It's not that I just heard, rather that I'm listening to him now - a far more appropriate prompt for written refection than his passing - one more honorable.
Tim introduced me to the band about five years ago so no I'm not a lifelong fan but I may as well be. Big Pink was the first record of theirs I bought. A lovingly pre-owned copy, it has all of the pops and crackles that come with years of spinning. I myself have listened to it maybe three times. Predictably I will listen to it again soon. I will hold my own memorial service for one of he best drummers and singers of all time...
I'll be Listening to Levon...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uyLvo2CrkQY&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Thursday, April 12, 2012
I heart Ira
When I hear those four little letters WBEZ my heart skips a beat. It's not those characters on their own or even collectively, not the tone in which they're said but rather who is saying them: Mr. Ira Glass.
I have been listening to NPR for 14 years now and of those, I've been listening to This American Life for about half that. A couple of years ago I went through a heavy streaming phase, a very innocent yet borderline obsessive part of my life where I listened only to his cool introductions, narrations that have a bedtime story feel. Ira is like a wonderful author; each word chosen was done so in a meticulous manner, each one serving a very important purpose: to leave the audience eating tastefully dramatic bits right from the palm of his 53 year old hand. The hand of a linguistic genius. ;)
As per usual, when it comes to me and things I like, Ira has become a kind of human crack, a distant substance that I have been freebasing for days now. I blame, in part, this iPhone. Stupid technology. Making everything all accessible and shit. Not a good thing for those who have addictive personalities.
I have every singe episode of This American Life from 1995 to current. They say it'll take me 17 days to get through them all... I love a challenge. I can do it in half the time with eight hours at work and all night before bed.
I've been falling asleep to the sound of his voice. I wish I could make Siri sound like Ira.
I heart Ira.
I have been listening to NPR for 14 years now and of those, I've been listening to This American Life for about half that. A couple of years ago I went through a heavy streaming phase, a very innocent yet borderline obsessive part of my life where I listened only to his cool introductions, narrations that have a bedtime story feel. Ira is like a wonderful author; each word chosen was done so in a meticulous manner, each one serving a very important purpose: to leave the audience eating tastefully dramatic bits right from the palm of his 53 year old hand. The hand of a linguistic genius. ;)
As per usual, when it comes to me and things I like, Ira has become a kind of human crack, a distant substance that I have been freebasing for days now. I blame, in part, this iPhone. Stupid technology. Making everything all accessible and shit. Not a good thing for those who have addictive personalities.
I have every singe episode of This American Life from 1995 to current. They say it'll take me 17 days to get through them all... I love a challenge. I can do it in half the time with eight hours at work and all night before bed.
I've been falling asleep to the sound of his voice. I wish I could make Siri sound like Ira.
I heart Ira.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)