By El Jefe
2017 was the year I returned to music as a source of pain
relief. It has been a long while, as I thought I could not find time for it. I
still have not gotten around to finding time for exercise, but at least I was
able to spend time with some great musical productions. It was actually set off
in large part by the passing of Chris Cornell. There is too much history for me
there, and this news cut me down. I listened passionately to my old Soundgarden
music, and expanded my knowledge of Audioslave, and even a lot of Cornell’s
solo work with which I was not familiar. Did you know he did a cover of “Billie
Jean”? I did not. Standing out here was the Audioslave song, “Doesn’t Remind
Me.” I think I will always associate this song with his passing.
This musical new beginning for me also involved
familiarizing myself with the work of Elliot Smith. I am embarrassed to say
that I was not familiar with his music before this year. I now add Steven Paul
“Elliot” Smith to my list of all-time favorites, along with such venerable
names as Tom Waits and Mark Lanegan. These musicians are, for me, the palliative
to a life experience that often feels like we are moving toward an unpleasant
end, but the darkness in it is a subtle beauty. This is something to latch on
to as we move through complicated days:
I’ll fake it through
the day
With some help from Johnny
Walker Red
And the cold pain
behind my eyes
That shoots back
through my head
Like Cornell, Elliot Smith died suddenly and unexpectedly
early. I am sorry I did not know him better sooner. This music expresses
magnificent and lovely anguish, and I cherish it.
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