Mentioned this cd when writing about Blogcritics a while back, and I must admit I've not really been back since:
Pixies by The Pixies (The Pixies)
They've now got a review of the Gil Evans biography, Gil Evans-Out of the Cool: His Life and His Music. In addition to his work with Miles Davis (including the indispensible Sketches of Spain), Gil and company helped out on what I still consider to be the perfect pop song, Sting's cover of Jimi Hendrix' "Little Wing".
No, really.
It helps that Sting really isn't on the track that much.
I mean, ok, there's the guitar solo by Hiram Bullock, right? Which jams. Then he fades out, Branford slowly builds up on the sax, and you can really hear the rhythm section (including the Gil Evans orchestra) in the back of the mix, making it quite clear they're prepared to keep the groove going for as long as necessary.
Some people would claim the presence of the rhythm section disqualifies this from being a pop song. They are fools. Ignore them. And play it loud.
I used to have a portable CD player the size of a small purse in 1987. That song was my jam. Beats Stevie Ray Vaughn's take on it by a mile. Also nice: "Up From the Skies"
Keep an eye out for that new Gil Evans book, "Castles Made of Sound," as well.
Surfer rosa is much much better...I think "I'm amazed" is on that one, as well. Weird.
i will have to hear that cover of little wing. That song does something to me, and I'm not a big fan of hendrix. Actually, the first version of it that i remember hearing was by Gun Club.
I think I'm rambling.
Dru, you worry about rambling here?
Silly head.
George, how the definition of "portable" has changed in my brief lifetime frightens me. Did you see the X-Files episode flashing back to how Mulder met the Lone Gunmen, where he pulls out his cell phone? And it's this huge monster?
Won't even mention the first portable computers I dealt with. Luggables, I think they were called.
My first cell phone (this is 1992 we're talking about and it was work issued) was the size of a walkie talkie. Think of the phones in those Japanese Spiderman movies that the gangsters are always talking on. Only I had to lug that sucker around for work. My current cell phone (which is a totally hoopty one cent with plan purchase Nokia) is about the size of my mouse. That is less than a ten year span for a 95% redcution in size.
I don't even want to talk about luggables. There were lighter electric typewriters.
(is there a way to hand-craft a cookie for lynx? I get tired of re-typing all my info every time I post a comment. . .)
But luggables had those cool little screens! Like, what, 3 inches of tiny green-on-black? I distinctly remember the slot for the 5 1/4" floppy was longer. . .
I look at the latest cell phone/pda combos and just shake my head. Especially at the children who say they're too big.