hey, that's the forums name. We could all argue as to whether extensive tastes require excursions into one or another style (genre?) of music. I don't see many of the users on this forum listening to much folk, jazz, country, or big-band. Maybe those genres are not even required for the label "extensive tastes."

On the other hand "obscure-artist listening" is pretty easy to define. Obscure-artists are those who have not been listened to much. If an artist only has a handful of listeners on last.fm then they are fairly obscure, I would say; thousands of listeners, not obscure at all. Largely, "obscure-artist listening" means new artist listening.

Yes, there are artists from the past that could be termed obscure (how many of you know Mason Profitt? 35 listeners on last.fm, yet you may have heard their song Two Hangmen). Obscure and from the past may often mean "not very good." But largely obscure means new and new artists may be bad or good.

For them, the jury is still out, because the jury has never sat down to listen. Let me encourage you to use the internet to search sites like music.download.com or soundclick.com for new artists to listen to. And if you like them, let everybody know.

There is a small and largely inactive group calledObscure Music Recommendations that seems a perfect place for posting such recommendations.

I hope at least a few of you will see my point and join me there.]]> http://www.last.fm/user/gary_lankford/journal/2006/04/17/3wsa_about_the_name_and_the_game..._nine_men%27s_morris Mon, 17 Apr 2006 05:01:06 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/gary_lankford/journal/2006/04/17/3wsa_about_the_name_and_the_game..._nine_men%27s_morris Nine Men's Morris
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Nine Men's Morris is a two-player strategy board game with a long history in Europe. The pattern of the board is found twice, as grafitti, in the 1300 BC Egyptian temple, the Ramesseum in Kurna in Egypt. Each player has nine pieces which move between the twenty-four intersections of three interlocking squares.

The game also goes under many other English names, including Nine Man Morris, Mill, Mills, Merels, Merelles, Merrills, as well as names in other languages such as Mérelles, Merrills, Mühle, Mølle, Muehle, Mühlespiel, Molenspel, Jeu de Moulin, Tria.

Nine Men's Morris]]> http://www.last.fm/user/gary_lankford/journal/2006/04/17/3ws9_nine_men%27s_morris Mon, 17 Apr 2006 04:44:53 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/gary_lankford/journal/2006/04/17/3ws9_nine_men%27s_morris This band deserves to be listened too. Singer/songwriter Bruce McDaniel on lead vocals and guitar, Donald Kyle on bass, and Perry Gartner on the drums crank out some Rock, like we liked in the sixties, with lyrics that can be understood and enjoyed.

To date they have released two albums, "Monster in My Stomach" and "It's a Wonderful Life." My favorites include "Christine" from "Monster in My Stomach" and "It's a Wonderful Life," "Time to Think," and "Again and Again" from "It's a Wonderful Life.

Like I said, these guys deserve a listen. You can pick up "Time to Think," "You Crossed the Line," and "Falling Star" from:

Nine Men's Morris - Free Downloads

Nine Men's Morris Homepage]]> http://www.last.fm/user/gary_lankford/journal/2006/02/16/3ws8_scott_andrew_-_this_guy_is_great!_a_real_talent! Thu, 16 Feb 2006 03:00:03 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/gary_lankford/journal/2006/02/16/3ws8_scott_andrew_-_this_guy_is_great!_a_real_talent! Scott Andrew can sing, he can play, and he can arrange. He deserves to be a star. You can help make him one. Visit his web site at http://www.scottandrew.com/ and pick up some more of his tunes. Join his Demo Club (for free, go figure) and pick up even more tunes yet. When you feel guilty for raping the guy (even if he seems a willing party) leave a tip in his tip box.

Musically, Scott reminds me of America and Pure Prairie League (but I'm an old guy, he may remind you of someone else). Anyway, not only do I like his music, I like him, I like his style. Check out his web site and I bet you will too. :)]]>