Welcome back everyone.
I've been spending a lot of time on my bike lately. I could lie and tell you that it's because I'm training for an event that's coming up this Saturday but I won't. The truth is that I've been doing some work to rebuild routines and increased mileage, along with a lot of other things, has helped to make me feel more balanced. A couple of weeks ago I headed out for a 150km ride. It became clear that I had bitten off a bit more than I could chew and I cut it short to 130km. I was, however, determined to hit that goal and so I loaded myself up with food and drinks and headed off on Saturday. It was a pretty good ride really and just over six hours in the saddle. I really didn't enjoy a nasty twenty minutes up a hill into the wind at about the 100km mark but other than that I just cruised along enjoying myself, looking at the countryside and waving to other cyclists. When I got home I felt great. I went to bed early after a solid meal. On Sunday though I was a wreck. I needed three naps (the first at about 10am) and I felt pretty average all day. Who knows why? My legs aren't at all tired but the rest of my body is! It's now Monday and I had to admit defeat and take the tram to work rather than riding. I've got a 200km epic ride in my sights (the furthest I've ever ridden is just over 180km) but I think I'll wait for a long weekend so that I have a couple of days to recover!
Something I've been doing recently is trying to listen to a whole album, without skipping a track, every day. It's actually not that hard to find the time but harder when the album turns out to be not that great. Most days I try to find something I've not listened to before but it's good to revisit favourites as well. Albums used to be designed to flow track by track (and some still are). Listening on vinyl or cassette reduces the temptation to skip through as well. The only downside I can find is that the list of albums I'd like to buy on CD or record is increasing quite quickly. Streaming is convenient and useful but, even though I pay my Spotify fee, I know that it's not paying the artist all that much. So, buy a CD, record, t-shirt or whatever sometime soon or we'll run out of artists who can afford to put out good music.
A couple of years ago I played a small gig with my friend Sam. One song that we rehearsed but didn't play was this one from Margo Price. Well, Margo has a new album called Strays and it's really, really good. It features Mike Campbell (from The Heartbreakers) on one track and a few other guests too. Maybe this is a little less country than the previous long player and I suppose that could either make it more or less popular depending on your outlook. There are moments when Margo sounds like Sheryl Crow and Susanna Hoffs (The Bangles) and those are positives for me.
Margo Price - Change Of Heart - https://youtu.be/D8Hvpjui9g8
Hard Rock / Metal Grammy winners Jethro Tull have a new single out. Metallica fans may yet be able to come to terms with the fact that Tull won that Grammy in the year that the black album was released but I've moved on. Tull aren't metal but they are a great band. If you've never listened to them then rest assured, it is about as far from heavy metal as a flute player in a codpiece can get.
Jethro Tull - Ginnungagap - https://youtu.be/KoBAD-TRxYA
Speaking of Metallica, they've released a couple of new singles this year. The first, Lux Aeterna, didn't do that much for me. It felt a bit like Metallica by numbers; not bad at all but not memorable. The second track is called Screaming Suicide. James from the band reflects that it's a topic that touches us all and he's right. Plenty of crusty old Metallica fans will never be happy with anything after the ...And Justice For All album from 1988 but these two singles give me hope. Hetfield's vocals, in particular, sound very much in form.
Metallica - Screaming Suicide - https://youtu.be/ZDyDpdFZHBo
Ian Hunter has a new single. More about that in a future episode as I might wait for the album to drop. I was listening to his band, Mott The Hoople, doing some older songs. Due to the vagaries of music publishing, the early output isn't streaming on Spotify. I'll find some CDs or LPs to get my fix but in the meantime I headed to YouTube. Then I remembered this excellent version done by Joe Elliot's side project. If there was ever a movie made about Hunter then surely Joe would get the gig!
I really don't mind what happens now and then
As long as you'll be my friend at the end"
I've been spending a lot of time on my bike lately. I could lie and tell you that it's because I'm training for an event that's coming up this Saturday but I won't. The truth is that I've been doing some work to rebuild routines and increased mileage, along with a lot of other things, has helped to make me feel more balanced. A couple of weeks ago I headed out for a 150km ride. It became clear that I had bitten off a bit more than I could chew and I cut it short to 130km. I was, however, determined to hit that goal and so I loaded myself up with food and drinks and headed off on Saturday. It was a pretty good ride really and just over six hours in the saddle. I really didn't enjoy a nasty twenty minutes up a hill into the wind at about the 100km mark but other than that I just cruised along enjoying myself, looking at the countryside and waving to other cyclists. When I got home I felt great. I went to bed early after a solid meal. On Sunday though I was a wreck. I needed three naps (the first at about 10am) and I felt pretty average all day. Who knows why? My legs aren't at all tired but the rest of my body is! It's now Monday and I had to admit defeat and take the tram to work rather than riding. I've got a 200km epic ride in my sights (the furthest I've ever ridden is just over 180km) but I think I'll wait for a long weekend so that I have a couple of days to recover!
The Darkness - One Way Ticket - https://youtu.be/enJiLuH9YUA
Something I've been doing recently is trying to listen to a whole album, without skipping a track, every day. It's actually not that hard to find the time but harder when the album turns out to be not that great. Most days I try to find something I've not listened to before but it's good to revisit favourites as well. Albums used to be designed to flow track by track (and some still are). Listening on vinyl or cassette reduces the temptation to skip through as well. The only downside I can find is that the list of albums I'd like to buy on CD or record is increasing quite quickly. Streaming is convenient and useful but, even though I pay my Spotify fee, I know that it's not paying the artist all that much. So, buy a CD, record, t-shirt or whatever sometime soon or we'll run out of artists who can afford to put out good music.
John Williamson & The McClymont Sisters - I'll Be Gone (live) - https://youtu.be/Cd6FhmogDY8
A couple of years ago I played a small gig with my friend Sam. One song that we rehearsed but didn't play was this one from Margo Price. Well, Margo has a new album called Strays and it's really, really good. It features Mike Campbell (from The Heartbreakers) on one track and a few other guests too. Maybe this is a little less country than the previous long player and I suppose that could either make it more or less popular depending on your outlook. There are moments when Margo sounds like Sheryl Crow and Susanna Hoffs (The Bangles) and those are positives for me.
Margo Price - Change Of Heart - https://youtu.be/D8Hvpjui9g8
Hard Rock / Metal Grammy winners Jethro Tull have a new single out. Metallica fans may yet be able to come to terms with the fact that Tull won that Grammy in the year that the black album was released but I've moved on. Tull aren't metal but they are a great band. If you've never listened to them then rest assured, it is about as far from heavy metal as a flute player in a codpiece can get.
Jethro Tull - Ginnungagap - https://youtu.be/KoBAD-TRxYA
Speaking of Metallica, they've released a couple of new singles this year. The first, Lux Aeterna, didn't do that much for me. It felt a bit like Metallica by numbers; not bad at all but not memorable. The second track is called Screaming Suicide. James from the band reflects that it's a topic that touches us all and he's right. Plenty of crusty old Metallica fans will never be happy with anything after the ...And Justice For All album from 1988 but these two singles give me hope. Hetfield's vocals, in particular, sound very much in form.
Metallica - Screaming Suicide - https://youtu.be/ZDyDpdFZHBo
Ian Hunter has a new single. More about that in a future episode as I might wait for the album to drop. I was listening to his band, Mott The Hoople, doing some older songs. Due to the vagaries of music publishing, the early output isn't streaming on Spotify. I'll find some CDs or LPs to get my fix but in the meantime I headed to YouTube. Then I remembered this excellent version done by Joe Elliot's side project. If there was ever a movie made about Hunter then surely Joe would get the gig!
Joe Elliott's Down n' Outz - Rock & Roll Queen - https://youtu.be/gS11hho5LWk
Once in a while a re-release comes along that, despite the price tag, is a no-brainer. Yesterday I put my cold hard cash down for a vinyl version of Mantissa's 1992 debut LP Mossy God. From what I understand it was only released on CD and cassette. This is a limited run of 500 records so I really didn't want to snooze and miss out. Mantissa (formerly Killing Time) were an awesome Australian heavy rock band who sadly didn't last. You'll find former drummer Syd Green playing with a variety of live acts that has included 19-twenty and Kasey Chambers.
Mantissa - Dream Alone - https://youtu.be/KtIIVhgDUEA
If you've got access to Disney+ then I'd recommend the new series Willow which follows on years later from the original film. I enjoyed it a lot and whilst it might not be the most high-brow television out there it's a lot of fun. I'll admit that I haven't seen the movie and that didn't diminish from my viewing experience. This is definitely one for fantasy fans.
Mantissa - Dream Alone - https://youtu.be/KtIIVhgDUEA
If you've got access to Disney+ then I'd recommend the new series Willow which follows on years later from the original film. I enjoyed it a lot and whilst it might not be the most high-brow television out there it's a lot of fun. I'll admit that I haven't seen the movie and that didn't diminish from my viewing experience. This is definitely one for fantasy fans.
Ryan Adams has released an (online only) cover of the entirety of Bruce Springsteen's Nebraska album. I admire the original album greatly and it's one that I listen to quite regularly. The stark nature of the soundscape reflects the American experience that Bruce is singing about. It's far from a happy album but there are moments of hope inside the darkness. Ryan Adams is obviously a fan. He doesn't need to record cover versions to make a living and this feels quite personal to him. Interestingly, the only other album he's covered is Taylor Swift's fabulous record, 1989. Check that out sometime, it's one I bought on CD. That's how highly I rate it.
Ryan Adams - My Father's House (Springsteen cover) - https://youtu.be/Q6IqLcNq1T0
Good night,
The Woozle.
"I watched the world float to the dark side of the moon
After all I knew, it had to be something to do with youI really don't mind what happens now and then
As long as you'll be my friend at the end"
3 Doors Down, Kryptonite, 2000.
