New Music

A few weeks ago I was listening to NPR in my car. I have been listening to NPR a lot these days which is kind of ironic because I never did that before I bought my new car. Guess I am seeking more culture in my life these days. In the past I mostly listened to AM sports talk radio which is pretty mindless, especially in the market I live in. There just isn’t enough interesting material to keep things interesting.

So recently I have been dialing up the local NPR affiliate, WBFO 88.7 FM. That’s where I heard an interview with Nicole Atkins. I had never heard of her but she sounded kind of intriguing in the interview. Confident, sassy, strong voice and strong opinions. I liked those things about her, She sounded like what I would want my next girlfriend to sound like. And if she had a tattoo somewhere, practiced yoga, meditated, and wore beads and a peace sign, all the better. Truth was though, I had no idea what Nicole Atkins looked liked or what she was wearing. I only had my senses of hearing and imagination to rely on.

The music interviews on NPR are as informative as you let them be. In this case, the listener was treated to a little question and answer with some song snippets thrown in along the way. Those musical interludes were little more than teases for the entire song and entire record. But they were enough for me to purchase Nicole’s new release, “Slow Phaser” from iTunes. I think she will get a royalty from my purchase but with the current state of affairs the music business is in, I can’t guarantee it.

I liked the 30 second song teases that were played during her interview. There seemed to be something about her message and delivery that appealed to me and left me wanting a little bit more. When I listened to the entire recording, I discovered a sequence of four songs that was outstanding and could have held their own compared to the best of the best. One of those songs, “Cool People,” sounded like a Beatles song fresh off the Abbey Road album. It is that good. And the closing number, “Above as Below.” not only brings to mind the John Lennon masterpiece, “Across the Universe,” but it also paints a wonderful metaphor of heaven and earth.

Nicole Atkins and her “Slow Phaser” is the first music I can identify as happening after Coleen’s death. I’m sure there was something else but this is the first set of songs with enough impact to make itself memorable to me. The song “Girl You Look Amazing” will always remind me of a somewhat tumultuous relationship between myself and a very beautiful woman who recently entered my life. Not sure how all that will eventually play out, but that song will forever remind me of these days and Barbara M and how amazing she can look and be.

I remain fascinated with the songs on this album and how they are the first new music I have embraced as a widower. I have ventured to a few music clubs and heard live, local bands and have enjoyed that. But it’s not new music when I have already heard the songs being played. Nicole Atkins gave me the gift of new music and without knowing it, also the gift of new discovery. This music is new, different, after Coleen, and during someone new. Who is also new, different and after Coleen. I like to think that any new and positive discovery I make is a step further in my healing. It makes my journey more interesting and the letting go a little bit easier. Sometimes its new music, sometimes new people, or a new picture on my wall.

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