The May 2025 Spin Challenge - Music, Music, Read All About It!

Day 11 - 33 1/3 Series: Court & Spark - Sean Nelson

Snagging the easy pick bcuz it’s still the only Joni LP I own. Man, I really need to fix that…

Joni Mitchell - Blue

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Fun fact in case you don’t know: the author of that book, Sean Nelson, was also the frontman of Harvey Danger, a 90s rock band that had a top 5 alternative radio hit with their song “Flagpole Sitta”. Great song.
 
Day 8 - Miles: The Autobiography - Miles Davis with Quincy Troupe

Wow, don't meet your heroes. Miles really tells us a lot in this book, and it ain't all pretty.

Play some Miles!

Fitting. We worked in the yard, grilled lunch, had a couple beers, and just when the sun is hitting the patio we came in to spin a couple records before a sunset cocktail. Relaxin indeed.



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Day 10 - The Real Frank Zappa Book - Frank Zappa with Peter Occhiogrosso

Here's a quote:
“A drug is not bad. A drug is a chemical compound. The problem comes in when people who take drugs treat them like a license to behave like an asshole.”

FZ didn't do drugs, didn't really like his touring band to do them either.

Play some Zappa

Zappa / The London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Kent Nagano – The London Symphony Orchestra - Zappa Vol. 1
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May 16th through 23rd

Day 16 - 33 1/3 Series: Chocolate and Cheese - Hank Shteamer


I love reading about Ween. I find them to be eclectic, creative, fun, edgy and brilliant.

Play something you find eclectic and/or really creative
OR
Play some Ween!
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Day 17 - Chairman at the Board: Recording the Soundtrack of a Generation - Bill Schnee

Super fun book. The man has worked with dozens of legends.

Play something with excellent production
OR
Play something from the 70s

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Day 18 - Bill Evans: How My Heart Sings - Peter Pettinger

This was a tough one...long stretches of Wikipedia type writing. But I love the artist and enjoyed reading about the gigs and all the amazing players he performed with.

Play an album with an all-star cast.
OR
Play some Bill Evans or a favorite pianist.

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Day 19 - Remain in Love - Chris Frantz

This was an ok read. Chris definitely has an axe to grind regarding David Byrne, at one point complaining about his high screechy voice.
It's definitely a love letter to Tina as well, which is nice I suppose.

Play an artist who isn't known for having a pure singing voice
OR
Play some Talking Heads, Tom Tom Club or someone that played at CBGBs

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Day 20 - 33 1/3 Series: The Moon and Antarctica

This was fantastic. I read it in two sittings, only because I wanted to savor it longer than one sitting.

Early on there's a story about how Jeremiah Green was told by an instructor that he was not any good on the drums and to maybe consider another instrument. Instead, he ignored the advice, got a kit and became part of one of my all time favorite bands.

Play something by an artist who has an untrained or unorthodox approach
OR
Play some Modest Mouse or another Pacific Northwest band

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Day 21 - Janis: Her Life and Music - Holly George-Warren

I already knew a lot of what was on these pages, but learned a lot more as well. I love Janis; she seemed to be a singular, exceptional woman albeit with some troubles.

Play something by an artist that can belt out some vocals
OR
Play some Janis

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Day 22 - Let's Go (So We Can Get Back) - Jeff Tweedy

Jeff is a funny guy, it comes out in his writing pretty well.
“I’ve heard people complain about my guitar when I play solo shows. “Why does he insist on playing that guitar? It sounds like it’s strung with rubber bands.” To which I say, Um . . . Shut the fuck up, get your own guitar and ring like a silver bell for all I care. I need a guitar with strings that don’t sound like a twenty-year-old who wakes up at five a.m. and has a venti iced Americano and is ready to seize the day! I need strings that sound like me, a doom-dabbling, fifty-year-old, borderline misanthrope, nap enthusiast.”

Play something fifty years old, or something with some doom-dabbling, or something nap inducing
OR
Play some Wilco, Jeff Tweedy or anything related

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Day 23 - 33 1/3 Series: Donuts - Jordan Ferguson

This was my second favorite of the series so far. (I've only read seven of them)

I wasn't very familiar with J Dilla until the last few years when I started paying attention, and I'm amazed at his influence and reach.

Play something with a beat you love (machine, sampled, organic, whatever)
OR
Play some J Dilla or someone you discovered way later than everyone else

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0 for 7 this round!
 
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