January 21, 2024

Both of these were submitted by one of my good friends, going on 30 years now. The first is from the Tool album, Lateralus. I had returned to Atlanta for a friend’s funeral and he gave me this cd he had burned (yes, it was around 2001) of a band he loved. He warned me that it was heavy rock, and I wanted to slough it off, but it is a long drive from Atlanta to New Orleans, and at some point I paused the cassette and slid it into the car deck. It completely blew me away. I was so shocked at my reaction – heavy rock is way beyond my range, or even tolerance – but this was so different: the bass and drum are so dang powerful, the rhythms intricate and complex, the music and voice layered with perfect effects and the lyrics smart without being juvenile or smug, singing of the most profound topics. Big fan of the whole album, and I played it virtually daily for years afterward. It gave me strength during a difficult transition.

He is a good friend, a true friend. I call him my cultural attaché, because he regularly turns me on to a lot of high-quality art. Today he dropped this video on me and we would both admit that it isn’t earth-moving, but I like the English phrasing and the event is important. There are a good many of these types of events. He follows them, I don’t, but of course I’m interested, so he sends me the cream, for which I am eternally grateful.

As I am for him. I wish there were more like him. The world would be a much more fun and creative place.