Glen Campbell - Ghost On The Canvas

A lot has been written already about this record and the story behind it.  For those who may not know, Glen Campbell was diagnosed with Alzheimer's this past year.  He has chosen to make a record while he still has the ability to say good by to the industry and fans he has been playing for all these years.  One would expect this to have the sad overtones that pervaded the Johnny Cash records with Rick Rubin, but for me at least that is not the case.  This is a record full of reflections on a life lived but it is one of thanks and very often satisfaction.



There are so many strong songs here, in fact there are no real misses to be found, that it is hard to pick any one favorite.  In particular the title track, A Thousand Lifetimes and It's You Amazing Grace make as good a 3 song stretch as I have heard all year.  It's also important to remember that Glen Campbell is also a fine guitarist who was a very in demand session player before he hit solo success (Pet Sounds is him).  The solo at the end of There Is No Me...Without You is all the proof you need.

My wife commented to me that these songs sound so much like his classics of the late sixties. It's true...that sound is captured here but with an update that makes it at once in the here and now and at the same time of the past.  My kids probably won't get it, but if you have a desire to here music played that goes beyond today's pop sensibilities this one is for you.  Music for adults folks.



His last album, Meet Glen Campbell, was a surprise. This is not. It is the work of a master performer who still can sing and play at such a high level, even at 75. Alzheimer's may dim his memories but music like this will keep his memory alive for future generations. This gets the OldRockr1 Seal Approval for this or any year.

Chuck Ragan - Covering Ground

I have to say that start to finish that "Covering Ground", the new Chuck Ragan album is one of the finest releases of this or any recent year.  Having released several fine acoustic albums of modern folk music over the past number of year, the Hot Water Music singer has made what is, for me at least, a classic.  Now this isn't folk music in the traditional sense, in fact it owes more to Bruce Springsteen than Bob Dylan or Arlo Guthrie, but it is nothing short of spectacular.  This is folk music to drive your car to...fast.

Ragan is accompanied by some fine folks including Brian Fallon of Gaslight Anthem, but it is Jon Gaunt and his ever present fiddle that puts this disk over the top.  The instrumentation is perfect for songs of the road and the price that it places on all who take up the journey.  There is a strong sense of loss here in the songs, but one never feels down hearing them.  These songs are just so strong and played so well that I have the feeling that this will find its way onto my turntable for years to come.  This is good stuff folks.  Check out meet me in the Middle with Brian Fallon.



I am going to put a couple more videos at the end but this should give you the idea how good this one is. I tend to be partial to singers that sound like they smoke too much and drink whiskey far too often (Ben Nichols anyone) but this release moves beyond that little niche. Chuck Ragan has made a classic modern folk/Americana album. Hell this is a great rock album and it gets my overwhelming Oldrockr1 Seal of Approval. Go buy this. Now!

Ten Years

C'mon Irene...Let's Get This Over With

The build up to this hurricane has been one of the most tedious events of my life.  Day after day of impending doom.  Well it looks like Irene will be here on Long Island some time tomorrow.  I am praying for the best.  The family and I are hunkered down en mi casa and everything is all battened down.  Let's get this over with so we can get on with life.

Stay safe my friends...

Dear Gov. Perry

I heard you say that Evolution is some idea out there and that in Texas you teach our children Creationism along side evolution as another theory.  As a science teacher my students understand that a theory is not some "best guess" thrown out there to explain something.   A theory holds all the weight of the experimental evidence behind it.  A theory is something that explains the data and is not something we take lightly.

Creationism is not science.  There is no data to back it up.  For example, some say that the earth is thousands of years old, however uranium dating (accurate to the time frame of a presidents term) puts it at something like 4.5 billion years. The data doesn't lie.  Taking something that is faith based and trying to put it forward as science minimizes the importance of each.

My students always ask me if I believe in evolution.  Science is not something to believe in.  Science is the response to observations and experimentation.  Belief is an issue of faith.  As a person of faith I have long since reconciled my understanding of science and the universe with my religious beliefs as have countless people (including the current Pope) over the many years since Mr. Darwin published his work.  My faith is important to me but it has no place in my classroom.  I will share my knowledge of science with my students but my beliefs remain my own...remember separation of Church and State.

What you have done to schools in Texas with respect to science is disgraceful.  No matter what the residents think on issues of faith, no matter whether or not they believe in a higher power, teaching Creationism as science is just wrong.  If you think this belongs in school show me the data...