Music Is All Around Us
What would we do without music?
This past weekend began with a lil’ birthday party for a dear friend. We celebrated at The Black Birch in Kittery, Maine. If you haven’t been, you’re missing out on one of the best dining experiences in the Northeast. We ordered many small plates to share, imbibed a wee bit, and finished with a scrumptious taste of all three desserts they offered. The air was perfect, the courtyard dining table was divine, and the wait staff and owners are the best in the Seacoast area.
Where else can you hear The Magnetic Fields, Skatalites, and Curtis Mayfield all on vinyl? The selections came from a turntable located inside, next to the bar, and were probably chosen by the melophile bartender. Also, where else can a friend, who felt a bit chilly towards the end of the evening, borrow a jacket created and crafted by our wonderful and friendly waitress?
On Saturday, I found myself sifting through a selection of used CDs at a local record store. I discovered a few gems, including "Dare to Be Surprised" by Folk Implosion, "Bubble and Scrape" by Sebadoh, and a 2-disc compilation by Dutch 80s post-punk band The Ex. A trip to the Post Office to drop off another album, and then it was back home to watch the first three episodes of the new season of The Bear. I love this show because it has strong storylines, top-rated actors, and one of the best soundtracks to a TV show I’ve heard in years. Some of the artists heard so far include Tangerine Dream, Talk Talk, The Pretenders, Love and Rockets, and R.E.M. I look forward to what I’ll listen to next!
I rounded out the weekend with some household chores while listening to the new CDs I had purchased, as well as The Rugged Nuggets, which a friend had recommended to me via text. A funky, instrumental pile of soul and jazz courtesy of Colemine Records. It’s excellent for chores, mowing, and power washing your deck.
Take a listen below:
It’s time to end the newsletter for this week, which was full of music. Music is all around us, indeed!
There are enough mentions of music here, so I’m not going to make a playlist this week, as little Leo is staring at me, waiting for me to close the laptop so he can take over in its place. Thanks for reading, as always. Take care of yourselves.
Until next week!
JB