It Doesn't Matter if You're Black or White

This is one of the coolest pictures I've ever taken from a moving truck!

The ducks in these pictures aren't very remarkable, or rare.  The ducks are domestic ducks raised for food.  Domestic ducks are bred mostly from the anas platyrhynchos (common mallard).  They are usually more common in southeast Asia, where duck is a more common cuisine.  They need more space and yield less meat than chickens, which is why they aren't as popular in the west.

I'm not sure why these particular birds were hanging out in the middle of nowhere, but the recent suburban trend of raising farm animals for eggs, and milk, or just unique pets means there are plenty of strange things wandering around.

I like the colors here, and the monochrome pattern.

 

The Second Coming of Janis

Alabama Shakes

Boys and Girls

ATO, 2012

produced by Andrija Tokic

Brittany Howard - vocals, guitar, piano

Zac Cockrell - bass, guitar

Heath Fogg - guitar

Steve Johnson - drums

singles: 

• Hold On
• I ain't the Same
• Hang Loose

This is probably the best record of 2012 that no one talks about. There is so much nostalgia concerning the music period between 1965 and 1975. Everyone loves the Beatles, and the Stones, and Led Zeppelin, and Hendrix.  I feel there isn't quite as much fanfare for a new contemporary band that plays in similar styles while keeping their sound fresh and distinct. This makes no sense.

Alabama Shakes debuted in 2012 with their hit song Hold On. They are from Alabama, but I won't hold that against them. Their soul/blues/rock fusion sound is a throwback to the era when Hendrix and James Brown were kings, and it seemed that every big rock band was influenced by the blues. They totally deserve more coverage than they receive, and certainly more recognition than just an award for album packaging (ridiculous).  

There is a renewed push for women's rights and healthy body image, and it surprises me that Brittany Howard, fronting Alabama Shakes, hasn't become beloved of feminists everywhere. Her voice is amazing, and she doesn't necessarily fit into the pop/diva ideal.  But who cares, she's awesome.  

The similarities between Howard and hippie icon Janis Joplin have been made before. However, I feel this comparison may not be the best, and might actually be a little insulting. Joplin was a great talent, but she borrowed her style from singers like Etta James, Big Mama Thornton (also from Alabama), and Bessie Smith. I'm not going to discuss race here, but you can arrive at your own conclusions. If we are going to compare Brittany Howard to Janis Joplin, it would only be fair to also include these other women first.

As Surrealistic as a Pillow

Jefferson Airplane

Surrealistic Pillow

RCA Victor, 1967

produced by Rick Jarrard

Marty Balin - vocals, guitar

Grace Slick - vocals, piano, organ

Paul Kantner - rhythm guitar, vocals

Jorma Kaukonen - lead guitar, vocals

Jack Cassidy - bass, rhythm guitar

Spencer Dryden - drums

Jerry Garcia - guitar

singles - 

• Somebody to Love/ She has Funny Cars
• White Rabbit/ Plastic Fantastic Lover

In 1967, The Jefferson Airplane replaced their original drummer and female singer with Spencer Dryden and the iconic Grace Slick. Grace Slick had been part of her first husband's group the Great Society. When she joined the Airplane, she brought two songs from her former group, both would become hit singles for her new band.

Jerry Garcia, of the Grateful Dead, is known to have been involved heavily on this record, although his actual involvement is debated by band members and producers. Depending on who you ask, Garcia's participation varies from absolutely nothing, to playing on several tracks, producing most of the album, and even rewriting a few songs. He is credited on the record as "spiritual advisor", and it's been said he named the album too, by stating the record was "as surrealistic as a pillow".

The Rolling Stone listed Surrealistic Pillow #146 out of the 500 greatest albums of all time.

I Don't Fly Around Your Fire Anymore

I think it's sort of odd that we tend to think of Butterflies as being beautiful and lucky, but moths, which are from the same order as butterflies, are seen as dirty pests.  I don't really get it, as both have a variety of species which can both be harmful and helpful, and plenty that look pretty darn cool.

The other day I found this fella, hanging out, I nearly sat on him, actually, but managed to save him from getting crushed.  This is a moth from the subfamily Catocalinae.  As far as I can tell, it is either the Sweetheart Underwing (Catocala Amatrix), the Penitent Underwing (Catocala Piatrix), or the Dark Red Underwing (Catocala Ultronia).  It is difficult for me to tell, they have similar coloring, and my pictures aren't clear enough to make any sort of intricate distinction.  

The EP: singles edition

I've posted a few times about the EP (extended play) format.  Part one is here, and here is part two.  So, I guess this is part three, the vinyl edition.

Swirl

Strangelands/Poppel Grave

Dirt records, 1995

Ben Aylward - Guitar, vocals

Nicola Schultz - Bass, vocals

David Lord - Drums

From Australia, this band broke up aparently forever in 2002.  You can place them in the shoegazer category with Ride, Lush, My Bloody Valentine, and Mazy Star.  This is more of a single than an EP, complete with a B-side like traditional singles.  The packaging, however, is more common for an EP.  Although the music is pretty good, I bought it for other reasons.  It's packaged in brown cardboard, with a few record label stickers, and a weird-ass art print.  Also... blue swirled vinyl!  

#259/500

US Bombs

Tora! Tora! Tora!/ Yer Country

TKO, 2001

Duane Peters - Vocals

Kerry Martinez - Guitar

Wade Walston - Bass

Chip Hanna - Drums

The US Bombs is one of the best oi punk/street punk bands with a political bent, much like Anti-flag.  In true Punk fashion, this EP comes with the president with a Hitler mustach, on a cut-and-paste DIY style cover.  The song is about Nationalism as an excuse for violent revenge, which was a big deal following September 11, 2001.   Tora! Tora! Tora! is paired up with Yer Country as a B-side.  

1 of 500 pressings

Minor Threat

the first demo tape

Dischord, 2003

produced by Skip Groff

Ian McKaye - Vocals

Lyle Preslar - Guitar

Brian Baker - Bass

Jeff Nelson - Drums

So, this is a release of previously unreleased stuff recorded in 1981.  All of these tracks appear on other albums and releases like In My Eyes, Minor Threat, and Out of Step.  However, these are the demo versions of the songs, so, that's something.  Also, you get pictures of a young Henry Rollins rocking out and wearing a dress.