Hooks and Reviews

"I need you Julie, I've always needed you" so says George Gershwin in Rhapsody in Blue. The sweetest kindest words that a girl can ever hear and, if not in person, than hearing them in black and white classics is the second best thing. Classics on TCM tonight gives me time to contemplate the variety of music that's influenced my year. There was Conductor/Pianist James Levine, playing his memorable music from An American in Paris this summer in Tanglewood, Mass. There was the music of Kurt Weill that I saw Pop Singer Diane Dufresne singing to. There was certainly enough international music to enjoy in 2005 - I have over 300 songs from 10 continents still trapped in a broken Mac logic board. There were the little-know favorites of local bands like 'Benny and the Frets' to New Wave tunes from The Fixx to peaceful vibes of The Bonnaroo Music Festival to thousands of independent niches from I-Tunes and Satellite Radio. That's really the true test of a good album, listening to it in a car. 2005 was a explosive year for exposure to hundreds of genres. To wrap up the year I invited Mutti to the Capital Region's second most listened to Irish Music band, The McKrells and Sarge bought me the "Walk The Line" soundtrack. Yes, even among modern rock, emo, folk, pop, punk, indie, rock, ska and swing there's room in my repertoire for underground Celtic and a little Cash. Who will be there to ring in the New Year in 2006? Unsigned stuff I hope, lots and lots of self-produced songs and unsigned stuff. Thank you Rolling Stone for podcasting.