Playlist Week of 2013-03-30

* Handel: Organ Concertos, Op.4 (Academy of Ancient Music/Egarr) (Harmonia Mundi SACD)

* Handel: Organ Concertos, Op.7 (Academy of Ancient Music/Egarr) (Harmonia Mundi SACD)

* J.S. Bach: Goldberg Variations (Hewitt): Royal Festival Hall, London 2009-04-29 (FM CDR)

* Christine Plubeau/Arnaud Pumir: Église Saint Nicholas, La Hulpe 2009-03-30 (FM CDR)

* Sun Ra: We Travel The Spaceways (Saturn LP)

* Sun Ra: When Sun Comes Out (Saturn LP)

* Sun Ra: The Mystery of Being: The Voice Studio Sessions 1978 (Horo/Klimt 3LP)

* Keith Jarrett: The Impulse Years 1973-1974 (d.1-3) (Impulse! 5CD)

* Mary Halvorson Quintet: Bending Bridges (Firehouse 12 2LP)

* Mary Halvorson Trio: Jazz Studio Nuernberg 2012-09-26 (FM CDR)

* Secret Keeper (Stephan Crump/Mary Halvorson): Super Eight (Intakt CD)

* Ingrid Laubrock Sleepthief: The Madness Of Crowds (Intakt CD)

* Ingrid Laubrock Anti-House: Strong Place (Intakt CD)

* Frank Ocean: Channel Orange (Island/Def Jam CD)

* Miguel: Kaleidoscope Dream (RCA CD)

* Grateful Dead: De Doelen, Rotterdam, The Netherlands 5/11/72 (selections) (GDP/Rhino 4HDCD)

* Grateful Dead: Dave’s Picks Vol.5: Pauley Pavilion 11/17/73 (selections) (GDP/Rhino 4HDCD)

* Grateful Dead: Go To Heaven (Arista/Friday Music LP)

* Can: Ege Bamyasi (Spoon/Mute SACD)

* Can: Future Days (Spoon/Mute SACD)

* Big Star: #1 Record (Ardent/Classic LP)

* Yo La Tengo: That Is Yo La Tengo (City Slang CDEP)

* Yo La Tengo: May I Sing With Me (Alias CD)

* Yo La Tengo: Painful (Matador CD)

* Yo La Tengo: “Shaker” (Matador CDEP)

* Yo La Tengo: “From A Motel 6” (Matador CDEP)

* Guided By Voices: Propeller (Scat LP)

* Wilco: Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (Nonesuch 2LP)

* Lambchop: Mr. M (Merge CD)

* Porcupine Tree: In Absentia (Lava/Atlantic CD)†/‡

* Steven Wilson: The Raven That Refused To Sing And Other Stories (KScope CD/DVD/BD)

* Opeth: Ghost Reveries (Roadrunner HDCD/DVD)†/‡

* Opeth: Watershed (Roadrunner CD/DVD)†/‡

* Opeth: Heritage (Roadrunner CD/DVD)†/‡

* Katatonia: Brave Yester Days (Avant Garde/Century Media 2CD)

* Katatonia: Last Fair Deal Gone Down (Peaceville CD/CDEP)

* Katatonia: Viva Emptiness (Peaceville CD)

* Katatonia: The Great Cold Distance (Peaceville CD)

* Yob: Atma  (Profound Lore/ 2LP)

* The Sword: Aprocryphon (Razor & Tie LP)

* Ray LaMontagne: Trouble (RCA LP)

* Ray LaMontagne: Till the Sun Turns Black (RCA LP)

†=iPod

‡=car

Commentary:

I resisted the whole “smart phone” thing for a long time—a “dumb phone” served my purposes just fine. I generally dislike talking on the phone and I certainly did not want to become one of those people who spend all day with their eyes glued to its tiny screen, even when having dinner with their friends and spouses—or driving down the interstate. For me, a cell phone is a necessity for safety reasons: being able to summon help and communicate with loved ones when out and about is the greatest gift this technology bestows. But their ubiquity (and humanity’s general stupidity) has made them a pernicious danger—particularly on the roadways. Whenever I see someone driving erratically—too slowly or weaving in and out of lanes—they are almost inevitably talking (or texting!) on their “smart phone.” That’s not smart; it’s dumb. And it scares me! It made me hate the things on principle.

Well, my old flip phone was starting to fall apart: bits of plastic flaking off, it’s battery unable to hold a charge; it was becoming more of a liability than an asset. I liked its small size and simplicity but it was definitely time to upgrade. Moreover, both Lizzy and I were dissatisfied with AT&T, whose cell coverage was spotty at best and almost nonexistent at our home, which is less than thirty miles from downtown Nashville. She was going to be traveling to a remote area of Northern California to visit her dad, where her current cell phone would be useless. That was enough reason for us to make the switch to Verizon—and move up to a “smart phone.”

I went for the iPhone 5—mostly because I had heard such good things about the built-in camera and the various apps you can download for it. I love my cameras but I do not have them with me at all times like I do my phone. After only having the thing less than a week, I am blown away by the camera’s capabilities. The photograph above was taken handheld in almost complete darkness and processed in Snapseed, an app developed by Nik Software. I’m not saying it’s a great photograph (I was just messing around with the phone) but I think it shows how powerful this little 8MP camera is. I’ve been having a lot of fun playing with it and have barely begun to explore all the possibilities.

With its slightly larger screen and glossy Retina display, the iPhone 5 also gives it the edge over the 4 for photographic purposes and, as with all Apple products, the interface is mostly intuitive and easy to use. Of course, all this stuff is purpose-built for interaction with social media, with the apps integrated seamlessly with email, Facebook, Twitter, etc. As a result, I have been posting more to Facebook than ever before. I’m not sure if this is a good or bad thing—I do not want to be one of “those guys” who can’t put down the phone. But I can see how addictive it can be. 

I’m sure after a while the novelty will wear off and it will go back to being just a cell phone. But I will always have a nice digital camera in my pocket and I’m looking forward to taking more pictures than ever.