The Moment We Have Waited For

With their impressive 104 - 76 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night behind them, the Portland Trail Blazers are headed to the NBA playoffs for the first time since 2003. True Blazer fans, like me, have been waiting for their team to arrive at this moment for much longer than that, however. 

The last time the team was truly competitive was in 2000, when the Scottie Pippen-led "Jailblazers" made it all the way to the Western Conference finals against the hated Los Angeles Lakers. It was game seven in LA where the Blazers blew a 15-point fourth quarter lead and lost the chance to return to the NBA Finals for the 4th time in franchise history. From there, it was downhill fast. They were already known as the "Jailblazers" due to their collection of low-life talent, but now they were also to be known as losers.

But this team is different. It sparkles with potential at every position. The talent level is matched by the remarkable high character of these young men. Not a whiff of scandal or misbehavior. These are guys we've come to admire even as they have been losing. Their youth may offer inexperience, but the upside is that you can actually see the players get better and better from game to game. 

The losing days appear to be behind them now. This past month in particular, the young Blazers have been playing as well as any team in the entire NBA. I've come to see a team that is energetic, loaded with talent and depth. The second unit may be the best in the league. They appear to be ready to take on the powerful Houston Rockets in the first round. It will take their finest effort to survive this series, but I expect them to do so. I imagine most other Blazer fans do as well.

The last time I felt this good about the Blazers was 17 years ago. 1992 was the moment the Clyde Drexler-led team got to the NBA Finals against the Chicago Bulls. They could not defeat Michael Jordan, but they were an excellent team and the city loved them. Those years of Drexler, Porter, Kersey, Williams and Duckworth were magical.

The other team that we all love and remember is the 1977 championship winners. Led by the mercurial redhead, Bill Walton, that very young team came out of nowhere to shock the world and win it all. Their first playoff appearance took them all the way to the title. They created the buzz that became known as Blazermania and they solidified Portland's identity as Rip City.

Why do I reminisce? Perhaps its that this team, Brandon Roy's Blazers, remind me of those two other great eras. I find myself wondering if this team can also shock the world and get all the way to the NBA Finals in their rookie appearance. I don't doubt their ability any more. I expect it to happen, if not this year, then next year or the one after that. They WILL get there, and the world knows it. The question is when. I'm thinking we might be surprised by this bunch with how much they can accomplish right now.

Go Brandon, LaMarcus, Steve, Nicolus, Joel, Greg, Travis, Rudy, Sergio, Channing, Jared, Shavlik and Michael. I'm with you all the way. I have been waiting... for 32 years, for 17 years, for 9 years. I have not lost hope. I still see the visions and dream the dreams. I can almost taste it... Blazers over Houston in 6, Blazers over Lakers in 7, Blazers over Denver in 6, Blazers over Cleveland... LeBron James???  Rip City is alive. History awaits. 

Album Of The Year - 2008

Willy Snook, my friend and esteemed musician joins me in offering our opinions on the best musical recordings of 2008. I gave serious thought to NOT awarding a 2008 winner, a protest move to bemoan the sorry state of the music industry. I couldn't find an album that floored me. Maybe I'd just award "best-songs-of-the-year" instead. Finally, I decided that was a cop-out. I looked around to see what other critics were lauding, and found their "winners" to be mediocre at best. Maybe my tastes are too far out of mainstream opinion at this point. I found the winning releases by Coldplay, TV On The Radio, Fleet Foxes, Bon Iver...etc., to be lacking. A good song here and there, but not a great album of songs in the bunch. The Grammy nominees? What a joke.

This award is about our opinions, right? To hell with the rest of those fools. Through our exhaustive search for the truth, we discovered a few great recordings, and a few surprises that we find worthy of mention. By the way, all of the album titles below are linked to iTunes. If you want to hear any of the music for yourself, just click on the titles.










DON'S ALBUM OF THE YEAR -

Shearwater ~ "Rook"

Until recently, I had never heard of them. This Austin-based band has emerged out of the SXSW festival scene to establish an identity that reaches beyond their Texas confines. They are being noticed, as they were booked to open the show on Coldplay's recent international tour. So this might be the beginning of something bigger for them. Singer and principal songwriter Jonathan Meiburg's voice is just one instrument among many that color these ten tracks. A stunningly expressive singer, Meiburg reminds me of Morrissey (The Smiths) and David Byrne (Talking Heads), but his range probably exceeds either of them. Harp, hammer dulcimer, and a host of other interesting instruments join brass, strings, and woodwinds to complement Shearwater’s already multifarious musical core. Each instrument’s voice is a character playing its role in this tale. Every lyric and vocalization is orchestrated not just for the meaning it expresses, but also for what the sound of it communicates. These are hardly song-sketches; all of them are careful compositions adding new instruments, moods, and sounds around the anchor of Meiburg's voice. The edges of these otherwise lulling, hypnotic songs hint at danger and chaos, but only the brief feedback excursion of "South Col" pokes a hole in the album's fabric and hints at what more avant-garde threads the band might be capable of following. As impressive and uniformly gorgeous a record as Rook is, the band's best work is likely still to come.

Honorable Mention -

R.E.M. ~ "Accelerate"

Not since 1994's "Monster" have we heard this R.E.M. They seem to have recovered, finally, from the loss of drummer Bill Berry and rediscovered their rock-based roots. This is the band I flipped over while listening to my college radio station in Spokane. Peter Buck's guitar ignites each song. Mike Mills is a very-present second vocalist. And Michael Stipe? He's got a lot to say. I suggest we all listen. This album, one of their very best, works from start to finish.

The Infamous Stringdusters ~ "The Infamous Stringdusters"

I don't listen to bluegrass often, but when I hear good bluegrass, it knocks my socks off. This band prefers to be known as a "newgrass/acoustic" group. Whatever they call it, this young band is loaded with talent. Great singing and instrumental performance that sounds more like a bunch of Nashville veterans. No classic "Orange Blossom Special" here however. These are all originals. If you liked Nickel Creek, I'll recommend this one and tell you that these are better musicians to boot. Not one bad song on this record.

The Stills ~ "Oceans Will Rise"

As you can see below, Willy and I agree on this one. And it is only appropriate that a Montreal band is recognized on this blog, as we all know that Canada provides most of the world's musical wealth. The Stills are a good rock band. On this album, they sound supremely confident. While their guitars are front-and-center, vocalists Tim Fletcher and Dave Hamelin deliver punchy melodies and tight harmonies. This one gets played regularly on all of our iPods and in each of our cars. You should ride with it too.

– Don Woodward


In considering the Album of the Year for 2008, I considered many things: innovation, strength of musicianship and vocals, intelligent songwriting, and finally how much do I really listen to it. With that in mind, my awards for 2008 are:





WILLY'S ALBUM OF THE YEAR -

Mudcrutch ~ "Mudcrutch"

What does a rock icon like Tom Petty do when he’s seemingly done it all? Return to his roots and reunite his first band 33 years later in an alchemistic blend of old Gainesville friends. No Rickenbacker for him this go ‘round, Tom mans the bass and lets Tom Leadon and Heartbreaker Mike Campbell do what they do best. These guys don’t sound just like a Petty band, they have their own sound, their own “spook.”

"You wouldn't exactly call it a career move, would you?" Petty says "What this is all about is the music. Being in this band is so much fun, there's something pure about it.”

Petty’s music is the cool side of the pillow, a comforting hand on your shoulder, a reminder of what’s good in the world. The music, inspired by their early influences with today’s coloring, is fabulous. Think early Birds, Fying Burrito Brothers, classic SoCal country-rock band. Ten days at Petty’s Malibu home studio did the trick, with simplicity ruling the day.

"There are no ornaments," Campbell says of the music. "We performed without headphones in the studio, all live takes, playing in a circle."

What becomes very clear during your first listen is that they are having a lot of fun and they are really good at their craft. The classic “Six Days On the Road” screams “fun” and just smokes! Take a drift on “Crystal River” for a psych-jam fest. Want classic Petty? Spin “Scare Easy” and you’re there. Guitar showmanship? Try the instrumental “June Apple” or “Bootleg Flyer.” Takes you back. “Lover of the Bayou” makes you want to play your guitar… loud.

As I said up top, my criteria was innovation, strength of musicianship and vocals, intelligent songwriting, and how much I really listen to it. This is the one.

Honorable Mentions -

Kings Of Leon ~ "Only By The Night"

These guys were completely off my radar. I’d read a Rolling Stone article about them and was curious. Bought this album, and have been wearing it out. Saw them live at the Schnitz… they were off the charts cool. And guess who opened for them?!

The Stills ~ "Oceans Will Rise"

Wood turned me on to this very happening Canadian jewel. Smart prog-rock, strong guitar band, with great melodic songs. I listen to them a lot. Yep, they opened for The Kings of Leon and smoked it!

Jackson Browne ~ Time The Conqueror"

An old friend, Jackson continues to inspire. Current and heartfelt, this record reminds me that it’s important to stay passionate about life. Great stuff from a master songwriter.



– Willy Snook

Lucky Me

Sometimes the stars align just right. Sometimes we find ourselves in just the right place at just the right time. Sometimes we just get lucky. Such was the case for me tonight, as I found myself sitting dead center in the fourth row of the Aladdin Theatre in Portland, Oregon, with my beautiful wife, Beth, and my great friends Willy and Kate at my side. At just past 8:00 pm, the stage was taken by three angels from heaven, otherwise known as The Wailin' Jennys, from Winnipeg, Manitoba. The next two hours were magical.

This, the last night of their American tour, found them pitch-perfect and razor-sharp. The full-house crowd, clearly big Jennys fans, were hugely supportive of every song. There was kinetic energy in the room, as the band picked up on the fact that this was destined to be a very special performance. Yet during the songs, you could hear a pin drop as we all hung on every word and perfect note. They invited us to sing along a few times, which we all did enthusiastically. The big smiles on their faces reflected their joy at hearing us sing back to them. The sound, the lights, the energy, the moment... everything was just right. And we all knew it.

Let me tell you something. This band is really really good. I can't say that I've ever heard better live-performance singing, anywhere. They keep their songs simple, rooted in folk and gospel traditions. I found myself dazzled by the clarity of their delivery. Within the context of their simplicity, they displayed true virtuosity. In addition to their vocal miracles, each woman is a solid instrumental performer as well... bass, drums, guitar, accordian, harmonica, hand drums, they played everything well. They spent extra time on tuning between songs and between sets. It was important to them that each note was dead-on perfect. Their sideman, Jeremy Penner ("the boy jenny") added a beautiful textural element to the songs with his violin.

Maybe its something about Canada, where Bruce Cockburn comes from. Or more specifically, something about the Canadian prairies, where Neil Young and Joni Mitchell began their musical journeys. Whatever it is, these ladies have some of the same mojo going for them. Remember these names. Nicky Mehta, Ruth Moody, and Heather Masse. Each is a strong performer in their own right, but the combination of the three is much greater than the sum of their parts. If you have not seen them, I highly recommend them to you, preferably at a small indoor venue so you can hear every perfect note. They announced that they will be playing at the Sisters Folk Festival in September, so you fellow Oregonians might want to consider making that trip. In the meantime, their most recent recording, "Firecracker", may be the best new recording I've heard since the turn of the new century. Give it a listen.

Album Of The Year - 2007

In what has become an annual tradition, I join with my friend, Willy Snook, in offering our opinions on the best musical recordings of 2007. Its not as easy as it used to be. The music industry is a mess. CD's are dying as a delivery format. Download services like iTunes are in a state of uncertain transition. Its harder for independent artists to achieve a wide audience as record companies and radio stations play it safe with Justin Timberlake, Beyonce, Jay-Z and the like. At the same time, if you're willing to hunt around a bit, there are relatively undiscovered gems out there, waiting to be unearthed on MySpace or streaming internet radio stations like Radio Paradise.

DON'S ALBUM OF THE YEAR -

Wilco ~ "Sky Blue Sky"

By a nose, my winner for 2007. I've been keeping my eye on this band for past decade or so. While I've usually liked what I heard from them, there was work to be done to achieve an elite review. In the past, I felt they were a bit too sloppy and quirky. This record, their sixth studio album, changes that. They deliver a California-smooth sound with beautiful melodies and interesting lyrics of both hope and desperation. A varied mix of acoustic and electric textures, Wilco recalls the influence of John Lennon, Jerry Garcia, Ray Davies and The Allman Brothers. Frontman Jeff Tweedy is in fine vocal and songwriting form, and new lead guitarist Nels Cline adds a valuable punch to the arrangements. These songs hooked me, and I found myself appreciating them more with each listen. I somewhat consider Wilco to be the American "Radiohead". They are one-of-a-kind, and this time, they deliver their best work to date.

Honorable Mention -

My runners-up are certainly well-worth your attention, as really, either of them could have been the winner for 2007. It sort of depended on which recording I had listened to most recently.

Iron & Wine ~ "The Shepherds Dog"

Samuel Beam delivers his third and best album yet. More produced than his earlier folky efforts, it has the sound of a talented musician and songwriter coming of age. You've heard Iron & Wine on movie and TV show soundtracks, but they deserve a closer listen.

Radiohead ~ "In Rainbows"

Radiohead receives brownie points for their novel "pay-what-you-want-to" approach on the album's release, but the music lives up to the hype. This band is arguably the leading alt/rock band around these days, and this recording serves to enhance that reputation. Creative with a capital "C"... in a good way.

– Don Woodward


WILLY'S ALBUM OF THE YEAR -

Bruce Springsteen ~ "Magic"

These are tumultuous times. Times for expressive, creative thinkers to focus. Magic, Bruce Springsteen's most recent release, masterfully shines a light that helps us all see a little more clearly. Victoria Segal of the Times Online reviewed it beautifully: "A new Bruce Springsteen album is always an event, and Magic, his first with the E Street Band since The Rising, is no exception. It’s not, of course, the kind of event that you would dress up for: best instead you pull on something checked and work-worn and listen to songs that ring with a hard-earned truth.

After We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions and The Rising’s meditations on 9/11, if Springsteen was any more elder statesmanlike he would be off signing the Treaty of Versailles. Admittedly, Magic can be a little obvious: diner waitresses, long journeys home by the glow of the radio’s dial and men called Sal all appear. Yet there is a grandeur and intensity here that strikes home immediately, Springsteen’s lyrics carried along by the tidal instincts of musicians who have worked together for decades. Springsteen could make a drive to the dry cleaners sound like the Great American Road Trip. Sure enough, Magic begins with Radio Nowhere and a man lost in the dark of the “American night”. “Driving through the misty rain/ Searchin’ for a mystery train/ Tryin’ to make a connection to you,” he sings, and Magic is all about these missed connections and missed chances, the sense of dislocation that comes when love and morality spin out of control.

His manager, Jon Landau, has said that this is not a political record – aside from Devil’s Arcade, a lament from a soldier’s wife – but Springsteen is drawn to express the heart’s turmoil in terms of global chaos. Last to Die uses the fiery language of regime change to discuss domestic meltdown; Long Walk Home, fueled by Clarence Clemons’s saxophone, sounds like classic small-town angst, but there is an odd ambiguity to the courthouse flag and the neighbors on the street. Elsewhere, Girls in Their Summer Clothes is a masterpiece of regret, while I’ll Work For Your Love mixes the sacred and profane like a whiskey sour.

You could bite these songs as though you were testing a coin – not one feels counterfeit. As he sings on Radio Nowhere, he is “spinning round a dead dial, just searching for a world with some soul”. It is a lot to ask but once again, Springsteen does his best to fill that void."

It's my Album of the Year 2007. It's Boss.

Honorable Mentions -

Herbie Hancock ~ "River - The Joni Letters"

A very special, unique record in the contemporary jazz genre, this recording received the Grammy album of the year award. Deservedly so. If you enjoy this genre, and like me, you recognize the work of Joni Mitchell as genius, you will be challenged and moved by this collection. Check it out.

Original Soundtrack ~ "Once"

I went to see the movie. No clue about its storyline, just strong credible urgings from musical friends. At the movie's end, I was stunned, shaken, unprepared for the impact of the film "Once". A breath of fresh air in the world of predictable Hollywood crank-it-outs, "Once" is a fabulous movie. The heart of the film is the spare, earnest, original music. Glen Hansard, lead singer and writer for the Irish band The Frames, stars in the movie. Through his music, he lets us into his intimate, fragile world. Rent the movie, buy the soundtrack.

Eddie Vedder ~ Original Soundtrack ~ "Into The Wild"

Sean Penn asked Eddie Vedder to compose an original musical score to his film Into The Wild. Boy, did he. It is a very moving collection of acoustic songs together with a visually powerful film. Creative stuff from Eddie who played all of the many instruments on the project. Vedder gets bedder and bedder.

– Willy Snook

Waking The Blog... Again.

I don't know what it is. During the last two winters, my blogging activity has been zero. Its not that I can't think of anything to write about. I'm the Ideawave guy, right? I simply get busy with design projects, family activities and music, and the blog goes on the back burner. Well its time to end that now. This announcement will be followed by new blog posts. Its time to get back out there into literary cyberspace. Stay tuned...

The Right Answer Is... ODEN

Oden or Durant? The question has haunted me for the past few weeks, ever since the surprising draft lotterey where Portland learned that, against all odds, they were selected to land the first draft pick. That would be spectacular news any year, but this year's draft is not just any draft. This is the "Greg Oden Draft" that has been anticipated by pro basketball fans for the past few years. Oden has been annointed as the next great center in the NBA. The expectations are high that he will have a career marked by many championships and legendary accomplishments. This is probably all true, but the arrival of a "rival", in the form of Kevin Durant, caused many basketball experts to question whether or not Greg Oden should really be the first player picked.

Kevin Durant, in fact, may well be the next Michael Jordan. I expect him to match the level of LeBron James and Kobe Bryant as an agressive offensive force on the basketball court. He will be a great player, and I know that Durant and Oden will have many fierce battles in the years to come. Durant, wearing the jersey of the Seattle Supersonics, will rip my heart out on a regular basis. The Seattle-Portland rivalry, not much to see in recent years, just got a whole lot more interesting. I really like Durant, and I wish him the very best.

In the end, I'm very happy that Greg Oden is a Trailblazer. In addition to his athletic gifts, he seems to be a wonderful person. He's very easy-going and funny. He will entertain this town in many ways for the next decade at least. I believe the opportunities for championships will come in a few years. The Blazers have begun to build a foundation that is full of character and potential both. And I will be right there with them for the long, wonderful ride. RIP CITY!!!

Un-be-lievable!

You may or may not know this. I am an Oregon State Beaver. Yes I am. And today, my Oregon State Beavers baseball team have won their second consecutive national championship. Last year caught us all by surprise, but this year, in many ways, even more so. The Beavers did not have the remarkable follow-up regular season that many were expecting. In fact, they finished with a losing record in Pac-10 play and were the last team selected to participate in the post-season field of 64 participants. They lost their first tournament game to Virginia, and then, they never lost again. Ten consecutive victories over college baseball's cream-of-the-crop, including Virginia, Rutgers, Michigan, Cal State Fullerton, Arizona State, UC Irvine and finally, North Carolina. By the end, they were like a steamroller. They were barely challenged in their last four games leading to the title. Today's 9-3 win over UNC was a dominant display of confidence and skill, just like yesterday's 11-4 pounding. What a joy to watch the mighty North Carolina Tar Heels, standing on the top step of their dugout, watching the Beavers build a jubilant dogpile... just as they did one year ago.

The great thing is that this is a team of Oregon kids, local kids that played their little league and high school ball right here. Also, most of the team that won the title last year had graduated or moved on to pro ball, so with a small handful of returnees (only two starting fielders) they managed to climb to the very top again. I won't forget these guys... Mitch Canham, Darwin Barney, Joe Patterson, Mike Stutz, Joey Wong, Mike Lissman, Jorge Reyes, Daniel Turpen, Eddie Kunz and most importantly, Coach Pat Casey. I'm a little nervous that we might lose Coach Casey to the major leagues after this coaching performance. I think the Mariners could use him.

I'll be wearing my Orange and Black for the next few days and can't wait to get my own championship t-shirt. So anybody out there think that a three-peat is only wishful thinking? I didn't think so.