August 11, 2008 Earworm

Other than the fact that he helped build the house of Stax by writing and producing most of the songs that shaped that label's legend, created the look of the gold draped gangster while most of its progeny were still in diapers playing with their Fischer-Price "My First Concealed Weapon", gave voice to the only adult in South Park who had as much common sense as the children and still found time to offer up his Chocolate Salty Balls freely, and that he not only re-wrote the rules of pop music - and Bacharach-David's "Walk On By" - to fit his vision of soul, what else can be said about Isaac Hayes?

Oh, he was a Scientologist. Let's all hope that that turned out as he hoped.

Isaac Hayes
August 20, 1942 – August 10, 2008

January 15, 2008 Earworm

There's a chunk of funk in the guitar picking intro to Danielle Dax's "Big Hollow Man" that suggests that you're about to enter Muscle Shoals territory but then all hell breaks loose with a short hair curling wail that could be what the Chipmunks sound like when on acid. A tale of money changing hypocrisy "with a fist full of sham", it's been on my mind a lot lately as I watch the corporate politics around me unfold. As every bad decision is made, it's followed with an assurance that the actions taken are "in everyone's best interest" by a leader so lacking in charisma and completely void of sincerity that "his flock" refuses to drink the Kool-Aid, nods in acknowledgment, and walks away thinking, "What a yutz!"

"Big Hollow Man" came roaring back into my head this morning when I turned on the tv and saw Newt Gingrich offering his wise words on the changes needed for the nation's best interest. This was followed by another insightful discussion about Tom Cruise's position within the church of scientology.

A fist full of sham, indeed.

Meanwhile, Danielle Dax is turning fifty this year and is now an interior designer. That tidbit makes feel a little bit older than I'd like yet gives me much needed faith in second acts.