The foot-biting default option XXXII

Storms left my cat, Collette, somewhat rattled yesterday.  I was concerned that she spent much of yesterday morning sitting on a grocery bag by the refrigerator, looking subdued.

I was relieved when she started acting like herself again by walking over to me and biting my feet repeatedly.  I imagined a band covering "Back On My Feet Again" by The Babys with the revised lyrics, "She's biting my feet again!"

Having your cat bite your feet is an odd occasion for rejoicing, admittedly, but I was glad to see Collette bounce back after the menacing clatter of thunder.

Online radio sampler highlights CCXCV

Today's standout selections:

KPRS-HD2 (Kansas City, MO)

• Stop To Love-Luther Vandross (To me, this ranks second only to "Never Too Much" as an uptempo Vandross tune.)

KWVA (Eugene, OR)

• Skyline Rocking-Kelissa (This endearing new reggae release shines with warm, sunny lyrics about appreciating one's home.) 

KXLU (Los Angeles, CA)

• Fear Of Flying-Bowery Electric (This instrumental's heavy, steady beat fails to wear out its welcome, even after five and a half minutes.)

WAAI (Cambridge, MD)

• Daydream Believer-Anne Murray (Murray's voice suits this cover of the much-played Monkees hit well, striking the right balance between confidence and starry-eyed idealism.)

WCNR (Charlottesville, VA)

• Don't Save Me-Haim (In early 2013, I heard an interview with the band Haim, along with impressive tracks from their debut album, on WXPN.  At the end of the interview, I thought, "Wow...There's real talent there.  'Forever,' in particular, really made me take notice.  Everything these songs require--solid vocals, energy, and confidence--is there.  I hope they have a successful career."  And, so they have.  This track from that first release is an example of how this band hit the ground running.) 

WXXI (Rochester, NY)

• Kenji Bunch: Broken Music For Cello And Piano (Clancy Newman, cello; Natalie Zhu, piano) (I have to respect a piece that encompasses such divergent themes that it reminded me of a waterfall, a spy thriller, and a dirge.)

WZUM (Pittsburgh, PA)

• Close Your Eyes-Warren Vache (This is some cool, cookin', self-assured trumpet and rhythm section playing.)
• Night Train-Teddy Edwards & Houston Person (Two saxophonists sock this jazz standard home.)

Context? CDXXIX

A radio personality joked Monday that he'll likely be "eating Graham crackers for the next month" after spending a princely sum at an American Girl doll store.  He stressed that it was worth it, though, to make his daughter happy.  

I've had similar feelings at times about the expenses associated with cat ownership.  I've always wanted my current cat, Collette, and my previous cat, Sylvia, to be happy and healthy, however, so there's no question for me about priorities.

Persistent earworm alert CDXXIX

After seeing a strong live performance of it on "Saturday Night Live UK," Wolf Alice's "White Horses" has grown on me for three reasons:

• Rhythmically, it has a strong, driving energy reminiscent of various bands from the '90s.
• Having four vocalists reinforces the conviction of the lyrics.  Speaking of which...
• ...Lyrically, this is an impressive tribute to one's heritage, even when you're not sure of its components, and everyone in your life who means something to you.

I regret not knowing of this tune when it was released last year, but I've been making up for lost time in recent days. 

The allure of shuffle mode XCIV

I've had both of these songs in my library for years, but I never thought to segue them with each other until this morning.  iTunes paired "I Am The Mercury" by Jimmie Spheeris randomly with "Rainin' Inside" by The Trishas.  Thematically, that works, having a song about needed literal rain falling flow into a song about the cathartic metaphorical rain that results from listening to sad songs.

Well-played, shuffle mode.

A petty fixation L

KMOX has been simulcasting its longtime 1120 AM frequency on 104.1 FM for the past year.  Despite the improved FM sound quality, I almost always listen to KMOX on AM.  My AM presets have included KMOX 1120 AM for years, so that's what I reflexively think of as the station's default frequency.

When moving from the kitchen to the living room to hear Thursday's opening day Cardinal baseball game, however, I thought, "It isn't a Herculean effort to select 104.1 FM on the stereo.  Why not hear the rest of the game with the best sound quality option?"

After decades of hearing baseball games on AM stations, I finally listened to a game on FM.  

Inertia is a powerful force, but it's possible to overcome it.

An overlooked cover tune CXC

Kudos to KVMR for playing Alison Brown's version of Cyndi Lauper's "Time After Time" this morning.  I never imagined it as a banjo instrumental, but it translates easily.  Banjo tunes tend to be upbeat by default, but Brown shows that the instrument also conveys bittersweet sentiments effectively.