LARRY NORMAN. 4/8/1947 - 2/24/2008

I was introduced to the music of Larry Norman sometime around the late 80's/early 90's, and I was struck at the rawness of his music. Being drawn to folks like Neil Young, The Stones, and Bob Dylan I liked Larry Norman immediately. His music contains the same sense of urgency, and although drawing from a different well than the likes of the Stones...the intensity is the same. I know alot of folks will be turned off by the faith-based-aspect of his music, but do yourself a favor and give it a listen.

There are plenty of discs available out there on the web, and Arena Rock Records is working on a 2 disc anthology for release on May 27. A final note from Larry can be read on the official website that I will link below, and I'm sure if you buy records straight from his site the money will help pay some of his medical bills. His voice will surely be missed, and his influence will carry on. I'm off to the turntable to crank up "Only Visiting This Planet". Selah.

Edit: Added the track "I've Got to Learn to Live Without You" below. If you like the Jayhawks (especially the latter albums), I think you'll like this song...I've often wondered if Gary Louris was influenced by L.N.

Larry Norman on Wikipedia

Official Website

Arena Rock Recording Co.

JELLICO POSTCARD

Jellico, TN. Not sure on the date of this...early to mid 60's I'm guessing.

EMERGENCY LUNCHBOX

Bob McCluskey - Emergency Lunchbox

I love this album, and have pulled it off the shelves lately for some good listening sessions. It's one of those special releases that bears repeat, late-night listens...a description from the Metro Pulse "Greatest Knoxville Records of All Time" issue:
"Out of the ashes of the Taoist Cowboys and the Estradas came this 1994 solo project from their lead writer. Perhaps the most intimate and honest release ever recorded in Knoxville, it was all taped at home on a four track and captures Bob at his best: relaxed, and his mind drenched in self examination and beer. It's songwriting minus any bullshit or pretension whatsoever. Like Nick Drake if Nick had a sense of humor and adventure, and could formulate his ideas clearly. In other words, it ain't like Nick Drake at all except it forces you into THAT mood. Almost flawless in its risk of exposing the writer's flaws. Bob takes the everyday and makes it art and makes it interesting." Metropulse July 9, 1999.

It's free to download at Lynnpoint Records. Link below:

Bob McCluskey - Emergency Lunchbox

You can also click below to hear "Nice Night To Do Laundry"

Paul Rand

I've always loved the "feel" in Paul Rand's design...the way it looks so simple and elegant, but is deceptively smart and crafted. I have a couple of books on his design, but it is nice to see a good online resource of his life and work. The site says it is still in progress, but it is a treasure just the same. Quoted from the site:

PAUL RAND (BORN PERETZ ROSENBAUM, AUGUST 15, 1914 – NOVEMBER 26, 1996) was a well-known American graphic designer, best known for his corporate logo designs. Rand was educated at the Pratt Institute (1929-1932), the Parsons School of Design (1932-1933), and the Art Students League (1933-1934). He was one of the originators of the Swiss Style of graphic design. From 1956 to 1969, and beginning again in 1974, Rand taught design at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. Rand was inducted into the New York Art Directors Club Hall of Fame in 1972. He designed many posters and corporate identities, including the logos for IBM, UPS and ABC. Rand died of cancer in 1996.

Quoted from the "Thoughts on Design" jacket:
“Rand is aware of the complexity of the designer’s function: he stresses this again and again. He has no patience with slickness, with facility; he is a severe critic of the hackneyed and the insincere. All this is dead wood to be cleared away.”

Link below:

PAUL RAND

BUMMER

Camera View. 2.3.08

My somewhat new digital camera (which I loved) is broken (and just out of warranty). Bummer. So, don't expect new photos anytime soon...unless pounding a camera on the desk fixes things, in which, I'll be shooting new photos, pronto.