Episode 92: Wake that Sleepyhead in You

Anticipating Ian’s arrival in a few weeks (if he’s punctual), one of the things I’ve been considering is responding to and teaching discernment with coarse language.  And because I’ve been on a Sonic Youth kick recently, I’ve specifically thought about cussing in music.

I’ll spare you most of my thoughts and conversation with my wife, but I can say that I am convinced parents must model for children a healthy respect of language.  I don’t think this involves overreacting to my son when he inevitably drops a minor curse word…and on the other end of the spectrum, it obviously doesn’t mean I should mean that I should cuss like a sailor.  I guess I have some time to figure things out before he gets old enough that it matters.  You know, maybe I have enough time before then to write a book…

Enjoy the show.

1. “No Room” – Two-Pound Planet (No Sense of History | Alternative/Stunt | 1992)
2. “(I Got A) Catholic Block” – Sonic Youth (Sister | SST | 1987)
3. “Surgeon” – St. Vincent (Strange Mercy | 4AD | 2011)
4. “Natural Frost” – Welcome (Sirs | FatCat | 2007)
5. “Salad of Speech” – 100 Flowers (100 Years of Pulchritude | EMI | 1990)
6. “Okay, I’ll Admit That I really Don’t Understand” – The Flaming Lips (Zaireeka | Warner | 1997)
7. “Listen, It’s Gone” – The Ocean Blue (Beneath the Rhythm and Sound | Sire | 1993)

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1415312/92radiofreeraytown.mp3″

Radio Free Raytown – Episode #92 (10/8/11)

Advertisement

Episode 53: Our words are our guns.

There comes a point in every relationship where you must have that one conversation. Kinda like the “Do you want kids?” talk. It almost serves as a litmus test for deciding just how close you’re going to get to that other person.

The discussion of John Coltrane is like that for me with music. He’s such a pivotal artist who transcended the label of jazz, making many complete artistic statements, instead of merely lumping together a bunch of songs for release. Some of these albums (like some of Miles Davis’ best work) can be easily understood by even the most casual listener.

He also had such a unique style. As he developed, it got labeled as sheets of sound. It’s certainly crazy, but it’s unmistakable, controlling himself just enough to fit into the framework of a song. (This wasn’t always the case. As he progressed and embraced free jazz, his music would often lose its tonal center and stray into cacophony. His live double-LP with Pharaoh Sanders is just downright scary.)

Okay, I’m going to stop. Stop by my house anytime for a Coltrane listening party and further diatribes. Enjoy the show.

1. “Salad of Speech” – 100 Flowers (100 Years of Pulchritude/Rhino/1990)
2. “Ribbed and Veined” – Cocteau Twins (Tiny Dynamine/4AD/1985)
3. “Giant Steps” – John Coltrane (Giant Steps/Atlantic/1960)
4. “Trucker’s Son” – Starflyer 59 (The Changing of the Guard/Tooth & Nail/2010)

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1415312/53radiofreeraytown.mp3″

Radio Free Raytown – Episode #53 (9/3/10)