Record Store Day was two weeks ago. Last weekend was my birthday. As you can imagine, during that time, I picked up quite a bit of new media, which always makes great fodder for these weekly "sermons." As far as the music is concerned, some of it was new to me--maybe an album I had not heard by an artist I liked (in this case, I'm thinking specifically of Chris Isaak). Some of it was new music I had been looking forward to such as the recently released collaboration by Elton John and Brandi Carlile. In some cases, I might know one song by a particular artist--such as The Hindu Love Gods or Bob Lind--and enjoyed it enough that I wanted to hear more and so I purchased an entire album(s).
This week's album was one of a couple of special re-releases for RSD. I always liked the album--I even own it on CD, but I hadn't listened to it in quite some time. So I bought this special release--a picture disc featuring the original cover artwork on the record itself. Playing it later on my turntable was.. well, frankly, rather a joyful experience. It's not that I had forgotten how upbeat the group's music was and still is. I just hadn't listened to it, let alone felt that "upbeatness," for lack of a better word, in a long time. When I think about it, isn't that kind of the point? If we're drawn to art--whether it be painting, film, music, literature, sculpture, whatever--many of us don't just appreciate it. We feel it. We're moved by it. And different works of art affect different people differently.
"People's reactions to opera the first time they see it is very dramatic--they either love it or they hate it. If they love it, they will always love it. If they don't, they may learn to appreciate it. But it will never become part of their soul."
--Richard Gere as Edward Lewis in Pretty Woman, 1990
Listening to this album again brought back memories that I'm not sure I actually experienced... although that may be the kitschy, retro-sci-fi intro of the first song talking. To be fair, it did bring back a lot of actual memories, particularly the fact that a hit from one of their later albums was a staple at every dance I attended in college during the early to mid-1990s. As I said, the whole experience was joyful. It was hard to sit still--at least one of my limbs was constantly keeping time to the music in some fashion. It was even harder to not smile. Consequently, this week I feel compelled to implore you, dear reader, to dance this mess around as I'm recommending the B-52's with their 1979 eponymous debut album.
Until next week, stay safe, be good to your neighbours, and please remember that if at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you.
Yours in peace, love, and rock and roll!
The Reverend Will the Thrill
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