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Well, I am officially off-kilter from all of the madness. I feel good that it took me this long... that's a joke... I've been off-kilter for a long, long time- but this morning, I forget to reset my weekly alarm for my radio show and thus missed the show - that is the first time that had happened. I am usually almost obsessive about checking and rechecking my alarm - but I am physically and emotionally exhausted this week. I am going to just accept that I needed the sleep and forgive myself for messing that up.
In any event, it is Thursday and we still don't have an official winner in the Presidential election. As I said yesterday, regardless, we have work to do as a nation, but I am not at all certain we are eager or even willing to do that work. It seems much easier to point fingers and place blame.
I do have to also acknowledge something I read - it is unfair and unkind to call for unity without also acknowledging the on-going inequality. I think - all of us need to take deep look inside. On a brighter note, it was good to see the gains at the state and local level for people of color, women, and the LGBTQ+ community. Change has to start in our local communities and neighborhoods - and I mean real change - where we listen to our neighbors and respond with kindness - even if it is a tough love version of kindness.
Social media can be a tool for organizing for that change, but I do not think it can be the forum. I believe this for several reason - the presence of agitators (or trolls if you will) who sow the seeds of acrimony and sabotage efforts at civil discourse, the ease in which hastily written words can by misconstrued - I have seen people who are on the same side of an issue argue in comments section because one misconstrued a comment by another or missed sarcasm or irony. And listen, I am a big fan of sarcasm, but I think one should be cautious using it in a public setting. We live in a strange time - where what is to me an absurd notion - is to someone else a viable theory.
Enough - we have music!
Today - we wrap up our recap of this week's Playlist and can I point out again how good this week's list turned out - just take a look at the amazing songs that show up today to close out the list... Songs 25-29
25. "Dark Room" by Evan Isaac
We start things off with a new single from Pittsburgh based singer-songwriter Evan Isaac - from his forthcoming album Dogwood Dignitaries Listen to the Baby. Really cool sound. I look forward to hearing more.
26. "Choices We Make" by Richard X. Heyman
Next up, we have the brand new single from power pop icon Richard X. Heyman - of The Doughboys. Heyman's solo career began in the late 80s. This is a fantastic song.
27. "Quite Alright" by Wheeler Del Torro (feat. Sidney Washington)
Next up, a powerful song featuring producer, musician, and DJ Wheeler Del Torro and singer Sidney Washington. This is the original track from a collection of remixes by Doug Gomez and Paul Adams. A wonderful addition to the Playlist.
28. "I Walked Away" by Strays Don't Sleep
Strays Don't Sleep are up next with their second release the EP A Short Film for a Long Story. The EP comes 15 years after the first album by the ambient folk band based in Nashville and featuring Matthew Ryan and Neilson Hubbard. Damn this is a great song.
29. "Hammer Hall" by The Wake
Columbus, Ohio based The Wake are back with their first album in 25 years -Perfumes and Fripperies. If I had heard this prior to reading the press release, I might have been convinced I was hearing a great lost bit of 80s goth awesomeness. It is vintage sounding in all the right ways. And a great way to close out another fantastic Featured Friday Playlist.
Tomorrow - we are back with another brand new Featured Friday Playlist. By the way, thanks to everyone who is Following the playlist on Spotify. If you aren't, please consider it, thanks.
Featured Friday Playlist
