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I don't know why the Bruce Cockburn song title popped into my head when I was starting this post. And, what I am thinking now doesn't really have anything to do with the song - which I love by the way.
To me, the trouble with normal is that it is never precisely clear who gets to define the term and what exactly it means, and if being "normal" is even desirable. For some reason, I think normal gets conflated with average - like the average person does this or that - so that is normal behavior. The problem is that there is not really an average person - it is a construct. Like - when it is said that the average family has 2.5 kids... no family has 2.5 kids, therefore, there is no average family.
Then you have people like me who have constantly fought an internal battle of trying to fit in and trying to stand out. Are those mutually exclusive concepts? Maybe or maybe not - depending on where you are trying to fit in and what fitting in actually means to you.
Certainly, there is a danger - in trying to stand out - to be "weird" for the sake of being weird - which I don't think is a good thing - although admittedly, I have done precisely that in my life.
Also, can "normal" be a code word for excluding or discriminating against people who are different? Sure it can. White is "normal", straight is "normal", cis-gender is "normal"... Can "normal" also be a way for those in power to control the masses? Sure it can. Normal behavior is to work 40 hours a week, normal behavior is to buy a new car every 3-5 years (if not more often).
And the thing about that kind of control is that it can - at its worst - be self-regulating. Peer pressure (which while strong in school age kind - exists across all age classifications) seeks to force everyone to conform to some "normal" behavior.
So - to paraphrase Aaron Lee Tasjan... the trouble with normal is that it ain't no trouble at all. I don't have a problem when it comes to blindly trying to fit in... at least I don't anymore- most of the time...
We move along in our Featured Friday Playlist recap - today, songs 23-27:
23. "Bug Hunter" by Dude Safari
We begin this segment of music with the debut single from a new grunge pop band from Surrey. A really fun track, that I am happy to have in the playlist. Hope to hear more from this band.
24. "Salvation" by Megan Lacy
Next up, we have the title track from the debut EP by this Austin based singer-songwriter. A stunningly beautiful song.
25. "birds and the bees" by Elizabeth & the Catapult
Next up, we have an incredible track from the new album by Brooklyn's Elizabeth & The Catapult. Really great song.
26. "They'll Remember My Name" by Kristian Montgomery and the Winterkill Band
Next up, we have a track from Prince of Poverty. Kristian Montgomery was born in Florida and raised in New England. He has one of the more colorful stories I've come across, and I have come across some colorful stories. The music is powerful and speaks from the pain of experience.
27. "Alone" by Matthew Avery
And we close this part of the Playlist with a contemporary classical solo piano composition from this San Diego based composer. A perfect way to take us out of the recap and get us ready for today's shuffle.
"The Actress" by Tino Drima (from Suitin' Up - 2019)
First up, we have this pre-album release single from a couple of years ago by this Bay-area Psyche-garage artist. Cool stuff, and a favorite of 2019.
"I'll Never Be The One" by Teal Audio (from The Teal Audio Project - 2016)
Back in 2016, I attended a singer-songwriter show featuring some friends, and I met Rob Stewart who was there photographing the event. With some prompting (from a mutual friend), he gave me a CD of his own music - which was quite different from the singer-songwriter music we were attending. Now, Rob Stewart is part of the powerhouse Nashville glam band The Blam Blams. Anyway, this is a track from that CD he gave me that night in 2016.
"Fools" by Para Lia (from Gone With the Flow - 2020/2021)
This album was originally released digitally back in October to coincide with the anniversary of German reunification - which was significant to this band from eastern part of the country. The physical release happened a month or so ago.
"Leah" by Filthy Tricks (single - 2020)
Next up, we have a pre-album single by this hard rock band from the UK. Cool stuff.
"Sky Tourism" by The Academy of Sun (from The Quiet Earth - 2020)
We recently featured from new music from The Academy of Sun founder Nick Hudson. This takes us back to the most recent album by the band itself.
VIDEO PLAYLIST
NEW AND RECENT RELEASES
THIS WEEK
3/12 - Rylan Brooks - If Wishes Were Horses (LP)
3/12 - Peter Case - The Midnight Broadcast (LP)
3/12 - My Name is Ian - "For Love" (single)
3/12 - Victims of the New Math - The 70's Aren't Coming Back (EP)
3/12 - Lee Taylor - Wild Woman (LP)
3/12 - Bhopal’s Flowers - Astroemeria - A Journey On Earth & Beyond (LP)
3/12 - KAKY - Room 404 (EP)
NEXT WEEK
3/17 - John McDonough - Second Chances (LP)
3/19 - American Culture - For My Animals (LP)
3/19 - The Miller Test - "Eden Gaol" (single)
3/19 - The Dials - And Another Thing...bsides and asides (LP)
3/19 - Sylvan Paul - America (EP)
3/19 - Nashville Ambient Ensemble - Cerulean (LP)
3/20 - Sunny Gable - Contagious (LP)
UPCOMING
3/24 - Vinok - "friends" (single)
3/26 - Departure Lounge - Transmeridian (LP)
3/26 - Gracious Losers - Six Road Ends (LP)
3/26 - Without a Sin - "Colors" (single)
3/26 - Oliver Beardmore - "Fiesta" (single)
3/26 - Swansea Sound - "Indies of the World" (single)
3/26 - Jack Silverman - Now What (EP)
3/26 - Oliver Beardmore - "Fiesta" (single)
3/26 - The LA Maybe - Dirty Damn Tricks (LP)
3/26 - Casey & Taylor - "Post" (single)
3/26 - Cathal Coughlan - Owl in the Parlor (LP)
3/26 - Sunstroke Rain - "To Greta" (single)
3/26 - Modesty Blaise - The Modesty Blaise (LP)
4/02 - indifferentMonKeY - "God or Machine?" (single)
4/02 - Julez & The Rollerz - "Knocks Me On The Floor" (single)
4/02 - Elizabeth King - Living in the Last Days (LP)
4/02 - Dolour - Televangelist (LP)
4/09 - Dallas Moore - The Rain (LP)
4/15 - The Buzzards of Fuzz - "Lonely in Space" (single)
4/16 - The Brother Brothers - Calla Lily (LP)
4/16 - Stephen Flatt - Cumberland Bones (LP)
4/20 - Cricketbows - Raised on Rock And Roll (LP)
4/23 - DL Rossi - Lonesome Kind (LP)
4/23 - The Catenary Wires - "Mirrorball (single)
4/23 - Summer Sleeves - In the Throes of Woes (LP)
4/30 - Hadda Be - Another Life (LP)
4/30 - Nick Hudson - Font of Human Fractures (LP)
4/?? - El No - Nothing is Possible (LP)
5/07 - Manolo Redondo - The Lost and Found (EP)
5/07 - Benjamin Jayne - Theater (LP)
5/07 - The Purrs - We Thought There'd Be More People Here (LP)
5/07 - Ted Russell Kamp - Solitaire (LP)
5/14 - Soo Line Loons - Soo Line Loons (LP)
5/14 - Nature's Neighbor - Otherside (LP)
5/14 - Pikefruit - Inflorescence (LP)
5/21 - Moon - Shine (EP)
5/21 - Desert Hollow - Thirsty (LP)
5/28 - Sharone - Morbid Illusion (LP)
5/28 - Toler Gibson - The Days Before (LP)
6/04 - Lanterna - Hidden Drives (LP)
6/04 - My Name is Ian - Fantastic Company (LP)
RECENT
2/02 - Chris Donley - Please Agree (LP)
2/04 - Common Sage - Might As Well Eat The Chicken, We Won't Be Here In The Morning (EP)
2/05 - A.J. Croce - By Request (LP)
2/05 - Zadar - The Upstairs Room (LP)
2/05 - Vlaicu Golcea - HIKIKOMORI OST (LP)
2/05 - The Orchestra of Cardboard - The Antidote (LP)
2/05 - Peter Stampfel - 20th Century (Box Set)
2/05 - Ryan Allen - What a Rip (LP)
2/05 - Melting Mallows - Something Sweet (LP)
2/05 - Oh Ok - The Complete Reissue (LP)
2/05 - Emperor Penguin - Corporation Pop! (LP)
2/05 - Modesty Blaise - "Girls Just Wanna Dance" (single)
2/05 - Miguel Rios - Slaughterhouse Road (LP)
2/10 - Arrlo - "WFTWTE"/"LSD" (single)
2/12 - Beth Lee - Waiting on You Tonight (LP)
2/12 - Para Lia - Gone With the Flow (LP)
2/12 - The John Michie Collective - High Vibrations (LP)
2/12 - Joyann Parker - Out of the Dark (LP)
2/12 - Post Profit - "When You Think It's Right"(single)
2/12 - John Dunbar - Oh Wellness (LP)
2/14 - Arsenic Tea Party - The Really Not Good Times (EP)
2/14 - Danielle de Picciotto - The Element of Love (LP)
2/14 - Madeleine Mayi - 2/14 (LP)
2/17 - Alpha Cat - Pearl Harbor 2021 (LP)
2/17 - Distant Voices - Lights of the City (single)
2/18 - Gracious Losers - "Loath to Leave" (single)
2/19 - Grant Hill & M.O.S. - fly (LP)
2/19 - Keith Mosfet - "Now Your Life's Gone" (single)
2/19 - The Boys With The Perpetual Nervousness - Songs From Another Life (LP)
2/19 - Boxteles - "You Can’t Fall in Love for the Sake of it" (single)
2/19 - Witch - Introduction (LP - Reissue)
2/19 - Jon Randall - "Keep On Moving" (single)
2/19 - Miliano - "Runaway" (single)
2/20 - Léanie Kaleido - "All The Things I'm Made Of" (single)
2/22 - My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult -Sleazy Action (LP)
2/24 - Kid Hastings - "Backwards" (single)
2/26 - Lou McMahon - Pockets of Change (LP)
2/26 - The Red Step - The Red Step (LP)
2/26 - The Blue Herons - "Endless Rain" (single)
2/26 - Scott Robert Allen - Scott Robert Allen (LP)
2/26 - The Tummies - 9:30 Girl (LP)
2/26 - Nineteen Thirteen - MCMXIII (LP)
2/26 - Brian Bringelson - Burning Backwards (LP)
2/26 - Chicken Rich - "Hero" (single)
2/26 - Feral Ghost - "Roll the Dice" (single)
2/26 - Guspy - "STEEZ LUÍZ" (single)
2/26 -3/05 - Steve Almaas - Everywhere You've Been (LP)
3/05 - Brian Damage - Yesterday's Slime (LP)
3/05 - Jason Ringenberg - Rhinestoned (LP)
3/05 - Susan Anders - 13 Women (LP)
3/05 - Griffin Winton - "For My Health" (single)
3/05 - Dude Safari - "Bug Hunter" (single)
3/05 - Kristian Montgomery and the Winter Kill Band - Prince in Poverty (LP)
3/05 - Dolour - "The Day Tom Petty Died" (single)
3/05 - Elizabeth and the Catapult - sincerely, e (LP)
3/05 - Nature's Neighbor - "Monday Morning Drive" (single)
3/05 - Megan Lacy - Salvation (EP)
3/05 - Adeem the Artist - Cast-Iron Pansexual (LP)
3/05 - The Sails - Bang!: The Best of The Sails 2006-2020 (LP)
3/05 - Pentral - "Silent Trees" (single)
3/05 - Jacob the Horse - College Party Mixtape, Vol. 1 (LP)
3/05 - Julez & The Rollerz - "In Secure City" (Single)
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