“Where does the time go?” is a question Kassi Valazza poses at the start of “Time Is Round,” one of many highlights on her recent From Newman Street album. I played the LP quite a bit in the lead-up to seeing her in concert on Thursday, and even before then, but it’s not the only long player that has had my ear. There are a slew of cool albums slated for release in the weeks to come that I’ve been enjoying for a while now, plus a few old favorites—and the new Kelsey Waldon, Every Ghost, which hit the virtual racks on Friday.
I’m listening to Every Ghost as I write, in fact. I plan to spotlight it tomorrow or Monday, after a few more run-throughs. Although I primarily feature upcoming albums and EPs from up-and-coming artists and bands, and am furnished preview copies (downloads, actually) weeks and even months ahead of time, I also have my favorites, most of whom don’t need the chattering classes to drum up attention. I still feel compelled to feature them because…well, I’m a fan. That’s what we do, right? We’re essentially evangelists for the music (and other things) we love. And this album, wow. It reminds me of the ornery outlaw music of the ‘70s and ‘80s—though, in truth, it’s not ornery, just hardcore. This is country music thick with themes of family, friends, foibles, regrets and recriminations, of looking back in order to move forward. It reminds me to an extent of several Hank Jr. albums—and not just because the cover conjures Whiskey Bent and Hell Bound’s.
When I re-launched The Old Grey Cat in July 2014, my goal was to spotlight new and old favorites, to delve into a recent release one week and a classic platter the next, to recap concerts we attended and, most of all, have fun in print. I walked down memory lane in my Top 5s and the Of Concerts Past series, and indulged my penchant for both history and whimsy. Most of all, I didn’t want—as happened with the original iteration (1997-2006)—for the blog to feel like a bore, chore or, worse, both. It’s why, for the next few months, I plan to add entries to my haphazard Essentials series. I need to change things up.
Is maintaining this blog a waste of time? Some might say it is. What’s the point, right? For good and bad, music is essentially free, so receiving review downloads, while cool, isn’t that big of a get. Though it chalks up the hits, a good day for me—300+ unique visitors—is what the top websites and blogs—and, now, Substack-subscription sites—accrue in seconds. Yet, if I can get just one or two others to check out the artists I recommend, then I feel like I’m doing something worthwhile. I’m a fan, after all, an evangelist for the music I love.
All that said, as much of a music aficionado as I am, I’m also an unabashed fan of many movies and TV shows—as evidenced not just by my decades-long stints with TV magazines (I was literally paid to watch and write about TV!), but by the hours a day I still devote to them. Of late, I’ve been indulging in an array of Nordic noirs and European mysteries, while also making time for old favorites. We just finished up 30 Rock for the second time. Is that a waste of time? Perhaps. But not as much as the endless social-media scrolling I do.
The Old Grey Cat 