Albums That Were Important to Tosh in 2000

 

The year 2000 sounded like being in the future, but I was very much in the present time of my memory. For me, nothing mega happened music-wise that year. Still, due to Scott Walker's "Pola X" soundtrack, I was introduced to the voice of Smog ( Bill Callahan) and liked "Dongs of Sevotion." Through my wife, I was seduced by Peaches and saw her live around this time as well. Her electronic 'in-your-face' lyrics and music appealed to my aural and visual pleasure. The moody Goldfrapp reminded me of Portishead, and I liked their take on pop as a mood piece, but melodically beautiful. Johnny Cash's "American III: Solitary Man" had his version of Nick Cave's amazing "The Mercy Seat." I love Cash's minimal take of the song, and with the Liberace flourishes by Benmont Tench on piano. It only lasts a few seconds, but I got excited just waiting for that part in the song/recording. Ute Lemper is a German theatrical singer. Leading toward a Lotte Lenya vibe but open to different types of music. "Punishing Kiss" is an amazing album. She arranged to have Tom Waits, Nick Cave, The Divine Comedy, Philip Glass, Elvis Costello, and the amazing Scott Walker to record and write songs for this album. What can go wrong? Nothing. "Streets of Berlin, music by Glass, is a stunning Cabaret style haunted piece of work. Also, Scott Walker's "Scope J" is an essential Scott music.

February 27, 2014

February 27, 2014

February 27, 2014

I’m now in Meguro, Tokyo and having my dinner of Bud Light and sashimi.   The flight over the Pacific was a nightmare, but going through the security check at LAX was even worst.  I can understand the need to check what is inside baggages that we take on the plane, but is it necessary for us now to actually get on the conveyor belt that leads to the X-Ray machine.  I can’t tell you how awkward it is to lie on our butts and back on this conveyor belt with your head inches away from someone’s stinking socks.  Then there are these horrible series of moments when you are actually in the x-ray machine while this bright light goes over you as if you were a piece of 16mm film.   Then on top of that, we have to unzip our pants because it seems that metal zippers cause concern when a x-ray machine goes over it.  Afterwards there is that awkward period of time when we’re all zipping our pants up before we get into the terminals.

We left on February 26, and it seems that is Johnny Cash’s birthday.  I don’t fully understand why Siingapore Airlines feel they need to celebrate Johnny’s birthday by only showing concert footage of Cash for its in-flight entertainment.  And we’re not talking about movies, but also the in-flight music.  There is no escape from Cash anywhere on that plane.  Even the stewardesses were dressed like June Carter, and I have to tell you that I didn’t feel comfortable with the pilots wearing a Johnny Cash wig and a guitar strapped to his torso.

Nevertheless, now, I must put that behind me.  We are here safe in Tokyo, and I must face my demons if I intend to go on to this life of wine and roses.

February 26, 2014

February 26, 2014

There is depression, and then there are actually moments when you are crawling on the floor and clinging to furniture as if it was a lost love adrift in a violent Pacific Ocean storm.  Which in a matter of hours that is where I will be, but above the emotional pull of the airplane flying into the Rising Sun. But for now, I am on the floor crying.  The one hope, and perhaps my last request is to find the rare Japanese edition of Jackie Gleason and Orchestra’s classic album “Music For Lovers Only. ”

Sadly it is among the albums that were stolen from my home by The Borrowers, and now that I am fleeing from my life here in Los Angeles, the only piece of music I crave is Gleason’s genius use of “mood music.” Which sadly went out of fashion in the 1980’s and 1990’s when country radio stations started to take over the mood music programming.   For a short transitory period of time, when I needed to relax I could just put on my favorite radio station KNCT-FM, and gently float to the sounds of Gleason.  But one day, instead of beauty, I was surprised by the sound of Johnny Cash.   Don’t get me wrong I like cash in the pocket, but not always in my ears, especially when I get in one of my moods.

I’m also a nervous flyer, and the fact that I only listen to vinyl, is a huge problem for me on the plane.  Nevertheless I have heard from numerous hardcore vinyl collectors in Tokyo that there are two or three Japanese editions of “Music For Lovers Only” floating around various record shops in Shinjuku.   My main mission once I land in Narita is to locate this vinyl before someone else snaps it up.  The crisis of living has not previously been more intense in my life.