Wednesday, April 30, 2008

The End of a Long, Strange Trip

No, this isn't another mopey post about my personal bullshit. Yesterday, the man who discovered Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD) passed away at the ripe old age of 102. Albert Hofmann in a very real way changed the world with his discovery. The shamanic substance and its rituals continue to affect popular culture and consciousness in the western world (if more in recollections and media these days).

My favorite part of this article in the Guardian is how he retired in 1971. Heh. 37 years of retirement. I wonder what he did for all those years (besides write books). You think he spent much time dosing up and getting freaky?

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Fresh Cave Air

The great Nick Cave was on yesterday's premiere NPR interview program, Fresh Air.

Dig it.

Highly recommended recent music from the prolific Nick Cave and his cohorts:

Soundtrack for "The Proposition" (with Warren Ellis)

Grinderman - Self Titled Debut Album

Soundtrack for "The Assasination of Jesse James..." (with Warren Ellis)

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - "Dig!!! Lazarus Dig!!!"

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

The Brides Have Hit The Glass

The past several months have been, for me, a succession of massive, life-changing events... each arriving fast on the heels of the one prior. And as it's the nature of the way these things work, I imagine that things won't be returning to "normal" anytime soon. Indeed, the idea of "normal" itself is still in the process of being (re)defined.

So, without delving nor dwelling on the things that have come to pass in my life, I'll simply offer up someone else's words in the hopes that they'll convey a little something about, well, something.

Oh, and yes, I've cleaned things up around here and intend to get back to posting on a regular basis very soon.

Ever forward,
Bry.

The Brides Have Hit Glass

by Robert Pollard (Guided By Voices)

I don't come around
Never call or let her know
I got a life of my own
You know I hate to be around her
When she's like that
I wrote a song once about her
Called "The Brides Have Hit Glass"
You know it just won't last
To be on top of your own world
With no guardrails to cling to
You fall so very fast
It's very odd to find her up again
Staking out expansion
Seeking new exposure

And when she holds out an empty glass
And she comes for a handout
I ask for the same thing-it's sad
And I hold on so sure I can take all she can
Just to be around her
Just to feel bad

One day I will know
That's it's a waste of time
And there's a better road ahead of me
I just don't know how to make it there
So I'll just hang around and take my chance
Once again I'll roll the dice
And try to hang on to my shrinking paradise

And I'll hold out an empty glass
And I'll come for a handout
And I'll ask for the same thing-it's sad
And I'll hold on so confident
That it's all I can give
To try to find my way back
Just to hit glass