Johnny Rotten & Justin Timberlake - Are They The Same Person?

I happened to notice that today is the birthday of both ex-NSync'er Justin Timberlake and ex-Pistol Johnny Rotten. Justin turns 26 today, whereas Johnny turns 5,001...sorry, I mean 51. Just like with punk, I got hung up on the zeros.

Think the similarities between these two end there? Well, think again. To make this coincidence even stranger, I found out that Johnny Rotten has suggested that in an upcoming movie about all-things-Sex-Pistol, Johnny wants Justin Timberlake to play him.

I have respect for Timberlake, and like Johnny Rotten, but I have to say that I would not have seen this coming. It's like a really unpleasant surprise, wrapped in a box.

The Cure for Great Days

Yep. Been a great day. A really great day...ugh.

About the only thing making anything (at this point let's say, everything) better is a great girlfriend and "By This River" from Brian Eno's Before and After Science.

It's the same kind of "better" that a pitch black room offers, to be honest. But it seems to help.

That's it, but right now, it's worth saying. If you have the album (or either soundtrack it is on), put it on now -- think of me. I'd do it for you.

Music for Winter Storms

There are a few essential elements when facing the elements - in this case a snowstorm that is obliterating Montreal. My defenses against winter today include: a parka, headphones, and the music of Arvo Part.

There is enough stillness in Part's compositions that you can hear the snow crunching beneath your feet, and yet the consonant melodies of Alina seem to add overtones to that strange melancholy that winter can produce.

A completely enriching experience, albeit a little cold.

Musicians Who Died in 2006

2006 has been a year of death, really. International conflicts and natural disasters kept death in the news all year, and cast a very dark pall over New Year's celebrations.

Yet it was also a year to lose some significant musicians and artists, many of whom spent their careers trying to inspire and move people. Here's a short list of some artists that passed on in 2006.

The list could have been far more extensive, but I chose to only post about those people who moved me directly. Obviously, another writer could have a very different list.

Most notably, in 2006 we lost James Brown, the Godfather of Soul. Dutch Mason, the Canadian blues guitarist, died late in the year. Sid Barrett, the original singer of Pink Floyd and a notable solo artist in his own right also died this past year.

Ahmet Ertegun, while not a musician, was a force behind artists as diverse as Joni Mitchell, Miles Davis and Ray Charles. He died from injuries sustained backstage at a Rolling Stones concert. While sad, it could probably make some other list of "best ways to go".

Robert Lockwood, Jr, like all blues guitarists, died described as "a legend". Billy Preston, (see image above) was described by many, including himself, as the 5th Beatle.

Ali Farka Toure, guitarist and singer, achieved some commercial success in his later years, whereas J. Dilla, hip hop producer and DJ (and some would say genius) created an indelible mark despite his young age.

It is no exageration to say that scrolling through the seemingly endless lists of notable deaths in 2006 made for one of the hardest posts I've had to write (and took much longer than expected). Seeing all the "notable" people made me think of how we'll each be remembered. And obviously, addressing the death of others can often inspire thoughts on one's own mortality. Not fun when scanning hundreds of names of the deceased.

However, I can take some solace in listening to the works of the above artists, or the artists they were most associated with, as we move forward in 2007.