SINGLES GOING STEADY: "SNOW DAYS" BY TRIP SHAKESPEARE

Trip Shakespeare (L-R: Matt Wilson - Guitars, Vocals; Elaine Harris - Drums, Percussion; John Munson - Fretless Bass, Vocals; Dan Wilson - Guitar, Piano, Vocals)

"Snow Days" was never anything close to a hit song, but for thousands of people in Minneapolis, it is almost a state anthem—a tribute to the notoriously brutal yet joyous winters of the Twin Cities.  It is the third track on Across The Universe, the third album by the Minnesota locals Trip Shakespeare.  Though a cult favorite, Trip Shakespeare isn't quite as famous as the sum of its parts.  After breaking up in 1993, bassist John Munson and vocalist Dan Wilson left to form Semisonic, which spent the later half of the 90s topping the charts with a song called "Closing Time."  Dan Wilson has since won two Grammys for his songwriting collaborations with Dixie Chicks ("Not Ready To Make Nice") and Adele ("Someone Like You.") 

"Snow Days" was written by Matt Wilson—Dan's slightly younger brother—and is sung primarily by John Munson. It tells the story of a "Mrs. Braintree" and the violent morning snow which makes her commute to work essentially impossible.  After all, "all the roads are closed" and "It's coming down."  The three singers cry out "it's coming down" so often on "Snow Days" that you can't help but take their word for it—it's probably a blizzard out there.  Though Dan Wilson's piano sounds nothing like Vince Guaraldi's, his sensitivity on the instrument combined with drummer Elaine Harris's performance on sleigh bells makes the song sound almost like a B-side off of A Charlie Brown Christmas.  John Munson isn't as gifted of a singer as the Wilson brothers—who sing lead vocals on about two thirds of the group's entire catalog—but he is theatrical and emotive, almost like a stage actor.  He is also a brilliant fretless bass player and he slides around on his instrument like a car hydroplaning.  As singers, the Wilson brothers of Trip Shakespeare pull off wonderful harmonies which would make the Wilson brothers of The Beach Boys quite proud.  If John Munson sounds like he's singing about Mrs. Braintree, the two brothers sound like they are singing to Mrs. Braintree.  They sound almost like guardian angels, providing the same advice to the poor Mrs. Braintree: "go home and take a snow day."  Rarely has a psychedelic rock band pulled off something so endearing and heartwarming.  Trip Shakespeare did.  For more than 20 years,"Snow Days" has been played on radio stations in Minnesota.  If you ask me, it should be played all over the world in December.  

"Snow Days" by Trip Shakespeare

"Snow Days (Live 2010)" by The New Standards (feat. John Munson. Special Appearance by Matt Wilson)

On December 7th 2013, the full Trip Shakespeare lineup reunited for two songs at the annual New Standards holiday show.  While 3/4 of Trip Shakespeare have been known to perform from time to time with semisonic drummer Jake Slichter, this was the first reunion with the amazing stand-up drummer Elaine Harris in 20 years! Here's an extra special performance of "Snow Days" featuring Chan Poling, vocalist and pianist of both The New Standards and The Suburbs.  

"Snow Days" by Trip Shakespeare (feat. Chan Poling)

That same night, Trip Shakespeare also played "Susannah" a fan-favorite b-side which Matt Wilson also included on "Descender," his out-of-print post-Trip Shakespeare demo from 1994.  

"Susannah" by Trip Shakespeare

MOVIE NIGHT: THE OPRAH WINFREY SHOW (1990) WITH SPECIAL GUESTS ICE-T, JELLO BIAFRA (DEAD KENNEDYS) AND TIPPER GORE

This is a particularly controversial and entertaining episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show.  Topics include the fear of censorship, controversial lyrics in music, the parental advisory sticker, and the potential for certain music to promote anarchy, racism and sexism—whether it was the artist's intention or not.  The panelists include Jello Biafra of the Dead Kennedys, Ice-T, Tipper Gore of the Parents Music Resouce Center, Juan Williams (then of The Washington Post,) music critic Nelson George and Rabbi Abraham Cooper.  Before we watch, it's important to familiarize ourselves with some of the albums mentioned on this program.  Click the album title and you will be redirected to a review from the finest critics in the world at www.allmusic.com.  Without a doubt, these reviewers "know their shit" more than anyone.  

Frankenchrist (partial album) by Dead Kennedys

Straight Outta Compton by N.W.A

The Iceburg/ Freedom of Speech...Just Watch What You Say by Ice-T

G N'R Lies by Guns N' Rose

And, finally—I'd never thought I'd say this—let's watch The Oprah Winfrey Show.  It's divided into four parts.

Here's my take.  Frankly, I don't care.  I'm 23, I don't have kids and my seven year old cousin curses more than I do.   That said, I don't think this is a censorship issue and I'm completely in favor of the "Parental Advisory" sticker.  If certain movies can have an R-rating, then I don't see the problem in having essentially the same system for music.  One criticism I do have—and it is the same issue I have with the MPAA— is that the sticker is often used too liberally and unfairly.  

I'd like for everyone to keep this in mind.  Artists and musicians are pretty much exactly like screenwriters and actors.  They take on characters and write stories.  Both, more often than not, produce works of complete fiction.  No matter how biographical they sound, song lyrics, in no way, indicate definitively what an artist's belief or ideology is.  Sometimes the line between satire and realism is much more difficult to see in music—particularly because you aren't seeing anything.  Whether his or her point is obvious or obtuse, I will always take the artist's perspective as the song's true meaning.  

Hey!—feel free to comment below.  I feel like I'm distributing a magazine on the moon.  If you're out there, I wanna hear your perspective.  

SINGLES GOING STEADY: "HER TOWN TOO" BY JAMES TAYLOR AND J.D. SOUTHER

One of my favorite soft-rock hits ever.  It's totally underrated and, as a songwriter, I often wish that I wrote it.  There's something both sad and uplifting about "Her Town Too," a top 20 hit sung by James Taylor and J.D. Souther.  The song was written by Taylor, Souther and guitarist Waddy Wachtel, whose three note acoustic guitar riff is one of the most recognizable elements of the song.   You all know who James Taylor is but J.D. Souther and Waddy Wachtel's names may not ring a bell.  Ironically, J.D. Souther, has written more hit songs than James Taylor has.  Among some of the most notable tracks Souther wrote—or co-wrote—are "New Kid In Town" and "Heartache Tonight" by The Eagles and "Faithless Love" by Linda Ronstadt.  Waddy Wachtel, on the other hand, has played guitar on countless records from the 70s by artists like Stevie Nicks, Iggy Pop and Keith Richards.  

"Her Town Too" was the most successful—and arguably the most appropriate—single from James Taylor's 1981 album Dad Loves His Work.   How is it the most appropriate, you may ask? Well, consider this: when Taylor's then wife Carly Simon gave him an ultimatum of touring vs. spending more time with her and the kids, the album title Dad Loves His Work was essentially his answer—jeez.  The subject of the song "Her Town Too" is a couple's separation  and knowing the history behind the album, you can't help but read between the lines.  James Taylor and Carly Simon finalized their divorce in 1983.  

"Her Town Too" by James Taylor and J.D. Souther (with Waddy Wachtel)

Dad Loves His Work by James Taylor*

You're Only Lonely by J.D. Souther**

*feat. Waddy Wachtel 

** feat. Waddy Wachtel, Glenn Frey and Don Henley (Eagles)