The writing is on the wall for the Summer of 2008, "the summer that really wasn't." Already the leaves on the patio cherry tree are staring to fall, and there has been an undeniable crispness to the air these past few nights. Granted this is New England I'm talking about, so the possibility of a suffocating Indian summer shouldn't yet be dismissed, but the present vibe is leaning heavily toward "autumnal."
I suppose I could lament the passing of the season, which came and went without even registering on my consciousness, but this is the first Sunday in a month that hasn't been marked by the violent thunderstorms which have rolled across the Northeast for the past eight weeks. The skies above the highlands are currently a dazzling blue, the sun is shining through the trees out back, and if there is harvest season tang to the air, it only strengthens the urge to enjoy it while it lasts.
With that in mind, here's a mini-mix of psychdelic pop nuggets ideal for lazy Sunday lounging on the patio, fire escape, or wherever the sun is warm and the breezes are cool.
Donovan - Atlantis (from Barabajagal, 1969) - I'd be able to listen to Coast to Coast AM if sounded more like this. A ladle full of dreamy folk-rock makes the paranormal bullshit slide down easier. My question is: Did Donovan's Atlanteans blaze a trail for the little people of Stonehenge?
Tommy James & The Shondells - Crimson and Clover (7" version) (from Anthology, 1989) - Better than "Strawberry Fields Forever"? Yes, it's the greatest pop song ever recorded and nothing you or anyone else might say will change my mind.
The Byrds - Eight Miles High (from Fifth Dimension, 1966) - Maura on the twelve-string guitar wizardy -- an attempt to emulate the style of John Coltrane's saxophone playing -- employed by Roger McGuinn on this track: "It sounds like the flickering of flames." An apt description, even though she really doesn't care for the song, or psychedelia in general. (It's okay, I knew she was a no nonsense punk/pop purist when I proposed to her.)
Sunday, August 17, 2008
what a beautiful feeling
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4 comments:
it's feeling very fall-like in michigan, too. thanks for the tunes, I've never heard that donovan track -- pretty great!
I'm inclined to agree w/ you on "Crimson & Clover." Aurally amazing song. I recently 1/2 heard a song that, I swear, stole all the chords & good stuff from Atlantis. Couldn't hear it well enough to find out what it was, just that I first was sure it WAS Atlantis, then realised it just SOUNDED EXACTLY LIKE IT.
Sorry its been a lousy summer over your way too.
I'm sure someone on TV said yeaterday (thus, it must be true, that Scotland has already experienced more than twice the average monthly rainfall for August....and we've still 11 more wet days to come.
Never heard "Crimson and Clover" before, but I definitely agree with your comment. I can imagine the Ramones and Jesus and Mary Chain doing amazing covers of it!!!
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