Not much happened this week...that is, until an old friend of mine contacted me with a jaw-dropping update on a mutual acquaintance, whom for privacy reasons, I'll refer to as Matilda Cherokee.
This update about Matilda arrived simply enough in a brief email. Old Friend asked how life has been, told me what he had been up to lately, and then concluded by saying,
"Hey, remember that crazy chick, Matilda? Check out the link to the story below."
The attached link led me to a news story about Ms. Cherokee, and a level of hi-jinks one engages in usually only after consuming no fewer than four straight gallons of anti-freeze. Suffice to say, Ms. Cherokee managed to careen through an evening that involved untold amounts alcohol, police officers, hiding from said police officers, riding in a police car, crying, screaming, guns, and of course, the inevitable being taken into custody.
Fortunately, no one was injured.
Unfortunately, the evening's events made the news. Not just local popcorn headlines. Like, Washington Post, Associated Press national news...and a cache of links on YouTube...and page after page of blogs, videos, stories, etc. on Google. All you have to do is enter her first and last name in the search field, and away you go. Yowsa.
Now, I'm not making any value judgments - we all drop the ball from time to time, and I have committed more than my share of mistakes, especially while under the influence of alcohol. Rather, I think my response to her tale of woe resembles something of how it must feel to say, "Henry Winkler got expelled from my high school," or maybe even, "My college girlfriend used to bang Mario Lopez." Whatever it is, satisfaction, pride, or amazement at how small the world can be, it felt pretty unique to look at someone who is the focus of a million pairs of eyes, and say truthfully, "Wow. I know that person."
And, to be honest, it felt even better to follow up the previous sentence with, "I'm glad that didn't happen to me."
Well, Matilda Cherokee, wherever you are, I hope that as the attention wears off, you pick yourself back up and keep on moving. Everything's going to be OK.
In the meantime, as temperatures start to fall and football season kicks into gear, there will be plenty of excuses to cut loose and enjoy a pint or two. That being said, if you're going to drink, do yourself and the rest of the community a favor and stay away from automobiles and firearms. I'm just sayin'.
However, if armed intoxication is your idea of a good way to unwind, then this week's music may make a good soundtrack for your pursuits:
This update about Matilda arrived simply enough in a brief email. Old Friend asked how life has been, told me what he had been up to lately, and then concluded by saying,
"Hey, remember that crazy chick, Matilda? Check out the link to the story below."
The attached link led me to a news story about Ms. Cherokee, and a level of hi-jinks one engages in usually only after consuming no fewer than four straight gallons of anti-freeze. Suffice to say, Ms. Cherokee managed to careen through an evening that involved untold amounts alcohol, police officers, hiding from said police officers, riding in a police car, crying, screaming, guns, and of course, the inevitable being taken into custody.
Fortunately, no one was injured.
Unfortunately, the evening's events made the news. Not just local popcorn headlines. Like, Washington Post, Associated Press national news...and a cache of links on YouTube...and page after page of blogs, videos, stories, etc. on Google. All you have to do is enter her first and last name in the search field, and away you go. Yowsa.
Now, I'm not making any value judgments - we all drop the ball from time to time, and I have committed more than my share of mistakes, especially while under the influence of alcohol. Rather, I think my response to her tale of woe resembles something of how it must feel to say, "Henry Winkler got expelled from my high school," or maybe even, "My college girlfriend used to bang Mario Lopez." Whatever it is, satisfaction, pride, or amazement at how small the world can be, it felt pretty unique to look at someone who is the focus of a million pairs of eyes, and say truthfully, "Wow. I know that person."
And, to be honest, it felt even better to follow up the previous sentence with, "I'm glad that didn't happen to me."
Well, Matilda Cherokee, wherever you are, I hope that as the attention wears off, you pick yourself back up and keep on moving. Everything's going to be OK.
In the meantime, as temperatures start to fall and football season kicks into gear, there will be plenty of excuses to cut loose and enjoy a pint or two. That being said, if you're going to drink, do yourself and the rest of the community a favor and stay away from automobiles and firearms. I'm just sayin'.
However, if armed intoxication is your idea of a good way to unwind, then this week's music may make a good soundtrack for your pursuits:
1) The Black Keys - Brothers - 2010 - The sixth studio album from the Akron, Ohio duo who have previously worked with Danger Mouse, Mos Def, and former Roc-aFella Records CEO Damon Dash, to name a few. The verdict? Nothing groundbreaking here, but nothing disappointing, either. A straight-up rock record with tones of blues, soul, and enough of a sneer to keep it interesting. Probably sounds best when paired with Miller High Life - The Champagne of Beers.
2) Dwight Yoakum - Guitars, Cadillacs, Etc., Etc. - 1986 - Honky tonkin' Dwight Yoakum's first studio album and Jake's Doom Guild pick for the week. This is the album that put the guy on the map and probably played on many a jukebox through the rest of the 80's from Texas all the way through Kentucky. For me, this album reminded me of the greatest love story ever told, "Urban Cowboy," and seemed like a good choice of background music for drinkin', cussin,' fightin', or screwin'. Try this album with Old Milwaukee to really bring out the twangy guitar and two-steppin' rhythm.
3) Radiohead - Pablo Honey - 1993 - Radiohead's first studio album, and my third Radiohead album to cover in the last three months. The album's lead single, 'Creep' had a whole generation of early 90's teeny boppers singing, "You're so fucking special," while learning to play electric guitar. Overall, not a bad album, and a great lead-in to the classically perfect sophomore effort, The Bends, but not much here indicated what was to come from this band once they truly took off in the late 90's. Given the hipster darling status Radiohead has occupied for the last decade or so, I almost recommended pairing this album with a current, hip, ironically trendy working class beer, but I'm going to stick with the early 90's zeitgeist, and suggest sipping on a tasty Bud Ice while spinning this album.
4) The Who - Tommy, Part 1 - 1969 - The Who's first rock opera, rock-n-roll's first rock opera, and my second The Who rock opera to cover in the last three months (luck of the draw, not by choice). I'll refrain from a saying much more until I complete part II next week (double albums bore the shit out of me), but I will say that it is next to impossible trying to shake images of a wide-eyed Roger Daltry swaying to and fro Stevie Wonder-style as I delve into this album. Since it's the beverage most likely to cause to some form of blindness, try this album out with a Matilda Cherokee helping of Steel Reserve (that's 8.1% ABV, kids).
Remember Matilda: Alcohol + Car + Gun = Bad Day.
Happy autumn, happy listening, and be careful out there,
-A
Happy autumn, happy listening, and be careful out there,
-A
3 comments:
Danger Mouse only produced the third track on Brother, brother.
Thanks for the heads up.
Beg pardon. Brothers, not Brother.
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