Julia Massey and the Five Finger Discount
I'm Not Hollow
I'm Not Hollow, the new release from Julia Massey and the Five Finger Discount, chronicles the journey of Miss Massey to Ballard and the gelling of a band. With her band mates Geoff B. Gibbs on Bass, Gelli Wuerzner on Violin, and Dom "the nizzle" Cortese on Drums, Julia has created a fresh fusion of sound. I'm Not Hollow combines funk infused indie rock with groovy bass lines and harmony that highlight each instrument and band members strengths.
This album contains a sound for everyone from the instrumental groove of "Motobong", to my favorite "Catacombs", to the rocking epic of "Fruit Tree", and the psychedelic folk sound of "Goner." There is definitely something for everyone. The beauty of this album is that this synergy and diversity are arrived at through an organic love of music, sounds, and artistic expression; it is not arrived at through over-production or over-planning. This release reaches the plateau of creating a wall of sound that does not overwhelm but invites the listener in to explore the intricate sounds of all the voices and instruments.
The combination of Julia's voice, harmonies, and varied instruments and sounds creates sounds that are fresh and new. When combined with the personal, intelligent, thoughtful, and poetic lyrics this album is one you must listen to. Speaking of things you must not miss, Julia Massey and the Five Finger Discount are throwing a CD release party at Bop Street Records at 8PM Saturday March 20th. Also, on the bill is The Jesus Rehab releasing their album Highest Highs and Lowest Lows, which is sure to please. Two new records one night, who could pass it up.
Friday, March 19, 2010
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Police State
Recently the Cambridge Police and a Harvard Professor decided to illustrate some problems with our country. The racial issues surrounding this incident have been played out, and are not what I am concerned with. The issue on my mind is the seemingly unstoppable need for Police to escalate every situation they are put in. It is as if they believe they are in mortal danger every second of the day. I know that a policeman cannot let his guard down, and they must always be aware of dangers. However, that does not mean that they have the right to treat every person they come in contact with as if they were a mortal threat. Why are Police not required to always take the path of a peaceful outcome. They are never pacifiers they are always agitators, and if peace happens to come through their actions it is only because the other side cannot return the same force. I have never met a policeman whose goal was to maintain peace. Their goal is to catch somebody doing something wrong, even if there is nothing being done. In addition we let them get away with whatever they want, and reward behavior that is out of line if it happens to get the desired return.
Also, what happened to the idea of free speech. You should be able to say whatever you want to a cop, until you are a viable threat to there well-being. They do not have any different rights than anyone else. You should even be able to get away with a little extra because of who they are. The position of authority they hold should require extra restraint on there part. Furthermore, when in your own home you should be able to say whatever you please, if there is no physical threat to the cop. Isn't your home your private sanctuary, where no one is allowed to enter, or bother you without probable cause. When did the bar for probable cause become so low that a suspicious activity call allowed a cop to not tolerate a person in his own home to be belligerent or raucous. It is an outrage to think that a cop could show up at your door demanding ID and that when you got angry at that you could be arrested. We live in a Police State.
Also, what happened to the idea of free speech. You should be able to say whatever you want to a cop, until you are a viable threat to there well-being. They do not have any different rights than anyone else. You should even be able to get away with a little extra because of who they are. The position of authority they hold should require extra restraint on there part. Furthermore, when in your own home you should be able to say whatever you please, if there is no physical threat to the cop. Isn't your home your private sanctuary, where no one is allowed to enter, or bother you without probable cause. When did the bar for probable cause become so low that a suspicious activity call allowed a cop to not tolerate a person in his own home to be belligerent or raucous. It is an outrage to think that a cop could show up at your door demanding ID and that when you got angry at that you could be arrested. We live in a Police State.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Sotomayor Circus
So, I do not really know how exacty to do this but here goes.
Why is every part of our government a partisan circus, and why do the republicans try and hide behind things and not say what they are?
Fact: The nominee before the Senate Judiciary Committee is one whose quality, experience, and toughness as a judge cannot be questioned. A woman who is impeccably qualified for the position. She will be confirmed, probably with no major incident.
So, why is there a need for the twenty or so senators on the committee to ask questions that she will not answer? Questions which it would be very imprudent for her to answer. Why is it impossible for these extremely powerful people to realize that they are wasting incredible amounts of resources and time by having an Inquisition, that will result in nothing. It is just so they can go back to their constituents and say that they are not pro-choice or anti-gun, but yet they did not stop her appointment. None of them, will stand up and do what they think is right. Any Senator could filibuster, and if they were in the wrong the filibuster would be ended. They will say that they don't stand up with the idea of compromise, unity, executive privilege, or non-partisanship. The truth is, they are cowards and have to fall in line to the people that hold sway. They know that if they challenge on this they will lose traction on their issues. They will not pass tax breaks for corporations or wealthy, deregulation of any number of industries, or defense spending. So, the facade of caring about this process is good enough. Senators know that the unwashed masses residing in Platonic caves will settle for that shadow, but their capitalist overlords will not endure any slip-ups. So, they will allow this very important, but to them trivial, process to continue to be a partisan circus, that wastes their time, which is our time. Which in turn still leaves me without health care, and looking for a job.
The other issue that these hearings have illustrated to me is the fact that republicans are always on the side that favors racism, and inequality. Given a chance in these hearings to praise a woman who has overcome innumerable odds to reach her nomination, they opt to focus on a comment given to women seeking to accomplish similar things. Instead of seizing this opportunity to change their perception as old white men losing their grip on power and reality. They only further it. by focusing on a comment obviously taken out of text, and use it to question a person of incredible qualification. Leading this charge is the best of the good 'ol boys, Lindsay Graham, who must have been raised in South Carolina around 1850. It is time to step out of the nineteenth century and into the twenty first Senator. Why, do we allow this to continue?
Why is every part of our government a partisan circus, and why do the republicans try and hide behind things and not say what they are?
Fact: The nominee before the Senate Judiciary Committee is one whose quality, experience, and toughness as a judge cannot be questioned. A woman who is impeccably qualified for the position. She will be confirmed, probably with no major incident.
So, why is there a need for the twenty or so senators on the committee to ask questions that she will not answer? Questions which it would be very imprudent for her to answer. Why is it impossible for these extremely powerful people to realize that they are wasting incredible amounts of resources and time by having an Inquisition, that will result in nothing. It is just so they can go back to their constituents and say that they are not pro-choice or anti-gun, but yet they did not stop her appointment. None of them, will stand up and do what they think is right. Any Senator could filibuster, and if they were in the wrong the filibuster would be ended. They will say that they don't stand up with the idea of compromise, unity, executive privilege, or non-partisanship. The truth is, they are cowards and have to fall in line to the people that hold sway. They know that if they challenge on this they will lose traction on their issues. They will not pass tax breaks for corporations or wealthy, deregulation of any number of industries, or defense spending. So, the facade of caring about this process is good enough. Senators know that the unwashed masses residing in Platonic caves will settle for that shadow, but their capitalist overlords will not endure any slip-ups. So, they will allow this very important, but to them trivial, process to continue to be a partisan circus, that wastes their time, which is our time. Which in turn still leaves me without health care, and looking for a job.
The other issue that these hearings have illustrated to me is the fact that republicans are always on the side that favors racism, and inequality. Given a chance in these hearings to praise a woman who has overcome innumerable odds to reach her nomination, they opt to focus on a comment given to women seeking to accomplish similar things. Instead of seizing this opportunity to change their perception as old white men losing their grip on power and reality. They only further it. by focusing on a comment obviously taken out of text, and use it to question a person of incredible qualification. Leading this charge is the best of the good 'ol boys, Lindsay Graham, who must have been raised in South Carolina around 1850. It is time to step out of the nineteenth century and into the twenty first Senator. Why, do we allow this to continue?
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