A Matter of Convenience

I was following a coworker recently who reminded me how often one can use a turn signal.  Right turn signal at the end of a parking lot row, left turn signal at a painted stop line in the parking lot, right turn signal at the stop sign… on and on it goes.  And all of this without other vehicles nearby.  After commenting on this, his reply was basically that he was teaching the world to use turn signals one intersection at a time.

So, I’m using mine more often now, and I’m certainly more consistent at doing this when other cars or pedestrians are in the area.  That’s a good thing.  Because, like everyone else, when trying to pull into traffic, I hate waiting for a car to pass only to find that he turns short of me.   “Use your signal, idiot! I could have gone already!”

I’m one of those conflicted people who enjoy driving but hate traffic.  A smooth ride, a proper ergonomic fit within the driver’s seat, strong acceleration, handling turns at slightly higher than advised speeds, high fidelity audio… good stuff.

Traffic?  Meh.

Is it strictly the number of vehicles on the road and their corresponding brake lights?  No.  Atlanta has its share of heavy volume; you get used to it.  Rather, it’s the traffic lights.  You’re bopping along and suddenly a light changes in front of you, with no other cars at the intersection.  “What gives?”  Same situation but one car is there.  “Of all the luck.”

My in-laws had some German friends visiting years ago.  They went to a shopping center, bought whatever, took their bags to the car, got into the car and then drove to the other end of the shopping center to go into another store.  Their German friends were fairly stunned that, rather than driving, they wouldn’t just walk the short distance to the other end of the shopping center.  Aside from arguments regarding exercise and fuel efficiency, the heart of the matter was convenience.

Americans are all about convenience.  Drive thrus, Ticketmaster (convenience charges, right?), mail boxes at the end of our driveways, personal printers on our office desks, Chinese take-out… not to mention Convenience stores. 

We call them conveniences, but as wasteful as they are in some ways, they’re also each about efficiency.  What’s the value of our time?  Whether it’s chores, work, entertainment, quality time, or a Sunday nap, we pack a lot into our days.  Finding the means to shorten or avoid those things that we don’t want to do in favor of those that we do matters.

So, I’m running some errands before picking my kids up from a school event.  Again.  I, of course, tried to see if a neighbor could bring them back, but no such convenience was to be found.

It’s lunch time.  And I’m also hungry as my morning bagel is long forgotten.  So, I start thinking about the restaurant options available between here and there.  Let’s see. 

Burger King:  Whopper, Jr?  Check.  Fries?  Lousy. 

Hmm. Next would be McDonald’s!  Fries?  Check.  Burgers?  Lousy. 

What else is there?  Quik-Trip?  Hot Dogs, Taquitos… no.  I’m not yet down to my spare coins.

Are there no other options?  Why, yes!  There’s Taco Bell (no), Checker’s (maybe), and yes!  Chik-fil-A! 

But… (insert whiny voice), they’re on the wrong side of the road!  It’s such a pain to turn left because you have to wait for the traffic light to cycle for your turn, and after getting your food you have to wait all over again for the light to let you out… ugh.  Left turns are what make errands take forever.

But, Chik-fil-A… That’s worth  an extra five minutes of my life, isn’t it? 

Yes, there is a train of thought here.  First, it struck me how often I tend to think of stopping on the right side of the road (fast food, gas, supermarkets, etc.) because of an ingrained sense of inefficiency at any prospect of turning left.  Being on the right side of the road is to be not only directional but desirable.  Secondly, I don’t know that I fully appreciated how often I settle for less just because it’s more convenient.

I’m not alone.  Around Atlanta, it’s common to find two Waffle Houses on each side of an interstate exit so that people traveling in either direction won’t have to turn around.  Commercial parcel values are also sensitive to ease of access during peak traffic hours.  But, I really didn’t realize how well I had subconsciously programmed myself to think in those terms.

And those traffic lights I hate?  It’s easy to forget that they do stop cars from running into each other.  And, they benefit me just as often as they (aggravatingly) slow me down.

Drive-By Truckers – Variety Playhouse

I last saw DBT during their “Dirty South” tour in 2004.  It was an energetic and rocking evening, blessed with recent material from a string of three great albums.

Since then, they’ve released two average-at-best albums and changed the band’s lineup somewhat.  Now they’re back to touring in support of their upcoming release, “The Big To-Do.”  The Truckers are an experienced road band.  They never disappear for long, and they have a dedicated fan base as evidenced by two sold-out shows at Atlanta’s Variety Playhouse.  I attended the first.

I met a friend and his wife for a burger at Brewhouse Cafe, a proven and reliable pit-stop for a hamburger and beer before a show.   This was no exception, despite a rather disappointing selection of pale ales on tap.

We arrived to find many gathered in the lobby, drinking beers.  This was likely due to the opening act, David Barbe & The Quick Hooks, who were already into their set.  Barbe is the DBT’s producer, and his band included guitarist John Neff and drummer Brad Morgan from DBT, as well as two other musicians.  Unfortunately, the songs were rather plodding, and despite his enthusiasm for the moment, Barbe’s voice is an off-putting whine.  But better things were to come.

After a half hour break, DBT took the stage, a shared bottle of Jack Daniels and various beers in tow.  The set list started mainly with new songs from their forthcoming CD, but the lyrics were lost to me as the sound up front wasn’t kind on the vocals.  Even though the riffs and attitude spoke of good songs to shortly be heard, it’s inevitably their keenly observant lyrics on Southern life that make or break their songs. 

Patterson Hood remains the front man for the band, full of “damn the system” attitude, which is where he writes from when he’s at his best.  When he’s  not singing or playing a lead, he checks out the crowd with an evident appreciation  for the life he has chosen for himself.  

Co-founder Mike Cooley is as much a fan favorite due to his intellectually redneck songs as his distinctive guitar playing mannerisms.  Shonna Tucker, the bassist, also sang several songs.   She did not appear entirely comfortable taking the lead, and her microphone didn’t help her relatively soft voice compete with the three raging guitars of her bandmates.

John Neff, a relatively stoic presence, added some nice slide guitar, but also alternates leads with Cooley.  He also played pedal steel on several songs, to as good effect as pedal steel can hope to be heard.  Newcomer Jay Gonzalez added keyboard  flourishes which added colorful tones on slower songs.  But overall, DBT is a band built to rock, and they did just that, loudly.

The band covered many of their older songs, though now with a large back catalog from which to choose, many good songs, like “Daddy’s Cup,” were skipped.  However, standouts included “The Living Bubba” and “18 Wheels of Love” from Gangstabilly, “Ronnie and Neal” and “Women Without Whiskey” from Southern Rock Opera, “Sinkhole” and “Marry Me” from Decoration Day, “Tornadoes” and “Lookout Mountain” from The Dirty South, “Three Dimes Down” and “Self Destructive Zones” from Brighter than Creation’s Dark,  “Play it All Night Long”  from The Fine Print, and a rocking cover, of course, of Neil Young’s “Rocking in the Free World.”  The beer-enabled crowd was responsive throughout, singing along with many of the songs, more than several pounding out each song with upraised fists.

The band’s main set lasted over two hours, after which Patterson Hood looked exhausted as he left the stage without a wave.  About 15 minutes later, Hood showed no wear as they returned for a seven song encore, the best of which was “Lookout Mountain.”  It might be said that he gave all he could give as afterwards, Hood again hurried off, clearly worn out.  Cooley, with a rock star thin frame and attitude born for long nights, waved to the crowd, bottle of bourbon in hand.

 

Overall, it was a loaded 3 hour performance for a $25 ticket, and a very late night.

Additional concert photos are available by clicking ---> HERE.

Key West – Day 3

Remaining assumptions regarding Key West to be challenged:

1. Parking would be a problem.

2. It would be an artsy community.

3. The homeless would be abundant and, not to offend, a nuisance.

4. Duval Street would be as seedy and off-smelling as Bourbon St.

5. Key Lime Pie would be good, but not anything special.

I awoke early, ready to make use of the morning light for taking photographs.  As my wife remained in her slumber, I walked.  And walked.  It’s just that kind of town. 

You get a different sense of a place when the hustle and bustle are at low tide.  There is free parking available in the main tourist areas, if you get up early and park for the day.  For people staying in historic area, it’s just made for walking.  Sure, some rent bicycles or scooters, but it’s really not needed.

One of the iconic attractions of Key West is the Conch Tour Train. This is a guided tour of the island showing the sights, history, and local color.  There are many of these trains constantly going  around, but I was surprised to see that they were all full at an early hour.  A few blocks this and that a way later, and I found that 2 cruise ships had arrived.

I also found a craft show, an annual affair hosting an assortment of artisans in their white tents along a street.  This was not something I was excited to find, but rather something I felt obligated to report to my wife, a crafter for 10 years.  No surprise, I would later find out that she knew two exhibitors pretty well.

I took a sufficient number of photos to pat myself on the back for actually sticking to an early morning intention.  All the photos can be found HERE (some with commentary), but I’ll just highlight a few here for the fun of it.

Blue Sophia Jewelry, just off Duval St.  The sign indicates Atocha Coins, 14 kt Gold, Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, Jewelry Repair…  Well, okay.  I’m not going to doubt the abilities of anyone who manages to keep a lease, regardless of the size of the space.

But… three gigantic propane tanks?  Christmas lights across the roofline?  Are we expecting evening clients?  And how about those display windows?  Despite the variety of folk who visit the Keys, I didn’t see any that were 8’ tall.  But, hey, perhaps high windows are a wise and overlooked means of preventing theft.  And thank you for the potted plant, it’s very inviting.

And here is a Banyan Tree, appropriately located in front of the Banyan Resort. This is one unusual tree, where a type of fig seed is left by a bird on the branches of a host tree.  The seeds drop roots all the way to the ground, eventually enveloping the host tree as well as providing additional trunk supports for the limbs, such as the one on the right of the picture (a driveway cuts between).  I’m only surprised I didn’t see this first in Avatar.

Wandering around, I only saw two homeless people.  One was distracted, and the other seemed quite content with his companion dog.  Throughout our stay, none begged, stamped a cane, rattled a cup, or anything.  In Atlanta, I would have been asked, followed, and eventually cursed.  But Key  West is, after all, literally the end of the road for some even as it’s a beginning for others.

 

One surprise of our trip was the number of chickens running around.  During my walk, more than a few offered their cockle doodle dos, and while I was, of course, amused, I felt sorry for those in B&B’s who had intended to sleep in.  The one at right had just finished his early morning shopping at a retailer. 

As it happens, I also passed a friendly hostess and a tempting menu.  Shortly, I would return with my wife to Two Friends Patio Restaurant.

Now we’re talking.  Eggs, peppers, onions, potatoes, toast and a Coke on the rocks.  A Scrambled Supreme, the breakfast of champions.

We began full tourist mode afterwards, visiting galleries, buying $5 T-shirts, and generally exploring Duval St., presented below in its morning glory.

A consensus recommendation for us was to visit the Hemingway Home.  As the son of a history professor, I naturally rebel against such, but I was actually interested as Hemingway and Key West are inseparably linked.

It was a very worthwhile tour, and we once again were fortunate to have a great guide (as we heard others with groups afterwards).  I have other pictures on Flickr, but my favorite is one my wife took as we toured the bedroom.

Hemingway’s 6 toed cats are rather famous, but it was completely unexpected that they had the run of the House in addition to the grounds.  The chain discouraging people from touching the bedspread (or, laying on the bed) is, in context, rather hilarious.  A welcome aspect for a historic site that depends on admissions fees is that visitors were actually encouraged to take pictures.  It was well worth it.

One aspect of visiting Key West, whether kayaking, dining, ghost touring, historical site touring, or anything else are rather prominent reminders that Key West has a service economy.  Translated:  Tips are pleasantly mentioned, but expected.  Our tour guide at Hemingway Home was definitely worth one.

I’m also a sucker for lighthouses.  Located almost across the street from Hemingway’s is the Key West Lighthouse, built in 1847.  For $10, you get to climb the stairs.  Aside from general interest, it had an interesting marker.  #13 indicates Otto House, the original name of Artist House.  In parenthesis it says “Robert lived here.”  For those that doubt Ghost Tours, don’t mess with Robert.

Any trip to Key West requires a visit to the Southernmost point in the U.S.  Been there; done that.

After passing many other restaurants, we opted for lunch at Tony’s Cuban Cafe.  Once again, the service and food were awesome, and after two particularly minty Mojitos, it was once again… nap time.

We would later struggle to find a restaurant to find a dinner restaurant that could seat us, was not particularly thick with smoke, or overly loud with house bands (Sorry, Sloppy Joe’s).  We ultimately ended up at Guy Harvey’s, which was solid.  Our regret was not dining with another couple who seemed eager for dinner companions.  I think.

We once again walked around town, because, you can.  Duval St. was hopping, but not crazily.  I found Bourbon St. to be fairly disgusting and have to rank Duval St. far ahead of it, regardless of reputations for tawdry behavior.  And here’s two photos to illustrate my point:

And, finally, after so many meals, we searched for the culinary finish to our trip, the ubiquitous Key Lime Pie.  Several shops dedicate their craft to this dessert, and many restaurants claim to have been voted to have the best Key Lime Pie in Key West.  Of course.

Well, the one person we asked on the street said the Blonde Giraffe made the best, so it was to one of their five island locations that we ventured. 

Sure, ours was a limited statistical sampling, but their pie was the best. 

Yeah…the Keys.  We’ll be back.

Key West – Day 2

Relevant assumptions made about Key West confronted on Day 2:

1) The best of Key West is found on the water.

2) Every day is a perfect day.

3) It would be swarming with bikers, gays, drunks, homeless and possibly ghosts.

Regarding the water, it is beautiful.  Or, at least what we could see while driving over bridges.  Key West’s reputation for water, though, isn’t for beachcombers looking at water; it’s for people on or in the water.  We’re not experienced boaters, we have yet to try deep sea fishing, and we cannot as yet Scuba dive.  Those remain on The Great To-Do List.  Poor us.

After a continental breakfast at the motel, we went to Mile Marker 4 to Hurricane Hole Marina, home of Lazy Dog Adventures.   It would not be a lazy morning.  We went on a 2 hour kayaking tour with eco-tour leader Jan and five others, across generally shallow waters, around and through small coves and mangroves.  Jan would periodically stop, point towards a tree or pick something out of the water (anenomes, starfish, sponges, etc.) and explain the local ecosystem.

This was actually great fun, despite evidence that not every day in the Keys is a perfect day.  The temperatures from our stay varied from 59 ^oF to 65 ^oF.

Not bad, but while kayaking, it was even cooler, with overcast skies, a constant breeze and periodic sprinkles.  Jan seemed to have no problem rowing to the next intended talking point, but rowing against the wind isn’t without effort.  However, navigating a narrow cut through the mangroves is really, really cool.  One required pulling on the limbs to pass through as there wasn’t room to paddle.  And there was one snake seen in the water just to keep things interesting.

After a shower and change into dry clothes, we went looking for a mid-afternoon lunch.  We tried the Hog’s Breath Saloon, so it at least can be said that we ate at a legitimate local fixture.  So did a lot of others.  Most interesting was the mix of customers – kids, teens, college kids, old, very old, midlife… Key West appeals to all.  The same for bikers, gays, and drunks.  There was some of each and all, in peaceful coexistence.  Now, back to the Saloon… Take a little exercise, add a fine burger, and mix in two Sailor Jerry spiced rums and what to do you get?

After a very fine nap, we wandered around town a bit before our 9:00 departure for “The Original (Key West) Ghost Tour.”  We happen to like ghost tours, and the campier the better.  You can tell what you’re going to get as soon as you meet your tour guide.

Hello, “Captain Heather,” who would soon shout in the hotel lobby “Follow me, children of Light, into the Darkness!”  Oh yeah, we scored a good one.  She also works as a substitute teacher and is a very good entertainer.  Lucky kids.

And, with no surprise, we find that Key West not only has hints of ghosts but has also had some really strange residents.  Such as, you ask?  Well, such as a doctor who untombed his wife’s bones, rebuilt her likeness with wax, and remarried her.  Or the child of a family who was gifted with a “spirited” doll, who would as an adult lower a ceiling in his house to create a proportionate room for his doll.  Ask anyone, “Robert did it.”

As it happens, Robert the Doll resided in a very attractive Victorian house, known as “Artist House",” that we had walked by several times and admired.  Go figure.

The ghost tour took 90 minutes, walking not so far, staring at occupied or abandoned buildings, listening to stories, looking at 8” x 10” glossies of HARD EVIDENCE, and occasionally shouting as a group “You’re Doomed!” to passerby’s who had the nerve to mock us.

Finally, we were ready for a late night bite to eat.  We happened upon Salsa Loca, a very casual, low key Mexican bar/restaurant/patio just off Duval St.  The owner is from North Carolina (we could tell her accent was from the South, but not South Florida), who treated us like guests in her home.  A few scrumptious tacos, chips and salsa, a Dos Equis… perfect!  And, in fact, this was closest to my vision of what a Key West restaurant would be like, relaxed and unhurried.  Sure, the late hour contributed, but it was definitely my favorite restaurant of the trip.

Day 3, coming tomorrow!

Key West – Day 1

Having filled 3 days in Key West with as much activity as
“a relaxing getaway” will allow, I’ve decided to approach this from a daily travelogue approach.  Having taken many vacations and forgotten all the details, I’m happy to do this for my own future reference, and if anyone else benefits, more the better.

Key West has been an intended destination for my wife and I for years, delayed by both the allure and disadvantage of not being on the way to anywhere else.  We finally made that happen.

My wife entrusted me with all the details of the trip, which while rewarding to do it my way also risked blame if planned poorly.  So be it.  Besides, can you go wrong in Key West? I researched the visit carefully, planning to get the most out of our time there. 

There were a number of preconceived notions that I had about the Keys, below which are the ones relevant to Day 1:

1) By the map, the drive from Miami to the Keys would be fabulously scenic.

2) That, given its location and reputation, seafood would be plentiful and inexpensive.

3) That it possessed some naturalistic charm.

4) There would be something to the landscape that suggested a tropic inhospitality, resulting from a geographic location that would suggest a status of Grand Central Station for passing hurricanes.

We drove from Miami, which takes about 3 hours, at what seems a worthwhile savings compared to flying direct.  It was worth doing, once.  In looking at the map, US Hwy 1 stretches over numerous slivers of islands, often with lengthy bridges.  The bridges, as might be expected, offered gorgeous views of the blue/green Gulf waters.  Then, entering the next Key, the fantasy is lost.  US Hwy 1 suffers from the same unplanned, aging or somewhat trashy development that afflicts any commercial highway. 

We stopped for lunch on one of the larger Keys, Islamorada.  It’s difficult to choose where to stop when there aren’t that many options and you come to judgment when you’ve already passed it.  After saying “no” for whatever reasons, we finally said “yes” for whatever reason, and stopped  at Debbiy-Doos Deli & Market.

The owner seemed to treat locals very warmly, while we garnered a general disinterest.  That said, we had Tuna Fish and Corned Beef on Rye sandwiches, which were excellent though doubly portioned.  Had we known, we would have split a sandwich.  As we entered the car, my wife noticed the restroom sign, evidence that we were indeed on the road road.

There are a number of State Parks along US 1, which is good for the preservationist in each of us.  They are reportedly very popular, and as one Ranger told us, people often arrive shocked to find out that campsites are booked a full year in advance.

We detoured to Bahia Honda State Park, advertised to have been voted a Top 10 US beach some years ago.  The voters must have been Park employees, but it did have some nice camping spots.  And a restroom.

Key West has tons of motels and Bed & Breakfasts.  How to choose?  TripAdvisor to the rescue! 

Many of the most expensive places had negative comments, and many of the cheaper places had even more.  It all begs the question of what motivates people to post reviews.  I’d expect people that had a bad experience to be more motivated express their dissatisfaction.  As it is, I’ll take a guess that the reviewers just don’t have a blog...

I settled on Simonton Court, located a block off of Duval St.  Its reviews read as consistently favorable as I could find, and though its somewhat pricey (peak season), the ambience sounded perfect for a romantic three night visit.  Simonton Court is basically a collection of old buildings converted to varied styles of rooms/suites, offered in Bed and Breakfast style hospitality.  It was an all but a perfect choice, only tempered by a shared door into an adjacent suite that did nothing to dampen sound.  A directory of other Simonton Court photos can be viewed by clicking either picture below.

After unpacking and briefly exploring our haven, we asked the reception desk for a dinner recommendation.  This is somewhat ironic, as I had carefully (with TripAdvisor’s help) created a list of “approved restaurants, none of which we would actually visit.  While it’s one thing to place intended stops on a map, it’s another to guesstimate walking time when you’re hungry.

A&B Lobster House, as suggested, was excellent.  It was also expensive.  Expectation #2 was thus partially debunked by this and later observations.   

Key West had the highest per capita income in the late 1800’s, derived from salvaging shipwrecks on the reef.  The historical district is packed with houses from that era, most in excellent condition.  Given the visible wealth exhibited in the area and the general cost of shipping virtually everything to the end of road, it shouldn’t be a surprise that seafood isn’t inexpensive.

“Naturalistic” was confirmed, but not in the way I expected. I had thought that there would be salty breezes, exposed beaches, and possibly undeveloped areas due to zoning, erosion, etc.  Silly me.  It’s a coral island, and the only sandy beaches are artificially created by adjacent hotels who import the sand.  There were certainly ample breezes, but none spoke of seaports or any particular coastal odor as might be found in Charleston or Savannah.  And, of course, the island is built out.  That said, it is an amazingly lush place, with mature palm trees, large leaved plants, flowering this and that, etc. 

The most surprising aspect was that, given the multitude of historic homes and buildings (many of which are on the National Historic Register), the island appears untouched from hurricane damage.  I had expected to see many buildings built on pilings to allow for storm surges.    Practically all buildings in Key West, including newer ones, are built on the ground, testifying that hurricanes have been very kind to Key West for the past century.  

Peter Gabriel – Scratch My Back

I’m a Peter Gabriel fan.  Aside from my collection of Genesis and solo releases, the proof is in the money spent for concerts.  I saw him in concert in 1982 at the Meriweather Post Pavilion on his “Security” Tour, $12.50.  A truly awesome show.  I saw him again at the Omni in Atlanta in 1992, a venue never associated with high fidelity audio and later, to my delight, demolished.  Cost: $25.00.  Skip forward another 10 years, and I saw him at Chastain Park Amphitheater, this time for $90.  Inflation or Ticketmaster, I’m not sure which.

I’m a fan, despite an observable trend of fan-cruelty by Gabriel. 

After So, his 1986, MTV-enabled commercial triumph, the sky seemed the limit as he tailored his musical instincts for a wider audience.  Instead of forging on, however, he became a recluse and six years later released Us, a troubled CD representing a troubled time that largely returned to the musical stylings that suited him well enough prior to So.  Up, released 10 years (!) later and in keeping with his two letter titles, had several songs that spoke upward in his outlook, but the majority of lyrics remained inscrutable or detached, and the music was often forgettable.

Granted, Gabriel is a man of varied interests, promoting music from other cultures, developing music for soundtracks, and working on other collaborations.  Fine.  I can understand that an artist may not feel compelled to release music every couple years, but seven or more years between releases is criminal unless inspiration is completely lost.  Still, as the original lead singer of Genesis in their progressive years, along with some great work as a solo artist, he’s inherited enough goodwill amongst fans that they wait… and wait.

So here we are in 2010, and after 8 years, he blesses us with a new release, Scratch My Back.  To begin, I understand artists need new challenges and seek new directions.  I actually hope for this amongst established artists, and Gabriel is certainly deserving to try whatever he wants.  When an artist stretches in this way, he risks much as the work may not find an audience.

There are changes here, and to Gabriel’s credit, they’re not hidden until after one makes a purchase.  He clearly advertises this for what it is:  different from his past work.

This CD includes covers of others’ songs, a surprisingly strong and informed selection that hold tremendous potential for what Gabriel might do with them.  Additionally, given the time between his previous releases, one might think he would have had ample time to write a thoroughly solid set of songs for each CD, but he hasn’t.   Given the possibilities of the material chosen here, there’s a real possibility of inspiration.

But, that’s not the only difference here.  He also dismisses his band, trading them in for an orchestra and piano.  For progressive rock listeners, we’re okay with that.  Mellotrons, keyboards… they replace and displace a full symphonic sound to some degree, and many aging bands have recorded or performed live with local symphonies.  

However, Gabriel also jettisons the other trappings of rock/pop/modern music, that being guitar, bass, and drums or any striking use of keyboards. 

I applaud the intention, but decry the result.  I’m thankful that I was able to listen to this in full on Napster and saved my cash.

The CD begins with David Bowie’s “Heroes.”  While singing at a level low enough to avoid public embarrassment (should one be walking on a sidewalk), Gabriel yet manages to coax a dramatic treatment of the lyrics while divorced from an observable beat or particular musical tunefulness.  This immediately suggests that the song (and please, not the whole CD), is a self-absorbed, indulgent and pretentious work.

Which it is.

The second song, Paul Simon’s “Boy in the Bubble,” points out that Gabriel never was that great a singer.  He has a distinctive voice, truly, but it’s never been particularly notable in range or strength, and it’s best presented when backed by more diverse sounds than an orchestra stuck in “elevator music” mode.

“Flume,” by Bon Iver, at least holds interest through the entirety of the song.  Arcade Fire’s “My Body is a Cage” aspires to something greater, but despite a hint of 1974 -Lamb Lies Down on Broadway in Gabriel’s voice, it eventually succumbs to disinterest for being overly long.  The CD concludes with a plodding version of Radiohead’s “Street Spirit (Fade Out)” which puts the final nail in the coffin of this sad disappointment, may it rest in peace.

As a side note, I recently visited Park Avenue CD in Orlando, FL, a fine indie CD store that I’m happy to support in rebellion against iTunes and the coming Cloud.  I couldn’t help but take a picture of one of their particular offerings, and, of course, I wondered what manner of dreck would be disposed of so callously.  Now I know.

Suggested Song: “Flume”

Rating: 1 of 5 Stars

Sand Animation

Okay, here is some blog filler as I haven't posted in a couple weeks.  This is from one of those "chain e-mails" that goes around, but the video is really quite worthwhile.

Here's the background which reads plausibly, but consider it as reliable as junkmail can be...

This video shows the winner of "Ukraine’s Got Talent", Kseniya Simonova, 24, drawing a series of pictures on an illuminated sand table showing how ordinary people were affected by the German invasion during World War II.  Her talent, which admittedly is a strange one, is mesmeric to watch.

The images, projected onto a large screen, moved many in the audience to tears and she won the top prize of about $130,000.00.

She begins by creating a scene showing a couple sitting holding hands on a bench under a starry sky, but then warplanes appear and the happy scene is obliterated.

It is replaced by a woman’s face crying, but then a baby arrives and the woman smiles again. Once again war returns and Miss Simonova throws the sand into chaos from which a young woman’s face appears.  She quickly becomes an old widow, her face wrinkled and sad, before the image turns into a monument to an Unknown Soldier.

This outdoor scene becomes framed by a window as if the viewer is looking out on the monument from within a house.

In the final scene, a mother and child appear inside and a man standing outside, with his hands pressed against the glass, saying goodbye.

The Great Patriotic War, as it is called in Ukraine, resulted in one in four of the population being killed with eight to 11 million deaths out of a population of 42 million.

Kseniya Simonova says: "I find it difficult enough to create art using paper and pencils or paintbrushes, but using sand and fingers is beyond me. The art, especially when the war is used as the subject matter, even brings some audience members to tears. And there’s surely no bigger compliment."