What a beautiful post. Thank you for sharing something so deeply personal.
I'll have to check out Kacey's latest -- I remember listening to her first or second album quite a bit when she first came on the scene, and I'm glad to hear she's still making music.
I confess a serious failing in that I’ve probably never knowingly listened to her; or, at least that I remember. But we’re driving home from Durham with still two hours to go and, well, here goes. (My wife’s driving, by the way, thus my typing!) Thanks for the inspiration!
I’d first like to send my condolences for your loss. I smiled when the photo of your sister appeared and she was wearing red. Perhaps Cardinal was her conduit to you, as she understands how music affects you spiritually. Thank you for sharing such a personal perspective for the album review. It still amazes me how music heals and enlightens. Have a great weekend.
Wow Steve, another lovely column with so much to unpack. I appreciate your ability to “put a pin” in the tangential, but important, discussion about the musical overload that comes with our current streaming era. I too struggle to find the balance between going deep and going wide. The former brings me much joy and connects me more deeply to an individual album and artist but the latter exposes me to so much more new music yet tends to leave me frustrated at my inability to delve as deeply into everything I’d like to. I look forward to reading your thoughts in a later post.
I’m certainly enjoying the new Musgraves album. Her 2018 album Golden Hour was a top 20 release for me and this feels like a return to form after 2021’s star-crossed which just didn’t do it for me.
I’m sorry to hear about the recent loss of your friend. Sending you positive vibes for navigating the grief journey; hang in there.
I appreciate your evolution from a close-minded to an open-minded skeptic, a journey I’ve been on for some time. I can still be quite cynical and skeptical but have accepted that (believe it or not!) I don’t know everything.
I do my best to be open-minded about things but perhaps more importantly, unless someone’s beliefs and viewpoints are harmful to people I love, I no longer ridicule the beliefs of others or try to disabuse them of their notions or opinions. Life is just too short so I’ve learned to live and let live and follow the golden rule.
I am one of those people who found Musgraves' Grammy winning "Golden Hour" to be quite listenable with a few outstanding tracks that I still listen to regularly. I also liked a couple of the songs on her follow-up "star-crossed" but that album hasn't had lasting energy for me. I listened to the new album once or twice and while I like the first three tracks, I agree that the rest of the album kind of blends together in a bit of a bland way. None of it really grabs me. That's disappointing because I do like some of her songwriting. I just wish she's pick up the tempo a bit more than she does!
Steve, nice tribute to your sister, your grandparents, and loved ones whose physical bodies may no longer be here, but their presence will always live within us.
I teach art at a large urban high school and several of my students love Lenker (and Big Thief). I don't know Musgraves' music, but I am sure they do as younger female alt-folk singers/songwriters are very popular with my upper-level art students.
Steve, I laughed, I cried, I peed and I let out some gas. Great piece!
(note, this is Steve writing this - comments were turned off for some reason so I'm testing it from a dummy account...insert joke about me. being a dummy).
What a beautiful post. Thank you for sharing something so deeply personal.
I'll have to check out Kacey's latest -- I remember listening to her first or second album quite a bit when she first came on the scene, and I'm glad to hear she's still making music.
I confess a serious failing in that I’ve probably never knowingly listened to her; or, at least that I remember. But we’re driving home from Durham with still two hours to go and, well, here goes. (My wife’s driving, by the way, thus my typing!) Thanks for the inspiration!
I first heard this one on WBJB 90.5 The Night in NJ and have since heard it on there a couple more times. It's a fantastic song.
This was beautiful. Thanks for sharing something so personal and writing about it so beautifully.
I’d first like to send my condolences for your loss. I smiled when the photo of your sister appeared and she was wearing red. Perhaps Cardinal was her conduit to you, as she understands how music affects you spiritually. Thank you for sharing such a personal perspective for the album review. It still amazes me how music heals and enlightens. Have a great weekend.
Wow Steve, another lovely column with so much to unpack. I appreciate your ability to “put a pin” in the tangential, but important, discussion about the musical overload that comes with our current streaming era. I too struggle to find the balance between going deep and going wide. The former brings me much joy and connects me more deeply to an individual album and artist but the latter exposes me to so much more new music yet tends to leave me frustrated at my inability to delve as deeply into everything I’d like to. I look forward to reading your thoughts in a later post.
I’m certainly enjoying the new Musgraves album. Her 2018 album Golden Hour was a top 20 release for me and this feels like a return to form after 2021’s star-crossed which just didn’t do it for me.
I’m sorry to hear about the recent loss of your friend. Sending you positive vibes for navigating the grief journey; hang in there.
I appreciate your evolution from a close-minded to an open-minded skeptic, a journey I’ve been on for some time. I can still be quite cynical and skeptical but have accepted that (believe it or not!) I don’t know everything.
I do my best to be open-minded about things but perhaps more importantly, unless someone’s beliefs and viewpoints are harmful to people I love, I no longer ridicule the beliefs of others or try to disabuse them of their notions or opinions. Life is just too short so I’ve learned to live and let live and follow the golden rule.
I am one of those people who found Musgraves' Grammy winning "Golden Hour" to be quite listenable with a few outstanding tracks that I still listen to regularly. I also liked a couple of the songs on her follow-up "star-crossed" but that album hasn't had lasting energy for me. I listened to the new album once or twice and while I like the first three tracks, I agree that the rest of the album kind of blends together in a bit of a bland way. None of it really grabs me. That's disappointing because I do like some of her songwriting. I just wish she's pick up the tempo a bit more than she does!
Steve, nice tribute to your sister, your grandparents, and loved ones whose physical bodies may no longer be here, but their presence will always live within us.
I teach art at a large urban high school and several of my students love Lenker (and Big Thief). I don't know Musgraves' music, but I am sure they do as younger female alt-folk singers/songwriters are very popular with my upper-level art students.
Amazing write up Steve!
I need to invest in more modern artists. I'm either stuck in the 60s, 70a and 80s or in the 1700s.
I mean I laughed and cried and felt seen too. Love Kacey. Deeper Well is a bop. https://youtu.be/ZSPyunH-vX0?feature=shared. And I’m digging “Too good to be True” https://youtu.be/3lMxL0nAELE?feature=shared
Regardless, “Follow Your Arrow” is a tune that holds a special place in my heart
Steve, I laughed, I cried, I peed and I let out some gas. Great piece!
(note, this is Steve writing this - comments were turned off for some reason so I'm testing it from a dummy account...insert joke about me. being a dummy).