Under The Ivy: The Life And Music Of Kate Bush

I have posted about Kate Bush before, but she is so awesome that she requires more than just one post. During one of my catalog searches looking for good blogging material, I was overjoyed to discover that the library owns the biography of Kate Bush: Under The Ivy. Continue reading to learn more....

Crime and Punishment Down in Tucson

It's the usual story.

This time I'm shelving CDs and lo and behold!, there is one in my hand I recall from years ago.  I pause and say, "Awe, gee, that was a good album."  Then it occurs to me that this record, Wrong Way Up by Brian Eno & John Cale, is forever relevant to those of us living here in the Old Pueblo, if only for the opening line from the ninth track on the disc, "Crime In The Desert":

"Crime and punishment down in Tucson
Back to normal in the sun."

Then I take a closer look and I realize this is a remastered version which includes material not available on the original release back in 1990.  At this point Wrong Way Up becomes a blog item....

Talking To Girls About Duran Duran

"Growing up in the 1980's, you were surrounded by mysteries." This one of my favorite quotes from Rob Sheffield"s memoir "Talking To Girls About Duran Duran". A hilarious, endearing and relatable memoir about being a teenager in the 80's. It is a follow up to his previous memoir "Love Is A Mixtape." The other favorite quote is "When Michael Jackson, John Hughes, and Patrick Swayze all died, it should have been declared a national day of mourning." The book is a fun assortment of nostalgia. Especially for those who came of age during this time. Read on for a brief description.

I'm Lovin' It Right Now...

 After a bit of a hiatus, Pima County Public Library is again purchasing music cds. Yay! Here's some stuff I've been listening to and am excited about...

Old Yellow Moon, Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell: First off, some history: I had been aware of Emmylou Harris since I was a kid but always figured she was just a country artist who did some albums with Linda Ronstadt. I picked up Wrecking Ball way back in 1997 because Daniel Lanois was the producer. He also produced two of U2's biggest albums, The Joshua Tree and Achtung Baby, so I was interested to see what he had done with Emmylou Harris' sound. Wow!  I loved this album when it first came out and listened to it quite a bit. I went through an Emmylou Harris phase for awhile and picked up some of her releases after Wrecking Ball, but slowly I lost interest....until now. I heard an interview with Rodney Crowell on NPR about Old Yellow Moon and checked in to see if Pima County Public Library had any copies, and we do! I'm really enjoying this one and some of my favorite tracks are Invitation To The Blues, Open Season On My Heart, Black Caffeine (I get the feeling she's not just singing about coffee!) and Bluebird Wine.

War Child Presents: Heroes (An Album To Benefit Children Affected By War)

The library recently acquired a wonderful new benefit compilation album entitled  War Child Presents: Heroes(An Album To Benefit Children Affected By War).  The purpose of the album is to bring awareness to the enormous amount of children who in some way have been affected by the brutality of war. This CD is loaded with excellent musicians all providing covers of classic bands. Read on to learn more about the album.

Marooned : the next generation of desert island discs

Imagine that you are stranded on a desert island. You have plenty of shelter, food, and no worries in the world. Now, what music do you wish to keep you entertained in this sudden paradise? This is the age old question and if you are anything like me, that list is constantly changing as you broaden your horizons year by year and discover new music that is unforgettable. I just finished the wonderful book Marooned : The next generation of desert island discs and I am eager to share this fun little book.