Proof of fandom

Whenever a musical artist I like retires or passes away, I often think, "How much of their music have I bought?"  Even if it was just two of their albums or a handful of scattered songs, I feel a little better knowing that I contributed, at least on a modest scale, to their being able to make a living doing what they love.

Persistent earworm alert CDXXXIX

Although Paul Simon wrote "Can't Run But" long before artificial intelligence, the tune's general vibe about a loss of humanity comes to my mind every few days lately.  It's rare these days for me to go more than a few days without reading about an AI glitch or people relying on it instead of thinking for themselves.

The song also comes to mind on a day like today, when I've gotten a decent amount of sleep but still feel sluggish.  It's strangely motivational while also acknowledging that some days are inevitably worse than others.

Persistent earworm alert CDXXXVIII

My mind is craving a break between one long worknight and another.  Thus, the recurring mental loop of "Guantanamera," as played soothingly by The 50 Guitars...

...I'm not sure why it took so many years for my mind to conjure up such a familiar, much-covered melody as an earworm, but now that it's here, I'm fine with it not leaving soon. 

SiriusXM highlights CLXXIII

Friday morning standouts:

1st Wave Deep Cuts

• Leave In Silence-Depeche Mode (A clear sign that a relationship has ended.)

Acoustic Guitar Instrumentals

• Some Forgotten Color-Spencer Elliott (Music for cloudy day contemplation.  I pictured a wheel turning continuously as I listened.) 

The Bridge

• Your Smiling Face-James Taylor (Too often, how-lucky-I-am-to-be-with-you songs err in being too overwrought.  Taylor's song escapes this trap, thanks to an unusually uptempo arrangement, resulting in one of his best hits.)  

Classic Folk

• Flowers Never Bend With The Rainfall-Simon & Garfunkel (Eloquent lyrics about staying true to one's convictions in the face of opposing forces.)
• America The Beautiful-Keb' Mo' (Keb' Mo''s bluesy approach to this should-be-national-anthem on the guitar and vocals serves it well.)

Country Coffee House

• Deeper Well-Kacey Musgraves (A flashing sign about when it's wise to cut ties with people or habits that are too destructive.) 

Deep Tracks Just Music

• Up The 'Pool-Jethro Tull (An interesting song about a quirky town.  I have the impression that while it might not be everyone's cup of tea, those who live there are proud to call it home.) 

The Loft

• Till Your Mind Is Shining-Peter Gabriel (How does one's mind process its thoughts?  For that matter, how does artificial intelligence process the information it gathers?  Gabriel's new release raises these questions.) 

Mom Jeans

• Orinoco Flow-Enya (Many listeners who don't know any other new age vocal tracks offhand likely know this tune, thanks to its frequent airplay when it was released and its "Sail away, Sail away, Sail away," hook.)

North Americana

• Diggin' In The Coal-Leah Blevins (This endearing January release has heartwarming lyrics about holding onto the people who mean the most to you.  Rhythmically and vocally, it falls somewhere between the Dixie Chicks and Fleetwood Mac.) 

Real Jazz

• Time-Lafayette Harris, Jr. (This elegant, melancholy piano-and-trumpet number could segue with multiple versions of "I Can't Get Started.")

Yacht Rock Radio

• Never Be The Same-Christopher Cross (Even after a relationship ends, the impression a person has made usually lingers.  The tune's upbeat, poppy arrangement takes the edge off of the rejection, so it's not surprising that this was a relatively big hit for Cross in 1980-'81.) 

Online radio sampler highlights CCXCVIII

Thursday morning highlights:

KEPC (Colorado Springs, CO)

• Starlight-Cannons (This January release is familiar yet fresh dream pop.  Its endearing lyrics are about finding "the one" despite putting up barriers.)
• Planting Tomatoes-Lucy Dacus (This track, released in April, is a sobering reminder to appreciate the people in our lives and what's around us, with a dash of "Pleasant Valley Sunday"-style observations.) 

KRCL (Salt Lake City, UT)

• If I Called You-Kendra Morris (This is from 2025, but the vocals and guitar underpinning could pass for '70s throwbacks.  It's one of the catchier earworms I've heard recently.)

KKYX (San Antonio, TX)

• Smoky Mountain Rain-Ronnie Milsap (Glen Campbell could have recorded a solid cover of this.)
• Angel Of The Morning-Juice Newton (Newton's cover version captures the spirit of the 1968 hit by Merrillee Rush & The Turnabouts.  Both versions deserve more airplay these days.) 

WSLR (Sarasota, FL)

• Last Train To Skaville-Jackie Mittoo And The Soul Brothers (Impressive saxophone playing in conjunction with train sound effects.)
• Bacoa-Martin Denny (A sinister-sounding yet intriguing instrumental.  This is jazzy easy listening with an edge.  Conceivably, it could underscore footage of a lunatic steering a gondola into a cave.)

WVSS (Menomonie, WI)

• Libby Larsen: Deep Summer Music (Colorado Symphony Orchestra/Marin Alsop, conductor) (Learning that this piece was harvest-inspired primed me to like it, as that means pastoral-sounding strings, winds, and brass.)

WWOZ (New Orleans, LA)

• Paradox-Sonny Rollins (I'm glad that WWOZ's tribute to jazz saxophone giant Rollins included this skillful blend of straight ahead jazz and Latin influences.  I was also pleased that the station honored his memory with my favorite melody of his, "St. Thomas.")

2025 retcon

I've written previously about how much Wolf Alice's song, "White Horses," appeals to me.  After going back to the band's "Saturday Night Live UK" performance and studio version many times over the past two months, I'm retroactively declaring it my favorite song of 2025.  In addition to the reasons I cited in my previous post, I also admire the central point of the lyrics.  I'm extremely fortunate to have a great family.  Not everyone is that lucky, however, and in those cases, it should be their "choice to choose who (they) embrace as family," as the lyrics decree.  That subject matter isn't typical of driving indie rock, but it works to great effect in "White Horses."

In memory of Sonny Rollins

Jazz saxophonist Sonny Rollins had a long stretch of noteworthy recordings during his 95 years of life.  In his memory, these are 10 tunes I recommend:

• Best Wishes (Live) (Rollins's saxophone playing is joyful in this expansive uptempo tune.  I'm glad the audience was so appreciative.) 
• God Bless The Child (It doesn't surprise me that there are so many versions of this tune.  Its strong, thoughtful melody works equally well when sung or played on the guitar, piano, or, in this case, tenor sax.  This expansive rendition gives the listener ample time to hear Rollins's smooth, ringing tone.)
• How Are Things In Glocca Morra? (Rollins carries the melody on tenor sax perfectly, and Wynton Kelly's piano playing adds considerably to the song's atmosphere.)
• I Can't Get Started (with Roy Hargrove) (Rollins and Hargrove show that this often-sung standard works just as well as a saxophone-and-trumpet duet.  The tune's heart shines through in any context.)  
• Isn't She Lovely? (Thanks to the 45 my dad gave me when I was in grade school, this was the first Rollins recording I ever heard.  I was impressed by how skillfully Rollins converted this Stevie Wonder song into a saxophone instrumental.) 
• Lust For Life (The stairstep-style trumpet intro, and the way it sets the stage for Rollins's saxophone, made me hear, at an early age, what sets jazz apart from all other forms of music.) 
• Mambo Bounce (A hip tenor sax melody that would serve traditional jazz and easy listening playlists well; although it might be a stretch for some listeners, it could segue with Percy Faith and his orchestra's "Go-Go-Po-Go.")
• St. Thomas (Rollins composed this infectious Latin jazz rhythm and carried it off on saxophone, making it my favorite track of his.  Also recommended: Ron Carter's rendition, which shows how well the melody also works on the bass.) 
• There Are Such Things (One of several sax-based gems from the album, "Worktime."  For more uptempo fare, check out "It's All Right With Me.")
• Til There Was You (I've always liked the smooth sensitivity with which The Beatles covered this, but Rollins conveys a similar carefree outlook on the saxophone.)