Neil Young Sparks an Electric Car Revolution

Neil Young has never been shy about his love of Big Old American Cars. There on his album covers, in his garage, and he's even written songs about them. . But you always had to wonder how that jibbed with his outspoken environmental views. Wonder no longer. Young has recently been touting a new venture known as LincVolt. The media bait of the project is the transformation of Neil's 1959 Lincoln Continental Mark IV Convertible into a zero emission eclectic car and it's subsequent cross country road trip.


But what's really going on here is that Young is attempting to breathe life into the languishing electric car movement. On videos and blog postings on the site, Young extols the virtues of plug-in self-charging electric cars (SCEVs) vs. the other "green options" currently being explored. Primarily the ability to develop a car that is large enough to be comfortable, yet is still able to travel long distances without re-fueling. The values section of the Mission Statement puts it this way:

We want to build a zero emissions automobile that eliminates roadside re-fueling entirely, a safe powerful automobile that is comfortable and economic on both long trips and the commute to work, an automobile that can generate power to the home when it is parked, potentially creating an income stream for the owner.

It is essentially the holy grail of green vehicles for this country. A car that is good for the environment yet does not infringe on American driving sensibilities. The site is loaded with great videos of the the build, and will soon allow you to track the road trip. Neil is hardly a silent partner in the project. He contributes articles, files video updates and plans on driving most of the trip. In my mind, this is a perfect example of how artists can cash in on their celebrity to change the world. It should be an interesting project to follow.

I'm Proud to Have a President That's Better Than Me

You know, there has been a lot of talk in the last few elections about people choosing a president based on the person they’d most like to have a beer with. That sentiment shot to a whole new level with the reaction of a certain sector of the electorate to the nomination of Sarah Palin for the GOP ticket. Suddenly it went from “someone I’d like to have a beer with” to “someone just like me”. This attitude has always baffled me. I always expected the President of the United States to be an exceptional person. Someone who would emit an air of intelligence and leadership that was palpable when they entered the room. Certainly someone more impressive than me! Not that I’m an idiot, but I’m sure not presidential material. And that’s why once again, I was impressed by our President Elect’s reaction to the on-going election post mortem. In the past few days he has proven to be that exceptional type of person who is uniquely qualified to be the leader of the free world.

This week President Elect Obama (still fun to sat that isn’t it?) has made it clear that he would be happy to have Joe Leiberman stay in a position of power within the Senate. I have to admit, if it was up to me I’d say throw Joe to the curb. Not because of his endorsement of John McCain, but for his nasty attacks on Barack Obama at the Republican convention and later during the campaign. The Democrats are not likely to get a 60-person filibuster-proof caucus, and regardless of where Lieberman ends up he is going to vote with Democrats on the majority of issues. To allow him to retain his chairmanship of the Homeland Security Committee, controlling the discourse and oversight on one of the issues where he differs greatly from many of the democratic base, seems wrong. I say punish him for his disloyalty! But Barack Obama is smarter and more rational than I am. He intends bury the hatchet and move forward. In the end it is probably what’s best for the country, but I doubt there are many of us who can honestly say they would do the same thing in his position.

Reconciling with former allies is one thing. But what about opponents who did everything they could to attack your character when they couldn’t handle debating the issues. Every since her dog sled pulled up to the campaign trail, Sarah Palin made it her mission to tear down Barack Obama with personal attacks. She claimed he palled around with terrorists, questioned his patriotism and stood ideally by as crowds hurled all sorts of nasty insults at her rallies. Yet our new President is even willing to forgive this type of mud-slinging according to Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett. Yesterday on CNN, Jarett responding to Palin’s comment that she would be honored “to assist and support our new president and the new administration” not with scoff as I might, but with open arms. Now in reality it is hard to imagine a situation where they would call on the Alaskan Governor for help, but the fact that they remain open-minded is admirable.

Let’s face it, this election managed to bring out the best and the worst in the American population. In the end bitterness and fear lost to optimism and hope. As we move this country forward, isn’t it refreshing to have a President that leads by example? A leader that challenges us to look beyond out petty difference and to embrace the dreams we share. That is a change we’ve needed for decades. THAT is change we can believe in.

Throught The Cracks: Bob Dylan - Nashville Skyline

Through the cracks is a series on classic albums you should own if you don't. These aren't the most popular albums by the artist, but more likely one you may have overlooked.

Bob Dylan - Nashville Skyline
There have been thousands and thousands of pages spent trying to figure out what goes through the mind of Bob Dylan. You can make a career out of it. And that's just the way he likes it. There is probably no other artist that is so influential, yet so mysterious. The beauty of being Bob Dylan is that you have the ability to create whatever you want, for better or worse, without considering what people think. He has released 45 albums since his self-titled debut album hit the stores in 1962, some great, and some unfortunate. By the age of 21 he already created an evolving mythology about himself. Robert Zimmerman, scrawny Jewish boy from Minnesota had converted himself into road-wise hobo Bob Dylan. He claimed to have traveled the rails and learned songs from obscure musicians that he never met. He told stories about life on the road, populated with characters that existed only his mind. Along the way he picked up an affected Okie accent, reminiscent of his idol Woody Guthrie, and started using his own form of retro-hip slang. It didn't really matter that no one bought the wild stories or contrived persona. It created an aura around Bob Dylan that was bigger than himself. It was this new persona that could sing stories of pain, love and sorrow with the crackle of an old wanderer. Something a skinny kid from Minnesota could never have gotten away with. Throughout his career Dylan has been an enigma to even his "closest colleagues". He would often show up hours late for recording sessions. Walk in the door without saying anything, plug in, count off the beat and start playing. Many times the frantic musicians were hearing the music for the first time, straining to see Dylan's fingers so they could figure out the chord progressions. Rag tag numbers would be cut in single takes, while others would require intricate work. The time or attention didn't seem to affect the out come. Some classic Dylan songs were cut with less thought than the average advertising jingle might receive.

So, who knows what was going through Dylan's head as he laid down the tracks for Nashville Skyline in 1969? Although many of the studio musician assembled for the session had been on hand to record his two previous albums, John Wesley Harding and Blond on Blonde, none of them had more than a passing conversation with the elusive songwriter. They had no idea what they were to record. The first track cut for the album was the classic Lay Lady Lay (intended for the soundtrack of Midnight Cowboy but delivered too late). It was at this session that everyone would get their first hint of the "new sound" that Dylan would use on the upcoming album. First there was the issue of the drum track. Dylan told drummer Kenny Buttery that he wanted bongos on the track. Buttery then asked producer Bob Johnston what he thought, and Johnston suggested a cowbell. In part to show how silly and unfocused the direction was, Buttery had the studio janitor (a young Kris Kristofferson) hold a pair of cheap bongos and an old cowbell next to his set as he beat out an odd tick tock pattern. It turned out to be just what Dylan was looking for, and lends off-kilter timing to the song. The weirdness continued when Dylan stepped up to the mic and recorded his vocal. Instead of the throaty, croaking voice they were used to, Dylan unleashed a smooth croon. More Roy Orbison than Woody Guthrie. The lyric itself isn't necessarily remarkable, a standard love song, but the delivery shimmers. This is true of most of the songs on Nashville Skyline. The performance out shines the writing, certainly a change for Dylan. His countrified voice really stands out on the album's first song, a remake Girl from the North Country with Johnny Cash. This take was the result of an impromptu two-hour jam session between the two friends (a bootleg of this session circulates widely). Here the song sounds haunted, the two men playing sparse guitar and trading vocal leads. At one point they harmonize the chorus, Dylan's ethereal tenor floating above Cash's powerful baritone. While the looseness of the session is apparent, it is still a powerful remake of one of Dylan's most popular songs (first released on Freewheelin' Bob Dylan in 1963). One of the things that make this album work is the band. A collection of seasoned studio musicians that lend a polished, professional edge to the albums rag-tag country blues. They really shine on the instrumental Nashville Skyline Rag and the southern fried To Be Alone With You. As with most Dylan albums, not everything is perfect here. But whether he's delivering the emotional performance of I Threw it All Away or the vaudevillian sway of Peggy Day, it is all heartfelt. And some tracks, like the rockin' Country Pie whose fiery jam fades out at the end, makes you wonder what we didn't get to hear. Dylan has of course gone on to become one of the most important musicians of the 20th century. At 61, the enduring road warrior still criss crosses the country, delivering inspired performances night after night. That voice that seemed unlikely for a 20-year-old kid has matured into a powerful tool befitting an aging icon. Who knows why he chose to show the world another side on Nashville Skyline, but I'm sure glad he did. It's an album that could only be made by Bob Dylan, even if it sounds like someone else entirely. But maybe that's the moral of the Story of Bob. You can keep people wondering for 30 years and they'll always come back for moreas long as have the talent to back it up.

Check Out: O'Death

Imagine if Frank Black and Emmylou Harris had a set of illegitimate quints and kept them locked away in a cabin in WV for 20 years surviving on a diet of grubs, white lightening and gutter blues. The resulting eccentric and perversely talented group of young men might sound an awful lot like O'Death. In a few short months these guys have moved from playing basement rent parties to small theaters. And now this Brooklyn-based punk/bluegrass outfit and blogger bait is set to take the world by storm as they head out on a European tour behind their soon to be released "Broken Hymns, Limbs and Skin". I was lucky enough to catch a show at the Williamsburg Music Hall last month and it was amazing. The energy these guys bring to the stage is damn near frightening. Don't get me wrong, their mix of thrashing punk aggression and down-home harmonies is not for everyone. Indie folks might be turned off by the twang, and roots fans might be horrified by the distortion. But for those of us that enjoy bands who push boundaries, O'Death is a revelation. I haven't heard the new album but the last one "Head Home" is very good. However they really shine onstage, where they transform into a sweaty, rollicking band of amp up gypsies. They will be back stateside on November, so keep and eye out for them.

My Space
Band Web Site

Where do you find music? Part 3: Download Sites

As a compulsive music collector, people are often curious about how I discover new music and where all the cd's/bootlegs/mp3s and DVDs come from. So as a service to my friends and readers, here is a little peak inside my demented world of music procurement.

Part 1: Internet Radio
Part 2: RIYL Sites

Part 3: Download Sites
You've discovered some cool new bands on places like Radio Paradise and Pandora, but now you want to investigate further, or better yet, get some tunes. Well you could of course go to iTunes or Amazon or even your local record store, if you have one. But there are lot of other options out there you might not know about. Here are some of the places I go when I want to hear more of a band.

Live Music Archive
Part of the Internet Archive, the Live Music Archive is an out growth of the Jamband Taper Scene. These days it is home to live recordings of 100's of bands ranging from jammy to indie to twangy to techy. All theses are band sanctioned recordings, that are distributed free of charge. Most recordings can be downloaded in MP3 and lossless formats.

Songza
Ok so this isn't technically a download site, but is still a pretty cool way to hear more of an artist that might interest you. It is a very simple site that allows you to type in the name of an artist and then it will create a playlist of songs by that artist. You can stream the songs, but not download them. Great way to decide if you are interested in buyin the album.

eMusic
This is a subscription service that allows you to download a certain number of tracks each month, depending on how much you wan to spend (from 10/month for $5.99 to 300/month for $74.99) . You are not gong to find very many major artists here, but the indie, underground and jazz is very well represented. I've been a member for a long time, and over the years have download Miles Davis, Arcade Fire, Dead Kennedys, LCD Sound System, Cat Power, Creedance Clearwater Revival, moe., Belle + Sebastian, Bill Evans, the list goes on and on. Tons of great music at lower prices than iTunes or Amazon.