Because You're Free

It's agreed upon by those in the know that Bob Seger's output with the System and The Last Heard is uniformly great, but this 1971 single should also be considered a classic. The swirling '60s keyboards matched with anti-authority lyrics sung with that voice which oozes attitude, all makes for a true gem of a song.

Pictures Of The Gone World

The world is a beautiful place

to be born into

if you don’t mind happiness

not always being

so very much fun

if you don’t mind a touch of hell

now and then

just when everything is fine

because even in heaven

they don’t sing

all the time

Poem by Lawrence Ferlinghetti, 1955

Death Don't Have No Mercy

As of February 22nd, the United States reached the horrific milestone of over 500,000 dead from Coronavirus. That's 500,000+ sisters, brothers, children, parents, grandparents, uncles, cousins, best friends, co-workers, and on and on. It's impossible to wrap your head around that much loss.

Illustration by Joe McKendry, from Visualizing 500,000 (National Geographic)

I Am A Revolutionary

Judas And The Black Messiah is an important film, especially in light of the recent news of the complicity of the FBI and NYPD in Malcom X's murder. That said, the movie is flawed, mostly due to making William O'Neal too sympathetic of a character at the expense of the depth Fred Hampton’s character deserves. (Hampton's political awakening and activism started at a young age, and he was only 21 when he was assassinated.) There's a powerful scene with Hampton talking about his time in jail, yet it doesn't have the impact it should. There's also a rather glaring historical omission, but I'll avoid pointing it out as it would act as a spoiler. Still, the acting is superb all around, it's well filmed, the soundtrack is perfect, and again, the story is an important and sadly timeless one.

Go Where The Action Is

Artwork by unknown

I Don't Want Your Millions, Mister

Barbara Dane is an artist I've been championing for years, though folk is a hard sell to a lot of my friends. Her album with The Chamber Brothers (from before they recorded on their own) and her own uncompromising I Hate The Capitalist System LP are favorites, and her work behind the scenes releasing music of struggle and resistance worldwide is truly inspiring (as is her own lifelong personal commitment to fighting for change). I am thrilled to learn that she's been working on her memoir via this excellent recent profile on her in the New York Times.

Victim Of The System

You can download this crucial track on The Message compilation.

À Bout De Souffle

"Between grief and nothing, I will take grief."

Film still from Breathless (1960)

Angels With Dirty Faces

Brooklyneeze is a living/loving archive for the County Of Kings. The people and the places; history, art, and culture; life and death. Then and now. Curated by a fourth generation Brooklynite. Dig it here.

Photograph: Larry Racioppo

It's About That Time

Sad to hear of the passing of Chick Corea. One of the albums that I used to lose myself in when I was young was Miles Davis' In A Silent Way, which he played a major part of. The album gets the dreaded fusion tag, but to me it's really psychedelic jazz, in particular the absolute masterpiece that is "Shhh/Peaceful" that makes up the entire first side. I can recall many evenings kicking back while slightly altered, listening with headphones on and feeling my mind being transported in a way that only music can achieve. Rest In Peace.

Away From The Big City

One of my pandemic obsessions has been "reaction videos" from this cat Jamel aka Jamal. I've truly enjoyed watching him get turned on to new music with a real open mind. If you watch in order you can see him discover bands that are new to him, and then they become his favorites; so great. (He also seems like the nicest guy in the world.) This reaction to "Heroin" is particularly heavy and beautiful.

Runnin' Wild With The One I Love

On this date 44 years ago Marquee Moon was released, a sonic masterpiece that's up there with my most listened to albums of all-time. I can still vividly recall when I finally got to see Television live in 1992 at one of the shows they did for their third album (which was released more than a decade after their sophomore release).

A Coney Island Of My Mind #23

One of the things I miss most in the world these days is hopping the subway and taking a solo trip out to The People’s Playground. Eagerly waiting to leave the tunnel and then riding along looking out the window at the city kid engraved rooftops, feeling my age peel away. (This always brings back a flood of memories of visiting my grandparents in Brighton Beach.) Once at Stillwell, it's a speed walk down the ramp and across the street, passing Nathan's (which gets hit up later), to the Wonder Wheel to buy a ticket for one of my favorite views in the world. Exhale. A paper plate of clams and a cold beer at Ruby's is next, followed by a stroll to the end of Steeplechase Pier to lose myself in thought... And then the day begins.