Every so often, I'll listen to an obscure artist, band, or piece and think, "I should be paying rapt attention to this music. I shouldn't just have it on in the background or fall asleep to it. After all, I might be the only person on the planet--or locally, at least--listening to it right now."
This thought occurred to me one night last month as I listened to a CD of the Brno State Philharmonic Orchestra, under the direction of Karel Sejna, performing Vitezslav Novak's Moravian-Slovak Suite, Opus 32.
I've only heard the piece once on the radio. As I listened to it on KFUO in the mid to late '90s, I thought, "Why isn't this piece better known? The 'In The Church' movement is particularly appealing."
About a quarter-century later, I thought, "I'd better not listen to this passively. I should listen to it attentively out of respect for the music and the fact that it's underappreciated."
Now, I'm going to apply that same logic as I listen to the "Worry Dolls" album by Devils Wielding Scimitars. The lyrics are solid, the lead vocals are compelling, and "Blue Star Linoleum" should have been a hit.
