Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Aural Fun: Leonard Cohen Listens to Grant Morrison Talking About Superman While Dancing to DJ Jeff Mills

What fun discoveries would you add to the following list?

Like you, I stumble upon materials online and then bookmark them. If I get lucky, there is enough material to entertain me later on. If I am very lucky, those discoveries can be shared here.

1. Leonard Cohen is the man. I will admit, I did not really appreciate his music until the Watchmen movie.

We encounter meaningful discoveries on our terms and timetable.

His song, "The Story of Isaac" reminds me of the music some of my grognard, proto-fascist friends enjoyed in high school and middle school. They spent so many hours arguing about songs like "Smoke on the Water", and its supposed references to gunships and the Vietnam War, that I soon lost interest in the songs they debated about.

Years later, I realized that there was so much good music I had unfairly rejected because of who the messengers and discussants were.

You tell me. Is "The Story of Isaac" a pro or anti-war song? And what other songs do you think are similarly misunderstood?

2. Grant Morrison is one of the best comic book/graphic novel writers working in the business today. If Nolan and company had channeled any of Grant Morrison's insight about Superman in the underwhelming movie Man of Steelit would have been amazing.

3. Legendary Detroit DJ Jeff Mills turned 50 yesterday. He is the type of DJ I listened to for years before asking my dad for a thousand dollar loan to buy two Technic 1200 turntables back in the day. Yes. I paid him back. And yes, he took the money.

No digital mess from Jeff Mills here. No Serato. No tricks. Mills did his thing live and inspired a whole generation of deejays.

Listening to Jeff Mills spin is a reminder of how technology is only a supplement to good, solid, basic skills. Technology can mask weakness. Those weaknesses will inevitably be exposed.

Putting on the Iron Man suit does not make one a hero.

Jeff Mills, and deejays like him, are not the beginning or the end. Rather, they are great examples of the types of skills that newcomers to the game should try to emulate.

10 comments:

Jessica said...

"The Story of Isaac" is one of my favorites - Leonard Cohen is a god of songwriting. I don't think it's about war though, at all. I think it's about religious fanaticism and spiritual hubris.

Shady Grady said...

Life would be less interesting without the music of Bruce Cockburn, and Richard&Linda Thompson. I heard them on a local NPR station many years back.

Q said...

Finding out you're a Detroit Techno fan is easily one of the best things I've learned about you. I thought I was the only one that liked that genre. You'd be surprised how many electronic fans don't know that black people basically invented techno.

chauncey devega said...

Good music is good music. Glad to be in your company. Any suggestions?

chauncey devega said...

Got to check out Bruce Cockburn. Did you recommend him before?

chauncey devega said...

I am unsure, the original link fleshes out that read of the song.

Q said...

Yes.



Model 500 - Deep Space



Carl Craig - Landcruising (as well as More Songs About Food and
Revolutionary Art)



Kenny Larkin - Azimuth


Underground Resistance - Revolution For Change


Drexciya - Neptune's Lair



The Martian - LBH-6251876



Stacey Pullen Presents Kosmic Messenger - The Collected Works of
Kosmic Messenger

Derrick May - Innovator



Robert Hood - Nighttime World Vol. 2

Yennek - Serena X Remix



Cybotron - Clear

X-103 - Atlantis



The Detroit Escalator Co. - Soundtrack [313]



69 - The Sound of Music



And if you're new to the genre, I suggest starting with Robert Hood's semi-recent Motor: Nighttime World 3. It's not only a good introduction to the genre's varied sound/influences, but it functions as an instrumental interpretation of Detroit's history.

My apologies if I listed too many albums, but Detroit techno is
probably one of the last great musical canvases for Afrofuturism so its
obscurity irks me. I appreciate both your warm welcome and your request.

chauncey devega said...

No, I will be checking out that last suggestion especially. Appreciated. I am sure others will find some gems on your list and broaden their horizons.

Shady Grady said...

I very well may have. His early work is really good.

Shady Grady said...

http://cockburnproject.net/songs&music/sl.html