Gordon Gecko said “greed is good.”
I am aware of the fact that he is a fictional character, but too many real people in the world and especially this country agree with that statement… Well, agree and act on it on a daily basis. That is the problem with Wall Street, corporations, health insurance companies, politicians and even many individuals.
Making money is fine. That is capitalism. We need profits to fuel success and wages and allow people to live comfortably… and to hopefully fund generous donations to non-profits and environmental groups. But for those truly selfish and greedy SOBs, their actions serve one purpose and damn everything else that gets in their way. Look at what is becoming of us. Our country is in grave trouble. Our leadership cares about their own egos and re-elections far more that actual problem solving, and whereas even the most ardent one-siders would only blame the other side, it is hard not to look at all of them with regret and frustration.
I am a left leaning independent who is a domestic liberal and a world politic conservative. I have been truly lost at sea for a while, but as of late, I am disgusted with both sides and not looking at either as a viable landing-place. Things need to change.
So, no greed is not good. Music is good.
Phosphorescent – Here’s To Taking It Easy
This is another band that comes to me courtesy of my brother. When I stepped in Rob’s car yesterday he had already had a wonderful CD in the stereo… Badly Drawn Boy’s Is There Nothing We Could Do? which was inspired by the movie and serves as the soundtrack to The Fattest Man in Britain, a film I must now see. We listened to that for a while (delicious), and then I popped in Portugal. The Man. Rob immediately said Supertramp, which is a great comparison I missed. How could I miss that??? For this one, he said Grateful Dead, and he is “dead” on!
Phosphorescent takes the Dead, Jerry Garcia, New Riders of the Purple Sage, Dawes and all that warm Laurel Canyon sound and makes it their own.
Well, his own. Phosphorescent is the name used by Matthew Houck, and make no mistake, this is a one-man band… similar to Five For Fighting and Iron & Wine, this is singer-songwriter goodness. Toss in a little Dylan, Uncle Tupelo and Wilco for good measure and you get a great album I think you will really enjoy.
The opening track, “It’s Hard to Be Humble (When You’re from Alabama)” reminds me of a soulful Dr. John with a twist of Van Morrison, especially with those horns… It is a great way to start! The rest of the disc will not disappoint.
Today is the day we celebrate the worker, the laborer who helped build this country and make it what it is. We live in the greatest country in the world and we need to believe in that and make it so once again. Seriously.
Right now we are off on a very dangerous path. So here’s to getting back to what is important… Here’s to making the USA great again… and here’s to great music, which defines our very soul, keeps us moving and gives us joy and pride and hope.
Here’s to you. Happy Labor Day! Work it, baby… work it!
