1) Dumba$$ Rapper Bust Bonanza: When it rains it pours folks, these rappers just can't get through a week without having to prove to the world at large their complete lack of upbringing, intelligence and self-control. This was a bonanza week alright;
a) TI, an Atlanta-based purveyor of busted rhymes just landed himself in Federal custody for possession of 3 unregistered MACHINE GUNS and two silencers, not to mention possession of weapons by a convicted felon charges (he was already once in prison on serious drug charges). Irony of ironies, he was arrested just hours before he was supposed to receive a BET award for his latest collection of busted rhymes about such heartwarming subjects as guns, killing whites and po-leece, degrading women and doing lots of drugs. More details HERE. The smart money says that he wasn't exactly going deer hunting in upstate New York.
b) Sean P-Diddy Combs: Meanwhile in NYC, this guy AGAIN gets himself busted for assault at a Manhattan nightclub. Geez, this guy keeps repeating the same crime over and over again, not an original thought in the guy's head, just like his lame albums that rip off EVERYONE in varying degrees. Wondering if he'll repeat his usual pattern of changing his name every time he gets busted for something? More lurid details HERE
c) Foxy Brown: This one is darn near comical!!! She's just racking 'em up like a pool hustler, assault (violently throwing her cell phone at anieghbor who had a legitimate complaint about her car stereo's excessive volume), skipping court mandated anger-management classes, not showing up for hearings, probation violations revolving around a violent incident at a manicurists shop 3 years previous, not to mention other violent incidents. She's currently serving a year in NY's Riker's Island prison. Worse yet, she's planning to relase another disc of busted rhymes this November, Can't wait---------. She sounds like a real peach. More HERE
EDITED TO ADD: A very worthy opinion piece from AJC columnist Cynthia Tucker that pulls no punches can be read HERE.
2) We Grows 'Em Big In These Parts: After nearly 2 years of embarrassing delays and other plot twists, Aerospatiale' is finally rolling out their new super-jumbo jet The Airbus 380! Their first customer to take delivery was Singapore Air, and I'm sure more to follow. This new entry into the long-range airliner arena is the first to have a double deck layout with the capability to accommodate up to 525 people in standard 3-class seating and 853 people if the whole plane is Coach class. And yes, it actually dwarfs a 747. Powered by 4 outrageously huge and powerful (yet unbelievably quiet as jet engines go) Rolls-Royce Trent 900 or Engine Alliance GP7000 engines, this huge bird lifts off with more grace and ease than most people would think. Watch one take off HERE (LOVE the sound of those engines!)
ON THE PLAYER
Happy The Man (1977)
This largely instrumental gem from 1977 has been in my collection in some form or other since it was first released. This insanely talented fivesome from Harrisonburg VA first met at James Madison University in the early 70's. And yes, the music is as colorful and surreal as the cover. Happy The Man really were one of the last from the original 70's progressive rock era to have a sound uniquely their own, combining elements of jazz, late 19th/early 20th century classical music, rock and music from Saturday morning cartoons (and you think I'm kidding, take a listen to pieces like "Stumpy Meets The Firecracker In Stencil Forest" dang, these guys must've got some real good mushrooms that day). The pieces can feature unexpected twists and turns, navigating perilous time and meter changes, crazed saxophones, angular guitars, colorful keyboards, while going from dream-like pastel beauty ("Starborne", a song that I'll long remember as I once enjoyed a very beautiful romantic moment to it with a woman I fiercely loved) to HILARIOUS cartoon-like mayhem ("Knee Bitten Nymphs In Limbo") and unpredictable little mini-suites (the songs on here are by prog-rock standards, fairly short). My personal favorite is "NY Dreams Suite" which closes the album, runs from a whimsical beginning to a HILARIOUSLY frenetic cartoon chase-scene like section to close with an emotion charged ending of sublime beauty that at least will have you misty-eyed. The only "weak" tracks here are the 2 with vocals, but even then the instrumental portion is STILL good. Check these guys out at their website: http://www.happytheman.com/
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