Where the Music Came From

No one is born knowing music. We encounter it at different moments in our lives, introduced to us by different people or circumstances. Here's my history (note, I may have heard of groups before the moment listed, but I didn't start really listening beyond the hit-and-miss of the radio until these people and these moments coincided to "turn me on" to the music listed. Also, note that I don't necessarily still listen to all of these...)

Roughly, in chronological order:

• Nursery rhymes, Disney songs, Herman's Hermits: Mom
• Classic country: Dad
• Kiss, Alice Cooper: Darrin
• Beatles, Pink Floyd: Glen
• Weird Al: uncertain (likely: Jim or Jeff)
• Queen, Prince: Jim
• Blue Oyster Cult, Hawkwind: a letter in an Elric comic book
• Styx: John
• Rush, Motley Crue, Quiet Riot, Ratt: Mike B
• Jimi Hendrix, ZZ Top, Stevie Ray Vaughan: Mike P
• Larry Norman: Scott (my old boss at Joy Unspeakable)
• Stryper: Time magazine article
• Bob Dylan: uncertain?
• Steve Taylor: Kathy R
• Daniel Amos: Kathy J
• Musicals, Sarah Brightman, classical music: Julie
• Todd Snider: Radio station played "Talking Seattle Grunge Blues"
• Tori Amos: Amy (not my sister)
• Alanis Morrisette: Radio station playing pretty much everything from Jagged Little Pill

From the late 1990s on, most of my music discoveries have come from the Internet. Especially noteworthy are:

• Filk: general web surfing
• Luke Ski: unConventional was mentioned on a Firefly website
• Michelle Dockery: "Mal's Song" was mentioned on a Firefly website
• Devo Spice, Worm Quartet: Luke Ski related surfing (which eventually led to thefump.com)
• Warp 11: cdbaby.com (where I had previously purchased a Luke Ski CD)
• Steve Goodie, Robert Lund, Insane Ian, Flat 29: the fump.com
• Carla Ulbrich: cdbaby.com
• Marc Gunn: cdbaby.com
• Garfunkel and Oates: cdbaby.com
• Nerdcore: Discovered a copy of Nerdcore Rising at local video store (not really an Internet discovery, but all the nerdcore I own, I've downloaded/bought online; especially MC Lars and Zealous1)
• Baba Brinkman: Mentioned online in connection with Darwin celebrations
• Bad Religion: interview with Dr. Greg Graffin on Skepticality podcast
• Wizard rock, Adam WarRock: GeekDads HipTrax podcast
• Meekakitty: "Star Trek Girl" was mentioned on an online ballot
• Ministry of Magic, All Caps: friends of Meekakitty

Exceptions to the "Internet-based discovery since the 1990s" rule:

• "Once More, With Feeling": Jeff
• Video game, computer game, and movie soundtracks: Nate (from whom I learned to actually listen to these "background" instrumentals)
• Flight of the Conchords: Holly
• Avril Lavigne, Taylor Swift, Glee: Kara

My deep thanks to everyone who has introduced me to music, shared my enthusiasm for this music, and, of course, made the music that has been a part of me. There are far more musical influences than those listed (and some of those listed are significantly less influential than others... but at one time, even if only for a moment, each musician has quickened a part of my soul). 

Everything You Know Will Change in a Flash...

Today, Flashpoint begins (cue goose bumps).

DC's big summer event begins today, with the release of Flashpoint #1. The basic premise, apparently, is that Reverse Flash goes back in time and prevents many of the DC Universe superheroes from becoming their heroic selves. Barry Allen has to remain the Flash, or else there won't be a Reverse Flash (no Barry, no speed force; no speed force, no speedsters, including Reverse Flash). However, in this new, messed up DCU, Abin Sur didn't crash, thus Hal Jordan never became Green Lantern. Baby Kal-El ended up in an Area 51 kind of lab, rather than in Smallville (at least, I think that's what happened to him, we'll see).

In addition to the main miniseries, there is a number of 3-issue spin-off miniseries as well as a handful of one-shots. This will run through the summer and into early fall. There's no way I can afford every book that is a part of this, so I've picked a few that look interesting to me.

Anyway, issue #1, tonight, after work. This is a hugely ambitious project that will either Rock or Blow on an epic level. My money is on Rock. Spoiler-laden review will follow soon...

Note: no such reviews forthcoming. It's been too cool to spoil.