A New Reality

America's Ashes

The new normal is bleak and tepid.  Unemployment hovers at nine percent,and would be YUPpies flounder in the search for the rewarding job that was promised them upon completion of college since before they could wipe their own asses.  The lack of leadership, both on a national and global scale is disturbing, and the current political system's inability to work with the long term in mind may mean that dolorous and stagnant will be the status quo for the foreseeable future.
Meanwhile, flowers blossom in the abandoned meadows of Detroit, and it seems that Motown may be set for a 21st century rebound both musically and economically. Young American women have taken the reins in the job market as well as academia.  Millions of people in the Arab world are hoping to give representative democracy a shot.  Musicians have got their souls and soul back.  These are all good things.

Perhaps I was one of the few who noticed the trend toward what I considered to be vapid mainstream music and culture during the early to late 2000's, or maybe I was just as big of a hater then as I am now.  Death Cab For Cutie, Garden State, The Shins and Postal Service immediately come to mind as poster-children for the general loss of motivation and, what I might go far as to refer to as, lethargy in those times of relative economic good health.  However, now that the job market is fucked, and social, educational and environmental budgets are being slashed left and right, the sleeper seems to have awakened.  Maybe these Wall Street protests will lead to tangible change, but they certainly haven't in Spain (one of the epicenters of the movement, and for good reason - 20% unemployment and 45% among youth and a floundering economy- with no bright future in sight).  One of the most important things they may inspire is the movement of the Democratic party to push for a stronger stance on things that Mr. Obama has let slip into the morass of conciliation.  This could bring more budget-ceiling-type stand offs, or a downright ridiculous paralysis of legislation, but I think the moderate and liberal public is generally fed up with the government's bullshit and the need for someone to step in and lead has never been more dire.  Obama is well poised for the position at a national and supranational level, but until he either gets re-elected or grows a huge set, he'll fall short.  Something's going to hit the fan soon, and one of the reasons I'm convinced a momentous swing is in the works is the purposeful of quality music that's being pumped out at the moment.
You may be saying to yourself, "why the fuck didn't he just get to the point and recommend some shit already?" I'm well aware that the interwebs is no place for would be Faulkners.  I just thought a hiatus as long as the one I've been on merited some sort of moderately well thought out lead in.

Charles Bradley is a man on a mission.  I've commented on his brilliance in an earlier post, if only briefly, but I'm even more enamored after seeing him live at Bumbershoot last month.  He waltzed onto the stage in a purple ensemble with a sequin vest and jacket.  Motherfucker looked like James Brown's lost younger brother.  His dance moves were impeccable, his gut wrenching howls hard won from a life of Sorrow, Heartaches and Pain, and his humble professionalism baffled me in this day and age.  If you don't have No Time For Dreaming, then you need to get it now.  Do the man a favor and buy it, and do yourself a favor and go see him live.  It's a religious experience.

Gilbere Forte's Eyes of Veritas left me unimpressed, and even sour.  Nevertheless, his latest EP, Some Dreams Never Sleep, is crackin'.  The man is about his grind, and he seems so sure he'll make it big that I'm betting he will too.  Both he and Bradley are workhorses, and although they may never meet up in the studio, I could see some sort of a tasteful mash-up (does that exist?) sparking my interest.  "Black Soul" featuring Big KRIT, "Most High," "Hot in This Bitch" featuring Jim Jones and Pusha T,  "Feel Alive," and "Burn Me Down" are some of my favorites on the album.  Hit the jump for the download.

In the rock and roll/blues vein, I've been listening to a good amount of Gary Clark Jr, a young up-and-comer whose riffs evoke Stevie-Ray Vaughn and Clapton.  His minimalist grooves and smooth rhythms, and the way he tears up the acoustic in the latter half of The Bright Lights - EP, are ripe with soul and purpose.  Clark Jr. may not be the most technically skilled guitarist, but he knows how to captivate the listener and keep you coming back for more.  It's great driving music, but it has the same sort of speed inducing effect as "Jumpin Jack Flash" and Rage Against the Machine for me, so try to keep an eye on the speedometer should you choose to slap this while cruising.  No free downloads in the strictly legal branch of the internets, but you can buy the four song EP for four duckets on iTunes.  It's worth it.