Happy New Year!

May the new year bring you what you want but more importantly, may it bring you what you need. 

Peace & Happiness,
LaNita

Farewell 2016!

It's that time once again...time to say goodbye to another year. 

My year...

I didn't really get out to see any live music. The only thing I made it out to was Newport Jazz and Folk. 

I didn't really buy much new music. Off the top of my head I bought David Bowie's Blackstar and The Heavy's Hurt & The Merciless. Both good albums. In both cases, I still find myself going back to their older works. I also picked up SATE's RedBlack&Blue and The Broadcast's From The Horizon. I'm sure there were a few more but that's off the top of my head.

That's not to say I didn't buy music. Most of it was used vinyl or shiny reissues. Notable reissues...Led Zeppelin - The Complete BBC Sessions box set. David Bowie's Bowie At The Beeb: The Best Of The BBC Radio Sessions '68-'72 box set, Hunky Dory, The Man Who Sold The World, Space Oddity and Pinups...yeah I listened to a lot of Bowie. Temple Of The Dog - Temple Of The Dog...still love this album. Metallica - Kill 'Em All...some will frown, but this has always been my favorite of theirs. There were a few others I can't think of off the top of my head.

I streamed a lot of movies and television...spent a lot of time streaming shows on the Acorn channel. I only made it out to the theatre once and that was to see Captain America Civil War...I streamed a lot of comic book movies this year.

I barely touched my camera this year. I've just not felt the inspiration. It will hit again one day, I suppose.

My little corner of the blog world turned eight this year. I didn't think I posted much to the blog but looking at my archives I posted more in 2016 than I ever have...who knew! Overall, I felt more than a bit of apathy this year.

Enough already 2016...stop being obnoxious 2016...just be over already 2016...I'm done with you 2016...I hate you 2016. Various forms of this have been seen all over social media. Some in regards to politics. Some in regards to death. For all of the people who felt the need to chastise folks for telling 2016 enough already...we all know that 2016 didn't pick up an implement of destruction and go on some rampant killing spree. It's just a common thread expression in response to sadness, disappointment, frustration and anger.

Being a presidential election year, I couldn't turn on the news or visit social media without some sort of political experience. I would say that this has been the most angry, hate filled election our country has had as far as I can remember. It was sad watching people I know, reasonably intelligent, normally reasonably sane people, turn vicious and at times childish. It will be a memorable election and I'm sure the coming four years will see more of each side at their worst.

There were a lot of celebrity deaths this year. Yes, I know, there are every year. But this year saw the loss of a lot of people who crossed genres, cultures and generations. Below are just a few of the losses. 

• Alan Rickman (who stole my heart as Hans Gruber and kept it (Always) as Professor Snape and many other characters)
• Alan Thicke
• Anton Yelchin
• Bernie Worrell
• Carrie Fisher
• David Bowie (so many hours of listening pleasure)
• Debbie Reynolds
• Ed Harsch (the Black Crowes were a big part of my music listening...my concert going life and his playing with them was a big part of countless listening sessions)
• Florence Henderson 
• Gene Wilder
• George Irving voice of the Heat Miser (not a Christmas goes by without singing along with the Miser Brothers)
• George Martin
• George Michael (Careless Whisper is still my jam...anyone remember Wham Rap?)
• Glenn Frey (I know more Eagles songs that I care to admit!)
• Greg Lake
• Guy Clark
• Gwen Ifill
• Harper Lee (I don't know how many times I've read To Kill A Mockingbird over the years)
• Keith Emerson
• Leon Russell
• Leonard Cohen
• Maurice White (one of the first live shows I ever remember seeing was Earth Wind & Fire)
• Miss Cleo
• Muhammad Ali
• Natalie Cole (a childhood favorite...yes mom, I still sing a long in my outside voice)
• Patty Duke (I can probably still sing the theme to The Patty Duke Show...watched those repeats endless times as a kid)
• Pete Burns (You Spin Me Round is still my jam)
• Prince (this loss, I think, made me the saddest)
• Ron Glass
• Sharon Jones 
• Vanity
• Zsa Zsa Gabor

Peace to these folks who entertained me in some way and to the many others not listed.

To all of you who have stopped by my little corner of the internet, thank you!

Cheers,
LaNita

Goodbye 2015, Hello 2016

 

Another year has come and gone. Goodbye, 2015! Hello, 2016!

Looking back, I realize I really haven't spent much time in my little corner of the internet this year. It seems I spent more time just enjoying the simple pleasure of tossing records onto my turntable than blogging about the music.  I'm not sure what the new year will bring to my little blog. Beyond wacky musings and a fascination for whatever wonderful bit of music grabs my attention who knows what the new year will be like here at QNYC. Whatever it brings, I look forward to it!

As for music in 2015... I enjoyed James Bay's Chaos and the Calm. Dodge and Burn from The Dead Weather was a nice bit of work, my favorite of their albums...the track "Impossible Winner", so superb. Re-issues, I picked up the massive, gigantic, super duper, jumbo, deluxe box set of Led Zeppelin's Physical Graffiti...beautiful packaging on that one. On the flip side, the reissue of The Black Crowes first four albums saw the light of day on vinyl (finally)...they have ridiculous packaging. I could do just as well with card stock and a color copier at home. No effort whatsoever was put into them. At least they sound decent. My inner 12 year old is sad, Motley Crue have called it quits with their last show ever tonight. Who knew they would last, what, 34 years?! I really hope they stick to their ending. A lot of musicians left us this year. Two musical losses made me particularly sad, the legendary B.B. King left us in May. He was someone I grew up listening to with my grandparents, my mom, whose music has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. And, just days ago, we lost Ian Kilmister, known to the world as Lemmy, leader of Motörhead, they played rock 'n' roll.

Be safe. Be happy. And, may the new year bring you everything you need and allows you to indulge in what want. See you in 2016!

LaNita