Bowie’s Final Act
David Bowie, Blackstar (2016), Columbia Records
I decided to review Blackstar prior to David Bowie’s passing. This is not a sympathy review. I am not a mark for everything Bowie did. In fact, there is a fair amount of material I do not care for. However, I’m enough of a fan to always give new material a fair shot.
After listening through Blackstar enough to separate the material from the tragedy, here is what I can say for certain. Blackstar was just as spectacular during the 72 hours it had prior to Bowie’s death, as it is now. It stands on it’s own. The only difference being a clearer understanding of the album’s tone. Over the last few years, Bowie has experienced an enormous surge of creativity not seen in decades. But don’t expect Ziggy, or the Duke to make appearances on Blackstar. This is a mature, sophisticated crooner reminiscing at times, while also attempting to wrap his head around his own mortality. On the surface, it seems fairly dark. Oddly, it manages to be quite uplifting. As usual, Bowie rides that line of being just avant-garde enough to satisfy his diehard fan base, without being too off putting to the casual listener. That, along with his unique mix of bellowing and biting vocals, could possibly sidetrack listeners from realizing what they’re actually hearing. Blackstar is a jazz record. Despite its heavy, sometimes morbid themes, a good portion of the album makes you want to get up, put on a nice suit, and celebrate. In a weird way, Blackstar is a lot of fun. Maybe that was the intent.
The world will never see another David Bowie. He was a brilliant, fearless visionary that committed his life to his art. He left us with an immense body of work, and capped it off with a stellar finale. That certainly calls for celebration.
J. Robert Lobeck
A Farewell to Kings
If you’re a rock fan, 2016 has gotten off to a very sad start. First, the world of heavy music was forever altered with the passing of metal icon, Ian “Lemmy” Kilmister. This was a hard blow. However, the fact that he played shows almost until the day he died, Lemmy managed to leave this world in true Lemmy fashion. Showing no weakness, with a middle finger raised to anything attempting to slow him down, including cancer. Lemmy passed two days after finally being diagnosed. There were no tears for Lemmy. He wouldn’t have approved. Only deep respect for a life lived 100% on his own terms. The second, and very unexpected tragedy came a couple of weeks later. I woke up one morning to my wife informing me that David Bowie had died. It felt like my stomach sank into my feet. How could David Bowie have died? He just released a fantastic album a matter of days ago. There weren’t even rumors of poor health. In reality, Bowie had fought an 18-month battle with cancer. During this time, he kept his condition fiercely private, using his limited time to engage in manic-creativity that rivals his mid-70’s peak. He created his farewell to the world, refusing to succumb before it’s completion and release. There was an emotional afternoon of indulging in all things Bowie in order to process this.
Why do I feel compelled to write about these events? Bowie and Lemmy both lived life as they saw fit. They both stood by artistic choices that damaged their careers at times. You never heard them apologizing on Twitter for offending anyone, and they didn’t bother whoring themselves out in order to remain relevant. These were artists, and staunch individualists. They were not celebrities in the current sense. They had integrity, and a commitment to their craft. No one bought a Motorhead ticket this past year out of sympathy, just as no one purchased the new Bowie album because they thought it would be his last. There was an intentional choice to be judged solely on the quality of their work until the very end. A choice to make the most of each remaining day. That is something to be respected, admired, and emulated.
So with a tear in my eye, I say a fond farewell to Kings. Ziggy has gone back home, and Lemmy is blowing out eardrums in hell, because Satan is too intimidated to ask him to turn it down.
J. Robert Lobeck \\m//
If I May Be Granted a Serious Moment…
(This is a the column intended for the January New4U issue. I wanted to go ahead and offer it up for anyone that doesn’t read New4U. It’s not intended to be preachy. Just a brief word regarding a serious issue.)
As much as I try to make my monthly contribution somewhat meaningful, I know it’s unlikely that anyone is taking a look at my column for anything deep. I try to stay close to the surface most of the time, which is the right thing to do. If you might indulge me, this month, I need to swerve into something a bit more serious. I have bipolar disorder, and I do not have an easy time with it. That is all you need to know about me. This is not really about me. The post-holidays (January through March) is the hardest time for me not to slip into a horrific bout of debilitating depression. I feel like I’m probably not alone on that. It’s cold, grey, and everything is dead. Christmas is over, and all that’s left is a few months of bitter, lifeless winter. Whether you, or someone you’re with is prone to depression, understand that despite all efforts or treatments, there will be unavoidable, horrific times.
Be it bipolar, or any other mood disorder, the people going through it aren’t just struggling with internal issues. They’re also struggling with guilt over the way it impacts their friends and family. If you have a friend going through this, and they constantly flake out on you, know this. They want to be at that get together, they want to pick up your calls, and they want everything to be like it was before all of this. People with these struggles aren’t lazy, they aren’t whiners, and in my opinion, they’re certainly not mentally ill. They are people born with their emotion nob cranked to 11 (like the amps in Spinal Tap), and they feel things a little harder than most. Depression is debilitating for even the most intellectually gifted (like myself). However, the real pain comes when people with the best intentions expect someone to just “shake it off”. No sane person would choose to miss out on as much life as depression steals.
So remember that, and try to be supportive. Avoid telling someone how to fix what’s happening with them. You’re wrong, and they have already tried that anyway. The best thing you can do for someone is to make them feel like they matter. Make them feel loved and appreciated. Check up on them and show constructive concern. When you feel worthless, nothing helps more than someone you care about reminding you that you’re important to them as well.
Keep smiling, friends.
J. Robert Lobeck
The Wonders of Thanksgiving
When I was a child, November was the month that seemed to go on forever. The excitement of Halloween had passed, but the Christmas season was still weeks away. The one reason I looked forward to Thanksgiving was that it marked the setup of our glorious (artificial) Christmas tree. As I have gotten older and established my own little family, I have learned to appreciate Thanksgiving as more than just a lead up to Christmas. Allow me to share with you my glorious Thanksgiving routine.
It begins the weekend prior when my wife reminds me that her extended family get together is coming up, and I begin my desperate search to find a reason why I have to sit this one out.
Fast forward to Thanksgiving Day, and I am up at the crack of dawn to immediately start bugging my wife about starting dinner. I am displaying the same behaviors I might have on Christmas morning 20 years prior, only this time I’m begging for turkey, green bean casserole, and pie. My wife must find a way to pacify me for the next few hours. The formula usually involves sitting me in front of the television and allowing me to enjoy cold beer with my breakfast. As the day goes on, the familiar aromas of Thanksgiving begin to fill our home. By the time we sit down to our midafternoon meal, I am truly overwhelmed with appreciation and gratitude for my wife, son, dogs, and even my no good, rotten cat. I dive into our feast, compliment our lovely chef, and eventually announce that I have overdone it and shall retire to the master’s quarters for slumber. When I awake from my food coma, the house is dark and peaceful. I stumble out to the kitchen and immediately fix a plate of leftovers, followed by a piece of pie I eat by hand like its pizza. My wife might come in at this point and take a shot off the whip cream bottle. We sit down in our living room and there isn’t much talking at this point. She’s likely on her laptop, and I might be watching American Dad. In my head though, I am thinking of her, and how lucky I am that she’s sitting next to me in that dimly lit room. It’s Thanksgiving after all, and she’s what I’m most thankful for.
Love you, babes.
J. Robert Lobeck
Iron Maiden: Book of Souls
(Disclaimer: This is a review for a local magazine, which means it has a very short word limit, and content restrictions. Take my word when I say Maiden’s new album is fucking awesome, and much better than 90% of the shit being released by bands half their age. Horns high!)
If you’re talking band
s that have stood the test of time, you’re talking Iron Maiden. One of the dominant forces during the British metal invasion of the early 1980’s, Maiden has survived 40 years in the rock world and continue to prove themselves one of the mightiest bands in the land.
Last month, the metal gods looked down, smiled upon their children of rock and offered their 16th studio album. “Book of Souls” fully displays Maiden’s best quality: Having a sound that is instantly recognizable while remaining totally inspired. Maiden is not repetitive. It’s comfortably familiar while remaining powerful, and thought provoking. From the opening of “If Eternity Shall Fail”, to the 18 minute “Empire of the Clouds”, this album is a journey through themes of mortality and the eternal nature of the soul.
Truthfully, there is no proper way to review a Maiden album in such a short column. It’s too complex, and it rocks too hard. However, one thing is certain. While these hard rockers of the highest magnitude could not be blamed at this point for resting on their laurels, the extraordinary vision and powerful execution presented on “Book of Souls” clearly indicates that these veterans have plenty left in their tank.
On a 5 rock goblet scale, “Book of Souls” receives 4.5 goblets of rock raised toward the heavens.
J. Robert Lobeck
Smile, It’s Autumn (News4U entry for October)
With the weather cooling off, and my favorite time of year getting into full swing, I’ve decided to forgo my usual Andy Rooney style gripes about the society, and attempt to just toss some positive vibes into my little corner of Indiana.
Autumn means a lot of things. It means football is back. It means the leaves are changing, and for a short period before the deadness of winter, the world is a beautiful canvas of oranges and yellows. For my current hometown Evansville, it means the fall fest, and all the questionable, yet delicious food we convince ourselves is acceptable to eat because hey, it’s the fall fest. To some, including myself, it’s the early stages of the holiday season, kicking off with Halloween. Some might not include Halloween as part of the holidays, but it does involve giving, gathering, and fond childhood memories for most.
For me, more than anything, it’s a time of year to stop being angry, and focus on whatever goodness we have in our lives. As we transition from children into adults, a lot of the magic of the world begins to deteriorate. We become aware that the world is a harsh, unforgiving place. We realize that attempting to live life by the basic rights and wrongs our parents taught us is next to impossible, and we have experiences that leave us wondering what happened to the idealized world we were so convinced awaited us upon adulthood. Some of us can shrug it off and move forward. Some folks have a particular belief system they find peace in. Still, some of us become cynical, depressed, and attempt to shut ourselves up from the world. Even for a cynic like me, society has had a really negative tone to it over this past year. Maybe it’s just a byproduct of election season coming around again. Whatever the reason, these few months every year provide the opportunity to drop that negative weight and temporarily create that idealized world for ourselves, our families, or for someone that might not be able to do it for themselves. No more arguing about politics, social issues, religion, etc. Use that chill in the air to turn inward and focus on appreciating your own little world. Then turn around, and send that positivity outward.
A thousand candles can be lit from a single candle, and the life of that candle will not be shortened.
Happy autumn, my friends.
J. Robert Lobeck
Everything & Nothing (The Significance of Dr. Dre’s New Album)
Do you remember the days of physical music collections? I sure do. My giant, overstuffed book of CD’s was one of my most prized possessions during my formative years. But alas, I am a dinosaur at 33. In 2015, the majority of us have accepted our music being stored in the “cloud” for easy access. Sacrificing little pleasures, like a booklet of album artwork, photos, or maybe lyrics. Come with me, as we step into a brave new world of owning everything, and nothing at the same time.
August 6th marked a significant day in music. It was time to dig out my white sox cap, and creased khakis, because we were finally getting an album of brand new material from legendary producer, and notorious Compton “G”, Dr. Dre. It also marked another step in the world of streaming music services toward artist exclusivity. This isn’t a brand new trend. Services such as Spotify, and Pandora have made deals with artists for exclusive rights to their libraries. However, it has usually revolved around back catalogs. Dr Dre’s newest offering is not only an Apple exclusive for streaming and downloading, it’s not available in any physical form at all. After 16 years, if you want to listen to this highly anticipated release, you can go to ITunes, or you’ll be signing up for an Apple Music membership. Up until very recently, it didn’t matter all that much which major service you used for your music streaming needs. They all run about $10 a month, and offer similar content. Even exclusive back catalogs eventually make it over to other services after a given period. Now, it’s looking as though artists will begin to make new releases exclusive to a specific service. If you want full access to all your favorite artists, your monthly music bill could go from $10 to $30, $40 or even $50. It may seem a small price to pay for the anywhere, anytime convenience of streaming. But having access also requires you to keep up with your monthly internet bill, and mobile data fees. All the while, you own nothing. If you stop paying, it all disappears. We are becoming a society of renters, forgetting that it’s better to own. Our appreciation is deteriorating because we have everything, all the time. Simultaneously, we are handing over control of our lives by owning less and less. This is a small example of a much larger problem. I’ve got some stuff you should read.
J. Robert Lobeck
KODI on Google Play
I am in the process of doing some celebrating, prior to my juice reboot tomorrow. For that reason, let me toss out this entry real quick like. I want to make mention of KODI (formerly XBMC) now being available on the Google Play app store. I have been an XBMC user for quite a while, going all the way back to modding an original Xbox in order to take advantage of its benefits. If you are someone willing to spend 15 to 30 minutes googling and reading, KODI is a fairly simple piece of software. However, a lot of people, for whatever reason, aren’t willing to put in that effort. The bottom line is, KODI can upgrade your home entertainment, 10 fold. It’s a very powerful program, allowing you to take control of your home media experience, all while saving you some serious duckets in the process. In the very near future (within a few days), I will post a full KODI tutorial for anyone wanting to learn how to use KODI to their maximum benefit. In the meantime, I suggest android users download KODI from the Google Play app store. It has always been available via sideloading, but is now formatted to download to almost any android device directly from the store (tablets, phones, tv boxes). IOS fans also have access to KODI, but it’s slightly more complicated. I will eventually post a tutorial for them. Honestly though, it’s your own fault for buying an Apple product. You best be happy with the hundreds of dollars you spent, because you bought yourself a closed ecosystem. Stay tuned.
J. Robert Lobeck
Maggie (film review)
Have you ever been watching one of countless, interchangeable zombie films that have flooded society for close to a decade and thought to yourself, “This is alright, but it sure could use some Ahhnold.”? Yeah, me too. Well, we’re in luck, because today we’re reviewing Maggie. Let’s cut right to the chase. Maggie isn’t going to show you anything new. Its premise is so rehashed that it conjures up memories of recording, and re-recording on old VHS tapes. Eventually, the quality is nonexistent. The one thing that will keep you watching Maggie until the end can be summed up in one word. Schwarzenegger. Though older, and more grizzled with age, Schwarzenegger still has an undeniable screen presence. With a bare minimum of physicality for a Schwarzenegger film, Arnold is softer, and more vulnerable than usual as he portrays a loving father, forced to come to terms with a daughter, slowly transition into the world of the undead. I don’t see any Oscars in his future, but he does manage to show that he’s capable of more than throwing out one-liners, as he blazes a path of utter destruction and carnage. Maggie is not bad. The cast is just fine, the writing is passable (kinda). But while film itself is reasonably enjoyable, it is also almost immediately forgettable. I classify this movie as a win-win-draw. It’s a win for Arnold, as I would consider this a warm-up film. A way to get himself back in the driver’s seat before jumping immediately into another Terminator film. It’s certainly a win for the filmmakers. Frankly, without landing someone like Arnold for the lead role, this movie would offer no convincing reason to watch. For the viewer, it’s a draw. It’s worth renting on demand, or picking up on sale, especially if you’re a Schwarzenegger fan. But don’t expect to walk away feeling like you just saw something special. The biggest thing I took away from Maggie was the impression that an older, less exaggerated Schwarzenegger has become much more relatable. He is still the star he was prior to leaving Hollywood for the political world. Just in a more subdued, less cartoonish way. If you have 90 minutes to kill, Maggie is worth a watch. But no need to kick yourself if you skip this one.
J. Robert Lobeck
(This review can also be read in the August, 2015 Evansville NEWS4U magazine)
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