Tag Archives: Barnes & Noble

The Oxford American – Thirteenth Annual Music Issue

I made a great musical find last night browsing at my local Barnes & Noble book store. I saw out of the corner of my eye a copy of Oxford American magazine sitting by its lonesome. It was calling me to pick it up. I noticed that my favorite music journalist, Peter Guralnick had contributed an article, “Sam Phillips‘s Greatest Discovery” to the publication. It’s a story about Howlin Wolf and its reallllllly good!

I have developed a discerning taste for music journalism over the decades. The Oxford American, thirteenth annual Southern music issue surpasses my expectations with its content. It is a treasure chest of well articulated and researched music literature. The publication adds tremendous depth to the importance of our rich American heritage, the music of the South.

One of my major bucket list items is to take an extended vacation on the Southern blues trail(s). The Oxford American is the magazine I will be taking with us on that journey.

So forgive me as I rub my hands with glee here this morning. I have this great magazine to hunker down with and learn from this weekend.

Life is sweet ;)

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January 28, 2012 1 Comment Short URL , , , , , Blues, Magazine, Southern Music

Seattle & Pearl Jam Twenty Years On

Photograph by Dean Fox, Photolibrary

Twenty years ago this summer I was working for Microsoft Corporation. I experienced Seattle, Washington as a beautiful sprawling metropolis for the first time in the fall of 1992. Little did I realize it would become the most visited city (exclusive of New York City) I would travel to and cherish in the United States. I have been to Seattle 14 times in the past 20 years. Seattle is an exciting and vibrant place to experience. I developed an affinity for Pearl Jam that year as their album, Ten was gaining momentum in parallel to my new career. The city was living and breathing a unique music art form that Pearl Jam, Nirvana, and Soundgarden were evidencing to the world.

I love travelling back to Seattle and visiting the Experience Music  Project, a Rock and Roll Museum in Seattle Center, next to the Space Needle and Seattle Center Monorail. The architecture of the building is amazing. The exhibits give extensive information about the Seattle music scene. It cements the understanding and the linkage Seattle, Washington has with rock music history. We are members of this museum and love the affinity we have with the art and pop culture it expounds.

I have spent time with the music and history of Pearl Jam. We had intended to attend the premier of the Cameron Crowe documentary Pearl Jam Twenty but Snowtober disrupted our plans by knocking out the power to the theater in our market. Biding my time I took advantage of my Barnes & Noble Christmas gift card that my loving wife gave me. I purchased the Pearl Jam Twenty book(at a 60% discount!) and the companion DVD. This will be my weekend music sojourn. I look forward to digging in deep to learn more about the musical evolution of Pearl Jam and the music of related groups in Seattle.

It’s time!

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January 7, 2012 1 Comment Short URL , , , , , , , , , , , , Book, Grunge, Movie, Music

1000 Recordings To Hear Before You Die, By Tom Moon, Daily Post 2011, #22

I received the perfect book for an obsessive/compulsive music junkie like myself ;) , 1,000 Recordings To Hear Before You Die by Tom Moon. The book has been in print for 2 1/2 years now (August 2008). I’ve picked it up a dozen or so times at Barnes & Noble in the past,  now I finally own a copy. It’s a great book to hunker down with and study. Its becoming an invaluable desk reference for the Microsoft Zune Web listening I love to do.

My perception was that as an avid music collector for 45 years I would probably own about 400 of the 1,000 recordings. I was quite surprised to learn I only own about 130 of what Tom has listed or 13%.  Granted my collection is more focused on rock, blues and jazz as main genres, where Tom Moon’s book covers the following genres.

Jazz, Opera, Hip-Hop, Rock, Gospel, Musicals, Country, Classical, Blues, World, Heavy Metal, Vocals, Swing, Celtic, Samba, Pop, Songbook, Folk, R&B, Dance, Punk, Doo-Wop, Psychedelic, Fado (What’s Fado?,  I learned something new today about a music genre I never knew existed…), Bluegrass, Zydeco, New Wave, JuJu, Electronica, Bossa Nova, Reggae, Soul, Rap, Rockabilly, Dub, Techno, Ska, Funk, Salsa, 39 genres in total.

This book will stretch my musical curiosity in many ways and directions. That’s my first pleasant surprise about one of the dimensions this book presents the reader.  I find Tom’s book very well researched and coördinated.

I take issue with some of Tom’s choices of the “definitive” or “essential” recordings of certain artists.  For example, he lists for R.E.M. Fables of the Reconstruction, Murmurs and Up as their essential recordings. He overlooks Automatic for the People which I find the most playable, durable recording in my entire collection.

Differences of opinion when it comes to personal musical taste comes with the territory. All in all its a great book Tom, thanks for authoring it and for the companion Web site where we can keep in touch with you.

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January 22, 2011 1 Comment Short URL , , , , , , Music, Uncategorized, Writing