A THANKSGIVING IN PRAGUE
Before you ask, no, there is no Thanksgiving (or even equivalent) holiday here in Prague. They got the majors though: Christmas, Easter, multiple independence days, so when my wife and I decided to move to Prague we talked about how we would continue to celebrate some of our homeland’s annual festivities, or even if we wanted to continue to do so.
Thanksgiving was one such holiday we talked about just leaving in America given the real historic nature of the holiday has essentially been white-washed in order to sell more turkeys, and prime the pumps for the consumption madness of the American holiday season.
That, and I’m vegan, so Thanksgiving doesn’t thrill me that much, food wise.
However, my wife’s lovely group of American expat, teacher coworkers invited us to a “Friendsgiving,” (Thanksgiving with friends instead of family) weeks ahead of the celebration in America, and I said, “yes, I’d like to go to that.”
It was a potluck, so as is standard for us at this point, we bring the vegan option that we assume we’ll be eating ourselves, but to our surprise our host had prepared some vegan mashed potatoes that were exquisite.
Some of the invited Czech friends, who must think us Americans are all out of our minds with our weird, bird-focussed holiday, actually brought a massive, prepared turkey. Where they found such a thing in Prague I have no idea, but the idea of them lugging this fully cooked bird on the public transit to the American’s party puts a smile on my face.
All that to say, this was a unique and pleasurable way to celebrate a holiday, one steeped in Americanisms, while very far removed from the land it came from.
Pour one out for that Czech turkey, though.
ROLLING STONE MAGAZINE’S TOP 500 ALBUMS
OF ALL TIME
Feeling like I need some fresh creative energy in my life, I’ve decided to listen to every album from Rolling Stone’s “The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time” list, updated last in 2020.*
I thought about listening to the publications Top Punk Rock and Top Heavy Metal albums but those felt to comfortable and familiar to me despite both lists have many entries I’ve not heard before. Giving the 500 list a cursory once over glance it contains vastly more albums I’ve never heard, or, even heard of.
My rules for this list are simple:
After my initial glance at the list I will not skip ahead, only to see what the next album is, though I have a good idea of what the top spots will be.
I will not skip any albums, even if I’ve heard them. Even if it’s a band or artist I don’t like.
I might not listen to any album everyday, but the days I do I’ll only listen to one album from the list.
I will track each album and write a brief feeling or insight about it and collect said thoughts in my weekly newsletter (of which you’re reading now).
As of this newsletter’s release I’ve listened to:
500: Arcade Fire - “Funeral” (2004)
I always find the the last entry on lists to be the most interesting pick, from a decision making point of view at least, especially for a list as cumbersome as this one. How did they land on this one for the final place? What was the 501st pick? The bulk of this list could probably be moved around interchangeably but somebody made a deliberate decision to place this one at 500.
That being said, I was familiar with the name “Arcade Fire” and that they were (are?) Indie Rock scene darlings, so I was prepared for a Naughties-era, car commercial soundtrack but was surprised at the amount of emotion on this album. It’s easy to hear how, I assume, they launched an entire wave of Hipster Indie Rock into existence.
499: Rufus Featuring Chaka Khan - “Ask Rufus” (1977)
This is probably the most “Smooth/Light” Jazz I’ve ever listened to at one time, in, well, ever. I have to say… it still doesn’t do much for me. The songs are played well and Chaka has a tremendous voice so I see why it’s included on this list.
Maybe it’s the dated sound, or the inherent cheesiness of stuff from the 70’s, let alone Smooth Jazz from the 70’s, but I didn’t take much away from this album.
498: Suicide - “Suicide” (1977)
Juxtoposed with the previous entry, which was also released in 1977, it’s hard to believe these albums both came from the same planet. Rufus’s Smooth Jazz, mellow vibes seems so safe and sparkly compared to the syth-punk, noisy ramblings, and bleak soundscape of this Suicide album’s madness. I had to listen to this one twice just to make sure I was hearing what I thought I was.
497: Various Artists - “The Indestructible Beat of Soweto” (1985)
Do you remember the “world” music room at Tower Records? Do you remember Tower Records? This album is what I imagine, I imagined was in the world music room in Tower Records in the early Naughts: tribal, rhythmic beats, wild, foreign, fast singing, noises made by some mystery instrument.
In actuality, it is that, kind of, but much more poppier, with some Bluegrass swing, electronic flourishes, and even a robot voice. I appreciate it’s eclectic yet catchy demeanor.
*Sidenote, the list was brought to my attention via the Creative Pep Talk Podcast, by Andy Pizza, a show that inevitably manages to give me a smack in the face when I succumb to creative hysterics.
SPEAKING OF LISTS
It’s far past when I should be starting on my favorite of annual traditions: the culling, weeding, and populating of my “Best Albums of The Year” lists.
I spend more time on this list than most things because I fucking love year-end list season. I scour them all, seeking out overlooked and under appreciated albums from the year. They serve as a way for me catch up on the other genres of music that I’m not as steeped in, or even areas I am as there’s just so much music these days it’s impossible to even scratch the surface of what’s out there.
It’s a passion project of mine to be sure, one where I don’t even care if the outcome is seen by anybody at all because it’s something I’m compelled to make.
Let list season begin.
(OTHER) THINGS I’M LISTENING TO
Judicator - “Mandy” Single
Meshuggah - “Chaosphere” (25th Anniversary 2023 Remastered Edition)
Chris Stapleton - “Higher”
LYRICS OF THE WEEK
if all you ever do with your life
Is just photosynthesize
Then you deserve every hour of your sleepless nights
That you waste wondering when you're gonna die
Frank Turner - “Photosynthesize”