mikeymad

^^ reference recording for a reason... Mo Sax! The Sky Will Still Be There Tomorrow by Charles Lloyd (2024) https://album.link/i/1724096581 Example: Such a pretty album, hard to pick an example - this is the opening track. Another new Blue Note release of note. Full hour and a half of Charles and crew goodness.

∏+∝+π+π+ʎ ∈ ß+ɩ+ʃ+τ+ɧ+∆+ɑ+ψ Cheers Shelly I hope you have a great day. (sorry the equation does not balance)

oh they made the reverse as well.

Catching up on Melissa's last two albums - On Blue Note Now (yay) 12 Stars by Melissa Aldana (2022) https://album.link/i/1599823297 Example: I really like her style, it is rooted in the moden style with lots of improvisation. and Echoes Of The Inner Prophet by Melissa Aldana (2024 -- Just on Sunday the 5th) https://album.link/i/1727103842 Example: A deeper exploration. I found the overall sound quieter, that being, more moments to let notes breath. Also not in a rush. I really enjoyed this new album.

One last update. Finally got the group photo back from the photographer. Thought I would share. Cheers - mikey

I still go back and watch this scene from time to time. The way Edge immediately gets up and moves to see Jimmy's hands, Giving no Fucks about blocking the camera and the crew. And Jack has to put his guitar down and give that oh so loving look... good stuff. I do wish that they just played together more, and just did a lot more of ^^ this. The movie could work in a much longer format. But this was before the Netflix mini docs. Thanks for the reminder.

Just listening to the great Marty

The Carnegie Hall Concert by Alice Coltrane (2024) (recorded - Feb. 23, 1971) https://album.link/i/1727474137 Example: This has been on the top of my queue since it was released in March. After the tribute above, I took the time to give this as good listen. I was interested in the story of this as well, not being released until now. But with -- Three percussionists (Ed Blackwell, Clifford Jarvis, Kumar Kramer), two saxophonists (Pharoah Sanders, Archie Shepp), two bassists (Jimmy Garrison, Cecil McBee), a vocalist (Tulsi Reynolds) and one bandleader, harpist Alice Coltrane. How can I not listen? The example is one of the 4 tracks of the 1 hour 20 minute recording. It is the most melodic compared to the higher level of entropy of the other three tracks. It is on the edge of my musical taste, and knowledge, but I really liked it. I will spend some time with it again to dig a little deeper as to what is going on.

Have 'Twangy' Guitar Will Travel by Duane Eddy (1958) https://album.link/i/217699746 << - is this site defunct? - I have been noticing a lot of omissions. But then again I am mostly pretty far away from mainstream music. But I assume it is just a pile of API's collecting info. Anyway... Example: Long live twangy guitars....

And on the other end of the quality scale:: So, I wrote a prompt to AI: I need a comparative sarcastic review of The Carpenters - Space Encounters 1978 and the Star Wars Christmas Special. (( It got it mostly right. I didn't feel as awful after this as I did the SW special - At least there is Karen's singing )) -- The Force Awakens...of Cheesy Holiday Cheer: A Comparative Review of Space Oddities Buckle up, space cadets, for a clash of the titans...well, maybe not titans, but two contenders for the most bizarre holiday space experience. In one corner, we have Karen and Richard Carpenter, armed with synthesizers and questionable fashion choices, blasting off on Space Encounters of 1978. In the other corner, it's the ragtag crew of the Millennium Falcon forced to endure a nonsensical holiday variety show in the Star Wars Holiday Special. Let's see who wins this battle of the bewildering. Musical Merit: Space Encounters: Karen's voice soars like a spaceship on helium, while Richard tinkles on his synthesizer like a toddler discovering a Casio for the first time. The result? Earworms that burrow into your brain and refuse to leave, but undeniably catchy earworms. Star Wars Holiday Special: Let it be known: the galaxy far, far away has some truly dreadful musicians. Imagine elevator music trapped in a broken blender. This is where musical careers go to die. Special Effects: Space Encounters: Prepare to be dazzled by…a shimmering disco ball and some flashing lights. Hold onto your metaphorical spacesuits, folks, it's a wild ride. Star Wars Holiday Special: A low-budget fever dream. Lumpy creatures cavort around in what appears to be a forgotten corner of Mos Eisley cantina. Just be thankful they don't try to sell you those itchy-looking bathrobes. Plot Development: Space Encounters: Essentially non-existent. We just kind of…float around in space with the Carpenters, pondering the mysteries of the universe (and possibly regretting our life choices). Star Wars Holiday Special: Chewbacca's family celebrates Life Day, a bizarre intergalactic holiday involving singing vegetables, a barely coherent Boba Fett cartoon, and a bar brawl almost as confusing as the plot. May the Force help you understand any of it. Redeeming Qualities: Space Encounters: So bad it's good. A campy classic that will have you laughing (or groaning) along. Perfect for those nights when you need a good dose of the absurd. Star Wars Holiday Special: Uh…well, it's a collector's item for die-hard Star Wars fans? And a cautionary tale for future holiday specials, perhaps? The Verdict: This is a close call. Space Encounters offers more entertainment value with its sheer awfulness, but the Star Wars Holiday Special wins for pure nonsensical weirdness. Ultimately, the choice depends on your tolerance for cheese and your love for the bizarre. Just remember, there's always the fast-forward button.

War Of Being by TesseracT (2023) https://album.link/i/1693539775 Example: Okay - caught up on studio albums. And this is by far my favorite. They are fully gelled with current singer Daniel Tompkins now. Hitting hard riffs and great transitions. And if you can surprise me with what is coming next, that is a good thing. (but then again there is Sonder - more listening needed)

I have not - but I am sure I have tasted it... way too sure...

Listen Without Prejudice by George Michael (1990) https://album.link/i/1625866382 Example: Starting with the incredible opening track of - Praying for Time. Which became very poignant, but then drops into the killer Freedom! '90. I can't help but move with this one, with George putting down the bass track for it. The rest of the album is full of great writing and highlights George's voice. But also surprisingly mellow comparatively. I am not sure I listened to the album other than when it dropped. I was over a college buddy of mine's place, and he put it on. While he took like 4 phone calls, I listened away. (and he has the reverse of my first and middle names)

^^ I think I may hate all of that... I wasn't really going to comment on the roster - I am just a baby roaster - until I clicked on the link. You cannot start out with just lying that it is the largest and get away with it. My little machine does 450g per batch. Now I am not too mad at the price point and it does not seem that they are making anything new here. But good luck to them. And the IKAWA looks interesting enough but $1300 for a 100g roaster? dang.. -- One review "I consistently have a quality cup of coffee for less than a Starbucks and very little effort". Ha not hard to do for $1300.. :} Anyway, I have been interested in people's perspective on the whole 'fresh roasted' thing. When I started roasting small batches years ago I would only have enough for a day or so, so it was always 'fresh'. But when I started roasting a full pound at a time and having an extra pound roasted previously. I found that I really prefered the coffee once the roast was about a week old, 5-7 days depending on the roast and bean. Having it 'fresh' I found it a little flat, but nice aromatics. But once it had the time for some off-gassing, I found the flavors on the palate to be much more complex. At least that has been my experience with my coffee and roaster. And these are all via espresso.

Eno by Brian Eno (2024) https://album.link/i/1731220485 Instead of Example - trailer: The album only suffers from being a soundtrack. It is disjointed. And when I want my Eno, I want a cohesive album to get lost in. But with that said there are some cool tacks, and they sound great of course. {maybe I need a pink shirt}

I have been following - Fall of Civilizations - YouTube channel for years now. The host Paul Cooper writes, narriates, and produces these epic documentaries about lost civilizations. Calls it a Podcast. He releases a audio version, and then some months later releases the fully produced video. Not an easy task at 4 hours running time. As he states in the intro of each episode: "I look at a civilization of the past that rose to glory and then collapsed into the ashes of history. I want to ask, what did they have in common? What led to their fall, and what did it feel like to be a person alive at the time who witnessed the end of their world?" These rank up there with almost anything I have listened to or seen. Including - Homemade Documentaries - by Jackson Tyler. Another YouYube documentarian, which I think I have posted here before - here is his latest work on Gemini, Crazy good at just under 3 hours. Mikey likes long format learnings...

Letters from a Black Widow by Judith Hill (2024) https://album.link/i/1725956934 Example: I have been posting a lot recently. I normally listen to a lot of music that is not worthy of posting, but I have had a string of bangers over the last week. I really liked Judith's voice, and this recent album has some highlights to bring it to life.

^ I really like this shot.. ( and bagels are back!!! baby... )

HAAS by Natalie Haas (2023) https://album.link/i/1677843380 Example: Still one of my favorite fiddle players Brittany Haas, this time paired up with her sister (yeah, I know they look nothing alike) Natalie on Cello. Many of the tunes are blending of several works like the example, and it really works for me.

^ I feel like I should listen to more sax now. but Older by Lizzy McAlpine (2024) https://album.link/i/1729662067 Example: I do really appreciate Lizzy's work. I don't like this as much as her last effort. But there are some really great tracks in there. The title track being one of them. I hope that she continues to develop as the singer/songwriter she is.

Know What I Mean? by Cannonball Adderley (1961) https://album.link/i/1729940744 Example: Cannon and Bill playing nicely with each other. Enjoying this recent master, the noise floor dropped a bit, that being noticable. Holding off on rant about a 63 year old recording sounding this good vs a lot of things. {get off my lawn}

That is so funny - well done BBC. ... but give me dem sweet sweet NOS '50s tubes though...

Speak To Me by Julian Lage (2024) https://album.link/i/1724864226 Example: Bit of a rainy day and some Julian on Blue Note. Tis a good day... An hour well spent.

Polaris by TesseracT (2015) https://album.link/i/1015037591 Example: I listened to the albums a bit out of order I realize, this is stepping back to 2015. It is good, but it does not stand out and isn't as cohesive as Sonder (above). But playing is at a high level, and still great to listen to. I think that they have broken out of the Tool sound in the more recent works. A worthy album. It may need a relisten, if I can get Sonder out of the top of my queue for a day.