Mazzy Star - A Rough Guide

   "Mazzy Star was an American alternative rock band formed in 1989."
   [Wikipedia]
     <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mazzy_Star>

   "When guitarist David Roback wraps his shards of feedback and drawn-out
   crescendos of re verb and distortion around Hope Sandoval's laconic vocal
   delivery, the results can indeed be trance-inducing. But their music is as
   much a disengagement from real life as an investigation of alternate
   realities, and the druggy states they evoke are comfortably numb rather
   than euphoric."
     <http://www.mazzystar.nu/web/biography.html>

   For a more in-depth history of the band, see this website:
     <http://www.mazzystar.nu/>

   The links in the guide below are to YouTube movies.  The band released
   only a handful of official videos, so many of these movies are fan-made.
   If the links are blocked, you can try listening to snippets of songs at:
     <http://www.mazzystar.nu/web/sound-clips.html>

   The "rough guide" ...

   1. "Fade Into You"
     <http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=IWvEXChflEE>
   I've chosen this song to start things off, as it's the song that
   introduced me to the band.  It was a "surprise" hit single from the
   band's second album, "So Tonight That I Might See", released in 1993.

   2. "Halah"
     <http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=nnne6N0c9ho>
   The opening track from the band's debut album, "She Hangs Brightly",
   released in 1990.  It was also the only single from the album.

   3. "Ride It On"
     <http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=8TSu4L9Nh94>
   Another standout, acoustic guitar-based song from "She Hangs Brightly".

   4. "Be My Angel"
     <http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=g7JQ0dM6VqE>
   Another song typical of the band's style, this time with some slide guitar.
   From the debut album, "She Hangs Brightly".

   5. "Blue Light"
     <http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=Jkm1Mp5Uyrc>
   Another solid song from the band's second album, "So Tonight That I Might
   See".  This is a very basic fan-made video.

   6. "Wasted"
     <http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=Glz6gyp7_QM>
   Every Mazzy Star album has one or two heavier psychedelic songs, in the
   style of "The End" by "The Doors".  This song from the second album isn't
   one of those, but it does feature some great electric guitar playing.

   7. "Into Dust"
     <http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=SiO_7LhPZFM>
   Another simple song from "So Tonight That I Might See", featuring Hope
   Sandoval's haunting voice over an acoustic guitar.

   8. "Disappear"
     <http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=sHk-J4I3Fjk>
   The opening track from the band's third and final album, "Among My Swan",
   released in 1996.

   9. "Flowers in December"
     <http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=uiEouyRrWII>
   The band didn't change its formula much on the final album.  But on a
   couple of songs, like this one, the first single from "Among My Swan", the
   band added some harmonica.

   10. "Look on Down from the Bridge"
     <http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=uqFEbT5DJF8>
   The closing track from "Among My Swan".  The use of an organ gives the song
   a hymn-like quality.  Hope's vocals are haunting and beautiful as usual.

The Garden of the Finzi-Continis + If This is a Man + The Truce

   I may not be able to spend as much time preparing book reviews this year,
   so they won't be as thorough or structured as I'd like.  The gap between
   reading and reviewing may increase, and I'll also probably tie books
   together by theme.  For example, the three books reviewed here look at
   plight of Italian Jews during the rise and fall of fascism in Italy (during
   the 1930s and 1940s).

   1. "Il giardino dei Finzi-Contini" ("The Garden of the Finzi-Continis")
       by Giorgio Bassani
     <http://www.amazon.com/Garden-Finzi-Continis/dp/0156345706>

   Set in the northern city of Ferrara, this is essentially a story of
   unrequited love between the narrator, a working-class boy, and Micòl,
   a girl from a prominent family (the Finzi-Continis from the title).
   Both are from Italian Jewish families.

   The narrator tells of a couple of periods in his life where he spent
   time with the Finzi-Continis: first in his childhood, then later
   when he was studying at uni.  Other characters include their parents,
   Alberto Finzi-Contini (Micòl's brother), and other youths they spent
   time with.

   Despite the differences in social standings, the narrator holds out the
   hope of marrying Micòl.  Interestingly, his chances appear to be helped
   by a ban on inter-racial marriages that existed at the time.  This
   should drastically reduce the number of rivals.

   The plot summary on Wikipedia is quite good and concise:
     <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Garden_of_the_Finzi-Continis>

   As you read this book you're aware of the tragedy that looms for many
   of the characters.  Despite this, it's an enjoyable read.

   A film adaptation by Vittorio De Sica won the Academy Award for Best
   Foreign Language Film in 1972.


   2. "Se questo è un uomo" ("If This Is a Man") by Primo Levi
     <http://www.amazon.com/This-Man-Truce/dp/0349100136>

   This is the autobiographical account of an Italian Jew (Primo Levi),
   sent to work in a labour camp within the larger Auschwitz concentration
   camp.  The author describes life in the camp - it's even worse than you
   would imagine.

   As in any "society", there is a pecking order, based not only on the
   type of prisoner (political prisoner v criminal v Jew), but also on
   which community you're from.  Amazingly, micro-economies thrive.  The
   unit of currency was a daily ration of bread.  Prices were set for a
   variety of goods and services: e.g. mending shoes, eating utensils and
   medical checkups.

   Given the gloomy setting, this is not an easy book to read.  But I was
   inspired by the way people could maintain their humanity in such
   terrible circumstances.  There's also the knowledge that the author
   survived the ordeal to bear witness to what happened.

   A more detailed plot summary and analysis (albeit in Italian) is
   available on Wikipedia:
     <http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Se_questo_%E8_un_uomo>
   (Try Google Translate or similar if you're interested).  References to
   parts of Dante's Inferno are sprinkled throughout the story, and the
   Italian Wikipedia article discusses some interesting metaphors.


   3. "La tregua" ("The Truce") by Primo Levi
     <http://www.amazon.com/This-Man-Truce/dp/0349100136>

   This book follows on from "If This Is a Man", and chronicles the
   author's liberation and journey home.  It's a long and indirect voyage
   (an "odyssey"?), filled with interesting episodes.  Apart from Poland,
   some of the places the survivors pass through include Ukraine, Romania,
   Hungary, Austria and Germany.  I've managed to find a map of the route:
     <http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/images/reviews/249/1219278786_1.jpg>

   Primo and his fellow survivors look forward to getting home, but they're
   unsure of what they will find when they get there.  Are they're families
   alive?

   There was a recent film adaptation, which was reasonably faithful to the
   book.

   For a more detailed summary and analysis, check out the article on the
   Italian Wikipedia:
     <http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_tregua_%28romanzo%29>

Grant Lee Buffalo - A Rough Guide

   "Combining lyrical excellence with an alternative folk sound, Grant Lee
   Buffalo forged an atmospheric texture that simultaneously evoked
   historic America and lambasted the political development of the band's
   homeland."  [BBC/h2g2]
     <http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A689123>

   IMHO, Grant Lee Buffalo was one of the best (if not the best) American
   band of the 1990s.  The band was probably unlucky to have started out
   during the height of grunge.  While the band could crank up the amps
   when necessary, the music may have been too understated and the lyrics
   too deep for the era.  But the timelessness of the music should see the
   band become more appreciated in the years ahead.

   The band broke up in 1999, but the lead singer and guitarist, Grant-Lee
   Phillips, has since had a reasonably successful solo career.

   For a more in-depth history of the band, check out the official website:
     <http://www.grantleebuffalo.com/>

   The links in the guide below are to YouTube movies.  The band didn't
   release a lot of singles, and record companies seem to be actively
   having content removed from YouTube.  This is a shame, because me
   waffling on is not as an effective way of promoting the band as its
   own music is.

   The "rough guide" ...

   1. "Fuzzy"
     <http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=HAQdvw5Ot_Q>
   This is the title track and a single from the band's debut album,
   "Fuzzy", released in 1993.  This is the song that introduced me to the
   band.  A friend bought the CD when it came out and let me borrow it.
   Critics were raving about the band, and in this case I could understand
   why.  Featuring strong song-writing with simple yet powerful melodies,
   this album became one of my favourites for the year.

   2. "Dixie Drug Store"
     <http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=T8mpTiWguKo>
   This track was a bit unusual for the band, using a piano for the main
   melody line rather than guitar.  The lyrics are particularly evocative
   on this track, with the singer relating a visit to New Orleans.
   Strangely, this wasn't released as a single, so you'll have to put up
   with a simple fan-made video.

   3. "Wish You Well"
     <http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=lyQkZFi-ITc>
   Another fan-made video for a great song from "Fuzzy".

   4. "Mockingbirds"
     <http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=2-JvciQfI5A>
   This is the lead single from the band's second album, "Mighty Joe Moon",
   released in 1994.  Another simple, laid-back song, with falsetto
   choruses and a great guitar solo.  This is the official video clip,
   directed by Anton Corbijn (U2, Depeche Mode).  When it first came out,
   I didn't think the second album was as good as the debut.  But over
   time, "Mighty Joe Moon" has become my favourite GLB album.  I recently
   checked on Amazon and I'm not surprised that of 43 reviews, 40 rated
   this album 5 stars (the other three reviewers gave it 4 stars).

   5. "Lone Star Song"
     <http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=D5v16s9mA6A>
   The band occasionally gets raucous, without sacrificing melody, as can
   be heard on this song.  It's the opening track from "Mighty Joe Moon",
   and was released as a single.

   6. "Honey Don't Think"
     <http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=y6TkVRzQRDA>
   This is the video of the third single from "Mighty Joe Moon".

   7. "Rock Of Ages"
     <http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=GRstRGetBgs>
   This is the closing track on "Mighty Joe Moon".  It wasn't a single, and
   so this is another homebrew video.  There are many strong songs on this
   album, but I chose to highlight this one as it is powerful and moving.

   8. "Bethlehem Steel"
     <http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=lKWiziLLdUc>
   The band released its third album, "Copperopolis", in 1996.  This was
   arguably the band's bleakest work, with darker lyrics and themes.  The
   arrangements were becoming more sophisticated (e.g. the use of strings
   on this song).  Apparently there were tensions within the group during
   the recording, and that may have affected the atmosphere of the music.
   But it's still a very good album.  This is a live version of a song from
   "Copperopolis".

   9. "Truly, Truly"
     <http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZzIHK9SWHc>
   By the time of the band's fourth and final studio album, "Jubilee", bass
   player and producer Paul Kimble had left the band.  The resulting album
   allowed a change of style, and "Jubilee" (released in 1998) is arguably
   the band's most positive and uplifting album.  This clip is a live
   version of the first single from "Jubilee".

   10. "Testimony"
     <http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=m3AtAAGvUqQ>
   This is another strong song from "Jubilee".  It looks like an official
   video, but I don't know if this was released as a single.  Unfortunately,
   the audio quality is not that good here.  I had found a better version,
   but it was recently removed for copyright reasons.

   In 2001, a two-disc compilation of singles and rarities, called "Storm
   Hymnal", was released.