Category Archives: MUSIC

SLOW-MOTION MIDLIFE CRISIS

Posted on August 5, 2021 by Kit Troyer

In an interview before he died, songwriter John Prine described his old age, his daily life, his relationships with others. “I’m good at hiding,” he said, laughing. He meant hiding from loved ones, from professional obligations. He meant slipping away … Continue reading →

Posted in CHILD REARING, COURAGE, LITERATURE, MOVIES, MUSIC, MY CHILDHOOD, SPIRIT, UNIQUELY AMERICAN BULLSHIT | 32 Comments

WE ARE STARDUST

Posted on August 2, 2020 by Kit Troyer

I was listening to the old Joni Mitchell song “Woodstock” the other day. The mood is somber and hypnotic. Her performance is flawless. One one level, the song is about the famous Woodstock music festival in 1969, which Mitchell was … Continue reading →

Posted in MUSIC, SELF HELP, SPIRIT | 9 Comments

LET US NOW PRAISE LORI McKENNA

Posted on June 15, 2020 by Kit Troyer

I remember being shocked by the ending of Rocky. It was 1976. I was 8 years old. I didn’t know from sad endings. That this shy, courageous, kind-hearted boxer would lose the fight had not even occurred to me. I’d … Continue reading →

Posted in MOVIES, MUSIC, MY CHILDHOOD | 3 Comments

COVID-19, YOU STAY THE HELL AWAY FROM VAN MORRISON

Posted on April 20, 2020 by Kit Troyer

As much as I worry about my parents during COVID-19 and about my wife’s mom, there’s another senior citizen whose welfare sometimes troubles me — Van Morrison. I have no reason to believe the famous Irish singer is anything but … Continue reading →

Posted in HEROES, MUSIC | 1 Comment

IN A BIG COUNTRY

Posted on September 17, 2014 by Kit Troyer

Scotland votes on Thursday whether to leave the United Kingdom. This made me think of two things. First, I was on vacation with my family in Africa last year.  I didn’t have anything to read to my son at night.  We … Continue reading →

Posted in CHILD REARING, MUSIC, POLITICS | 6 Comments

LYRICS BY NATHAN LARSON

Posted on February 2, 2011 by Kit Troyer

It’s rare that I replay a song more than once or twice to make sure I understand the words.  But I always do it with tunes by my fellow Maryland native Nathan Larson. Nathan Larson is best known as guitarist for the … Continue reading →

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THREE OCTOBER GEMS

Posted on October 28, 2010 by Kit Troyer

one good book — FREEDOM by Jonathan Franzen.  this is the author who wrote THE CORRECTIONS.  same careful observation of families and neighborhoods, same knockout metaphors.  describing the introverted neighborhood girl who steals heart and sexual innocence of Patty’s prized … Continue reading →

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HER MAJESTY BRENDA

Posted on October 17, 2010 by Kit Troyer

In the wake of news that Keith Richards finds Mick “unbearable” and refers to him alternately as “Her Majesty” and “Brenda,” I thought I would point out four good reasons to celebrate Mick.   Here are four spectacular tunes from his unheralded … Continue reading →

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bluest eyes in texas

Posted on September 13, 2010 by Kit Troyer

There’s a beautiful cover version of the old Restless Heart song BLUEST EYES IN TEXAS.  The cover is done by the band A CAMP, which is really Cardigans frontwoman Nina Persson backed by Shudder to Think guitarist Nathan Larson and ex-Atomic … Continue reading →

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Summer Favorites

Posted on September 8, 2010 by Kit Troyer

novel – DISPLACED PERSONS, by Ghita Schwarz movie – THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT journalism – Angie Dickinson’s first-person account in Los Angeles magazine of raising an autistic child in the 1970s and ’80s, before autism was well understood and … Continue reading →

Posted in MOVIES, MUSIC | Leave a comment