Senses working overtime #527

1 Happy times in Denver revisited

2 Reading: Star Wars and Philosophy Strikes Back: This Is The Way - Eberl and Decker

3 Listening: Pelican albums

I have had loads of marking to do lately, and Pelican is a constant companion. I was listening to them for an upcoming post on Goo Goo G'Joob as well. Favourite album would be What We All Come To Need.

4 Watching: Dance Moms

My colleague Angel recommended this show and we've been binge watching Abby Lee, the dancers and their moms ever since. There are eight seasons!!! We have a long way to go, but Season One hooked us in.

5 Reading: The Hotel Avocado - Bob Mortimer

Overtime: Rest in peace Brian Wilson

I loved this message from Bruce Springsteen:

“Brian Wilson was the most musically inventive voice in all of pop, with an otherworldly ear for harmony. He was also the visionary leader of America’s greatest band, the Beach Boys. If there’d been no Beach Boys, there would have been no ‘Racing In The Street.’ Listen to ‘Summer’s Gone’ from the Beach Boys’ last album That’s Why God Made the Radio and weep. Farewell, Maestro. Nothing but love and a lovely lasting debt from all of us over here on E Street.”

Senses working overtime 208

1 Baby, you're a star (Prince)

This little bundle of joy has dominated the week - instantly making me the happiest new grandad on the planet.

My favourite response to the news on my Facebook page was from Karen Boyes and her 'Squeeeeeeee'.

2 Drive, he sd (Robert Creeley)
Been racking up the miles between Waipukurau/ Hastings/ Palmerston North and listening to Radio Wozza.

The Miracle Of Life by Yes (from the much maligned but I like it Union album) summed up things pretty well.




3 Beach Boys FAQ

Been reading this along with Eat Pray Love this week - as I'm back at work, predictably - the reading has slowed down. I'm a keen BB fan - in this order of BBs: Carl, Dennis, Brian, Al, Bruce, Blondie, Ricky, David...and a distant last - Mike Love.

The book is an honest appraisal and has some interesting asides. I can recommend this edition of the FAQ series.

4 Good Vibrations
My restaurant rule is: I'll always order a sticky toffee pudding if it's on the menu.

My Beach Boys rule is: I'll always (always) listen to this song if it pops up on any format (Radio Wozza, compilation, radio...anywhere).

It has the best things about them: Carl Wilson, harmonies, Brian Wilson's musical genius.

And (this video is a good example), the worst thing about them: the embarrassing Mike Love



5 Surf's Up
I also revisited this 1966 clip of Brian singing Surf's up. This song will take me a lifetime to untangle and I don't think I'll ever fully explore it. 

Here it is with Carl's album version for comparison.






Overtime: Sage advice to end from Seth Godin

Don’t try to create and analyze at the same time

John Cage pointed out they’re different processes. Doing one will interfere with the other.

What will you create today? You can analyze it tomorrow.

Senses working overtime #16

1 The Fabs
My mate Greg Semmens (rhymes with lemons) alerted me to this - What goes on. It's amazing in its awesomeness and attention to bizarre detail. Some of it is a little suss but you have to admire the sheer anal retentiveness of the site.

2 Celebrating the mixtape
I'm NOT a fan of cassettes at all BUT I did love making mixtapes back in the day for friends and family. I still own one made by my English cousin at the end of the seventies which includes some great cutting edge punk singles that she was into then.

Anyway - here's a quick read on why mixtapes are a fantastic (lost) art form. 

3 Brian Wilson
I love Brian, The Beach Boys music, and John Cusack, a lot, but I have no intention of actually watching the recent movie about him. I suspect it's like all the other music bios ever made - naff!

This poster, however, is truly fab!

4 5 and (extreme) Overtime SOUNDS

Generally speaking my ears have had a wake up call this week as I unpacked boxes of records and boxes of CDs in our new house. Here's a three shot of my listening pleasure as I did so: