Looking for the Magic
Looking for the Magic
Some music and books that are keeping me sane right now
It almost goes without saying that this is a very strange time to be an American.
In my four decades as a registered voter, I’ve never participated in an election where the stakes were this high for the preservation of democracy, or the choices — up and down the ballot — were as starkly defined. On the one hand, you have a political party that’s been overrun by an authoritarian cult fueled entirely on grievance, hate, lies and conspiracy theories; on the other, you have a party coming from a place of empathy and inclusiveness (not to mention the world’s strongest economic recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic) and actively trying to address the deeply complex issues we’re all facing as citizens of this nation and world.
And yet, polls are showing that everything’s still pretty much up for grabs… and some folks are actually still wallowing in the old “both sides are the same” idiocy, or talking about “sending a message” to the Democrats and/or protesting our (admittedly flawed) electoral system by voting for third party candidates, as if laying down the welcome mat for fascism is somehow ideologically preferable to electing a candidate who ticks some but not all of the boxes on your high-minded wantlist. (I mean, I too am angry and heartbroken about what’s happening in Gaza; but if you seriously think Trump and Vance are gonna do anything at all to improve that sorry situation, then I have a stack of golden bibles to sell you.)
Admittedly, I’m feeling far more optimistic about the future right now than I was three months ago when I wrote THIS post, back before the Harris-Walz ticket (which I certainly didn’t see coming back in early July) injected some much-needed positive energy into the race. Obviously, the next three weeks (and beyond) are gonna be pretty intense, and no one really knows what’s going to happen. At the same time, I still believe that the MAGA/Project 2025/Christo-fascist orcs can be pushed back if we all pitch in and do our part — which, of course, includes voting. (Go HERE to make sure you’re still registered.)
But even with that renewed optimism, there are days when this country makes me feel like I’ve accidentally ingested crazy pills. And it’s these times when I sorely need to be reminded of the magic of the universe in its many manifestations, whether it comes in the form of the aurora borealis I witnessed the other night from my deck (see above), a lovely late-afternoon walk with my delightful girlfriend under a canopy of autumn leaves, a warm snuggle from one or both of my adorable cats, or — because it always comes back to this here at Jagged Time Lapse — MUSIC. So I thought I’d share with you some new music that’s been rocking my world and soothing my election-frayed nerves; maybe some or all of these new releases will do the same for you…
Cloud Eleven — Cloud Eleven Goes Latin
I’ve been a fan of Rick Gallego’s since the late nineties, when he handed me a demo CD for his one-man project Jiffipop during (if I remember correctly) a Wondermints show at Spaceland. Since 1999, he’s continued to make fantastic home-brew psych-pop — Todd Rundgren is a major influence, along with Brian Wilson and Harry Nilsson — under the Cloud Eleven moniker, but nothing could have prepared me for the EZ Listening magnificence of his new album Cloud Eleven Goes Latin.
Rick apparently paid very close attention to the Cal Tjader, Tito Puente, Herb Alpert, Baja Marimba Band and Latin-themed Henry Mancini albums that his father used to spin at the Gallego household, because their bubbly essence is beautifully distilled into this twelve-track LP. There’s plenty of Juan Garcia Esquivel and Perez Prado in the grooves here too, as well as Exotica-meister Martin Denny, with tracks like “Girl from Ikiki Beach” and “Exotica Island” making the musical observation that Denny worked a lot more Afro-Cuban rhythms and instrumentation into his faux-Polynesian sound than most folks ever gave him credit for. I’m also getting an early El Chicano vibe from a few of the tracks — which makes sense, as their brand of funky Latin soul-jazz had more than a touch of exotica to it.
I don’t really “do” tiki drinks anymore — the combo booze-and-sugar hangover just hits me too hard these days — but Cloud Eleven Goes Latin so expertly conjures up the “1960s cocktail lounge” vibe that I find myself severely craving an expertly shaken mixture of rums and fruit juices, preferably in a dimly-lit watering hole. If that sounds like your idea of musical refreshment, you can (and should) grab a copy — on vinyl, CD or digital files — over at the Cloud Eleven Bandcamp page.
Abby Travis — “Europa” b/w “Asteroid Transformation”
Speaking of great musicians I (sort of) know from L.A., the brilliant touring bassist (The Go-Go’s, Cher, Eagles of Death Metal, The Bangles, Beck, Elastica, KMFDM) and sometime solo artist dropped a really cool single this week in honor of NASA’s Europa Clipper mission. “Europa” and “Asteroid Transformation” (the latter of which was conceived and recorded with her husband Tommy Greñas’ space-psych band Anubian Lights) are both wonderfully mesmerizing tracks that — in addition to streaming and digital downloads — are currently available as two halves of a limited-edition single that’s been pressed on gold vinyl as a tribute to the “Golden Record” that NASA sent up with the Voyager spacecrafts back in 1977. Abby gets full marks here for concept and execution…
Outronaut — “The Final Beast”
Steve Gerlach is one of the finest guitarists out there these days — not just in terms of having the sort of technical ability that makes me want to saw my own hands off in despair, but also in terms of having exquisite taste, tone and a flair for composition. His Chicago combo Outronaut specializes in moody, cinematic guitar instrumentals that extend far beyond the realms of classic twang; their epic (in the five-minutes-plus sense) new track “The Final Beast” is a luscious listen that makes a very compelling case for exploring the rest of their catalog, all of which is available via Bandcamp.
Meadow Gallery — “Veins In Every Leaf”
The Gentle Cycle’s Landslide Eyes was one of my favorite records of 2022, so I was pretty stoked when I learned that my old pal, Gentle Cycle leader and fellow Substack writer
had a new project in the works: Meadow Gallery, a collaboration with Miranda Thompson. Their gorgeous new single “Veins In Every Leaf” is an absolute treat, reminding me of a dreamy cross between Mazzy Star and Neil Young circa his first solo album. There’s apparently much more of this stuff in the pipeline, and I can’t wait!Steve Wynn — I Wouldn’t Say It If It Wasn’t True
Of course, sometimes you just want to get lost in a good book, and Steve Wynn’s I Wouldn’t Say It If It Wasn’t True: A Memoir of Life, Music and The Dream Syndicate is one of my favorite things that I’ve read recently. Wynn, whom I interviewed last year about his “supergroup” The Baseball Project, intended to be a sportswriter before catching the punk rock bug, and he recounts the saga of his first real band — which was also the first band out of the early-eighties American alternative rock scene to sign with a major label — with a journalist’s eye for detail and sense of economy. But Wynn’s wry sense of humor also pops spikily out at various points, causing me to laugh out loud on more than a few occasions.
Sex, booze and drugs certainly factor into Wynn’s tale, but he generally prefers to allude to those memories rather than revel in them. Rock n’ roll, on the other hand, gets a very articulate shake; not only does the author go into vivid and fascinating detail about The Dream Syndicate’s rollercoaster ride through LA’s Paisley Underground scene and various 1980s tour adventures (complete with opening for U2 and REM), but he also makes a pretty compelling and inspiring case for blazing one’s own artistic trail rather than playing the music biz game. Highly recommended.
Brad Tolinski, Jaan Uhelski and Ben Edmonds — MC5: An Oral Biography of Rock’s Most Revolutionary Band
The MC5, of course, couldn’t have played the music biz game if they’d wanted to, and their incredible story — as laid out in this collaborative effort from three legendary Detroit journos that I’ve had the distinct pleasure of working with over the years — is filled with a jaw-dropping array of bad ideas, wrong turns, and full-on self-destruction. And yet, this book is also an uproarious, addictive and highly enjoyable read; I’ve been a diehard MC5 fan for 40 years now, and even I learned a number of new things from it.
Being a diehard MC5 fan, of course, I found myself wishing that some parts of the book went into greater detail, and found it more than a little frustrating that there this oral history has no quotes at all from Fred “Sonic” Smith, the band’s rhythm guitarist and Wayne Kramer’s original partner in musical crime. (Of course, Smith died in 1994, and was by all accounts a man of few words; on the other hand, there’s plenty in here from the voluble Rob Tyner, who died all the way back in 1991.) But it’s by far the best telling I’ve ever read of this tragic and complex story; and if I didn’t recommend it loudly enough on the above episode of CROSSED CHANNELS, my podcast with
, let me reiterate: If you love the MC5, you need to read this book.
Jeff McDonald and Steven McDonald with Dan Epstein — Now You’re One of Us: The Incredible Story of Redd Kross
And hey, have I mentioned that I have a book coming out this month? Actually, it’s already out in the UK, and will be published in the US by Omnibus Press on October 29. If you’re a fan of Redd Kross, Now You’re One of Us will tell you just about everything you ever wanted to know about the McDonald Brothers and their band; but even if you’ve never heard a note of their music, I can guarantee that you will find their story hilarious, poignant, inspiring and at times flat-out unbelievable… and it just might inspire you to dig into their 45-year discography and become a fan.
I have been a massive Redd Kross fan since 1987, when one of my then-bandmates turned me on to their Neurotica album, so it was a real joy for me to help them put their stories in print. I can honestly say I’ve never laughed harder while working on a book project, and there are a number of parts in Now You’re One of Us that still make me laugh, even though I’ve read them countless times. The fact that the book is finally about to see the light of day makes me very happy, indeed; it’s currently available for pre-order from all the usual online retailers, but you can also special order it from your local bookseller. And you should — and don’t just take my word for it. Check out these early raves:
“Having the McDonald brothers tell their own story lends a great sense of authenticity and immediacy to the narrative... To call the saga of Redd Kross incredible is no idle boast.” —Shindig!
“Absorbing, entertaining chronicle of influential power pop crew. Both Jeff and Steven are insightful narrators - and their recollections of their time in music are vivid and entertaining. Highly recommended.” — Record Collector
“If there’s any band that needs a definitive biography, it’s them. They made a movie with the guy from the Partridge Family, for Chrissakes. Thankfully an oral history of every twist and turn will soon hit the shelves. Written by Steve and Jeff with Dan Epstein, [Now] You’re One Of Us should scratch every Redd Kross itch you’ve ever had.” — Classic Rock
Anyhoo, I’ve gotta go shake hands with the weekend. Hope y’all have a great one!
Dan, I enjoy your musings for the most part but as someone who has been involved in politics for a long time, nothings is simple or cut and dried. Nor should you assume that all of your readers share your politics or that those of us who don’t are any less bright or patriotic than you are.
Great piece, Dan. Congrats on the book release! I am actually going to be in London for work in a few weeks so will pick up a UK edition - excited!!