http://www.javacrossknitmusic.com/musings.phpA blog containing music and music-related film reviews as well as more general observations on popular culture and the media.en-usWed, 18 Aug 2010 22:15:17 GMTCopyright 2010, Travis A. Jacksonhttp://javacrossknitmusic.com/dynpost.php?post_id=200401http://javacrossknitmusic.com/comments_view.php?post_id=200401Fri, 20 Feb 2004 18:40:15 GMThttp://javacrossknitmusic.com/dynpost.php?post_id=200402http://javacrossknitmusic.com/comments_view.php?post_id=200402Sat, 6 Mar 2004 18:40:15 GMThttp://javacrossknitmusic.com/dynpost.php?post_id=200403http://javacrossknitmusic.com/comments_view.php?post_id=200403Thu, 18 Mar 2004 18:40:15 GMTReading, Writing, and Arithmetic is. It was an obsession during my last year of college, and hearing it with fresh ears has me putting it back into heavy rotation. Click through to the post for the full story…]]>http://javacrossknitmusic.com/dynpost.php?post_id=200404http://javacrossknitmusic.com/comments_view.php?post_id=200404Tue, 30 Mar 2004 18:40:15 GMThttp://javacrossknitmusic.com/dynpost.php?post_id=200405http://javacrossknitmusic.com/comments_view.php?post_id=200405Thu, 8 Apr 2004 17:40:15 GMTMasterpieces by Ellington got me thinking about what a wonderful, sadly overlooked piece this is. In it one hears pre-echoes of things that Charles Mingus, among others, would adapt in his arranging years later. Read the rest of the story using the link below.]]>http://javacrossknitmusic.com/dynpost.php?post_id=200406http://javacrossknitmusic.com/comments_view.php?post_id=200406Thu, 29 Apr 2004 18:40:15 GMTAvalon, another spin. Along with a flood of memories, here’s what came out of the experience…]]>http://javacrossknitmusic.com/dynpost.php?post_id=200407http://javacrossknitmusic.com/comments_view.php?post_id=200407Mon, 17 May 2004 18:40:15 GMTRattlesnakes back in 1984. This post is a series of reflections on the subtleties of Cole’s music and the witty, world-weariness of his lyrics since the mid-1980s…]]>http://javacrossknitmusic.com/dynpost.php?post_id=200408http://javacrossknitmusic.com/comments_view.php?post_id=200408Mon, 24 May 2004 18:40:15 GMThttp://javacrossknitmusic.com/dynpost.php?post_id=200409http://javacrossknitmusic.com/comments_view.php?post_id=200409Tue, 25 May 2004 18:40:15 GMTOlder. Find out why by reading the rest…]]>http://javacrossknitmusic.com/dynpost.php?post_id=200410http://javacrossknitmusic.com/comments_view.php?post_id=200410Sat, 29 May 2004 18:40:15 GMTWant One was on sale. So I snapped it up and had my ears blown. Read on to get full story…]]>http://javacrossknitmusic.com/dynpost.php?post_id=200411http://javacrossknitmusic.com/comments_view.php?post_id=200411Wed, 28 Jul 2004 18:40:15 GMThttp://javacrossknitmusic.com/dynpost.php?post_id=200412http://javacrossknitmusic.com/comments_view.php?post_id=200412Tue, 3 Aug 2004 18:40:15 GMTWhat’s Going On. Read the rest of the post to find out what the other recordings are, and why I think the Gaye album is musically brilliant.]]>http://javacrossknitmusic.com/dynpost.php?post_id=200413http://javacrossknitmusic.com/comments_view.php?post_id=200413Wed, 4 Aug 2004 18:40:15 GMTGrace was first released, and to celebrate, Sony/Columbia has released a tenth-anniversary deluxe edition of the album—with obligatory bonus tracks. Read on to learn more about what’s inside the package as well as to hear the sad tale of the profiteering of Buckley’s mother.]]>http://javacrossknitmusic.com/dynpost.php?post_id=200414http://javacrossknitmusic.com/comments_view.php?post_id=200414Mon, 6 Sep 2004 18:40:15 GMTLet It Die has to be one of the most beautiful and brilliant albums ever released. The sound of her voice, the inventiveness of the arrangements, and the wide range of styles she explores all make the album worth experiencing. Read on to get the full story…]]>http://javacrossknitmusic.com/dynpost.php?post_id=200501http://javacrossknitmusic.com/comments_view.php?post_id=200501Mon, 21 Feb 2005 18:40:15 GMTNight Music, one of the most eclectic late-night music shows ever broadcast on U.S. network television. I also heap praise on singer, pianist and composer Allen Toussaint, one of the artists I (re)discovered through watching the show.]]>http://javacrossknitmusic.com/dynpost.php?post_id=200502http://javacrossknitmusic.com/comments_view.php?post_id=200502Thu, 3 Mar 2005 18:40:15 GMTSix Kinds of Passion Looking for an Exit, and promises of a full-length release. Read on to find out why both bits of news are good things, and what Matthews has done in the time since we last heard from him…]]>http://javacrossknitmusic.com/dynpost.php?post_id=200503http://javacrossknitmusic.com/comments_view.php?post_id=200503Wed, 9 Mar 2005 18:40:15 GMTFolkloric Feel is an absolute gem. Details in the full post…]]>http://javacrossknitmusic.com/dynpost.php?post_id=200504http://javacrossknitmusic.com/comments_view.php?post_id=200504Sun, 27 Mar 2005 18:40:15 GMTNew York Times Magazine.]]>http://javacrossknitmusic.com/dynpost.php?post_id=200505http://javacrossknitmusic.com/comments_view.php?post_id=200505Tue, 28 Jun 2005 17:40:15 GMThttp://javacrossknitmusic.com/dynpost.php?post_id=200506http://javacrossknitmusic.com/comments_view.php?post_id=200506Thu, 29 Dec 2005 18:40:15 GMThttp://javacrossknitmusic.com/dynpost.php?post_id=200601http://javacrossknitmusic.com/comments_view.php?post_id=200601Sun, 2 Apr 2006 17:40:15 GMTThe Greatest, the choice makes perfect, beautiful sense𔄶]]>http://javacrossknitmusic.com/dynpost.php?post_id=200602http://javacrossknitmusic.com/comments_view.php?post_id=200602Tue, 18 Apr 2006 17:40:15 GMThttp://javacrossknitmusic.com/dynpost.php?post_id=200701http://javacrossknitmusic.com/comments_view.php?post_id=200701Tue, 2 Jan 2007 14:40:15 GMThttp://javacrossknitmusic.com/dynpost.php?post_id=200702http://javacrossknitmusic.com/comments_view.php?post_id=200702Sun, 14 Jan 2007 01:42:15 GMTNeon Bible, but the critics heralding them all keep repeating the same, lazy bit of insight. If I didn’t regularly shave my head, the coverage would have me pulling out my hair. Read on to find out why.]]>http://javacrossknitmusic.com/dynpost.php?post_id=200703http://javacrossknitmusic.com/comments_view.php?post_id=200703Sun, 11 Mar 2007 23:40:15 GMThttp://javacrossknitmusic.com/dynpost.php?post_id=200704http://javacrossknitmusic.com/comments_view.php?post_id=200704Sat, 24 Mar 2007 01:48:15 GMTSaturday Night Live. Read on to find out how it led me (back) to Gil Scott-Heron’s underappreciated pieces…]]>http://javacrossknitmusic.com/dynpost.php?post_id=200705http://javacrossknitmusic.com/comments_view.php?post_id=200705Tue, 17 Apr 2007 03:29:15 GMThttp://javacrossknitmusic.com/dynpost.php?post_id=200706http://javacrossknitmusic.com/comments_view.php?post_id=200706Sat, 9 Jun 2007 22:04:59 GMThttp://javacrossknitmusic.com/dynpost.php?post_id=200707http://javacrossknitmusic.com/comments_view.php?post_id=200707Mon, 11 Jun 2007 21:59:51 GMThttp://javacrossknitmusic.com/dynpost.php?post_id=200708http://javacrossknitmusic.com/comments_view.php?post_id=200708Sun, 17 Jun 2007 00:40:30 GMThttp://javacrossknitmusic.com/dynpost.php?post_id=200709http://javacrossknitmusic.com/comments_view.php?post_id=200709Fri, 6 Jul 2007 23:01:38 GMThttp://javacrossknitmusic.com/dynpost.php?post_id=200710http://javacrossknitmusic.com/comments_view.php?post_id=200710Tue, 28 Aug 2007 21:35:07 GMTCivilians. Though the wait was long, the album is both different from Henry’s previous work and worth the wait. Click through to find out more about him and read a capsule review…]]>http://javacrossknitmusic.com/dynpost.php?post_id=200711http://javacrossknitmusic.com/comments_view.php?post_id=200711Fri, 14 Sep 2007 22:18:30 GMTIn Rainbows. In the media, however, more attention has been focused on how they're releasing the album. Read on for a brief discussion of why the hype about their strategy is equally justified and overblown…]]>http://javacrossknitmusic.com/dynpost.php?post_id=200712http://javacrossknitmusic.com/comments_view.php?post_id=200712Wed, 3 Oct 2007 03:53:48 GMTThis Is Niecy earlier. What I heard for the first time in ages prompted me to write about the music and about love. Perhaps curiosity will prompt you to read...]]>http://javacrossknitmusic.com/dynpost.php?post_id=200713http://javacrossknitmusic.com/comments_view.php?post_id=200713Fri, 5 Oct 2007 02:41:11 GMTEl Cantante. While I started writing this post immediately after returning home, the first draft proved too vitriolic to post. Click through for the more sober reviewæ]]>http://javacrossknitmusic.com/dynpost.php?post_id=200714http://javacrossknitmusic.com/comments_view.php?post_id=200714Sun, 7 Oct 2007 00:59:45 GMTOur Love to Admire. Read on to find out why I’m changing my mind…]]>http://javacrossknitmusic.com/dynpost.php?post_id=200715http://javacrossknitmusic.com/comments_view.php?post_id=200715Wed, 10 Oct 2007 03:46:29 GMTpost, I discussed what was wrong with El Cantante. A few days ago, I saw Control, Anton Corbijn’s new film about Ian Curtis of Joy Division, and—as was the case last summer—left feeling more disappointed than inspired. Click through to find out why…]]>http://javacrossknitmusic.com/dynpost.php?post_id=200716http://javacrossknitmusic.com/comments_view.php?post_id=200716Sun, 11 Nov 2007 06:25:00 GMThttp://javacrossknitmusic.com/dynpost.php?post_id=200801http://javacrossknitmusic.com/comments_view.php?post_id=200801Thu, 7 Feb 2008 05:38:19 GMThttp://javacrossknitmusic.com/dynpost.php?post_id=200802http://javacrossknitmusic.com/comments_view.php?post_id=200802Fri, 8 Feb 2008 06:10:12 GMThttp://javacrossknitmusic.com/dynpost.php?post_id=200803http://javacrossknitmusic.com/comments_view.php?post_id=200803Tue, 17 Jun 2008 20:42:01 GMThttp://javacrossknitmusic.com/dynpost.php?post_id=200804http://javacrossknitmusic.com/comments_view.php?post_id=200804Wed, 25 Jun 2008 22:30:17 GMTThird. In some ways, the disc is a deliberate attempt by the band to defy expectations. It’s also a satisfying reminder of why their fans have those expectations. Click through for the full story…]]>http://javacrossknitmusic.com/dynpost.php?post_id=200805http://javacrossknitmusic.com/comments_view.php?post_id=200805Wed, 13 Aug 2008 02:11:54 GMThttp://javacrossknitmusic.com/dynpost.php?post_id=200806http://javacrossknitmusic.com/comments_view.php?post_id=200806Thu, 4 Sep 2008 03:54:11 GMTThe Orchard, finally hits the sweet spot. She’s using the same strategy she always has, working with a huge stable of collaborators and hands-on producers. Read on to learn why things are different this time…]]>http://javacrossknitmusic.com/dynpost.php?post_id=200807http://javacrossknitmusic.com/comments_view.php?post_id=200807Sun, 14 Sep 2008 01:14:21 GMTHere It What Is, I can finally say that I’ve seen a film that gets it right … beautifully, brilliantly right. Use the link to get the rest of the story…]]>http://javacrossknitmusic.com/dynpost.php?post_id=200808http://javacrossknitmusic.com/comments_view.php?post_id=200808Thu, 18 Sep 2008 22:04:48 GMThttp://javacrossknitmusic.com/dynpost.php?post_id=200809http://javacrossknitmusic.com/comments_view.php?post_id=200809Mon, 29 Sep 2008 01:06:28 GMThttp://javacrossknitmusic.com/dynpost.php?post_id=200810http://javacrossknitmusic.com/comments_view.php?post_id=200810Mon, 20 Oct 2008 01:19:00 GMThttp://javacrossknitmusic.com/dynpost.php?post_id=200811http://javacrossknitmusic.com/comments_view.php?post_id=200811Wed, 29 Oct 2008 02:13:21 GMThttp://javacrossknitmusic.com/dynpost.php?post_id=200901http://javacrossknitmusic.com/comments_view.php?post_id=200901Mon, 19 Jan 2009 05:18:18 GMThttp://javacrossknitmusic.com/dynpost.php?post_id=200902http://javacrossknitmusic.com/comments_view.php?post_id=200902Sat, 31 Jan 2009 20:45:02 GMThttp://javacrossknitmusic.com/dynpost.php?post_id=200903http://javacrossknitmusic.com/comments_view.php?post_id=200903Sat, 7 Feb 2009 02:26:57 GMTTry Whistling This. Like many of the other artists who will be featured here, he is a songwriter’s songwriter, someone who well understands his craft and, perhaps, its position in a long tradition of great pop songcraft. Click through to read and hear why I, along with many others, think so…]]>http://javacrossknitmusic.com/dynpost.php?post_id=200904http://javacrossknitmusic.com/comments_view.php?post_id=200904Thu, 12 Feb 2009 06:55:07 GMThttp://javacrossknitmusic.com/dynpost.php?post_id=200905http://javacrossknitmusic.com/comments_view.php?post_id=200905Tue, 24 Feb 2009 05:25:50 GMTPurple Rain. Hailed as a briiliant masterstroke in 1984, the album hasn’t aged so well. In this post, timed to coincide with the 25th anniversary of the LP release, I present my personal history with Prince’s music leading up and following the album under review and offer some reasons why—despite its historic significance and moments of brilliance—the collection isn’t his best or most inventive work.]]>http://javacrossknitmusic.com/dynpost.php?post_id=200906http://javacrossknitmusic.com/comments_view.php?post_id=200906Thu, 25 Jun 2009 05:19:29 GMTPurple Rain commemorative post, there was no way I could have known how the day would end: with the sudden and shocking death of Michael Jackson. Several hours after the fact, here’s the post where I start by musing on the purported rivalry between Jackson and Prince, but then move into an exploration of why Off the Wall is perhaps the most shining example of what Jackson could do, especially given the right collaborators. Read on for more…]]>http://javacrossknitmusic.com/dynpost.php?post_id=200907http://javacrossknitmusic.com/comments_view.php?post_id=200907Fri, 26 Jun 2009 04:11:03 GMThttp://javacrossknitmusic.com/dynpost.php?post_id=201001http://javacrossknitmusic.com/comments_view.php?post_id=201001Tue, 9 Mar 2010 21:07:29 GMThttp://javacrossknitmusic.com/dynpost.php?post_id=201002http://javacrossknitmusic.com/comments_view.php?post_id=201002Thu, 18 Mar 2010 07:31:23 GMThttp://javacrossknitmusic.com/dynpost.php?post_id=201003http://javacrossknitmusic.com/comments_view.php?post_id=201003Thu, 8 Apr 2010 20:54:28 GMThttp://javacrossknitmusic.com/dynpost.php?post_id=201004http://javacrossknitmusic.com/comments_view.php?post_id=201004Thu, 6 May 2010 03:48:08 GMThttp://javacrossknitmusic.com/dynpost.php?post_id=201005http://javacrossknitmusic.com/comments_view.php?post_id=201005Wed, 12 May 2010 02:35:53 GMThttp://javacrossknitmusic.com/dynpost.php?post_id=201006http://javacrossknitmusic.com/comments_view.php?post_id=201006Thu, 15 Jul 2010 20:29:34 GMT