Aerial Boundaries… The song that put Michael Hedges on the map. I wish there was a higher quality video because this song needs to be seen as much as it needs to be heard.
I had the honor of seeing this guy many moons ago at Wolf Trap in Virginia. Up until then I had only heard Michael’s music on CDs. Ever the skeptic, I couldn’t believe the recordings were of one guitar, one take. At times, in songs like Aerial Boundaries it sounds like two or even three guitars are playing. If I hadn’t seen the goofball play it live I never would have believed one guy could make such a rich sound come from one friggin’ guitar.
Michael died 10 years ago in a car accident in Northern California. It’s mind blowing how tragic of a loss this is (not a personal loss, but a loss to the art of music).
Anyway, feel free to forward past about the first three minutes of this video unless you want to listen to him talk. Hopefully a better video of Aerial Boundaries will pop up on YouTube sooner or later. In the meantime, buy his Aerial Boundaries CD, grab your headphones and fly…
One of the greatest guitar gods of our time. Hammering with both hands, playing the guitar like it’s a six-keyboard piano… Where do people like this come from? He can’t be from earth, he just can’t be.
I just downloaded and listened to the latest, greatest, label-free Radiohead CD “In Rainbows.” I’ll admit, when I pre-ordered the CD I was expecting something less than their last three CDs. I don’t know why, either.
I’m happy to say I was completely wrong: this, I think, is actually one of their better CDs. It’s more accessible than their last three–not as far out in left field, shorter radio-friendly song lengths, etc.–which is probably intentional considering that they’re now on their own. Still, it’s well worth the money and the slow download.
And yes, I PAID for the thing. I strongly recommend you do so as well. Don’t be an ass. Trust me, it’s worth it.
I learned not long after I moved to Portland that a few celebs call the place home. Of course, reader that I am, I immediately thought of Chuck Palahniuk (who may actually live in Seattle by now, what do I know). Little did I know, Portland is fast becoming a mecca for indie musicians. Modest Mouse, The Shins, The Decemberists, Death Cab for Cutie, and a slew of others either have a member or two living in-town or are fully based in Portland. And more are on their way. Qwazy, I tell you.
I wouldn’t know most of these people if I ran into them on the street, but that’s what makes this place so cool: folks can just kinda be here and not make a big deal out of it.
That’s right: FREE, as in beer, as in don’t cost nuthin’. Actually, it costs $0.01 and you have to pay for shipping, but yeesh, this is quite a deal. $0.01 + shipping is worth it for the CD alone.
Of course, being a McSweeney’s book, it contains adult content. Here’s an example, just to pique your interest:
blowkay [bloh’-kay] adj. of an attitude, typically exhibited by the electorate, that elected officials who have sexual relations outside of marriage while in office are less deserving of impeachment than officials whose decisions lead to the loss of human life. Folks say the new senator from Rhode Island is a skirt chaser, but as long as he doesn’t send thousands of Americans off to die in a war on false pretenses he’s blowkay with me.
This is awesome news. Folks, you need to support this. If EMI makes a killing this will transform the music industry. If this fails, you’ll piss away a prime opportunity to correct what’s severely broken about contemporary music distribution. Just a thought.
No, I don’t own any shares of AAPL anymore. I’m speaking as a consumer, not a shareholder.
Everyone who’s been reading this blog — all two of you — know that I’ve been on a major McSweeney’s kick lately. It’s a damn good thing that I’m not a trendy guy or else I’d reject McSweeney’s as being so 2001. Fuggedaboutit, they rock.
One of the books I’ve purchased with my limited funds is McSweeneys’ release of Future Dictionary of America. The book was originally created to raise funds to help vote Dubya out of office. I guess you could say the effort failed, huh? (As always, Democrats are great at attending fundraisers and other events but SUCK at voting. You know what they say about getting the government you deserve…)
Part of the package is a CD called Future Soundtrack of America. It’s about half filled with stuff I like, but that half has made it into heavy rotation at Chez Erat. The Old 97’s tune “Northern Line” and Mike Doughty’s “Move On” in particular are hot. I’m even getting into the Death Cab for Cutie song “This Temporary Life,” and I’m not a DCfC fan.
As always, I could completely do without the Blink 182 song. Didn’t that band go belly up? I sure as hell hope so.
Anyway, I figured I’d share. Don’t get the CD on iTunes, get it from McSweeney’s by purchasing a copy of the fore-mentioned book. These guys need to keep going, like, forever.
