Noble Beast

Just listened to Andrew Bird's latest CD, Noble Beast. It sounded like Roy Orbison meets Enigma to me in ways I can't quite pin down (probably because I've never taken any music appreciation courses). The music is absolutely beautiful! Some of the lyrics are a little odd for my taste, but I really connected with "Effigy" which is both reminiscent of and the antithesis of a sixties protest song. Such depth. "When you learn to burn an effigy, it should be of a man who's lost his way." And then, "It could be you, it could be me."

-DH

Fitz and the Tantrums

If you get a chance you should absolutely check out Fitz and the Tantrums. Can't stop listening to the EP.

AC

Murakami

Just reread Hard Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World by Haruki Murakami. Hadn't read it for about fifteen years. It was one of a handful of his books I read over the course of a month or two after being introduced to A Wild Sheep Chase way back when.

It's amazing stuff. Both mind bending and very poetic about the small moments of daily life. Something to aspire to.

AC