Of lunacy and lunar cycles…
(no connection, except
etymological)
31 Dec 01 – 2 Mar 02
This disc is heavily influenced by several things which have had a big impact on my life, some recently, some for a very long time without my knowing it, or knowing how to express them, even if I had wanted.
Fall 2001 I took a grad seminar/Honors colloquium with Dr. Richard Stivers on the sociology of cultural institutions. We mainly looked at lived morality & at the impact of our technological society on our lives. It was in many ways very depressing! But, far more importantly, it helped me to see & become able to express many things that have almost destroyed me. I now have a reasonable understanding of why & how I am out of synch with the world I live & was raised in. This class was so important to me that I am doing it again this Fall, although we will be using different sources. I hope to be able to find some ways to counter many of these forces, if only on a personal level. If I can’t, I won’t survive. Either way, I owe Dr. Stivers a sincere debt of gratitude for helping me articulate these things. Many of the songs here reflect what I am talking about.
Another highly related influence has been the music of Ani DiFranco & the ideas she puts forth. The 1st song is from her newest CD & also from a double CD put out by her label entitled the gascd. I got it in mid-Dec 2001 & it relates the events of the FTAA protests in Quebec during the weekend of 22 Apr 2001. The title comes from the fact that police fired over 5100 canisters of tear gas that weekend.
Another major influence has been mice, or should I say the devastating illness that they caused me. I got really sick early Fall & am only now recovering. Of course, the modern, technological doctor was of no use to me. I was pronounced physically well & told to see the shrink. What a useless profession!
The other 2 main influences were the moon & the great month of February in which I celebrated my birthday for 28 days.
I hope that you can find something here that in its own way is uplifting or helpful or, at least, enjoyable. Music is meant to help – at least in my screwed-up little world. Enjoy…
1 your next bold move – Ani DiFranco (5:48)
2 The Three of Us – Ben Harper (2:37)
3 Some Days Are Better Than Others – U2 (4:20)
4 Don’t Forget About Me – Nanci Griffith (3:01)
5 Calling The Moon – Dar Williams (5:01)
6 matters of the heart – Tracy Chapman (6:59)
7 Deep Water – Jewel (4:15)
8 Acrobat – U2 (4:30)
9 marrow – Ani Di Franco (5:21)
10 Sitting Here In Limbo – Garcia/Grisman Band (7:04)
11 Hold On – Bif Naked (3:31)
12 I Love Myself Today – Bif Naked (3:32)
13 Straight Lines – Christian Doscher (4:16)
14 Moon River – Henry Mancini (2:43)
15 Work For Peace – Gil Scott Heron (7:32)
16 My Friends – Dar Williams (4:08)
17 ‘til we out number ‘em – arlo guthrie with all severance hall cast
(2:37)
© 2002 mrl enterprises
This compilation was originally made for me. About a month later I gave copies to Mo, Katie, Joan, TJ and Natasha. My liner notes were never completely finished due to a computer crash. But I did make a slightly shorter, edited version for the recipients. Those will be the ones that follow.