Autumn Souvenir

9.5 In a few days, Wilco will release deluxe versions of their first two records, A.M. and Being There . Both records played enormous roles in my, well, life. That may sound like an overstatement, but Wilco's first three records specifically, were so influential in how I view music and art, while also introducing me to countless new friends, many of whom I talk to regularly to this day.  A.M. , their first, was certainly well received, but it was their sophomore effort, the sprawling and adventurous Being There that quickly escalated the role that music, both recorded and live, played in my life. Being There was released on October 29, 1996. I was just a few months into my first job, post-college, and rumors were swirling in the corners of the (early) internet that Wilco's second album would be a huge departure from the alt.country label that was attached Uncle Tupelo and A.M. I was hearing influences from band names I'd never heard before: Pere Ubu, Captain Beefhe...

1 Mavis Staples If All I Was Was Black At 78, Mavis continues to make fantastic records. This is her third produced by Jeff Tweedy, and it's their best collaboration to date. 2 Jason Isbell The Nashville Sound Everything he releases will be compared to 2013's Southeastern . He'll likely never equal that masterpiece, but some of his best songs are on this record. 3 Aimee Mann  Mental Illness One of the greatest songwriters of my lifetime. And as courageous as they come. 4 Neil Young Hitchhiker This isn't *new* music so I'm not sure it should be eligible, but whatever, it's classic. 5 LCD Soundsystem American Dream I haven't given this record nearly as much time as it deserves, but every listen, I find something new to love. 6 Josh Ritter  Gathering Ritter's records aren't as consistent as they used to be, but all of his recent records have a number of gorgeous songs. 7 Ray Davies Americana I just discovered this brilliant...

9.5 Next to Springsteen and Neil Young, I probably listened to Van Morrison the most during my high school years. Whenever the fall season hits, especially Thanksgiving, I'm drawn back to Morrison, especially Astral Weeks . More than any other artist I know, Van Morrison simply feels like a season, the fall season. Just a gorgeous record top-to-bottom.

Wilco have just announced that the Solid Sound Festival will return in 2019. This will be the sixth overall Solid Sound, and should I go, which I definitely will, my fourth. I can't sing the praises of this festival enough. Taking place at MASS MOCA, deep in the Berkshires, first off, it's one of the most beautiful areas of the country. Add in the format for the festival, which includes a mix of known acts, up-and-comers, comedians, artists, an exceptional museum, and it's hands down the best festival I've ever been to. I wouldn't call myself a festival expert, but I've been to a few, namely Coachella '09, Fleadh (like 80 years ago), Hardly Strictly, Wavefest, Outside Lands, Treasure Island and a handful of others, but nothing compares to Solid Sound. In addition to the above, access to every set is pretty simple, the place appears to be mostly sustainable, the food trucks are all local shops from around the country, there's a full-on record store, and ...

10 Back in the 90s, this record was nearly impossible to find. On vinyl, in the pre-internet age, it was a massive collector's item. I don't think it was even available on CD. For years, I'd wanted to hear it top-to-bottom, but couldn't. Every single time I'd walk into a record store, I'd look for it. Empty handed every time. Somewhere in the mid-to-late 90s, my brother, while living in Cincinnati, phoned and told me to look out for something in the mail. He was so ecstatic that he called me back a few minutes later, "Ok, it's On the Beach . On vinyl." I nearly collapsed. This is a record collector's dream. When you finally land that long sought-after record. It's only happened a few times in my life, but when it does, it's like hitting gold. I remember the post office held the package for whatever reason. When I found out it was there, I drove down as fast as I could. I was handed the large square box. I ripped it open right ther...

Woke up this morning and, for reasons I can't explain, revisited some of the best and worst sports moments of my life. From Mattingly's home run in 1995 playoffs to the dreadful Hakeem swipe in the 1994 NBA Finals, here they are: The Good - Top 5 : 2001 World Series: Tino Martinez's Improbable 9th Inning Home Run In the words of James Murphy, I was there. Down two games to one, and trailing 3-1 with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, Tino delivers the unthinkable. We were in the right field bleachers and the moment the ball cleared the wall, it was absolute pandemonium. Whether at a concert, a sporting event, or any other moment of euphoria, nothing in my life has topped this in terms of downright jubilation. Post 9/11, this was bringing magic back to the city. 1999 NBA East Finals, Game 3: Larry Johnson's Four-Point Play  Probably the loudest I've ever screamed. I was with a few friends at the Allendale Bar & Grill in Jersey, and the...

Tonight will close out my first visit to South America. It's been a solid trip. Some great, some good, some not so good, but overall, pretty happy with my first choice. My bullet points on Cartagena, Colombia: Positive: Weather reports will probably say thunderstorms....every.....day. This is a bit deceiving as there are only small pockets of this. I've been here five full days and four were good weather-wise, with small pockets of rain. Today was pretty much raining all day. The highlight, without question, was taking a day trip out to the Isle Grande. A beautiful island, inhabited by less than 1000 people. Incredible food and gorgeous little beaches. The food here is excellent. I've yet to have a disappointing meal. Negative: The street salesman are super overbearing. I went on a run Wednesday morning and was stopped by numerous people on the street. I walked the streets of Old Town yesterday and the experience was even worse. One guy was literally haras...

4.2 I bought a bourgeois house in the Hollywood hills With a truckload of hundred thousand dollar bills Man came by to hook up my cable TV We settled in for the night my baby and me We switched 'round and 'round 'til half-past dawn There was fifty-seven channels and nothin' on Well now home entertainment was my baby's wish So I hopped into town for a satellite dish That's the opening to the dreadful "57 Channels." I share this review as proof that 1) I can be objective and 2) Even the greats can stumble. Outside of the title track and a few mediocre numbers, this is just a full-on dud. My goodness, I'm listening to "Gloria's Eyes" right now and it's truly painful. And later comes "Real Man" which is arguably the worst song Bruce has ever recorded. 

9.1 It's perplexing to think that Kelly Willis never took hold in Nashville. Then again, it's of no surprise, whatsoever. Cash didn't. Waylon certainly didn't. Townes wasn't even on the "Music City" radar. The home for country music has never been home to the likes of Kelly Willis. I first discovered Willis' music when I came upon the EP Fading Fast . Joined by Son Volt, 16 Horesepower and Gary Louris, this four-song collection remains the best EP I own. Three years after this discovery, Willis released What I Deserve on Rykodisc, a label with a good/bad ratio of about 99/1. And this was the case with the first Willis full-length I discovered. Lyrically perfect, and backed by an army of incredible talents, including Gary Louris, Lloyd Maines, Mark Spencer, John Dee Graham and Chuck Prophet, as well as her husband/collaborator, Bruce Robison, What I Deserve remains Willis' masterstroke. A mix of originals and perfectly-selected covers (Nick ...

10 I would argue that Buckner's Devotion + Doubt, released just over 20 years ago, is the greatest break-up record ever recorded. Yes, that includes Dylan's Blood on the Tracks and Springsteen's Tunnel of Love . No separation record has ever merged unbelievably potent lyrics with a haunting backdrop that literally feels as though you're experiencing the split yourself. It's a masterpiece by one of the premiere songwriters of the past 25 years. It was the first or his two major label releases, and of little surprise, fell on deaf ears in the age of Chumbawumba and Collective Soul. Vapid "rock n' roll" left Buckner, and many of his brethren, including Kenny Roby, Scott Miller and man, even Steve Earle, to a degree, in the rear view. But those who took notice were floored. This was a songwriter renaissance. Gram Parsons, Prine, Townes, Cash and all the greats that preceded this "movement" decades earlier, were back in the conversation.  ...