Byrne/Eno, George R.R. Martin

I listened to David Byrne and Brian Eno's latest album, "Everything That Happens Will Happen Today." I've listened to it once, and I like it. After listening to too much falsetto, breathy and otherwise affected voices that the critics laud today (Bon Iver, TV on the Radio, etc.), it's nice to hear Byrne, well, sing. Not that he (or Eno) isn't without pretense, but I, for one, can not sit through another album of every song being sung falsetto. WTF?! Ahem. Back to the record, it's their first collobaration in 30 years since "My Life in the Bush of Ghosts," which I think is a GREAT record with its signature Eno soundscapes and signature Byrne polyrhythms. I digress, but I didn't realize until today that the album's name comes from a novel by Nigerian writer Amos Tutuola published in 1954. Anyhow, upon the first listen to "Everything That Happens Will Happen Today," I realized I was subconsciously hoping for "My Life in the Bush of Ghosts 2" or something, which is not what the new record is about. However, after giving the songcraft a chance to seep in, I think this will grow on me quite a bit. After listening to perhaps a dozen albums released in 2008, this and the Calexico album, "Carried to Dust" are the only real standouts so far. I have a lot of catching up to do, though. It's fun to discover new music. It's unfortunate we don't have more time to do so.

I've finished rereading "Game of Thrones" by George R.R. Martin and am rereading "A Clash of Kings." These are the first two books in his Song of Ice and Fire series. If you enjoy fantasy and could appreciate an adult, dark take on the genre, you owe it to yourself to read these. I plan to burn through all of them to keep the thread going. If you decide to read these, be prepared for unconventional plot twists, including protagonists and heroes (although it's hard to tell who is a hero sometimes) dying off. My favorite character hasn't died off, yet, but I'm trying to prepare myself in the event that he or she does.

I'm very glad I have music and books (and cigars!) to get me through these cold, Midwestern winters.