I've decided to start music blogging again and to restart this blog instead of creating yet another one, mostly because I like the name... ok, because I can't think of another name. Reading over my posts from two years ago, I'm kind of amazed at how much I've learned about music since then, and I want to try my hand at some slightly more informed album reviews. (Perhaps I can atone for once referring to the Grateful Dead as "decadent" on this blog—hi Mom!) Additionally, I'm now attending college in Boston, where the music scene eclipses that of anywhere I've ever lived before, so a large part of this blog will include reviews of venues and concerts in the greater Boston area—or at least that portion of it accessible by public transportation, since I am a broke carless college student.
"But Jack," I hear you cry, "why start your blog again after so long?" And well you should ask. Perhaps I'm motivated by an altruistic drive to share great music with the world and bring joy and satisfaction to millions, or perhaps I just want to use the Internet to spew my arrogant views about music to anyone who will listen. (Anyone? ...Anyone?) I like to think that the truth lies somewhere in between. Since I'm probably going to pursue a career somehow related to music, whether as a performer, songwriter, journalist, academic, DJ, high-powered record executive, airport bar pianist, hobo, or whatever, it makes sense for me to practice writing about it in order to develop my ear and my figurative pen. It's also good for my sanity to spend some time writing something other than emails or academic papers.
I will also, of course, share interesting and amusing links. To get started, here's a jazz bagpipes (!) version of A Love Supreme (reviewed on this blog here), performed by Rufus Harley and Sun Ra.