The Art Of Analog

Larry Mullen Jr on cover of "Desire"

Adam Clayton on cover of "Angel of Harlem"

Adam Clayton on cover of "Where The Streets Have No Name"

The Edge on cover of "With Or Without You"

As I was organizing some of my music the other day, I found stashed amongst all the other 45rpm records these four U2 singles from the Joshua Tree/Rattle and Hum era.  Back then, record companies released singles from albums and I had been a big U2 fan for as long as I can remember, so I got just about anything U2 put out.  Not that I've forgotten these songs -- in fact, I listen to the Joshua Tree album just about every time I drive through the California desert.  However, what I'd forgotten is the fact that these Anton Corbijn photographs of the band at the time were just phenomenal.  A Dutch photographer shooting an Irish band in the California desert!  These days, anyone can find any of these single releases on mp3 off Amazon or iTunes.  However, forever lost is the art of the 7" sleeves that is effectively a blank canvas for the artist.  Digital music had replaced the physical paper and vinyl that I spent $5 for each of these items.  Although vinyl seems to be making a comeback, I seriously doubt record companies are willing to put up the money to pay someone like Anton Corbijn for his images to be put on the sleeve of a single containing just two songs.  The return on investment is just not there.  In the meantime, I treasure these images that most younger U2 fans will never get to appreciate.

Marley (2012)

I have to say, I was a bit hesitant on taking the kids to a documentary film.  But Sam had been listening to Bob Marley for as long as I can remember and of course, JJ, absorbs the music as well just by being around us.  But this is a wonderful story about a man who simply wants happiness and basically, mankind to become one.  Like most, I am very familiar with his music, somewhat aware of his politics but knew little about his personality.  This movie by Kevin McDonald changed all that.  This movie is about a man who lived a rich life, not in the traditional sense -- but rich in music, rich in meaning and sense of purpose (and rich in mind-altering weed as well).  If anything, I can only hope my kids got a little bit of that as well from watching over 2 hours of a great story told with the ommi-present soundtrack of reggae music.  The first Bob Marley song I ever heard when they played "Jamming" on the radio way back in the Philippines in the 70s.  I can still remember the beat as hypnotic.  As a side note, I'm really glad, Laemmle Theaters opened in Claremont. I took for granted the art houses living on the westside and in Pasadena.  Since Marley is a limited release, I would otherwise had to drive over 40 miles just to see the documentary.  Instead, the kids and I enjoyed some Earth Day celebration music around Claremont Village just prior to watching the movie.

Photoshoot 2009

This was taken during a family photoshoot at the Pasadena City Hall grounds in May 2009.  I had restored Maura's Trek to its previous racing condition and we took several portraits with her favorite ride.  The seat, the handlebars, brakes levers -- everything is exactly the way it fit her when she last rode in it.  She owned 3 Trek road bikes the entire time I knew her but this platinum Trek 5500 was one of the first carbon fiber of the OCLV design.  The Spinergy carbon wheels were the first generation wheels back in 1994 as well.  Of all the things she owned, this one, I guess meant the most.  I can't even count the number of times I've disassembled, cleaned and reassembled this bike during her racing season.  She was the racer, I was the mechanic.  Someday, when the kids are tall enough, they can take it for a nice spin around town.

Intonation, Action and Playability

Setting up a guitar for the proper intonation, action and overall playability is one of the most frustrating experiences I have with electric guitars.  With acoustics, I didn't have to bother with it that much since I am usually pretty happy with the configuration of the instrument coming out of the store.  With electrics, however, there is the do-it-yourself aspect of Fender guitars in particular where a tinkerer like yours truly can swap necks, bodies, pickups, bridges, etc.  And of course with each hot rodding or modification, the guitar setup is the final indication whether I'm going to be happy with the final product.  So when I bought the Fender Marauder, it did come with this card from the factory indicating the precise setup at the 1st and 12th frets for strings 1 and 6.  There's got to be process in the factory where they can train anyone to setup any electric guitar.  Anyway, I do not intend to mess with the Marauder anytime soon.  It plays fine the way it is.

Jackson Pollock Note

I had bought this used book at Rhino Records in Claremont and is basically a collection of images from the Smithsonian Archives of American Art about "Artists In Their Studios".  Jackson Pollock's basic message is that technique is a result of a certain needs amongst practicing artists.  For some reason, I do find this statement very representative of that way he practiced his art.  Innovation, in many areas of everyday life, is typically a result of a need to solve a particular problem or in the case of art, the need to make a statement.  Several key words jump out that define Pollock the artist as we know from his brief life -- total control, organic intensity, human needs, acceptance.

Through Easter And Heading Into Memorial Day Weekend

I got this poinsettia at the grocery a few days before Christmas last year and if I remember right, this is the longest I've kept one.  I'm the worst person when it comes to houseplants -- I can kill a cactus just by looking at it but not this one.  In fact, I did notice a couple sprouts near the bottom so if anything, it's seems to be thriving.  Is it the lighting in the kitchen?  Or maybe it's the humidity.  Whatever it is, I'm determined to keep this one all through December.  

What's Inside The Briefcase?

I've only seen it once before on VHS years ago.  I vividly remember renting a copy at Star Video on Washington Blvd in Pasadena, watching it and there were several lasting moments in the movie -- Travolta and Thurman dancing, for one.  The kids had seen a couple other Tarantino flicks (like Reservoir Dogs and Death Proof) but Pulp Fiction is probably a bit over the top for them.  Maybe in couple years, I'll reconsider.  Anyway, tonight was a night I decided I was going to buy a Blue Ray copy of Pulp Fiction and watch it from start to finish.  My (second) first impression is that this movie has a really excellent soundtrack -- from Misirlou to Surf Rider to Son of A Preacher Man.  In fact, as soon as the movie ended, I ordered the soundtrack on CD.  Except, I had completely forgotten that I have all the tracks on mp3; yeah, it's been that long since I really paid attention to this movie.  Also, I don't ever remember that this one has an all-star cast -- literally Kietel, Willis, Walken, etc.  But what I don't remember at all is that the contents of the briefcase was never known to this day.  Of course, that's what makes Tarantino a great artist.