“In the depths of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible Summer”
—Albert Camus

“I will train my feet
To go on with a joy
A joy I have yet to reach”
—Tim Smith of Midlake

Albert Camus and MIDLAKE and more cold rain – welcome to February. On the more positive side we are absolutely stoked about the new double in one re-issue of 2 JOHN LEE HOOKER 1972 classics. Mercy mercy a slammin’ raucous live set wherein John Lee took his band including his son Live at Soledad Prison to entertain an obviously excited audience of inmates and the long, way too long, unavailable studio session Never Get Out of These Blues Alive record with guest shots by Van Morrison, Elvin Bishop and Charlie Musselwhite.

Man this double CD sets the house on fire and simmers it down from the riotous live Bang Bang Bang (yes the same as Boom Boom Boom) to mournful low down funkyness of Bumblebee Bumblebee. It’s a natural born winner! And the there’s Midlake’s latest The Courage Of Others, a sterling shimmering plaintive gem of a pop record. Great song writing laid out in alluring pristine pop rock sonic garments. Not to shabby not too chic, simply tasteful well crafted and gasp!, listenable over and over.

We also have the sterling new CD/LP action from BEACH HOUSE for the pop rockin lovers in us and MONDO DRAG’s New Ritual for the wildly psychedelic nosier side of our brains. For the I want to try more classical but don’t know what to listen to side of our brains I’ve selected 4 new CDs to scintillate the traditional and not so traditional Classical seeker in you.

Beyond all that, it’s just music as usual around here, so many sounds so little space.

In the reminder zone:

Don’t snooze and lose – JONATHAN RICHMAN is PLAYING at THE HANDLEBAR Monday FEB 8th only $8. we highly recommend this as a chance to see and hear one of pop music’s most endearing cultural gems. A writer of clever and deeply profound songs with a unique spin on things-utterly charming, dare I say uplifting.

And it’s less than 2 weeks to Valentines Day. We have the music your special someone wants or maybe needs! John Coltrane’s beautiful Ballads CD, or a Beatles CD, or maybe an old vintage Molly Hatchet record. Oops maybe not, make that a Willie Nelson LP or a Classical CD or a Gift Card. Flowers wilt, chocolate goes, uh, somewhere, but music endures. Well I think I’ve said at least enough, so all there is to say in closing is COME SEE US.