I'll tell you this much...with Memorial Day leading the way into June and Summer, well...I'm a little stunned that we're working on the end of the first half of 2004. It never ceases to amaze me just how the perception of time works at a different level than it did when I was younger, right George? Oh man...someone slow that clock down.
With Memorial Day, there is the film, The Day After Tomorrow, that lots of folks will get out to see. We hope that many of you will enjoy your Memorial Day holiday. If you're outside of the US, then enjoy the day.
Good news! We've made connections with Sony in Australia so we'll be able to report on upcoming Australian releases from Sony. Watch for that update to appear on Tuesday.
We have a review of Dylan Country by Shout! Factory, a collection of previously released covers of Dylan songs as interpreted by country music greats. We'll have a bevy of reviews and cool stuff on Tuesday so be sure to stop back.
We also have the usual Duane's Pit Stop as well as a new observation from John Dunphy in his latest John Dunphy Experience. Enjoy 'em!
On Tuesday, David Dellinger of Chicago Seven infamy, died at the age of 88. I bring this up because, as a child, I paid close and careful attention to the nation's chaos as it careened dangerously out of control. I gained a political sense because of the discussions that arose from this era. May Abbie and Jerry welcome David openly.
Every once in a while, one comes across a useful tool that is very handy. So handy, in fact, that after using it, you'll find yourself unable to work without it. I'm talking about MicroGarden's Internet Explorer's tabbing tool plug-in. Anyone who has used Netscape knows about this convenience but until now, Netscape was the only place you could get it. In essence, you can stay in a single window while browsing the internet. By clicking a "tab", you get a window with different content while utilizing only one window. It's the handiest damn thing you'll ever use while browsing. You can download a free trial at Microgarden. But be warned...you'll be hooked. Luckily, the licensing fee is a very affordable $14.95 and it's money well spent. Trust me on this one and enjoy!
I've updated the TAPSheet but now realize that it can be a pain to download. Aside from its usefulness as a downloaded calendaring tool, perhaps it would be better to post it online rather than make it available as is. What do you think? Let me know.
Dw Dunphy has provided this obituary of sorts for Phish:
I have come not to praise Phish, but to bury it... Or something like that.
A nation of Phishheads realized a day they never thought would come this past Wednesday, meaning the official word from band frontman and guitarist Trey Anastasio that Phish would permanently and irrevocably cease to be after the current tour.
A primary reason cited for the breakup was that, as adults with adult responsibilities and necessary distractions, the individual members just didn't have the same single-minded focus they had when they started out in their twenties. The activities of being husbands and fathers and members of communities were rightfully more important than the rigorous, endless touring, recording and practicing. Continuing without that level of devotion would mean a major slip in their standards of quality, the experience would be hollow and, in a way, they'd be staying together only for "the kids"...
To this I give my sincere gratitude to the band for this courageous move, provided that they stick to their guns and mean what they say. That's right. I said, Phish is dead. Long live Phish.
How many bands have stuck in there far too long, only to become shadows of their former selves? The most dreaded of comparisons goes obviously to The Rolling Stones who never incorporated their aging and change of life into their work; instead, they denied it and robbed themselves of the valuable opportunity of making rock matter past a certain age. Do you realize that their last studio album, Bridges To Babylon, was released over seven years ago in 1997 and that they haven't recorded new material since? They've been on a perpetual oldies tour since then that still entertains to a certain degree, but is hardly what it used to represent.
The Doors came back with the star of the group long since dead. Jim Morrison, who is as close to an icon as any rockstar can be, was filled in by The Cult's Ian Astbury. As much as I liked
Sonic
Temple
, the combination still is preposterous and stinks of commercial hucksterism.
Phish's closest model, The Grateful Dead, went touring for a long time between their last album, 1989's Built To Last until Jerry Garcia's death. There were talks of recordings, plans, new material, even the indoctrination of another keyboard player, former Tubes keysman Vince Welnick, but nothing happened. The devoted still packed houses, but the band pretty much ceased to be a productive writing unit. Now, long after Garcia, the rechristened Dead still tour, still pack houses and still seem more like a marketing strategy than a band.
And this is why the band's decision is so bold and important. They care enough about the legacy of this thing they've created to put it gently to bed, rather than have it continue on into the long dark night of self-parody. The band seems to feel they've jumped the shark, even if the fans don't agree. Good on Phish for trying to uphold a little integrity in rock and roll by going out on the top-note rather than the slow, insomniac crawl to the desperate, dictated finale.
I'm sorry if I offended hardcore fans by my thoughts on the subject, but be honest. How would you respond several years from now to the late night talk show host's jibes about how the band members kept time even with their dentures slipping from their mouths? This is the right thing. I know it and, deep down, you know it. Just remember to support new music as fervently as you did this and the band's real legacy will definitely live on.
Well, we're finally done here. We're off to enjoy the weekend; we hope that you'll do the same. From all of here at TAP, have a great one. We'll see you on Tuesday..in June.
Don't forget the reader reviews. If you have a single paragraph about a favourite current album that you have, share it with the world. Write me here and use READER REVIEW in the subject line.
