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Good in 10 (2002 version)

The inspiration for “Good in 10” was a playlist I made in 2002. Around that time I started an mp3 music blog and what follows is the inaugural post (with minor edits). It’s interesting to see how my tastes have both changed and stayed pretty much the same. Here is the 2002 version of “Good in 10.”

In November of 2002, a few friends and I each agreed to form a list of 10 songs. The songs could be formative, addictive, whatever—but the list was to epitomize each person’s idea of “good music” and had to include at least one track released in 2002. If i were to do this again i’m sure the list would look different, but here’s the list and notes and you can listen online here: bit.ly/goodin10-2002.

Anisette – June of 44 (1996)
Tropics & Meridians

Tell all the people that he’s fine
So fine, he’s fine, so fine

June of 44 helped me cross the sea of Heavy Metal and “Alternative” genres to the greener pastures of indie-rawk. In 1994 my best friend Markus Lunkenheimer introduced me to June of 44 (then Rodan) and (Steve Albini’s) Shellac. This was the most aggressive but dynamic and sonicly rich music i had heard. This particular song is incredible to listen to on walkman while walking – the groove is such a pushing and pulling (oh my i love it!) I love how they juxtapose the two guitars and bass with similar (but different) loops that mix and mingle. the quietness and the screaming – the anxiety and the peace…

Cut Your Hair – Pavement (1994)
Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain

I remember lying
I don’t remember a line
I don’t remember a word
But I don’t care, I care, I really don’t care
Did you see the drummer’s hair?

At the time i heard this record i was listening to a lot of more ‘heavy’ groups and some jazz. My friend Jim brought this CD along with us on a road trip from Ames, Iowa to Eureka, California. Pavement’s catchy hooks and good humor kept me going on the road. i must have listened to the tape i dubbed of this a hundred million times walking across campus and singing to myself in the car. Listening through it the other day i guess i was singing along pretty loud… my boss walked in and i realized that i was basically belting it out.

I Was A Stranger – Smog (1997)
Red Apple Falls

Why do you women in this town
Let me look at you so bold?
You should have seen what I was
In the last town

For a depressing year this album was my life. Not only do i love pedal-steel guitar – Bill Callahan (Smog) always seems to sing what i would sing if i were blatantly honest and unredeemed. Here he makes an interesting statement: it’s worse to be well-known than it is to be a stranger…

New Partner – Palace Music (1995)
Viva Last Blues

Now you’ll haunt me, you’ll haunt me
‘Til I’ve paid for what i’ve done
It’s a payment which precludes the having of fun

My studio mate gave me a mix tape that had a song called ‘come little dog’ by The Palace Brothers which didn’t stand out a great deal to me at the time, but later that year i was flipping through records and saw this album and picked it up out of name recognition. Now Will Oldham (AKA: Palace Brothers, Palace Music, Bonny ‘Prince’ Billy) is my all-time favorite artist. I love how Will’s lyrics create a visual picture in my mind’s eye, and the chorus melody and harmony are both a treat to sing along with.

Pretty Eyes – Silver Jews (1996)
The Natural Bridge

I believe that stars are the headlights of angels
Driving from heaven to save us, to save us
Look in the sky
They’re driving from heaven into our eyes

David Berman, singer/songwriter for Silver Jews writes the most beautiful, touching, and tragic lyrics. This song and album kicked off for a period where I started thinking about music at the level of the ‘song’ – rather than: hook, voice, riff, instrumentation, lyric. Something about the rambling connections that the lyrics make through this song endears it to me. David has a way of taking cliches and putting them to use – poking fun at the shallow nature of cliches while acknowledging the power that the phrases wield.

The Shortest Distance Between Two Points Is a Straight Line – Simon Joyner (1993)
Room Temperature

The light bulb above your head has burned out
We hope that doesn’t mean you’re uninspired
All your bright ideas are
Now suffering in the dark

This is the album brought me out of pop music. Was lucky enough to borrow this tape when i was still hungry for DIY musicians. Simon and his friend Chris ran a tape-label called ‘Sing Eunuchs!’ in Omaha. I used to send them tapes of my music in hopes of getting distribution. Chris and Simon always wrote encouraging letters in reply even when (as i look back) most of what i sent them was formative at best.

Magazine – Pedro the Lion (2002)
Control

Oh look you earned your wings
Are you an angel now, or a vulture?
Constantly hovering over
Waiting for a big mistake

I began hearing about David Bazan within Christian circles in 1998 but at the time was sorely disappointed with all Christian music and had only a passing interest. In late 1999 i went by myself to see Pedro The Lion (David’s band) at Schubas before i had ever heard his music. I was blown away. The lyrics were honest and the music was tight. Pedro has gone from small shows at Schubas to packing the Metro and the music just keeps getting better. This is my favorite track from their newest. David has a way of using sarcasm to communicate truth to the cynical and pessimistic.

Once – Richard Buckner (1998)
Since

Even my heroes are almost gone
Almost folding from the flame
But how low can your fuse glow and warm you
until your torch begins to fade
?

I first encountered Richard Buckner when i was reviewing CDs for my college radio station. There was a ‘reject’ bin that was free for the taking so i would grab about 20 every time i went in (most ending up back in the reject pile.) One reject batch included Buckner’s album ‘Devotion + Doubt’ – which really threw me for a loop. it was clearly country music, but had what I considered to be a higher level of musicianship and lyrics/writing than I would have previously connected to the country genre. it became a guilty pleasure of mine – what I was then calling indie-country (and now refer to as ‘insurgent country’). this song is an example of what i like Buckner for: impossibly sad- moody lyrics, melody driven tunes, great musicianship, country twang. His show at Schubas was incredible in 2000.

Over The Ocean – Low (1996)
The Curtain Hits the Cast

If I belong, then I’ll be longer than expected
And if I’m wrong, the mighty and strong will be rejected

So smooth, so slow… sweet harmonies and a sadness that’s not devoid of hope. Basically, this song gives me the shivers i find it so beautiful.

Autumn Leaves – Cannonball Adderly (1958)
Somethin’ Else (with Miles Davis, John Coltrane)

I went through a big jazz phase for a few years (94-97) but don’t listen to it much anymore. this song is one of my favorites. I always want to hear it near the first snowfall of the year. something about the melody here that gets me going. the line-up on this is like late 50s jazz all stars. When these three were playing together—magic.

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Poem: The Celebration

The Celebration

Coyotes are celebrating
a fresh kill

on the hillside up from
my bedroom window.

The frenetic loops
snuck into my dream

a record skipping,
the volume too high

on a soundtrack
of horror-movie knives

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Song: Can’t Ignore

Written over several days worth of yard work, a couple of nighttime scribbles, and three afternoons helping direct parking—singing into an empty parking lot.

This first draft recording was made with just me and the guitar in the dining room, direct into a stereo mic on the evening of June 19, 2023.


Can’t Ignore

I’m not gonna lay down and die
I’ve tried to buy my way out
of the heartache and doubts
It ain’t happening

I’m not gonna crawl in a hole
Smoke my way through
every memory of you
It ain’t happening

I don’t have much hope
but i got me this seed and it’s starting to grow
I don’t have much faith
but I’m pressing on toward
what I can’t ignore—help me

I’m not gonna keep it inside
Pretend I agree
or like through my teeth
It ain’t happening

I’m not gonna call it all off
drown in my regrets
you’re gonna see my strength yet—help me

Cause I don’t have much hope
but i got me this seed and it’s starting to grow
I don’t have much faith
but I’m pressing on toward
what I missed before—help me

I’m pressing on toward
what I can’t ignore
Help me

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Song: Here

This song was written pretty much in two sittings. I am not a real banjo player, but the banjo was in my hands when the words came and I’m glad it was. This is the second draft of the song, recorded live into my phone on the deck of our place in Western North Carolina as the fog rolled in on the morning of June 2, 2023. Splint the rooster provided a few notes on this one too.


Here (with you)

I was out of my mind when I called you
but I cried and I stuttered it out
Fell asleep in my tears and when morning appeared
slipped my boots on and stumbled out

The light fell on me like a blanket
and peace was above and below
In the whispering trees
and the honking of geese
and the treetops aglow

I never expected to be here
’cause I heard there’s no going back
I never imagined I’d find you in the mountains
after all these years

Holy, holy
your holiness is drawing me in

Mercy, mercy
I have nothing to offer you

Softly, softly
you are whispering to me

With you, with you
I am glad to be here

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Recipe: Cast Iron Skillet Pizza

Ever since we moved to the country, I’ve been refining my home-made pizza process. I’ve finally documented the recipes and instructions for making dough, sauce, and cooking it all up to perfection. I hope you enjoy making and eating it as much as we do!

DOUGH INGREDIENTS

  • 5 grams (2 tsp) dry active yeast
  • 625 grams (4.5 Cups) all-purpose flour, plus extra for kneading
  • 5 grams (2 tsp) salt
  • 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) olive oil
  • Extra olive oil for coating dough

COOK INGREDIENTS

  • Finely chopped or sliced garlic
  • Olive Oil for coating pan and drizzling on dough
  • Pizza sauce and toppings

DOUGH STEPS

  1. Put 1 3/4 cups lukewarm water in a stand mixer bowl. Sprinkle yeast over water and let dissolve, about 2 minutes.
  2. Add flour, salt and olive oil and mix/knead in a stand mixer for about 5 minutes.
  3. Lightly dust a work surface with flour. Turn dough out onto surface and knead lightly until it looks smooth, a couple minutes.
  4. You have a choice at this point to either cut the dough to weight before putting in the fridge, or putting all the dough in the fridge and cutting to weight after it’s risen. Your total dough weight for this recipe will be around 1000 grams.

    Dough weight per pan size
    • 12″ pan – 350g
    • 10.5″ pan – 260g
    • 9.5″ pan – 210g

  5. Lightly coat dough (or individual dough pieces) in olive oil and place in a sealed container with room to double and refrigerate for several hours or (for best results) overnight.

PIZZA SAUCE
For pizza sauce, I either buy a jar at the store or make something really simple by mixing up something like what’s below and heating it up, simmering a bit.

  • 6oz tomato paste
  • 15oz tomato sauce (pasada, etc)
  • 2 tsp olive oil
  • 1-2 Tbsp oregano
  • 2 Tbsp italian seasoning
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp onion powder
  • crushed red pepper to taste
  • salt to taste

PIZZA COOKING STEPS

  1. Take dough out of refrigerator for 1-2 hours before cooking. (2 hours if you didn’t cut it to weight before refrigerating – cut to weight after it’s warm).
  2. Put iron pans in the oven and heat to 450°F. When pans are hot, put a bit of olive oil in the pan, and take the appropriately-sized dough ball and form the dough into its matching pan. Drizzle olive oil and some fresh garlic and a bit of salt on top of dough and cook in oven for about 5 minutes, or until the top of the dough is no longer doughy (has formed a “shell”).
  3. Pull pizza pan from oven and top with toppings. Be sure to put a fair amount of mozzarella cheese around the edge of the dough where it meets the iron pan. This will become caramelized and will be delicious. Advice: don’t overdo the cheese, it’s the mistake we make most often.
  4. Cook the pizzas until the top cheese is golden brown all around and edge cheese is caramelized. Pizza should be firm enough to slide out of the pan onto a cutting board or plate to cut and serve.

OUR FAVORITE PIZZA TOPPINGS

  • Fresh Basil
  • Italian sausage crumbles (cooked)
  • Pepperoni
  • Sauteed shrimp (olive oil, garlic, smoked paprika, salt)
  • Fresh garlic
  • Bacon bits
  • Ham bits
  • Olives
  • Mushrooms (fresh or sauteed)
  • Mozzarella
  • Crushed red pepper
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