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I know for a while, I posted occasional rants/comments on the state of things - always with the caveat that I never intended or wanted E2TG to have a political agenda. As events unfolded beginning on or before January 2017, I felt compelled to say something. None of that has changed, but I have more or less stopped posting things on here. To be honest, I have been feeling completely disheartened. I am not someone who thinks everyone should believe as I do, and I recognize that when it comes to political opinions and social issues - many of them have shades of gray which somehow get distilled down to black or white positions.
That being said, when it comes to neo-nazis, white supremacists, mocking disabled people, science, housing children in deplorable conditions, calls to execute LGBT+ people, working hostile foreign governments to influence elections, freedom of the press - I believed that the majority of people regardless of political persuasion could be counted on to close ranks and stand united. This has proven not to be true. The callousness, the bald-face lies, the lack of compassion or even basic human decency is horrifying, and I feel helpless.
I am equally frustrated by the reticence of the House Democrats to take decisive action.
In the face of all this, when I see Democrats infighting and people saying they won't support this candidate or the other, I am doubly frustrated. I understand wanting to support the candidate or candidates who most closely match your values and beliefs. but can we not agree that any candidate put forth would be an improvement over what we have. Ideally, the primary is the time to support your best candidate and to convince others of your party to support that candidate. That can be done without demonizing the other candidates. Withing running them down and providing fodder for the general election if your least favorite candidate wins. I say, get a democrat elected and then fight like hell to convince them to always do the right thing.
Anyway, this has all taken a toll on my mental health, and to be honest, it should - the United States has children being held under deplorable conditions and some of those children are dying - meanwhile representatives of our government are arguing in court against having to provide basic care to these children. And, frankly if this doesn't have an effect on you, please look into why that is.
I don't have any solutions, but I felt I needed to get this out in writing. None of this is okay.
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Enough - for now - on with the Trending Tuesday Shuffle!
"Did it Again" by Warming
We start things off if with another track from the self-titled debut album by Winnipeg based Warming - which is the recording project of multi-instrumentalist Brady Allerd. This is just a great song, and a great way to start the shuffle.
"Animals" by Mark Cline Bates
Next up, we have another track from the excellent new album (due out this Friday) by West Virginia singer-songwriter Mark Cline Bates. The album is called King of the Crows. This song starts with the singer sitting on his porch shooting at crows that eat corn and live off the dead. Bates circuitous story includes stints living in Nashville and in California (before returning to his native West Virginia), having his first album produced by David Barbe (producer of the Drive-by-Truckers and a member of Sugar), training for the West Virginia State Police and more.
"Doing Things Different" by Bill Bloomer
Next up, we have the song we premiered last week - it was and is our first official listen to Bounty - the forthcoming new album by E2TG favorite Bill Bloomer. I talked a bunch about Bloomer in the earlier post, so I will just link you that post . We do have the new album in our playlist - so expect to start hearing more about Bounty soon.
"Don't Let the Sun Go Down" by Daphne Lee Martin and Raise the Rent
Next up, we have another track from Scared Fearless by Connecticut singer-songwriter Daphne Martin. A really lovely song.
"I Believe" by Reckless Johnny Wales
Next up, we have another track from End It With a Love Song by E2TG favorite Reckless Johnny Wales and his Trans Genre Orchestra. A beautiful love song featuring some fine Nashville musicians.
"Bribery Tactics" by Them Airs
Next up, we have another Connecticut band (after Daphne Lee Martin and her band) - Them Airs features Evan and Hayden of The Foresters and Cade Williams of Smokey the Firebear. Call three were part of Circus Propaganda - who we have featured. Them Airs album is called Echo Park Bomb City. What struck me - the other day, was recalling the extremely experimental nature of Smokey the Firebear (and some Foresters off-shoots) is that Them Airs seems to be a chance to take those experiments and put them in a (slightly) for structured setting. Or not... in any way, it's cool music.
"5:15" by Tommy Jones and the Troubadours
We next have another track from Tommy Jones and the Troubadours and their album The Truth Will Out. I am really digging this album, and I like this track a lot.
"Gone from Here" by Gary Daly
We close with another listen to Gone from Here - the latest album by Gary Daly (of China Crisis). A great ending to a very excellent shuffle.
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